In December 2016 the EU Affairs Committee (SUE) held 4 meetings: no. 99-102. During these meetings the Committee:

• scrutinised 44 EU documents:
  • pursuant to Art. 7(4) of the Cooperation Act – 9 EU draft legislative acts concerning i.a., hybrid mismatches with third countries, double taxation dispute resolution mechanisms in the European Union or common corporate tax base,
  • pursuant to Art. 151(1) of the Sejm Standing Orders and Art. 3(2) of the Cooperation Act – 11 EC documents (7 communications, 3 reports and 1 joint communication) concerning i.a., overall assessment of 2017 draft budgetary plans, international ocean governance or prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances,
  • pursuant to Art. 11(1) of the Cooperation Act – EU documents, which were to be discussed by Justice and Home Affairs Council and Environmental Council,
  • pursuant to Art. 8(2) of the Cooperation Act – 4 EU draft legal acts concerning i.a., economic policy of the euro area or EU accession to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC),
• heard information on annual report of the European Court of Auditors on the implementation of the EU budget in 2015, presented by Janusz Wojciechowski, member of ECA (mtg no. 99),
• appointed ad hoc subcommittee on EU energy policy (mtg no. 102).

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In December 2016 information on and documents of SUE meetings no. 99-101, provided by the EU Affairs Committee secretariat, were published in the EDL-S (European Legislative Documents in the Sejm) and IPEX databases.

State Audit Committee

• 14.12.2016, considered information of the Supreme Audit Office on the results of audit of the correctness of the proceedings in the selection of projects in the framework of selected Regional Operational Programmes (mtg no. 36);

Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry Committee

• 01.12.2016, considered information of the Supreme Audit Office on the results of audit of adjusting the Polish industry to the requirements of climate and energy package (mtg no. 49);

Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

• 13.12.2016, considered the resolution of the Senate concerning the bill amending the act on supporting rural development including resources of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development under the Rural Development Programme for 2014-2020 and some other acts, paper no. 1019 (mtg no. 104).

Local Government and Regional Policy

• 14.12.2016, considered information on the implementation of operational programmes financed from the EU funds for the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 (mtg no. 88);
• 13.12.2016, considered information on the functioning of the Integrated Territorial Investment (mtg no. 86).

• the following bills implementing EU law have been referred to the first reading [paper no.]:
  
  • Government bill amending the act on Patent Attorneys [1138],
  • Government bill amending the act on trading in financial instruments and some other acts [1097],
  • Government bill on statutory auditors, audit firms and on public oversight [1092],
  • Government bill on exchange of tax information with other states [1091].
• the following acts implementing EU law have been published [paper no.]:
  
  • Act of 16 December 2016 amending the act on seeds and the act on plant protection [1043],
  • Act of 21 October 2016 amending the act on excise duty [849],
  • Act of 30 November 2016  amending the act on payment services and some other acts [785], [626].
    
    

In December 2016, 17 draft legislative acts were subject to subsidiarity scrutiny. As of 9 January 2017, the national parliaments submitted 19 reasoned opinions on the non-compliance of the scrutinised draft acts with the subsidiarity principle.

* In November 2016 to the documents COM(2016) 591 one reasoned opinion was submitted - see the previous Biuletyn OIDE – November 2016.

4 December 2016, Przemyśl, Working meeting of the Presidents of Parliaments of the Visegrád Group countries
Panel I: Policy issues concerning the European Union
- The future of the European Union (operating mechanisms and internal coherence)
- Strengthening the role of the national parliaments in the European Union and the necessity to systematise their relations with the European Parliament
Panel II: Practical dimension of V4 cooperation
- Informational and educational initiatives (V4 knowledge contests, film, music, art contests, etc. connected with V4 topics)
- Proposal to designate 2017 the Visegrad Year
- Reflection on possible changes in the functioning of the International Visegrad Fund

1-2 December 2016, Bratislava, Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Economic Affairs Committees on Energy Union
Opening of the meeting
Session 1: State of the Energy Union, debate
Session 2: Energy Union – an integrated approach to Research and Innovation, debate
Session 3: The future smart EU energy systems with the consumer at the centre, debate

NEW ON THE OIDE WEBSITE

Following sections have been updated

OIDE Notes: European Defence Union

Important parliamentary debates: Debate on the state of the Union and Commission's work programmes

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

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LATEST DEBATES - COMMENTS

Selected articles on the current political and economic issues in the EU from the specialist periodicals available on-line (accessed 05.01.2017)

• Attard L.: Priority dossiers under the Maltese EU Council Presidency, „Briefing”, European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2016.
• Besch S.: EU defence, Brexit and Trump. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, „Policy brief”, Centre for European Reform, 14.12.2016.
• Bond I., Besch S.: Does ‘America First’ mean EU defence at last?, „Bulletin” iss. 111 - December 2016/January 2017, Centre for European Reform.
• Deletang P. P.: L'institution du parquet européen, c'est maintenant, „Note” no. 2/16, Terra Nova, 07.12.2016.
• Drachenberg R., Anghel S.: Outcome of the European Council of 15 December 2016, „Briefing”, European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2016.
• Dumbrava C.: European Union Agency for Asylum, „Briefing”, European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2016.
• Dyner A. M.: Perspektywy relacji Unia Europejska – Białoruś, „Biuletyn PISM” nr 85 (1435), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 05.12.2016.
• Fouéré E.: The EU’s Enlargement Strategy – Is it working?, Centre for European Policy Studies, 01.12.2016.
• Gros D.: Can Trump save the euro?, „CEPS Commentary”, Centre for European Policy Studies, 09.12.2016.
• Gros D.: Structural Reforms as a Panacea? The European Productivity and Growth Puzzle, „Intereconomics” 2016/6, December 2016.
• Iso-Markku T., Helwig N.: Europe's New Defence Agenda: Major hurdles still remain, „Briefing Paper” 211 (2016), Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 14.12.2016.
• Kluger Dionigi M.: The EU Transparency Register: on the right path, but not quite there yet, „Discussion Paper”, European Policy Centre, 15.12.2016.
• Kugiel P.: Rola pomocy rozwojowej w rozwiązywaniu kryzysu uchodźczego, „Biuletyn PISM” nr 89 (1439), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 14.12.2016.
• Lazarou E., Littlehale M.: EU-NATO cooperation and European defence after the Warsaw Summit, „Briefing”, European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2016.
• Paul A.: The EU cannot afford to just ‘muddle through’ on Turkey, „Commentary”, European Policy Centre, 08.12.2016.
• Pickova Z.: The ePrivacy Directive as a Test Case of Better Regulation, „Policy Paper”, EUROPEUM - Institute for European Policy.
• Seeberg P.: The EU-Turkey March 2016 Agreement As a Model: New Refugee Regimes and Practices in the Arab Mediterranean and the Case of Libya, „Working Paper” no. 16, Istituto Affari Internazionali, December 2016.
• Solana J., Blockmans S.: The EU’s Winter Package for European Security and Defence, „CEPS Commentary”, Centre for European Policy Studies, 16.12.2016.
• Tiilikainen T.: The EU’s Security and Defence Policy: Will the new strategy bear fruit?, „Briefing Paper” 210 (2016), Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 13.12.2016.
• Toygür I.: European institutional responses to the recent developments in Turkey: divided in unity?, „Expert Comment’ no. 52/2016, The Elcano Royal Institute, 23.12.2016.
• Zaręba S.: Możliwości zaskarżenia decyzji Komisji Europejskiej w sprawie gazociągu Opal, „Biuletyn PISM” nr 86 (1436), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 06.12.2016.

  BREXIT

• Ahmed M.: BREXIT and English Jurisdiction Agreements: The Post-Referendum Legal Landscape, „European Business Law Review” vol. 27 (2016), iss. 7, s. 989.
• Aikens R., Dinsmore A.: Jurisdiction, Enforcement and the Conflict of Laws in Cross-Border Commercial Disputes: What Are the Legal Consequences of Brexit?, „European Business Law Review” vol. 27 (2016), iss. 7, s. 903.
• Barcz J.: Brexit - w sprawie interpretacji postanowień art. 50 Traktatu o Unii Europejskiej, „Europejski Przegląd Sądowy” nr. 12/2016, s. 4.
• Capriglione F.: UK Referendum and Brexit Hypothesis: The Way Out Perspective and the Convenience to ‘Remain United, „European Business Law Review” vol. 27 (2016), iss. 7, s. 887.
• Emerson M.: Scotland knows what it wants with the EU, while London seems still not to know, „CEPS Commentary”, Centre for European Policy Studies, 24.12.2016.
• Gordon M.: Brexit: a challenge for the UK constitution, of the UK constitution?, „European Constitutional Law Review” vol. 12, iss. 3, December 2016, s. 409.
• Horan B.: Brexit and Free Movement of People, Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), 13.12.2016.
• Howorth J., Schmidt V.: Brexit: What Happened? What is Going to Happen?, „Politique étrangère” vol. 81, no. 4, Winter 2016-2017, Institut francais des relations internationales.
• Koenig N.: EU external action and Brexit: relaunch and reconnect, „Policy paper” no. 178, Jacques Delors Institut – Berlin, 01.12.2016.
• Kokkinis A.: The Impact of Brexit on the Legal Framework for Cross-Border Corporate Activity, „European Business Law Review” vol. 27 (2016), iss. 7, s. 959.
• Lannoo K.: A hard Brexit is the last thing Japan wants, „CEPS Commentary”, Centre for European Policy Studies, 07.12.2016.
• Lehmann M., Zetzsche D.: Brexit and the Consequences for Commercial and Financial Relations between the EU and the UK, „European Business Law Review” vol. 27 (2016), iss. 7, s. 999.
• Magnus M. i in.: Brexit: the United-Kingdom and EU financial services, „Briefing”, European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2016.
• Nicolaides P., Roy T.: Brexit and Trade: Between Facts and Irrelevance, „BEEP briefing” no. 42, College of Europe, December 2016.
• Shroeter U., Nemeczek H.: The (Unclear) Impact of Brexit on the United Kingdom’s Membership in the European Economic Area, „European Business Law Review” vol. 27 (2016), iss. 7, s. 921.
• Tilford S.: A wake-up call for liberal Brexiters, „Bulletin” iss. 111 - December 2016/January 2017, Centre for European Reform.
• Ward P.: Brexit and data protection, „Briefing Paper” no. 7838, House of Commons Library, 15.12.2016.

   ***

EU CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Selected articles and papers
(available in the Sejm Library or on-line, accessed 05.01.2017)

• Arena A.: Exercise of EU Competences and Pre-emption of Member States’ Powers in the Internal and the External Sphere: Towards ‘Grand Unification’?, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Basheska E., Kochenov D.: The Meso Level: Means of Interaction between EU and International Law: ‘Good Fences Make Good Neighbors’ and Beyond … Two Faces of the Good Neighbourliness Principle, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Blockmans S.: The 2016 “Winter Package” on European Security and Defence: Constitutional, Legal and Institutional Implications, „In-Depth Analysis”, European Parliament, 16.12.2016.
• Blokker N.: The Macro Level: The Structural Impact of General International Law on EU Law: International Legal Personality of the European Communities and the European Union: Inspirations from Public International Law, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Böttner R.: The Treaty Amendment Procedures and the Relationship between Article 31(3) TEU and the General Bridging Clause of Article 48(7) TEU, „European Constitutional Law Review” vol. 12, iss. 3, December 2016, s. 499.
• Bulmer S., Joseph J.: European integration in crisis? Of supranational integration, hegemonic projects and domestic politics, „European Journal of International Relations” vol. 22, iss. 4, December 2016.
• Curtin D., Eckes C.: Secrecy Inside and Outside: EU External Relations in Focus, „Report” no. 13, (2016), Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, December 2016.
• De Lucia L.: The Rationale of Economics and Law in the Aftermath of the Crisis: A Lesson from Michel Foucault, „European Constitutional Law Review” vol. 12, iss. 3, December 2016, s. 445.
• Dyevre A.: Domestic Judicial Defiance in the European Union: A Systemic Threat to the Authority of EU Law?, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Fabbrini F., Larik J.: The Past, Present and Future of the Relation between the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Fromage D.: The Second Yellow Card on the EPPO Proposal: An Encouraging Development for Member State Parliaments?, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Herlin-Karnell E.: The Challenges of EU Enforcement and Elements of Criminal Law Theory: On Sanctions and Value in Contemporary ‘Freedom, Security and Justice’ Law, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.
• Maliszewska-Nienartowicz J.: Zakaz dyskryminacji pośredniej w prawie Unii Europejskiej (definicje oraz praktyka stosowania), „Państwo i Prawo” nr. 12/2016, s. 3.
• Michalski A., Norman L.: Conceptualizing European security cooperation: Competing international political orders and domestic factors, „European Journal of International Relations”, Volume 22, Issue 4, December 2016,
• Tutty M.: EU Economic Governance: Guide to the Main Elements, Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), 07.12.2016.
• Wessel R. A.: The Meso Level: Means of Interaction between EU and International Law: Flipping the Question: The Reception of EU Law in the International Legal Order, „Yearbook of European Law” vol. 35, no. 1 (2016), December 2016.