CALENDAR / Main activities of the european institutions
16/04 - 22/04
Monday 16 April
Luxembourg. Council of the EU. ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council. – Syria: adoption of conclusions on the situation on the ground and most recent developments ahead of the second Brussels conference on aid to the region (24-25/04). – Russia: exchange of views on recent developments following the attack in Salisbury and mounting tension between Russia and the countries of the coalition in Syria and on EU/Russia relations in general. – Iran: situation in the country and stock-take on the implementation of the agreement on nuclear as well as Iranian participation in the war in Syria, with the possibility of sanctions. – Western Balkans: preparations for the EU-Western Balkans summit (17/05) on the basis of the strategy proposed by the Commission. – Financing of external action: initial exchange of views on the financing of the external action instruments post-2020.
Luxembourg. Council of the EU. ‘Agriculture and Fisheries’ Council (and 17/04). – Presentation by the Commission of the draft directive on tackling unfair commercial practices in the food supply chain. – Fisheries: debate on the recent Commission proposal to establish a long-term management plan for fisheries in the western waters. – Exchange of views on ways of reducing food waste in the EU: evaluation of progress made since 2016 and requirements for further measures. – Any other business: results of the workshop on the role of wild fauna in the management of animal health and of a conference on African swine fever.
Strasbourg (France). European Parliament. Plenary session (to 19/04). *Debates: #: discussion ‘Greenhouse gas emissions’: - Land use (Lins – ENVI); - Annual binding reductions (Gerbrandy – ENVI). #Common discussion ‘Circular economy’: - Packaging; - End-of-life vehicles; - Waste; - Placing waste into landfill (Bonafé, 4 reports – ENVI); - Procedural rules in reports on the environment (Gambús – ENVI). – Implementation of the seventh action programme for the environment (Sarbu – ENVI). #Common discussion ‘Gender equality in the media’: - Gender equality and the media (Sojdrova – FEMM); - Women’s emancipation in the digital age (Commission – FEMM). – Implementation of the development aid instruments (Guerrero Salom – DEVE). – European strategy to promote protein crops (Denanot – AGRI). – Improving the sustainability of the debt of the LDCs (Goerens – DEVE). – Reinforcing economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU (Joulaud – REGI).
Strasbourg (France). European Parliament. Activities of the committees (to 19/04). – CONT: vote on the appointment of the Secretary General Commission. – BUDG: examination of Belgium’s application to mobilise the EGF for workers made redundant by Caterpillar and other companies.
Tuesday 17 April
Luxembourg. Council of the EU. ‘General Affairs’ Council’. – European Parliament elections: approval of the text to be submitted to the Parliament concerning changes to the electoral law of 1976. – Rule of law: recent developments on the rule of law situation in Poland. – Any other business: presentation by the Commission of its ‘enlargement’ package.
Sofia (Bulgaria). Council of the EU. Informal ‘Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers’ Council (and 18/04). *Employment: - European pillar of social rights: recommendation of the Council on the improvement of qualifications and new employment opportunities for older workers.
Strasbourg (France). European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – Enlargement package (Mogherini). – Security Union (including: a REFIT revision of the regulation on the sales and use of explosives precursors; a REFIT initiative on improving the security of ID cards and residence permits of EU citizens and non-EU members of their family; initiatives aiming to facilitate the cross-border access to financial data and their use by the law enforcement authorities; - an initiative on cross-border access to electronic evidence) (Timmermans). – 14th progress report on the Security Union (Timmermans). - Proposed decisions of the Council on the signature and conclusion of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement treaty (Katainen). - Proposals and decisions of the Council concerning the signature and conclusion of the EU-Singapore trade agreement and on the signature and conclusion of the EU-Singapore agreement on the protection of investments (Katainen). - Initiative on the protection of whistleblowers (Timmermans).
Strasbourg (France). European Parliament. Plenary session. *Debates: - Instruments to support civil society that promote democracy, the rule of law and the values of the EU (Commission). – Debate with Emmanuel Macron on the future of Europe. *Votes: - Reports presented the day before (Denanot, Lins, Gerbrandy, Sarbu, Sojdrova, Guerrero Salom, Goerens, Joulaud); - EU/Lebanon scientific cooperation agreement (Sakorafa – ITRE). – EU/Mauritius fisheries partnership agreement (Nicolai – PECH). – EU/Norway agreement (Beghin – INTA). – Status and financing of the European parties and European political foundations (Bresso, Wieland – AFCO). – Energy performance of buildings (Bendtsen – ITRE). – Emancipation of women and girls in the digital age (Commission). *Debates: - State of progress with global the UN pacts for safe migration and refugees, Situation in Russia, Peace prospects in the Korean Peninsula, Violation of human rights in Turkey (Statements: HR Mogherini). – Implementation of the external financing instruments of the EU (Schaake – AFET). #EU/Australia common discussion: - EU/Australia framework agreement (Millán Mon – AFET). – Annual reports 2015-2016 on subsidiarity and proportionality (Delvaux – JURI).
Luxembourg. *Court of Justice of the EU. #Judgments: - joined cases C-316/16 (B) and C-424/16 (Vomero – to benefit from reinforce protection from removal from the territory, must the person in question hold a permanent residence right of residence?). - C-414/16 (Egenberger - is the requirement for candidates applying for positions within the church to have a specific religion subject to jurisdictional control?). – C-441/17 (Commission/Poland – compliance with EU law of the forestry management decisions made by Poland concerning the Natura 2000 Puszcza Białowieska site). – Joined cases C-195/17 (Krüsemann e.a.), C-197/17 (Neufeldt e.a.), C-198/17 (Wallmann), C-199/17 (Hoffmeyer and Meyer), C-200/17 (de Winder), C-201/17 (Schlosser and Schlosser), C-202/17 (Rebbe e.a.), C-203/17 (Schmeer), C-226/17 (Wittmann), C-228/17 (Wittmann), C-254/17 (Lorenz and Sprecher), C-274/17 (Yüce), C-275/17 (Schoen), C-278/17 (Meyer), C-279/17 (Kiehl), C-280/17 (Eßer), C-281/17 (Schmidt), C-282/17 (Ansorge), C-283/17 (Blesgen), C-284/17 (Künnecke e.a.), C-285/17 (Gentile), C-286/17 (Ossenbeck), C-290/17 (Fell), C-291/17 (Jordan-Grompe e.a.) and C-292/17 (EUflight.de - does a “wildcat strike” in response to restructuring measures constitute an extraordinary set of circumstances relieving an airline of its obligation to provide compensation in the event of the cancellation or considerable delay of flights?).
Wednesday 18 April
Sofia (Bulgaria). Council of the EU. Informal ‘Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers’ Council. *Employment: - European pillar of social rights: active employment market policies concerning young people and the long-term unemployed (helping young NEETs and LTUs into employment).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Coreper I and II.
Strasbourg (France). European Parliament. Plenary session. *Debates: - Conclusions of the European Council of 22 and 23 March (statement European Council and Commission). #Common discussion: Discharge 2016 (53 reports). *Votes: - Setting the election period of the European Parliament (Hübner – AFCO). – Timetable of European Parliament session periods in 2019. – Reports discussed the day before (Millán Mon, Schaake, Delvaux). – Convention of the Council of Europe for the prevention of terrorism + additional protocol (Stevens – LIBE). – Reports discussed on 16/04 (4 reports Bonafé, Gambús). – Appointment of the Secretary General of the Commission (Commission). – Global pact of the UN for safe migration and refugees (Commission). – Reports discussed in the morning on the 2016 discharge (53 reports). *Debates: - Cambridge Analytica and Facebook affair (statements Council and Commission). – Preventing the use of the financial system for purposes of money laundering (Karins – ECON and Sargentini – LIBE). – Supervision of the motor vehicles market (Dalton – IMCO). – Organic production and the labelling of products (Häuslin – AGRI). – Implementation of the provisions of the Treaty concerning the national parliaments (Rangel – AFCO). – Annual competition policy report (Tremosa i Balcells – ECON). – Publication of information concerning the income tax of certain companies and branches (Council – JURI). – Reluctance to vaccinate and reduction in vaccination rates (Council, Commission – ENVI).
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Plenary session (and 19/04). – Election of the new president and of two vice-presidents.
Thursday 19 April
Sofia (Bulgaria). Council of the EU. Informal meeting of the energy ministers. – Sustainable energy union: renewable energy and the decarbonisation of Europe, governance of the Energy Union and regulation on the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators of the member states
Strasbourg (France). European Parliament. Plenary session. *Debates: – Application of the directive on the European protection decision (Post – LIBE and Jimenez-Becerril Barrio – FEMM). – Progress report on the Bologna Process (Commission – CULT).
Brussels. European economic and social committee (EESC). Plenary session. – Discussion and vote on various opinions, including: - Economic and social cohesion and integration of the Western Balkans. – LeaderSHIP 2020 (maritime technology industry); - Financing of the European pillar of social rights. – EMU package. – VAT reform package. – Analysis of FDI in the EU. – Social action plan 2017-2019 (tackling the gender pay gap). – EU framework for effective and quality learning. – Achieving the low-emissions mobility targets. – Reinforcing the European energy networks. – Third report on the state of the Energy Union. – Cases of violations of human rights: Belarus, Philippines, Gaza Strip. *Votes: - Reports on questions discussed the day before and that morning (Karins, Sargentini, Dalton, Häusing, Rangel, Tremosa i Balcells, Post, Jimenez Becerril Barrio, cases of violations of human rights, Bologna Process, Vaccination). – Normal minimum VAT rate (Gualtieri – ECON). – Forecasts of revenue and expenditure for 2019 budget (Rübig - BUDG). – Employment policy guidelines (Mitrofanovs – EMPL). – Protection for investigative journalist in Europe (resolution). – Case of two Greek soldiers held in Turkey (resolution). Instrument the European values (resolution).
Luxembourg. *Court of Justice of the EU. #Judgment: - C-645/16 (CMR –right of entitlement of commercial agents to compensation and damages if the agency contract is cancelled during the trial period). #Conclusions: - joined cases C-84/17 P (Société des produits Nestlé/Mondelez UK Holdings & Services), C-85/17 P (Mondelez UK Holdings & Services/EUIPO), C-95/17 P (EUIPO/Mondelez UK Holdings & Services - maintaining the 3-D shape corresponding to the product “four-finger KitKat” as an EU mark).
