CALENDAR / Main activities of european institutions
From 08/06 to 14/06/2020
Monday 8 June
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. – Discussion on the Commission’s proposals for a ‘farm to fork’ strategy and a ‘Biodiversity Strategy’ (use of pesticides and fertilisers, management of water resources, planting of 3 billion trees).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Development. *Development. – ‘Team Europe’ package: discussion in the presence of a WHO representative on EU aid to the most vulnerable countries as part of the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. – ACP/EU: state of negotiations between the EU and the ACP (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) countries on the updated future post-2020 ACP-EU partnership agreement.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – ECON: monetary dialogue with ECB President Christine Lagarde on the global and euro area economic and financial outlook and the ECB’s response to the crisis and public hearing of Ms Lagarde as chair of the European Systemic Risk Board. – TRAN: + Discussion with Mr Henrik Hololei, Director General of DG Mobility and Transport at the European Commission on the transport aspects of the EU Recovery Plan and the revised MFF (financing of the sector). +Vote on the social and market access issues of the ‘mobility 1’ package (posting of drivers, minimum requirements for driving times, breaks and rest periods, exercise of the occupation of road transport operator and access to the international road transport market) (complete agenda: https://bit.ly/2MC99gN ). – IMCO: + Discussion with the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, who will present the new consumer programme and the Commission’s work programme adapted in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. + Discussion on developments in contact-tracing applications and the problems encountered by consumers and businesses in the tourism sector (complete agenda: https://bit.ly/2A7qjjZ ). – REGI: Debate with Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (Cohesion and Reforms) in view of a structured dialogue on the EU Recovery Plan, the new proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the future of cohesion policy (complete agenda: https://bit.ly/3cHajTa ). – AFCO: Exchange of views with Nikolina Brnjac, Minister Delegate at the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, on the results of the Croatian Presidency of the Council; debate on the Conference on the Future of Europe and the role of the European Parliament (complete agenda: https://bit.ly/307KzfX ). – ENVI: Exchange of views with the Director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and debate on a draft resolution on a sustainability strategy for chemicals (complete agenda: https://bit.ly/2zTFoWl )
Brussels. European Committee of the Regions. 3rd meeting of the ENVE Committee (Environment, Climate Change and Energy). Videoconference: – debate with Virginius Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries on the revised 2020 work programme and the ecological recovery plan.
Tuesday 9 June
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of the Ministers of Economy and Finance. – Presentation by the Commission of its recovery instrument (Next Generation EU). – Adoption of country-specific recommendations (‘European Semester’ budgetary process)
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministers. *Trade. – WTO: discussion on various challenges facing the EU at WTO level, including in relation to the disruption of multilateral trade caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; selection of the new Director-General of the WTO following the resignation of Roberto Azevedo at the end of the year. – Implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on multilateral trade: disruption of supply chains and revision of EU trade policy in the light of new conditions (trade relations with the US and China, in particular, defence of multilateralism and reform of the WTO).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers. – Flexible working arrangements: exchange of views on experiences and advantages and disadvantages of flexible working arrangements implemented during the lockdown following the Covid-19 pandemic (telework, flexible working hours, application of ICT) also for the long term. – Professional upgrading/requalification: information on projects concerning professional upgrading or requalification in the changing context of the world of work caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and in the light of the ongoing digital and green transitions. – Gender equality: exchange of experiences in the protection and promotion of gender equality, in particular with regard to vulnerable groups affected by the Covid-19 crisis. – Any other business: presentation by the Commission of the ongoing European Semester process and the revised timetable for the Country Recommendations (CSR) 2020 in the context of Covid-19; presentation of the priorities and work programme of the future German Council Presidency in the field of employment and social affairs.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings. PSC.
Wednesday 10 June
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners (videoconference). Communication on Disinformation in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic (Borrell-Jourová).
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee. Plenary session (and 11/06). – Discussion with Michel Barnier, EU Chief Negotiator on Brexit on the state of play in the negotiations on the future partnership with the UK (full agenda for the session: https://bit.ly/2ALqaT5 ).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings. Coreper I and II and PSC.
Thursday 11 June
Brussels. Council of the EU. Eurogroup videoconference meeting. *Configuration at 19: – Banking Union: aspects concerning the euro area (11th hearing of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, report on the recent activities of the Single Resolution Board). Cyprus: 8th post-monitoring program review. – Spain: 13th post-monitoring program review. – Greece: 6th enhanced surveillance report and debt relief measures conditional on the adoption of specific reforms. – Revised short-term Eurogroup work programme. – Miscellaneous. *Configuration for 27: economic situation and measures to support the recovery. – Miscellaneous.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – CONT: + Public hearing on the implementation of EU funds: towards more effective management and control systems under shared management (risk assessment tools, conditionality and the future role of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office). + In camera debate with EEAS Director General Gianmarco Di Vita on slippage and conflicts of interest (full agenda of session.: https://bit.ly/3gQukKd ). – EMPL: Debate and vote on the amendment of Annex III to Directive 2000/54/EC on biological agents with a view to classifying Covid-19 as a biological agent capable of infecting humans (full agenda of session: https://bit.ly/2UcIHyJ ). – LIBE: Exchange of views with Commissioner Helena Dalli (Equality) on anti-discrimination policy during the Covid-19 period (situation of LGBTI people); exchange on the impact of Covid-19 on the activities of the eu-LISA agency (operational management of large-scale information systems in the area of freedom, security and justice) with its Executive Director, Mr Krum Garkov (full agenda of session: https://bit.ly/2A47aPR ).
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee. Plenary session. – Discussion with Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (Cohesion and Reforms) on the future of cohesion policy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. – Debate and vote on a resolution on the UK post-Covid-19 recovery and reconstruction plan (full agenda of session: https://bit.ly/2ALqaT5 ). – PECH: Exchange of views with Commission representatives on the biodiversity strategy, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and the place of fisheries and aquaculture in the ‘farm to fork’ strategy (full agenda of session: https://bit.ly/2XzP8Oj ).
Luxembourg. * Court of Justice of the EU. #Judgments: * EU Court of First Instance: #Judgments: Case C-262/18 P (Commission v. Dôvera zdravotná poistʼovňa) and C-271/18 P (Slovakia v. Dôvera zdravotná poistʼovňa – application for annulment of the judgment of the Court of First Instance (Case T-216/15) annulling Commission Decision 2015/248 concerning financial support measures granted by the Slovak Republic to two public health insurance companies). – C-74/19 (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses – Does the fact that a passenger, in the course of a flight, bit other passengers and assaulted the crew who tried to calm him down, resulting in a detour to the nearest airport in order to disembark that passenger, which caused the delay of that flight on arrival at the destination, constitute a circumstance which precludes compensation for a passenger who was the victim of the delay?) – C-581/18 (TÜV Rheinland LGA Products and Allianz IARD – Does the geographical limitation of insurance cover to France and French overseas territories (compensation for PIP breast prostheses) constitute discrimination on grounds of nationality?) – C-786/18 (Ratiopharm – may pharmaceutical companies distribute samples of prescription-only medicines free of charge to pharmacists?) – C-378/19 (Prezident Slovenskej republiky – Does the Slovak law on regulation in the network industries (gas and electricity) infringe the independence of the regulatory authority)? – C-88/19 (Alianța pentru combaterea abuzurilor – Does the strict protection of certain animal species provided for in the Habitats Directive extend to specimens which leave their natural habitat and end up in areas of human settlement?)
Friday 12 June
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference meeting of Ministers responsible for the Internal Market and Industry. At the time of going to press, the agenda for the meeting had not yet reached us.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Video conference meeting of the Ministers of Health. – EU4Health: first exchange of views on the proposal for a regulation establishing the fourth health programme (‘EU4Health programme’).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory Proceedings: Coreper I.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – AFET-INTA: Vote on recommendations on negotiations for a new relationship with the United Kingdom (full agenda of session: https://bit.ly/2za4ShM and https://bit.ly/2Xxp06G ).
