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30 November 2020
EUROPEAN DEBATES IN THE SEJM

19 November 2020, the Sejm accepted the information on the Republic of Poland's participation in the activities of the European Union in July-December 2019 (Finland’s Presidency of the Council of European Union) - resolution and the information on the Republic of Poland's participation in the activities of the European Union in January-June 2020 (Croatian Presidency of the Council of European Union) - resolution. The information was earlier debated in plenary with participation of the Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Secretary of State in Foreign Affairs Ministry, Konrad Szymański (verbatim record/PL point 6 and 7).

19 November 2020, the Sejm adopted a resolution supporting the activities of the Council of Ministers in budget negotiations in the European Union – resolution. Earlier the debate in plenary was held on four draft resolutions concerning negotiations on Multiannual Financial Framework and Recovery Facility (verbatim record/PL point 47).

EU DOCUMENTS IN THE SEJM
In November 2020 the EU Affairs Committee (SUE) held 2 meetings, no. 37-38, via electronic means of distance communication. During this meeting the Committee:
  • pursuant to Art. 7(4) of the Cooperation Act, considered proposal for a regulation of the EP and of the Council on amending Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies (COM(2020) 642) together with the draft position of the Republic of Poland [mtg no. 38],
  • pursuant to Art. 151(1) of the Sejm Standing Orders and Art. 3(2) of the Cooperation Act, considered:
    • report from the Commission: Progress report on implementation of the TEN-T network in 2016-2017 (COM(2020) 433) together with the Government position [mtg no. 38],
    • communication from the Commission: Powering a climate-neutral economy: An EU Strategy for Energy System Integration (COM(2020) 299) together with the Government position [mtg no. 38],
    • report from the Commission: Implementing EU food and nutrition security policy commitments: Fourth biennial report (COM(2020) 285) together with the Government position [mtg no. 38],
  • according to the proposal of the Committee Bureau, didn't raise any comment to the following EU documents:

    • pursuant to Art. 7(4) of the Cooperation Act – to 5 draft legislative acts, including proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 as regards the capacity of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to act as Performance Review Body of the Single European Sky (COM(2020) 577) and to other: COM(2020) 579, 688, 961, 962 [mtg no. 38],
    • pursuant to Art. 8(2) of the Cooperation Act – to 20 draft legal acts, including proposal for a regulation of the EP and of the Council establishing a catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 640/2010 (COM(2020) 670) and to other: COM(2020) 599, 617, 621, 632, 633, 636, 637, 639, 640, 649, 651, 654, 655, 656, 658, 666, 668, 671, 960 [mtg no. 38],
    • pursuant to Art. 151(1) of the Sejm Standing Orders and Art. 3(2) of the Cooperation Act – do 27 documents, including report from the Commission to the EP and to the Coouncil: Mid-term evaluation of the Structural Reform Support Programme (COM(2020) 603) and to other: COM(2020) 619, 620, 624, 625, 628, 629, 634, 635, 638, 641, 643, 661, 662, 663, 664, 675, 676, 677, 678, 680, 683, 685, 686, 687, 952, JOIN(2020) 16, sygn. Rady 11413/20) [mtg no. 38].
  • SUE together with the Digitalisation, Innovation and New Technologies Committee heard the information from the Minister of Digitalisation on the position concerning ongoing work on the Code of Digital Services, taking especially into consideration a reopening of the directive on electronic trade (2000/31/EC) and the importance of these regulations for the development of the Polish digital and new technologies sector (mtg no. 37).

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In November 2020 information on and documents of SUE meetings no. 37-38, provided by the EU Affairs Committee secretariat, were published in the EDL-S (European Legislative Documents in the Sejm) and IPEX databases.

WORK IN COMMITTEES

Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

26.11.2020, considered the information provided by EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, on the plans and challenges facing European agricultural policy, in view of the new financial perspective for 2021-2027 (mtg no. 29).
SUBSIDIARITY CHECK IN NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

According to the information from IPEX database as of 3 December 2020, 16 draft legislative acts were subject to subsidiarity scrutiny in November 2020. The national parliaments submitted no reasoned opinion on the non-compliance of the scrutinised draft acts with the subsidiarity principle.

ALL REASONED OPINIONS OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS IN IPEX
INTERPARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

30 November - 1 December 2020, XLIV plenary COSAC - virtual meeting, Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC)

  • Meeting of the Presidential Troika of COSAC
  • Opening of the conference
  • Welcome address by Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Bundestag; introductory remarks; adoption of the agenda for the virtual meeting of LXIV COSAC
  • Procedural issues and miscellaneous matters; briefing on the results of the meeting of the Presidential Troika of COSAC; presentation of the 34th Bi-annual Report of COSAC; presentation of a letter by the Presidency, to be offered for co-signing;  letters received by the Presidency
  • Session I: „Aktuelle Stunde“ – “Restart for the transatlantic relations?”
  • Session II: Lessons learned from the corona crisis – Cooperation in the EU in the event of pandemics and in health care
  • Session III: Review of the German EU Presidency; keynote speech by Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Session IV: The Future of the European Union; keynote speech by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  • Session V: Europe’s role in the world – A responsible partnership with Africa; keynote speeech by Horst Köhler, President of the Federal Republic of Germany (2004-2010)
  • Closing remarks by the Chairs