News > Weekly European Agenda | 12/04/2021
Weekly European Agenda | 12/04/2021
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12-18 April 2021
Monday 12 April
- EP: PECH, LIBE, AFCO, AFET committee meetings
- Commissioners Schinas and Schmit hold a call with representatives from ETUC and Business Europe
- Commissioner Gabriel holds a call with the Minister for Education of Portugal on the achievements of the Portuguese Presidency
- FRA: Procedural safeguards for children in criminal proceedings
- CoE: 50 years of the Pompidou Group
Tuesday 13 April
- EP: DEVE, EMPL, ITRE, PECH, LIBE, AFCO, AFET committee meetings
- Commissioner Urpilainen meets with members of the Finnish government in Helsinki, including PM Sanna Marin.
- Commissioner Jourová holds a call with Minister for Justice of Finland and attends online event #BrusselsCalling: Tackling Diversity in EU Media.
- Commissioner Breton receives President of Senegal
- EESC: Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
- Presidency: European Universities: pioneering transformation in education, research and innovation
Wednesday 14 April
- EP: INTA, ECON, IMCO, AGRI, DROI and SEDE committee meetings
- EP: Press Briefing on Artificial Intelligence with lead MEPs
- EC: College Meeting
- EIB: Investment and Investment Finance in Hungary
- Presidency: Civil Protection Business Continuity & Capacity Development – lessons learned from Covid-19
Thursday 15 April
- EP: INTA, ENVI, IMCO, AGRI and SEDE committee meetings
- EP: Public Hearing on “AI and the Future of Democracy”
- Commissioner Timmermans gives a speech at the online World Circular Economy Forum
- Commissioner Kyriakides delivers a speech at the ‘World Food Summit 2021 – Better Food for More People,’ organised by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark
- EESC: Co-creation of the services of general interest: The Role of Citizens and their Organizations
- CoR: Online workshop on Smart Specialisation
- Presidency: Working together for Roma rights
Friday 16 April
- EP: ENVI committee meeting
- Eurogroup
- ECOFIN
- Commissioner Timmermans holds a call with the COP26 President
- Commissioner Breton in Paris, France: meets with Mr Jean Castex, Prime Minister of France
- Commissioner Gabriel holds a call with the President of the European University Association on ‘Universities without walls – a vision for 2030′
- FRA: Eurostat gender-based violence survey task force to meet
Institutional Agendas
European Parliament
Monday 12 April
Committee on Fisheries
The committee will elect the fourth Vice-Chair.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Votes: New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration.
There will also be a presentation by Commissioner Vestager on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and Single Market For Digital Services as well as a consideration of the Commission’s 2020 Rule of law report.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Votes: Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on a mandatory transparency register (ACI).
There will also be debates on Citizens’ dialogues and Citizens’ participation in the EU decision-making and Interpretation and implementation of Article 50 TEU – Legal and institutional assessment as well as consideration of the working document on Democratization of the European Union: improving the accountability, transparency, capacity and responsiveness of the Union’s institutions.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
There will be an exchange of views with the Secretary-General of the EEAS and Director-General of DG INTPA (International Partnerships) on the Joint Communication on Multilateralism.
Tuesday 13 April
Committee on Development
Votes: A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system – Adoption of draft opinion, Accelerating progress and tackling inequalities towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 – Adoption of motion for a resolution.
There will also be debates on the implications of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, presentation of the Communication on the “EU’s humanitarian action: new challenges, same principles” and Structured Dialogue on the Commission Work Programme, and exchange of views on recent visit to Ethiopia and Sudan by the Special European Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
The Committee will examine amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work as well as hold a hearing for Eurofound Executive Director-nominee.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
There will be a presentation of the Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on EU industry as well as proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, establishing the Digital Europe programme for the period 2021-2027, establishing the European Defence Fund, Guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, and consideration of draft report on European data governance.
Committee on Fisheries
There will be an exchange of views on EU-UK: Adoption of TAC & quotas and implementation of the Trade & Cooperation Agreement and EU-Norway bilateral and trilateral fisheries arrangements.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Votes: New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration, amending regulations for European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
There will also be exchange on views regarding the Digital Green certificate including framework, verification, acceptance of interoperable certificates as well as consideration of the draft report on the adequate protection of personal data by the United Kingdom, draft mandate update on Establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for identifying an illegally staying third- country national or stateless person, on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online, on the current state of play of the ongoing negotiations on the 2nd Protocol to the Budapest Convention and the first review of the EU’s implementation of United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
There will be a hearing on the reform of European electoral law featuring experts. There will also be a presentation of the study “Europeanising the elections of the European Parliament – Outlook on the implementation of Council Decision 2018/994 and the harmonisation of national rules on European elections”. Finally there will be an exchange of views with Commissioner Šuica on the Conference on the Future of Europe and the role of the European Parliament.
Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation
There will be a presentation of the study “Disinformation and propaganda – impact on the functioning of the rule of law and democratic processes in EU and its Member States” and a hearing on “Tech developments and regulatory approaches to disinformation: Interference through advertisement”.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Votes: Report on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Montenegro, EU-India relations adoption of amendments.
There will also be an exchange of views with President of the Syria Opposition Syrian Negotiation Commission and co-Chair of the Constitutional Committee, with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad of the Republic of Tunisia, on EU-Japan relations and the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement and finally on the 6th anniversary of the Minsk agreements and challenges ahead. There will also be a public hearing on the Arctic: a new arena of geostrategic importance and great powers’ rivalry.
Wednesday 14 April
Committee on International Trade
There will be an exchange of views with the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer on a new mechanism to deter and counteract coercive action by non-EU countries and on the role of EU delegations in implementation of trade agreements and legislation.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
There will also be a joint debate on the digital finance package, a presentation of the result of the ECB public consultation on the digital euro and an exchange of views on the extension of the term of office of the Executive Director of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Votes: 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, Establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment
There will also be a presentation of JRC Technical report: Results of an EU wide comparison of quality related characteristics of branded food products and on the Commission’s Report on the application of Directive (EU) on package travel and linked travel arrangements.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
There will be a presentation by Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, responsible for Agriculture, of the Action Plan for the development of EU organic production as well on State of play of ongoing trilogue negotiations CAP Strategic Plans.
Subcommittee on Human Rights
There will be an exchange of views on implementation of the recommendations of the UN Global Study on Children deprived of liberty. There will also be exchange of views on accountability of State officials for international crimes and on state policies of Memory, Truth, and Justice in Argentina.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Votes: EU-NATO cooperation in the context of transatlantic relations, State of EU cyber defence capabilities.
There will be a review of the mission report from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger as part of the implementation of the new mandate of the European Union Training Mission in Mali, a hearing on “The security situation in the Sahel: the African view and experience”. There will also be an exchange of views on European Peace Facility: strengthening the financial toolbox of the EU’s CSDP and security and defence pillar.
Press Briefing on Artificial Intelligence with lead MEPs
EPs will brief journalists and answer questions on the latest European Parliament reports on Artificial Intelligence. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee is expected to adopt its own-initiative report on AI and shaping the digital future of Europe on 14 April.
Thursday 15 April
Committee on International Trade
Votes: EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives
There will also be debates on trade related aspects and implications of COVID-19, on modifications of EU tariff rate quotas for the US and Argentina as a consequence of the UK withdrawal from the EU, and on EU-Myanmar trade relations in the context of recent political developments.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
There will be consideration of the draft report on the reinforced role for the European Medicines Agency in crisis preparedness and management for medicinal products and medical devices and a presentation of the Joint Research Centre report on “The use of woody biomass for energy production in the EU”.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
There will be an exchange of views with Commissioner Breton as part of the structured dialogue.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
There will be a public hearing on the European Citizens’ Initiative “End the Cage Age” for an EU-wide ban on keeping farmed animals in cages, with participation from Commissioners, experts, representatives of other EU bodies, and the organisers of the ECI.
Public Hearing on “AI and the Future of Democracy”
In this public hearing, the AIDA and INGE Special Committees of the European Parliament will host two panels of leading experts for an exchange of views on the future of democracy in the digital age and on how to strike the right regulatory balances in our increasingly tech-driven societies.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
There will be expert perspectives given on the next steps in the Strategic Compass and an exchange of views with the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Friday 16 April
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Votes: There will be votes on soil protection, establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action and on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on health technology among other things.
Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.
Council of Ministers
Friday 16 April
Eurogroup
Topics to be discussed include the High-Level Working Group on EDIS, completion of the Banking Union, debrief from international meetings, insolvency frameworks, the euro as a digital currency and review of the Eurogroup transparency initiative.
Informal video conference of economic and finance ministers
Topics to be discussed include economic recovery in Europe and implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the financing of Next Generation EU. The Commission will update ministers on the state of play on building the capital markets union, with a focus on the single access point. Ministers will also discuss the state of play and way forward on the European financial architecture for development, as well as debrief from meetings of G20 finance ministers.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 12 April
Commissioners Schinas and Schmit hold a call with representatives from ETUC and Business Europe.
Commissioner Gabriel holds a call with the Minister for Education of Portugal on the achievements of the Portuguese Presidency.
Tuesday 13 April
Commissioner Urpilainen meets with members of the Finnish government in Helsinki, including PM Sanna Marin.
Commissioner Jourová holds a call with Minister for Justice of Finland and attends online event #BrusselsCalling: Tackling Diversity in EU Media.
Commissioner Breton receives President of Senegal
Wednesday 14 April
College Meeting
The college meeting will discuss the communication on EU Agenda to tackle organised crime (2021-2025) and the communication on a new EU strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings.
Thursday 15 April
Commissioner Timmermans gives a speech at the online World Circular Economy Forum.
Commissioner Kyriakides delivers a speech at the ‘World Food Summit 2021 – Better Food for More People,’ organised by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark.
Friday 16 April
Commissioner Timmermans holds a call with the COP26 President.
Commissioner Breton in Paris, France: meets with Mr Jean Castex, Prime Minister of France.
Commissioner Gabriel holds a call with the President of the European University Association on ‘Universities without walls – a vision for 2030′.
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 12 April
7th meeting of the EU-Korea Civil Society Forum under the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement
he EU DAG and the Korea DAG will meet for the first time since 2018 to hold the 7th EU-Korea Civil Society Forum (CSF). Participants will discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead in the EU and Korea, working time, labour standards, the social dialogue and the TSD chapter from the DAGs’ perspective. A workshop will be held on the topic of “Circular economy and the recycling of batteries”.
Tuesday 13 April
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
In order to prepare its opinion on the Commission’s proposal “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan”, the EESC is organising a public hearing. The aim of the event is to gather input from other EU Institutions, civil society and health professionals.
Thursday 15 April
Co-creation of the services of general interest: The Role of Citizens and their Organizations
Concrete experiences will be shared on co-creation of public services, based on pilots in Italy, Hungary and Spain, which were executed in the Horizon2020 “CoSIE” project. The experiences and insights will be connected to the European Pillar of Social Rights. The objective of the meeting is to provide input to further development of a European policy which works for the people.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Committee of the Regions
Thursday 15 April
Online workshop on Smart Specialisation
This workshop aims to explore howSmart Specialisation can be an effective tool to help territories recover from the current pandemic-induced crisis and discover new opportunities for more sustainable and inclusive economies.
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
Tuesday 13th April – Wednesday 14th April
Civil Protection Business Continuity & Capacity Development – lessons learned from Covid-19
This workshop aims to discuss the resilience of civil protection services in the face of multiple emergencies, by identifying experience and good practice in the plans for civil protection services. The topic is particularly important at the present time, when the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network is being implemented.
Tuesday 14 April
European Universities: pioneering transformation in education, research and innovation
This international meeting will focus on discussing the importance of European universities as international networks of knowledge, co-creation, collaborative and connected training (i.e. European degrees), regional development and European cohesion, as well as the promotion of a European identity through the ecosystems of knowledge and innovation.
Thursday 15 April
Working together for Roma rights
For more information visit this site.
The agenda of the Portuguese Presidency can be found here.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Monday 14 April
Procedural safeguards for children in criminal proceedings
RA will meet partners online from its FRANET research network to implement the second part of its project on procedural safeguards for children in criminal proceedings. The focus will be on interviewing children to capture their experiences and perspectives in criminal proceedings. FRANET partners from seven EU Member States – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Poland and Portugal – will attend.
Friday 16 April
Eurostat gender-based violence survey task force to meet
The task force meeting will discuss countries’ progress in collecting the data for the survey as well as standards for reporting the results. FRA’s presentation will focus on findings from the recent report ‘Crime, safety and victims’ rights’, specifically the differences in the extent and nature of violence and harassment experienced by women as opposed to the experiences of men.
Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.
European Investment Bank
Monday 12 April
Investment and Investment Finance in Greece
The Bank of Greece and the European Investment Bank are hosting the webinar “Investment and Investment Finance in Greece”. The pandemic has smothered nascent hopes for a recovery of investment activity in Greece. Substantial revenue losses and a rise in uncertainty have seen investment plans slashed. We will discuss with experts and policy makers the challenges ahead and their implications for investment needs and priorities with a special focus on digitalization and a green recovery.
Wednesday 14 April
Investment and Investment Finance in Hungary
The Central Bank of Hungary and the European Investment Bank are hosting the webinar “Investment and Investment Finance in Hungary”. The pandemic has severely impacted investment activity in Hungary. Firms have to cope with substantial revenue losses which affect their investment strategies. We will discuss with experts and policy makers the challenges ahead, investment needs and priorities with a special focus on digitalization and green recovery.
Donor Information Session: The COVAX Facility – fair and equitable access to vaccines
The development of successful vaccines against COVID-19 is only the first step in defeating the virus and ending the global pandemic. The challenge now shifts to distributing and administering these vaccines worldwide. The EIB has teamed up with EU partners and Gavi, the vaccine alliance, to develop the COVAX initiative that will give millions of people in developing countries fair and equitable access to a vaccine. This information session provides donors insight into the COVAX initiative.
The agenda of the EIB can be found here.
Council of Europe
Monday 12 April
50 years of the Pompidou Group: a human rights focus on drug policy
A side event during the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, with the support of Portugal and Poland, will mark the 50th anniversary of the Pompidou Group. Portuguese Chair João Castel-Branco Goulão will deliver a statement, focusing on the Group’s 50th anniversary events and activities.
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.
