Weekly European Agenda | 25/10/2021
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25-31 October 2021
Monday 25 October
- EP: BUDG, CONT, INTA, FEMM, EMPL, AFET, CONT, CULT
- CoM: European Union Military Committee (EUMC)
- EC: Simson delivers the opening speech of the 16th European Sustainable Energy Week
Tuesday 26 October
- EP: INTA, EMPL, CONT, CULT, AFET, ECON, LIBE
- CoM: European Union Military Committee (EUMC)
- CoM: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy)
- EC: Kyriakides speaks at the World Health Summit 2021
- CoR: Conference on the revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
- Presidency: Meeting of Directors- General for Territorial Cohesion
- CoE: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Wednesday 27 October
- EMI: The EU’s Place in the New Geoeconomic Order
- EP: DROI, FEMM, SEDE, DEVE, FISC, JURI, AFCO, LIBE, IMCO
- EC: College meeting
- EC: Horizon 2020 European Green Deal call: results and ambitions for the future
- EC: Timmermans meets the Special Envoy on Climate Change of China
- EESC: European migration forum
- CoR: 3rd Meeting of the CoR-EC Broadband Platform
- EIB: 15 years of Inspectorate General
- CoE: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
- CoE: World Forum for Democracy 2021
Thursday 28 October
- EP: DROI, SEDE, ECON, JURI, CONT, ENVI, IMCO, ITRE, FEMM
- CoM: EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council
- CoM: Informal video conference of economy and finance ministers
- EC: Timmermans participates in the International Trade Union Confederation panel discussion on ‘Addressing the climate crisis: the urgency for a Just transition to a net-zero economy’
- EC: Šuica participates in a high-level exchange with the Network of European Agencies on the Conference on the Future of Europe
- EC: Ferreira delivers a keynote address at the High-Level Conference and Agenda 2030 – ‘Transforming Regions, Changing the World’
- EC: Dalli delivers a keynote speech at the 2021 Gender Equality Index conference
- EESC: European migration forum
- CoR: 10th COTER commission meeting
- Presidency: Informal meeting of Political Directors
- FRA: Conference on ‘Stamping out hate crime and hate speech
- ECB: monetary policy meeting
- CoE: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Friday 29 October
- EC: Gentiloni participates in the Joint G20 Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting
- EESC: The Recovery and Rule of Law – hearing
- Presidency: Informal meeting of Political Directors
- CoE: 18th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies
Saturday 30 October
Sunday 31 October
European Movement International
Wednesday 27 October
The EU’s Place in the New Geoeconomic Order
On Wednesday, 27 October 2021, from 14:00-15:00 CET, the European Movement International, in cooperation with Raiffeisen Bank International, will hold a panel discussion entitled The EU’s Place in the New Geoeconomic Order. Globalisation enables global exchanges of strategic flows such as commodities, data, capital, goods, and services as well as the free movement of people. The transmission corridors, however, are subject to multifold government and non-government interests which can be subject to strategic political influence. Immunising Europe from such influence provides risks and opportunities. By bringing together participants from business, the EU institutions, civil society organisations and trade unions, this 60-minute panel event will be an opportunity to discuss the recent developments and future challenges of the EU’s internal market vis-à-vis the international arena.
More information about the event here.
More information about EMI events can be found here.
Institutional Agendas
European Parliament
Monday 25 October
Committee on Budgets (BUDG) / Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)
Votes: The revision of the Financial Regulation in view of the entry into force of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
Debates: Presentation by the Commission of the legislative proposal on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market.
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Debates: jointly with the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality: gender Equality in EU Foreign and Security Policy: Exchange of views with RONNER-GRUBAČIĆ
Debates: jointly with the Subcommittee on Security and Defence: exchange of debates: views on the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Debates: European Year of Youth 2022; exchange of views with the Commission on the Annual Work Programmes of the three MFF programmes; Gender Equality Week – Exchange of views with the Commission on the promotion of gender equality in the EU funding programmes Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the European Solidarity Corps.
Tuesday 26 October
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
Debates: Access of third-country goods and services to the Union’s internal market in public procurement and procedures supporting negotiations on access of Union goods and services to the public procurement markets of third countries; exchange of views on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Votes: introduction of an European Social Security number with a personal labour card.
Debates: A new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020.
Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)
Votes: the impact of organised crime on own resources of the EU and on the misuse of EU funds with a particular focus on shared management from an auditing and control perspective; evaluation of preventive measures for avoiding corruption, irregular spending and misuse of EU and national funds in case of emergency funds and crisis-related spending area.
Debates: Presentation of the Annual Report concerning financial year 2020.
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Votes: cooperation on fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans.
Debates: exchange of views on the recent developments in Montenegro; exchange of views on the situation in Belarus with SCHUEBEL.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
Votes: legal migration policy and law.
Debates: Asylum and migration management; common procedure for international protection in the Union; implementation of the new architecture for EU information systems for borders, migration and security.
Wednesday 27 October
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
Debate: presentation of the study “Education and employment of women in science, technology and the digital economy, including AI and its influence on gender equality”.
Committee on Development (DEVE)
Votes: The persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion.
Debates: addressing hunger and malnutrition in developing countries; gender dimension in humanitarian crises and responses; The situation in Haiti; access to water in developing countries.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Debates: European Gender Equality Week in the European Parliament; study on “Financing of political structures in EU Member States – How funding is provided to national political parties, their foundations and parliamentary political groups, and how the use of funds is controlled”.
Thursday 28 October
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)/Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)
Votes: disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)/Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) /Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)
Debates: exchange of views with the European Court of Auditors on the Special Report 22/2021: Sustainable finance: More consistent EU action needed to redirect finance towards sustainable investment.
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
Debates: presentation of the study “COVID-19 and its economic impact on women and women’s poverty”.
Votes: equality between women and men in the European Union in 2018-2020
Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.
Council of Ministers
Monday 25 – Tuesday 26 October
European Union Military Committee (EUMC)
The EU chiefs of defence will meet as part of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) to discuss the topics of security and defence.
Tuesday 26 October
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy)
EU energy ministers will hold an extraordinary Energy Council to discuss the issue of rising energy prices in the EU. During this formal Energy Council meeting, EU energy ministers will hold an exchange of views on the Commission’s communication ‘Tackling rising energy prices: a toolbox for action and support’ presented on 13 October, and discuss possible mitigating measures at national and EU level.
Thursday 28 October
EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council
The EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council will hold its sixth meeting. The meeting will be chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, with the Prime Minister, Natalia Gavrilița, leading the delegation of the Republic of Moldova. The Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, will represent the European Commission. The Council will discuss: political dialogue and reform, political association; cooperation and convergence in foreign and security policy; freedom, security and justice; trade and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area; economic and other sectoral cooperation, including energy.
Informal video conference of economy and finance ministers
Economy and finance ministers will discuss the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and exchange views on the recovery and resilience plans for Estonia, Finland and Romania. The plans will subsequently be adopted by written procedure.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 25 October
Simson delivers the opening speech of the 16th European Sustainable Energy Week
Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers the Opening speech of the 16th European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW).
Tuesday 26 October
Kyriakides speaks at the World Health Summit 2021
Commissioner Stella Kyriakides will speak via videoconference at the World Health Summit 2021.
Wednesday 27 October
College meeting
The College meeting will review the Capital Requirements legislation (Basel III).
Horizon 2020 European Green Deal call: results and ambitions for the future
The European Commission is organising this kick-off event to celebrate the projects selected for funding under the Horizon 2020 European Green Deal call. This €1 billion call, the last one under Horizon 2020, will fund projects that will contribute to the EU’s response to the climate crisis and help protect Europe’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity. During the kick-off event on 27 October Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth and her guests will present the political priorities of this call and explain how it will accelerate the achievement of the European Green Deal objectives.
Timmermans meets the Special Envoy on Climate Change of China
Commissioner Frans Timmermans will meet Mr Xie Zhenhua in London, United Kingdom. Mr Zhenhua is the Special Envoy on Climate Change of China.
Thursday 28 October
Timmermans participates in the International Trade Union Confederation panel discussion on ‘Addressing the climate crisis: the urgency for a Just transition to a net-zero economy’
Commissioner Frans Timmermans will take part in the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) panel discussion on ‘Addressing the climate crisis: the urgency for a Just transition to a net-zero economy’.
Šuica participates in a high-level exchange with the Network of European Agencies on the Conference on the Future of Europe
Dubravka Šuica will participate via videoconference in a high-level exchange with the Network of European Agencies on the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Ferreira delivers a keynote address at the High-Level Conference and Agenda 2030 – ‘Transforming Regions, Changing the World’
Elisa Ferreira will deliver a keynote address, via videoconference call, at the High-Level Conference and Agenda 2030 – ‘Transforming Regions, Changing the World’, organized by the Assembly of European Regions (AER).
Dalli delivers a keynote speech at the 2021 Gender Equality Index conference
Helena Dalli will deliver a keynote speech via videoconference at the 2021 Gender Equality Index conference, organized by the European Institute for Gender Equality.
Friday 29 October
Gentiloni participates in the Joint G20 Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting
Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni in Rome, Italy will participate in the Joint G20 Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting.
Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 October
von der Leyen and Gentiloni participate in the G20 Summit
President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni will participate in the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit, in Rome.
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
Wednesday 27- Thursday 28 October
European Migration Forum – 6th meeting
This virtual forum will cover from pandemic to recovery: challenges and best practices in migration management.
Friday 29 October
The Recovery and the Rule of Law
This public hearing will explore how the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation, adopted last year, is taken into account in the ongoing implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Committee of the Regions
Tuesday 26 October
Conference on the revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
The Conference on the revision of the “Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD)” is a side event during the European Week of Regions and Cities. The Commission is reviewing a directive where municipalities and regions are the in first line when it comes to its implementation. The conference will give a variety of perspectives on the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and provide insights into options for the future.
Wednesday 27 October
3rd Meeting of the CoR-EC Broadband Platform
During the Broadband Platform 2021 autumn meeting, European Commission experts and local and regional politicians will virtually gather to discuss challenges and opportunities linked to digital transition and connectivity for cities and regions in Europe. This meeting will focus on the Digital Policy Programme and Digital Principles as well as the links between digital transformation and the Green Deal. It will further provide an overview of Member States’ recovery and resilience plans on connectivity, shed light on the European developments related to 5G and the security dimension, and present the state of play on the European Digital Innovation Hubs network.
Thursday 28 October
10th COTER commission meeting
COTER members are invited, in hybrid, to discuss and vote on the following opinion: The gender dimension of structural and cohesion funds 2021-2027, with a focus on the preparation of the operational programmes, by rapporteur Ms Donatella Porzi (IT/PES). An exchange of views will take place on the following opinion: Towards zero emission road transport: Deploying alternative fuels infrastructure and strengthening CO2 emission performance standards, by rapporteur Mr Adrian Teban (RO/EPP). Members will also have the possibility to participate in a debate on Cohesion as an Overall Value of the EU within the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe , with the participation of Mr Kai Böhme, Spatial Foresight, and Ms Rebecca Harms, member of the CoR High-level group on European democracy.
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.
Slovenian Presidency
Tuesday 26 October
Meeting of Directors-General for Territorial Cohesion
The meeting of the directors-general will be dedicated to discussing the ongoing implementation and communication activities and encouraging additional activities of the Territorial Agenda 2030. The Slovenian Presidency will emphasise the importance of spatial quality of life in spatial development.
Thursday 28 – Friday 29 October
Informal Meeting of Political Directors
The goal of the Informal Meeting of Political Directors of EU member states is the exchange of views on current foreign policy issues related to the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The agenda of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU can be found here.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Thursday 28 October
Conference on ‘Stamping out hate crime and hate speech – Effective responses to hate crimes and hate speech online, and protection of victims’
The FRA Director will participate in a virtual Slovenian Presidency conference on ‘Stamping out hate crime and hate speech’. The conference will gather representatives from the European and international organisations, national authorities, civil society organisations, experts and representatives of IT companies.
Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.
European Central Bank
Thursday 28 October
Monetary policy meeting
Governing Council of the ECB: monetary policy meeting in Frankfurt.
More information about ECB events can be found here.
European Investment Bank
Wednesday 27 October
15 years of Inspectorate General
On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the European Investment Bank’s Inspectorate General is hosting a conference on “Public Accountability. Addressing the major societal challenges ahead of us – including climate change, recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, gender equality, reducing poverty and inequalities – requires us to make public accountability an integral part of our strategy. Participants on high-level panels will exchange views on the importance of public accountability in the EU and in the financial sector, and will discuss how accountability interacts with transparency, integrity, control, and learning. Conference registration is open for virtual participation.
The agenda of the EIB can be found here.
Council of Europe
Tuesday 26 – Thursday 28 October
Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
The Congress will hold debates on the “Post-Covid Recovery”, on the migration challenges, working conditions of elected representatives in times of hate speech and fake news on the internet, on the challenges and opportunities for municipalities presented by home-sharing platforms, on inter-regional and cross-border co-operation, as well as on lifelong education for lifelong employment of young generations.
Wednesday 27 October
Presentation to the press of the World Forum for Democracy 2021
The Council of Europe, the City of Strasbourg, the French government, the Grand Est Region and the European Collectivity of Alsace, will present the programme of the Forum at a press conference. The World Forum for Democracy will bring together intellectuals, politicians, activists, experts and young people from all over the world from 8 to 10 November in Strasbourg to answer the question “Can democracy save the environment?”
Friday 29 October
18th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies
The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe will hold the 18th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) online, operating from the headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. This year the conference is devoted to the “Lessons learned from the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on electoral processes”.
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.