Political groups’ coordinators from the committees will meet within 24 hours to assess the performance of Commissioner-designate Reynders.

Rule of law mechanism, European arrest warrant and combatting corruption

During his introductory speech, Mr Reynders said that in his first year he will propose an “up and running” rule of law mechanism involving Parliament and Council, which will apply to all member states, with particular focus on those countries where risks have been identified. He referred to recent allegations made against him, underlining that the case has been dismissed and that “rule of law also means presumption of innocence.”

Other priorities mentioned by the Commissioner-designate were a possible review of the European arrest warrant, full support for setting up the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the swift adoption of the collective redress directive, trust and safety as an integral part of Artificial Intelligence policy and the full implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation.

MEPs put forward several questions on the new rule of law mechanism, the ongoing Article 7 proceedings concerning Hungary and Poland and whether there should be action against other EU countries. They also asked about the Parliament’s right of initiative, human rights and environmental protection in commercial dealings, as well as holding multinationals to account.

Members also questioned the Commissioner-designate on the need to establish an EU strategy for combatting corruption and digitalising judicial systems in the EU.

You can watch the video recording of the full hearing here.

Press point

At the end of the hearing, Committee Chairs Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) and Lucy Nethsingha (Renew Europe, UK) held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here

Next steps

Based on the committees’ recommendations, the Conference of Presidents will decide on 17 October if Parliament has received sufficient information to declare the hearing process closed. If so, the plenary will vote on whether or not to elect the Commission as a whole on 23 October, in Strasbourg.

Background

The joint hearing with Legal Affairs and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committees was chaired by Juan Fernando López Aguilar and Lucy Nethsingha. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee was associated to this hearing and therefore its members also took part.

The Q&As clarify:

• OTC Question 2(h) on when counterparties that start taking positions in OTC derivatives need to notify the relevant NCAs and ESMA;
• OTC Question 4 on whether counterparties not subject to the clearing obligation should also obtain representation;
• OTC Question 13 on how a counterparty should determine whether an entity established in a third country would be an FC+/- or NFC+/- if it was established in the Union;
• TR Question 14 on how the derivatives should be reported in the scenario where a Clearing Member defaults and a CCP temporarily assumes both sides of the outstanding transactions;
• TR Question 17 on how to populate the fields Trading Venue and Compression for derivatives reported at position level; and
• TR Question 53 on how to report derivatives based on €STR and other benchmarks that are not explicitly captured by the EMIR ITS.

The purpose of this document is to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of EMIR. It provides responses to questions posed by the general public, market participants and competent authorities in relation to the practical application of the Regulations. The content of this document is aimed at competent authorities under the Regulation to ensure that in their supervisory activities their actions are converging along the lines of the responses adopted by ESMA. It should also help investors and other market participants by providing clarity on reporting requirements

Political groups’ coordinators from the committee will meet within 24 hours to assess the performance of the Cypriot Commissioner-designate.

Pesticides, endocrine disruptors topic discussed

During her introductory speech, Ms Kyriakides said that the environmental and demographic changes faced by European societies can be dealt with only through a “one health” approach, placing good health and healthy food under a single policy umbrella. Her priorities include the new “farm to fork” strategy to improve food safety, action against antimicrobial resistance, and making sure that a steady stream of affordable medicines is made available to citizens.

MEPs put forward several questions on how the commissioner-designate would act with regard to the fight against cancer, the situation on pesticides, endocrine disruptors, bee health and in finding ways to get member states’ to implement EU legislation more effectively.

Members also questioned the Commissioner-designate on the need to unlock the situation in Council on health technological assessment legislation. Later in the hearing, MEPs raised the issues of the Commission repeatedly approving GMO imports, how to protect consumers from food fraud, and the availability of oncological treatments.

You can watch the video recording of the full hearing here.

Press point

At the end of the hearing, the commissioner-designate held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here.

Next steps

Based on the committees’ recommendations, the Conference of Presidents will decide on 17 October if Parliament has received sufficient information to declare the hearing process closed. If so, the plenary will vote on whether or not to elect the Commission as a whole on 23 October, in Strasbourg.

The Agriculture committee was associated to this hearing.

Political groups’ coordinators from the committee will meet within 24 hours to assess the performance of Swedish Commissioner-designate Johansson.

A fresh start on migration and asylum

During her introductory speech, Ms Johansson stressed that one of her main tasks would be to propose a new pact on migration and asylum. “It is difficult, but failure is simply not an option”, she said. Legal and safe pathways to the EU for migrants are also part of the solution, Johansson noted.

MEPs asked Johansson to clarify how she plans to build consensus on reforming the asylum system. They also put forward several questions on search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, the situation of migrants and asylum seekers stranded in Libya and the agreements with non-EU countries on migration.

EU’s security strategy and the future of Schengen

Ms Johansson explained that her aim is to build an effective Security Union. She committed to work tirelessly against terrorism and all forms of radicalisation. On Schengen, Johansson stressed that her key objective is to return to a fully functioning, internal border control-free Schengen area.

MEPs also questioned the Commissioner-designate on the measures to be taken on organised crime, respect for fundamental rights in security and border control policies as well as the possible future enlargement of the Schengen area.

You can watch the video recording of the full hearing here.

Press point

At the end of the hearing, Civil Liberties Committee Chair Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here

Next steps

Based on the committees’ recommendations, the Conference of Presidents will decide on 17 October if Parliament has received sufficient information to declare the hearing process closed. If so, the plenary will vote on whether or not to elect the Commission as a whole on 23 October, in Strasbourg.

The Budgets Committee has boosted many programmes and projects, which contribute to fighting climate change, such as the Connecting Europe Facility (investments into transport and energy infrastructure), climate-related research in the Horizon 2020 programme, environmental programmes as well as those that benefit non-EU countries. The aim is to deliver on the pledge of 20% of EU investment for climate change action in the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The Committee’s other major additions to the Commission’s draft budget concern the Youth Employment Initiative (+€363.3 million, raising the total for 2020 to €480 million), support for Erasmus+, for SMEs and for research and innovation in areas such as digital and health and for future-oriented technologies.

Quote

Rapporteur Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE) said: “Two billion Euro for climate on top – today’s vote has shown that the European Parliament managed to put the climate at the heart of the EU 2020 budget negotiations. We are committed to deliver on what heads of states promised at the climate conference in New York: action to mitigate global warming and to protect our environment by pushing investments for green technologies and environmentally-friendly innovation.”

Next steps

The details of the budget will be available shortly and a corresponding resolution will be voted on by the committee at its meeting on 14 October. The whole Parliament will vote on its position on the 2020 Draft Budget on 23 October. This will kick off three weeks of “conciliation” talks with the Council, with the aim of reaching a deal between the two institutions in time for next year’s budget to be voted on by Parliament and signed by its President at the end of November.

Background

On Tuesday, the Budgets Committee voted through a budget totalling €171.3 billion in commitments, which is €3 billion more than the original European Commission proposal (€168.3 billion in commitments).

About 93% of the EU budget funds real activities on the ground in EU countries and beyond. It goes to citizens, regions, cities, farmers, researchers, students, NGOs and businesses.

The EU budget is unique. Unlike national budgets, which are used in large part for providing public services and funding social security systems, the EU budget is primarily an investment budget and, unlike national budgets, the EU Budget cannot run a deficit.