MEPs will provide, on Tuesday 6 February in Strasbourg, their analysis of the outcome of the Extraordinary European Council of 1 February, which reached agreement on a €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine as part of a compromise on the mid-term revision of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 13341/1). Numerous other subjects are scheduled for the plenary session from 5 to 8 February, including Ukraine, the climate and the situation of EU farmers.
On Wednesday, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will set out his vision for the future of the EU to MEPs.
Digital. On Monday, MEPs will discuss the report by Ivars Ijabs (Renew Europe, Latvian) on ‘Interoperable Europe’, which confirms the interinstitutional political agreement (see EUROPE 13292/7). The agreement was approved on 28 November by the relevant European Parliament committee (see EUROPE 13302/37).
On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss the fight against hate speech and disinformation, and the responsibility of online platforms in the context of the Digital Services Act (DSA) (see EUROPE 13318/8), against the backdrop of an upsurge in this type of online content.
Climate. On Tuesday afternoon, the European Commission will present its Communication on the EU 2040 climate target to MEPs. This is expected to set a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 (see EUROPE 13339/1), as an intermediate target before the EU becomes climate neutral by 2050. On the same day, the Commission will also announce its industrial carbon management strategy aimed at contributing to the EU’s climate objectives.
Environment. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote to approve the political agreement reached in November between Parliament and the EU Council on the targeted revision of Directive 2012/19/EU on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to bring it into line with a ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU (Case C-181/20) which invalidated unduly retroactive provisions for producers of photovoltaic panels (rapporteur: Anna Zalewska, ECR, Polish) (see EUROPE 13298/18).
Transport. Petar Vitanov (S&D, Bulgarian) will present his draft report on driving disqualifications on Monday. In November, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) had approved it and decided to start negotiations directly with the EU Council (see EUROPE 13303/4). But the latter has yet to determine its position. The text will be voted on Tuesday.
The decision authorising France to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement on safety and interoperability requirements for the cross-Channel fixed link will be voted on Wednesday.
Payments in euros. MEPs are expected to give the green light to new rules guaranteeing that money transfers arrive immediately in the accounts of individuals and businesses (see EUROPE 13288/15).
Trade. On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on the EU-Angola investment facilitation agreement (see EUROPE 13336/35). If adopted, the report will mark the ratification by the European Parliament.
On Thursday, MEPs will debate the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in preparation for the 13th Ministerial Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi at the end of February. They will then vote on the report by Bernd Lange (S&D, German) and Jörgen Warborn (EPP, Swedish), which sets out the European Parliament’s expectations.
Industry/Energy. On Monday, MEPs will discuss the state of the solar industry in the EU with the Commission.
Agriculture. On Wednesday 7 February, after statements by the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council and the Commission, the European Parliament will hold a debate on how to foster a sustainable European agricultural sector, including fair compensation for producers, following protests by angry farmers in several European countries. On the sidelines of the European Council meeting on 1 February, a number of ideas were put forward to respond to farmers’ demands, including an action plan to simplify the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy, in addition to the measures recently put forward by the Commission on set-aside land and Ukrainian imports (see EUROPE 13341/4).
There has to be a debate on the future of agriculture and to reduce the administrative burden, says the Renew Europe group. The Greens/EFA group is calling for a “profound reform” of the CAP. The ECR group wants to emphasise the negative impact of the ‘European Green Deal’ on this sector.
In addition, the European Parliament will hold a debate on Tuesday (with a vote the following day) on its position on the proposal concerning plants obtained using certain new genomic techniques. The draft report (https://aeur.eu/f/ap7 ) by Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Swedish) has provoked anger in the Greens/EFA and The Left groups and discontent in the S&D one (see EUROPE 13335/10). This text will help farmers in the current context, commented a source from the EPP.
In addition, the European Parliament will adopt a resolution condemning Norway’s decision to explore commercial deep-water mining in the Arctic (see EUROPE 13330/12).
Rule of Law. On Wednesday 7 February, MEPs will adopt a resolution on the Rule of law and media freedom in Greece.
Justice. On 7 February, the plenary will debate the new ‘Prüm II’ regulation on the automated exchange of DNA data, fingerprints, facial images, vehicle registration data and criminal records. (see EUROPE 13297/22). The vote will take place the following day.
Fundamental Rights. On Wednesday, MEPs will be asked to debate an EU Council and Commission declaration on the need to fight the rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Parliament will also discuss the motion for a resolution on EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (11-22 March - see EUROPE 13336/25). The text will be voted on Thursday.
In addition, MEPs will discuss the draft report by José Gusmão (The Left, Portuguese) on the implementation of the EU strategy for equal treatment of LGBTQI persons for the period 2020-2025 (see EUROPE 13334/29). It will be put to the vote on Thursday.
Education. On Thursday, MEPs will debate the open question tabled by Laurence Sailliet (EPP, French) on the working conditions of teachers in the EU. This question will be addressed to the European Commission asking it to indicate what strategies it has to enhance the prestige and attractiveness of the teaching profession, particularly in rural, remote and depopulated areas.
Health and safety at work. On Tuesday 6 February, MEPs will debate occupational exposure to lead and diisocyanates (see EUROPE 13326/31), and the following day they will confirm the agreement reached with the EU Council in mid-November 2023.
On Thursday, there will be a debate on the Dentsu Tracking affair and the European Commission’s lack of transparency in its dealings with the tobacco industry.
On Tuesday, MEPs will debate quality standards for traineeships in the EU.
Foreign affairs. On Tuesday morning, “following almost two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, MEPs are set to reaffirm the need for the EU to stand firmly and united behind Kyiv” during a debate with the EU Council and Commission. Since the start of the war, the EU and its Member States have spent more than €85 billion to help Ukraine. In addition, on Thursday 1 February, the leaders agreed on a €50 billion facility for Ukraine and reaffirmed their military support (see EUROPE 13341/1, 13341/2).
MEPs will adopt a resolution on the situation in Serbia. This vote comes as the opposition to the party of the President, Aleksandar Vučić, and part of the population continue to call for the results of the last elections to be annulled, which they and several international observers claim were marred by irregularities (see EUROPE 13338/33).
MEPs will debate allegations of Russian interference in the EU’s democratic process. These discussions will take place at a time when the European elections, from 6 to 9 June, are fast approaching, and that on 30 January the European Parliament opened an investigation against MEP Tatjana Ždanoka concerning potential espionage activities on behalf of Moscow (see EUROPE 13340/27). A resolution will be put to the vote on Thursday 8 February.
On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss the new wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and members of their families (see EUROPE 13336/33). The increase in the number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of the protester Mohammad Ghobadlou, will also be discussed (see EUROPE 13335/40). Resolutions on these subjects will be put to the vote on Thursday.
The EU Council and the European Commission will issue statements on the repression faced by the political opposition in Venezuela, notably the recent confirmation by the Venezuelan Supreme Court of the ineligibility of María Corina Machado for the presidential elections in the second half of 2024 (see EUROPE 13338/14). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur and the editorial staff)