The Week Ahead 09 – 15 July 2018

Work-life balance. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee will vote on an update of EU legislation on paternity, parental and carers’ leave. The amount that a worker would be entitled to during the leave and the right to request flexible working arrangements are among the proposals. (Wednesday)

Mobbing and sexual harassment. Measures to combat mobbing and sexual harassment in the workplace, public spaces and in political life will be put forward by the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee. Draft proposals aim to raise  awareness of the risks and consequences of violence and harassment, as well as clarifying definitions and classifications of different types of gender-based violence. (Tuesday)

Dual quality of products. Tests  in several EU member states have found  quality differences between products sold under the same brand and packaging in different  EU countries (e.g. fish fingers, soft drinks, coffee, cosmetics and laundry detergents). The Internal Market Committee will propose measures to tackle this problem. (Thursday)

Cybersecurity. The introduction of an EU cybersecurity certification for software and hardware products, such as smart domestic appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators), will be put to the vote in the Industry Committee, together with measures to reinforce the role of ENISA, the EU Cybersecurity Agency. (Tuesday)

Online forms to reduce bureaucracy. The Internal Market Committee will vote on an informal deal reached with EU ministers to set up a single digital gateway to  help citizens and firms to access information and administrative procedures online. These would include applications for study loans, car registration, residence certificates and income and corporate tax declarations. (Thursday)

Reform of the Eurozone/Germany. Recent proposals, including Franco-German ones, to reform the Monetary Union and Eurozone will be debated by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee with Germany’s Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (Thursday)

Draghi. ECB President and European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) Chair Mario Draghi will discuss perspectives on economic and monetary developments, as well as virtual currencies and central banks’ monetary policy, with the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. (Monday)

President’s diary. EP President Antonio Tajani will hold a press conference on health and sports with Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and oncologist Francesco Cognetti and sign a memorandum on Eurovision, on Wednesday.