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Newsletter18-21 January 2016Strasbourg plenary session MEPs to scrutinise the rule of law in Poland Parliament will debate the state of the rule of law and restrictions to press freedom inPoland on Tuesday afternoon, following statements by the Council and theCommission and a declaration by the Polish Prime minister Beata Szydło. Key debate with presidents Tusk and Juncker on migration,terrorism and UK referendum MEPs will quiz Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the outcome of the 17-18 December meeting of EU leaders inBrussels in a debate scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. MEPs to debate Dutch Presidency priorities with Prime Minister MarkRutte MEPs are set to debate the priorities of the Dutch Council Presidency with PrimeMinister Mark Rutte and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesdaymorning. Mutual defence clause: MEPs to debate EU role The implications of France’s decision to invoke the EU treaty’s mutual defence clause,for first time ever, to ask for EU member states’ help in its “war” against the so-calledIslamic State (ISIS) will be debated by MEPs on Wednesday afternoon. A resolutionwill be voted on Thursday. MEPs to discuss Paris climate agreement with COP21 PresidentLaurent Fabius French foreign affairs and international development minister Laurent Fabius willdebate the December 2015 global deal on tackling climate change with MEPs onWednesday afternoon. Mr Fabius chaired the UN Framework Convention on ClimateChange (COP21) meeting in Paris that delivered the deal. A delegation of MEPsattended the talks, and the deal needs Parliament's consent before it can be ratified bythe European Union.
Plenary sessions14-01-2016 - 19:38Reference No: 20160112NEW09504
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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MEPs to consider vetoing plan to relax diesel car emission limits A proposal to veto a draft decision to raise diesel car emission limits for nitrogen oxides(NOx) by up to 110% when the long-awaited Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testprocedure is introduced will be discussed on Monday and put to a vote at the nextplenary session. The Environment Committee argues that Parliament should vetoplans to relax the limits because this would undermine the enforcement of existing EUstandards. Stop geo-blocking and boost digital single market with apps Geo-blocking practices such as discrimination based on IP address, postal address orthe country of issue of credit cards, must end to improve EU consumers' access togoods and services, say internal market and industry MEPs in a draft resolution to bedebated and voted on Tuesday. They call for the swift adoption of the 16 digital singlemarket initiatives announced by the Commission last May. Debates with Ms Mogherini on Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran Concerns over permitted sugar content in baby food Using culture and education to tackle migration and radicalisationchallenges Youth unemployment: improving skills to find better jobs Personal protective gear, gas ovens and cableways: votes on newsafety rules Women entrepreneurs MEPs to ratify EU-Kosovo Association Agreement Progress of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine towards the EU Human rights and democracy resolutions Other topics on the agenda
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu//news/en/agenda/briefing/2016-01-18
Contacts
Further informationDraft agendaFollow the plenary liveEuroparlTVPress conferences and other eventsEP Audiovisual websiteEP Newshub
Andrew BOREHAMPress Service
(+32) 2 28 42319 (BXL)(+33) 3 881 74005 (STR)(+32) 498 98 34 [email protected]
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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MEPs to scrutinise the rule of law in Poland Parliament will debate the state of the rule of law andrestrictions to press freedom in Poland on Tuesdayafternoon, following statements by the Council and theCommission and a declaration by the Polish Prime ministerBeata Szydło. Since the Law and Justice party (PiS) won both the presidential and parliamentary elections inPoland in autumn 2015, the new government has undertaken a series of reforms that critics sayrestrict democracy. President Schulz of Parliament and Commission vice-presidentTimmermans have voiced concern for the freedom and pluralism of Poland’s public-servicetelevision and radio and for the status of the Constitutional Court. Parliament will vote on aresolution to wrap up the debate in February. On 13 January the Commission decided to start the first stage of the "Framework for addressingsystemic threats to the Rule of Law" in Poland. Procedure: Council and Commission statements followed by debate 2015/3031(RSP) Debate: Tuesday, 19 January Vote: February I #Poland Further informationThe debate on EP LiveThe debate on EP EbS+Framework for addressing systemic threats to the Rule of LawCollege Orientation Debate on recent developments in Poland and the Rule of LawFramework: Questions & Answers
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Key debate with presidents Tusk and Juncker onmigration, terrorism and UK referendum MEPs will quiz Council President Donald Tusk andCommission President Jean-Claude Juncker on theoutcome of the 17-18 December meeting of EU leaders inBrussels in a debate scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. MEPs are likely to comment on key issues debated by the heads of state or government, i.e.dealing with migration pressures, exceptions to Schengen rules and EU member states’reactions to the recent proposal to establish a European Border and Coast Guard. The fightagainst terrorism and Britain's EU reform demands ahead of the UK referendum are also likelyto be addressed in the debate. Debate: Tuesday, 19 January Procedure: Council and Commission statements #EUCO #UKinEU #migrationEU #euco Further informationPress release on the conclusions of the European Council meeting (17-18.12.2015)
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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MEPs to debate Dutch Presidency priorities withPrime Minister Mark Rutte MEPs are set to debate the priorities of the Dutch CouncilPresidency with Prime Minister Mark Rutte andCommission President Jean-Claude Juncker onWednesday morning. The Dutch Presidency bases its priorities on three principles: "a Union that focuses on theessentials, a Union that creates innovative growth and jobs, and a Union that connects withsociety". It wants to achieve results in the areas of migration and international security,innovation and employment, sound finances and a robust Eurozone and a forward lookingclimate and energy policy. EP President Schulz, Prime Minister Rutte and Commission President Juncker will hold a jointpress conference after the debate at round 12.30. A review of the outgoing Luxembourg Presidency with Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is scheduledfor Tuesday morning. Procedure: Council and Commission statements 2015/2963(RSP) Debate: Tuesday, 19 January (outgoing Luxembourg Presidency) Wednesday, 20 January 09.00-12.20 (incoming Dutch Presidency) Press conference: Wednesday, 20 January at 12:30 #EU2016NL Further informationWebsite Dutch Council PresidencyNational Programme of the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European UnionProcedure fileWebsite Luxembourg Council Presidency
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Mutual defence clause: MEPs to debate EU role The implications of France’s decision to invoke the EUtreaty’s mutual defence clause, for first time ever, to ask forEU member states’ help in its “war” against the so-calledIslamic State (ISIS) will be debated by MEPs on Wednesdayafternoon. A resolution will be voted on Thursday. Following the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015, France called on EU memberstates to provide it with aid and assistance, including intelligence sharing, to fight ISIS. Itinvoked EU Treaty Article 42 (7), which says that "if a Member State is the victim of armedaggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aidand assistance by all means". All EU member states unanimously promised their full aid and support for France, but are still inthe process of defining the substance of their commitments. As the EU mutual defence clause has yet to be put into practice, MEPs are likely to debate itsscope, implementation and the role of the EU institutions as well as making somerecommendations for its management. MEPs are also likely to debate the political considerations which prompted France to trigger themutual defence clause rather than the “solidarity” one (Article 222), which foresees a moreprominent role for EU in mobilising all available instruments to help a member state in the eventof a terrorist attack or a natural or man-made disaster. Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union forForeign affairs and Security Policy 2015/3034(RSP) Debate: Wednesday, 20 January Vote: Thursday, 21 January #mutualdefence
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Further informationProcedure fileEU treaty (see art. 42.7 on mutual defence)Treaty on the functioning of the EU (see art. 222 on solidarity)EP Research note on EU's mutual defence clause
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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MEPs to discuss Paris climate agreement withCOP21 President Laurent Fabius French foreign affairs and international developmentminister Laurent Fabius will debate the December 2015global deal on tackling climate change with MEPs onWednesday afternoon. Mr Fabius chaired the UNFramework Convention on Climate Change (COP21)meeting in Paris that delivered the deal. A delegation ofMEPs attended the talks, and the deal needs Parliament'sconsent before it can be ratified by the European Union. The new agreement aims to limit global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, whilerecognising the need to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. It also aims to achievegreenhouse gas (GHG) “emissions neutrality” (volumes emitted equal volumes sequestered, sozero net emissions). in the second half of the century. The conference of parties is to reviewprogress in achieving these aims every five years. Procedure: Statement by COP21 President + 1 round of political group speakers Debate: Wednesday, 20 January #COP21 Further informationEuropean Parliament resolution: towards a new international climate agreement in ParisPress release: COP21 Paris agreement: MEPs hail a new beginning for climate actionProfile of rapporteur Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, FR)European Parliament at COP21Audiovisual material
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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MEPs to consider vetoing plan to relax diesel caremission limits A proposal to veto a draft decision to raise diesel caremission limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 110%when the long-awaited Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testprocedure is introduced will be discussed on Monday andput to a vote at the next plenary session. The EnvironmentCommittee argues that Parliament should veto plans torelax the limits because this would undermine theenforcement of existing EU standards. MEPs will also vote on Thursday on the composition of the 45 member inquiry committee set uplast December, in the wake of the Volkswagen scandal, to investigate breaches of EU rules oncar emission tests and alleged failures to enforce EU standards. Debate on Real Driving Emissions tests As part of a package to introduce the RDE test procedure, endorsed by EU member states inthe Technical Committee for Motor Vehicles (TCMV) on 28 October, the European Commissionproposed to raise car NOx emission limits by up to 110%. The new RDE procedure is designed to make emission tests more realistic, by using a portabledevice to do them on the road. The current laboratory-based procedure suffers from variousloopholes which carmakers exploit to brand their products as cleaner than they really are. Procedure: Legislative resolution (objection to delegated act) 2015/3029(RSP) Debate: Monday, 18 January Vote: February I #RDE #CarEmissions #NOx #emissions #vehicles
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Further informationPress release on committee vote (14.12.2015)Procedure fileEC Memo
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Stop geo-blocking and boost digital singlemarket with apps Geo-blocking practices such as discrimination based on IPaddress, postal address or the country of issue of creditcards, must end to improve EU consumers' access togoods and services, say internal market and industry MEPsin a draft resolution to be debated and voted on Tuesday.They call for the swift adoption of the 16 digital singlemarket initiatives announced by the Commission last May. EU laws regulating the digital single market should allow new opportunities for users andbusinesses and new innovative cross-border online services at competitive prices to emergeand grow; remove barriers between member states and facilitate access for Europeanbusinesses, in particular SMEs and start-ups, to cross-border markets, as a key driver forgrowth and employment in the EU, says the draft resolution. MEPs are concerned that the member states are currently pursuing different approachestowards regulating the internet and the sharing economy, which represents new businessmodels for selling goods and services online (for example, Uber, eBay or Airbnb). They point tothe opportunities that new technologies, such as big data, cloud computing or 3D-printing, couldcreate for the economy and society. Background This non-binding resolution is Parliament's response to the EU Commission's communication "A Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe", presented on 6 May 2015. MEPs examine the 16initiatives to be delivered by the Commission by the end of this year, elaborate further onactions to be taken to complete the digital single market and the consequences theimplementation of the digital single market will have on society and the economy as a whole. Currently, only 1.7% of EU enterprises are making full use of advanced digital technologies andonly 14% of SMEs are using the internet as a sales channel. In 2013, the market size of thesharing economy was around 3.5 billion worldwide, and today the Commission is forecasting agrowth potential that exceeds 100 billion.
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Procedure: non-legislative resolution 2015/2147(INI) Debate/vote: Tuesday, 19 January Press conference: Tuesday, 19 January, 15.00 #Digitalsinglemarket Further informationDraft reportPress release on committee vote (14.12.2015)Profile of internal market committee rapporteur Evelyn Gebhardt (S&D, DE)Profile of industry committee rapporteur Kaja Kallas (ALDE, ET)Procedure file
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Debates with Ms Mogherini on Syria, SaudiArabia and Iran Developments in Syria and mounting tensions betweenSaudi Arabia and Iran after the kingdom executed 47alleged criminals, including some prominent Shia activists,and the resulting protest in Iran, will be debated with theEU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesdayafternoon. On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will also debate how to prevent systematic mass murder ofreligious minorities by ISIS and assess the humanitarian situation in Yemen as well as growingtensions in South East Turkey. A resolution on Yemen and ISIS is to be voted at the next plenary session in February. Statements by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union forForeign Affairs and Security Policy (with resolutions) Debate: Tuesday, 19 January (Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran), Wednesday, 20 January (Yemen,ISIS, Turkey) Vote: February I #syria #saudiarabia #iran #turkey #yemen
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Concerns over permitted sugar content in babyfood Draft EU rules on the composition of baby foods allowthem to contain too much sugar. They therefore fail toprotect infants and young children against obesity andshould be vetoed, says a draft resolution to be voted onWednesday. The text recommends reducing the maximumsugar content to match World Health Organization (WHO)recommendations. The WHO recommends limiting sugar content to less than 10% of total energy intake. But underthe European Commission’s proposal, sugars could continue to provide up to 30% of the energyintake from baby foods (7.5g sugar/100kcal is equivalent to 30kcal from sugar in 100kcalenergy). Procedure: Legislative resolution Procedure Code: 2014/2875(RSP) Vote: Wednesday, 20 January #Babyfood Further informationDraft resolution on the specific compositional and information requirements for processedcereal-based food and baby foodPress release on committee vote (14.01.2016)Profile of rapporteur Keith Taylor (Greens/EFA, UK)Procedure file
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Using culture and education to tackle migrationand radicalisation challenges The EU should make more use of education and mobilityfor young people and teachers, and also systematically useculture in its external development programmes, toenhance mutual understanding and thus help to promotecommon fundamental values and combat extremism of allkinds, say MEPs in a draft resolution to be voted onTuesday. All forms and branches of teaching must help to develop fundamental civic values and promoteactive citizenship from the earliest age, say MEPs in the draft text. Cultural and social diversity should be encouraged in classrooms and other learning settings.MEPs urge member states to make better use of EU programmes to promote training for theteachers, educators and course leaders who lend them the pedagogical skills needed to tacklethe challenges of migration, assimilation and cultural psychology. Procedure: non legislative résolution 2015/2139(INI) Debate: Monday, 18 January Vote: Tuesday, 19 January #InterculturalDialogue #education Further informationProposition de résolution sur le rôle du dialogue interculturel, de la diversité culturelle et del'éducation dans la promotion des valeurs fondamentales de l'UnionProfile of rapporteur Julie Ward (S&D, UK)Procedure fileHearing on Intercultural dialogue and education for mutual understanding (17.09.2015)EP Research: Education and Intercultural Dialogue as tools against radicalisation
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Youth unemployment: improving skills to findbetter jobs The EP will on Monday debate a resolution containingrecommendations for tackling an EU-wide shortage ofrelevant skills for available jobs and an education andtraining mismatch, major factors causing youthunemployment. They include developing strategies toanticipate market needs, encouraging entrepreneurshipand creating partnerships between academia, businessesand social partners. The non-binding resolution, drafted by Marek Plura (EPP, PL) and to be put to the vote onTuesday, calls on member states to exchange good practice in vocational education and thedevelopment of training through skills. It also says crafts and professions with traditional andcultural elements, which often cannot be relocated elsewhere and help local communities,should be preserved and passed down to younger generations. Background for editors More than 7 million young Europeans are neither employed nor in education or training(NEETs). The rate of unemployment across the Union was 9.9% at the end of 2014, while therate for young people was more than double at 21.4%. At the same time, there are 2 millionunfilled vacancies in the EU and many over-qualified unemployed young people whose skills donot match the needs of the labour market. Procedure: Non-legislative resolution 2015/2088(INI) Debate: Monday, 18 January Vote: Tuesday, 19 January #youth #unemployment Further informationDraft resolution on skills policies for fighting youth unemploymentProfile of rapporteur Marek Plura (EPP, PL)Procedure file
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Personal protective gear, gas ovens andcableways: votes on new safety rules Updated EU safety rules for personal protective equipment,gas ovens and cableways will be put to votes onWednesday. The equipment rules aim to ensure that gearthat is sold as “protective”, such as bike helmets or ovengloves, better protects its users whilst reducing red tapefor its makers. Merely “decorative” oven gloves will be excluded, as will dishwashing gloves and umbrellas.Updates to EU safety rules for gas appliances and cableway installations will also be put to avote. The three draft regulations that are up to a final vote in Parliament lay down common rules forplacing on the market personal protective equipment (such as life jackets, bicycle helmets orsunglasses), gas appliances (such as portable cookers or boilers) and cableway installations(such as funiculars, gondolas or aerial tramways). The rules, already provisionally approved by MEPs and the Council, have been amended to usestandard EU product law wording on the obligations of economic operators and of “notifiedbodies” chosen by member states to check compliance with safety standards. The aim is toimprove market surveillance by public authorities without imposing unnecessary burdens andcosts on industry. Procedure: Co-decision (ordinary legislative procedure), first reading agreements 2014/0108(COD) - personal protective equipment 2014/0136(COD) - Appliances burning gaseous fuels 2014/0107(COD) - Cableway installations Debate: Tuesday, 19 January Vote: Wednesday, 20 January #productsafety #consumersafety #gasovens #cableways
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Further informationPress release on the EP/Council deals on the three regulations (22.09.2015)Procedure file on personal protective equipmentProfile of rapporteur on personal protective equipment, Vicky Ford (ECR, UK)Procedure file on appliances burning gaseous fuelsProfile of rapporteur on appliances burning gaseous fuels, Catherine Stihler (S&D, UK)Procedure file on cableway installationsProfile of rapporteur on cableway installations, Antonio López-Istúriz White (EPP, ES)EP Research - Cableway installations
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Women entrepreneurs MEPs urge EU member states to remove hurdles forwomen entrepreneurs, and table strategies for making fulluse of female entrepreneurship potential to boost growthand prosperity, in a draft resolution to be debated onMonday and voted on Tuesday. About one-third of EU entrepreneurs are women. The specific hurdles that they face includegaining access to funding and bank loans, unbalanced sharing of family responsibilities, a lackof childcare facilities and stereotypes about leadership qualities, says the text drafted by theWomen's Rights and Gender Equality Committee. The draft resolution calls on member states to:
facilitate and simplify access to finance, include gender quotas in targeted support, use EU funds to guarantee affordable quality care for children and older people, improve the work/life balance (e.g. by promoting paternity leave), and promote an entrepreneurial culture in education and training and encourage morewomen to choose careers in scientific, finance and high-growth, profitable sectors(e.g. new technologies, including green technology, digital environments and IT).
Note to editors Statistics
Women accounted for just 31% of entrepreneurs (10.3 million) in the EU-28 in 2012(Commission report on Statistical data on Women entrepreneurs in Europe, 2014) Female entrepreneurs tend to concentrate on sectors that are considered lessprofitable, such as education, health care and community work, whereas menpredominate in high-growth-potential sectors such as technology and IT Women are more likely than men to prefer working as an employee (by a margin of63% to 53%) and men are more likely than women to favour self-employment (42%to 33%) (Flash Eurobarometer 2012) 30% of female entrepreneurs work part-time, compared to 12% of men Female entrepreneur incomes were 6% lower than men’s in 2012 Women’s businesses tend to remain smaller: only 23% of female entrepreneurs inthe EU are employers, compared to 30% of men. (Commission (2014), report onStatistical data on Women entrepreneurs in Europe)
Procedure: Non-legislative resolution 2015/2111(INI)
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Debate: Monday, 18 January Vote: Tuesday, 19 January #Womenentrepreneurs Further informationDraft resolution on external factors that represent hurdles to European femaleentrepreneurship:Profile of rapporteur Barbara Matera (EPP, IT):Procedure file:
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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MEPs to ratify EU-Kosovo Association Agreement MEPs are set to debate the EU-Kosovo Stabilisation andAssociation Agreement, an important first formal step inKosovo’s integration into Europe, on Wednesday afternoonand approve it on Thursday. To enter into force, thisagreement needs the European Parliament’s consent. The agreement, which aims to enhance political dialogue and open up trade between the EUand Kosovo, was signed on October 2015 by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini andratified by National Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on November. All the matters dealt with in this agreement fall within the EU sphere of competence. This makesit an “EU-only” agreement, i.e. one that does not need to be ratified by individual EU memberstates. It is also the last EU association agreement to be concluded with Western Balkan countries. Procedure: Consent 2015/0094(NLE) Debate: Wednesday, 20 January Vote: Thursday, 21 January #Kosovo Further informationDraft recommendationProfile of rapporteur Ulrike Lunacek (Greens, AT)Procedure file
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Progress of Georgia, Moldova and Ukrainetowards the EU MEPs discuss the progress of Georgia, Moldova andUkraine towards the EU, since they signed EU associationand free-trade deals, with foreign affairs chief FedericaMogherini on Wednesday afternoon. They vote onThursday on a non-binding resolution taking stock ofpolitical, judicial and other improvements in the threecountries after they committed to the EU integrationagenda back in 2014. Parliament ratified association and trade liberalization deals (“deep and comprehensive freetrade agreements”) with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in the second half of 2014. Procedure: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Statement(with resolution) Debate: Wednesday, 20 January Vote: Thursday 21 January #freetrade #Georgia #Moldova #Ukraine Further informationEuropean Parliament ratifies EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (16.09.2014)European Parliament backs EU-Moldova association deal (13.11.2014)European Parliament approves EU-Georgia association deal (18.12.2014)Commission memo: The EU's Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
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EN Press Service, Directorate General for CommunicationEuropean Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume DUCH GUILLOTPress switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000
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Human rights and democracy resolutions Parliament will hold urgent debates on the following humanrights and democracy topics, on Thursday 21 Decemberaround 15.00, with the votes following at 16.00.
North Korea Ethiopia EU citizens detained in India
Procedure: non-legislative resolutions Debate/vote: Thursday, 21 January #NorthKorea, #Ethiopia, #India
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Other topics on the agenda Other topics for debate and votes include the following:
Increased terrorism threat, debate Thursday, Council and Commission statements Situation in Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Colombian peace process, debateTuesday, with resolution on Yemen only, statement by the VP of theCommission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right tobe present at trial in criminal proceedings, debate Tuesday, vote Wednesday, (COD),rapporteur Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE, FR) Annual report on EU Competition Policy, debate Monday, vote Tuesday (INI),rapporteur Werner Langen (EPP, DE) The role of intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EUfundamental values, debate Mon, vote Tuesday (INI), rapporteur Julie Ward (S&D,UK) Annual activity report of the Petitions committee, debate and vote Thursday (INI),rapporteur Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (S&D, PL) Bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, debate Monday, voteTuesday, rapporteur Gabriel Mato (EPP, ES) Stocktaking and challenges of the EU Financial Services Regulation and CapitalMarkets Union, debate Monday, vote Tuesday, rapporteur Burkhard Balz (EPP, DE)
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