Agenda briefing plenary session from the 27th to the 30th of April 2015 in Strasbourg
- Mediterranean tragedies: MEPs to demand action to save lives
MEPs will demand concrete action to halt the deaths of Mediterranean migrants and refugees, in a debate with the Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker and Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday at 09.00. Over 1,600 have died since the start of this year, reports the UN Refugee Agency.
- MEPs to clamp down on wasteful use of plastic carrier bags EU countries would be required to reduce the use of the commonest and most polluting plastic bags under draft rules to be put to a vote on Tuesday. Plastic bag pollution of water bodies and aquatic eco-systems is a major environmental problem.
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An informal deal struck by MEPs and ministers on a draft law to cap crop-derived biofuel production and accelerate the shift to alternative sources, such as waste or residues, and new ones, such as seaweed, will be put to a vote on Wednesday. The plan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions caused by the growing use of farm land for biofuel crops.
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Emergency call devices that automatically alert rescue services to car crashes (eCall) would have to be fitted to all new models of cars and light vans by 31 March 2018 under draft rules to be voted on Tuesday. A vote in favour would confirm an informal deal struck in December with the Council of Ministers, which then formally approved it on 2 March.
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Requiring alcoholic drink producers to state calorie content and ingredients on the label should be considered as a possible aim for the new EU “alcohol strategy”, suggests a draft resolution to be voted on Wednesday. The text calls for more effort to reduce alcohol consumption by minors, and EU-wide labelling warnings against drink driving or drinking while pregnant. The European Commission is urged to table the new strategy in 2016 at the latest.
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MEPs will state their views on the new “European Agenda on Security” in a debate with home affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos on Tuesday afternoon, immediately after the Commission approves it. The security agenda, which updates the EU Internal Security Strategy, sets out key priorities and actions for to fight terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime in 2015-2020.