9th-13th November 2015. Valletta summit. Energy Union. Draghi and Djisselbloem. EU electoral law. Court of Auditors. 4th railway package.

Valletta summit

EU and African leaders will meet in Malta to discuss the ongoing migration crisis and its underlying causes. The meeting will be followed by an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government.

The Parliament’s rapporteur for the permanent relocation mechanism, ECR Member Timothy Kirkhope, has consistently argued that the EU need to better implement existing asylum and migration rules , including processing and fingerprinting upon arrival and a better focus on returns and resettlement directly from conflict regions.

ECR Chairman Syed Kamall recently said the EU needs to stop adopting plans and roadmaps and actually begin delivering some action by sending out a strong message that not everyone can come to Europe, and instead focus on stabilising the refugee and migrant crisis.

Watch his speech

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

Summits: Wednesday and Thursday

Energy Union

The industry committee will vote on its position on how the future Energy Union should look in a report authored by ECR industry spokesman Marek Gróbarczyk. The ECR believes that Energy Union shuold focus on the completion of the common energy market. When necessary, market mechanisms shall also be supported by a solidarity mechanism towards member states suffering from dominance of one energy supplier. Also, the ECR believes that part of the EU’s energy strategy shall be to fully tap all available indigenous energy resources which contribute to the ultimate goal of Europe’s low-carbon future.
Press officer to contact: Katarzyna Ochman on +32 470 955928

Vote: Tuesday @ 10.00

Draghi and Djisselbloem

The President of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Djisselbloem, will meet with the economics committee to discuss the implementation of the new assistance programme for Greece, and the general situation in the eurozone. Beatrix Von Storch will ask him about Greece, whilst Bernd Lucke will ask on the euro area situation.
ECB President Mario Draghi will also appear before the committee and will be asked questions by Notis Marias and by Sander Loones in Draghi’s capacity as ECB President and chair of the European Systemic Risk Board respectively.
Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Djisselbloem in committee: Tuesday
Draghi in committee: Thursday

EU electoral law

MEPs will adopt a non-binding report asking for changes to rules to European Parliament elections. The report calls for uniform rules regarding a mandatory election threshold, harmonisation of the minimum age of voting to 16, and ensuring gender equality in the lists for elections. ECR shadow rapporteur Kazimierz Ujazdowski believes the report significantly interferes with the rights of Member States.
Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

Vote: Wednesday evening

Court of Auditors

The Court of Auditors will publish their annual report on EU spending in 2014. ECR budgetary control spokesman Ryszard Czarnecki will respond to the report’s findings.

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

Report published: Tuesday @ 10.00

4th railway package

The transport committee will vote to approve the deal between the parliament and council on “technical pillar” of the 4th Railway Package, containing directives on safety and interoperability and the regulation on the European Railway Agency (ERA). ECR Coordinator in the committee Roberts Zīle is rapporteur on the ERA regulation.

The deal will lay down the dual system of authorisation of vehicles and safety certifications of railway undertakings, because it leaves choice for companies: those who will use wagons only in one country’s railway network will have the choice to apply for authorisation of vehicles either in the ERA or in national safety authorities, while those vehicles to be used in cross-border operations will have to be authorised by the ERA.

Mr Zīle stresses that the railway industry has been waiting for this new legislation for a long time, as the European railway sector still faces continuous problems such as barriers to competition, discrimination and a lack of dynamic business-friendly environment.
Press officer to contact: Karlis Bumeisters on +32 473 527704

Vote: Tuesday