Final plenary and farmers: Newsletter
This week’s key occasions offered by senior well being and meals reporter Gerardo Fortuna
Key diary dates
Tuesday 23 April: ‘Wholesome cities, wholesome folks: Pathways for clear air within the EU’s city environments’, convention held underneath the auspices of the Belgian EU Presidency.
Wednesday 24 April: MEPs debate cash laundering reforms throughout final plenary session of theEuropean Parliament.
Friday 26 April: MEPs to vote on CAP reforms designed to lighten bureaucratic burden for farmers throughout last session of the ultimate plenary.
In highlight
The curtain will fall on the European Parliament this week in Strasbourg following the final plenary of the legislative time period.
MEPs shall be stretched to safe last green-lights for excellent recordsdata – though a lot unfinished enterprise will stay earlier than a brand new Parliament takes workplace after EU elections.
Two votes that gave the impression to be a finished deal began exhibiting just a few cracks final week.
The primary issues agriculture – in an ideal epilogue to this mandate – with the CAP simplification package deal proposed by the Fee in late February to mollify protesting farmers.
We have reported that to approve this modification of the EU’s farming subsidies, MEPs might want to abjure their prerogative and vote by means of the textual content agreed by the EU Council with no amendments, failing which the paper will move ahead to the subsequent Parliament.
Greater than thirty amendments have been tabled nonetheless, a few of which, by the Greens, mischievously cite pledges within the European Folks’s Occasion (EPP) manifesto – to check the resolve of the principle supporters of the simplification package deal. Two different amendments emanate from the Socialist group – which might tip the stability – and 15 extra from the Left.
The Parliament majority in favour of the package deal ought to maintain, however the threat of approving one modification, even accidentally, stays.
Additionally exhibiting the potential for eleventh-hour drama is one other key file on the European Well being Information House (EHDS). An influential community on digital rights (EDRi) put collectively a mass mailing marketing campaign concentrating on MEPs asking them to vote in opposition to the political cope with the EU ministers on this file.
Simply 4 months in the past, the Parliament voted to open negotiations with the EU Council with 516 in favour and, though the trilogue hasn’t gone the MEPs’ manner, it appears unlikely that such a stable majority in help of the coverage disappeared so quickly.
MEPs’ unpredictable behaviour all the time spices up the final plenary, nonetheless, since some gained’t run for one more time period, checking their loyalty to occasion politics, and incentivising them to vote with their conscience.
Let’s see if there shall be extra surprises.
Coverage newsmakers
Italian reviews
Two former Italian prime ministers had been in Brussels final week delivering messages. Enrico Letta offered his report on the functioning of the only market, whose particulars had been trailed by Euronews, and which included a give attention to well being. In the meantime Mario Draghi delivered a speech previewing the report on competitiveness which he’s making ready for June this yr. His efficiency drew hypothesis surrounding his potential as a nominee, amongst others, for the presidency of the Fee later this yr.
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Information temporary
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