The Week Ahead 13 – 19 June 2022

EP committees will resume having exclusively in-person meetings, with no remote participation.

Green Deal/Taxonomy. The Economic and Monetary Affairs and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committees will vote on an objection to the Commission’s proposal to classify, under certain conditions, specific gas and nuclear energy investment as transitional activities contributing to climate change mitigation (the so-called taxonomy) (Tuesday).

Green Deal/Fit For 55. After three draft laws on carbon-pricing, part of the Fit For 55 package, have been put on hold, political groups’ coordinators in the Environment Committee will discuss how to move forward on these files, with the aim of adopting Parliament’s position during the 22-23 June plenary session, and then starting negotiations with EU governments (Monday).

Protecting consumers in the digital transition. A reform of EU rules on the safety of non-food products, to address challenges coming from new technologies and digital marketplaces, will be voted on by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. The committee will also vote on an update of EU rules protecting consumers from over-indebtedness, e.g. loans, overdrafts and credit cards (Thursday).

EU COVID Certificate. Parliament and Council negotiators will attempt to reach an agreement on the extension of the EU Digital COVID Certificate – due to expire on 30 June – for another year, to ensure EU citizens can benefit from their right to free movement regardless of the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic (Monday).

EU enlargement. The Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on its assessment of the progress made towards EU membership by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia (Tuesday).

War against Ukraine/food production. The Agriculture Committee will discuss with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food the impact of the war on food production and security, while the Transport Committee will quiz the Commission on the Solidarity Lanes to help Ukraine with agriculture exports (Tuesday and Wednesday).

War crimes in Ukraine. The Human Rights Subcommittee will discuss the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine, with, inter alia, the first President of the War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone Geoffrey Robertson and the Special Assistant to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court Jonathan Agar (Wednesday).

Czech Council Presidency. The Conference of Presidents (EP President and leaders of political groups) will meet in Prague to prepare with the Czech Council Presidency, starting from 1 July this year. EP leaders will meet Prime Minister Fiala, followed by a press conference, Chamber Speaker Pekarova Adamová and Senate President Vystrčil (Thursday).

Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 22-23 June plenary session in Brussels, where MEPs will hold a debate with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković as part of the “This is Europe” series. They will also discuss Parliament’s priorities ahead of the 23-24 June European Council. MEPs will vote on restocking EU gas reserves, additional funds for the reception of people feeling Ukraine, and support for the agri-food sector. Parliament will also adopt its assessment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the extension of the validity of the EU COVID certificate, if agreed by EU negotiators.

President’s diary. EP President Roberta Metsola will chair the meeting of Parliament’s Bureau at the Jean Monnet House in Bazoches, France, on Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon, the President will participate in the commemoration in Brussels of Soviet deportations, and on Wednesday will deliver a speech at the Ukraine Days online event “Should the EU Offer Ukraine Candidate Status?”