The multiannual financial framework, or the EU long-term budget, lays down how much the European Union can invest over five to seven years on projects and programmes that strengthen Europe’s future. Investments funded by the EU budget benefit regions, cities, farmers, universities, businesses and all Europeans.

The European Parliament, directly-elected by voters across the EU, has a central role in determining the long-term budget. With the current multiannual financial framework due to end on 31 December 2020, Parliament is now in negotiations with the Council and the European Commission on the 2021-2027 budget. Keep up to date with developments here.

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Main topics on Parliament’s 5-8 October agenda include:

• Long-term EU budget and rule of law
• Mechanism to protect EU values
• Situation in Bulgaria
• EU climate law
• Changes in the Commission
• Special EU summit
• Women on boards

You can watch the briefing live on EbS+ and Parliament’s webstreaming.

Political group leaders will also hold their own briefings on the session on Tuesday morning in Parliament’s press room.

Find all information on EP plenary in our newsletter.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference in person, respecting the precautionary measures in force (see below), or ask questions remotely via Skype.

Parliament will be using an interactive virtual press environment (with interpretation) based on Skype TX, in conjunction with the traditional EbS+ and Parliament’s webstreaming.

If you are unable to attend and wish to ask a question:

You will need a SKYPE account;

Connect to VOXBOXEP and write your name and media organisation in the chat box.

Please use headphones and a microphone for better sound quality.

The system will be managed by Parliament’s media services and you will be placed in a queue (virtual waiting room) before being invited to ask your question(s).

If you have any trouble connecting, you can contact: +32 22834220 or use Skype chat box.

After asking a question / listening to the reply (and any follow-up), you should then disconnect from Skype so that the next journalist in line can be connected to the press briefing room.

You only need to connect through Skype if you wish to ask a question.

You can follow the briefing LIVE on EP MMC or EbS.

REMINDER: working conditions in Parliament for journalists in light of Coronavirus

It is mandatory to wear a community mask that covers the mouth and nose at all times while in Parliament’s buildings. This is to continue to ensure Parliament’s operational capacity, while at the same time avoiding health risks for Members, staff and other persons working in and visiting the European Parliament. In addition, temperature checks are being carried out on all persons entering Parliament’s premises.

However, journalists may remove their mask for the duration of a recording (stand-ups, interviews, studio recordings) or when asking a question in the press room, if the social distancing measures are respected. The press room on the ground floor (Paul-Henri Spaak building) is also now open again for those who need to work from Parliament, though social distancing rules remain in force.

Please refrain from coming to EP premises if you present any symptoms of a respiratory infection, if you have knowingly been in contact with an infected person in the last 14 days or if you have been to regions with very high transmission rates.

MEPs will sound out Ms McGuinness regarding her strategy for rolling out the capital markets union, one of the Commission’s flagship projects, as well as her priorities on the different rules in the pipeline concerning financial services and financial stability.

After the hearing, Ms McGuinness will give a statement to the press on the ground floor (near the protocol entrance) of the European Parliament’s SPAAK building.

Ms McGuinness has served as an MEP since 2004 and has been Parliament Vice-President since 2014.

After the evaluations are completed, Parliament is set to vote on the decision in plenary on 7 October.

The reshuffle at the Commission comes after Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan resigned at the end of August.

Time: Friday 2 October 2020, 09.00-12:00

Venue: Brussels, Spaak 3C50 (opposite the plenary chamber)

You can watch the hearing live on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+. You can watch the press statement on Parliament’s webstreaming.

Members can participate in the meeting physically and remotely (Members are able to view and listen to the proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meetings, and vote).

The committee hears Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, set to assume responsibility for the trade portfolio. The Committees on Foreign Affairs, on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on Development and on Budgets will be invited to participate. Since he is already a member of the Commission, Mr Dombrovskis only has to answer questions on whether he is suitable for the portfolio assigned to him.

Time: Friday 2 October 2020, 13:00-16:00

Venue: Brussels, SPAAK 3C50 (opposite to the plenary chamber)

You can watch the hearing live through Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

Members can participate in the meeting both physically and remotely (Members are able to view and listen to the proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meetings, and vote).

The Legal Affairs Committee adopted three reports on Thursday on specific issues linked to the increased development and use of artificial intelligence systems. The Commission is expected to put forward a legislative proposal on the matter in early 2021.

Ethics framework for AI

The legislative initiative by Iban García del Blanco (S&D, ES), adopted with 20 votes in favour, none against and 4 abstentions, urges the EU Commission to present a new legal framework outlining the ethical principles to be used when developing, deploying and using artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies in the EU, including software, algorithms and data.

MEPs adopted proposals on several guiding principles that must be taken into account by future laws including a human-centric, human-made and human-controlled AI; safety, transparency and accountability; safeguards against bias and discrimination; right to redress; social and environmental responsibility, and respect for fundamental rights.

When it comes to AI with machine-learning (self-improving) capacities, it should be designed to allow for human oversight. If a functionality is used that would entail a serious breach of ethical principles and be potentially dangerous for people, the self-learning capacities should be disabled and revert to operating safely.

Liability for AI causing damage

The legislative initiative by Axel Voss (EPP, DE), adopted with 23 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention, calls for a future-oriented civil liability framework to be adapted, making those operating high-risk AI strictly liable if there is damage caused. This would encourage innovation by providing businesses with legal certainty, protect citizens better and enhance their trust in AI technologies by deterring risky activities. Strict liability should also apply to AI systems that have repeatedly caused damage.

In this text, MEPs focused on civil liability claims against operators of AI-systems. The liability would cover protection of life, health, physical integrity, property as well as significant immaterial harm if it results in “verifiable substantial economic loss”.

Intellectual property rights

The report by Stéphane Séjourné (Renew Europe, FR) adopted with 19 votes in favour, 3 votes against and 2 abstentions, underlines that the key issue of protecting intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the context of artificial intelligence has so far not been addressed by the EU Commission and calls for an impact assessment on the matter.

The report stresses that EU global leadership in AI requires an effective intellectual property system and safeguards for the EU’s patent system to protect developers. MEPs specify that AI should not have legal personality, thus “inventorship” should be only granted to humans. The text further addressed copyright, protection of trade secrets and the distinction between IPR for the development of AI technologies and IPR potentially granted on creations generated by AI.

For more details on the three reports, see the compromise amendments that were all approved on Monday.

Background

The vote in plenary is scheduled for the 19-22 October plenary session. The three reports of the Legal Affairs Committee built on the White Paper on AI, Report on safety and liability framework and Public consultation from this summer.