The Week Ahead 16 – 22 July 2018

Security and migration/Niger. EP President Antonio Tajani will visit Niger to strengthen political ties and focus on tackling shared challenges such as security and stability, migration and the need for investment. President Tajani will meet the speakers of the national assemblies of the G5 Sahel countries (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Chad) and hold meetings with Niger’s National Assembly President Ousseini Tini, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini and President Mahamadou Issoufou. (Tuesday and Wednesday)

Security and data protection/USA. A Civil Liberties Committee delegation will travel to Washington to discuss data protection, cyber security and immigration with representatives from the US government, Congress and different stakeholders. Topics to be discussed include the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal, Privacy Shield and visa reciprocity. (Monday to Thursday)

Security/Tunisia and Algeria. The Foreign Affairs Committee is sending a delegation to Tunisia and Algeria to strengthen EU-Tunisia and EU-Algeria partnership and dialogue on foreign policy issues as well as on regional security and stability. (Monday to Friday)

Financial crimes/USA. A delegation from the Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance Committee (TAX3) will go to Washington to meet representatives from the Treasury Department, Congress and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, among others. The delegation will discuss transatlantic cooperation in the fight against financial crimes and tax evasion as well as how to improve transparency on tax and beneficial ownership at international and OECD level. (Monday to Wednesday)

Financial markets and taxation/USA. An Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee delegation will also travel to the USA, Washington and New York City, to discuss recent developments in the field of financial market regulations and taxation, the impact of US tax reform on financial institutions and regulatory challenges for EU banks in the US. They will meet, among others, representatives from the Treasury Department (with TAX3), the Institute of International Bankers (IIB) and the Federal Reserve Board (FRB). (Monday and Tuesday)

Consumer protection/China. Delegates from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will go to Shanghai and Guangzhou to discuss product safety and standards, market surveillance, consumer protection, customs, and public procurement, among other topics, with Chinese authorities and organisations. The delegation will also look into Digital Single Market initiatives, such as on the digital environment and e-commerce. (Tuesday to Thursday)

Trade and Human rights/Thailand. MEPs from the Human Rights Sub-Committee will travel to Thailand to assess the human rights situation in the country, ahead of planned general elections in 2019, whilst the Trade committee will also be visiting the country in view of the possible resumption of talks on a future EU-Thailand free trade agreement. Members will meet representatives of government and political parties as well as members of parliamentary committees and civil society organisations.