State of the European Union

The address of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the state of the EU will launch the political season. MEPs will be looking to hear where Juncker stands on the key issues facing Europe.

Migration and border controls

The civil liberties committee will be determining its position on the revision of the Dublin asylum system that sets out which country should process applications from asylum seekers. The migration crisis in the past few years exposed serious weaknesses in the system as countries such as Italy and Greece have been struggling to cope with the influx, but proposed solutions encounter a lot of opposition.

MEPs will also vote on a deal reached with Council on turning the EU Asylum Support Office into an EU Asylum Agency and will be looking to finalise the partial agreement with Council on the controls for non-EU travellers crossing the external borders of the EU.

Climate and environment

MEPs are working on rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions resulting from land use and land use change, for example, when forests are turned into arable land. They will also seek an agreement with the Council on plans to reform the EU emission trading scheme (ETS), a key step in living up to the commitments the EU made under the Paris Agreement.

Parliament will also vote on whether to approve a provisional deal with the Council on rules on organic products labelling, which should boost consumer trust in organic farming.

Economy

MEPs will vote in the autumn on extending the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which aim to mobilise €500 billion worth of private and public investment by 2020.

Social rights

MEPs will be working on a number of Commission proposals in the social field, including one on the need to ensure a proper work-life balance for working parents.

They will also be preparing to hold talks with Council on the revision of the posting of workers. The current system that allows employees of a company in one country to be sent to work in another EU country, is criticised for distorting the level-playing field on the labour market.

Digital single market

Boosting e-commerce and online services in Europe is one of Parliament's priorities. Plans include adapting the legal framework on copyright to the digital age. MEPs vote in October on e-privacy rules that among others aim to make it easier for people to accept or refuse cookies.

Taxation

Parliament's inquiry committee, set up in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal, will present by the end of the year its findings on how the Commission and member states implement EU rules against money laundering and tax fraud.

MEPs will be looking to finalise the adoption of changes to the money laundering legislation, which should improve transparency regarding companies’ end owners and prevent the financing of terrorism.

Human rights

Beside holding regular plenary debates on the human rights situation in countries around the world, MEPs will also select this year’s winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, given in recognition of the work done by human rights activists. The award ceremony will take place in Strasbourg in December .