23rd – 27th February 2015 – Brussels // ECR Group

Passenger Name Records, Ukraine, European Council debate and Energy Union.

Passenger Name Records

Rapporteur Timothy Kirkhope will present his revised proposals for an EU Passenger Name Records (PNR) system to the civil liberties and home affairs committee. The committee rejected a proposal in 2013 but the full parliament asked the committee to continue working on finding a compromise. European leaders have repeatedly argued that an EU PNR system would be invaluable in the fight against serious crime and terrorism, and Mr Kirkhope believes that an EU agreement with strong safeguards for personal data would be far preferable to a patchwork of national PNR systems with lesser standards and an incomplete net.
Mr Kirkhope will present a report that seeks to take into account the concerns expressed in 2013. After the presentation he will hold a press conference

Press officer to contact: Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Presentation to committee: Thursday @ 09.15
Press Conference in room PHS 0A50 (with EN/FR/DE translation): Thursday @ 11.00

Ukraine

Flemish ECR MEP Mark Demesmaeker last week travelled to Eastern Ukraine, where he witnessed the humanitarian situation there, and the violation of the ceasefire by Russian-backed troops. He will hold a press conference to report back on what he saw during the week.

Press officer to contact: Luc Rochtus on +32 479 734567

Press Conference in room PHS 0A50: Monday @ 11.30

European Council debate

The full parliament will meet to debate the outcome of the informal European Council held on the 12th February, formally to discuss terrorism and Ukraine, but with the situation in Greece also at the fore of discussions.
ECR Chairman Syed Kamall will speak in the debate, arguing that the Euro zone cannot continue to kick the can down the road indefinitely.

Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762 or james.holtum@europarl.europa.eu

Debate: Wednesday @ 16.00

Energy Union

The European Commission will present outline proposals for an ‘Energy Union’ during a debate in the parliament chamber. The ECR wants to see more emphasis on regional cooperation, competition and interconnection, with an approach that seeks to assist EU Member States, rather than a top-down approach that fails to recognise the individual circumstances of each country.
ECR industry and energy spokesman Marek Grobarczyk will speak for the group during the debate.

Press officer to contact: Kasia Ochman on +32 470 955928

Debate: Wednesday @ 15.00

Contacts

For enquiries relating to the ECR Group, the Group Chairman or a national delegation not listed below:

James Holtum

ECR Group Spokesman

Rue Wiertz – ATR 07K 031

B – 1047 Brussels

Tel.: + 32 473 861762

E-mail: james.holtum@europarl.europa.eu

For enquiries relating to a national delegation of the group or its members:

UK delegation:

John Furbisher

Tel.: +32 498 984760

E-mail: john.furbisher@europarl.europa.eu

Polish delegation:

Katarzyna Ochman

Tel.: +32 470 955928

E-mail: katarzyna.ochman@europarl.europa.eu

German delegation:

Tobias Teuscher

Tel.: +32 475 864064

E-mail: tobias.teuscher@europarl.europa.eu

Belgian delegation:

Luc Rochtus

Tel.: +32 479 734567

E-mail: luc.rochtus@europarl.europa.eu

Czech delegation:

Jan Krelina

Tel.: +32 493 214346

E-mail: jan.krelina@europarl.europa.eu

Dutch delegation:

Maarten Van Der Fliert

Tel.: +31 652 24 44 64

E-mail: maarten.vandefliert@europarl.europa.eu

Bulgarian delegation:

Daniela Koleva

Tel.: +32 475 634973

E-mail: Daniela.koleva@europarl.europa.eu

Latvian delegation:

Karlis Bumeisters

Tel.: +371 29245260

E-mail: Karlis.bumeisters@europarl.europa.eu