Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochaka,
© European Union 2019 – Source : EP/Fred MARVAUX
The December plenary session highlights included the election of the European Ombudsman; commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights becoming legally binding; and the award of the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Parliament adopted positions on the rule of law in Malta, following the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and on public discrimination and hate speech against LGBTI people, including LGBTI-free zones. It also debated statements by the Vice-President of the European Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP) on the humanitarian situation of the Uyghur in China and in Venezuela and Nicaragua, on the migration and refugee crisis, and on the violent crackdown on recent protests in Iran. Debates took place, inter alia, on Commission and Council statements on: the 30th anniversary of the Romanian revolution of December 1989; the post-2020 EU disability strategy; the COP25 outcome; animal welfare conditions during transport to third countries; and the US Trade Representative’s announcement on France’s digital service tax. Parliament also voted on appointments to the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.
European Green Deal – extraordinary plenary session on 11 DecemberDuring an extraordinary December plenary session, Members debated the European Green Deal presented by Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans after its adoption by the European Commission the same day. Outlined in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines, the Green Deal aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while boosting industrial competitiveness and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected. Key aims include preserving Europe’s natural environment, a ‘farm to fork’ strategy for sustainable food, and a new circular economy action plan.
Election of the OmbudsmanIn the election of the European Ombudsman, Members chose to re-elect incumbent Emily O’Reilly, following a tight third round of votes against Julia Laffranque (320 votes against 280, out of 600 votes cast). O’Reilly’s main priority remains tackling the lack of transparency in national governments’ role in EU law-making. The Ombudsman’s office represents citizens and others who wish to lodge complaints regarding the actions of EU administrative bodies, and aims at ensuring that EU institutions respect citizens’ rights and the principles of good administration.
10th anniversary of the Lisbon TreatyParliament commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Lisbon Treaty and that of the Charter of Fundamental Rights becoming legally binding. With the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council became a formal EU institution, and the anniversary provided an occasion to review the formal and informal changes it brought about in the role of the EU institutions. The new competences added under the Treaty have yet to be fully exploited, however, and represent a rich seam of unused Treaty potential for the future.
European Council meeting of 12 and 13 December 2019Parliament heard a report on, and debated the conclusions of, the latest meeting of the European Council, on 12 and 13 December 2019. At this first European Council meeting chaired by the new President, Charles Michel, EU leaders announced an agreement on the objective of achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050, despite one Member State’s inability to commit to implementing this objective at this stage. No agreement was reached on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), but the European Council mandated its President to take the negotiations forward. The Council also considered the proposed Conference on the Future of Europe, and tasked the incoming Croatian Presidency with working towards defining a Council position, and to engage with the European Parliament and the Commission. EU leaders also discussed a wide range of international issues, including relations with Turkey and Russia.
Sakharov Prize 2019Parliament awarded its 2019 Sakharov Prize to laureate Ilham Tohti. The European Parliament is committed to defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the award highlights those who stand up for the right to freedom of expression, safeguard minority rights or champion international law and democracy. Currently imprisoned by the Chinese government (his daughter received the prize on his behalf), Ilham Tohti is a moderate advocate of Uyghur minority rights who eschews radical separatist movements in favour of dialogue with the Han majority. Parliament’s President has urged the Chinese government to release Tohti, and called for China to respect minority population rights, particularly in the light of the ‘China-cables’ exposé of Chinese treatment of the Uyghur.
Joint debate on VAT fraud and payment service providersMembers debated, and approved by a large majority, two reports providing opinions on the proposals for a regulation and directive to better combat VAT fraud in the e-commerce sector. E-commerce is booming, and while it offers opportunities to increase cross-border sales, the EU is keen to avoid that it also allows increased tax fraud. Tackling VAT fraud related to e-commerce therefore requires robust systems for the transmission and exchange of VAT-relevant payment data (such as who is supplying the goods). Consulted on two European Commission proposals (on maintaining and exchanging electronic payment records), Parliament recommends the establishment of a common EU system for the collection of comparable statistics on intra-Community VAT fraud and the publication of national estimates of VAT revenue losses due to fraud. It also proposes to extend the period during which payment service providers are required to keep information on cross-border payment transactions, from two to three years.
CAP: Flexibility pillars for 2020 and financial discipline from 2021While there is broad agreement that interim measures are necessary to bridge the funding gap until the MFF can be agreed, the EU still needs to put transitional provisions in place. Parliament’s Budgets and Agriculture Committees agreed that those who benefit from EU funding should not suffer harm because of the procedural delays. Consequently, no amendments were tabled to the Commission’s proposal for a regulation extending the current rules on flexibility between the pillars of the common agricultural policy (CAP) until the end of 2021, and Parliament approved its first-reading position under a simplified procedure. The stability of EU farmer income support post-2020 is now ensured, as the new regulation extends the 2015-2019 rules on flexibility between CAP pillars, i.e. moving money from national envelopes for rural development to the envelope for direct payments.
EU-Gambia Sustainable Fisheries Partnership AgreementMembers voted in favour of concluding a new EU fisheries agreement with The Gambia, including a proposed annual EU contribution of €550 000. Half of this amount covers access rights for EU fishing vessels to Gambian waters and half should assist The Gambia to develop its fisheries sector in a sustainable manner, including preventing illegal fishing.
Read this ‘at a glance’ on ‘Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, December 2019‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
Written by Lucienne Attard (The Directorate-General for the Presidency),
INTRODUCTION© meunierd / Shutterstock
For the first time since joining the European Union in 2013, Croatia will hold the rotating Council Presidency from 1 January to 30 June 2020. Croatia is a parliamentary, representative democratic republic, where the Prime Minister of Croatia is the head of government in a multi-party system.Executive power is exercised by the government and the President of Croatia. Legislative power is vested in the Croatian Parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Parliament adopted the current Constitution of Croatia on 22 December 1990 and decided to declare independence from Yugoslavia on 25 May 1991.
The Croatian Parliament is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, the ‘Sabor’ represents the people and is vested with legislative power. The Sabor is composed of 151 members elected for a four-year term based on direct, universal and equal suffrage by secret ballot. Seats are allocated according to the Croatian Parliament electoral districts: 140 members of the parliament are elected in multi-seat constituencies, 8 from the minorities and 3 from the Croatian diaspora.
Since 19 October 2016, the Prime Minister of Croatia is Mr Andrej Plenković. There are four deputy prime ministers: Davor Božinović, Zdravko Marić, Damir Krstičević and Predrag Štromar. The government ministers are from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Croatian People’s Party – Liberal Democrats (HNS), with two further ministers being independent politicians. TheCroatian Democratic Union (Croatian: Hrvatska demokratska zajednica or HDZ, literally Croatian Democratic Community) is a liberal conservative political party and the main centre-right political party in Croatia. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Croatia, along with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP). It is currently the largest party in the Sabor with 55 seats.
POLITICAL PRIORITIES OF THE CROATIAN PRESIDENCYThis note looks at the Croatian Presidency’s priorities, focusing essentially on the four core priorities, which will guide its work until June 2020. Those dossiers which figure in the Joint Declaration agreed to by the three institutions as priorities for 2018-2019 are marked with an asterisk (*). Also includedare some legislative files which the Conference of Presidents (COP) of the European Parliament endorsed in a list of ‘unfinished business’ in October 2019, and on which work between the two co-legislators has started or will resume.
The four main priority areas of the Croatian Presidency are:
The challenges currently facing the Union are well known and include in particular Brexit and the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (MFF) (2018/0166 APP)*, which the Croatian Presidency commits to carrying forward. Croatia also pledges to focus on disparities in economic development, climate change, migration, misinformation campaigns and growing populism.
This presidency will follow on the work of the Finnish Presidency, taking into account the priorities of the Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 endorsed by the Member States at the European Council on 20 June 2019. The Strategic Agenda covers the protection of citizens’ freedoms; developing a strong and vibrant economic base; building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe; and promoting European interests and values on the global stage.
I. A EUROPE THAT IS DEVELOPINGIn an effort to reduce differences between Member States, and to foster economic and social cohesion and convergence, Croatia will work towards an ambitious, balanced and sustainable MFF.During Parliament’s eighth legislature, a number of committees worked on the proposals for sectoral programmes, which will implement the overall MFF for 2021-2027. However, the actual amount of the next seven-year EU budget still needs to be established by the Council and then approved by Parliament. Agreeing the new seven-year programme has been complicated by, on the one hand, the appointment of a new Commission, and on the other hand, by time-consuming and complex issues such as Brexit.
Brexit is a major question that the Croatian Presidency will be facing, considering the deadline of 31 January 2020 for the UK to exit the EU. The general election on 12 December in the UK gave an unambiguous result, and the UK parliament can now be expected to move forward in time for the Brexit date. In the coming months there will need to be negotiations on the new relationship to be tailored with the UK, and this will most certainly dominate the political environment in the first half of 2020.
In line with Croatia’s first priority, the following legislative proposals could feature during the Croatian Presidency:
On matters relating to the strengthening of competitiveness and skills, the Croatian Presidency plans to focus on digitalisation of business, competitiveness of European industry and SMEs, mobility of scientists and researchers, and modernisation of agriculture. The following are some of the pending proposals which would fall under this remit:
With regard to the mobility of scientists and researchers, there is the pending proposal on the Entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly skilled employment(2016/0176 COD)*. This proposal, known as the Blue Card directive, remains blocked over the question of harmonisation vs national schemes.
In the context of a green Europe, and of sustainable economic growth and development, the following could feature prominently:
The Croatian Presidency also intends to work towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement, with a transition to a low-carbon and circular economy, and on conservation of biodiversity, protection of the marine environment and efficient water and waste management. It is to be noted that legislative proposals on the matter are being prioritised by the European Commission. A European Green Deal has already been adopted by the College of Commissioners and presented in Parliament on 11 December 2019. New legislative proposals in this connection will be adopted and published in the coming months.
On social matters, the Croatian Presidency highlights the need to implement the European Pillar of Social rights, including work-life balance and promoting equality between women and men, as well as better opportunities for young people and promoting lifelong care for one’s health. In this regard, there is the non-evolution on the legislative proposal on Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges (2012/0299 COD). On the other hand, there is a possibility that the proposal on the Coordination of social security systems (2016/0397 COD)* could be concluded by the Finnish Presidency before the end of its term in December 2019. This proposal affects the social rights of some 12 million citizens and their families.
II. A EUROPE THAT CONNECTSThe main areas of concern under this heading are the establishment of a single, European transport area, high quality and secure data infrastructure, an integrated energy market and stronger connections between Union citizens. To this end, the following pending legislative proposals could be negotiated during the Croatian Presidency:
On stronger connections between Union citizens, the Croatian Presidency proposes to focus on further strengthening the mobility of students and researchers – in this context, negotiations on the Erasmus programme for education, training, youth and sport 2021-2027 (2018/0191 COD) will beessential, as well as on the Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 (2018/0190 COD). Equally important in terms of youth programmes, is the European Solidarity Corps programme 2021-2027(2018/0230 COD) (MFF file).
III. A EUROPE THAT PROTECTSInternal security, more effective control of external borders, interoperability of IT systems and stronger resilience to external threats and malicious cyber activities, are amongst the key areas the Presidency would like to focus on. The following legislative proposals are relevant:
On the reform of the Common European Asylum system, and questions of migration, the co-legislators did not conclude the following proposals and work, it is hoped, would resume quickly:
Asylum: Member States responsible for examining an application for international protection (Dublin system)* (2016/0133 COD) – this is the key file of the asylum package and the one that held up the conclusion of most other files in the package
Strengthening multilateralism, fulfilling the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and promoting European values and interests are amongst the key points for the EU’s external action. The Croatian Presidency considers that an effective enlargement and neighbourhood policy, including in the Western Balkans, is necessary for further economic development in Europe. To this end, an EU-Western Balkans Summit will take place in Zagreb in May 2020. Prior to this, the European Council pledged to discuss enlargement matters again after failing to approve Northern Macedonia and Albania for accession negotiations.
Equally important are the negotiations on the Instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA III) 2021-2027 (2018/0247 COD) (MFF file).
The Croatian Presidency also considers it a priority to intensify relations with third countries and to strengthen transatlantic relations. Trade agreements with Vietnam and Mercosur are nearing completion, with consent for the first due to be given by the INTA committee in January and plenary in February 2020. Referral to Parliament of the Mercosur agreement is expected by mid-2020.
On questions of security and defence, negotiations on the European Defence Fund 2021-2027(2018/0254 COD) (MFF file) will be important in terms of the crisis-response capacity described in the Presidency priorities.
CONCLUSIONThe Croatian Presidency has announced it intends to build cooperation and agreement among Member States in a spirit of consensus and mutual respect. In this light, work on the Conference on the Future of Europe is expected to intensify, at a time where the challenges facing the EU are significant, including the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU. Similarly, it is expected that a new Joint Declaration for 2020, between the three institutions, will see the light of day during the Croatian Presidency, after the new Commission has presented its annual work programme for 2020.
Read this briefing on ‘Priority dossiers under the Croatian EU Council Presidency‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
The Directorate-General for the Presidency (DG Presidency) plays a key role throughout each parliamentary procedure, from its launch until its conclusion through the adoption of an EP resolution or legislative act, in particular in ensuring the smooth running of the plenary sessions. The staff of the DG play a key coordination role across the different services of the Parliament, and support Members in a wide range of activities. The Interinstitutional Relations Unit within DG Presidency, amongst other tasks, prepares a broad range documents concerned with strategic programming, such as on activities of the Commission and the Council.
Written by Marcin Grajewski,
© Artur Szczybylo / Shutterstock.com
The European Parliament elections and formation of a new European Commission with new priorities, together with a general economic slowdown against the backdrop of the US-China trade conflict, to say nothing of Brexit, defined 2019 as a year of tough choices in the context of old and new challenges. Those include efforts to fight climate change, the defence of the rules-based international order, the advance of the digital revolution, the emerging debate over the EU’s strategic sovereignty, and the need to re-define relations with the United Kingdom post-Brexit.
This note offers links to recent selected commentaries, studies and reports from major international think tanks on the state of the EU in 2019 and its outlook in several important areas.
Commission, elections, dilemmasThe future of the European Union: Scenarios for the start of the new legislature
Istituto Affari Internazionali, November 2019
The new EU leadership: The von der Leyen Commission focuses on Europe’s geoeconomic power
Finnish Institute for International Affairs, November 2019
Can Europe learn to play power politics?
Centre for European Reform, November 2019
Moving beyond the ‘crisis’: Recommendations for the European Commission’s communication on migration
European Policy Centre, September 2019
Spitzenkandidaten poker
European Council on Foreign Relations, July 2019
Comparative trends in EU governance
Clingendael, July 2019
How to govern a fragmented EU: What Europeans said at the ballot box
European Council on Foreign Relations, June 2019
The changing global order and its implications for the EU
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, March 2019
No end in sight for the EU’s democracy and rule of law crisis
German Marshall Fund, March 2019
Joining forces: The way towards the European Defence Union
European Political Strategy Centre, February 2019
Four pillars to make or break the European Green Deal
Bruegel, November 2019
4 priorities for the COP25 climate conference in Madrid
World Resources Institute, November 2019
Financing climate change and sustainable growth
LSE, Grantham Institute on Climate Change, November 2019
Coming soon: A massive laboratory for ‘Green New Deals’
Bruegel, October 2019
Cities, climate change and chronic heat exposure
LSE, Grantham Institute on Climate Change, September 2019
The ambition call: European Union
New Climate Institute, August 2019
Planning for 2050: Shifting the focus towards long-term climate objectives
Ecologic Institute, August 2019
Europe’s clean energy transition: An economic opportunity, an environmental imperative
Friends of Europe, July 2019
A 100 percent renewable energy system in Europe is technically possible and economically rational
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, May 2019
What is climate resilience and why does it matter?
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, April 2019
Towards a European Security Council?
Centre for European Reform, November 2019
The militarization of US foreign policy: Engagement with Europe increasingly about defense
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, November 2019
The changing global order: Which role for the European Union?
Stiftung Genshagen, October 2019
Sub-surface competition in the EuroAtlantic area: The challenge to Western dominance
Institut français des relations internationales, October 2019
Mission possible? The geopolitical Commission and the partnership with Africa
European Centre for Development Policy Management, October 2019
Defend, engage, maximise: A progressive agenda for EU-China relations
Foundation for European Progressive Studies, October 2019
Democratization first: The community method in CFSP as a precondition for a European defence policy
Institut français des relations internationales, September 2019
The multilateral system under stress: Charting Europe’s path forward
Clingendael, July 2019
From plaything to player: How Europe can stand up for itself in the next five years
European Council on Foreign Relations, July 2019
Strategic autonomy for European choices: The key to Europe’s shaping power
European Policy Centre, July 2019
A trade war ceasefire is just what America’s economy needs
Peterson Institute for International Economics, December 2019
EU trade policy: Global enforcer for the European Green Deal
European Policy Centre, December 2019
The rise of economic nationalism threatens global cooperation
Peterson Institute for International Economics, September 2019
La politique de sanctions de l’Union européenne: Ambition multilatérale contre ambition de puissance
Institut français des relations internationales, October 2019
Shaping a new international trade order: Competition and co-operation among the European Union, the United States, and China
Dahrendorf Institute, October 2019
The real cost of Trump’s trade wars
Centre for European Policy Studies, August 2019
The unravelling of the Shanghai ‘Deal’: US-China trade-cum-currency conflict comes to Europe
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, August 2019
Transatlantic trade: The emergence of an EU geo-economic strategy?
German Marshall Fund, July 2019
A reflection on the Mercosur agreement
Bruegel, July 2019
US-China trade war: Why the EU should take sides and favour the rules-based order
Istituto Affari Internazionali, July 2019
Manufacturing employment, international trade, and China
Bruegel, November 2019
The single market remains the decisive power of the EU
Centre for European Policy Studies, October 2019
Beyond industrial policy: Why Europe needs a new growth strategy
Jacques Delors Institute, October 2019
The single market remains the decisive power of the EU
Centre for European Policy Studies, October 2019
Changing guard of the ECB
Institute of International and European Affairs, September 2019
New beginnings: A new approach to euro zone reform
Notre Europe, September 2019
The role of the European Central Bank
Council on Foreign Relations, August 2019
ECB monetary policy in the post-Draghi era
Peterson Institute for International Economy, June 2019
The Economic and Monetary Union: Past, present and future
Centre for Social and Economic Research, March 2019
Mapping the conflict between EU member states over reform of the euro zone
LSE Ideas, January 2019
An industry action plan for a more competitive, sustainable and strategic European Union
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, November 2019
The case for platform governance
Centre for International governance innovation, November 2019
Beyond industrial policy: Why Europe needs a new growth strategy
Jacques Delors Institute, October 2019
5G: What we talk about when we talk about trust, the EU risk assessment process
European Centre for International Political Economy, October 2019
Analytical report: Preparing the armed forces for disruptive technological changes
European Policy Centre, September 2019
The end of techno-utopianism
German Marshall Fund, September 2019
Artificial Intelligence prediction and counterterrorism
Chatham House, August 2019
How to strengthen Europe’s agenda on digital connectivity
Clingendael, July 2019
Digitalisation and European welfare states
Bruegel, July 2019
Harnessing artificial intelligence
European Council on Foreign Relations, June 2019
Path to a softer Brexit? UK PM’s win gives him leeway
Centre for European Reform, December 2019
Getting the UK ready for the next phase of Brexit negotiations
Institute for Government, December 2019
The EU should prepare for all UK post-election scenarios
European Policy Centre, December 2019
Brexit, transition and Northern Ireland
The UK in a Changing Europe, December 2019
Brexit, the democratic question in Europe, and the future of the EU
German Marshall Fund, December 2019
What does the Conservative election victory mean for Brexit?
Open Europe, December 2019
The first hundred days
Policy Exchange, December 2019
Boris Johnson’s next act: Saving the UK
Atlantic Council, December 2019
Brexit endgame: British voters back Boris and Brexit
Brookings Institution, December 2019
How economically damaging will Brexit be?
Centre for European Reform, November 2019
Just a little Brexit?
Centre for European Policy Studies, September 2019
Read this briefing on ‘2019: A year of challenges and choices‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.