In February 2014 the EU Affairs Committee (SUE) held 7 meetings: 227-233. During these meetings:

• scrutinised 87 EU documents,
• adopted opinion no. 49 concerning two proposals for directives (COM(2013) 919 and 920) on reduction of pollution emissions, and decided to send this opinion to European Commission, Council and European Parliament (mtg no. 227, the opinion was sent on 20.02.2014),
• considered government’s information on the Republic of Poland's participation in the activities of the European Union in the period July-December 2013, during Lithuanian Presidency (paper no. 2077, mtg no. 227) and the amendment submitted in the second reading of committee’s draft resolution on this matter (paper no. 2098, mtg no. 231), 
• heard information on the results of the European Council summit, 19-20 December 2013, in respect to common security and defence policy of the European Union, presented by the Secretary of State in Ministry of National Defence Czesław Mroczek and Undersecretary of State in Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bogusław Winida (mtg no. 228).

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In February 2014 information and documents on SUE meetings no. 227 and 229-233, provided by the EU Affairs Committee secretariat, were published in the EDL-S (European Legislative Documents in the Sejm) and IPEX databases.

 Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

• 05.02.2014, considered the information of the Minister of the Environment on Government's position on European Commission proposal on cultivation of the genetically modified maize (Pioneer 1507); considered the information of the Ministers of: Finance, Infrastructure and Development (ID) and Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) on the legislative package on the new financial perspective and the EC delegated acts (mtg no. 170);
• 06.02.2014, heard the information of the ARD Minister on: financing of the CAP 2014-2020, progress of work on the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for 2014-2020, motions concerning the proposal for RDP and methods of processing them (mtg no. 172);
• 19.02.2014, heard the information of the ID Minister and ARD Minister on questions regarding the agriculture and rural development in the Partnership Agreement and operational programmes in the framework of cohesion policy in Poland (mtg no. 174);

State Audit Committee

• 05.02.2014, considered the answer of the ID Minister to the desideratum no. 18, addressed to the Prime Minister, on the preparation by the Government of the strategic documents on the financial perspective 2014-2020 (mtg no. 103);

Culture and Media Committee

• 06.02.2014, heard the information of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage on priorities of state cultural policy in the context of the new financial perspective (mtg. 118).

• The following bills implementing EU law have been referred to the first reading [paper no.]:

• • Government bill amending the act on some compensatory agreements concluded in connection with supply agreements for defence and security of the state and some other acts [2167],
  • Government bill amending the act - Environmental law and some other acts [2162],
  • Government bill amending the act on stocks of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas and on the procedures applicable in circumstances of a threat to the fuel security of the state and disruptions on the petroleum market and amending some acts [2149],
  • Government bill amending the act - Water law and some other acts [2106].
• The following acts implementing EU law have been adopted [paper no.]:

• • Act of 21 February 2014 amending the act – Criminal Code and some other acts [2016],
  • Act of 21 February 2014 on the European citizens' initiative [1990],
  • Act of 7 February 2014 on the tax on goods and services and some other acts [2095],
  • Act of 7 February 2014 on participation of foreign officers or workers in common operations or common rescue actions on the territory of the Republic of Poland [1066],
  • Act of 7 February 2014 amending the act - Road Traffic Law and some other acts [1991].

• The following act implementing EU law has been published [paper no.]:

• • Act of 24 January 2014 amending the act on payment under the direct support schemes [2068].

27-28 February 2014, Budapest, Meeting of the presidents of parliaments of the Visegrád Group countries
- The development of a new framework for V4 parliamentary cooperation,
- Joint representation of our interests in the EU, with special regard to the inter-parliamentary conferences within the EU,
- The role of V4 parliamentary cooperation in supporting the Eastern Partnership,
- Other business (situation in Ukraine).

18 February 2014, Brussels, Parliamentary Forum "EU Parliaments in global governance" 
- Opening plenary session: opening remarks by M. A. Martínez and O. Karas, European Parliament Vice-Presidents responsible for relations with national Parliaments and address by A. B. Johnsson, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) - Parliaments and democracy in the age of "global domestic politics",
- Europe's Parliaments in multinational organisations and international fora: From back seat to front row?
- Connecting Parliamentarians: Global Parliamentary Initiatives.

16-17 February 2014, Athens, Meeting of Chairpersons of the Committees on Justice and Home Affairs
- European Policy on Migration: A Global Approach,
- Raising Awareness against violent extremism,
- Overview of the Stockholm Programme and the way ahead.

4-5 February 2014, Budapest, Meetings of the Committees on Public Administration and Regional Policy from parliaments of the Visegrád Group countries
- Raising the efficiency of convergence for less developed regions, in light of the new cohesion policy,
- The impact of the development of big cities on the regions' activity in acquiring resources,
- Further possibilities and directions in cooperation of cross-border regions.

ON THE OIDE WEBSITE

Legal and Systemic Issues – new item

Eurogroup – short presentation of tasks of the Eurogroup - an informal forum that brings together the ministers competent for finance and economy of countries whose currency is the euro.

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LATEST DEBATES - COMMENTS

Articles on the current political and economic issues in the EU from the specialist periodicals available on-line (accessed 06.03.2014)

• Avery J.: EU health programme for 2014 to 2020, "Briefing", European Parliamentary Research Service, 20.02.2014.
• Bąkowski P.: The European Investigation Order, "Briefing", European Parliamentary Research Service, 20.02.2014.
• Bertoncini Y.: Europe: an ode to fear?, "Tribune", Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, 25.02.2014.
• Brudzińska K., Rostowska M.: Północnoamerykańskie układy o wolnym handlu: od NAFTA do TPP i TTIP, „Biuletyn" nr 19 (1131), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, 18.02.2014.
• Chatzistavrou F.: Defying the Oracle? The 2014 Greek Presidency of the EU Council, "Working Paper" no. 36, European Policy Institutes Network,14.02.2014.
• De Schoutheete P.: Institutional Reform in the EU, "European Policy Brief" no. 19, EGMONT – The Royal Institute for International Relations, February 2014.
• Fiott D.: An Industrious European Council of Defence?, "Security Policy Brief" no. 53, EGMONT – The Royal Institute for International Relations, February 2014.
• Formuszewicz R., Gawlikowska-Fyk A.: New EU Energy and Climate Framework: Challenges for Poland and Germany, "Policy Paper" nr 6 (89), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, February 2014.
• Gostyńska A., Parkes R.: Europe and Its Institutions: Towards a Renewed Polish Approach to the EU, "Strategic File" no. 2 (38), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, February 2014.
• Harari D.: Causes of the eurozone crisis: a summary, "Commons Library Standard Note", House of Commons Library, 21.02.2014.
• Kietz D., Von Ondarza N.: Eurosceptics in the European Parliament; Isolated and Divided in Brussels but Driving National Debates, "SWP Comments" 2014/C 13, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, February 2014.
• Mańko R.: Common European Sales Law, "Briefing", European Parliamentary Research Service, 20.02.2014.
• Mańko R.: Trademark reform package, "Briefing", European Parliamentary Research Service, 20.02.2014.
• Parkes R., Sobják A.: Understanding EU Action during "Euromaidan:" Lessons for the Next Phase, "Strategic File" no. 5 (41), Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych, February 2014.
• Pertusot V., Rittelmeyer Y.: The European Elections in France: The paradox of a more European yet more eurosceptic campaign, "Commentary" no. 16, European Policy Institutes Network, 06.02.2014.
• Poptcheva E.: The German Constitutional Court's ruling on the ECB's bond‐buying decision, "Briefing", European Parliamentary Research Service, 10.02.2014.
• Tiilikainen T.: Who leads the new EMU? Implications of the Economic Crisis for the EU's Institutions, "Briefing Paper" no. 149 (2014), Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 11.02.2014.
• Vignon J.: Growth, competitiveness and employment: the rich legacy of the white paper, "Tribune", Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, 13.02.2014.