Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work (until 27/04). – AFET-DEVE-BUDG: joint vote on report on proposal for a European Sustainable Development Fund (ESDF) and ESDF Guarantee Fund. – LIBE: debate on tackling cybercrime in connection with preparation of a non-legislative report on risks of fundamental rights relating to cybersecurity and cybercrime; examination of Europol’s 2017 report on threats related to organised crime. – PECH: hearing on progress in implementation of landing requirements and sharing of quotas by the member states.
Bratislava (Slovakia). Annual conference of president of the European Parliament and speakers of member states’ parliaments, attended by speakers of candidate country parliaments as observers (until 25/04).
Tuesday 25 April
Luxembourg. Council of the EU. General Affairs Council. – Progress report on draft regulation simplifying rules for Structural and Investment Funds (the ‘omnibus’ regulation). – Discussion about how to bring Cohesion Policy closer to EU citizens; - Conclusions document on implementation of the EU’s macro-regional strategies.
Valletta (Malta). Council of the EU. Informal meeting of environment ministers (also 26/05). – Adapting to climate change: upcoming assessment by European Commission of the EU’s adjustment strategy and likelihood of amendments to national adaptation plans. – Protection of the seas: interaction with climate and environment policies to protect the marine environment. – Tackling marine pollution via plastic waste in the circular economy.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work. – REGI: vote on opinion on financial rules applying to EU general budget (‘omnibus’ regulation) and a non-legislative report on future prospects for technical assistance in the Cohesion Policy; assessment of outcome of Forum of Outermost Regions. – DEVE: vote on an oral question on resilience as an EU strategic priority; examination of reports on the growth of famine in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen; - discussion about the partnership agreement with Cuba. – EMPL: discussion about amendments to reports on review of the founding regulations for CEDEFOP, Eurofound and the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work (EU-OSHA); examining the Court of Auditors’ report on the Youth Employment Initiative. – FEMM: hearing on ‘Women, gender equality and climate justice.’ – ECON: public hearing on sovereign investment funds; hearing on new package for updating bank legislation. – LIBE: hearing on ‘online and offline sexual abuse and exploitation of children, time to act.’
Wednesday 26 April
Valletta (Malta). Council of the EU. Informal meeting of environment ministers
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. European social rights pillar and initiatives on access to social protection for all; review of directive on written statements, implementation of working time directive and balancing work and private life. Reflection document on social dimension of Europe for 2025 ahead of a white paper on the subject. – Single Market: conformity package. – Interpretative communication on access to justice (implementing European environment legislation). – Glyphosate: state of play.
Brussels. Council of the EU. COREPER I and II.
Brussels. European Parliament. Plenary session (also 27/04). *Debates: - Situation in Hungary (Commission); - Turkey: situation following referendum on the constitution (HR F. Mogherini); - Decision on European social rights floor and balancing work and private life (Commission); - Programme of support for structural reform for 2017-2020 (van Nistelrooij, Krehl – REGI); - European Year of Cultural Heritage (Diaconu – CULT); - Joint discussion on 2015 discharge (52 reports); - Management of fishing fleet in outermost regions (Rodust – PECH); - EU flagship initiative for clothing sector (Caldentey – DEVE); - Presentation of report on state of play in farm concentration in the EU (Noichl – AGRI).
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work. – DEVE: event commemorating the Rana Plaza tragedy ‘How to create a fair and sustainable supply chain in the clothing sector.’
Luxembourg. * European Court of Justice. #Rulings: - C-527/15 (Stichting Brein – Does the sale of a multimedia reader allowing TV screens to be seen of protected work from streaming sites without author’s authorisation violate author’s rights?); - C-620/15 (A-Rosa Flussschiff – lawfulness of refusal by a member state to recognise an A1 certificate (eg the 101 form for workers posted abroad) issued by another member state); - C672/15 (Noria Distribution – Lawfulness of ban by a member state on imports of food supplements sold in other member states when the product contains a nutrient in quantities above those allowed in the first country).
Thursday 27 April
Valletta (Malta). Council of the EU. Informal meeting of defence ministers. – Discussions on strengthening of member states’ defence capabilities and possibilities for boosting the Common Security and Defence Policy: the EU’s overall strategy, relations with the UN and NATO, the EU’s military mission.
St. Julian’s (Malta). Union for the Mediterranean. Ministerial meeting of UfM countries’ water ministers. – Ministerial declaration on the common UfM agenda for water security in the Mediterranean.
Brussels. European Parliament. Plenary session. *Debates: - Annual reports of the EIB (Kytsos – ECON and Ali – CONT); - Progress in the second review of the economic adjustment programme for Greece (statement by head of Eurogroup). *Voting: Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Tarand – CONT); - Minamata convention on mercury (Eck – ENVI); - Hybrid measures for intervention of third countries (Ludvigsson – ECON); - Denmark-Europol cooperation agreement (Diaz de Mera – LIBE); - Support for specific activities in financial information and auditing (Stolojan – ECON); - EU’s programme to encourage consumer participation in elaboration of policies in financial services domain (Lamberts – ECON); - The EU trademark (Zwiecka – JURI); - Implementation of waste directive for the extractive industry (Hölvényi – ENVI); - The EIB’s financial activities (see above); - Reports discussed the previous day (see above); - Situation in Venezuela: draft resolutions).
Brussels. European Commission. Adoption of monthly infringement package.
Luxembourg. * European Court of Justice. #Conclusions: - C-168/16 (Nogueira et al) and C-169/16 Moreno Osacar – Which member state’s law covers air hostess and steward work contracts?); - C-186/16 (Andriuciuc et al – Is a clause in a lending contract foreseeing the reimbursement of the loan in the currency in which the loan was made abusive?)
Friday 28 April
Valletta (Malta). Council of the EU. Informal meeting of foreign ministers (Gymnich). – Discussion about major international issues and subjects of common interest with candidate country foreign ministers.
Brussels. Council of the EU. COREPER I.
Saturday 29 April
Brussels. European Summit. Special meeting of heads of state or government.- Adoption of guidelines for Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom (Art. 50).
