8th – 12th July 2013. Tobacco Products Directive. EU-US trade deal. Prism allegations. Mario Draghi and single resolution mechanism. Fisheries Fund. Music copyright. General Nil. Bahram Alivandi exhibition.

Tobacco Products Directive

The environment committee will vote on legislation that sets out a number of measures aimed at discouraging young people from taking up smoking, including pack warnings, minimum pack sizes and rules on flavourings.

ECR shadow rapporteur Martin Callanan MEP wants to put in place practical and workable measures to discourage the habit. He is also seeking to amend proposals that would effectively remove many electronic cigarettes from the marketplace, as Mr Callanan believes these products are an essential aid to quitting smoking.

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

Vote: Wednesday

EU-US trade deal

Negotiations will begin on the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in Washington. ECR international trade spokesman Robert Sturdy has been a strong proponent of the agreement and the ECR is looking for a meaningful partnership.

Press officer to contact: John Furbisher on +32 498 984760

Talks begin: Monday

Prism allegations

The Civil Liberties committee will meet to discuss the investigation it has set up into allegations made against US and EU government intelligence agencies. ECR spokesman Timothy Kirkhope believes that the parliament is rushing to judgment before the US Administration has had time to respond fully to the allegations. If breaches of EU law have occurred then it is for the commission to address them.

Press officer to contact: John Furbisher on +32 498 984760

Debate: Wednesday

Mario Draghi and single resolution mechanism

Mario Draghi will come before the economics committee both as head of the Systemic Risk Board, and as head of the ECB. Derk Jan Eppink and Vicky Ford will lead questioning for the ECR.

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

Debate: Monday

Fisheries Fund

The fisheries committee will vote on reform of the EU’s Maritime and Fisheries Fund. ECR shadow rapporteur Julie Girling wants to see the fund used to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy in order to ensure the long term sustainability of EU fish stocks, such as by promoting fishing gear that limits discards and by helping fishing communities to become more competitive.

Press officer to contact: John Furbisher on +32 498 984760

Vote: Wednesday

Music copyright

The Legal Affairs committee will vote on proposals to set minimum standards for collecting societies operating in the EU, which will open up the market across Europe for online music services by encouraging pan-European licensing agreements between rightsholders and users. Spokesman Sajjad Karim is very happy to support these proposals, which are an important step towards completing the digital single market.

Press officer to contact: John Furbisher on +32 498 984760

Vote: Tuesday

General Nil

ECR MEP Marek Migalski will host the screening of the film General Nil, with a preceding lecture by its director Ryszard Bugajski. See

http://ecrgroup.eu/?p=8823

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

Tuesday @ 18.30 PHS7C050

Bahram Alivandi exhibition

ECR MEP Ryszard Czarnecki will host an exhibition by the late Iranian visual artist Bahram Alivandi, who was one of Iran’s leading artists who faced censorship and imprisonment in Iran. He escaped to Vienna in 1983.

Press officer to contact: Mateusz Kochanowski on +32 489 582781

Exhibition opening: Tuesday 18.00 (Ground floor ‘E’ Section of the European Parliament)