CALENDAR / Main activities of the european institutions
20/03-26/03
Monday 20 March
Brussels. Council of Ministers. Eurogroup. – Declaration on the implementation of the budgetary plans of the member states and the budgetary situation in the Eurozone. – Discussion on the pension regimes of the member states of the Eurozone and the possibility of comparing performances in this area (creating indicators and regularity of data). – Greece: stock-take since February on the second review of the macro-economic adjustment programme of Greece. – Discussion on the communication by the member states of the Eurozone of information on their annual debt issuance plans.
Brussels. European Parliament. Activities of the committees (to 23/03). – REGI: vote on the non-legislative report on the correct combination of instruments to finance the cohesion policy. – BUDG-ECON: debate on the prolongation and reinforcement of the EFSI (EFSI 2.0). – ENVI: discussion on the report on the proposal on land-use change, land-use and forestry. – DEVE: public hearing on the conditionality of aid. – AFCO: public hearing on the development of a European 'demos'.
Tuesday 21 March
Brussels. Council of Ministers. 'Economic and Financial Affairs' Council. – VAT: debate on the possibility of applying a reduced rate to electronic publications; discussion on the proposal for a reverse-charge mechanism to help prevent fraud. – European Semester: examination of the country-by-country reports on the economic situation of each member state, the necessary structural reforms and progress made. – G20 Finance: examination of the results of the meeting in Baden-Baden on 17-18/03. – Any other business: legislative proposals underway on financial services, implementation of legislation in this field and action plan for defence (European Defence Fund).
Brussels. European Parliament. Celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. Event: 'Parliament of the Citizens': citizens from throughout the EU will be able to hold discussions between themselves and with President Antonio Tajani on the future of the EU in the hemicycle of the Parliament.
Brussels. European Parliament. Activities of the committees. – REGI: vote on additional assistance to the member states affected by natural disasters; discussion with Vice-President Katainen on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). – IMCO: vote on new rules giving the national authorities greater powers to fight geo-blocking and online fraud. – DEVE: adoption of the report on a key EU initiative for the apparel industry (protection of textiles and clothing workers throughout the world). – IMCO: public hearing on the proposed directive establishing the European electronic communications code. – AFET: public hearing on the relations of the EU with Latin American and the Caribbean.
Wednesday 22 March
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – Single market strategy: empowering the national competition authorities to apply decisions more effectively. – Capital Markets Union: action plan for retail financial services.
Brussels. Council of Ministers. Coreper I and II
Brussels. European Parliament. Activities of the committees. – SEDE: debate with experts on the implications for the EU of the new US security and defence policy. – CULT: hearing on the results of the programme PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2015 of the OECD. – LIBE: debate with Vice-President Timmermans on the ongoing investigation concerning respect for the rule of law in Poland. – JURI-EMPL: hearing on a "Social and Solidarity Economy" status for companies. – SEDE-AFET: hearing on tensions in the South China Seas. – TRAN: hearing on a European strategy for low-emissions mobility. – DROI: Workshop to discuss a common EU position on the use of armed drones. – ITRE: public hearing on the subject "Clean energy for all Europeans", following the presentation of the legislative package of the same name by the European Commission. – PECH: hearing on the subject "Management of fishing activities in the Natura 2000 zones".
Thursday 23 March
Brussels. European Parliament. Activities of the committees. – JURI: vote on the legislative project to facilitate access to writings for the visually impaired.
Friday 24 March
Norcia (Italy). European Parliament. To mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, a special meeting of the Conference of the Presidents and the Bureau of the EP in Norcia, in the region hit by earthquakes, with the Italian Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni. V
Rome (Italy). Meeting of the Presidents of the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament with Pope Francis.
Brussels. Council of Ministers. Coreper I.
Saturday 25 March
Rome. European Council. Meeting of the heads of state or government of the EU to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. Adoption of a declaration on the future of the EU.
