CALENDAR / Main activities of european institutions
From 18/05 to 24/05/2020
Monday 18 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference of Ministers Responsible for Education. – Impact of Covid-19 on the education sector: reopening of schools, examinations and admissions; possible cooperation to ensure continuity of learning and training. – Adoption of conclusions on future European teachers and educators.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – IMCO: Discussion on the exit strategy from the crisis with the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton (lifting restrictive measures, implementation of the Recovery Fund and impact on the Multiannual Financial Framework). *Debates: + Safety of products in the Single Market (rapp. Marion Waismann, EPP) + Framework of ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies (rapp. Alexandra Geese, Greens/EFA). – ENVI: discussion on the activities of the European Medicines Agency with its Director, Guido Rasi (EMA activities to accelerate the development of a vaccine or medicine to treat diseases, ensure the availability of medicines in the EU and provide information to patients and professionals). – ECON: examination of proposals for targeted amendments to the regulation on capital requirements for banks (deadlines, more favourable treatment of state guarantees). – LIBE: *Votes: + Statistics on migration and international protection (rapp. Oetjen, RE). + Situation in the Schengen area following Covid-19 (adoption of the resolution). *Consideration of reports: + Recommendation on the opening of an EU/New Zealand agreement on the exchange of personal data to combat crime (rapp. Annalisa Tardino, ID). + EASO operational support to Member States in the context of Covid-19, in particular in Greece (presentation). + Europol activities against pandemic crime (presentation). + Artificial intelligence in the fields of education, culture and audiovisual (rapp. for opinion Ondřej Kovařík, RE). + Digital Services Act: improving the functioning of the single market (rapp. for opinion Paul Tang, S&D). + EU strategy on gender equality (rapp. for opinion Evin Incir, S&D). – PECH : *Exchange of views with representatives of the Commission and the United Kingdom. *Consideration of reports: + Multi-annual management plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (rapp. Giuseppe Ferrandino, S&D). + EU/Seychelles Fisheries Partnership Agreement and its Implementation Protocol (2020-2026) (rapp. Caroline Roose, Greens/EFA).
Tuesday 19 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference of the Ministers of Economy and Finance. – Covid-19: state of play of the measures taken by the EU to combat the Covid-19 crisis and progress made (state of play of the regulation on temporary SURE aid to alleviate the risk of unemployment; update on the implementation of the safety net for businesses; assessment of the situation by the Commission and the ECB). – Fight against money laundering: discussion on the action plan and revised methodology for assessing high-risk non-Member States presented by the Commission on 7/05. – European semester 2020: preparation of Council conclusions on country reports (the conclusions are expected to be adopted by written procedure).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference of Ministers responsible for Youth. – Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the youth sector: access of young people to services (health, counselling), employment opportunities and digital tools and what can be done to support the sector. – Adoption of conclusions on opportunities for young people in remote areas. – Hearing of a representative of the Youth Forum on the needs and aspirations of young people in the Covid-19 era.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference of Ministers responsible for Culture and Audiovisual Affairs: – Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector: adoption of conclusions on media literacy, cultural heritage and the work plan for culture 2019-2022.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: PSC.
Brussels. European Parliament. Commission activities – PETI: Presentation of 3 petitions related to the Covid-19 pandemic (managing cancelled flights and trips; VAT exemption for goods and services donated in the fight against the pandemic; rights of mentally handicapped people and their families during Covid-19). – AFET: Exchange of views with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on the Eastern Partnership policy, the Union’s support to the neighbourhood in the framework of Covid-19, Turkey and future external financing instruments. *Votes: + European Parliament recommendation on the Eastern Partnership with a view to the June 2020 summit (rapp. Petras Auštrevičius, RE). + Annual report on the implementation of the EU/Georgia Association Agreement (rapp. Markéta Gregorová, Greens/EFA) + Gender equality in the Union’s foreign and security policy (rapp. for opinion Hannah Neumann, Greens/EFA)
Wednesday 20 May
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference of Ministers responsible for Tourism.
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners (videoconference). – Spring Package European semester (country-specific recommendations) (Dombrovskis). – EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (Timmermans). – ’Farm to fork’ strategy (Timmermans). – Just Transition mechanism ‘Implementation of the public sector loan blending mechanism’ (Timmermans/Dombrovskis).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: Coreper I and II and Military Committee.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – IMCO: + Interview with Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni on the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on customs issues + Exchange of views with BEUC Director General Monique Goyens and BusinessEurope Director General Markus Beyrer. *Debates: + Digital Services Act: improving the functioning of the single market (Alex Agius Saliba, S&D). *Vote: + Recommendations on the negotiations on a new EU/UK partnership (rapp. Kris Peeters, EPP). – AGRI : *Exchange of views: + Amendment of Regulation 1305/2013 on specific measures of exceptional temporary support under the EAFRD to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic. + Equivalence of field inspections of cereal seed producing crops carried out in Ukraine and equivalence of cereal seed produced in Ukraine. + Presentation of the report of the AGRI Committee mission to Spain from 24 to 26 February 2020.
