ACP, climate talks, national budgets and Syrian refugee crisis | WPN World People News

With committees sitting in Brussels this week, MEPs are due to discuss the economic priorities for 2015 and the Commission’s view on the draft budgets of eurozone countries. Among other items on the agenda will be human rights in Russia, the Syrian refugee crisis, human trafficking and the protection of children. In addition to committee business, MEPs meet their counterparts from African, Caribbean and Pacific states, and a parliamentary delegation participates in climate talks in Lima.

MEPs have another busy week ahead of them

The 28th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly takes place in Strasbourg for the first three days of December. The ACP is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states. Among the issues to be discussed are economic growth, post-conflict reconciliation, Ebola and terrorism.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 20, commences on 1 December. A delegation of MEPs, led by the chair of Parliament's environment committee Giovanni La Via (EPP, Italy), will participate in the conference. COP 20 brings world leaders together in Lima with the aim of reaching a new post-2020 emissions-reduction agreement.

Meanwhile in Brussels MEPs will discuss economic growth priorities with European commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis, Pierre Moscovici and Marianne Thyssen during Tuesday's joint meeting of Parliament's economic affairs and employment committees. The economic affairs committee will also discuss the Commission's view on the 2015 draft budgets of eurozone countries with economic and financial affairs commissioner Moscovici.

On Monday afternoon the winners of this year's Charlemagne Youth Prize will present their projects to the culture and education committee.

Members of the foreign affairs committee meet with former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky on Tuesday afternoon. Released from prison in December 2013 and recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, he will discuss the human rights situation in Russia. Afterwards MEPs will meet Lebanese prime minister Tammam Salam to discuss the unfolding humanitarian crisis as a result of the conflict in Syria.

Also on Tuesday a joint meeting of the civil liberties and women's rights committees will discuss how to tackle human trafficking. Officials from both the EU and UN will present reports on the issue.

During Wednesday's joint meeting of the foreign affairs committee and the subcommittee on human rights MEPs will discuss how to better protect children in armed conflicts and stop the recruitment of child soldiers.

Source: European Parliament