Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.
The highlight of the February II 2024 plenary session was the address by Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the assassinated Russian opposition activist and 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate Alexey Navalny. Important debates took place on European security and defence and the war in Gaza. Members adopted a large number of provisional agreements reached in interinstitutional negotiations. Members also adopted several agreements at first reading, on which negotiations with the Council would be required in the new legislative term.
Revising the EU’s finances
Within the overall revision of the EU’s long-term budget, aimed at facing current challenges, not least to help Ukraine, Members debated and adopted three reports. From the Committee on Budgets (BUDG), Members adopted a report recommending Parliament grant consent to the agreement reached on a first-ever revision of the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF). Members approved the political agreement reached by the BUDG and Foreign Affairs (AFET) committees with the Council to establish the €50 billion Ukraine Facility in support of Ukraine’s recovery and its path to EU accession. Members also adopted a joint report from BUDG and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) allocating more funding from the MFF to projects that develop or manufacture critical technologies and strengthen their value chains, via a new platform for strategic technologies for Europe (STEP).
EU in a new world
CFSP and CSDP, human rights and democracy reports
Members debated and adopted two annual reports from the AFET committee. First on the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), which outlines four major challenges: Russia’s war against Ukraine; the need for a genuine European defence union; stronger defence of rules-based multilateralism, and reinforced strategic partnerships such as NATO. This year’s common security and defence policy (CSDP) report reflects the seismic changes in EU defence policy since 2022, with AFET demanding increased parliamentary scrutiny of the CSDP, to ensure increased EU defence spending is effective. Members debated and adopted a third AFET report reviewing EU efforts to promote human rights and democracy in 2022. This year’s report concurs with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy’s assessment of a deteriorating international situation.
EU-Chile agreements
Members debated and followed the recommendation from the AFET and International Trade (INTA) committees to grant consent to conclusion of two EU-Chile agreements. A new advanced framework agreement (AFA) should modernise and replace today’s Association Agreement governing EU-Chile relations, with an interim trade agreement to be put in place until the AFA’s complete ratification.
EU-Seychelles agreement on access for fishing vessels to the waters of Mayotte
The EU fishing fleet already has access to rich tuna fishing grounds in the Seychelles through a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement. Members followed the recommendation from the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) to grant consent to the conclusion of a new six-year agreement to continue reciprocal fisheries access for Seychelles vessels to the waters of the French overseas departments of Mayotte.
A balanced environment for everyone
Environmental crime
Parliament debated and adopted a political agreement reached with the Council on measures to tackle serious, organised environmental crime more effectively. The penalties for such activities will range from three to ten years in prison, with companies fined based on their annual worldwide turnover, or fixed amounts up to €40 million, attesting to the seriousness of such crimes – a choice left to EU governments.
Geographical indications
Members debated and adopted a provisional agreement reached with the Council on revising legislation on geographical indications (GIs) for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products in a single legal act. The agreed text aims at simplifying and speeding up registration of GIs to help European producers obtain fairer prices for quality products, as well as strengthen removal of illegal use and provide better protection online.
Patents package
Members debated and adopted five first-reading reports from the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) on legislative proposals concerning intellectual property rights on products affecting our environment. They aim to update and harmonise rules on supplementary protection certificates, which extend patent protection to compensate for lengthy compulsory testing and trials to ensure such products are safe before they can come to market. The first two concern supplementary protection certificates for plant protection products. Two more cover supplementary protection certificates for medicinal products. Another concerns the standard essential patents regulation, on patents protecting technology incorporated in a standard (such as 5G).
Detergents and surfactants
The EU is proposing to revise the Regulation on Detergents and Surfactants to ensure detergents using microorganisms are safe and to introduce a digital label to display mandatory consumer information. Members debated and adopted an ENVI committee report which enlarges the list of restricted microorganisms and adds specific rules for detergent refills, as well as precluding testing on animals.
Nature restoration law
Members adopted a provisional agreement reached in trilogue on the proposed EU nature restoration law, aimed at returning degraded ecosystems to health across the EU. The provisional agreement supports this objective, with time-bound and quantitative targets for ecosystems. In line with Parliament’s demands, EU national authorities should prioritise Natura 2000 sites until 2030 and an ’emergency brake’ should allow suspension of agricultural ecosystem restoration for up to one year under exceptional circumstances.
Protecting EU consumers and businesses
Wholesale energy market manipulation
Apart from the environmental imperative, the EU is keen to protect consumers and businesses against wholesale energy market manipulation. Members debated and adopted a provisional agreement with the Council, endorsed by the ITRE committee, aimed at avoiding a repeat of the recent energy crisis. The agreement reinforces the role of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.
Collecting and sharing data in the tourism sector
Platforms connecting hosts with guests help tourists find affordable places to stay and enable people to earn extra income, but also contribute to a lack of affordable accommodation and unfair competition. Members debated and adopted a provisional agreement reached with the Council and endorsed by the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), on a proposal to regulate collection and sharing of data in the tourism sector.
Driving licences
To continue to improve road safety, the EU is working towards zero deaths on EU roads by 2050 and the Commission proposed a revision of the Driving Licence Directive. Members debated and adopted a report on the proposal from the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), which approves stricter rules for novice drivers, introduction of a digital driving licence, medical certification of fitness to drive, and a lower minimum age for coach, bus and truck driving licences to 18 years for certified professional drivers.
Faster and safer tax excess relief (‘FASTER’)
Inefficient tax relief procedures can discourage investors from investing other EU Member States. A proposal to move to faster and safer tax excess relief (‘FASTER’) aims for efficient, secure withholding tax procedures for cross-border investors and tax administrations. Members adopted a (non-binding) Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) report strongly supporting the proposal.
Political advertising
Members debated and adopted a provisional agreement on evolving campaign techniques that pose new challenges on transparency and targeting in political advertising. The agreement seeks to help voters detect political advertisements and identify who is behind them. It sets strict limits on targeting and delivery techniques and enhances personal data protection. It bans profiling, using the data of people who are under voting age, and non-EU based entities financing political ads in the EU prior to an election.
Commission’s 2023 Rule of Law report
Following Parliament’s demands, the Commission launched an annual rule of law review cycle in 2020. Members debated and adopted a Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee motion for a resolution on the Commission’s fourth annual rule of law report. The LIBE report highlights areas and rights that have not been addressed, and calls for a more vigorous approach to infringement proceedings.
Opening of trilogue negotiations
Four decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations – from the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) committees – were approved without vote.
Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – February II 2024‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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