The European Parliament’s plenary sessions will take place in Strasbourg this week.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will debate on Monday plans to boost trust in the EU’s approval procedure for pesticides, by making it more transparent and accountable. The report from the special committee on pesticides says that the public should be granted access to the studies used in the authorization procedure, including all the supporting data and information relating to the applications. The EP will vote on the plans on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss the priorities of the incoming Romanian Council presidency with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, following a debate with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to assess the Council presidency’s achievements over the past six months.
The European Commission’s College meeting will convene in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
The EP will host a ceremony on Tuesday to commemorate the launch of the Euro 20 years ago. EP President Antonio Tajani will open the ceremony, which will be followed by speeches by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi, President of the Euro Group Mario Centeno, former ECB head Jean Claude Trichet and Chairman of Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee Roberto Gualtieri. An exhibition on the Euro will also take place within the premises of the European Parliament.
MEPs will exchange views about the future of Europe with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Juncker on Wednesday.
MEPs are set to approve a new EU program for investments on Wednesday to trigger almost €700 billion in investments during 2021-2027 to boost jobs and growth which otherwise would be difficult to make.
On Thursday, the EP will debate the state of play of the U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU one day after the U.K. House of Commons’ critical vote on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Also on Thursday, MEPs will debate and vote on rules to reduce pre-financing or suspend EU budget payments to member states that interfere with courts or if they fail to tackle fraud and corruption. Parliament is also set to increase funding for the Rights and Values Program promoting democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights across the EU.
The EU’s High Representative Federica Mogherini will receive the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, on Friday.