October I Plenary session: 7 - 10 October 2013
Plenary, Strasbourg Tobacco. A proposed law to make tobacco less attractive to young people, for example by banning sweet or fruity flavours, is to be put to a vote. The draft, as amended by the Public Health Committee, would also require more health warnings on packets and subject electronic cigarettes to EU rules on medicinal products. (Debate and vote Tuesday)NSA snooping/SWIFT. MEPs and Commissioner Malmström will discuss whether the EU should put on hold the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP) in response to the NSA's alleged tapping of the SWIFT company's international bank-transfer data. (Wednesday)Shale gas. EU rules on environmental impact assessments could also apply to shale gas extraction projects in future, if Parliament supports Environment Committee proposals to update the existing legislation. (Wednesday)Pilot flight time. New rules on flight and rest times for pilots and cabin crew will be put to the test on Wednesday, when MEPs vote on a draft resolution which opposes the adoption of new safety standards as proposed by the Commission. The Transport and Tourism Committee wants the Commission to withdraw the proposal. (Debate Tuesday, vote Wednesday)Doctor mobility. A new electronic card for health professionals – such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and childcare specialists – will make it easier for them to work throughout the EU. The new rules will also ban anyone facing disciplinary action or criminal sanctions in their home country from practising in another EU member state. (Debate and vote Wednesday)Meat inspections. MEPs could veto proposals to allow veterinarians to declare that meat is fit for human consumption in abattoirs after a simple visual check. Food Safety Committee MEPs fear that these proposals could result in sanitary problems and risks to human health going undetected. (Debate Monday, vote Wednesday)Border control. The EU's external borders and migrants' lives would be better protected under the new Eurosur border-surveillance system to be voted on by Parliament on Thursday.Syria. EU and member state aid for refugees fleeing Syria will be debated with the Council and Commission and the subject of a Parliament resolution. (Debate and vote Wednesday)Sakharov Prize. The EP Conference of Presidents will choose this year's laureate for Parliament's prize for freedom of thought. Belarusian dissidents Ales Bialatski, Eduard Lobau and Mykola Statkevich, US National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden and Pakistani campaigner for girls' education Malala Yousafzai are shortlisted. (Thursday)President’s diary. President Schulz will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday with Mayor of Strasbourg Roland Ries at 11.30 to introduce the "European youth Event" to be held in Strasbourg May next year. On Wednesday Mr Schulz will hold a press conference with Senegal President Macky Sall at 12.30 on Wednesday, following the latter's address to plenary. On Friday President Schulz will be in the Vatican to meet Pope Francis. <br/> <br/>Source : <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/tools/disclaimer/default_en.htm" hreflang="en">© European Union - EP</a>
source - europarl.europa.eu -- 10/04/13
