The Week Ahead 11 – 17 June 2018

Future of Europe debate with Mark Rutte. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be the seventh EU leader to debate the future of Europe with MEPs and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday morning at 10.00. EP President Antonio Tajani and Mr Rutte will give a joint press point on Wednesday at 12:30.

Iran nuclear deal. MEPs will debate the consequences and the EU’s response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal, with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, on Tuesday afternoon. MEPs may look for more explanations on how reintroducing US sanctions might hit deals made between Iran and some EU companies.

Reform of the economic and monetary union. MEPs will quiz the EU Commission on Tuesday morning on progress being made on deepening the economic and monetary union, on member states’ attitudes towards the idea of a European Monetary Fund and how the EU’s long-term budget will support a deeper economic and monetary union.  

EU summit. MEPs will discuss their priorities for the 28-29 June meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Tuesday morning. The summit is scheduled to focus on migration, security and defence, the EU’s long-term budget, the Brexit talks and Eurozone reform.

Judicial Reform in Poland. The ongoing judicial reform in Poland will be debated with European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans on Wednesday afternoon. The Polish Government is carrying out a comprehensive overhaul of the judiciary, which, according to the EU Commission, threatens its independence and the principle of separation of powers.

New distribution of EP seats. The European Parliament should shrink from 751 to 705 MEPs when the UK leaves the EU, says a draft law to be put to the vote on Wednesday. 46 of the 73 UK seats will be put in a reserve; the other 27 would be distributed among the 14 EU countries that are currently slightly under-represented in the House.

Safety of drones/Civil aviation rules. MEPs are set to back new rules for drones and drone operators to ensure safety, security, privacy and the protection of personal data in a vote on Tuesday. Design and manufacture of drones would have to comply with EU basic requirements and operators of drones which are able to cause harm to humans on collision would need to be registered.

President’s agenda. EP President Antonio Tajani will meet with the Chairman of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, on Tuesday afternoon; on Wednesday morning, he will have a bilateral meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.