20th April 2012

April Plenary session summary

The most recent Plenary Session of the European Parliament was held in Strasbourg between on 17-20 April 2012. We have seen development in many areas of the legislative from the Single Market reforms to the situation in countries like Myanmar or Mali. Here are some of the issues discussed in the Plenary in a short overview.
On Wednesday, the EP fully adopted the regulation concerning posted workers and unemployment benefits for self-employed workers. The EP has also implemented the amendments made by the Council in the first reading. Secondly, MEPs agreed on a proposed change to the rules that would allow the EU to grant additional loans or guarantees to keep the development or regional projects in the financially instable “trouble countries” like Greece, Portugal or Romania going. Finally, a new agreement on the passenger’s data protection has been made. Further discussion has been made on the strategy of the EU for combating the economic crisis. Two biggest topics were the Employment Package and job creation and youth employment in Greece. For the core issues of this week’s plenary like the common corporate tax base, common energy taxation scheme and the question of the posted workers see earlier reports.
Next Plenary Session is planned on 9-10 May in Brussels and the main issues will be protection against dumped imports, investment strategy in the Mediterranean area with a special focus on the situation after the Arab Spring and common system for taxing financial transactions.

The most recent Plenary Session of the European Parliament was held in Strasbourg between on 17-20 April 2012. We have seen development in many areas of the legislative from the Single Market reforms to the situation in countries like Myanmar or Mali. Here are some of the issues discussed in the Plenary in a short overview.

On Wednesday, the EP fully adopted the regulation concerning posted workers and unemployment benefits for self-employed workers. The EP has also implemented the amendments made by the Council in the first reading. Secondly, MEPs agreed on a proposed change to the rules that would allow the EU to grant additional loans or guarantees to keep the development or regional projects in the financially instable “trouble countries” like Greece, Portugal or Romania going. Finally, a new agreement on the passenger’s data protection has been made. Further discussion has been made on the strategy of the EU for combating the economic crisis. Two biggest topics were the Employment Package and job creation and youth employment in Greece. For the core issues of this week’s plenary like the common corporate tax base, common energy taxation scheme and the question of the posted workers see earlier reports.

Next Plenary Session is planned on 9-10 May in Brussels and the main issues will be protection against dumped imports, investment strategy in the Mediterranean area with a special focus on the situation after the Arab Spring and common system for taxing financial transactions.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic