The Week Ahead 28 May – 03 June 2018
Posting of workers. Parliament is set to discuss and approve new rules to ensure equal pay and working conditions for workers sent temporarily to another EU country. After 18 months, all of the host country’s labour rules would apply to posted workers. Travel, board and accommodation costs should be paid by the employer and not deducted from workers’ salaries, according to the revised rules, which were informally agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators in March. A press conference is scheduled for 15:00. (Tuesday)
Trade defence tools. The EU would be able to combat environmental and social dumping more effectively and better protect jobs thanks to a draft law to be debated on Tuesday and put to a final vote on Wednesday. Investigations into anti-dumping cases would be significantly shorter and would involve trade unions; a help desk would be set up for SMEs.
Gaza Strip/Jerusalem/US tariffs. MEPs will debate the situation in the Gaza strip and the status of Jerusalem with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday afternoon. Additional US duties on imported steel and aluminium and the EU’s response to protect its industry and jobs will be debated with EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, also on Tuesday afternoon.
Post-2020 EU budget. MEPs will debate and vote on a resolution giving their views on the EU Commission’s recent proposal for the next long-term EU budget (2021-2027). They are expected to oppose EU Commission plans to reduce expenditure on both the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion policy and also to deplore the lack of clarity and comparability of the figures. (Wednesday).
Cost of non-Schengen. In their first annual report on the state of the Schengen area, MEPs condemn the continued temporary reintroduction of internal border checks and the building of physical barriers, including fences, between member states. The estimated cost of not applying Schengen for all countries for two years ranges from €25 billion to €50 billion. A press conference by the rapporteur is scheduled for 15.00 on Wednesday. (Tuesday, Wednesday).
Xavier Bettel/Future of Europe. Mr Bettel will be the sixth EU leader to debate the future of Europe with MEPs and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday morning. A press point by Parliament’s President Antonio Tajani and Prime Minister Bettel is scheduled for 11:15.:
Presidents of the Republic of Guinea and Colombia. Alpha Condé, President of the Republic of Guinea, will address MEPs in a formal sitting at 12.00 on Tuesday, outgoing Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday, also at noon. Press points by EP President Tajani and both presidents are scheduled for 12.30 on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
European Youth Event (EYE). On 1 and 2 June, more than 8,000 young people, aged 16-30, will meet in Parliament’s premises in Strasbourg to discuss their views and ideas for the future of Europe in some 400 activities. EP President Tajani will open the third EYE of its kind. About 50 MEPs will attend workshops and debates during the event.
President’s Diary. President Tajani will have bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Guinea, Alpha Condé, on Tuesday, with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on Wednesday morning and with the outgoing President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, also on Wednesday.
