Brussels (Brussels Morning) This week, the European Parliament will convene during plenary session, where MEPs will debate and vote on the EU-Russia relations and the EU’s common foreign, security and defence policy, a new European strategy to fight cancer, strengthening rules on toy safety, and boosting offshore renewable energy. The session starts with a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Euro, followed by a debate with the European Central Bank’s (ECB) President Christine Lagarde.
20 years of the Euro
This week’s plenary session starts with a ceremony to celebrate 20 years of the Euro, after which MEPs will debate with President Lagarde the work of the ECB in 2021 and the state of the EU economy.
Boosting offshore renewable energy
On Monday, MEPs will debate on their recommendations for accelerating the deployment of offshore wind energy in Europe. A more sustainable management of maritime space and coastlines is needed to unlock their potential, the Parliament’s report says, as it states that offshore wind farms can benefit marine biodiversity if designed and built sustainably.
The report also says the EU should ensure the coexistence of offshore wind farms with existing activities, such as fishing and maritime transport. The Parliament’s report comes in response to the European Commission’s communication on a EU strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy.
Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
During the week ahead, MEPs and Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell will debate European security, Russia’s threat to Ukraine and the latest diplomatic attempts to de-escalate the situation. They will also discuss two reports on how to strengthen the EU as a global foreign policy and security actor, and are set to approve 1.2 billion euro in financial assistance to Ukraine.
Beating cancer
Parliament will debate, on Tuesday, and vote, on Wednesday, measures and actions to fight cancer in the EU. Key recommendations by the Special Committee on Beating Cancer include facilitating access to cross-border health care and clinical trials, managing shortages of cancer medicines more efficiently, and ensuring equal access to innovative drugs and treatments.
Toy safety
On Tuesday, MEPs are set to call for more stringent EU rules to better protect children in order to ensure all toys sold on the EU market are safe, including those from non-EU countries and those sold online.
Rule of Law
MEPs will debate with Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday afternoon, the EU Court’s decision, expected that same day in the morning, on the requests filed by Hungary and Poland to annul the regulation that links disbursement of EU funds with respect for the rule of law.
COVID-19 and travel rules
MEPs and the Commission will debate, on Wednesday, the current situation on intra-EU travel rules, the need for a coordinated approach as well as the proposal to extend the use of the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate until 30 June 2023.
Road charging
MEPs are set to approve, on Thursday, new road charging rules for trucks, moving from a time-based model to a distance-based system. The new system will better reflect the “polluter-pays” and “user-pays” principles, and help reduce CO2 emissions.
