EP priorities (full text below):

- Regulating shadow banking: EU rules on money market funds (economic and monetary affairs committee vote, Mon.)

- EU rules on posted workers (final legislative negotiations, Weds./Thurs. poss.)

- Cloned animals and EU food law (environment and public health committee vote, Thurs.)

- Money laundering, terrorism funding and the financial system (joint vote of the home affairs and economic and monetary affairs committee vote, Tues.)

- Protecting migrants' lives in Mediterranean (civil liberties vote, Thurs.)

Greens/EFA events:

- Right to water: first successful EU citizens' initiative (hearing, Mon.)

- Plastic bags and EU policy (conference, Weds.)

- Social cohesion in times of recession (conference, Weds.)

- Afrophobia in the EU (hearing, Thurs.)

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Regulating shadow banking: EU rules on money market funds

Mon. 17 Feb. – Economic and monetary affairs committee vote (El Khadraoui report)

Draft new EU legislation on money market funds is set to be voted on by MEPs. Money market funds are one of the key components of the so-called shadow banking system, which went largely unregulated before the crisis and contributed significantly to the general risk accumulation in the financial system. The Greens are pushing for stricter regulation and greater transparency, with a view to ensuring the reckless risk-taking of the past can be reined in. 

EU rules on posted workers     

Weds./Thurs. 19/20 Feb. – Final legislative negotiations (poss.)

Draft legislation on the enforcement of EU rules on posted workers could be finalised in negotiations between the European Parliament and Council. The draft rules would address some of the problems, with tougher sanctions, controls and better administrative cooperation, as well as on liability. However, the Greens believe the proposal in itself will not address the more fundamental problems with the posting of workers directive. The existing legislation also needs to be revised to close the loopholes, ensuring that posted workers are guaranteed equal pay for equal work at the workplace.

Cloned animals and EU food law

Thurs. 20 Feb. – Environment and public health committee vote

The environment and public health committee will vote on a resolution setting out the EP's response to EU Commission proposals on the use of cloning in food production. The Greens hit out at the Commission's proposals, which would clear the way for the use of clones and their descendants in food production despite the serious concerns that remain. To compound the matter, the Commission failed to make proposals on the labelling of foods produced from clones or their offspring. The Greens believe that the EU should ban the use of clones and, crucially, their descendants in food production immediately, as only this approach will ensure the concerns are properly addressed. (see latest press release)

Money laundering, terrorism funding and the financial system

Thurs. 20 Feb. – Joint vote of the economic affairs and civil liberties committees (Sargentini/Karins report)

MEPs will vote on important legislation aimed at tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism, which is being co-drafted by Green MEP Judith Sargentini. The new rules aim to reinforce EU standards for preventing the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing. The Greens support the overall aims but want to ensure that member states are obliged to introduce publicly-accessible business registers, including information on the real beneficiaries of legal arrangements like trusts. Transparency is crucial in combatting money laundering.

Protecting migrants' lives in Mediterranean

Thurs. 20 Feb. – Civil liberties committee vote

A legislative agreement on new EU rules on how FRONTEX border personnel should deal with migrants intercepted at sea is set to be confirmed by the civil liberties committee. The legislation has come under focus since the latest tragic losses of life in the Mediterranean and the perceived failure to tackle this recurring problem. The Greens have consistently pushed for a comprehensive EU border policy, which would ensure all EU governments finally take their responsibility to prevent these avoidable tragedies off Europe's coast and to ensure mutual support in doing so. The group believes FRONTEX has a key role to play to this end.

Right to water: first successful EU citizens' initiative

Mon. 17 Feb. – Hearing - 15.00-18.30 - Room JAN 4Q2

The right to water (Right2Water) was the subject of the first successful European citizens' initiative. This hearing will provide a platform for debate with MEPs, with a view to progressing the initiative. (more information)

Plastic bags and EU policy: let's bag it

Weds. 19 Feb. – Conference - 9.30-13.00 - Room ASP 1G3

With draft EU legislation on single use plastic bags set to be voted on by the EP this spring, this conference will look at the options for EU policy on reducing plastic waste in general and the low-hanging fruit of single-use plastic bags in particular. (more information)

Social cohesion in times of recession

Weds. 19 Feb. – Conference - 15.00-18.30 - Room ASP 1G3

This conference will look at the impact of the economic crisis on social cohesion. (more information)

Afrophobia in the EU

Thurs. 20 Feb. – Hearing - 15.00-18.30 - Room ASP 1G3

This hearing will look at the problem of Afrophobia in Europe, with a view to raising awareness about racism and proposing possible ways to tackle it. (more information)