2nd – 6th September 2013. Georgia on the path to the EU. Dijssenbloem. NSA inquiry. EU foreign affairs policy and the protection of converts.

Georgia on the path to the EU

ECR Vice-President Ryszard Legutko will host a hearing to discuss the situation in Georgia after the last parliamentary elections and a month before the planned presidential elections, especially in the context of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius and the probable initiation of the Association Agreement and DCFTA procedures. The hearing will provide Members of the European Parliament, journalists and representatives of civil society with an opportunity to receive information about the current situation in the country from representatives of the ruling coalition and opposition party, as well as independent experts closely following political developments in Georgia.

Contact: Katarzyna Ochman on +32 470 955928 or Mateusz Kochanowski on +32489582781

Hearing: Tuesday @ 10.00 in A5E2

Dijssenbloem

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem will meet with MEPs from the economics committee. Greece will doubtless dominate the discussions.

Contact: Luc Rochtus on +32 479 73 45 67

Meeting: Thursday @ 09.00

NSA inquiry

The justice and home affairs committee will hold its first hearing into allegations of mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency, even though national security is not a competence of the European Parliament. ECR spokesman Timothy Kirkhope is urging his colleagues to investigate the claims in a calm and responsible manner, remembering that the USA is a key ally of the EU, and the grave nature of the threats faced by the West.

Contact: John Furbisher on +32 498 984760

Hearing: Thursday @ 15.00

EU foreign affairs policy and the protection of converts

ECR MEP Peter Van Dalen will co-host a hearing alongside Bastiaan Belder MEP looking into how the implementation of the EU’s principle to protect freedom of religion can be applied to those who convert from one religion or belief to another.

Contact: Maarten van de Fliert on +31 652 24 44 64

Hearing: Wednesday @ 13.30 PHS 7C50