• held a debate on current information concerning the state of play of Polish foreign policy towards EU, a strategy concerning integration of the Republic of Poland with the euro area and fulfilment of the obligations resulting from the accession treaty, with participation of the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Konrad Szymański and Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance, Leszek Skiba (verbatim record/PL, point 15);
• held a debate on Deputies' draft resolution (report of the European Union Affairs Committee, papers  no. 1391 i 1394, verbatim record/PL, point 19) and adopted resolution marking the 60th anniversary of the initiation of the European integration process.

In March 2017 the EU Affairs Committee (SUE) held 6 meetings: no. 115-120. During these meetings the Committee:

• scrutinised 74 EU documents:
  • pursuant to Art. 7(4) of the Cooperation Act – 12 EU draft legislative acts concerning i.a.: mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders, countering money laundering by criminal law and electronic publication of the Official Journal of the EU,
  • pursuant to Art. 151(1) of the Sejm Standing Orders and Art. 3(2) of the Cooperation Act – 27 EC documents (4 communications, 19 reports, 1 working document, 1 proposal for a regulation, 1 proposal for a directive and 1 annual review) concerning i.a.: the Civil Justice Programme, the European carbon market and exchanging and protecting personal data in a globalised world,
  • pursuant to Art. 11(1) of the Cooperation Act – EU documents, which were to be discussed by Justice and Home Affairs Council, Agriculture and Fisheries Council and Economic and Financial Affairs Council,
  • pursuant to Art. 8(2) of the Cooperation Act – 16 EU draft legal acts concerning i.a.: mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking and position to be adopted, on behalf of the EU, in the 16th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
• scrutinized: information on the Foreign Affairs Council meeting planned for 3 April 2017 and on the results of the European Council meeting held on 9-10 March 2017 (presented by Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Konrad Szymański; mtg no. 118), information on the position the Council of Ministers intends to take in the EU Council pursuant to Art. 3.2 of Protocol No. 36 on transitional provisions, annexed to the TEU and TfEU (presented by: Secretary of State in the Ministry of Environment Paweł Sałek, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Interior and Administration Jakub Skiba, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy Marcin Zieleniecki, Undersecretaries of State in the Ministry of Finance Piotr Nowak and Michał Kurtyka) (mtg no.:118 and 120),
• considered the  information on legislative proceedings relating to the implementation of EU directives for which the transposition deadline has expired or will expire within the next three months (as of 24.02.2017), presented by the representatives of appropriate ministries (mtg no. 119),
• held the first reading of Deputies' draft resolution marking the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties (paper no. 1399, mtg no. 119),
• held the first reading of Deputies' draft resolution marking the 60th anniversary of the initiation of the European integration process (paper no. 1391, mtg no. 119),
• together with the Public Finances Committee and Economy and Development Committee heard information on Country Report 2017 under European Semester and annual growth analysis, and also on Commission's work programme, taking into account financial and economic issues, presented by Valdis Dombrovskis, EC Vice-President, the Commissioner for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (mtg no. 117).

***

In March 2017 information on and documents of SUE meetings no. 115-116 and 118-120, provided by the EU Affairs Committee secretariat, were published in the EDL-S (European Legislative Documents in the Sejm) and IPEX databases.

• 08.03.2017, heard the information of Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marek  Ziółkowski on the Eastern Partnership (mtg no. 59);

• 23.03.2017, heard the information presented by Undersecretary of State in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ryszard Zarudzki on the Polish position, the proposed changes and the state of negotiations with the EC in the framework of the 2014-2020 CAP review in the context of the EC communication of 14.09.2016 (COM (2016) 603) (mtg no. 155);

• 22.03.2017, considered information of the Minister of Development and Finance on the impact of EU funds on the development of Polish economy (mtg no. 67);

Energy and State Treasury Committee

• 09.03.2017, considered information on legislative proposals submitted in the document "Clean Energy for All Europeans" COM (2016) 860 in terms of its effects on Poland, with participation of Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Energy, Michał Kurtyka; Committee adopted a position on this issue (mtg no. 56, complete record of of the Committee's meeting, p. 16-22);

• 08.03.2017, considered and did not take into account the request for appointment of special Parliamentary Committee on Brexit - aimed at monitoring the negotiations with the UK on the conditions of its exit from the EU, in the context of the long-term national interest of Poland (mtg no. 64).

 In March 2017

• the following bills implementing EU law have been referred to the first reading [paper no.]:
  
  • Government bill on the amendment of the act on micro-organisms and genetically modified organisms and some other acts [1424],
  • Government bill on restitution of cultural property [1371],
  • Government bill on claims for damages due to violation of the competition rules [1370],
  • Government bill amending the act on the collection, storage and transplantation of cells [1332],
• the following acts implementing EU law have been published [paper no.]:
  
  • Act of 9 March 2017 amending the act on Patent Attorneys [1138],
  • Act of 9 March 2017 on exchange of tax information with other states [1091].

In march 2017, 38 draft legislative acts were subject to subsidiarity scrutiny. As of 5 April 2017, the national parliaments submitted 19 reasoned opinions on the non-compliance of the scrutinised draft acts with the subsidiarity principle.

* Biuletyn OIDE of 28 February 2017 contained information - based on the data from IPEX as of 02.03.2017 - on 2 reasoned opinions adopted by French National Assembly to the documents COM(2016) 821 and COM(2016) 822. According to new data on IPEX, as of 05.04.2017, these opinions were adopted in March, not in February 2017.

** Information on the date of the adoption was given on the basis of the data on the website of the French Senate.

6-7 March 2017, Warsaw, Meeting of the presidents of parliaments of the Visegrád Group countries

• The future of the European Union. Europe of solidary states
• The Visegrad dimension of the parliamentary cooperation

8-9 March 2017, Brussels, Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on "Women's economic empowerment: let's act together"

• Welcome by Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament
• Workshops
  • Women in STEM: progress stalled or being eroded?
  • Global perspective: freedom from violence and empowerment
  • Gender-sensitive policy making at the core of inclusive growth
  • Shall we wait a century to achieve work life balance for women and men?
  • Global Perspective: Women's Economic Empowerment and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Rapporteurs' reporting from workshops
• Debate
• European Commission, DG GROW: Presentation of the European gateway for women's entrepreneurship – Wegate, The Youth Ambassadors of the ONE Campaign
• Closing: Mairead McGuinness, Vice-President of the European Parliament

17 March 2017, Rome, Extraordinary meeting of Speakers of EU Parliaments

• Welcome address: Laura Boldrini, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
• Speeches:
  • Romano Prodi, former  President  of  the  European  Commission, former President of the Council of Ministers
  • Maria Romana De Gasperi, Honorary President of Fondazione De Gasperi
• Contributions:
  • Siegfried Bracke, President of the Belgian Chambre des Représentants
  • Claude Bartolone, President of the French Assemblée nationale
  • Norbert Lammert, President of the Bundestag
  • Mars Di Bartolomeo, President of the Luxemburgian Chambre des Députés
  • Khadija Arib, President of the Tweede Kamer
• Debate

23-24 March 2017, Malta, Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Social Affairs Committees

• Opening of the meeting
• Session 1: Poverty and Social Exclusion: Working towards a more inclusive Europe, debate
• Session 2: What makes an individual socially excluded? Different perspectives and exchange of best practices, debate
• Session 3: stock of the policies of Europe 2020 and the way forward, debate
• Concluding remarks

NEW ON THE OIDE WEBSITE

In the section OIDE Notes:

60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome – debate on the future of the EU

Brexit - procedural issues

Following sections have been updated:

OIDE Notes: European Defence Union; European Pillar of Social Rights; European Public Prosecutor's Office; European Semester - course of coordination cycle at the level of the Union and Poland (2011-2017); Green and White Papers; Reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS)

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

Debates of the Sejm on EU Affairs: Debates of the Sejm - 8th term

Resolutions of the Sejm on EU Affairs: Resolutions of the Sejm - 8th term

LATEST DEBATES - COMMENTS

Selected articles on the current political and economic issues in the EU from the specialist periodicals available on-line (accessed 03.04.2017)

• D'Alfonso A.: Mid-term revision of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 29.03.2017.
• Apap J.: EU external action: Refugees and migrants, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 29.03.2017.
• Bond I.: Contested space: Eastern Europe between Russia and the EU, „Policy brief", Centre for European Reform, March 2017.
• Bond I.: The EU, the Eurasian Economic Union and One Belt, One Road: Can they work together?, „Policy brief", Centre for European Reform, March 2017.
• Bordignon M., Moriconi S.: The case for a common European refugee policy, „Policy Contribution", Iss. 8, Bruegel , 20.03.2017.
• Bouyala Imbert F.: EU Economic Diplomacy Strategy, „Analiza", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 03.03.2017.
• Bughin J.: 60 years after Rome: how is the EU really doing?, „Europe's World", 24.03.2017.
• Centeno M.: A Euro for Growth and Convergence, „Tribune", Notre Europe - Jacques Delors Institute, 13.03.2017.
• Cioriciu A., Willermain F.: How to make the most of the EU's financial potential?, „In European Policy Briefs", no. 47, Royal Institute for International Relations – EGMONT, 22.03.2017.
• Drachenberg R., Tenhunen S.: Outlook for the 9 March 2017 European Council, and the Informal meeting of the 27 Heads of State or Government on 10 March 2017, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 10.03.2017.
• Dobreva A., Wegner P.: Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 10.03.2017.
• Dumbrava C.: European Union Agency for Asylum, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 10.03.2017.
• A.C.A. Duvillet-Margerit: Completing the Banking Union - Risk Sharing Initiatives and Parallel Risk Reduction Measures, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 10.03.2017.
• Dumbrava C.: Revision of the Schengen Information System for border checks, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 16.03.2017.
• Dumbrava C.: Use of the Schengen Information System for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 16.03.2017.
• Dumbrava C.: Revision of the Schengen Information System for law enforcement, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 15.03.2017.
• Emmanouilidis J. A. (i.in): The 2017 elections across Europe: facts, expectations and consequences, „Discussion paper", European Policy Centre, 14 March 2017.
• Franke M., Mellar B.: Common procedure for asylum, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 28.03.2017.
• Funk M.: European Parliament mid-term election: what impact on migration policy?, „Commentary", European Policy Centre, 16 March 2017.
• Götz M. R., Tobias H. T.: Fines for Misconduct in the Banking Sector – What Is the Situation in the EU?, „Analiza", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 20.03.2017.
• Goodwin M.: What a Le Pen Win Would Look Like for France and the EU, „Expert comment", Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), 24 March 2017.
• Gouarderes F.: European Leadership in 5G, „W skrócie", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego 22.03.2017.
• Janning J.: The long road to peace: Europe at 60, European Council on Foreign Relations, 24.03.2017.
• Jouen M.: The Future Cohesion Policy Should Represent EU Solidarity in Action, „Tribune", Notre Europe - Jacques Delors Institute, 24.03.2017.
• Kredler D.: The EU's real problem is over-promising and under-delivering, „Europe's World", 30.03.2017.
• Moosung L.:The EU and the Six-Party Talks, „IAI Working Paper" iss. 17/09, Istituto Affari Internazionali.
• Pawlak P.: Countering hybrid threats: EU-NATO cooperation, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 02.03.2017.
• Pawlak P.: The EU's new approach to funding peace and security, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 20.03.2017.
• Pawlak P.: A global strategy on foreign and security policy for the EU, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 02.03.2017.
• Sabbati G.: European Parliament: Facts and Figures, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 10.03.2017.
• Schout A.: The Dutch elections: fragmentation and a normalised EU debate, Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael', 15 March 2017.
• Tilindyte-Humburg L.: EU citizenship rights, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 23.03.2017.
• Toporowski P.: Przegląd wieloletnich ram finansowych: skutki dla Polski, „Biuletyn PISM" nr 24 (1466), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 08.03.2017.
• Toporowski P., Szymańska J.: UE na rozdrożu: wkład Komisji Europejskiej w debatę nad przyszłością Unii, „Biuletyn PISM" nr 23 (1465), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 06.03.2017.
• Toygür İ., Benvenuti B.: One year on: an assessment of the EU-Turkey statement on refugees, „ARI" no. 21/2017, The Elcano Royal Institute, 21.03.2017.
• Tubakovic T.: A Dublin IV recast: A new and improved system?, „In European Policy Briefs", no.46, Royal Institute for International Relations – EGMONT, 17.03.2017.
• Tuokko K., Greenwood J.: Despite teething problems, the ECI stimulates EU-wide debates , „EPIN Commentary" no. 37/20, March 2017.
• Zuleeg F., Emmanouilidis J. A.: The Rome Declaration – An imperfect display of unity, „Post – summit commentary", European Policy Centre, 27 March 2017.

BREXIT

• Besch S., Odendahl Ch.: Berlin to the rescue? A closer look at Germany's position on Brexit, „Policy brief", Centre for European Reform, March 2017.
• Blick A: Deal or no deal? The Article 50 process in context, The Federal Trust, March 2017.
• Carmona Nunez J. (i.in): UK withdrawal from the European Union: Legal and procedural issues, „Analiza", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 27.03.2017.
• Cooper Ch.: What the EU27 wants from Brexit, „Politico", 29.03.17.
• Csornai Z.: The Changing Balance of Power in the EU after the British Referendum – V4 Capacities and Opportunities, „Policy brief", Institute for European Policy (EUROPEUM), 16.03.2017.
• Duff A.: Brexit: how to manage the talks and the transition, „Discussion paper", European Policy Centre, 27 March 2017.
• Emerson M.: An Assessment of the Economic Impact of Brexit on the EU27, Study for the IMCO Committee, 22.03.2017.
• Faure-Schuyer A.: Running out of steam? Brexit and the future of EU energy policy, „ARI", no. 15/2017, The Elcano Royal Institute, 07.03.2017.
• Grant Ch.: The Brexit Negotiations: An Assessment of the Legal, Political and Institutional Situation in the UK, „Analiza", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 20.03.2017.
• Gill J. (i.in): Brexit: a reading list of post-EU Referendum publications by Parliament and the Devolved Assemblies, „Briefing Paper" no. 7912, House of Commons Library, 29.03.2017.
• Katwala S.: What are Britain's post-Brexit migration options?, „Europe's World", 13.03.2017.
• Miller V.: Brexit Glossary, „Briefing Paper" no. 7840, House of Commons Library, 13.03.2017.
• Robinson T., Miller V.: Brexit reading list: legal and constitutional issues, „Briefing Paper" no. 7702, House of Commons Library, 13.03.2017.
• Tannam E.: Brexit and the Future of the United Kingdom, „IAI Working Paper" iss. 14/17, Istituto Affari Internazionali.
• Timothy R.: Defence and security after Brexit: a reading list , „Briefing Paper" no. 7742, House of Commons Library, 13.03.2017.
  
  

EU CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Selected articles and papers
(available in the Sejm Library or on-line, accessed 03.04.2017)

• Bertoncini Y.: Differentiated Integration in the EU: A Variable Geometry Legitimacy, EU60: Re-Founding Europe. The Responsibility to Propose, Istituto Affari Internazionali, 22.03.2017.
• Fromage D.: Subsidiarity as a Means to Enhance Cooperation between EU Institutions and National Parliaments, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 08.03.2017.
• Jokela J.: A More Powerful European Council: Old and new trends, „FIIA brefing paper 217", Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 14.03.2017.
• Lessing G.: Police and Border Controls Cooperation at the EU Level: Dilemmas, Opportunities and Challenges of a Differentiated Approach, EU60: Re-Founding Europe. The Responsibility to Propose, Istituto Affari Internazionali, 08.03.2017.
• Luining M.: Deepening and broadening the EU's Rule of Law agenda, „Policy brief", Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael', March 2017.
• Marrone A.: PESCO: An Ace in the Hand for European Defence, EU60: Re-Founding Europe. The Responsibility to Propose, Istituto Affari Internazionali, 22.03.2017.
• Mańko R.: The EU as a community of law: Overview of the role of law in the Union, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 24.03.2017.
• Pirozzi N.: Differentiated Integration: A Way Forward for Europe, EU60: Re-Founding Europe. The Responsibility to Propose, Istituto Affari Internazionali, 16.03.2017.
• Raunio T., Wiberg M.: The Impact of the European Union on National Legislation, „Discussion Paper" C 240, Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung, 2017.
• The Role of National Parliaments in the EU after Lisbon: Potentialities and Challenges, Study for the AFCO Committee, 2017.
• Terrinha L. H.: The Legisprudential Role of National Parliaments in the European Union, „Briefing", Biuro Analiz Parlamentu Europejskiego, 10.03.2017.