European Union

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : A clear political vision to tackle the challenges of energy supply, climate change, transition to a digital society, job creation, migration, the rule of democracy and fundamental law should be at the core of the 2016 Commission's work programme. So say MEPs in a non-legislative resolution, voted on Wednesday, which sets out Parliament's recommendations for the European Commission’s 2016 work programme.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : A clear political vision to tackle the challenges of energy supply, climate change, transition to a digital society, job creation, migration, the rule of democracy and fundamental law should be at the core of the 2016 Commission's work programme. So say MEPs in a non-legislative resolution, voted on Wednesday, which sets out Parliament's recommendations for the European Commission’s 2016 work programme.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The economic affairs committee and the special committee for tax rulings will discuss the European Commission's proposals for transparent and efficient taxation of multinational companies with President Jean-Claude Juncker and Taxation Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Thursday 17 September. This will be followed by a separate discussion with Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Watch the debates live from 10.15 CET.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The economic affairs committee and the special committee for tax rulings will discuss the European Commission's proposals for transparent and efficient taxation of multinational companies with President Jean-Claude Juncker and Taxation Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Thursday 17 September. This will be followed by a separate discussion with Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Watch the debates live from 10.15 CET.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : An emergency proposal to relocate 120,000 asylum seekers from Greece, Italy and Hungary to other EU member states will be put to a vote, as a matter of urgency, at 10.00 on Thursday. This recourse to the urgency procedure (Rule 154) was proposed by President Schulz and approved in a plenary vote at the opening.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : An emergency proposal to relocate 120,000 asylum seekers from Greece, Italy and Hungary to other EU member states will be put to a vote, as a matter of urgency, at 10.00 on Thursday. This recourse to the urgency procedure (Rule 154) was proposed by President Schulz and approved in a plenary vote at the opening.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Countries will this year shape and adopt the development agenda that will build on the Millennium Development Goals. A Parliament delegation will take part in the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York where countries will approve the new goals. Ahead of the plenary debate on Wednesday 16 September, we spoke with development committee chair Linda McAvan, a UK member of the S&D group, about future goals and what has been achieved so far. Watch the debate live from 16.30 CET.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Countries will this year shape and adopt the development agenda that will build on the Millennium Development Goals. A Parliament delegation will take part in the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York where countries will approve the new goals. Ahead of the plenary debate on Wednesday 16 September, we spoke with development committee chair Linda McAvan, a UK member of the S&D group, about future goals and what has been achieved so far. Watch the debate live from 16.30 CET.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

On 16 September 2015, the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee backed a Commission proposal to help Greece maximise its use of EU funds and improve liquidity for boosting growth and creating jobs. The proposal's main objective is to address the lack of public funds available for much needed investments in Greece, and to ensure that the concerned European structural and investment funds deliver their benefits as rapidly as possible on the ground. The approved measures are exceptional and designed to respond to the unique situation created by the financial crisis in Greece.

The draft regulation would improve the liquidity of Greece by around €2.0 billion. This would be achieved in the following ways:  

• An increase in advance payments by a total of 7 percentage points in 2015 and 2016 for the funding of the 2014-2020 period. This concerns the European social fund, the European fund for regional development, the cohesion fund and the European maritime and fisheries fund. This measure would make available an additional €1 billion in 2015 and 2016. Advance payments are made by the Commission to the member states automatically after the adoption of each operational programme to accelerate the implementation of the planned measures.
  
  
• An increase in the maximum EU co-financing rates to 100% for the 2007-2013 programmes financed by the cohesion fund, the European social fund and the European fund for regional development. Greece already benefits from a higher EU co-financing for this period: in many cases the EU covers 95% of the total investment costs, rather than the usual 85%. In addition, there would be an early release of the last 5% of the remaining EU payments normally retained until the closure of the programmes for the 2007-2013 period. Together with the increase of the co-financing rates this would make available an additional €1 billion in 2015 and 2016.

The total €2 billion would be frontloaded within the 2014-2020 period and be budgetary neutral over the same period.

Next steps 

The position agreed by the Council serves as a mandate for the Luxembourg presidency to hold discussions with representatives of the European Parliament. Once an agreement between the Council and the Parliament is reached both institutions have to formally approve the outcome.

Background

The purpose of cohesion policy is to reduce disparities between the levels of development of the EU's various regions by promoting economic growth, job creation and competitiveness.

The EU funds are the biggest source of foreign direct investment in Greece. Under the 2007-2013 programming period almost €42 billion are allocated to Greece. They consist of around €24 billion from EU structural and cohesion funds, the fisheries and rural development funds, and around €17 billion for direct payments to farmers and support measures for agricultural markets. Until now, Greece has received €38.4 billion, corresponding to 17.5% of average annual Greek GDP over that period. An amount of nearly €2 billion for cohesion policy is still available; if it is not used by the end of 2015 it would be lost.  

For the 2014-2020 period, more than €35 billion have been earmarked for Greece. They consist of € 20 billion European structural and investment funds and over €15 billion for direct payments to farmers and support measures for agricultural markets. Out of this foreseen allocation, €4.5 billion have already been paid between 2014 and July 2015.

Europe's drones sector offers exciting opportunities for growth, however new rules are needed to ensure they can be used safely, but without deterring investment. The transport committee adopted a report on this on 15 September. Find out more about the opportunities, the need for proper training and what should be done about the privacy issue in our video interview with Jacqueline Foster, who is in charge of steering the new rules through Parliament.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Europe's drones sector offers exciting opportunities for growth, however new rules are needed to ensure they can be used safely, but without deterring investment. The transport committee adopted a report on this on 15 September. Find out more about the opportunities, the need for proper training and what should be done about the privacy issue in our video interview with Jacqueline Foster, who is in charge of steering the new rules through Parliament.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Commission v Slovakia
Freedom of movement for persons
By limiting entitlement to disability benefits and the Christmas bonus for persons on a low income to Slovak residents, Slovakia has not failed to fulfil its obligations under an EU regulation

AMENDMENTS 1 - 169 - Draft opinion The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Draft rules to cut emissions of major air pollutants from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), ranging from lawn mowers to bulldozers, tractors and inland waterway vessels, were backed by Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday. NRMM engines account for about 15% of all NOx and 5% of particulate emissions in the EU.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Draft rules to cut emissions of major air pollutants from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), ranging from lawn mowers to bulldozers, tractors and inland waterway vessels, were backed by Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday. NRMM engines account for about 15% of all NOx and 5% of particulate emissions in the EU.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP