News > Weekly European Agenda 19/12/2022
Weekly European Agenda 19/12/2022
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This is the last edition of the year for the Weekly European Agenda. We wish you happy holidays, and we will be back in your mailbox in January 2023.
19-25 December 2022
Monday 19 December
- EP: EMPL in Sweden, IMCO in Ireland, INTA in Taiwan
- CoM: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy)
- EC: Johansson and Schmit host a lunch meeting with European Social and Economic Partners
- EC: Wojciechowski participates in meeting with the chairmen of the Visegrád Group agricultural committees
- Presidency: 11th meeting of Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment
- ECB: Speech by Vice-President de Guindos at Nueva Economía Forum in Madrid
- CoE: Psychological Support to Refugees: Strengthening Professional Capacities
Tuesday 20 December
- EP: EMPL in Sweden, IMCO in Ireland, INTA in Taiwan
- CoM: Environment Council
- EC: Lenarčič patronizes the EuroChanukah 2022 Ceremony – Share the Light award
- EC: Borrell participates in the Bagdad Conference
- EESC: REX December Section meeting on EU-UK relations
- Presidency: 11th meeting of Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment
- ECB: Study on payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE)
- CoE: Psychological Support to Refugees: Strengthening Professional Capacities
- CoE: Round table with Ukrainian human rights defenders
Wednesday 21 December
- EP: EMPL in Sweden, IMCO in Ireland, INTA in Taiwan
- EC: College meeting
- EC: Dombrovskis holds a videoconference with Elisabeth Svantesson, Minister of Finance of Sweden
- EESC: The way forward for the EU economy
- Presidency: 11th meeting of Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment
Thursday 22 December
Institutional Agendas
European Parliament
Monday 19 December – Wednesday 21 December
Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) delegation in Sweden
A delegation to Stockholm will meet with relevant ministers, member of three committees of the Swedish Parliament, social partners and NGOs from 18 to 21 December. During their visit, the delegation want to focus on the priorities of the upcoming Swedish Presidency of the Council and discuss the legislation in the pipeline such as platform work. The members of the delegation will meet with the Minister for Employment and Integration, the Minister for Gender Equality and the Minister for Social Services. They will also discuss with members of three committees of the Swedish Parliament (Labour Market, Social Services and Health and Welfare). They will meet social partners, NGOs and will visit two European Social Fund projects dealing with integrating migrants into the labour market.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) delegation in Ireland
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection will send five Members to visit Dublin and the Midlands (Ireland). The delegation will assess the ongoing trading relationship between the EU and the UK after Brexit and the effects it may have on the Internal Market and the Customs Union. The mission is being organised in the context of the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and its effects for businesses and consumers.
International Trade Committee (INTA) delegation in Taiwan
A delegation of the International Trade Committee visits Taiwan to discuss EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations. Besides the government, the assembly, trade unions and civil society, they will also meet representatives of the semiconductor sector.
Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.
Council of Ministers
Monday 19 December
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy)
EU energy ministers will seek a general approach on a proposal on methane emissions reduction in the energy sector.The Council will seek a general approach on the proposal for a REPowerEU directive that would amend EU legislation on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy performance of buildings. The presidency will present a progress report on the gas package, which includes a proposal for a directive and a proposal for a regulation on common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen. This will be followed by an exchange of views.
Tuesday 20 December
Environment Council
EU environment ministers will hold an exchange of views on a proposal for a nature restoration regulation. The presidency will also update ministers on fluorinated gases, ozone-depleting substances, industrial emissions, and waste shipments. The Commission will present its zero-pollution package proposals on air quality, surface and groundwater priority substances, and urban wastewater treatment, and the circular economy package which includes packaging and waste packaging legislation revisions and carbon removals certification proposals. The Commission also presents bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastic policy, and updates ministers on biodiversity strategy implementation. The presidency and Commission will brief ministers on major international meetings. Finally, Sweden will present the work programme of its incoming presidency.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 19 December
Johansson and Schmit host a lunch meeting with European Social and Economic Partners
Commissioners Ylva Johansson and Nicolas Schmit will host a lunch meeting with European Social and Economic Partners as part of the European Partnership for Integration to reaffirm their commitment to better integrate migrants and refugees into the labour market.
Wojciechowski participates in meeting with the chairmen of the Visegrád Group agricultural committees
Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski will participate via videoconference in meeting with the chairmen of the Visegrád Group agricultural committees.
Tuesday 20 December
Lenarčič patronizes the EuroChanukah 2022 Ceremony – Share the Light award
Commissioner Janez Lenarčič will patronize the EuroChanukah 2022 Ceremony – Share the Light award.
Borrell participates in the Bagdad Conference
High Representative Josep Borrell will be in Jordan to participate in the Bagdad Conference and hold bilateral meetings in the margins.
Wednesday 21 December
College meeting
The College of Commissioners will convene to present the Commission Recommendation on Union disaster resilience goals.
Dombrovskis holds a videoconference with Elisabeth Svantesson, Minister of Finance of Sweden
Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will hold a videoconference with Elisabeth Svantesson, Minister of Finance of Sweden.
Thursday 22 December
Gentiloni participates in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting
Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni will participate in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors virtual meeting.
An overview of the Commission College can be found here; the Commissioners’ weekly activities can be found here; the agenda of upcoming College meetings can be found here; Commission events can be found here.
European Economic and Social Committee
Tuesday 20 December
REX December Section meeting on EU-UK relations
The upcoming meeting of the Section for External Relations will be dedicated to EU-UK relations. The EU-UK Follow-up Committee, a working body of the European Economic and Social Committee, was set up in March 2021, primarily to maintain and strengthen relations between UK and EU civil society organisations, and to monitor the implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Based on its meetings with various stakeholders, the EU-UK Follow-up Committee drew up an Information Report on the implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement to feed into the political dialogue between the EU and UK, as well as to promote a joint reflection on their future relationship. At this meeting, the Information Report will be discussed and adopted, providing a timely and relevant opportunity to exchange views on post‑Brexit issues, including those arising from the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Wednesday 21 December
The way forward for the EU economy
In late November, the European Commission is expected to kick off the annual cycle of economic policy coordination, including the publication of the new recommendations for the euro area for 2023. The discussion on these recommendations will be of particular importance in the difficult current economic environment of low growth and high inflation, while the EU also has to address the needs of the energy crisis and climate change. In parallel, the Commission presented a Communication on the EU’s economic governance framework, which sets out orientations for its reform. Such reforms are crucial for supporting the EU growth agenda and ensuring sound public finances in the Member States, while they must also improve the quality and composition of investments to make available the necessary financial resources to support the just green and digital transitions. In this context of a constantly evolving economic environment and high uncertainty, the ECO section decided to organise a public debate with policy-makers, civil society representatives and economic researchers from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The debate’s conclusions will feed into the two opinions being drawn up by the EESC, on the future of the economic governance framework and the economic policy of the euro area for 2023. The event will be webstreamed.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Czech Presidency
Monday 19 December – Wednesday 21 December
11th meeting of Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment
The 11th meeting of the Working Group on EIA and SEA under the Espoo Convention will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a subsidiary body to the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention and to the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. It was established to assist in the implementation of the Convention and the Protocol and the management of the work plan.
The agenda of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU can be found here.
European Central Bank
Monday 19 December
Speech by Vice-President de Guindos at Nueva Economía Forum in Madrid
Vice-President de Guindos will deliver a speech online at the Nueva Economía Forum in Madrid.
Tuesday 20 December
Study on payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE)
The ECB will publish the Study on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE), which looks at how consumers use cash and non-cash means of payment in euro-area countries.
More information about ECB events can be found here.
Council of Europe
Monday 19 December – Tuesday 20 December
Psychological Support to Refugees: Strengthening Professional Capacities
The Council of Europe will launch a pilot training in Warsow on “Psychological Support to Refugees: Strengthening Professional Capacities”, organised in close cooperation with the national authorities. The event will aim to enhance the capacities of relevant professionals working on the ground to detect war-related traumas of mainly women and children from Ukraine and treat them adequately based on the expertise of the Council of Europe.
Tuesday 20 December
Round table with Ukrainian human rights defenders
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will participate (by video message) in a round table with Ukrainian human rights defenders.
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.
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