EP this week: Ukraine debate, discussions on Council presidency and US free-trade agreement

MEPs will be having committee meetings from 21 to 24 July, which will include discussing the priorities of the new Italian presidency of the EU Council with Italian ministers. Trade commissioner Karel De Gucht will discuss progress on the negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the international trade committee. In addition the names of the three finalists of the Parliament's Lux film prize are announced on Tuesday.

On Tuesday members of the foreign affairs committee will debate the latest developments in the eastern regions of Ukraine with the Ukrainian foreign minister. The debate starts at 13.30 CET.

On the same day EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht attends a meeting of the international trade committee to discuss the TTIP treaty that is currently being negotiated with the US. He is expected to present the outcome of the sixth round of talks that took place on 14-18 July.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Italian ministers outline the priorities of the Italian Council presidency to the various parliamentary committees. The Italian presidency started at the beginning of July.

On Wednesday, MEPs from the budget committee will discuss the Council's position on the EU's draft budget for 2015 and EP negotiators will report on the recent talks with the Council and the European Commission on how to plug payment gaps in the 2014 budget.

On Wednesday, the agricultural committee discusses plans to improve the effectiveness of EU-funded distribution of healthy food in schools through the School Milk Scheme and the School Fruit Scheme.

The three finalists for the LUX film prize are announced on Tuesday during a press conference to in Rome.

From next week until September the Parliament will be in recess for the summer.

REF. : 20140718STO53029

Updated: ( 22-07-2014 - 17:13)