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Newsletter July 2017Issue 39

Dear Readers,

I am very happy to present the 39th issueof the AFCO Newsletter, a tool preparedby the Secretariat, which aims to informyou about AFCO activities and increaseawareness of institutional challengesthat the EU is facing.

At our meeting on 12 July, theCommittee has a full agenda. We willstart by discussing the composition ofParliament which aims at redistributionof the seats in the Parliament, a taskrendered particularly difficult due to theuncertainty concerning the conclusionof the withdrawal process of the UnitedKingdom. We will also have a discussionon the state of play of the negotiationson Brexit. Still in the morning, we willdiscuss the outcome of the MaltesePresidency with Ambassador MarleneBonnici, Permanent Representative ofthe Republic of Malta to the EU. In theafternoon the Committee will then hearfrom Matti Maasikas, Deputy Minister forEU Affairs of the Republic of Estoniaabout the priorities of the EstonianPresidency. The Committee will also hearfrom invited speakers on a possiblerevision of the Regulation on statute andfunding of European political parties andfoundations. A vote will take place onthe opinion on the budget of the Unionfor the financial year 2018.

Prof. Dr. Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Chair

INTRODUCTORYWORDS BY THE CHAIR

Composition of the European Parliament

Exchange of viewsCo-Rapporteurs: Danuta Maria Hübner, AFCO Chair (EPP), and PedroSilva Pereira, AFCO Vice-Chair (S&D)

The task of distributing the seats in Parliament has always been a verypolitically charged issue ahead of each round of elections to theEuropean Parliament. The issue of Brexit adds a certain amount ofincertitude, as it might not be clear by the time Parliament submits itsproposal whether or not the UK would be still a Member State of theUnion in 2019 at the date of the elections. The Co-Rapporteurs willpresent their draft proposal for the distribution of seats at thecommittee meeting and will give Members the opportunity to sharetheir views on their proposal.

According to Article 14.2 of the Treaty on the European Union, thecomposition of Parliament is adopted through a special legislativeprocedure, where the European Council decides, by unanimity, uponan initiative of the European Parliament, after obtaining its consent (bysimple majority).

Procedure File

Revision of Regulation (EU) 211/2011 on the citizens’ initiative

Consideration of draft reportRapporteur: György Schöpflin (EPP)

At this meeting of AFCO the rapporteur, György Schöpflin, will presenthis draft report on the amendment of the regulation on the citizens’initiative. This text is particularly important, since it is a proposal for a

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MEETING LANGUAGES AVAILABLE

FR, DE, IT, NL, EN, DA, EL, ES, PT, PL, RO12:00 - 12:30: MT

MEETING DOCUMENTS

In light of the European Parliament'spaperless project, please bear in mindthat only a very limited number of paperdossiers will be available in the meetingroom.

Instead, meeting documents will bemade available on the following publicand EP internal websites.

MEETING DATE AND VENUE

12 July 2017, 09.00 – 18.30 (Brussels)Room: Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS 4B001)

Here is the link to the latest committeedraft agenda.

NEXT MEETING

4 September 2017,15.00–18.30 (Brussels)

Further information

AFCO website

@EPInstitutional

initiative. This text is particularly important, since it is a proposal for alegislative modification addressed to the Commission, drafted underArticle 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The effectiveness of the European Citizens’ Initiative mechanism hasoften been subject to criticism, in particular due to unsatisfactoryreplies from the Commission. Consequently, after recurring requeststo modify the regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative, the AFCOCommittee has decided to draft a legislative own-initiative report togive input to Commission for a proper revision. Meanwhile, theCommission has announced that it will present a proposal for therevision of the regulation before the end of the year.

Procedure File

EU Citizenship Report 2017: Strengthening Citizens’ Rights in aUnion of Democratic Change

Consideration of draft opinionRapporteur: Christian Dan Preda (EPP)

Following a first exchange of views held at the last AFCO meeting on20 June, at this meeting the rapporteur, Christian Dan Preda, willpresent his draft opinion.

This is an opinion for the Committee on Petitions’ INI report ‘EUcitizenship report 2017’. This report is being drafted following therelease of the Commission’s report on EU citizenship 2017, which isthe third report by the Commission on EU citizenship. It takes stock ofthe progress reached, sets out the priorities for 2017-2019 in order toguarantee that EU citizens will be able to enjoy fully their rights andthe practical benefits that the EU provides.

Procedure File

Legitimate measures to protect whistle-blowers acting in thepublic interest when disclosing the confidential information ofcompanies and public bodies

Consideration of draft opinionRapporteur: Fabio Castaldo (EFDD)

At this meeting of AFCO, the draft opinion to an own initiativelegislative report of the Legal Affairs Committee will be presented. The

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aim of this report is to call on the Commission to produce a proposalwhich includes orientations about the legal bases for whistle-blowerlegislation, the scope of the proposed protection and key principles forthis future piece of legislation.

This follows an exchange of views held on this opinion during the 11April AFCO meeting. The calendar for the amendments deadline andvote in AFCO will also be decided.

Procedure File

The preparation of the negotiations on the withdrawal of theUnited Kingdom from the European Union (Article 50 TEU)

Exchange of views

AFCO will continue its regular discussion on Brexit. The coordinator forthe negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU at the level of theConference of Presidents, Guy Verhofstadt, will update the Committeeon the negotiations, which started formally on 19 June 2017.

Subject file

Council Presidencies

Exchange of views

Following a well-established tradition, at the end of each EU Councilpresidency, an exchange of views on the outcome of the Presidencytakes place, in particular concerning matters related to AFCOcompetences. The Committee will hear from Ambassador MarleneBonnici, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malta to the EU.

At the beginning of the afternoon, an exchange of views with MattiMaasikas, Deputy Minister for EU Affairs of the Republic of Estonia. Hewill present the priorities of the Estonian Presidency in the AFCO fieldof competences.

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Contact the editor

European Parliament,Directorate General for Internal Policiesof the Union,Secretariat of the Committee onConstitutional Affairs

+ 32 2 28 43676

AFCO mailbox

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Legal disclaimer

The items contained herein are draftedby the Secretariat of the Committee onConstitutional Affairs and are providedfor general information purposes only.The opinions expressed in this documentare the sole responsibility of the author(s)and do not necessarily represent theofficial position of the EuropeanParliament. The AFCO Newsletter maycontain links to websites that are createdand maintained by other organisations.The AFCO Secretariat does notnecessarily endorse the views expressedon these website.

**** Voting Time ****

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018 -all sections

Adoption of draft opinion and budgetary amendmentsRapporteur: Danuta Maria Hübner (EPP)

AFCO is delivering an opinion to the BUDG report on “General Budgetof the European Union for the financial year 2018 - all sections”. Thedraft opinion was presented in AFCO on 20 June 2017.

The deadline for amendments was on 22 June 2017. In total fivebudgetary amendments have been tabled and five amendments weretabled to the draft opinion.

Procedure File

*The vote on the opinion Rules and general principles concerningmechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’sexercise of implementing powers will be postponed to a futuremeeting*

**** End of vote ****

Regulation 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of Europeanpolitical parties and foundations

Exchange of views on a possible revision

Earlier this year, an oral question was put to the Commission by AFCO,which summarised earlier requests to review the Regulation on statuteand funding of European political parties and foundations. In its reply inMarch, Commissioner King confirmed that the Commission was open tostudying these requests, while stressing that the Regulation was onlyfully applicable since the beginning of this year and provided for anassessment and possible review in the second half of next year.

The Commission reiterated its willingness to look at a revision duringthe June part-session of Plenary. However, stressed that it would haveto be focused on a limited set of modifications, which the Council couldbe ready to accept, if it were to be adopted before the next Europeanelections. This debate was wound up with a resolution by Parliament.

In view of this, AFCO has invited five speakers to discuss this possiblerevision:

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Rainer WIELAND and Ulrike LUNACEK, EP Vice-Presidents in chargeof the European political parties

Didier KLETHI, Director General DG Finance European Parliament Ilze JUHANSONE, Deputy Secretary General of the European

Commission Michael ADAM, Director of the Authority for the European Political

Parties and Foundations

The implementation of the Treaty provisions concerning nationalParliaments

Presentation of the final report on the fact-finding missions to Denmarkand Greece.Rapporteur: Paulo Rangel (EPP)

In the framework of the scrutiny tools and input needed by theRapporteur, Paulo Rangel, on the implementing report entitled ‘TheImplementation of Treaty provisions regarding national Parliaments’,two fact-finding Missions were carried out by the Rapporteur - one tothe Danish Parliament (Folketinget) (Copenhagen) on 22 - 23 May 2017,and the other to the Hellenic Parliament (Βουλή των Ελλήνων/Vouli tonEllinon) (Athens) on 24 May 2017. The rapporteur will present hisfindings to the Committee.

Procedure File

The next MFF: Preparing the Parliament’s position on the MFFpost-2020

Consideration of draft opinionRapporteur: Gerolf Annemans (ENF)

The Committee will have an exchange of views following thepresentation of the draft opinion by the Rapporteur, Gerolf Annemans.This opinion is for the Committee on Budget’s reflection on the currentMultiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and how it could be adaptedand improved for the next financial cycle.

There are certainly some important constitutional elements that needto be considered in preparation for the next MFF, such as its alignmentwith the length of Parliament’s term, switching its adoption procedurefrom unanimity to QMV and avoiding the interference of the EuropeanCouncil in the legislative aspects.

Procedure File