European Union

The citizens of Hungary will vote in a referendum on October 2 on whether to accept mandatory quotas for the distribution of refugees among EU member states. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán rejects the quota system approved by Brussels. The leftist opposition is in disarray over the issue, commentators note, and fear that the government is manipulating voters with unfounded panic-mongering.

The Brazilian Senate voted on Wednesday in favour of impeaching President Dilma Rousseff. After a power struggle that went on for months former vice president Michel Temer has now taken over as head of state. The political crisis is far from over, some fear, while others see a major opportunity opening up for the Brazilian left.

On 5 September, the Subcommittee will exchange views on the outcome and main decisions of the NATO Summit in Warsaw with representatives from NATO and the EEAS. The Alliance is faced with an evolving complex threat environment. NATO reaffirmed that its countries are united in protecting and defending their indivisible security and common values by fulfilling effectively all three core tasks: collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security.
At the same meeting the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, and the Secretary General of NATO have issued a joint declaration to give new impetus and new substance to the EU-NATO strategic partnership.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 5 September, the Subcommittee will consider the draft report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy by Ioan Mircea PAŞCU, S&D. The draft report advocates a thorough revision of the CSDP to better equip Europe in an increasingly unstable and volatile internal and external security environment.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 5 September, the Subcommittee will consider the draft report on the European Defence Union by Urmas Paet, ALDE. This draft advocates the progressive framing of the European Defence Union, with a view to its establishment under the next multiannual political and financial framework of the EU. It also elaborates on the process and the contents of the EU White Book on security and defence and describes preparatory activities which should be launched immediately.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Committee on Budgetary Control - meeting 05/09/2016 (PM)
Committee on Budgetary Control

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Committee on Budgetary Control - meeting 05/09/2016 (PM)
Committee on Budgetary Control

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

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One year after,  we look back on how the EU migration crisis unfolded through 2015, and how the EU developed its response. This is the "inside story", as told by key witnesses from the Council of the EU and the European Commission. It is an attempt to explain the complexities of one of the biggest crises the EU is experiencing. It covers 9 months of crisis in 2015, and is available in 24 EU languages.  

Download this video here.

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European Councl President Donald Tusk visits the leaders of 27 EU countries in preparation for the 16 September Bratislava informal summit. 

Download this video here.

Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Committee rejected as “misleading” and flawed, proposals aimed at providing greater protection to consumers buying packaged financial products, and unanimously voted to send the proposals back to the European Commission for revision.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Committee rejected as “misleading” and flawed, proposals aimed at providing greater protection to consumers buying packaged financial products, and unanimously voted to send the proposals back to the European Commission for revision.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The trade deal between Canada and the EU is the latest trade agreement to attract controversy. Negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) have been concluded, but it willstill need to be approved by the European Parliament, the Council and the national parliaments. On 31 August the international trade committee discussed the agreement and afterwards we talked to Latvian EPP member Artis Pabriks, who is responsible for steering the agreement through Parliament.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP