Background 10-12-2020 - 12:53 20201210BKG93511

European Parliament Press Kit for the of 10-11 December 2020

In this press kit, you find a selection of Parliament’s press releases that show MEPs’ priorities in relation to topics on the summit agenda, and contact details for MEPs involved.

All documents included in the press kit, along with additional information, can be found on the ’s website.

European Parliament President David Sassoli will represent the European Parliament at the summit and:

- address the heads of state or government at 14:00

- hold a press conference at 14:30 on 10 December. More information here.

On 10 December, EU leaders will meet in Brussels to discuss further coordination on COVID- 19, Multiannual financial framework and the Recovery fund, climate change, security, and external relations. On 11 December, the leaders will also meet for the .

Contacts

Jaume DUCH GUILLOT EP Spokesperson and Director General for Communication (+32) 2 28 43000 (BXL) (+33) 3 881 74705 (STR) (+32) 496 59 94 76 [email protected]

Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 1 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

Delphine COLARD Head of Spokesperson’s Unit and Deputy Spokesperson (+32) 2 28 43383 (BXL) (+33) 3 881 64123 (STR) (+32) 498 98 44 85 [email protected]

Neil CORLETT Head of the Press Unit (+32) 2 28 42077 (BXL) (+33) 3 881 74167 (STR) (+32) 470 89 16 63 [email protected]

Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 2 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

Multiannual Financial Framework and Recovery Fund Parliament stands ready to vote on the future EU financing package and the 2021 budget if the European Council succeeds in breaking the deadlock on the long-term budget and recovery package, including the Rule of Law Mechanism. Should member states reach an agreement amongst themselves to endorse the deals previously agreed with MEPs in the negotiations and send them to Parliament in time before the 14-18 December plenary, then they can be added to the votes next week.

This would allow urgently needed support from the EU budget and the recovery fund to get to citizens as of the start of next year.

The Multiannual Financial Framework - including the accompanying Interinstitutional Agreement - was informally agreed with Council on 10 November, while the mechanism that enables the EU to stop funding governments that disrespect EU values such as the rule of law was agreed on 5 November and the annual budget for 2021 on 4 December.

Further information Background on the Political agreement on the 2021-2027 MFF, the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument and new own resources EPRS Briefing Invitation letter by President Charles Michel EP Multimedia Centre: free photos, videos and audio material

EP’s negotiating team for MFF and Own Resources reform Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR, BE), Chair of the Committee on Budgets Jan Olbrycht (EPP, PL), MFF co- (S&D, PT), MFF co-rapporteur José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, PT), Own Resources co-rapporteur Valérie Hayer (RENEW, FR), Own Resources co-rapporteur Rasmus Andresen (Greens/EFA, DE)

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Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 3 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

COVID-19 The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety quizzed the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Emer Cooke, on 10 December on the latest developments regarding the authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines. The Commission has already entered into advance purchase agreements with several pharmaceutical laboratories. Any vaccine will need to be authorised by EMA, in accordance with safety and efficacy standards.

Next week, Parliament will hold a plenary debate on the preparation of an EU Strategy on COVID-19 vaccination, including its external dimension.

Further information Authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines EU4Health

MEP to contact Christian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, Romania), rapporteur on EU4Health

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Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 4 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

Climate change The 2030 emissions reduction target should be increased to 60% and all member states must become climate-neutral by 2050, said Parliament in a vote on the EU climate law on 8 October. MEPs insist that both the EU and individual member states must become climate-neutral by 2050 and that thereafter the EU shall achieve “negative emissions”. They also call for sufficient financing to achieve this. MEPs state that by 31 May 2023, the Commission must propose – through the ordinary decision-making procedures – a trajectory on how to reach carbon neutrality at EU level by 2050. It must take into account the total remaining EU greenhouse gas emissions until 2050 in order to limit rising temperatures, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.

Parliament has agreed to start negotiations with member states only on part of the Climate Law, but is ready to negotiate on all parts as soon as Council has reached a common position.

Further information EU climate law: MEPs want to increase 2030 emissions reduction target to 60%

MEP to contact (S&D, Sweden)

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Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 5 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

Counter-terrorism Following the presentation by the of a new Counter-Terrorism agenda, the Chair of the Civil Liberties committee, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), welcomed these proposals as a step to address the terrorist threat in the EU, which remains high. Parliament has repeatedly called for a comprehensive agenda that includes measures on coordination, intensified cooperation and information exchange between competent authorities (including Eurojust, Europol and Counter-Terrorism Coordinator) on terrorism financing and countering radicalisation offline and online. Specific efforts also need to be taken in the area of prevention and education, the fight against hate speech, racism and intolerance.

On Monday 7 December 2020, the Civil Liberties committee adopted a draft motion for resolution on the EU Security Union Strategy. MEPs highlight that terrorism aims at threatening the democratic societies and targeting European values. The resolution is expected to be debated and voted next week at the December 14-17 plenary session.

Further information Resolution to be voted in plenary newt week Press release Proposal to update Europol’s mandate

MEP to contact Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), Chair of the Civil Liberties committee

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Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 6 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

EU-US relations Last week, Members on the Foreign Affairs Committee devoted a public hearing on the future of transatlantic relations to discussing how to relaunch EU-US cooperation. MEPs welcomed the new EU-US agenda outlined on 2 December in the Joint Communication by the European Commission and the High Representative. “The Joint Communication rightly begins with measures on the global health emergency, the need to coordinate our economic recoveries, and the green transition that must be achieved through trade and technological cooperation. With regard to foreign policy, we are particularly pleased to see the emphasis placed on the importance of defending democracy and human rights, the fight against authoritarianism, the establishment of a new Security and Defence Dialogue, as well as ideas for closer coordination in many geopolitical arenas. The European Parliament shares this positive outlook on EU-US relations and looks forward to bringing this vision to life”, stated the leading MEPs on the new EU-US agenda.

Further information Transatlantic relations: time to relaunch EU cooperation with the United States

MEPs to contact David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Radosław Sikorski (EPP, Poland), Chair of Parliament’s Delegation for relations with US (S&D, Croatia), Standing Rapporteur for the US

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Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 7 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 Background

Turkey, eastern Mediterranean and southern neighbourhood Parliament calls on the European Council to maintain its unified position on Turkey’s illegal actions and impose tough sanctions in response. As Turkey moves further away from European values and standards, EU-Turkey relations are at a historic low, warns Parliament. MEPs call on Turkey to refrain from proceeding with any unilateral activities, such as illegal exploratory drilling or military actions in the Eastern Mediterranean infringe on the sovereignty of EU member states Greece and Cyprus. MEPs also highlight Turkey’s direct support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as its actions in Libya and Syria.

Turkey’s decision to “open” the sealed-off suburb of Varosha undermines prospects of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, warn MEPs in a resolution. MEPs call on Turkey to transfer Varosha to its lawful inhabitants under the temporary administration of the UN, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984). A sustainable solution to reunify the island of Cyprus and its people can only be found through dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiations, MEPs stress.

Further information Nacho Sánchez Amor (S&D, Spain), Standing rapporteur for Turkey

MEPs to contact /meps/en/197722/NACHO_SANCHEZ+AMOR/home (S&D, ), Chair of Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries (S&D, Portugal), Chair of Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries

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Press Service, Directorate General for Communication 8 I 8 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000