The European Parliament will meet in plenary session in Strasbourg from 20 to 23 November, for the penultimate time before the end of 2023. This session is likely to be dominated by international events, the war between Hamas and Israel, and a number of environmental votes. The EU’s general budget for 2024 should also be approved by MEPs.
Foreign affairs. On Tuesday afternoon, Parliament will question the Commission on the EU’s position regarding its commitment to supply one million artillery shells to Ukraine. As part of the ‘Act in Support of Ammunition Production’, the Member States have agreed to supply one million shells by the end of March 2024. MEPs will ask the Commission why the one million target may not be met.
MEPs will then debate and vote on the report by Arnaud Danjean (EPP, French) on ‘The Strategic Compass and EU space-based defence capabilities’ on Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, MEPs will debate ‘The humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need for the release of hostages and for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire and prospects for peace and security in the Middle East’ (see EUROPE 13275/17).
In the afternoon, Parliament will discuss the ‘Destruction of judicial independence and the persecution of democrats in Hong Kong’. The MEPs will then discuss ‘30 years of Copenhagen criteria - towards next enlargements’. The European Council on 14 and 15 December will have to take decisions on the accession processes of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the countries of the Western Balkans.
Institutions. MEPs will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on the Committee on Constitutional Affairs’ proposals for a reform of the EU’s institutional architecture (see EUROPE 13279/30). At this stage, Parliament will be able to reiterate its call for a Convention to be held to reform the European treaties. The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council has said that it will act before the end of 2023, if Parliament sends its proposals in time.
On Thursday, Parliament is expected to endorse the draft ‘Ruiz Devesa/Simon’ report, which advocates the use of the system of leading candidates (‘Spitzenkandidaten’) for the appointment of the future President of the European Commission after the European elections in June 2024 (see EUROPE 13280/23). They suggest that the European Council and Parliament seal an interinstitutional agreement to this end.
On Wednesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov will set out his vision for the future of the EU in the Chamber.
Budget. On Tuesday afternoon MEPs will debate the outcome of the Conciliation Committee negotiations on the EU budget for 2024 (see EUROPE 13291/22). They will vote on Wednesday at noon to validate the agreement reached with the Council of the EU.
On the subject of budgetary control, MEPs will vote on Tuesday on the report by Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, German) on the possibilities for increasing the reliability of audits and controls carried out by national authorities in the context of shared management.
Environment. MEPs will debate the proposal for a Regulation on packaging and packaging waste on Tuesday afternoon and vote on it on Wednesday. (see EUROPE 13074/7).
The vote is expected to be close on the compromise backed by the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left Groups on the basis of the amended report by Frédérique Ries (Renew Europe, Belgian). This compromise strikes a delicate balance between ambition for human health and the environment and pragmatism for the fast food sector (see EUROPE 13278/12).
Amendments have been tabled by the EPP, in particular to protect producers of wooden boxes for Camembert cheese (see EUROPE 13294/2).
Climate. On Monday, MEPs will be asked to present their position on a new EU carbon removal certification framework. A vote is expected on Tuesday on the report adopted on 24 October by Parliament’s Committee on Environment (see EUROPE 13278/8), which aims to standardise and guarantee the effectiveness of carbon removal practices within the EU.
That same evening, the Commission is due to make a statement on the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which opens in Dubai on 30 November. On Monday, MEPs will debate Parliament’s expectations for this meeting (see EUROPE 13287/9), which will be the first comprehensive assessment of progress on the Paris Agreement.
Also on Tuesday, MEPs will be debating tougher requirements for heavy commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, trailers) to reduce their CO2 emissions. Parliament should then vote on its position on this text, according to the report adopted by the Committee on Environment (see EUROPE 13278/7).
Pesticides. On Wednesday 22 November, following a debate in plenary the previous day, Parliament will adopt the report by Sarah Wiener (Greens/EFA, Austrian) on the sustainable use of pesticides. The position of Parliament’s Committee on Environment is to reduce the use (and risks) of plant protection chemicals by at least 50% (-65% for the most dangerous products) compared with the average for 2013-2017. Numerous amendments have been tabled to take account of the Committee on Agriculture’s less strict position (see EUROPE 13293/16).
Competitiveness. On Tuesday morning, after the debate scheduled for Monday, MEPs will vote on the report by Christian Ehler (EPP, German) on the ‘Net Zero Industry Act’ (see EUROPE 13279/13). At this stage, only the Greens/EFA have tabled amendments, mainly concerning the list of ‘net zero emission’ technologies. In addition, a debate on reducing the administrative burden on businesses is scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Trade. MEPs will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on a resolution concerning the trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand.
Justice. On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on the report adopted on 24 October by the members of the Committee on Legal Affairs, aimed at digitalising European administrative procedures (see EUROPE 13211/20).
On Thursday, MEPs will debate and vote on amendments to the last two texts in the ‘modernisation of justice’ package: the Regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and the Directive amending earlier texts on the digitalisation of the judicial system. (see EUROPE 13254/9).
Rule of law. On Tuesday, the MEPs will return to the continuing threats to the Rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and EU funds in Hungary. They will examine what has happened since a June 2023 resolution which denounced deliberate and systematic efforts to undermine EU values in the country (see EUROPE 13192/7).
With regard to Spain, they will assess the impact of the bill to grant amnesty to hundreds of people involved in the Catalan independence movement, in the presence of representatives of the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council and the Commission.
Human Rights. Parliament will debate the latest attacks on women and women’s rights activists in Iran and the arbitrary detention of EU nationals, and will vote on a resolution on the subject on Thursday. The institution will also vote on the murder of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen killed by Russian occupying forces in Georgia (see EUROPE 13288/29), and on the illegal detention of the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown and is still being held since the military coup in July.
Consumers. After a debate on Monday evening, MEPs will decide their position on Tuesday on the Directive aimed at promoting in the EU an attractive right to repair defective products during and beyond the two-year legal guarantee (see EUROPE 13147/7). MEPs advocate giving priority to repair when it is cheaper or equal to the cost of replacement (see EUROPE 13279/12).
Digital. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the provisional political agreement on the Regulation aimed at ensuring a high common level of cybersecurity in the EU institutions, agencies and bodies. The Council of the EU and Parliament reached a political agreement on 26 June (see EUROPE 13209/23).
Spyware. On Wednesday, MEPs will attempt to put pressure on the Commission over the lack of legislative follow-up to Parliament’s investigation into the use of Pegasus and spyware (see EUROPE 13274/14). In June, MEPs called for a number of legislative measures to tackle the misuse of such software in Europe.
Taxation/Customs. On Wednesday, the new framework for e-commerce and the revised value added tax rules will be put to the vote. Parliament will also adopt its position on VAT in the digital age (see EUROPE 13278/21).
Transport. On Thursday, the Directive on ship-source pollution and the introduction of penalties will be put to the vote. The Committee on Transport and Tourism has just adopted its negotiating position (see EUROPE 13294/12).
United Kingdom. On Thursday, MEPs will adopt the report on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, presented by Seán Kelly (EPP, Irish) and Andreas Schieder (S&D, Austrian). (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre, with the Editorial staff)