Plenary session
During the plenary session on Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss a strategic framework for an energy union with Maroš Šefčovič, the European commissioner responsible for the energy union; last week's informal EU summit, as well as the European Central Bank's annual report for 2013 and the European economy with its president Mario Draghi.
Parliamentary committees
The economic affairs committee meets with Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem on Tuesday to discuss the latest euro zone developments and in particular the ongoing talks with the Greek government.
On Thursday the civil liberties committee discusses the new proposal on the use of passenger name records (PNR) in order to track terrorists. The first proposal was rejected by the committee in 2013 due to concerns about privacy, but now MEPS hope to finalise a new EU PNR directive by the end of the year.
Throughout the week various committees review the progress made concerning negotiations for an EU-US trade deal, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The development committee votes on its recommendations on Tuesday. The Parliament's position is set to be adopted before summer.
A draft report to be voted on Tuesday aims to reform the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by introducing a "Market stability reserve (MSR)" to protect the scheme from economic fluctuations and to remove the current surplus of free allowances. On the same day the environment committee votes also on a reform of the EU biofuels legislation to address concerns over the negative impact of conventional (first generation) biofuels.
On Monday the economic affairs and budgets committees hold the first debate on the European Fund for Strategic Investments to support the economy.
The budgets committee votes on Thursday on its guidelines on the EU's 2016 budget, laying down the Parliament's priorities for next year's budget.
On Tuesday the foreign affairs committee exchanges views with Volodymyr Groysman, speaker of the Ukrainian parliament.
Other business
The King and the Queen of Belgium will visit the Parliament on Wednesday before the start of the plenary session.
REF. : 20150220STO24364
