CALENDAR / Main activities of the european institutions
21/05 - 27/05
Tuesday 22 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council. *Development: - Exchange of views on the EU emergency trust fund for Africa. – State of progress with a view to opening negotiations on the future EU/ACP partnership. – External aid budget in the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027. – Exchange of views on initiatives to promote gender equality and women’s rights in the framework of cooperation. *Trade: - Adoption of a decision to open free-trade agreement negotiations with Australia and New Zealand with the corresponding negotiating mandates for the Commission. – Adoption of conclusions on the new architecture of trade agreements. – Challenges facing the multilateral trading system and results of the 11th ministerial conference of the WTO. – Exchange of views on trade agreements with Japan and Singapore. – Recent developments in EU/United States trade relations (American duty on iron and imported aluminium, etc.).
Brussels. Council of the EU. ‘Education, Youth, Culture and Sport’ Council (and 23/05). *Education: - Guideline debate on the potential of universities for regional growth and the development of entrepreneurship and innovation skills. – Adoption of recommendations on life-long education and training and the promotion of common values, inclusive education and the European dimension of education. *Youth: - Working lunch given over to the “restructuring of structured dialogue” and debate on the future priorities of the European youth policy. – Adoption of conclusions on the role of young people in building a ‘secure, cohesive and harmonious society’ and facing demographic challenges in the EU.
Wednesday 23 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. ‘Education, Youth, Culture and Sport’ Council. *Culture: Guideline debate on a long-term vision of the contribution of culture to the EU after 2020. – Adoption of conclusions on the need to highlight the cultural heritage in EU policies. *Sport: - Discussion on the future of club competitions and national team competitions, to be attended by the Chairman of UEFA. – Adoption of conclusions on the promotion of the common values of the EU through sport. – Guideline debate on the commercial exploitation of high-level support and the viability of the European model of sport.
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – Spring package of the ‘European Semester’ (including the 2018 country-specific recommendations) (Dombrovskis). – ‘Capital Markets Union’ package (including sustainable financing measures, fiduciary obligations and taxonomy, small listed EU companies and revision of the directive on ‘civil liability’ insurance for the use of motor vehicles (Dombrovskis/Katainen). – Enabling framework for the development of EU sovereign bond-backed securities (Dombrovskis). – 2018 convergence report (Dombrovskis). – Reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (Timmermans/Katainen). – Proposed regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the re-use of wastewater (Timmermans/Katainen). - Introduction of a production dispensation under the complimentary protection certificate for medical products (Katainen). – Draft 2019 budget (Juncker and Oettinger). – Proposed decision of the Council concerning the data protection rules for missions and operations under the European Common Security and Defence Policy (Mogherini). – Amendment to the OLAF regulation (Oettinger).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Council of the European Economic Area. – Informal political dialogue with EFTA states that are also members of the EEA on the consequences of Brexit for the EEA agreement and EU/Western Balkans relations. – Functioning of the EEA agreement. – Guideline debate on the re-examination of the European supervisory authorities. – Adoption of conclusions on: cooperation within the EEA; energy and climate change; financial mechanisms; controls on capital; EU programmes; the inclusion of EU acts of interest to the EEA; agricultural trade. -
Brussels. Council of the EU. Coreper I and II.
Brussels. European Parliament. Activities of the committees. – BUDG: presentation of the 2019 budget by Commissioner Oettinger (Budget).
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). 535th plenary session (and 24/05). Drafting of opinions, including: - CAP reform and opinion on the future of food and farming.
Thursday 24 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. Eurogroup. – Greece. – Eurozone Reform (Banking Union, ESM).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Coreper II.
Brussels. European Parliament. Activities of the committees (to 31/08). – EMPL: discussion with Commissioners Dombrovskis and Thyssen in the framework of the structured dialogue; workshop on creating a European Employment Authority with Commissioner Thyssen and Commission experts. – TRAN: vote on the raft of measures on mobility (taxation of heavy goods vehicles, road tolls, hired vehicles in goods transport) and the promotion of clean vehicles. – ECON-AFCO: changes to the statutes of the ESCB and of the ECB (art.22). – AFCO: examination of amendments to the new legislative proposal concerning the organisation of European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECI). – LIBE: vote on the resolution on whether or not the protection offered by the EU-United States Privacy Shield (protection private data) is adequate; vote on the reports on the remaining provisions of the Schengen acquis for the SIS in Bulgaria and Romania; vote on the EU-Switzerland and EU-Iceland agreements on additional rules on the financial support fund for the external borders and visas.
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). 535th plenary session (and 24/05). Commemoratives session to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the EESC (24/05).
Friday 25 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. ‘Economic and Financial Affairs’ Council. – Banking Union: approval of measures to reduce risks in the banking sector (rules on equity and the recovery of banks in difficulties and resolution of their defaults). – In-depth examination of the macro-economic imbalances and projection for expenditure related to the ageing population of the EU. – VAT: approval of measures to reinforce administrative cooperation in VAT matters; possible agreement on reduced rates for electronic publications and an optional reverse-charge mechanism to prevent fraud. – Taxation: amendment of the list of non-cooperative countries and territories in taxation matters; approval of a standard provision for taxation matters to be included in agreements entered into with third countries. – Adoption of directives making the minimum normal VAT rate in force permanent and reinforcing the transparency of tax intermediaries.
