The Week Ahead 24 – 30 October 2016

Plenary

Budget 2017 and MFF revision. Parliament is to adopt its position on next year’s EU budget, ahead of negotiations with the Council. MEPs will demand more funds to help young people into jobs, boost economic growth and help third countries with a view to mitigating the migration crisis. They will also discuss the Commission’s proposal to revise the multiannual financial framework (MFF). (Debates Tuesday, votes and press conference Wednesday).

EU summit results. MEPs will assess the outcome of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday morning.

Commission Work Programme 2017. The EU Commission will present its to-do list for 2017 and join MEPs in debating common objectives and priorities to feed into the first-ever joint declaration on EU priorities for the following year, to be signed by the Presidents of Parliament, Council and Commission in December. (Debate Tuesday)

Rule of law and democracy in the EU. MEPs will call on the Commission to set up a new EU mechanism to monitor the state of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights on a regular basis in all EU member states. A legislative resolution to this end will be discussed and voted on Tuesday. Rapporteur Sophie in ‘t Veld will hold a press conference after the vote at 14.00

Terrorism. MEPs, Council and Commission will debate progress in implementing security measures agreed at EU level and the challenges ahead. Enhanced interoperability of databases and data exchange, preventing radicalisation and progress in implementing the passenger name record (PNR) rules are likely to be raised. (Debate Tuesday)

Trans fats. The EU should place mandatory limits on industrially-produced trans-fatty acids which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, infertility, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and obesity, says a draft resolution to be put to a vote on Wednesday.

Taxation. Commission proposals in the field of corporate taxation to establish, inter alia, a common consolidated corporate tax base, as requested by Parliament, will be presented and discussed with Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Tuesday late afternoon.

Journalists in Turkey. Threats, violations and restrictions faced by journalists in Turkey will be debated on Wednesday afternoon. Since the failed coup d’état in July, 90 journalists have been jailed, more than 2,500 have lost their jobs and arrest warrants have been issued against hundreds of media workers in the country.

2016 Sakharov Prize. The Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) will select the winner from the three shortlisted candidates for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought: Can Dündar and fellow defenders of freedom of thought and expression in Turkey, the Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzemilev, and the Yazidi survivors and public advocates Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar. EP President Martin Schulz will announce the laureate Thursday at around noon. The award ceremony will take place on 14 December in Strasbourg.

Pre-session press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing with political groups spokespersons at 16.00 on Monday. (EP Press conference room, Strasbourg)