EP this week: Greece, migration crisis, GMOs and budget 2016 | WPN World People News

A Greek government request for EP involvement in the regular review of the country’s third loan programme is to be discussed on Thursday at a meeting of the President and political group chairs. In the committees, members are to discuss migration and vote on the use of genetically modified food and on the next year’s EU budget. Parliament’s political groups also prepare for the plenary, including Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker's first State of the European Union speech and debate.

MEPs have a busy week ahead of them

On Thursday, Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (political group leaders and President Martin Schulz) are to consider a request by former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to involve Parliament in evaluating the implementation of Greece's third financial assistance programme of €86 billion.

On the same day the regional development committee discusses a legislative proposal aimed at improving Greece's access to EU funds.

The ongoing tragedy in the Mediterranean and the growing humanitarian crisis at the EU's borders will be high on Parliament's agenda this week also. On Monday the foreign affairs committee discusses the external dimension of the migration crisis; while on Thursday, the civil liberties committee debates the situation at Europe’s external maritime borders with Fabrice Leggeri, the head of the EU’s external border agency.

Members of the civil liberties committee also vote on their opinion on additional financing for the relocation of 40,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece to other EU member states.

On Thursday the agriculture committee votes on a draft regulation to enable member states to restrict or prohibit the use of EU-approved GMO food or feed on their territory.

On Monday and Thursday a number of Parliament’s committees vote on their positions on the draft proposal for next year's EU budget.

Source: European Parliament