MEPs will be meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 July. This session, the last before the summer break, will be marked by the vote on the thorny issue of nature restoration. Several parts of the ‘Fit For 55’ package will also be put to the European Parliament’s final vote, as will future legislation on semi-conductors. The debates will also lead MEPs to address the protection of journalists and the integrity of the European Parliament.
Nature restoration. The future of the proposal for an EU regulation on nature restoration, a key text in the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, will mobilise the European Parliament following the rejection of the text by the European Parliament Environment Committee, due to the lack of a majority to support it (see EUROPE 13217/4, EUROPE 13210/6). MEPs will debate the issue on Tuesday morning, before voting on Wednesday on the motion to reject the Commission’s initial proposal, followed by 141 amendments tabled by the various political groups or supported by 36 MEPs each.
Whatever the outcome of the vote, the Commission’s proposed regulation to require the restoration of at least 20% of land and marine areas across the EU by 2030, with binding restoration targets by habitat and ecosystem, will be significantly watered down, if it survives the motion to reject (see other news).
Ecodesign for sustainable products. Also on Wednesday, MEPs will vote on the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which will establish a framework for setting ecodesign and information requirements for virtually all products, not just energy products. After a debate late on Tuesday evening, they will vote on Wednesday on the report by Alessandra Moretti (S&D, Italian), which strengthens the proposal by calling for a specific ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and electrical and electronic equipment to promote sustainable consumption (see EUROPE 13202/2). Parliament’s position should enable negotiations to be opened with the EU Council, which gave its opinion at the end of May (see EUROPE 13185/1).
Environment. After a debate on Monday evening, MEPs will also vote on Wednesday on two reports by Radan Kanev (EPP, Bulgarian) on the April 2022 proposal to modernise and strengthen the directive on industrial emissions (2010/75/EU, known as the ‘IED’ directive). MEPs are likely to maintain the environmental requirements, but water down the scope of the proposal to include large agricultural installations, as the EU Council has done, and reduce the bureaucratic burden on industry (see EUROPE 13187/3).
The Parliament should also support the corollary proposal to transform the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) into an emissions portal to ensure greater transparency of emissions, while ensuring the protection of confidential industrial information.
‘Fit for 55’. The report on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive, presented by Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Danish), will be put to the vote on Tuesday. MEPs are expected to endorse the adoption reached in the European Parliament committee on Tuesday 25 April (see EUROPE 13169/37).
On Monday, Parliament will debate two texts agreed with the Council of the EU and approved by the European Parliament Transport Committee at the end of May: the ‘AFIR’ regulation on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure (see EUROPE 13187/35), and the ‘FuelEU Maritime’ regulation on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport (see EUROPE 13187/36).
Still on the subject of transport, the EU/Japan air services agreement will be put to the vote on Tuesday. This agreement aims to open up non-discriminatory mutual access to carriers (see EUROPE 13125/17). In the afternoon, the European Commission will be making a statement on its new green transport package.
Media. On Monday, MEPs will debate the ‘anti-SLAPPs’ directive. The report put forward by Tiemo Wölken (S&D, German), which proposes extending the scope of the legislation and strengthening support measures for victims, will be put to the vote on Tuesday (see EUROPE 13198/2).
On the same day, the House will vote on a report calling for better protection for journalists in the EU and around the world (see EUROPE 13187/25).
Institutional. On institutional issues, on Thursday MEPs will update their position on the shape of the future European Ethics Body, while negotiations between EU institutions and bodies began on Friday 7 July (see EUROPE 13217/13).
On Wednesday, MEPs will also examine a series of proposals to improve transparency and protect the integrity of the European Parliament’s work. Drawn up by the Special Committee on Foreign Interference (ING2), they will be voted on the following day (see EUROPE 13192/6).
On Tuesday, MEPs will take up the draft ‘Pisapia’ report on the implementation of the ‘passerelle’ clauses in the EU Treaties, which make it possible to circumvent unanimous decision-making by Member States in the EU Council (see EUROPE 13188/20).
Industry. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the ‘Chips Act’ regulation before adopting the provisional agreement on the text reached with the EU Council in April (see EUROPE 13164/3).
They will then vote on the report by Christian Doleschal (EPP, German) harmonising the rules for construction products (see EUROPE 13186/6).
Trade. Also on Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on the report by Markéta Gregorová (Greens/EFA, Czech) which temporarily abolishes tariffs on certain imports from Moldova (see EUROPE 13210/39).
Budget. The report by Fabienne Keller (Renew Europe, French) on draft amending budget no. 2 for the 2023 financial year concerning the budgeting of the surplus resulting from the implementation of the 2022 financial year will be put to the vote by MEPs on Tuesday. The Council of the EU adopted its general approach on 19 June (see EUROPE 13205/5).
MEPs will also vote on the report by Eleni Stavrou (EPP, Cypriot) on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help workers made redundant, to the tune of €2.2 million for 603 workers made redundant in Belgium.
Foreign affairs. On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will debate relations with the Palestinian Authority, and on Wednesday they are due to vote on the report by Evin Incir (S&D, Swedish) on these relations. In particular, the report calls for free and fair legislative and presidential elections to be held as soon as possible, despite the fact that no elections have been held in the Palestinian territories for over 16 years.
On Wednesday morning, MEPs will discuss the conclusions of the European Council of 29 and 30 June 2023 (see EUROPE 13213/5, 13212/2), in particular recent developments in the war against Ukraine and in Russia. Ukraine is making slow progress with its counter-attack, while Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure continue. In Russia, the head of the Wagner group tried to advance towards Moscow, before turning back (see EUROPE 13209/1).
On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will vote on a report on the situation in Lebanon. The country is experiencing a complicated political, economic and social situation (see EUROPE 13170/18).
Following a debate at the previous plenary session (see EUROPE 13201/8), Parliament will adopt a resolution on the EU/Cuba cooperation agreement in the light of the EU High Representative’s recent visit to the island.
Enlargement. On Tuesday evening, MEPs will debate the draft 2022 reports on Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On this occasion, they will welcome Tirana’s commitment on foreign policy and invite Sarajevo to speed up the country’s accession process, while warning against the rhetoric of the leaders of Republika Srpska (see EUROPE 13216/11). Both reports will be put to the vote on Wednesday.
Schengen area. MEPs will debate Bulgaria and Romania’s entry into the Schengen area on the evening of Tuesday 11 July and adopt a new resolution on the subject on 12 July; the resolution will again call on the Member States to integrate the two countries into the free movement area by the end of the year.
Human rights resolutions. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate: - disqualifications of political opponents in Venezuela; - the situation in the Indian state of Manipur, which is facing inter-ethnic violence; - repression of the media and freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. All three resolutions will be put to the vote on Thursday.
The rule of law in Poland and the EU. Following their debate at the last plenary session (see EUROPE 13201/3), MEPs will adopt a resolution on Tuesday 11 July on the worsening of the rule of law in Poland, in which they will review the ‘Tusk’ law on foreign interference, the new electoral law and the recent judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU. On Tuesday at midday, the Commission and the Council of the EU will make a statement on the new annual report on the rule of law presented on 5 July (see EUROPE 13216/8).
Defence. On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on the institutional agreement reached on the night of 6-7 July with the Council of the EU on the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (‘ASAP’) (see other news).
Workers and extreme heat. At the start of Monday’s session, the Commission will make a statement on the protection of workers from extreme heat and other extreme weather events resulting from the climate crisis.
Rescues of migrants at sea. On Wednesday morning, MEPs will debate the resources available to the EU to step up search and rescue operations for migrants at sea. The debate, which comes almost 4 weeks after another major shipwreck off the coast of Greece, will be followed by a vote on a resolution on 13 July. The debate should also cover the role of NGOs, the designation of safe ports, cooperation with third countries, and accusations of pushback against Member States.
Covid-19. On Tuesday, the European Parliament will debate and vote on recommendations aimed at improving crisis management and preparing the EU for future health emergencies. The report, prepared by the Special Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic (whose mandate expires on 19 July), analyses the impact of the crisis, assesses the effectiveness of European and national measures and makes specific proposals to remedy weaknesses. The draft report (https://aeur.eu/f/7yx ) covers four areas: health, democracy and fundamental rights, social and economic impact and global issues related to the pandemic (see EUROPE 13200/27).
Food safety. On Tuesday, Parliament will vote on a proposed objection concerning the food additives nitrites (E 249-250) and nitrates (E 251-252). The objection to be put to the vote is aimed at blocking a European Commission proposal setting new limits, considered to be inadequate, on the use of these two additives, which are responsible for the formation of proven carcinogenic compounds in processed meat and charcuterie.
See the agenda: https://aeur.eu/f/7yz (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin with the editorial staff)