FAST TRACK FOR FINISHING EP'S LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

President Barroso urges MEPs to fast-track proposals on the banking union, financial regulation and completing the single market, as well as on the telecoms proposal adopted by the Commission. Ongoing negotiations on all the programmes implementing the 2014-20 budget, including agriculture and fisheries policy, must be concluded by the end of the year.

The aim is to streamline committee business so that smaller meetings can reach earlier agreements and reduce the risk of legislation being incomplete by the time the Parliament finishes its work in April for the elections the following month.

Among the legislation at risk of being delayed beyond the current Parliament's remit is a revision of rules on the use of transport fuel. MEPs have voted to send the proposal, which would restrict the contribution of certain types of biofuel to renewable targets, for a second reading. That could mean it is not agreed in this parliamentary term. The fate of a proposal to revise the EU's data protection regime is also uncertain, with thousands of proposed amendments being considered.

Although the telecoms package represents the last major legislative proposal of Barroso's term,  the Commission plans several initiatives over the coming months, including a retooling of the EU's emissions trading scheme, and new emissions reduction targets for 2030.