CALENDAR / Main activities of european institutions
From 20/01 to 26/01/2020
Monday 20 January
Brussels. Council of the EU. Foreign Affairs Council. – Recent international issues: situation in Bolivia, India, Libya, Venezuela. – Sahel: exchange of views on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel countries following the terrorist attacks (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger) and EU action in relation to the G5 Sahel. – Climate diplomacy: Adoption of a conclusion on EU action to promote the fight against climate change in third countries and in international fora. – Informal lunch discussion on the Middle East Peace Process and recent developments in the area.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Eurogroup. *Normal format: – IMF mission to the euro area: presentation of the conclusions of the IMF interim mission. – Portugal: examination of the updated budget plan; opinion of the European Commission on the draft updated budget plan. – Economic policy of the euro area: first ministerial exchange of views on the draft recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area for 2020. Political priorities of the new governments of Spain, Austria and Finland. *Inclusive format: – Deepening of EMU (reform of the ESM, fiscal capacity for the euro area, banking union).
Brussels. Council of the EU. EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council. – State of play and next steps towards the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). – Cooperation and political, economic, trade and security issues. – Regional and international situation and security issues.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities (through 23/01). – LIBE: Vote on the opinion on European Parliament approval of the UK’s withdrawal agreement from the EU. – INTA: vote on the adoption or rejection of the EU-Vietnam trade agreement and the separate agreement on investment (and 21/01). – PETI: examination of the Court of Auditors’ special report on the effectiveness, relevance, transparency and openness of the tools available at EU level to ensure that citizens can participate in and contribute to EU policy and the legislative process; examination of the draft opinion on the monitoring of the application of EU law for the years 2017 and 2018 (and 21/01).
Tuesday 21 January
Brussels. Council of the EU. Economic and Financial Affairs Council. – Croatian Presidency of the Council: presentation of the Presidency's work programme in the economic and financial field. – Taxation of the digital economy: OECD negotiations on the reallocation of digital business profits; minimum tax rate on multinationals. – Investment plan for a sustainable Europe: presentation by the Commission of the economic and financial aspects of the Green Deal. – European Semester: Launch of the European Semester 2020 and presentation by the Commission of the Annual Growth Strategy, the Alert Mechanism Report and the Recommendation for the Eurozone.
Davos (CH). International meetings. World Economic Forum in Davos (through 24/01). Participation of the Council of the EU and the European Commission.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – LIBE: structured dialogue with the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. – INTA: Hearing on international economic issues and EU trade policy in the face of current problems and to achieve sustainable development objectives. – ENVI: Public hearing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transport. – TRAN: discussion on the latest developments and priorities of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) policy with the European Coordinators for the Motorways of the Sea and the European Rail Traffic Management System. – AFET: public hearing on “The Eastern Partnership - a vision of development after 2020”.
Wednesday 22 January
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – Commission contribution to the Conference on the Future of Europe (Šuica/Jourová).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Coreper I and II.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – BUDG: discussion with Commissioner Hahn (Budget and Human Resources) on the priorities of the new Commission and its future cooperation with the European Parliament in the budgetary field. – DEVE: Public hearing on “Effectiveness, efficiency and results of EU aid for sustainable development”. – IMCO: Stakeholder hearing on the need to review the Product Liability Directive in the digital age.
Luxembourg. * Court of Justice of the EU. #Rulings: – joint cases C-175/18 P (PTC Therapeutics International/EMA) and C-178/18 P (MSD Animal Health Innovation and Intervet International/EMA – can access to documents contained in marketing authorisation application files for drugs be opposed) #Conclusions: – C-307/18 (Generics (UK) et al. – can an agreement for the amicable settlement of a patent dispute in the pharmaceutical field constitute a restriction of competition?)
Thursday 23 January
Zagreb. Council of the EU. Informal Meeting of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs. *Justice: – Implementation of the 2019-2024 strategic programme and future strategic orientations for the area of freedom, security and justice in the field of justice. – Role and importance of the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters in facilitating judicial cooperation. – Strengthening judicial training.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – BUDG: public hearing on ‘Own resources and harmonisation of budgetary policy: untapped potential for synergies?’
Friday 24 January
Zagreb. Council of the EU. Informal Meeting of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs. *Home Affairs: – Perspectives on the area of freedom, security and justice in the field of Home Affairs. – Progress in the interoperability of information systems. – Implementation of the Regulation on the European Corps of Border Guards and Coastguards. – Migration: combating organised migrant smuggling networks.
Luxembourg. *Court of the EU: #Judgment in summary proceedings: T-797/19 R (Anglo Austrian AAB Bank and Belegging-Maatschappij “Far-East”/ECB – (application for suspension of the execution of the ECB’s decision to withdraw the bank’s authorisation).
