CALENDAR / Main activities of european institutions
19/03- 25/03/2018
Monday 19 March
Brussels. Council of the EU, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, * Agriculture: - Adoption of communication on “The future of food and farming” on CAP guidelines after 2020 and scrutiny of joint declaration of the Baltic States and Poland in this respect. * Fisheries: Exchange of views on the regulation on a multiannual plan for demersal species in the Western Mediterranean. – Information on working conditions on board fishing vessels and on the development of freshwater aquaculture after 2020.
Brussels. Council of the EU, Foreign Affairs Council. – Current affairs including on the poisoning of the Russian double agent and his daughter in the United Kingdom. – Ukraine: debriefing on High Representative’s visit to Kiev and latest developments (internal reform, situation in eastern part of the country). – Syria: latest developments in Syria with UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura. – Korean Peninsula: discussion during an informal lunch with the South Korean foreign minister on relations between North and South Korea looking ahead to the summit between the two presidents in April, and on EU support for denuclearisation. – Iran: situation in Iran, including related regional issues (intervention in Syria, Palestine, etc.).
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work (to 22/03). – CONT: discharge vote on draft reports on implementation of 2016 budget (and 20/03). – IMCO: 15th meeting of the working group on the digital single market devoted to combating online misinformation in order to have trust-based digital single market. – FEMM: participation of a delegation to the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (to 21/03).
Tuesday 20 March
Brussels. Council of the EU. General Affairs Council. * Article 50 formation : state of progress in talks on Brexit and preparation of guidelines on the framework for a future relationship with the UK after Brexit, with view to European Council (Article 50 formation). * Normal formation: - Preparation of European Council: scrutiny of draft conclusions and implementation of conclusions of previous summit. – European Semester 2018: report on Council’s contribution to this process. – Examination of draft recommendation on economic policy of eurozone to be forwarded to European Council. – Miscellaneous: information from Commission on situation relating to rule of law in Poland.
Brussels. Different institutions. Tripartite social summit between leaders of institutions and social partners on the theme “Implementation of European pillar of social rights”. Discussion will be on: - strengthened innovation, job creation and social equity in the multiannual financial framework; - the new forms of work: challenges and opportunities for employment and social dialogue; - economic and social convergence to boost growth and resilience.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work. – DEVE: hearing on future EU/ACP relations after expiry of Cotonou Agreement, in 2020, and talks on future EU/ACP agreement.
Luxembourg *Court of Justice of the EU. # Rulings: C-524/15 (Menci), C-537/16 (-incl. Garlsson Real Estate) and Joint Affairs C-596/16 (Di Puma) and C-597/16 (Consob) – Possibility of condemning a person for the same facts to both criminal penalty and administrative penalty. # Conclusions: C-12/17 (Dieu – can calculation of right to annual paid leave depend on duration of parental leave?)
Wednesday 21 March
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of College of Commissioners. – Preparation of European Council on strategies for single market, trade and digital economy (Dombrovskis). – Proposal establishing rules at EU level allowing taxation of profits generated by multinationals through digital economy (Dombrovskis).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Coreper I.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work. – TERR: hearing on protection of rights of victims of terrorism and on failings in relevant legislation. – INTA: public hearing on future EU/United Kingdom trade relations and impact of Brexit on such relations. – PECH: public hearing on interaction between science and management of fishing zones. – DROI-DEVE: Hearing on emergency aid and humanitarian aid: how can this aid contribute to protection of human rights. – IMCO: hearing on “free movement of goods” package recently adopted (proposals of regulation on mutual recognition and on conformity and upholding standards).
Thursday 22 March
Brussels. European Council (and 23/03). – Employment, growth and competitiveness: progress in implementation of digital single market strategy, the plan of action for a capital markets union and energy union. – Priorities for the European Semester 2018 and approval of recommendations concerning eurozone economic policy. – Social issues: implementation of the European base for social rights and future Commission proposal on European Labour Authority (ELA). – Trade: risk of trade war with United States, main free trade agreement suspended. – Taxation in the digital economy. – External relations: conclusions on Western Balkans with view to summit to be held in Sofia in May; recent developments in relations with Turkey; relations with Russia after poisoning in United Kingdom. – Presidency account on implementation of earlier conclusions of European Council.
Brussels. European Committee of the Regions (CoR). 128th plenary session (and 23/03). - Debate on integration of migrants and social cohesion with Commissioner Avramopoulos, Commissioner Hahn and various officials of organisations.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee work. – TERR: hearing on strengthening resilience against terrorism in the EU. – PETI-ENV: public hearing on impact of chemical endocrine disruptors on public health and the environment.
Luxembourg. General Court of the EU: # Ruling: T-140/15 (De Capitani/Parliament – obligation for European Parliament to give access to documents on current co-decision legislative procedures).
Friday 23 March
Brussels. European Council. “Article 50” formation. – Stock taken on state of negotiations on UK’s withdrawal from the EU and adoption of new negotiation guidelines with view to defining an overall concept on future EU/United Kingdom relations to be made formal in a political statement joined to the exit agreement and which should be mentioned therein.
Brussels. European Council. Eurozone Summit (and 23/03). – Long-term development of the Economic and monetary Union and more ambitious proposals in the budgetary and economic field.
Brussels. European Committee of the Regions (CoR). 128th plenary session. Debate on cohesion policy in the next multiannual financial framework with EP rapporteur on MFF, Jan Olbricht. – Ten opinions in total will be adopted during the session.
