Weekly European Agenda | 15/03/2021
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15-21 March 2021
Monday 15 March
- EP: SEDE, DEVE, ENVI, AGRI, CULT, LIBE, FEMM
- CoM: Eurogroup, informal meetings of ministers
- EC: Commissioner Reynders participates in European Consumer Summit
- EESC: EU strategy on adaptation to climate change event
- Presidency: European Consumer Summit 2021
- Ombudsman: Meeting Ombudsman of Northern Ireland
- EIB: Investment, digitalization and green financing – Portugal
Tuesday 16 March
- EMI: Talking Europe Event
- EP: SEDE, DEVE, ENVI, REGI AGRI CULT, LIBE, FEMM
- CoM: EU-Georgia Association Council
- EC: High Representative Borrell chairs EU-Georgia Association Council
- EESC: Europe’s Media Action Plan Event
- Presidency: Role of women’s leadership and gender responsive policies in the context of COVID-19 event
Wednesday 17 March
- EMI: The Role of Citizens in Shaping the EU Green Deal Event
- EP: AFET, INTA, EMPL, IMCO, PECH, JURI, AFCO
- EC: College Meeting
- EESC: European Democracy in Action Plan
- CoR: Plenary
- FRA: Supporting local and Regional Authorities’s Efforts to Fight Crime
- EIB: Financial needs in the agricultural and agri-food sectors France
- CoE: Digital Gender Gaps Event
- Elections: Dutch National Elections
Thursday 18 March
- EMI: European Chats
- EP: AFET, INTA, EMPL, IMCO, PECH, JURI
- CoM: Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers
- EC: Commissioner Kyriakides holds call with EU Scientific Advice Platform on COVID-19
- EESC: Union of Equality Plan event
- CoR: Plenary
- Presidency: Medical Training event
- FRA: Racism and Racial Discrimination in the EU
- EIB: Investment for sustainable recovery in Austria
- CoE: Venice Commission Plenary
Friday 19 March
- EC: Commissioners Dalli and Jourová speak at European Anti-Racism Summit
- EESC: YEYS event
- CoR: Plenary
- Presidency: Digital Day 2021 and European Anti-Racism Summit
- FRA: European Anti-Racism Summit
- CoE: Venice Commission Plenary and PACE Committee on Covid-19 event
European Movement International
Tuesday 16 March
Talking Europe with Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director General of DG Energy
The sixth edition of Talking Europe organised in partnership with the European Commission where Director General of DG Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen will discuss the place of the energy sector in the Recovery Plan, the chosen priorities and the best possible engagement with the stakeholders.
Wednesday 17 March
The Role of European Citizens in Shaping the EU Green Deal
This private briefing for a limited number of senior stakeholders and partners of the European Movement International will discuss the role of Europe’s citizens, civil society organisations and social partners in shaping Europe’s future under the EU Green Deal, featuring Joe Elborn, Secretary General of the European Youth Forum, Henriette Gleau, Policy Officer Sustainability Board of SGI Europe, Patrizia Heidegger, Director for Global Policies and Sustainability of European Environmental Bureau Maxime Legrand, Secretary General of CEC Managers and Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary of ETUC.
Thursday 18 March
EuropeanChats with GESAC & the European Youth Forum
The seventh edition of EuropeanChats will feature Veronique Desbrosses, Secretary General of GESAC and Joseph Elborn, Secretary General of the European Youth Forum to discuss with European citizens different issues surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, and how it affects European economies and societies as well as tackle the wider debate around the future of Europe.
More information about EMI events can be found here.
Institutional Agendas
European Parliament
Monday 15 March
Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE)
Held jointly with Committee on Foreign Affairs and in association with the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. There will be an exchange of views with the Secretary General of NATO. Next held jointly with the Committee on Transport and Tourism they will discuss EU Military concerns with the Regulation on the Single European Sky and hold an exchange of view Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) Chair of the EU Military Committee.
Committee on Development (DEVE)
There will be a debate on challenges and prospects for the current global humanitarian situation. There will also be an exchange of Exchange of views with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Debates (ENVI)
There will be an exchange of views with the EMA, the ECDC and the WHO on COVID variants and the vaccines’ efficacy against the variants as well as a communication from Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on anticipating together the threat of COVID-19 variants. Then there will be an exchange of views with the Commission on the application of the Withdrawal Agreement and its Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and UK unilateral actions with respect to controls on agri-food products and official controls on animals and products of animal origin exported from third countries to the Union to ensure compliance with the prohibition of certain uses of antimicrobials.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Debates (AGRI)
There will be an exchange of views on retail alliances with Grégory Besson Moreau, Member of the French Parliament and a public hearing on enabling innovation for sustainable agriculture.
Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Votes: Artificial intelligence in education, culture and the audiovisual sector
Debates: Exchange of views on the state of play of Europeana and Presentation of the implementation of pilot projects and preparatory actions by the Commission
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Debates (LIBE)
Votes: Commission evaluation report on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation two years after its application and Amending Regulation establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. There will also be an exchange of views on people in distress at sea
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
There will be a joint meeting of the Networks of Members in charge of Gender Mainstreaming in the Committees and the Delegations of the European Parliament and exchange of views with Commissioner Dalli on strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms.
Tuesday 16 March
Subcommittee on Human Rights Debates
There will be an exchange of views with EU Special Representative for Human Rights, on his Activity report and future priorities and in association with the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula there will be an exchange of views on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia including the case of Jamal Khashoggi. Jointly with the Committee on Development there will be an exchange of views with the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi in the presence of President Doudou Diéne and Commissioner Hampson and an exchange of views with the Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, on EU priorities in UN human rights fora in 2021.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE)
Jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and with the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy there will be an exchange of views with the Director General of the IAEA and a public hearing on Defence planning and procurement in the EU.
Committee on Development (DEVE)
There will be debates on access to COVID-19 vaccines for developing countries with Dimitri Eynikel of Médecins Sans Frontières and Current challenges in development cooperation, from an international partnership with the Director of CONCORD, European NGO.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Debates (ENVI)
Votes: Amending Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (COD) and Early non-objection concerning the examination of variations to the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products for human use and veterinary medicinal products, adoption of motion for a resolution.
There will be an exchange of views with the Director of the ECDC, with the Commission on update of aviation’s climate impact, including Commission report on the non-CO2 climate impacts of aviation, and with the Commission on the future proposal to revise the feed ban.
Committee on Regional Development (REGI)
Votes: Common Provisions Regulation, European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund (COD), Reversing demographic trends in EU regions using cohesion policy instruments Review of the European Union Solidarity Fund.
There will be exchanges of views on establishing the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and Gender mainstreaming action plan.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Debate (AGRI)
There will be an exchange of views with Commissioner Šefčovič on the Commission Strategic Foresight Communication.
Committee on Culture and Education Debates (CULT)
There will be a presentation by Policy Department B of the study on “Making the European Education Area a reality: state of affairs, challenges and prospects”, an exchange of views on The European Education Area and the situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Debates (LIBE)
There will be an exchange of views on rule of law in Poland with Commissioner Reynders and on on FRONTEX Votes, and presentation of a way forward on aligning the former third pillar acquis with data protection, on the adequacy of the UK data protection legal framework.
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
There will be a workshop on applying gender mainstreaming in the EU recovery package organised by Policy Department C.
Wednesday 17 March
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Votes: Human rights protection and the EU external migration policy.
There will be an exchange of views with the Prime Minister of Montenegro, with the EEAS and the Commission on relations with Southern Africa, and presentation of the 2020 Annual Report of the European Endowment for Democracy and Security Policy on EU – India relations.
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
There will be an exchange of views on the application of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the GSP+ Status, access of third-country goods and services to the Union’s internal market in public procurement and procedures supporting negotiations on access of Union goods and services to the public procurement markets of third countries, and a public hearing on Trade related aspects and implications of COVID-19.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Votes: Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services.
There will be an exchange of views with Commissioner Dalli on disability strategy and binding pay transparency measures
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
Votes: EU-EEA-Switzerland: Internal market cooperation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 25 years of efforts to fully implement internal market rules.
There will be debates on shaping the digital future of Europe: removing barriers to the functioning of the digital single market and improving the use of AI for European consumers. There will be an exchange of views on regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries, a presentation of Policy Department study on Legal obstacles in Member States to Single Market rules and finally an exchange of views with Commissioner Reynders as part of the structured dialogue.
Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
Votes: A new approach to the Atlantic maritime strategy and EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives.
There will be debates on the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea presentation on bycatch of protected and potentially vulnerable marine vertebrates as well as exchange of views with the Commission on Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)
Votes: Liability of companies for environmental damage, Parliament’s right of initiative.
There will be an exchange of views with EUIPO’s Executive Director and presentation of activities and initiatives to support SME.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs Debates (AFCO)
There will be an exchange of views on the European political parties report, working Document n° 6 on Overcoming the deadlock of unanimity voting, working Document n° 2 on Institutional reforms in the face of the COVID-19 crisis and other potential future crises and strengthening transparency and integrity in the EU institutions by setting up an independent EU ethics body.
Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation
There will be an online hearing on “Democracy Online: what are the risks? How to protect us?” and consideration of foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation.
Media event on disinformation
The EP Press service will hold a seminar on “The disinformation dilemma: How to respond and regulate without undermining democracy?” Lead MEPs and experts will discuss how disinformation is undermining trust in democracies on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thursday 18 March
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Votes: Establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument jointly with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
There will also be an exchange of views on the situation of judges in Lithuania in the presence of the Lithuanian Minister of Justice, Council of Judges, Prosecutor General’s Office, Interpol, the Commission and Eurojust.
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
Vote: Decision on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union.
There will also be an exchange of views on strengthening the implementation and enforcement of EU sanctions, a presentation of the study on “Extraterritorial sanctions on trade and investments and European responses”, a presentation by the Commission of the relevant part of the Communication on “The European economic and financial system: fostering openness, strength and resilience” and finally a presentation of the study on “Post Covid-19 value chains: options for reshoring production back to Europe in a globalised economy”.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
There will be a hearing on EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work (2021- 2027) including asbestos with Commissioner Schmitt.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
There will be a public hearing on consumer protection in the context of digitalisation of retail financial services (CCD and DMFSD) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
There will be debates on the state of play in the implementation of the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement with the Commission and a presentation by the Commission on feedback on IOTC Special Session.
Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)
Votes: Final votes on liability of companies for environmental damage and Parliament’s right of initiative.
There will also be presentations on European Union regulatory fitness and subsidiarity and proportionality, an exchange of views on UK application to accede the Lugano Convention with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and presentation of European added value assessment on responsible private funding for litigation and of the accompanying research paper on the state of play of the EU private litigation funding landscape and the current EU rules applicable to private litigation funding.
Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.
Council of Ministers
Monday 15 March
Eurogroup Meeting
The Eurogroup will discuss the impact of the pandemic on various sectors of the euro area economy and the possible structural changes it may have triggered, fiscal strategies one year on from Covid-19, will discuss the ninth enhanced surveillance report on Greece and prepare for the spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, which will take place from 5 to 11 April 2021 as well as the Euro Summit on the 26 March.
Informal meeting of employment and social policy ministers
The ministers will discuss social policy and equality topics. The main elements on the agenda are two policy debates, on the implementation of European Pillar of Social Rights and on the situation of equality, non-discrimination and diversity in the EU.
Informal meeting of foreign affairs and home affairs ministers
The ministers will hold a debate on the external aspects of the EU’s migration policy, under the new pact on migration and asylum. Ministers will focus in particular on migration as a core element in bilateral relations with key third countries and on identifying ways to enhance cooperation and coordination among EU countries, institutions and agencies
Tuesday 16 March
EU-Georgia Association Council
The meeting will be chaired by High Representative Borrell while the Georgian delegation will be led by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia. Participants will review EU-Georgia relations, including issues related to political dialogue and reform, political association, justice and freedom and security. They will also discuss economic and sectoral cooperation, and trade-related matters, as well as foreign and security policy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
Informal meeting of economic and finance ministers
The ministers will discuss digital taxation, economic recovery in view of the pandemic, retail payments strategy, prepare for the G20 and IMF spring meetings that will take place from 7 to 10 April 2021 and present the state of play of financial services legislative proposals.
Informal meeting of health ministers
Ministers will discuss the Commission adopted Beating Cancer plan structured around prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment and quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. Health ministers will also discuss measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. They will exchange views on the approach in the response to COVID-19, focusing on the use of public health measures such as universal use of face masks and testing requirements for mobility within the EU.
Thursday 18 March
Informal video conference of environment ministers
Environment ministers will hold an exchange of views on the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change, debate the role of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in the context of greening the European Semester, discuss the Commission’s legislative proposal on batteries and waste batteries, which aims to strengthen and align the current EU batteries legislation with the European Green Deal and finally will exchange views on the EU chemicals strategy for sustainability and on the 8th Environment Action Programme. The presidency will inform ministers on the state of play of the negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament on the European Climate Law.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 15 March
Commissioner Reynders participates in the European Consumer Summit 2021
Commissioner Urpilainen attends the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Commissioner McGuinness holds a call with Janet Yellen, US Secretary of the Treasury.
Tuesday 16 March
President von der Leyen receives His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Commissioner Timmermans visits King Filip of Belgium.
High Representative Borrell chairs the EU-Georgia Association Council
Commissioner Várhelyi participates in the EU-Georgia Association Council and receives Prime Minister of Georgia..
Commissioner Dalli attends a roundtable organised by the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Wednesday 17 March
College Meeting
This week’s College meeting will discuss COVID-19 and the digital green certificate.
President von der Leyen chairs the Steering Board of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force.
Thursday 18 March
Commissioner Kyriakides holds a call with the EU Scientific Advice Platform on COVID-19.
Commissioner Šuica holds a call with the Director General of Business Europe to discuss the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Friday 19 March
Commissioners Jourová and Dalli speak at the European Anti-Racism Summit.
Commissioner Várhelyi attends the 126th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission.
A full list with meetings of Commissioners can be found here; the Commissioners’ weekly activities can be found here; the agenda of the College Meetings can be found here; Commission events can be found here.
European Economic and Social Committee
Monday 15 March
New EU strategy on adaptation to climate change
The online public hearing will bring together representatives of the European institutions, the academic world and civil society organisations to engage in a conversation around the EESC opinion on the new strategy. The hearing will discuss EU Adaptation Strategy and nature-based solutions and the transition to circular economy.
Tuesday 16 March
Europe’s media action plan
The EESC ‘s TEN Section is organising a virtual public hearing after the publication of the Europe’s media in the Digital Decade: an action plan to support recovery and transformation by the Commission. The objective of the hearing is to give the floor to a wide range of stakeholders in the media and audio visual industry, deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to the representatives of the European institutions, and to collect input on key measures of the action plan.
Wednesday 17 March
European democracy action plan
This hearing will feed into the EESC Opinion on the Democracy Action Plan which lays the ground for the adoption of measures concerning the promotion of free and fair elections (including democratic engagement beyond elections), the strengthening of media freedom, and the countering of disinformation.
Thursday 18 March
Union of equality: EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025
In the context of the opinion on a “Union of equality: EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025”, the European Economic and Social Committee is organising a virtual public hearingto gather the points of view of international organisations, European platforms for human rights and the fight against racism, and representatives of European institutions, on key measures of the action plan, and to discuss how to tackle racism and racial discrimination more effectively in the EU.
Thursday 18 March – Friday 19 March
Your Europe, Your Say! 2021 Our climate, our future!
The YEYS 2021 edition will model an international climate-change conference, and the Committee is interested in hearing students’ fresh ideas on how to deal with the current climate crisis and how to get closer to meeting the 2050 climate-neutral goals. During YEYS, the students will also be put in contact with international youth organisations that will help them translate these recommendations into tangible measures and make their voices heard.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Committee of the Regions
Wednesday 17 March – Friday 19 March
143rd Plenary Session
The Members of the European Committee of the Regions will meet remotely for the 143rd plenary session on 17, 18 and 19 March 2021. The session will include debates on pandemic, recovery and European democracy with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, on the COVID-19 pandemic with Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and more. There will also be debates on Adequate minimum wages, Trade and EU recovery, European Green Deal and integration of migrants and the fight against radicalisation.
More information about Committee of the Regions events can be found here. The agendas of the different Committee of the Regions meetings can be found here.
Portuguese Presidency
Monday 15 March
European Consumer Summit 2021
The objective of the European Consumer Summit is to provide an in-depth discussion on promotion of the New Consumer Agenda and other legislative proposals that may help citizens adapt to the digital and climate transition. A meeting of ministers with responsibility for the consumer protection portfolio will also take place.
Tuesday 16 March
Role of women’s leadership and gender responsive policies in the context of COVID-19 recovery
UN Commission on the Status of Women event. For more information click here.
Wednesday 17 March
Gender Equality and Socio-Economic Consequences of the COVID-19 crisis
UN Commission on the Status of Women event. For more information click here.
Thursday 18 March
Medical Training: What kind of doctor do we want for the future?
The Federation of European Academies of Medicine, with the support of the Portuguese National Academy of Medicine, will be organising a virtual conference focusing on the future of the medical profession. It will consider questions such as the education and training of young professionals and the challenges of integrating the academic aspect into medical practice.
Friday 19 March
Digital Day 2021
On Digital Day 2021, the EU Member States will be invited to support draft declarations in key areas where digital technologies can have a significant and positive impact on The European Data Gateways Declaration The EU Startup Nations Standard Declaration The Declaration on a Green and Digital Transformation of the EU. The CEOs of the leading enterprises in this sector will announce their commitment to speeding up the “green” transition in a complementary industrial declaration on the “Green Digital Coalition”. In the afternoon of “Digital Day 2021”, there will be an event devoted to startups.
European Anti-Racism Summit
The European Commission is co-hosting this Summit with the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and in cooperation with the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup of the European Parliament.
The agenda of the Portuguese Presidency can be found here.
European Ombudsman
Monday 15 March
Meeting the Ombudsman of Northern Ireland
The European Ombudsman is meeting the Ombudsman of Northern Ireland via a conference call to exchange views on topics of common interest as part of the European Network of Ombudsmen.
The EU Ombudsman calendar of activities can be found here.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Wednesday 17 March
Supporting local and regional authorities’ efforts to fight crime
FRA will present selected findings from its surveys during the European Forum for Urban Security (EFUS) General Assembly and Annual Conference. It will draw on its recent ‘Crime, Safety and Victims’ Rights’ report. FRA’s contribution will be part of working group discussions on the role of local and regional authorities to fight crime, particularly hate crime. The event will explore how local authorities could best mainstream and coordinate their actions.
Assessing the impact of digitalised justice on victims’ rights
FRA will join an ad hoc meeting on 17 March on the digitalisation of justice. It will be the first of a series of thematic ad hoc meetings under the umbrella of the Victims’ Rights Platform in 2021 – one of the flagship initiatives of the EU’s Victims’ Rights Strategy. The meeting aims to assess the impact of digitalisation of justice on victims’ rights. Discussions will focus on the digitalisation of communication between judicial authorities in cross-border cases, access to digital support services, the use of new technologies to increase victims’ protection and the use of technology to support victims’ participation in criminal proceedings.
Coordinating child rights action
FRA will meet the European Commission’s and Council of Europe’s child rights coordinators. This partnership meeting aims at supporting the continuous cooperation and coordination of child rights work between the three organisations. There will be discussions on current priorities and possible joint activities to strengthen synergies. This year the focus will be on the EU’s and Council of Europe’s strategies on child rights, the EU Child Guarantee as well as updating the child rights handbook.
Thursday 18 March
Racism and racial discrimination in the EU
FRA will join panel discussions on racism and racial discrimination in the EU. The discussions form part of the European Economic and Social Committee’s virtual public hearing on the EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025. The hearing aims to gather the points of view on the plan’s key measures. It also seeks to discuss how to tackle racism and racial discrimination more effectively. International organisations, European platforms for human rights and the fight against racism, and representatives of European institutions will be part of the hearing.
Friday 19 March
First European Summit against Racism to map road ahead
FRA’s Director Michael O’Flaherty will introduce the opening high-level panel at the first European Summit against Racism, as foreseen in the EU Anti-racism Action Plan 2020-2025. The virtual summit will take place on 19 March. European Commission President Von der Leyen will open the summit.
Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.
European Investment Bank
Monday 15 March
Investment, digitalization and green financing – Portugal
The Banco de Portugal and the European Investment Bank are hosting the webconference ‘Investment, digitalization and green financing – The Portuguese case’. The conference will focus on investment needs and priorities for Portugal, bringing together a group of economists, policymakers, as well as representatives from financial institutions and the business community.
Wednesday 17 March
Financial needs in the agriculture and agri-food sectors in France
The European Commission DG AGRI in partnership with the European Investment Bank webinar will focus on the financial environment in which farmers and processors operate in France. It will consider the country’s banking system, major financial players for the two sectors, and what is offered as loans, guarantees and various financial schemes with national and/or EU financing. Stakeholders and managing authorities will also share their experience in working with financial instruments.
Thursday 18 March
Investment for a sustainable recovery in Austria
The Oesterreichische Nationalbank and the European Investment Bank are hosting the webinar ‘Investment for a sustainable recovery in Austria’ to discuss the pandemic’s impact on investment in Austria with experts and policy makers the challenges ahead, investment needs and priorities with a special focus on digitalization and a green recovery.
The agenda of the EIB can be found here.
Council of Europe
Wednesday 17 March
Digital Gender Gaps and Opportunities
A conference will be organised in the framework of the German Presidency on the theme of digital gender gaps and opportunities. Accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the digital transformation generates new opportunities for women’s empowerment through access to knowledge and resources. This side event will present strategies to achieve women’s equal digital participation and to end online violence against women.
Thursday 19 – Friday 20 March
Venice Commission plenary session
Due to continued Covid-19 restrictions, the first plenary session 2021 of the Venice Commission will take place virtually. As ever it is closed to the press, but the adoption of several opinions is expected including on the Citizens’ security law in Spain, on constitutional amendments and the procedure for their adoption in Russia, on the compatibility with European standards of criminal law provisions in Belarus used to prosecute peaceful demonstrators.
Friday 19 March
PACE Standing Committee: Covid-19 and the role of the Council of Europe
On the occasion of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Standing Committee meeting, which will be opened by Rik Daems, PACE President, the parliamentarians will hold an exchange of views with Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, in the framework of the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Find an overview of Council of Europe events here; the PACE diary here; the Congress calendar of events here; information on forthcoming judgments here; the calendar of hearings here; information on Venice Commission events here; the agenda of the Commissioner of Human Rights here; and the Chairmanship agenda here.
National Elections
Wednesday 17 March
Dutch National Elections
The 2021 Dutch General Election to elect the members of the House of Representatives is scheduled for 17 March.
More information can be found here.
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