MEPs will meet in Strasbourg from Monday 5 to Thursday 8 May for a plenary session featuring debates on the tariffs imposed by the United States and on Greenland’s right to decide its future, as well as votes on two own-initiative reports by the European Parliament on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and on the resilience strategy for water.
Foreign affairs. On Monday 5 May, MEPs will discuss preparations for the first EU-UK Summit with the Commission and the Council of the European Union. EU and UK leaders will meet in London on 19 May for the first bilateral institutional meeting since the UK’s exit from the EU in 2020. In particular, they will discuss defence cooperation, opportunities for young people and trade issues, the latter following the new US tariffs imposed by the ‘Trump’ administration on its trading partners (see EUROPE 13631/17).
On Tuesday, MEPs will debate with the High Representative of the Union the issue of ‘protecting Greenland’s right to decide its own future and to maintain the rules-based world order’ in the face of US ambitions.
They will also call for an urgent assessment of the implementation of the cooperation agreement with Cuba. In September 2024, led by the EPP, ECR and Renew Europe Groups, Parliament called for the suspension of the EU/Cuba cooperation agreement due to the persistent violation of human rights by the Cuban regime (see EUROPE 13486/9).
MEPs will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday the Parliament’s reports on the European Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on Turkey, Serbia and Kosovo.
On Wednesday, Parliament will once again be discussing the situation in Ukraine, with a particular focus on ‘EU support for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine’.
In the afternoon, during debates on cases of violations of human rights, democracy and the Rule of law, MEPs will discuss the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and expelled by Russia (see EUROPE 13623/34). They will also focus on the arrest and possible execution of Tundu Lissu, President of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania, and on violations of religious freedom in Tibet. Resolutions will be put to the vote on Thursday.
Trade. The plenary session will be marked by the subject of trade, with a debate on Tuesday morning on Europe’s response to the US tariffs, which should also focus on the EU’s trade opportunities in this context. Elected representatives should call for more economic partnerships beyond the United States.
On Thursday, a return to legislative work on trade, with a vote on foreign direct investments screening (see EUROPE 13617/3) and on extending the suspension of safeguard measures on steel for Ukraine (see EUROPE 13617/6).
Budget. On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on Parliament’s own-initiative report on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). On 23 April, the Committee on Budgets approved a report in favour of an ambitious long-term EU budget, calling for common borrowing and the adoption of new own resources (see EUROPE 13626/19) in order to repay the post-Covid fund loan while financing the EU’s political priorities. MEPs opposed a MFF structured around national plans, as the European Commission would like.
A series of debates and votes will also be held on Tuesday on the discharge of the 2023 annual budget. MEPs will have to decide whether, in their opinion, the EU budget has been used correctly.
Environment. Parliament is seeking to influence the Commission with an own-initiative report on the European Water Resilience Strategy, which will be debated on Tuesday and put to the vote on Wednesday. Adopted by the Committee on the Environment on 8 April (see EUROPE 13617/17), the text was watered down during discussions between the political groups (see EUROPE 13616/9).
On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on whether to use the urgency procedure to amend the ‘Habitats’ Directive to change the protection status of the wolf from a ‘strictly protected’ species to a ‘protected’ species. Parliament’s Committee on the Environment wants to avoid the complete reopening of the ‘Habitats’ Directive, as called for by farming associations (see EUROPE 13603/18). The EU Council approved the amendment on 16 April (see EUROPE 13623/7).
Transport/Industry. Also on Tuesday, MEPs will decide whether to apply an urgency procedure to support a targeted change in CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from 2025 to 2027. The Commission wants to introduce flexibility into CO2 emission targets as part of the Industrial Action Plan for the automotive sector (see EUROPE 13612/14). If the urgency procedure is approved, Parliament will vote on the substance of the text on Thursday.
Regions. The Parliament/EU Council agreement on the development of cross-border regions (see EUROPE 13547/19) will be put to the vote on Tuesday for validation.
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on Belgium’s request for €8 million in aid for 2,400 redundant workers in Belgium affected by the closure of the Belgian car company Van Hool.
Finances. On Tuesday, after a second reading (see EUROPE 13398/36), MEPs are expected to approve the compromise reached with the EU Council on the scope of new rules on benchmarks. At the beginning of April, MEPs on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs approved a recommendation suggesting that Parliament ratify the interinstitutional agreement.
On Tuesday, MEPs will adopt the draft ‘Fernández’ report aimed at making permanent the current liquidity requirements for certain short-term securities financing transactions and unsecured lending transactions (see EUROPE 13611/13).
Energy. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the Committee on Industry’s compromise on extending the Regulation on gas storage, which sets a lower annual target for filling EU gas reservoirs of 83%, and includes additional flexibilities for Member States (see EUROPE 13627/2). The text will be put to the vote on Thursday.
Agriculture. On Wednesday, elected representatives will debate high food prices. The following day, they will vote on a joint resolution in response to the European Commission’s decision to authorise products containing a certain type of genetically modified soya.
Single Market. MEPs have tabled an oral question to the Commission, which will respond on Thursday, concerning persistent problems in the single market, in particular barriers to trade in goods and services. They are expected to adopt a resolution on the same day.
Health. The plenary session is due to close with a debate with the European Commission on EU action to treat diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry, with the editorial staff)