On Thursday the civil liberties committee debates the refugee crisis with migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, including the border package, the refugee "hotspot" shelters and the implementation of EU relocation measures so far. The reintroduction of border controls by Sweden and Denmark could also be discussed.
The internal market committee votes Thursday on EU-wide cybersecurity rules. Companies in critical sectors such as energy, transport, banking or health as well as online marketplaces, search engines and cloud storage companies will have to ensure that their IT infrastructures can resist cyber-attacks and will also have to report such attacks if they happen. A provisional deal with the governments on this had already been reached in December 2015.
The introduction of an EU-wide definition of "trade secrets" is debated by the legal affairs committee on Monday. Victims of all abuses of trade secret legislation will be able to seek compensation in court, with MEPs insisting on the need to also ensure true freedom of information.
Also on Monday, the tax rulings committee and the economic affairs committee question economic and financial affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici on the European Commission's legislative plans for corporate taxation this year.
As the Netherlands took over the presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 January, Dutch government ministers will present the programme for the semester to Parliament committees on Monday and Thursday.
REF. : 20160108STO09325
