News > Weekly European Agenda | 22/02/2021
Weekly European Agenda | 22/02/2021
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22-26 February 2021
Monday 22 February
- EP: European Parliamentary Week
- EP: CONT ENVI IMCO PECH JURI
- CoM: Foreign Affairs Council
- EC: von der Leyen speech European Semester Inter-parliamentary Conference
- ECB: Lagarde speech European Semester Inter-parliamentary Conference
Tuesday 23 February
- EMI: European Chats
- EP: AFET CONT ECON EMPL IMCO
- CoM: Informal video conference of European affairs ministers
- EC: Borrell EU-US cooperation Atlantic Council
- Ombudsman: Inaugural Jean Monnet lecture
- FRA: Have your say about human rights in Europe event
Wednesday 24 February
Thursday 14 November
- EP: DROI SEDE DEVE INTA ENVI Joint ENVI-PETI CULT AFCO
- COVID-19 and Health
- CoM: Informal video conference of internal market and industry ministers
- EESC: Plenary Session
- EIB: Towards a green and smart economy in Romania
Friday 25 February
- Security and Defence & Southern Neighbourhood Partnership
- CoM: Informal video conference of research ministers
- CoR: COTER
- Presidency: Digitalisation in financial services event & Climate change new economic models event
- EIB: Investment and investment finance – Slovakia
- CoE: Interculturalism and Anti-Racism in Cities
European Movement International
Tuesday 23 February
European Chats
The European Movement International will hold the sixth edition of EuropeanChats on Tuesday, featuring Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra and Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General, CEMR in conversation with Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General, European Movement International.
More information about the event here.
More information about EMI events can be found here.
Institutional Agendas
European Parliament
Monday 22 Februay
European Parliamentary Week
The annual European Parliamentary Week brings together Parliamentarians from the European Union, candidate and observer countries to discuss economic, budgetary, environmental and social matters. This year edition will be dominated by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on EU economies and its recovery. The parliamentarians will debate on the preparations of national recovery and resilience plans as well as investing in climate, social and economic priorities. The European Parliamentary Week consists of the European Semester Conference and the Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the European Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Commission Reports on Montenegro and Exchange of views on EU-Mexico relations: The modernisation of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement
Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation
Webinar on strategic communication to counter foreign interference
Committee on Budgetary Control
Exchange of views with Executive Director of Frontex and discharge procedures for the budgetary year 2019 consideration of draft reports
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
ENVI Interparliamentary committee meeting on the Recovery and Resilience Plan: synergies between the European Green Deal and the path towards building a more resilient European Health Union
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Legislative scrutiny session – Implementation of the General Vehicle Safety Regulation and Presentation of Policy Department study on the COVID-19 impact on Internal Market and consumer protection
Committee on Fisheries
Votes: The impact on fisheries of marine litter – Adoption of amendments 2019 discharge: European Fisheries Control Agency- Adoption European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (COD)- Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
Debates: Challenges and opportunities for the fishing sector in the Black Sea, Consideration of draft report Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement EU-Greenland n The impact on fisheries of marine litter
Committee on Legal Affairs
Votes: Strengthening transparency and integrity in the EU institutions by setting up an independent EU ethics body – Adoption of draft opinion, Vote on amendments
Debates: EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights Report 2020 and work programme 2021 presentation and exchange of views, European Union regulatory fitness and subsidiarity and proportionality report on Better Law Making covering the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 exchange of views, the impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children.
Tuesday 23 February
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Report on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Kosovo and Serbia, exchange of views with EEAS Deputy Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa on the Joint Communication on the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood and the situation in Syria
Special Committee on Beating Cancer
From lab to life: transforming childhood, adolescent and rare cancer care
Joint meeting with Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation and Constitutional Affairs Committee
How to make political party and campaign financing more transparent: what rules do we need in the EU?
Committee on Budgetary Control
Workshop on “Use of big data and AI in fighting corruption and misuse of public funds – good practice, ways forward and how to integrate new technology into contemporary control framework”
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
GameStop and similar recent market events, exchange of views with representatives of the European Commission and the European Securities and Markets Authority, Exchange of views with Director-General of Eurostat, Exchange of views with Executive Vice-President on the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act legislative proposals
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Votes: European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and Social Aspects in the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 – Adoption of draft report
Debates: Amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work – Exchange of views with stakeholders, Consideration of amendments, Exchange of views with Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Presentation of the Council Presidency’s programme
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Exchange of views with Executive Vice President of the European Commission for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age – Presentation of the proposals for Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act – Structured dialogue
Wednesday 24 February
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Instability in the Central African Republic: enhancing international support and the role of CSDP
Committee on International Trade
State of play of the enforcement of the EU trade policy exchange of views, transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines, exchange of views with Commission on EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, exchange of views with Dombrovskis for An Economy that Works for People and Trade Commissioner, presentation of the Communication on the Trade Policy Review.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Report back Establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality, soil protection, the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies.
Vote: European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021
Committee on Culture and Education
Exchange of views on the state of play of the Rights and Values programme, the European Social Fund Plus programme, the Commission on Multimedia Actions.
Vote: Shaping digital education policy, Guidelines for the 2022 Budget.
Joint meeting: Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Debates: Attacks on abortion rights and breaches of the rule of law in Poland, Draft motion for a resolution on children’s rights in view of the Commission’s strategy on children’s rights, Hearing of the Council’s candidate for an Europol Deputy Executive Director, Resilience of critical entities.
Votes: Multiple votes on 2019 discharges including implementation of budgets.
Committee on Petitions
Petitions from Romania on the protection of the bear population, Austria, Italy and Finland on the status of wolf populations in the EU, Germany on the EU-MERCOSUR free trade agreement and the case of Brazil, Belgium and Germany in relation to free trade and deforestation on Latin America, Italy on alleged violation of EU law by Article 55-bis of the Italian decree-law n. 76 of 16 July 2020, Poland on alleged barriers to cross-border trade by a Polish law company, Poland on the breakdown of Czajka and the pollution of the Vistula River near Wloclawek, Germany, Italy and Lithuania on the transportation of live animals (with ENVI).
Thursday 25 February
Subcommittee on Human Rights
Exchange of views on the human rights situation in Nigeria and follow up to the European Parliament’s resolution of 16 January 2020 on Nigeria, notably the recent terrorist attacks, the human rights situation in Bangladesh, tthe human rights situation in China in light of the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement, in the presence, Presentation of the Front Line Defenders Global Analysis 2020 report.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
PESCO implementation, presentation of the project on European Medical, Mapping the landscape of hybrid threats and enhancing the operational role of CSDP Missions and Operations, A Counter Terrorism Agenda for the EU reinforcing international engagement, State of play of the Coordinated Maritime Presence situation and responding to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
Committee on Development
Vote: The impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countries.
Debates: The humanitarian situation and the EU humanitarian response in relation to COVID-19, The role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries, in the context of the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
Committee on International Trade
Public Hearing on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Vote: Union Civil Protection Mechanism Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations , European Semester for economic policy coordination, Soil protection.
Debate: General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 A reinforced role for the European Medicines Agency in crisis preparedness and management for medicinal products and medical devices Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health repealing Amending Regulation establishing a European Centre for disease prevention and control.
Joint ENVI-PETI hearing
Plastics and waste management in the circular economy
Committee on Culture and Education
Presentation on “Cultural and Creative Sectors in post-COVID-19 Europe – Crisis effects and policy recommendations”, Exchange of views with the Commission on the European Citizens’ Initiative “Minority SafePack” and with the European Schools
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Presentation of the study “Possible Avenues for Further Political Integration in Europe, Working Documenta on Encouraging the dialogue between the European Parliament and the national and regional parliaments for strengthening democracy through the Conference on the Future of Europe, the community method and intergovernmentalism, Overcoming the deadlock of unanimity voting
Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.
European Council
Thursday 25 February
COVID-19 and Health
EU leaders will take stock of the epidemiological situation. They will continue working to coordinate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing in particular on the production and rollout of vaccines and the movement of persons.
Friday 26 February
Security and Defence
Leaders will hold a strategic debate on European security and defence policy focusing on strengthening the EU’s security and defence policy, increasing the EU’s ability to act autonomously and to promote its strategic interests and values on the global stagedeveloping the EU’s partnerships in security and defence, in particular with NATO
Southern Neighbourhood Partnership
Leaders will hold a strategic discussion on EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood, revisiting conclusions from December 2020 where it was discussed that a democratic, more stable, greener and more prosperous Southern Neighbourhood is a strategic priority for the EU.
The meeting page can be found here.
Council of Ministers
Monday 22 February
Foreign Affairs Council
The meeting will be chaired by the EU High Representative. EU ministers will be briefed about current affairs including the situation in Myanmar, Ethiopia and the G5 Sahel Summit, and receive updates on Iran and Belarus and EU-Russia relations. Ministers will also exchange views on the Strategic Compass and the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken is expected to join for an exchange of views on EU-US relations. Lastly, the meeting will review the latest developments regarding Hong Kong and discuss the next steps for the EU.
Informal video conference of fisheries ministers
The only item on the agenda concerns the consultations with the United Kingdom on fishing opportunities. Ministers will be briefed on the state of play of the bilateral consultations between the EU and the UK on fishing opportunities, specifically fish quotas for jointly managed stocks and deep-sea shared stocks.
Tuesday 23 February
Informal video conference of European affairs ministers
Ministers will prepare for the upcoming video conference of members of the European Council on 25 and 26 February 2021. The Portuguese presidency will inform ministers about the Conference on the Future of Europe. Ministers will exchange views on the European Democracy Action Plan as well as the state of play in EU-UK relations
Thursday 25 February
Informal video conference of internal market and industry ministers
More information about this meeting can be found here.
Friday 26 February
Informal video conference of research ministers
More information about this meeting can be found here.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 22 February
President von der Leyen delivers a keynote speech at the European Semester-Inter-parliamentary Conference.
Commissioner Gentiloni delivers opening remarks on ‘Resilience and Recovery from the COVID-19 crisis: economic and fiscal priorities for investment and reforms’ at the virtual European Parliamentary Week 2021.
Commissioner Kyriakides holds a call with José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
Tuesday 23 February
President von der Leyen delivers the opening speech at the EU Industry Days 2021 and participates in the Global Citizen Campaign launch event ‘A Recovery Plan for the World’.
High Representative Borrell participates in an event on EU-US cooperation organised by the Atlantic Council.
Wednesday 24 February
College Meeting on the new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change, improving the working conditions of platform workers and a review of the Roaming Regulation.
Thursday 25 February
President von der Leyen participates in the videoconference of the members of the European Council.
Friday 26 February
President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the videoconference of the members of the European Council.
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
Wednesday 24 February
Plenary Session
Debate on the Conference on the Future of Europe with Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography.
Thursday 25 February
Plenary Session
Resolution on the Involvement of Organised Civil Society in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans debate with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Budget and Administration and award ceremony for the EESC Civil Solidarity Prize: Civil society against COVID-19.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Committee of the Regions
Friday 26 February
Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) Meeting
The COTER committee will meet remotely to discuss the Green Deal going local, experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 Crisis, the future of regional airports and the sustainable and smart mobility strategy.
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
Friday 26 February
Digitalisation in financial services: a new landscape with new players and new objectives – Virtual Talk
A talk on the current situation and expected developments in terms of who can provide financial services and under what conditions. Topics include the opportunities and risks, both for service providers and new actors and the role of digital financial services in facilitating and accelerating the achievement of environmental and social sustainability goals.
Climate Change – New Economic Models
Conference to explore the contribution of new economic models, including the circular economy and the sustainable bioeconomy, to tackle climate change while promoting a just and equitable economic and social recovery, within the limits of the natural system.
The agenda of the Portuguese Presidency can be found here.
European Ombudsman
Tuesday 23 February
Inaugural Jean Monnet lecture by the European Ombudsman
The European Ombudsman is to give the inaugural Jean Monnet lecture. The event will be held by Birkbeck, University of London (online). The title of the Ombudsman’s lecture will be ‘EU accountability: an Ombudsman perspective’.
The EU Ombudsman calendar of activities can be found here.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Tuesday 23 February
Have your say about human rights in Europe – Online Event
The Fundamental Rights Agency’s Director will hold an online event in which people are invited to voice their fundamental rights concerns and discuss ways to solve them, encouraging young people to participate in shaping our societies, placing human rights centre stage. Topics include how to make sure that everyone can enjoy fair and equal access to education, jobs and healthcare, how to tackle hate speech, racism and disinformation, especially online, and how to reduce divisions and help everyone take part in society.
Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.
European Central Bank
Monday February 22
Speech by Ms Lagarde at the European Semester Conference
Inter-parliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the EU, co-organised by the European Parliament and the Portuguese Parliament
More information about ECB events can be found here.
European Investment Bank
Thursday 25 February
Towards a green and smart economy in Romania: Investment and investment finance
The webinar will focus on investment needs and priorities for Romania in times of COVID-19, green and smart economy. It brings together a group of economists, policymakers and representatives from financial institutions and the business community.
Friday 26 February
Investment and investment finance – Slovakia
The webinar will focus on investment needs and priorities for Slovakia in times of COVID-19, digitalisation and climate change. It brings together a group of economists, policymakers and representatives from financial institutions and the business community.
The agenda of the EIB can be found here.
Council of Europe
Friday 26 Februay
Webinar on “Interculturalism and Anti-Racism in Cities”
The webinar will address the tensions between interculturalism and anti-racism in an attempt to find ways in which the two can better support each other’s efforts in the global fight for economic equality and social justice. It will engage those who work to make cities more inclusive places.
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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