CALENDAR / Main activities of the european institutions
17/12 - 23/12/2018
Monday 17 December
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Agriculture and Fisheries Council (and 18/12). *Agriculture: - Future of the CAP: progress under the Austrian Presidency on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy Reform Package. - Bio-economy: discussion on the EU strategy for the bio-economy, recently updated by the Commission (Hungary will present the conclusions of the BIOEAST conference). - Other: Commission report on the November conference on plant protein development; damage to forests due to fires in the autumn; follow-up to the 2017 Fipronil crisis in the poultry sector; establishment of an international centre in Copenhagen for solutions to antimicrobial resistance; outcome of an interparliamentary conference in Croatia on the role of parliaments in the future of agriculture. *Fisheries (and 18/12): negotiations to reach agreement on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2019 in Atlantic, Channel and North Sea waters.
Brussels. Council of the European Union. EU/Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Council. - Status of EU-Kosovo relations (political criteria, economic criteria, financial cooperation, implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement) - Developments in the Western Balkans region.
Brussels. Council of the European Union. EU-Ukraine Association Council. - Status of EU-Ukraine bilateral relations in the framework of the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy. - Review of progress in the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and reforms in Ukraine (rule of law, fight against corruption and energy issues. - Economic situation (business development and investment climate. - Bilateral trade and implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). - Discussion between HR Federica Mogherini and Ukrainian Prime Minister Groysman on the situation in eastern Ukraine, the Azov Sea, the implementation of the Minsk agreements and regional issues.
Brussels. European Parliament. Commission activities (to 20/12). - IMCO: sending a mission to Greece to inquire about the country's priorities in its field of competence (to 19/12). - FEMM: Sending a mission to Rome and Naples to examine two main problems: the abuse of the conscientious objection clause to deny the right to sexual and reproductive health and the situation of migrant women victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation (to 19/12). - PETI: Sending a mission to Valledora (Italy) to investigate several quarries and landfills in Piedmont that could pollute surface and groundwater (17-18/12). - INTA: Delegation to Chile to discuss the implementation of the trade provisions of the EU-Chile Association Agreement (18-20/12).
Tuesday 18 December
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Agriculture and Fisheries Council. *Fisheries (see above).
Brussels. Council of the European Union. EU/Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council. - Update on EU/Serbia bilateral relations. - Progress in the accession process (16 chapters negotiated, 2 closed) on the basis of the Commission's report. - Status of implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. - Situation in the Western Balkans and relations with neighbouring states (Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, etc.)
Brussels. Council of the European Union. PSC.
Wednesday 19 December
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council. *Energy: - Climate: debate on the EU's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. - Clean energy: progress on the clean energy package (regulations on risk preparedness in the electricity sector, governance of the energy union, energy efficiency and renewable energy directives), legislation on the internal electricity market and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER); presentation by the Commission of its communication "A clean planet for all: a long-term strategic European vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy". - Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) after the general approach of the Transport Council on 03/12. - Other: revision of the Gas Directive; follow-up to the 'Hydrogen Initiative'; EU activities in marine energy; developments in external relations in the field of energy. - Presentation of the Romanian Presidency's work programme in the field of energy.
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Coreper I and II.
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. - Communication on visa reciprocity (Timmermans). - Report on the Visa Suspension Mechanism (TBC) (Timmermans). - Report on the second annual evaluation of the Privacy Shield personal data protection scheme agreed between the United States and the European Union (Timmermans). - Proposals on the possibility of Brexit (Juncker). - Visit of the President of the Greek Republic, Mr Pavlopoulos, to the Commission.
Thursday 20 December
Brussels. Council of the European Union. 'Environment' Council. - LIFE: Partial general approach on the new LIFE programme for the period 2021-2027. - Emissions: examination of the proposal for a regulation on CO2 emission standards for lorries and buses; debate on the long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (8 scenarios considered by the Commission). - Miscellaneous: information by the Presidency on the Single-Use Plastics Directive and the Regulation on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans.
Brussels. Council of the European Union. EU-Egypt Association Council. (at the time of going to press, the agenda had not reached us).
Friday 21 December
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Coreper I.
