This week in Strasbourg - 21st - 24th November 2016 // ECR Group

This week in Strasbourg - 21st - 24th November 2016

18 November 2016

EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTION Proposals to reduce the number of premature deaths from air pollution are set to be implemented when the parliament votes on legislation steered through by ECR MEP Julie Girling.

EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTION

Proposals to reduce the number of premature deaths from air pollution are set to be implemented when the parliament votes on legislation steered through by ECR MEP Julie Girling.

The Directive sets revised national ceilings for emissions of air pollution like sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia (NH3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Mrs Girling believes the proposal being put to MEPs for their final approval is ambitious, fair and workable, with an almost 50 percent improvement in health impact by 2030.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12.30

Press officer to contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762 and Yannick Vanderveeren on +32 473 80 64

RUSSIAN AND DAESH PROPAGANDA

Russian propaganda and online ‘trolls’ seeking to undermine the West’s security need a strong response to counter their disinformation, and a report being put to the parliament by ECR MEP Anna Fotyga will propose ways the EU and partners such as NATO can strengthen their response.

Mrs Fotyga, chair of the parliament’s Security and Defence subcommittee, and former Polish Foreign Minister, wants to see a stronger ‘StratCom’ (Strategic Communications) task force in the EU’s External Action Service to counter both Russian misinformation and also propaganda deployed by Daesh.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12.30

Press officers to contact: Katarzyna Ochman on +32 470 955928 and Christina Rasmussen on +32 475 780819

‘DEFENCE UNION’

A report encouraging EU governments to shape a ‘European Defence Union’ is being put to the parliament with proposals for greater structured permanent cooperation between Member States, binding commitments, a strengthened industrial base, an EU-wide system for the movement of defence personnel, equipment and supplies, and for the High Representative to propose an EU security and defence White Book at the heart of future policy.

ECR security and defence coordinator, and former senior Army officer, Geoffrey Van Orden rejects the proposals, arguing that NATO must remain the cornerstone of defence, maintaining the transatlantic alliance. He will argue that new EU military structures undermine NATO and weaken our links with international defence partners.

Vote: Tuesday @ 12.00

Press officers to contact: Robert Taylor on +32 498 984760 and Christina Rasmussen on +32 475 780819

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

ECR Vice-President Helga Stevens has initiated a debate and resolution in the parliament putting pressure on the EU institutions to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, especially the provision of sign language interpreters for public events and meetings held in the EU Institutions.

The resolution follows a conference organised recently in the parliament where Mrs Stevens brought together over a thousand sign-language users. It was the first time that all 31 EU sign languages as well as all 24 official spoken languages were brought together in the same room.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12.30

Press officer to contact: Yannick Vanderveeren on +32 473 80 64

CETA

The parliament will vote on whether to refer the EU-Canada trade agreement to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) specifically over provisions governing investment disputes. ECR Members will not support this delaying tactic, especially as the parliament’s own legal service has already stated that the investment provisions are compatible with the treaties. ECR shadow rapporteur David Campbell Bannerman wants to see the agreement enacted as soon as possible so that its benefits can be felt by consumers and businesses alike.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12.30

Press officer to contact: Jan Krelina on +32 493 214346

EU-TURKEY RELATIONS

With Turkey enduring fresh civil and political chaos in the aftermath of the summer’s coup attempt, MEPs will debate EU-Turkey relations and concerns about the rule of law and pace of reforms. ECR foreign affairs spokesman Charles Tannock will address the concerns in the debate.

Debate: Tuesday afternoon

Press officer to contact: Christina Rasmussen on +32 475 780819

EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN

The parliament will give its response to the Annual Report of the European Ombudsman, voting on a report drafted by ECR Vice-President Notis Marias. In 2015 the Ombudsman assisted 17,033 European citizens. In his report, Professor Marias calls for more transparency in the European Stabilisation Mechanism (ESM) workings and asks the continuation of the European Ombudsman’s investigations into ‘revolving doors’ cases in the Commission.

Vote: Thursday @ 12.00

Press officer to contact: Jan Krelina on +32 493 214346

CONTACTS

ECR Group spokesman: James Holtum 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: Robert Taylor Tel: +32 498 984760

E-mail:

Robert.taylor@europarl.europa.eu

Polish delegation: Katarzyna Ochman Tel.: +32 470 955928 E-mail:

katarzyna.ochman@europarl.europa.eu

German delegation: Michael Strauss on +32 470 882348