Article - Coming up in plenary: vaccines, recovery, Russia

MEPs will debate the EU’s Covid-19 vaccination strategy with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. The discussion is expected to cover vaccine deliveries, contracts and data transparency, as well as the new system authorising exports of Covid-19 vaccines.

On Tuesday, Parliament is set to approve the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the largest part of the Next Generation EU package, designed to help EU countries deal with the effects of the pandemic.

Parliament is set to back Commission proposals to make the EU a fully circular economy by 2050, but is calling for binding 2030 targets for materials use and consumption.

Recent events have raised concerns about the link between social media and freedom of speech and the impact on fundamental rights. MEPs will discuss ways to defend democracy in the face of online disinformation on Wednesday.

Parliament will call for better protection for women, children, asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants from trafficking. MEPs will call for the EU's anti-trafficking directive to be amended, criminalising the “knowing use of services” provided by victims of trafficking.

On Monday, MEPs will consider measures to tackle inequality, including the proposed EU directive on minimum wages, which aims to guarantee statutory minimum wages above the poverty threshold throughout the Union.

To avoid airlines operating empty flights during the pandemic (so-called ghost flights) to retain take-off and landing slots, Parliament backed the temporary suspension of the use it or lose it rule in March 2020. On Thursday, MEPs will vote on an agreement for airlines to use at least 50% of their slots in the coming period, instead of the usual 80%, to retain slots in the following season.

On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss the crackdown on political opposition in Russia with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, including opposition Alexei Navalny’s recent arrest and sentencing. They will also explore the source of the growing tensions between the EU and Russia.

MEPs will debate the recent military coup in Myanmar and subsequent arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratically elected leaders.