During this week's Plenary Session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (5-8 July), MEPs will discuss and vote on the following issues, among others:

- The Lyon report on reform of the Common Agriculture Policy
- Remuneration policies in the financial services sector
- Implications of trade negotiations with Mercosur (South American trade grouping)
- passenger rights relating to bus, coach and sea transport
- Novel foods
- Industrial Emissions

For further information on these and other issues and the work of MEPs, please see the latest edition of EP News.

According to Eurostat figures, the real income per agricultural worker in Ireland dropped by 23% in 2009, compared to the figures for the previous year.  On Thursday of this week, MEPs will discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013.  The European Parliament's draft position on the reform of the CAP has been drafted by Scottish MEP George Lyon (ALDE), who visited Ireland on a fact-finding mission prior to drafting the report.  The report emphasises that the future CAP is to deliver support to farmers for the benefit of wider society according to MEPs.  The building blocks will be food security and fair trade; sustainability; agriculture across Europe; biodiversity and environmental protection; and green growth.  The current global economic context was a major factor considered in this report and MEPs will emphasise that the future CAP will need to be based on stability, predictability and flexibility in times of crisis.  MEPs believe the reform of the EU's agricultural sector could make a major contribution to the recovery of the EU as a global economic player.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Liam Aylward (Fianna Fáil - East); Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East); Marian Harkin (Independent - North West); Nessa Childers (Labour Party - East); Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South); Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West)

Several national initiatives have been taken since the start of the economic crisis in order to moderate some remuneration policies and some bonuses excesses and this under different forms (code of conduct tax measures, salary caps, strengthen of corporate governance rules etc). However, in order to avoid a non-coordinated approach and to create a level playing field, it is considered that a European initiative has to be taken on remuneration policy in the financial sector and listed companies.
For these reasons, a coordinated European action on remuneration of directors in the financial sector and in listed companies is needed. To face this challenge, a mix of measures is required on 3 levels: the sector itself has to be prevented from taking so many risks, the employee upside has to be limited and the employee downside has to be increased.  On Wednesday, a package seeking to achieve these 3 measures will be voted on by MEPs.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin), Marian Harkin (Independent - North West), Proinsias De Rossa (Labour Party - Dublin)

The 1996 Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive deals with approximately 52,000 industrial installations throughout the EU, which account for a large proportion of total air pollution in the EU, but they may also pollute water and soil, or create waste.  In 2005, the European Commission proposed bringing the seven existing laws relating to industrial emissions under one framework, thereby integrating the EU's objectives and work in this area, simplifying the law and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.  German MEP Holger Krahmer has drafted the European Parliament's position on this proposed legal amendment, which supports the Commission's objectives, but emphasises the need to bring to an end differences in terms of transposition, implementation and enforcement in the EU's Member States, which MEPs believe puts environmental protection at risk and results in a distortion of competition.  

Irish MEPs on this issue: Nessa Childers (Labour Party - East); Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East)

A novel food is a food that has been produced by a method not previously used to produce food. They can include food from cloned animals and GM foods. A debate to take place in the Parliament on Tuesday evening seeks to examine the EU's policies in relation to these foods whilst respecting the Union's policy of food traceability 'from farm to fork'. Dutch MEP Kartika Tamara Liotard (GUE/NGL) has drafted a report that proposes to adopt definitions for cloned animals and their descendants. The report seeks to allow a limited amount of novel foods on the market with a view to ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, the environment and the interests of consumers whilst ensuring transparency and the effective functioning of the internal market and stimulating innovation within the agri-food industry. It is clear that there are potential opportunities for Ireland with its strong agricultural heritage.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East); Nessa Childers (Labour Party - East)

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss a report drafted by Gay Mitchell MEP (Fine Gael - Dublin) on the mid-term review of the EU's instrument for financing its development agreements - the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI).  According to Mr Mitchell's report, the European Parliament should be involved in scrutinising the DCI and its activities in Latin America, Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Southern Africa in areas such as human resources, the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources, non-state actors and local authorities, the improvement of food security and cooperation with regard to migration and asylum.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin)

On 4 May 2010, the European Commission agreed to reopen negotiations for an Association Agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). On Thursday morning, a group of MEPs, including Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East), and Marian Harkin (Independent - North West) will present the questions they have sent to the European Commission about the implications of such an Agreement for agriculture in the EU.  They are asking about the mandate given to the negotiators, whether the European Commission can provide a detailed analysis of the likely impact on European producers, whether compensation measures will exist for EU producers adversely affected, how it will ensure the standards applied to imported products and the relationship between such an agreement and the negotiations within the WTO framework.   The MEPs emphasised the potential challenges for the beef, poultry meet, wheat and fruit and vegetable sectors.  This question has received cross-party political support.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East); Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South); Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West), Marian Harkin (Independent - North West) Liam Aylward (Fianna Fáil - East)

On Monday evening, the Parliament will discuss the future of transport in the EU. Transport is a sector that accounts for 10% of GDP and 10 million jobs in the EU, but also 25% of CO2 emissions. The report on a sustainable future for transport was drawn up by Belgian MEP Mathieu Grosch (EPP).

Irish MEP on this issue: Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South); Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West); Nessa Childers (Labour Party - East); Liam Aylward (Fianna Fáil - East)

Also on Monday, a report from Spanish MEP Inés Ayala Sender (S&D) focuses on boat travel by sea and inland waterway. This will obviously be an important debate for Ireland. One of the proposals in the report seeks to clarify the complaints and redress procedures for passengers, requiring travel providers to be as clear as they can when detailing these procedures. It also proposes to ensure the rights of both disabled passenger and those with reduced mobility when travelling. It also tightens passenger rights with regard to both refusal of travel and cancelations.

Still on the transport issue, On Monday evening MEPs will discuss a report from Italian MEP Antonio Cancian about the rights of passengers when travelling by bus and coach in order to improve the attractiveness of, and confidence in, travel by road to achieve a level playing field between carriers from different Member States. Mr Cancian is aware of the need to preserve the economic viability of the operators and to take into account the specificities on the bus and coach industry. However, the new regulation must ensure a reasonable level of passenger protection which is comparable to that already in place for other transport modes. Therefore, the Mr Cancian proposes amendments, which would re-establish the scope and, the majority of substantive requirements as contained in the Parliament's position at first reading. Mr Cancian will conduct negotiations with the council on that basis.


Irish MEP on this issue: Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour Party - Dublin); Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South); Nessa Childers (Labour Party - East)

Also on Monday evening, Spanish MEP Carlos José Iturgaiz Angulo (EPP) will present the report for the year 2009 from the Petitions Committee to the session. The petitions committee deals with petitions from citizens in areas of EU competence. This provides a tool aimed at empowering the citizens of the Union. The report highlights that 2009 was not an ordinary year, dominated as it was by the European elections and the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Parliament received 1,879 petitions, a slight increase compared to the 1,845 submitted in 2008. The most popular subjects for petitions were the environment, fundamental rights, justice and the internal market. As the EU recently acquired new competences in the area of the environment due to the Lisbon treaty it is not hard to see why the environment is a popular area for submissions. The most common language for a petition was German with 28.5% of all petitions. English was a distant second at 17.8%. 31 of the submissions were from Ireland.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West); Marian Harkin, (Independent - North West)

• On Monday evening, Liam Aylward (Fianna Fáil - East), Marian Harkin (Independent - North West) and Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South) will participate in the debate on promoting youth access to the labour market, strengthening trainee, internship and apprenticeship status.
• Marian Harkin (Independent -North West) as shadow ALDE spokesperson will speak on the issue of atypical contracts, secured professional paths and new forms of social dialogue
• Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East) will participate in the debate on the European Commission's Green Paper on the management of bio-waste in the EU.
• Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South) will participate in the debate on the contribution of EU regional policy towards fighting the financial and economic crisis.
• Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South) will also participate in the debate on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market.
• Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West) will participate in the debates on reporting formalities for ships arriving in or departing from ports and on intelligent transport systems in the field of road transport and interfaces with other transport modes.
• On Tuesday, Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin) will participate in the debate on the SWIFT data transfer agreement between the EU and the US.
• Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin) will participate in the debate on the EU's financial supervision package.
• On Wednesday, Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin) and Marian Harkin (independent North West) will follow the debate on the Belgian presidency's programme of activities.
• Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin) will participate in the debate on the European External Action Service.
• On Thursday, Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West) and Pat the Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fáil - North West) will follow the debate on arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.
• Iceland applied for membership of the EU in 2009, but any application for new membership of the union must be formally approved by the Parliament and then unanimously by the council. On Wednesday, Pat the Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fáil - North West) will follow the debate expected to give their approval to the Nordic island's bid to be the 28th member of the union.
• Pat the Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fáil - North West) will attend the Constituent meeting of the Special committee on the policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013.

One-minute speeches - Monday
• Pat the Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fáil - North West) - The need for a strong agricultural budget post 2013
• Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael  - East) on the retail market monitoring report.

• Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin) - using the European Neighbourhood policy to bring positive results to bear on the situation in the Middle East
• Liam Aylward (Fianna Fáil - East) - Mercosur talks
• Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West) - plans to enable the EU Food and Veterinary Office to establish a permanent presence in South America countries which are being granted access to the EU market?
• Pat the Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fáil - North West) - Iceland's application for membership of the EU
• Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East) - the European Commission's view on the stalled WTO talks
• Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South) - EU strategies to promote inward tourism on global markets

• Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West) - steps to be taken to increase confidence in the euro?
• Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East) - transparency and the role of major supermarket retailers in the food chain
• Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin) - the oil spill in the US and whether the EU is prepared for a similar disaster
• Seán Kelly (Fine Gael - South) - Progress on proposals on the application of patients' rights and cross-border healthcare.
• Liam Aylward (Fianna Fáil - East) - Tourism and supporting tourism in regional areas
• Marian Harkin (Independent - North West) Belgian Presidency's position with regard to Mercousur negotiations

For further information, please contact Eimear Ní Bhroin, Press Officer at eimear.nibhroin@europarl.europa.eu.

For raw audio of interviews with the Irish MEPs during the week, please visit www.radioep.ie.

To organise interviews with the Irish MEPs, please see the contact details for their Press Officers:
http://www.europarl.ie/view/en/press-release/journalists/contact_details_mep_press.html.