MEETING WITH THE INCOMING IRISH PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL TO PREPARE THE LEGISLATIVE SEMESTER

On 25 June, Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), chaired a working meeting with Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union, with the participation of the European Commission. The meeting took place as part of the traditional “speed dating” exercise that the committee holds with each incoming Presidency of the Council.

The purpose of the meeting was to review the state of play of the pending legislative files falling within LIBE’s remit, with particular attention to those at a more advanced stage and likely to be the subject of interinstitutional negotiations during the Irish Presidency, which begins in July.

Among the most advanced files is the recast of the Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, whose fourth trilogue, held last Monday, proved conclusive. The Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse is at a similarly advanced stage. Javier Zarzalejos is the rapporteur for this file, on which agreement has been reached on most issues following the progress achieved under the Cypriot Presidency. However, further discussions may continue under the Irish Presidency regarding the location of the EU Centre and detection orders.

The meeting also addressed the Regulation on the electronic submission of travel data and the use of digital travel credentials. Its third trilogue was held this week without an overall agreement being reached, although key aspects were clarified with a view to concluding the file during the Irish Presidency.

Other files discussed included drug precursors, firearms trafficking, the Facilitation Directive—with the humanitarian clause remaining the main point of contention—the security of information within the Union’s institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, the currently stalled Long-Term Residents Directive, and measures against transport operators that facilitate irregular entry or migrant smuggling.

A substantial part of the discussion was devoted to the six files under the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework that fall within LIBE’s remit. These include the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, border management and visas, internal security, the Pericles V programme, and the joint files concerning the Justice programme—with the Committee on Legal Affairs—and AgoraEU—with the Committee on Culture and Education.

Chair Zarzalejos reiterated the European Parliament’s position that negotiations with the Council on the sectoral proposals may begin only once the Council has adopted full negotiating mandates.