Getting ready for a new start — what’s on the agenda?

Published: 11 June 2009 y., Thursday

Europos Parlamentas Strasbūre
The new Parliament hasn’t come together yet but there are many issues on its agenda already — both new ones and also old ones inherited from the previous term. Here are just some examples of what will be on EP’s table in the near future. Once you've read some of the issues below, we want to hear from you about what you would like MEPs to concentrate on.

Your money: To avoid financial crisis in the future the MEPs will look at a proposal to establish a European supervisory body for banks and to ensure tighter scrutiny of executive pay to discourage them from risky deals. 
 
MEPs will also be deciding together with EU Governments the new budgetary framework for the 7 year period after 2013 and allocating money for different priorities.
 
Your energy: Energy-efficient houses and a new label for tyres showing fuel-efficiency, safety and noise performance are just some measures to mitigate climate change and ensure energy security. Greater fuel efficiency could also mean cheaper fuel costs for drivers across Europe.
 
Your mobility: Rules on compensation for delays and cancellations for passengers in bus, coach and maritime transport and assistance for disabled passengers will be up for a second reading.
 
The House will also have a 2nd reading for rules on the use of information and communication technologies to make transport safer and cleaner and to reduce traffic congestion. Amendments aim to take better account of cyclists and pedestrians.
 
Your food: The EP will look at the proposal to provide clear information on contents of salt, sugar or fat and the country of origin of food.
 
Your health: A proposal to facilitate medical treatment anywhere in the EU will be presented for a second reading. It aims to clarify the conditions of treatment and reimbursement of the costs.
 
Your work: Since there was no agreement on the change of the working time rules in the last Parliament, the Commission might present a new proposal.
 
Your family: An EP committee asked for extension of the maternity leave to 20 weeks (instead of 14) and 2 weeks of compulsory paternity leave. The next term MEPs will vote on it. 
 
Your communication: In its last term Parliament insisted on a prior court ruling before blocking any internet access. Thus the “telecoms package” could be subject to conciliation proceedings between Parliament and Council. Among other issues: consumer rights and privacy protection.
 
Your neighbours: The EP will debate on the accession of new EU members and on a balanced immigration policy.
 

Šaltinis: europarl.europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Occupied Palestinian Territory: Commission boosts humanitarian funding by €7 million

The European Commission is increasing its funding by €7 million to provide relief to the most vulnerable populations in the occupied Palestinian territory. more »

World leaders shifted a great deal of their responsibility to local and regional authorities which have to make Copenhagen a real success

As the COP15 Summit did not reach a legally binding agreement at international level, local and regional leaders will have to step in to make the Copenhagen deal a real success. more »

Copenhagen climax

Barroso says negotiations were toughest he can remember. more »

Carbon Emissions from Transport Sector in Vietnam Remain High

Rapidly increasing emissions of carbon dioxide from the transport sector, particularly in urban areas, is a major challenge to sustainable development in developing countries. more »

Copenhagen: Leaders back to the negotiating table

The heads of state and government who met late yesterday evening to resolve some problems in the climate negotiations continued their meeting on Friday morning. more »

Human Rights: Uganda and Azerbaijan

Two human rights resolutions - on anti-homosexual draft legislation in Uganda and freedom of expression in Azerbaijan - were approved by Parliament on Thursday. more »

Copenhagen: Discussions continue into the night

At this moment, political leaders from the world’s largest countries are sitting in Copenhagen negotiating a global response to the threat of climate change. more »

Negotiations between the EU and Morocco in the agri-food and fisheries sector: signature of agreed minutes

The Moroccan and EU negotiators signed an agreed minute concluding negotiations that have been ongoing for almost four years in view of a future agreement on improving bilateral trade conditions for products from the agri-food and fisheries sector. more »

Belarus: more democratisation needed before sanctions are lifted, say MEPs

MEPs have given their backing to the Council's recent decision to prolong sanctions against certain Belarusian officials whilst suspending the application of travel restrictions until October 2010. more »

New climate offer from African Union

The EU and the African Union (AU) met in Copenhagen. AU chief negotiator, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, informed the meeting about the offer from the African Union that he had presented earlier in the day. more »