EP Today
31759
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-31759,single-format-standard,cookies-not-set,et_divi_builder,qode-social-login-1.1.2,qode-restaurant-1.1.1,stockholm-core-1.0.5,tribe-no-js,page-template-stockholm,select-theme-ver-9.8,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,vertical_menu_enabled,menu-animation-underline,side_area_uncovered,,qode_menu_,et-pb-theme-stockholm,et-db,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.6,vc_responsive
19. Mai 2021 In Aktuell, EN

EP Today

Wednesday, 19 May

Covid-19 vaccines

The EU’s response to the proposal to waive patent protection of Covid-19 vaccines in the WTO to support efforts on global vaccination – backed by the US Administration- will be the focus of a plenary debate with Council and Commission at 9.00. Parliament will adopt a resolution during the June plenary session.

Conflict of interest and misuse of EU funds: the case of Czech PM Babiš 

MEPs will look into the alleged conflict of interest involving Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, following the evidence found by the Commission that he exercised influence on the allocation of EU subsidies to Agrofert, an agro-chemical conglomerate that he founded himself. A resolution will be put to the vote by plenary in June.

Environmental liability and ecocide

MEPs will discuss whether EU rules on environmental liability of companies should be strengthened to better prevent and remedy environmental damage, and ensure better protection for the victims. The draft report to be voted on Thursday also asks the Commission to consider recognising “ecocide” under EU law.


Legal migration

Parliament will debate opening new legal options for third-country workers into the EU, as a way to reduce irregular migration and help migrants to integrate. MEPs will present their conclusions in a report voted on Thursday. The ageing population and the current labour shortages are used in the draft text as arguments in favour of offering more legal avenues for migrant workers to come to the EU.

Votes

Vote results from Tuesday’s second voting session will be announced at 9.00. Among them, final results on:

  • ways to stop the illegal streaming of sports events, and
  • the impact of climate change on developing countries’ population.

The following results on the vote on amendments will also be released at 9.00:

  • annual reports on Turkey and Montenegro,
  • human rights protection and the EU external migration policy, and
  • the effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental rights defenders, will also be released.

There will be two voting sessions, from 13.00 to 14.15 (with results announced at 19.00) and from 20.00 to 21.15 (results announced on Thursday at 9.00).

In the first voting session, MEPs will cast their final votes, among other topics, on:

  • Creative Europe programme for 2021-2027,
  • annual reports on Turkey and Montenegro,
  • energy transition and promotion of renewable hydrogen,
  • human rights protection and the EU external migration policy,
  • the effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental rights defenders,
  • Artificial intelligence in education, culture and the audiovisual sector, and
  • amendments on measures to ensure protection of labour rights and freedom of movement within the EU, and the EP right of information regarding the ongoing assessment of national recovery and resilience plans.

In the second voting session, plenary will take final votes on:

  • measures to ensure protection of labour rights and freedom of movement within the EU,
  • reversing demographic trends in EU regions using cohesion policy instruments, and
  • amendments to the reports on environmental liability and new avenues for legal migration.