EP this week: tax evasion, Libor scandal, Nato and counter-terrorism

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove visit Parliament this week to discuss security challenges and the EU’s response to terrorist threats. In addition MEPs vote on legislation to increase transparency when setting key interest rates, while the new special committee on tax rulings will debate how to fight against tax evasion and tax havens.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove join the foreign affairs committee on Monday for two separate debates. The situation in Libya and Tunisia as well as the EU response to terrorist threats are likely to be discussed.

The economic committee will vote on Tuesday on draft EU rules to improve the transparency and reliability of benchmarks that could affect key financial market rates or the pricing of retail financial contracts, such as mortgages. The rules were prompted by the rigging of the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor) and the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor).

The special committee on tax rulings and the economic committee hold a hearing with taxation commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday both committees debate tax issues with OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría and Pascal Saint-Amans, the director of the Centre for Tax Policy . Topics include the fight against tax evasion and tax havens.

The civil liberties committee will hold a hearing on Monday to debate recent EU initiatives to protect and promote fundamental rights with European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, EU Court of Justice Advocate General Juliane Kokott, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks and EU Fundamental Rights Agency officials as well as several experts. The aim of the hearing is to provide input to the committee’s draft resolution on fundamental rights in the EU in 2013-2014.

Preparations for the December Paris Climate conference will be debated on Monday by MEPs, national MPs and Miguel Arias Cañete, the commissioner responsible for climate action, and Karmenu Vella, the commissioner responsible for the environment.