Background Briefing on the EP Plenary Session in Strasbourg, 7-10 June 2021

MEPs are set to give final approval to the EU Digital COVID Certificate, to facilitate intra-EU travel during the pandemic and contribute to the economic recovery.

After a Ryanair flight was forced to land in Minsk and a Belarusian journalist was arrested, MEPs and Foreign Policy Chief Borrell will debate the EU’s response.

MEPs will vote on whether the EU should ask the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines.

EP President Sassoli will reveal the LUX European Audience Film Award 2021 winner during a ceremony in the chamber on Wednesday at noon.

MEPs will debate the new 2030 EU Biodiversity Strategy on Monday and are expected to call for better protection of the EU’s land and sea areas in a vote on Tuesday.

MEPs will ask the Council and the Commission for details on plans to apply new rule of law conditionality rules to protect the EU budget.

On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss with the Commission and the Council the ongoing evaluation of the national recovery plans submitted so far by EU member states.

Plenary is set to confirm a mandate for talks with the Council on the Reserve fund to help EU countries counter the adverse consequences of the UK’s withdrawal.

MEPs will discuss on Wednesday recent cyberattacks on EU institutions and critical infrastructure and adopt a resolution on Thursday.

In response to the European citizens’ initiative “End the Cage Age”, MEPs will debate and vote on a resolution to gradually end the use of cages in animal farming.

On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on a resolution calling for the Czech Prime Minister’s now confirmed conflict of interest to be addressed.

Parliament will discuss the situation of SMEs, mostly active in sectors hit hardest by the economic crisis, and the strategy to support them to recover.

In light of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, MEPs will discuss the situation in the country with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.

MEPs are set to approve a landmark agreement on a seven-year 79.5 billion EUR Global Europe fund for development, neighbourhood and international cooperation.

Parliament is set to approve the new European Social Fund, with investments secured to combat youth unemployment and child poverty.

Parliament will debate the conclusions of the special meeting of the European Council that took place on 24 and 25 May, on Wednesday.

Parliament is expected to approve additional funds to help member states purchase, maintain and replace necessary customs control equipment.

On Thursday, MEPs are expected to call on the Commission to reconsider its decision to stop subsidising the 15-year-old pan-European radio network reliant on EU funding.

According to the agreed roadmap for the introduction of new Own Resources, the Commission must propose three new sources of EU revenue by June.

MEPs set to approve a total of €11.6 million in EU aid for 3 700 workers in Belgium, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands who have lost their jobs.

MEPs will propose measures to help promote the participation of women and girls in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors (STEM).

MEPs will debate with Council and Commission the concrete steps to put the European Pillar of Social Rights into action after last month’s Porto summit.

On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss their expectations for the G7 and EU-US summits that will tackle issues like COVID-19, climate change, Russia and Belarus.

Parliament is set to adopt its updated negotiating mandate to reform the rules governing the Ombudsman’s duties.

MEPs will quiz the Commission on Thursday on how it intends to ensure equal opportunities on the labour market for people with autism.

MEPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell will debate the political and human rights situation in Cuba, on Tuesday.

Parliament will hold urgent debates on the following human rights, democracy and rule of law topics on Thursday morning, followed by votes later the same day.