12th - 16th December 2016. European Council. Railway reforms. Visa Liberalisation Suspension Mechanism. Helga Stevens. MEPs will debate the outcome of the Slovak Presidency. Deep sea stocks. Fishing in the Skagerrak. Emissions trading.

European Council

Ahead of the EU summit on Thursday, MEPs will debate the outcomes they wish to see from the final meeting of 2017. The ECR Leader will say that the Council – with just a one day meeting – is in danger of falling into a ‘business as usual’ mentality when a new direction is urgently needed for the EU.
Syed Kamall will be available for interview or comment during the summit in the JL Press Room.
Debate: Wednesday morning
Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Railway reforms
This package of reforms foresees the gradual opening of domestic passenger rail markets whilst creating clear rules for competition. This package will ensure that for commercial services, the market will have to be opened for new entrants from 2020. ECR Shadow Rapporteurs Tomasz Poreba and Robert Zile support these measures which further liberalise the market, in a report which fought off demands for burdensome requirements for railway workers.
Vote scheduled: Wednesday 12.00
Press officer to contact: Karl’s Bumeisters on +32 473 527704

Visa Liberalisation Suspension Mechanism
The ECR will be supporting the review of the suspension mechanism which will make it easier for Member States to suspend visas waivers for a third country due to sudden influxes of migrants or security concerns. ECR Shadow Rapporteur Jussi Halla-aho hopes this mechanism will increase mutual trust between Member States and increase public confidence in the EU’s visa waiver system that will allow countries that meet the requirements like Ukraine to move forward with visa free travel.
Vote scheduled: Thursday 12.00
Press officer to contact: Otto Juote on +32 475 904431

Helga Stevens
Helga Stevens, the ECR candidate for European Parliament website will launch her website on Monday. To speak to her about her campaign to ensure EVERY VOICE MATTERS, contact Yannick Vanderveeren on +32 473 806446

MEPs will debate the outcome of the Slovak Presidency
Members of the Parliament will debate the main achievements and events of the Slovak Presidency. ECR Slovak MEPs are Richard Sulk, Jana Zitnanska and Branislav Skripek.
Debate: Tuesday 12.00 Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Deep sea stocks
This Regulation will introduce a series of rules regarding fishing at a certain depth in order to protect the sea bed, including rules on vulnerable ecosystems, tightened control measures, and obligations for the collection of data, and a ban on fishing below a depth of 800 metres. ECR Shadow Rapporteur Ian Duncan will support these measures which protect the seabed, whilst not imposing complex and expensive burdens on fishermen.
Vote scheduled: Tuesday 12.00 Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Fishing in the Skagerrak
ECR Rapporteur Jorn Dorhmann will update the reciprocal agreement between Denmark, Norway and Sweden which has been in force since 1967. This revised agreement will reflect new developments in international fisheries law.
Vote scheduled: Wednesday 12.00 Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Emissions trading
The environment committee will vote on proposals being steered through the parliament by ECR MEP Ian Duncan which seek to reform the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to make it effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, whilst also putting in place measures to prevent ‘carbon leakage’, where companies relocate to countries with more lenient measures.
Vote scheduled: Thursday Press officer to contact: Yannick Vanderveeren on +32 473 806446