European Parliament

New rules to curb the growing influx into the EU of plant pests, such as olive grove killer Xylella fastidiosa, and better equip member states to tackle their spread, were endorsed by the Agriculture Committee on Thursday. The draft rules, informally agreed by MEPs and member states last year, will introduce new preventive and rapid response mechanisms for suspect plant imports, step up pest surveillance efforts in the EU and require all member states to draw up outbreak contingency plans.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

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General : Ever heard of pangolins? Chances are you will never have a chance to see them up close. These mammals are the most trafficked worldwide and like rhinos and elephants are now on the brink of extinction. It's another example of wildlife trafficking poses a serious threat to the survival of our ecosystems. On Thursday 13 October, the environment committee votes on a report by Catherine Bearder on how EU and its members states should step up their efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.

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General : Parliamentarium, the Parliament’s visitors centre, has proved to be one of Brussels' most popular attractions since opening. Its permanent exhibition shows Parliament's work and explains the history of European integration in 24 languages. On Thursday 13 October it celebrates its fifth anniversary. If you are in Brussels that day, don't miss the chance to join the celebration from 17.00 to 22.00 CET.

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International Trade Committee MEPs, farmers, businesses, public health and trade union representatives debated the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada on Wednesday morning. CETA can only enter into force with the European Parliament’s approval.
Committee on International Trade

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There is a need to ensure a strategic framework for the cultural and creative industries as they now represent a major and growing part of our economies, Members of the Culture Committee and of National Parliaments agreed on Tuesday evening at the interparliamentary meeting on the subject.
Committee on Culture and Education

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The Budgets Committee demanded more funds, in a vote on Tuesday, to help young people into jobs, to boost economic growth and assist third countries with a view to mitigating the migration crisis. MEPs had earlier reversed all the cuts proposed by the Council to the draft 2017 EU budget. Part of the additional funds are expected to be financed via new appropriations to be obtained through the ongoing mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Committee on Budgets

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General : Can Dündar and fellow defenders of freedom of thought and expression in Turkey, the Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzemilev, the Yazidi survivors and public advocates Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar are this year's finalists for the Sakharov Prize following a vote by the foreign affairs and development committees on 11 October. The laureate will be selected by the EP President and the political group leaders on 27 October and the award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on 14 December.

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Europe should continue to support film creation and distribution as important tools for our cultural diversity, MEPs and filmmakers underlined on Monday evening in a Lux Prize 10th anniversary debate. Translation and subtitling help to circulate works and promote European values, especially in time of crisis, they added. Film directors Ken Loach, Céline Sciamma and Andrea Segre participated in a very animated debate with Members of the Culture Committee on this occasion.
Committee on Culture and Education

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Plans to prolong a 10% increase in the EU contribution towards project costs in Greece until 30 June of the year following the end of its economic adjustment programme were approved by Regional Development Committee MEPs on Tuesday. MEPs also approved a special provision whereby the EU would pay up to 85% of project costs in Cyprus until the current programming period ends in 2020.
Committee on Regional Development

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Propaganda pressure on the EU from Russia and Islamic terrorist organisations is growing, say Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in a resolution voted on Monday. It seeks to distort the truth, incite fear, provoke doubt and divide the EU. However, this pressure should be countered, not with more propaganda, but with positive messaging, awareness raising and education to increase the information literacy amongst EU citizens, MEPs add.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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CoderDojo, the Irish winners of the European Citizen's Prize 2016, received their medal on Thursday 29 September in Dublin. Seán Kelly ME, EPP presented the prize to Giustina Mizzoni, Executive Director of Coder Dojo at a special Irish prize-giving ceremony in Dublin. CoderDojo will also take part in the official EU Citizen’s Prize ceremony to which will be held in Brussels in October.

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“We have no problem with the 12,5% corporate tax rate in Ireland”, Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told Irish Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee members in a hearing on competition policy on Monday. “But we want to be sure that tax rulings are not being used to grant selective advantages to companies through the backdoor”, she added, referring to the illegal tax ruling that resulted in a minimal tax bill for the American multinational.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

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General : Last May 7,500 young people from across the EU came to the Parliament in Strasbourg for the biennial European Youth Event (EYE). Following two days of discussion on issues ranging from migration to youth unemployment and climate change, 50 of the most interesting ideas from EYE2016 were handed over to MEPs in September. Now EYE participants will present those ideas to Parliament’s committees. You too can join the debate online by using the hashtag #EYE2016.

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General : Parliamentary committees vote this week on proposals to keep the gas supply secure, counteract propaganda from countries the EU, curb the spread of plant pests and fight against wildlife trafficking. The budget committee is also due to vote on the EU's budget for next year, while Parliament will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lux Film Prize. Finally the three finalists for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be revealed this week.

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General : The Lux Film Prize is the European Parliament's way to help promote European cinema and this year the award is already celebrating its 10th anniversary. To celebrate several activities have been planned including a public debate and a live interview on Facebook with renowned directors.This evening last year's winning film Mustang will be screened in 28 cinemas across Europe. Afterwards its director Deniz Gamze Erguven will answers questions from film fans during a Q&A session on Twitter.

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Committee meetings, Brussels

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Plenary sessions : MEPs formally endorsed the United Nations global climate agreement agreed during last December’s COP21 Conference in Paris during this week's plenary session, clearing the way for its ratification and implementation. They also endorsed a ban on exporting EU products that could be used for torture and the death penalty and approved financial assistance for laid-off workers. In addition they supported the idea of free rail passes for 18-year-olds to help them discover Europe.

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Plenary sessions : All Parties to the Paris Agreement on climate change will need to step up their emission reduction pledges if the deal is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees, and this includes the EU’s targets for 2030, say MEPs in a resolution voted on Thursday. Having ratified the Paris deal on Tuesday, the EU is now focusing on the tools needed to achieve its goals, ahead of the next round of talks to take place in Marrakesh next month.

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Plenary sessions : EU-wide safety rules are needed for more materials in contact with food, such as those used in packaging, kitchen utensils and tableware, say MEPs in a non-binding resolution voted on Thursday. They note that only some of these materials, such as plastics and ceramics, have been fully tested for safety for human health. Others, including varnishes and coatings, inks and adhesives, have yet to be fully tested.

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Plenary sessions : The European Parliament opposed the European Commission plans to authorise five GMO products, maize Bt11, 1507 and MON810 (seeds and products), and a glyphosate-resistant cotton, in a vote on Thursday. MEPs reiterated their call for a reform of the EU’s GMO authorisation procedure.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP