EP this week: NSA, Troika, eCall, election of new Commission president

Parliamentary committees will this week vote on a report on how NSA surveillance has affected Europeans' fundamental rights, rules clarifying the conditions for buying a travel package and a proposal to equip cars with the life-saving e-call system. Meanwhile MEPs will also continue their inquiry into the impact of Troika decisions on bail-out countries.

On Wednesday the civil liberty committee votes on its report on the EP's inquiry into the NSA surveillance of Europeans. Measures to be approved could include the suspension of international agreements on data exchange and trade talks with the US and more protection for whistle blowers and journalists.

The economic committee will discuss the Troika's work with Benoît Coeuré, executive board member of the European Central Bank, on Thursday. Also that day the employment committee votes on the impact of Troika decisions on employment, workers' rights and social welfare. Ordinary people had the possibility to contribute to a parliamentary report on the Troika through LinkedIn.

New rules to strengthen consumers' rights when buying a travel package will be voted on by the internal market committee on Tuesday. This could include a repatriation guarantee and a 24-hour withdrawal right after booking online.

All new cars will need to be equipped with e-call from October 2015, under new rules being voted on by the internal market committee on Tuesday. E-call is a system to automatically call the emergency services in case of a crash.

The human rights committee holds a public hearing Thursday on the situation of migrant workers who are in Qatar to help with the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The constitutional affairs committee votes Tuesday on a report on the election of the new president of the European Commission after the European elections in May. MEPs are likely to propose that EU leaders should not only take the election results into account when proposing a candidate for Commission president, but also that some of the new commissioners should be chosen from among the newly-elected MEPs.

On Tuesday there will only be 100 days left before the European elections kick off on 22 May. To find out when you can vote in your country, click on the link for the election website on the right.

REF. : 20140207STO35326

Updated: ( 10-02-2014 - 13:56)