The Week Ahead 20 – 26 November 2017

Glyphosate. A European Citizens’ initiative petition calling for an EU-wide ban on the controversial herbicide glyphosate, will be discussed with the petitioners at a public hearing. Parliament rejected a ten-year renewal of glyphosate’s licence in October and proposed a full ban by 2022.  EU member states will vote on a five-year renewal on 27 November. (Monday)

Buying online: protection against defective digital goods. The Internal Market and Legal Affairs committees will vote on EU-wide rules to protect online shoppers when digital content, such as downloaded games or music, fails to work properly. These include ways to get money back and guarantee periods. (Tuesday)

Online TV and radio. A regulation making it easier to distribute online TV and radio programmes across the EU is up for a vote in the Legal Affairs Committee.  Copyright problems can currently prevent the cross-border supply of online TV and radio programmes.  (Tuesday)

Export controls on dual-use goods. The International Trade Committee will vote to reinforce export controls on goods and technologies that have legitimate civilian applications, but can also be used for torture, weapons of mass destruction or terrorism. These include cyber-surveillance technologies, chemicals, explosive-resistant armour, radio equipment and lasers. (Thursday)

Funding of European political parties. Changes in the rules on funding EU political parties and foundations are up for a vote in the Constitutional Affairs Committee. They aim to increase transparency, prevent membership of more than one party, tackle abuse of taxpayers’ money and make it easier to reclaim funds that are spent incorrectly. (Thursday)

ECB/Draghi. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will present and debate with the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee the Bank’s perspective on economic and monetary developments in the Eurozone. MEPs may also raise phasing out bonds buying and other non-standard monetary policy measures and imbalances between national central banks in the euro area. (Monday)

Renewed partnership with Africa. To discuss new responses to the challenges facing Africa and ways to deepen the EU-Africa partnership, Parliament will host a high-level conference of African and European leaders. Private sector and civic society delegates will include 2014 Sakharov Prize Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege. A press conference with EP President Antonio Tajani and other leaders is scheduled for 15:30. (Wednesday)

President’s diary. EP President Antonio Tajani will chair a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of the political groups in Bulgaria, to prepare the upcoming Council Presidency, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, President Tajani will meet the Central African Republic’s President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. On Thursday he will deliver the opening speech at the first European Enterprise-Education Summit and on Friday he will take part in the plenary session of the Eastern Partnership Summit, bringing together EU Heads of state or Government and the six Eastern partner countries.

Press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing on the week’s activities at 11.00 on Monday, in the “Anna Politkovskaya” EP press conference room.

EP Press Service contact 18 and 19 November