News > Weekly European Agenda | 23/11/2020
Weekly European Agenda | 23/11/2020
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11-17 November 2019
Monday 23 November
- EP: Plenary session
- Foreign Affairs Council
- EC: Schmit speaks with the Portuguese Minister of Labour
- EC: Reynders speaks with Spanish Minister of Justice.
- EESC: Diversity Group Meeting
- CoR: NAT Commission meeting
Tuesday 24 November
Wednesday 25 November
- EP: Plenary session
- EC: Strengthening geographical indications
- EC: Timmermans speaks with climate activists.
- EESC: Sustainable Development Observatory Meeting
- CoR: SEDEC Commission meeting
- CoE: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Thursday 26 November
- EMI: Investing in the Future of Europe : The Green Deal
- EP: Plenary session
- EC: Strengthening geographical indications
- EC: Várhelyi meets Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
- CoR: COTER Commission meeting
- EIB: Energy Finance in Bulgaria
Friday 27 November
- Competitiveness Council
- EC: Vestager speaks with French Prime Minister Macron
- CoR: NAT Commission Webinar A European Rural Agenda
European Movement International
Thursday 26 November
Investing in the Future of Europe : The Green Deal
Protecting Europe’s economic stability and its transition to a green economy from a historic global pandemic presents several unique and challenging questions. This event, organised in partnership with the European Investment Bank, will discuss how the EU can help create a society where the benefits of economic activity are equally distributed and can be reconciled with our environmental responsibilities, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The panel will feature Thomas Östros, Vice President of the European Investment Bank; Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for the European Green Deal; Céline Charveriat, Executive Director at the Institute for European Environmental Policy; and, Thomas Waitz, European Green Party MEP and Co-Chair.
More information about the event and registration can be found here.
More information about EMI events can be found here.
Institutional Agendas
European Parliament
Monday 23 November – Thursday 26 November
Plenary session
MEPs are voting and debating on several topics this week during plenary sessions. On Monday, MEPs debate on ways to boost sustainability by granting EU consumers a “right to repair” and by tackling practices that intentionally shorten the lifetime of products. Moreover, MEPs will debate strengthening media freedom by focusing, in particular, on the protection of journalists. The voting results of these two topics are expected on Wednesday. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the deterioration of fundamental rights and EU values, and underline the critical need for a mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. Furthermore, Parliament will hold a debate on Wednesday with Commission President von der Leyen and the German Presidency ahead of the 10-11 December EU Summit. On Thursday, MEPs are expected to have an official opinion on the ruling of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal on abortion rights in the country.
Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.
Council of Ministers
Monday 23 November
Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)
Development ministers will meet and discuss, among other things, linking debt relief and investments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably in the context of the COVID-19 international response and recovery effort. Moreover, a discussion will be held on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in all external action, in light of the forthcoming Joint Communication on the EU Gender Action Plan.
Friday 27 November
Competitiveness Council (COMPET)
Research Ministers will hold an informal exchange of views on the investment targets for research and development proposed by the Commission in its Communication “A new ERA for Research and Innovation”.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 23 November
Schmit speaks with the Portuguese Minister of Labour
Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, takes part in an online meeting with the Portuguese Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho.
Reynders speaks with Spanish Minister of Justice.
Commissioner Reynders holds a videoconference call with Mr. Juan Carlos Campo, Spanish Minister of Justice.
Tuesday 24 November
College meeting
The Commission is expected to adopt the EU action plan on gender equality and women empowerment in external relations for 2021-2025; the Action plan on integration and inclusion; and the action plan on intellectual property. Moreover, the Commission will also launch its strategy for a pharmaceutical Europe.
Wednesday 25 November
Timmermans speaks with climate activists.
Frans Timmermans, Commissioner for the European Green Deal and Vice-President of the Commission, holds a videoconference with Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, Adelaide Charlier and Anuna De Wever, climate activists.
Wednesday 25 November – Thursday 26 november
Strengthening geographical indications
This online event falls at the optimum moment in a major European Commission reform process. Indeed, the impact assessment of the geographical indications (GIs) reform – to “strengthen GIs” as requested by President von der Leyen in her mission letter to Commissioner Wojciechowski – will be in full development and with it an intensive consultation of stakeholders. The conference will therefore serve as the focal point for stakeholders to make their views known on the range of issues in the reform process from delivering sustainability to the legal challenge to protect GIs on the internet. More information can be found here.
Thursday 26 November
Várhelyi meets Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, meets Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, H.E. Olha Stefanishyna via videoconference.
Friday 27 November
Vestager speaks with French Prime-Minister
Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for A Europe Fit for a Digital Age and Vice-President, speaks with French Prime-Minister Jean Castex.
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 23 November
Diversity Group Meeting
On the agenda are, among other things, presentations of the different categories and presentations of the Vice-Presidents of the EESC.
Tuesday 24 November
Workers’ Group Meeting
Agenda to be confirmed.
Wednesday 25 November
Sustainable Development Observatory Meeting
On the agenda are, among other things, a thematic debate on the Sustainability dimension of the CAP.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Committee of the Regions
Monday 23 November
NAT Commission Meeting
On the agenda are, among other things, Agroecology (The current pandemic of COVID-19 highlights some dangers of the globalization of food systems and the urgency of strengthening the security of European food supplies inside and outside the Internal Market. The agroecological approach seems like an appropriate respond to the challenges we are currently facing); Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis; A new approach to the Atlantic maritime strategy.
Wednesday 25 November
SEDEC Commission Meeting
On the agenda are, among other things, a debate with Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner and an exchange of views with Director-General Joost Korte, DG Employment and Social Affairs and Inclusion.
Thursday 26 November
COTER Commission Meeting
Agenda to be confirmed.
Friday 27 November
NAT Commission Webinar A European Rural Agenda
The current pandemic crisis has exposed and exacerbated the consequences of a number of long-standing threats faced by rural areas, and has added to the urgency for rural revival in regions across the European Union. On the other side, the pandemic can encourage more local consumption and production patterns, remote working habits, increase the importance of quality of life and develop new forms of mobility, which may open new opportunities for sustainable jobs and growth in rural regions. More information and registration can be found here.
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.
European Investment Bank
Thursday 26 November
Energy Finance in Bulgaria
The Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are organising an online workshop dedicated to energy finance in Bulgaria. More information on this event can be found here.
The agenda of the EIB can be found here.
Council of Europe
Wednesday 25 November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Thursday 26 November
Bureau of the Congress and bureaux of the chambers
Agenda to be confirmed.
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.
