Look Ahead European Parliament — Puidgemont’s status, carbon mechanism, EU4Health

Brussels (Brussels Morning) This week, as the world celebrates International Women’s Day, the European Parliament gathers in plenary sitting to debate and vote on a range of issues including the parliamentary immunity status of former Catalan leader Carles Puidgemont, the carbon border adjustment mechanism, the EU4Health programme and the official declaration of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Puidgemont

On Monday, the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) will vote to lift the parliamentary immunity of the former Catalan leader, Carles Puidgemont and two of his countrymen — Antoni Colmin and Clara Ponsati. If MEPs vote to waive the trio’s immunity, Spanish authorities will re-institute the European Arrest Warrant to extradite the three politicians and bring them to trial. However, a Belgian judge must first approve the extradition request before the Spanish authorities can extradite Piedgemont.

Carbon border adjustment

On the same day, MEPs in the Environment and Health Committee (ENVI) will debate the EU proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The Parliament is calling for the introduction of a CBAM as part of a broader EU industrial strategy in order to reduce the risk of carbon leakage. MEPs have analysed aspects relating to the design and scope of a CBAM, and its possible contribution to the financing of the EU budget. They will vote on the CBAM on Tuesday.