Smolensk, European Council, Draghi, Taxation and European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership.

Smolensk

Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Smolensk airplane crash, which killed Poland’s President Kaczyński, his wife Maria, and 94 other leading figures, the ECR will hold several events.

On Tuesday the Law and Justice delegation, and Beata Gosiewska MEP, will open an exhibition with the participation of Marta Kaczyńska, President and Mrs Kaczyński’s daughter. The event will be followed by the screening of ‘A Lady’, a documentary film about Maria Kaczyńska.

On Wednesday the ECR Group will hold a debate, ‘Five years after the Smolensk crash, What do we know?’ The event will include the participation of Marta Kaczyńska, and will be moderated by ECR chairman Syed Kamall.

Contact: Kasia Ochman on +32 470 955928

Exhibition opened: Tuesday @ 18.00 in ASP Ground floor, Zone G
Screening of ‘A Lady’: Tuesday @ 19.00 in ASP3G2
Debate: Wednesday @ 13.30 in PHS1A002

European Council

Following last week’s European Council meeting, Council President Tusk and Commission President Juncker will debate the outcome with MEPs. ECR Chairman Syed Kamall will give the ECR’s reaction in the debate.

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

Council debate: Wednesday @ 15.00

Draghi

The President of the European Central Bank will appear before the economics committee, with the ECB’s recently-launched Quantitative Easing (QE) likely to be the most discussed topic. ECR Flemish MEP and Vice-President of the committee, Sander Loones, believes that QE is a mistake that will inflate bubbles and encourage countries to put off much-needed structural reforms.

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

Debate: Monday @ 15.00

Taxation

The parliament will debate last week’s proposals from the European Commission on tax transparency. Following the announcement last week, ECR spokesman on the parliament’s recently constituted special committee on tax rulings, Morten Messerschmidt, said: “Improving transparency is one area where the EU, G7 and G20 can make a useful contribution. However, there is a strong drive by Mr Juncker and many MEPs to exploit the Luxleaks saga and fulfil their fantasies of EU tax harmonisation.”

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

Debate: Wednesday @ 17.00

European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership

The parliament will hold a debate on the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy and particularly the Eastern Partnership policy ahead of an Eastern Partnership meeting in Riga in May. ECR foreign affairs spokesman Charles Tannock wants to see a revitalised Eastern Partnership policy that supports those countries on Europe’s eastern border who wish to choose their own future.

The parliament will also vote on granting €1.8 billion of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine for economic and political stabilisation and reform. ECR Shadow rapporteur Bolesław Piecha supports the proposal.

Press officer to contact: John Furbisher on +32 498 984 760

Debate on European Neighbourhood: Wednesday from 16.00

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

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