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News > Weekly European Agenda | 24/02/2020

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secretariat European Movement International

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  • 23rd February 2020 - 18:32 UTC
Weekly European Agenda

Weekly European Agenda | 24/02/2020

24 February – 1 March, 2020

Monday 24 February

Tuesday 25 February

Wednesday 26 February

Thursday 27 February

Friday 28 February

Saturday 29 February

Institutional Agendas

European Parliament

24-25 February

LIBE Committee Delegation in Poland
A delegation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will visit the Frontex headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. The aim is to get an overview of the activities of the agency, better understand the challenges it is facing in implementing the Regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard, and discuss its operational activities and resources. Frontex helps manage the external borders of the EU and Schengen countries and harmonise border controls.

24-26 February

IMCO Committee Delegation in Italy
A delegation of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection will go to Rome, Italy to examine the goods market and go over policy needs resulting from unfair competition from third country producers. The delegation will meet national and local government representatives and local producers to see how to ensure the safety of products circulating in the EU and provide correct information to the consumers.

PETI Committee Delegation in Bulgaria
A delegation of MEPs from the Committee on Petitions will visit Bulgaria on a fact-finding visit. Members of the delegation will meet petitioners in Sofia along with the responsible state authorities, professional associations, consumer protection organisations and the Bulgarian Ombudsman to discuss issues related to the banking system and private enforcement agents.

24-28 February

LIBE Committee Delegation in the USA
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will send a delegation to the USA to go over issues related to EU-US relations in the area of Justice and Home Affairs, including: data protection and trends in State/Federal privacy laws; the EU-US Privacy Shield; digital privacy and electronic communications; the US e-evidence law; counterterrorism, PNR and AI in law enforcement; and justice and fundamental rights.

26-28 February

CONT Committee Delegation in Prague
A delegation of six Members of European Parliament, led by Budgetary control committee chair Monika Hohlmeier (EPP,DE) will travel to Prague to asess the distribution of EU funds. In order to follow up on reports on possible systemic deficiencies in distribution of the EU funds in Czech Republic, MEPs from the EP Budgetary Control committee assess how the legality, regularity and transparency of EU spending is ensured in the country.

Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.

Council of Ministers

Tuesday 25 February

General Affairs Council
Ministers will start preparations for the European Council on 26-27 March by discussing an annotated draft agenda. The Council will discuss the next steps in the EU-UK relationship; new enlargement methodology put forward by the Commission; the multiannual financial framework; and the horizontal rule of law mechanism.

Wednesday 26 February

COREPER I & II

27-28 February

Competitiveness Council
On the first day the focus will be on internal market and industry, with discussions delving into the European Green Deal, better regulation, and the 2019 Single Market Performance report. On the second day the focus will shift towards research, with the agenda including topics such as the strategic innovation agenda of the EIT, as well as international cooperation in research and innovation.

An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.

European Commission and High Representative

Monday 24 February

Commissioner Simson attends 102nd Anniversary of Estonia event
Kadri Simson will attend a reception hosted by the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, to mark the 102nd Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

Commissioner Wojciechowski visits Paris
Janusz Wojciechowski will be in France, to participate in the Salon International de l’Agriculture (SIA); meet representatives of the French Dairy Interbranch Organization (CNIEL); meet representatives of the French Interprofessional Pork Council (INAPORC); and attend a dinner organised by the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions of France (FNSEA).

Tuesday 25 February

Commissioner Gentiloni meets with Ambassador Chizhov
Paolo Gentiloni will meet with Vladimir Chizhov, the Ambassador of Russia to the EU.

Commissioner Dalli receives civil society representatives
Helena Dalli will meet with representatives from CONCORD Europe, EUROCITIES, and Social Platform.

Commissioner Ferreira meets with political representatives of the EMA
Elisa Ferreira will meet with political representatives of the European metropolitan areas – EMA Network (Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Métropole de Lyon, Porto Metropolitan Area, Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Bilbao, GZM Metropolia (Katowice), Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area).

Wednesday 26 February

College Meeting

Commissioners Lenarčič and Urpilainen in Burkina Faso
Janez Lenarčič and Jutta Urpilainen will be in Ouagadougou, to meet the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, and the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Christophe Joseph Marie Dabi.

Commissioner Reynders receives Wiewiorowski
Didier Reynders to meet with Wojciech Wiewiorowski, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).

Thursday 27 February

Joint EU-AU Meeting
President Ursula von der Leyen, together with the College of Commissioners, participates in the 10th Commission-to-Commission meeting with Members of the African Union Commission.

Commissioner Kyriakides meets with health and food representatives
Stella Kyriakides will meet with representatives of Compassion in World Farming, as well as of COPA-COGECA (European Farmers-European Agri-Cooperatives). She will also meet with Christopher Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health of Malta.

Commissioner Várhelyi in Prague and Budapest
Olivér Várhelyi will be in Czechia to attend the Ministerial meeting of the Visegrad 4 countries and the six Western Balkan partners. He will also travel to Budapest to deliver a speech at the conference of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) at the Andrassy University.

Friday 28 February

Commissioner Gentiloni at European Fiscal Board Conference
Paolo Gentiloni will deliver the opening speech at the European Fiscal Board Conference “Rethinking the European Fiscal Framework”.

Commissioner Sinkevičius meets Minister Nuredini
Virginijus Sinkevičius will meet Naser Nuredini, Minister for Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Commissioner Vestager in Kenya
Margrethe Vestager will be in Nairobi, to meet with key interlocutors on digital cooperation; visit EU-supported projects in innovation and digitisation; and deliver a keynote address at the Strathmore University.

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 24 February

Coordinated services for active and healthy ageing
The aim of this debate is to promote the conclusions of the opinion CCMI/165 on “Economic, Technological and social Changes in advanced health services for the elderly”. Raising awareness that older generations of Europeans need urgently a homogeneous and coordinated treatment of their living conditions should be a priority in “aging policies” both at local and European level. Civil society representatives of the sector coming from various EU member states will be invited to confront and compare their local situation.

Tuesday 25 February

ECI Day 2020: Today and Beyond
The 2020 (ninth) edition will be marked by a major development, which is the entry into force of the new Regulation introducing substantial improvements and simplifications to the ECI procedure. However, the conference will go beyond the text of the Regulation and present a more global view of citizens’ participation in general, with a view to putting the ECI in the context of topical societal developments and the debate on the Future of Europe.

Wednesday 26 February

Shaping the EU agenda for disability rights 2020-2030
The aim of the conference is to present the EESC’s proposal for the new strategy at a crucial moment in the EU landscape. With a new European Commission, a new European Parliament and a new budget programming period, it is now the perfect timing for a new Disability Strategy that fully takes into account the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCPRD), the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

6th meeting of the EU-Georgia Civil Society Platform
During the meeting, a debate will be held assessing the state of play of the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. Constitutional reform in Georgia and occupational safety and health at workplace will also be discussed.

Thursday 27 February

Human Rights and Migration: The role of Trade Unions
The Workers’ Group is organising an extraordinary meeting in Syracuse, Sicily, to discuss with local and regional actors, Trade Unionists and civil society members the most pressing issues and challenges with regard to migration, in terms of fundamental rights, integration, but also labour exploitation, mafia involvement, and other illegal practices.

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 24 February

SEDEC Commission Meeting

Wednesday 26 February

CIVEX Commission Meeting

Thursday 27 February

ENVE Commission Meeting

ENVE Stakeholders – Towards a Roadmap for Clean Hydrogen
CoR is drafting an Opinion on “Towards a Roadmap for Clean Hydrogen – the contribution of local and regional authorities to a climate-neutral Europe”. To discuss the topic of the opinion, the Rapporteur Ms Birgit HONÉ (DE/PES), Minister for Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development of the State of Lower Saxony calls upon ENVE stakeholders for a consultation.

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.

Croatian Presidency

Monday 24 February

EIT Awareness Day
The holding of EIT Awareness Day will enable Croatian business, scientific and other communities to learn about EIT work and about the possibilities for joining this EU innovation system. The aforementioned event during CRO PRES gives an opportunity to promote the Republic of  Croatia in the context of strengthening  innovation systems and positioning Croatia as a country of innovations.

25-26 February

NTCCP & UDG Informal Meeting
Informal Meeting of the Network of Territorial Cohesion Contact Points and Urban Development Group.

27-28 February

International Sport Seminar: “Why Does European Sport Need Skilled and Competent Coaches?”

Fostering European Cooperation for Cultural Heritage at Risk
Conference “Strengthening European Cooperation for the Protection of Cultural Heritage from Risk” In cooperation with the City of Dubrovnik, the Ministry of Culture is organizing an international expert conference on strengthening European co-operation in risk management in cultural heritage.

The agenda of the Croatian Presidency can be found here.

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

25-26 February

EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter Workshop
FRA and Equinet will join forces to host a workshop on the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter. More than 30 legal experts from Equality Bodies across the EU will discuss how to increase awareness about and the application of the Charter. Charter-related topics will cover equality and non-discrimination, asylum and migration, Artificial Intelligence and Charter Conditionality in European Structural and Investment Funds.

Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.

European Investment Bank

Thursday 27 February

EIB-UN-Habitat Africa Day 2020: Cities for People
Hosted by the EIB and UN-Habitat in Dakar, Africa Day 2020 will be an agenda-setting event and networking platform for African and European representatives from national and local governments, commercial banks and development institutions, urban planners, CEOs and CFOs, members of academic institutions, NGOs and the civil society.

Investment and Investment finance in Bulgaria
The conference will focus on investment needs and priorities for Bulgaria, bringing together a group of local economists, policymakers, as well as representatives from financial institutions and the business community in Bulgaria. The discussions will consider corporate investment and finance in the age of digitalisation and automation and at a time of high economic uncertainty and slowing external demand.

The agenda of the EIB can be found here.

Council of Europe

Tuesday 25 February

Egypt – National Human Rights Council
The Venice Commission in cooperation with the National Human Rights Council of Egypt organises a conference on “Open government”. This is the first Conference ever organised together with the National Human Rights Council of Egypt. General principles of open government, civic participation, the role of the judiciary, of the administration and of the Ombudsman are on the agenda.

Thursday 27 February

Environment and human rights: towards a right to a healthy environment?
The Georgian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will organise a conference on Thursday 27 February in Strasbourg on the protection of the environment from a human rights perspective. The conference, which will be attended by ministers and high-level representatives of the Organisation’s 47 member countries, aims to examine the potential of the Council of Europe’s work in the human rights field for tackling the environmental emergency and identifying ways of helping European governments to take up the challenge.

Friday 28 February

From the Future to the Past: A Living Civic Space for Living Democracy
To mark World NGO Day, the Conference of INGOs will organise a seminar on “From the Future to the Past: A Living Civic Space for Living Democracy”. The seminar will gather representatives of independent human rights groups, think tanks, civil society, media and other international organisations like the UN and the EU. They will assess key challenges to democracy and human rights facing Europe today – and how NGOs and civil society can best face these challenges.

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.

Elections

Saturday 29 February

Slovak Parliamentary Elections
Slovakia goes to the polls on Saturday to elect a new parliament – Voters will elect the 150 members of Slovakia’s National Council. In 2016, Prime Minister Robert Fico’s center-left Direction-Social Democracy (Smer-SD) party finished first, but a severely divided electorate sent eight very different parties to parliament, including two far-right ones.

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