Brits survive EP committee re-shuffle
The mid-term reshuffle of top jobs in the European Parliament came to a close this week with the election of Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairs. While the political groups all retained the same committees there was some changing of the guard with six new Chairmen.
The most significant was the election of the Romanian centre-right MEP Adina-Ioana Valean to take over the Environment Committee (ENVI) from Giovanni La Via. She comes with a reputation of being pro-industry, working mainly on energy policy, and ENVI members will be keen to see her defend their interests in the battles that lie ahead with the Industry Committee on issues like Renewable energy. The French Green MEP Karima Delli, takes over the Transport Committee from the veteran Michael Cramer, which should herald a change in style. She is young, with an Algerian background and likely to shake things up. The German MEP, David McAllister, who is half Scottish, takes over the influential Foreign Affairs Committee.
All three British Chairman of Committees – Vicky Ford in Internal Market, Claude Moraes in Civil Liberties and Linda McAvan in Development – were re-elected. There had been mutterings that it was inappropriate to have Brits leading key committees that would adopt legislation the UK would never enact, but no serious attempt was made to de-throne them. The one Committee that was unable to complete its election process was the influential Economics Committee, where an all-male team of Chairman and Vice-Chairs fell foul of new rules on gender balance.
Canada deal hangs in the balance
The European Parliament took one step closer to ratifying the EU-Canada trade deal (CETA) with a positive vote in the International Trade Committee this week. The agreement was signed on 30 October 2016, following a short delay to allow the Walloons to sort themselves out, but needs to be ratified by the EP before it can come into force. The House is split on the merits of the deal, with the Socialists key to getting it through. While their members of the Trade Committee backed CETA, the rank and file may still rebel when it comes to a final plenary vote next month. Expect more large demonstrations against CETA and the now defunct TTIP in the weeks to come.
Tougher waste targets adopted
Environment MEPs voted in favour of more ambitious recycling targets in a package of proposals to revise four existing waste laws. They want the share of waste to be recycled raised to 70% by 2030 and a big cut in what is sent to landfill. Higher targets are also set for packaging materials like paper, plastics and glass and a non-binding target of 50% by 2030 is set for reducing food waste. Steered through by Italian Socialist, Simona Bonafé, the measures are all part of the transition to a circular economy. She has succeeded in reintroducing the higher targets that the Commission originally proposed before the package was withdrawn for a year-long overhaul.