The Week Ahead in Brussels

EU budget 2014-2020

MEPs, the commission and the Polish Presidency of the EU will hold a conference to look at options for the next seven year EU Multiannual Financial Framework.

I will participate in the conference.

The ECR is opposed to the EU gaining new powers to raise 'own resources' and it wants to see the EU make the best use of the long-term budget to create better conditions for growth and make Europe more competitive.

Conference: Thursday and Friday

Czech Prime Minister at ECR group meeting

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Necas, will meet with the ECR group at its weekly meeting in Brussels to discuss this weekend's summit. A summary of the meeting will be published on the ECR group website: www.ecrgroup.eu.

Meeting: Tuesday afternoon

Mobility of professional workers

The internal market committee will vote on a report by ECR MEP Emma McClarkin which aims to better facilitate professional worker mobility across the EU by ensuring qualifications are easily recognised and portable.

The report, which will assist the commission with legislative proposals, aims to simplify and speed up the recognition of qualifications, and reduces the number of regulated professions in the EU.

The proposals will also ensure that checks continue to remain in place for sensitive sectors, particularly healthcare. They will also introduce an alert to be sent to all Member States in cases where regulatory action is taken against a health professional´s right to practice, to ensure patient safety throughout the EU.

Vote: Monday @ 16.00

Coptic Christians

With the worsening security environment in Egypt, ECR member from the Netherlands Peter Van Dalen MEP will host an open meeting with representatives of the Coptic Christian communities. 

A week ago, more than 20 people were massacred after what began as peaceful protests, and Mr Van Dalen is becoming increasingly concerned that the Copts are being targeted by the Egyptian armed forces.

Open meeting: Wednesday @ 10.30

EU-Australia PNR

The Civil Liberties committee will vote on whether to grant assent to an agreement between the EU and Australia on the processing and transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for flights between the EU and Australia.

The agreement reached ensures that data is only used for the purpose of preventing or prosecuting terrorists or organised criminals and data is only kept for five and a half years. The use of sensitive data will also be prohibited.

Timothy Kirkhope MEP, ECR justice and home affairs spokesman, supports the deal reached with the Australians as it ensures a healthy balance between protecting privacy, and protecting lives. Mr Kirkhope is currently the rapporteur on a similar proposal for flights travelling within the EU.

Vote: Monday @ 15.45