The week ahead 16-22 March

Tuesday the European Parliament launches its campaign for the June election when around 375 million people in 27 countries will be able to vote. We bring you the launch and look at some issues that will feature such as the financial crisis and immigration. Also this week, Members of the Civil Liberties Committee will vote on biometric visas for non-EU nationals.

On Thursday Parliament's President Hans-Gert Pöttering will attend the Summit of European leaders in Brussels. Using the prerogative parliament has to address EU leaders, he will set out the position of the House on the economic crisis and how to deal with it.
 
This week the groups and committees will prepare for next week's plenary session in Strasbourg, when cohesion policy, air traffic control systems and the outcome of the Spring Council are on the agenda. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will speak to MEPs about the forthcoming G20 summit on the financial crisis.
 
The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, which brings MEPs together with parliamentarians from the southern and eastern Mediterranean, holds a plenary session at the EP in Brussels, with President Pöttering in the chair on Monday and Tuesday.
 
Monday also sees the Budgetary Control Committee vote on whether to give its approval to the financial management of the EU institutions in 2007.
 
Also Monday the Civil Liberties Committee votes on legislation to ensure equal treatment irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in areas other than employment on Monday.