21/01 - 27/01/2019

Monday 21 January

Brussels. Council of the European Union. Foreign Affairs Council. – Current topics: Venezuela, DR Congo, etc. – Disinformation: discussion on the implementation of the Action Plan against Disinformation presented by the Commission in December. – EU/Arab League: preparatory discussion for the EU/Arab League Ministerial Meeting on 4/02 and the Summit between the two parties in Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) on 24-25/02. – EU/ASEAN: discussion on the meeting to be held on the same day in Brussels (see below).
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Eurogroup. *Normal format: – European Semester: Consideration of the draft Council Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area for 2019 to be approved by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council on 22/01. – Discussion on the international role of the euro on the basis of the Commission's communication of December 2018 on the subject. – ECB: Launch of the appointment process for the bank's new Executive Board. – Presentation by Pierre Gramegna of the priorities of the new Luxembourg government. *Inclusive format (for Twenty-Seven): – Exchange of views on the follow-up to the December 2018 Euro Summit calling for a strengthening of EMU. – Exchange of views on the opening of political negotiations on the creation of a European Deposit Guarantee Scheme (EDIS) and on the budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area and ERM II Member States (EU Exchange Rate Mechanism). – Miscellaneous: possibly, discussion on the Italian budgetary trajectory and the situation of Italian banks.
Brussels. Council of the European Union. EU-African Union Ministerial Meeting (and 22/01). – Cooperation between the two sides in the political (peace, security, governance), economic (trade, investment, economic integration) and multilateral (rules-based world order) fields. – Discussion on the implementation of the results of the 5th EU/AU Summit in November 2018 in Abidjan.
Brussels. Council of the European Union. EU/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. – Cooperation on regional and international issues (climate, strengthening of the rules-based multilateral system). – Recent developments in both regions. – Status of relations between the two areas and efforts towards a strategic partnership. – Enhanced cooperation on connectivity and priorities for 2019 (cooperation on security and counter-terrorism, international crime, maritime security and cybercrime)
Brussels. European Parliament. Commission activities (through 25/01). – COMMISSIONS: start of the meetings of the different commissions with the Romanian Presidency of the Council to discuss its priorities in the respective areas of competence.

Tuesday 22 January

Brussels. Council of the European Union. Economic and Financial Affairs Council. – InvestEU: Review of the InvestEU programme to support investment, innovation and job creation, including the 14 instruments currently available in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. – European semester: adoption of the conclusions on the Commission's Annual Growth Review and on the situation in the various Member States as well as the recommendation on economic policies in the euro area. – Relations between euro area and non-euro area countries in budgetary and financial matters. – Financial supervision: state of play of the ongoing negotiations on the revision of the current financial supervision architecture (including the Commission's proposal to separate the provisions on the EBA's new powers to combat money laundering from the rest of the reform of the three ESAs). – Other: follow-up to the Eurozone Summit in December 2018, which defined the main aspects of EMU reform; presentation of the work programme of the Romanian Presidency of the Council in the economic and financial field.
Brussels. European Parliament. Commission activities. – IMCO: vote on the report on the legislative proposal to strengthen and modernise consumer protection rules; public hearing on harmonisation as a principle of single market legislation and essential for EU competitiveness (two panels). – ENVI: vote on the report on the legislative proposal establishing basic requirements for the reuse of treated wastewater. – REGI: vote on the report on the proposal for a regulation on common provisions for the period 2021-2027; vote on the opinion on the discharge to the Commission on the EU budget for 2017.
Luxembourg. * EU Court of Justice. #Rulings: C-193/17(Cresco Investigation – Possible discriminatory nature of national legislation which grants a public holiday only to workers of a certain faith and a wage supplement if he works on that day).

Wednesday 23 January

Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – Adequacy decision by Japan (Timmermans). – Report on citizenship and residence regimes for investors in the European Union (Timmermans). – Delegated Act on high-risk third countries (fight against money laundering) (Timmermans).
Brussels. Council of the European Union. Coreper I and II.
Brussels. European Parliament. Commission activities. – FEMM: Hearing on the implementation of EU funds to combat violence against women. PECH: vote on two reports on the conclusion of the EU/Morocco fisheries agreement; public hearing on the future of small-scale fishing in the EU. – JURI: Public hearing on the Essential Standard Patent and the Internet of Things on the basis of the 2017 Commission Communication on the 'IP Package'. – DROI-SEDE: public hearing on security policies and human rights.
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Plenary session (and 24/01). – Debate on Brexit with the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. – Discussion with Karl Brauner, Deputy Director-General of the WTO on trends in world trade and presentation of the EESC's proposals for reform of the Organisation. – Detailed agenda of the session: https://bit.ly/2SZZoe8.
Luxembourg. * EU Court of Justice. #Rulings: C-661/17 (M.A. i.a. – What are the consequences of Brexit on a transfer decision taken under the Dublin III Regulation).

Thursday 24 January

Brussels. European Parliament. Commission activities. – TAX3: Hearing on the topic "Alleged financial crimes, tax evasion and fraud in Slovakia"; public hearing on the topic "Assessment of tax loss" due to tax evasion and avoidance. – PECH: Workshop on the implementation and impact of EFAMP measures on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Plenary session (and 24/01). – Statement by the Prime Minister of Romania, Ms Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă, on the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council.
Luxembourg. * EU Court of Justice. #Rulings: C-165/17 (Morgan Stanley & Co. International - What proportion of VAT deduction should be applied to expenditure incurred by a branch of an establishment having its registered office in another Member State for the purpose of carrying out head office operations?)

Friday 25 January