In March 2018 the EU Affairs Committee (SUE) held 5 meetings: no. 189-193. During these meetings the Committee:

• scrutinised 32 EU documents:
  • pursuant to Art. 7(4) of the Cooperation Act – 4 EU draft legislative acts concerning i.a., establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems (police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration; borders and visa); quality of water intended for human consumption,
  • pursuant to Art. 151(1) of the Sejm Standing Orders and Art. 3(2) of the Cooperation Act – 14 EC documents (4 communications, 9 reports and 1 Commission decision) concerning i.a., implementation of the EU customs Action Plan to combat IPR infringements for the years 2013/2017; future of food and farming; mid-term evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF),
  • pursuant to Art. 8(2) of the Cooperation Act –  14 EU draft legal acts concerning i.a., mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece, Spain, France and Portugal; position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex XIII (Transport) to the EEA Agreement; opening of negotiations on a Partnership Agreement between the European Union and countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States,
• considered information of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on "EU enlargement policy. Assessment of the accession prospects of the Western Balkan countries. Polish involvement in the EU enlargement proces" (presented by the Undersecretary of State in the MFA Bartosz Cichocki) (mtg no. 189),
• scrutinized information on the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting held on 19 March 2018 (presented by: Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation Grzegorz Witkowski and Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ryszard Zarudzki (mtg no. 190),
• considered the motion of the presidium of the committee to initiate the consideration of draft resolution on the future shape of cohesion policy in the European Union (mtg no. 192).

OPINIONS ADOPTED BY THE SUE

COM(2018) 51

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on health technology assessment and amending Directive 2011/24/EU

EU Affairs Committee

• 22.03.2018, mtg 191 – opinion no. 30
• 27.03.2018 – transmission of the opinion (stating i.a. non-compliance of the proposal with the principle of subsidiarity) to the Presidents of the EP, Council and European Commission in the framework of political dialogue

***

SUE together with Public Finances Committe

took note of the information of the Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, Günther Oettinger, on the plans for the next Multiannual Financial Framework and on the European Commission Work Programme for 2018 (mtg no. 193)

***

In March 2018 information on and documents of SUE meetings no. 189-191, provided by the EU Affairs Committee secretariat, were published in the EDL-S (European Legislative Documents in the Sejm) and IPEX databases.

• Government bill amending the act on - Pharmaceutical Law and and some other acts [2386],
• Government bill amending the act on conformity assessment system and the act on conformity assessment and market surveillance systems and some other acts [2376].

In March 2018, 27 draft legislative acts were subject to subsidiarity scrutiny. As of 5 April 2018, the national parliaments submitted 4 reasoned opinions on the non-compliance of the scrutinised draft acts with the subsidiarity principle.

*Reasoned opinion of the Czech Chamber of Deputies was submitted in April, that is why it was not included in the March summary.

1-2 March 2018, Budapest, Meeting of Presidents of Parliaments of the Visegrád Group Countries

• Experiences of the Hungarian V4 Parliamentary Presidency
• Strengthening the V4 parliamentary administration cooperation
• Conference of Presidents and committee delegations of the Parliaments of V4 Countries  “V4 for Values – strengthening parliamentary cooperation in the EU”
• Signing the conclusions from the meeting

8 March 2018, Brussels, Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on “Empowering women and girls in media and ICT: key for the future”

• Women shaping media
• Empowering women and girls through digital inclusion
• Women’s movements on the rise: advancing equality in the digital age
• Closing remarks

18-19 March 2018, Sofia, Meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol

• Opening and introductory remarks by the Co-Chairs
• Exchange of views and adoption of the Rules of Procedure for the JPSG
• Past and future Europol cooperation with the Western Balkan countries
• Exchange of views on the Europol Draft Multiannual Programming 2019–2021 with Mr. Rob Wainwright, Executive Director of Europol
• Exchange of views with Mr. Priit Pärkna, Chairperson of the Europol Management Board
• EDPS supervision of Europol: 2017 activities and ongoing work
• Countering illegal content online and optimizing cybersecurity: Europol's Cybercrime Centre and the EU Internet Referral Unit
• Europol's contribution to the fight against terrorism and the prevention of organized crime
• Conclusions and closing of the meeting by the Co-Chairs

NEW ON THE OIDE WEBSITE

Following sections have been updated:

OIDE Notes: Brexit - documents; European Citizens' Initiative; European Semester - course of coordination cycle at the level of the Union and Poland (2011-2018); Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, Rule of law compliance mechanisms in the European Union; Transparency register

Bibliographies: BREXIT – selected publications (since 2016), The national parliaments’ position in the EU under the Lisbon Treaty

Polish Legal Acts: The Standing Orders of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland

LATEST DEBATES - COMMENTS

Selected articles on the current political and economic issues in the EU from the specialist periodicals available on-line (accessed 05.04.2018)

• Brown T.: Shaping social policy: what role for the EU?, The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), March 2018.
• Demertzis M., Guntram B. Wolff , Sapir A.: Europe in a new world order, „Analysen und Berichte ", Bruegel, 26.03.2018.
• Dhéret C.: European Pillar of Social Rights: Member states must shoulder the responsibility of delivery, „Policy paper", European Policy Centre, 16.03.2018.
• Drachenberg R., Polidori S.: Outlook for the meetings of EU leaders on 22-23 March 2018, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 21.03.2018.
• Drachenberg R.: Current membership of the European Council, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 22.03.2018.
• Stojić M.: Serbia on the EU path: A troublesome journey through uncharted territory, „Europeum Monitor", Institute for European Policy (EUROPEUM), 15.03.2018.
• Ferguson C., Sochacka K.: Plenary round-up – Brussels, February II 2018, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 02.03.2018.
• Ferguson C., Sochacka K.: Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 16.03.2018.
• Gostyńska-Jakubowska A.: The member-states and the EU: Taking back control?, „CER Bulletin", Centre for European Reform , April/May 2018, issue 119.
• Grosek K.: European political parties and political foundations – Statute and funding, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 27.03.2018.
• Gstöhl S.: The European Union in its Neighbourhood: An Accidental Regional Hegemon, „CEPOB - College of Europe Policy Brief series", College of Europe, March 2018.
• Iso-Markku T., Siddi M.:A new government takes office in Berlin: What prospects for Franco-German leadership in the EU?, „FIIA Comment", Finnish Institute of International Affairs, March 2018.
• László A.: Balancing Openness and Protection: How can the EU budget help?, „Policy paper", European Policy Centre, 14.03.2018.
• Lazarou E.: Permanent structured cooperation (PESCO): Beyond establishment, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 09.03.2018.
• Lierop Ch Van.: European territorial cooperation, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 23.03.2018.
• Lilyanova V.: Western Balkans: Enlargement strategy 2018, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 13.03.2018.
• Luchian M.: Towards a New Thinking on the Western Balkans, Istituto Affari Internazionali, March 2018.
• Matthews A: National co-financing of CAP direct payments, Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS), March 2018.
• Mortera-Martinez C.: Europe's cyber problem, „CER Bulletin", Centre for European Reform , April/May 2018, issue 119.
• Parry M.: Reforma systemu zasobów własnych Unii Europejskiej, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 06.03.2018.
• Radjenovic A.: EU Fundamental Rights Agency, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 26.03.2018.
• Ramírez González V., José A. Martínez A., Palomares Bautista A.: The composition of the European Parliament in 2019, „ARI", no. 42/2018, The Elcano Royal Institute, 23.03.2018.
• Revelas K.: Permanent Structured Cooperation: not a panacea but an important step for consolidating EU security and defence cooperation, „CIFE Policy Paper" N°67, Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE), 28.03.2018.
• Sapala M.: Wieloletnie ramy finansowe na okres po 2020 r., „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 06.03.2018.
• Siddi M.: EU member states and Russia: National and European debates in an evolving international environment, „FIIA Report", Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 03.2018.
• Springford J., Lowe S., Oppenheim B.: Will the unity of the 27 crack?, „Policy brief", Centre for European Reform, 15.03.2018.

Konsultacje obywatelskie
(inicjatywa prezydenta Macrona)

• Libaert T.: Consultations citoyennes, un nouvel espoir pour l'Europe?, „Euractive", 05.03.2018.
• Libaert T.: How to turn citizens' consultations into a success, "Euractive", 02.03.2018.
• Maurice E.: Macron's citizens' consultation 'risk' worth taking, says minister, „EUObserver", 14.03.2018.
• Robert A.: Citizens' consultations: An ambitious gamble to connect citizens with Brussels, „Euractive", 16.03.2018.

BREXIT

• Biskup P.: Komentarz PISM: Brytyjski spór o politykę brexitu a perspektywa przyspieszonych wyborów, „Biuletyn PISM" nr 15, Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 06.03.2018.
• Boleat M.: Brexit and the financial services industry: The story so far, Centre for European Reform, 27.03.2018.
• Boleat M: Brexit financial services deal will be difficult, Opinion piece, Centre for European Reform, 28.03.2018.
• Bond I.: Plugging in the British: EU foreign policy, „ Policy brief", Centre for European Reform, 06.03.2018.
• Bond I: British foreign policy after Brexit: Hand in hand? , „CER Bulletin", Centre for European Reform, April/May 2018, issue 119.
• Cirlig C.-C.: Framework for future EU-UK relations, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 09.03.2018.
• Darvas Z., B. Wolff G.: Rethinking the European Union's post-Brexit budget priorities, „Policy brief ", Bruegel, 19.03.2018.
• Dassù M., Wolfgang I., Vimont P., Cooper R.: Keeping Europe safe after Brexit, „Commentary", European Council on Foreign Relations, 20.03.2018.
• Donnelly B.: Is Brexit worth it, Prime Minister?, „Europeum Monitor", Institute for European Policy (EUROPEUM), 03.03.2018.
• Duff A.:Brexit: Half In, Half Out or Right Out?, „Policy paper", European Policy Centre, 06.03.2018.
• Florelle H., Honnefelder S.: The UK's Potential Withdrawal from the EU and Single Market Access under EU Financial Services Legislation, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 15.03.2018.
• Gros D.: A Brexit Gentlemen's Agreement, "CEPS Commentaries",Centre for European Policy Studies, 09.03.2018.
• Zuleeg F.: Last chance for an exit from Brexit?, „Policy paper", European Policy Centre, 29.03.2018.

EU CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Selected articles and papers

(available in the Sejm Library or on-line, accessed 05.04.2018)

• Brack N., Costa O.: Democracy in parliament vs. democracy through parliament? Defining the rules of the game in the European Parliament, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 16.03.2018.
• Brack N., Costa O.: Introduction: the European Parliament at a crossroads, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 21.03.2018.
• Hughes J. M.:"Sleeping Beauty" Unleashed: Harmonizing a Consolidated European Security and Defense Union, „ZEI Discussion Paper" 2017, C 248.
• Lord Ch.: The European Parliament: a working parliament without a public?, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 16.03.2018.
• Westlake M.: Conclusions: the European Parliament – coming of age, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 22.03.2018.
• Mikołajczyk B: Mechanizm dubliński na rozdrożu – uwagi w związku z pracami nad rozporządzeniem Dublin IV, „Europejski Przegląd Sądowy" nr 3/2018.
• Synnøve S., Hermansen L.: (Self-)selection and expertise among decision-makers in the European Parliament, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 16.03.2018.