From 12/10 to 18/10/2020

Monday 12 October

Luxembourg. Council of the EU. Foreign Affairs Council. – Debate on recent developments: discussion on the Serbia/Kosovo Dialogue with EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák; relations with Russia and discussion on possible sanctions for the poisoning of Alexei Navalny (Franco-German proposal); conclusions on the situation in Belarus and discussions on longer-term relations with that country; conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and prospects for mediation; situation in Cyprus and opening of the seaside resort of Varosha. – Latin America: strategic debate on partnership and future relations with Latin America and the Caribbean; discussion on contacts with political forces in Venezuela. – EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. – Adoption of conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EUFOR Althea mission. – Lunch on multilateralism, a few days after the 75^th UN General Assembly.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: SCA, Budget Committee, Civcom, Cultural Affairs Committee.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – ENVI: vote on 12-13/10 on the report on the EU4Health programme (rapp. B Cristian-Silviu) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3nwSAEi ). – AGRI: debate on the positions of the political groups on the compromise amendments on the CAP 2021-2027 proposals (agenda: https://bit.ly/36L8btZ ). – AFET: Debate with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on the state of the Middle East peace process; exchange of views with EEAS on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire (agenda: https://bit.ly/3dg9LoQ ). – BECA: preparation of Parliament’s requests and political position with a view to the presentation by the European Commission, in December, of its European plan to combat cancer (rapp. V Trillet-Lenoir) (agenda: https://bit.ly/30RUHsJ ). – TRAN: discussion of the proposed revision of the Single European Sky with Commissioner Adina-Ioana Válean; adoption of the draft report on the European Year of Rail 2021 (rapp. A Deparnay-Grunenberg); vote on the opinion on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (rapp. R Zīle); vote on the opinion on the new EU strategy for SMEs (rapp. J Ferreira) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3jRmwZS ). – FEMM: debate on amendments to the report on the gender perspective (rapp. F Fitzerald) and Workshop on Access to Abortion Services in the EU (agenda: https://bit.ly/2IeF3RO ). – BUDG: vote on the 2020 Budget: Section III – Commission (rapp. M Hohlmeier) (agenda: https://bit.ly/34K86UM ). – PECH: votes on cod capacity limits in the Baltic (rapp. N Herbst); EU/China Agreement on Cooperation on Geographical Indications (rapp. N Melo); exchange of views with the Commission on the Brexit adjustment reserve and on the EU/Mauritania fisheries agreement (agenda: https://bit.ly/2I6T2cc ). – AFCO: vote on the amendment of the European Parliament’s rules of procedure in exceptional circumstances (rapp. G Bischoff); opinion on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (rapp. A Tajani) and on monitoring the application of EU law in 2017 and 2018 (rapp. P Silva Pereira) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3jM7swv ). – ECON: Economic Policies in the Euro Area 2020 (rapp. J Schuster – final vote on 15/10). Presentation of the Eurosystem’s high-level working party. – INTA: Trade Policy Day (programme: https://bit.ly/2IeuFJR ).
Brussels. European Committee of the Regions. 140^th plenary session (on 14/10) with the participation of the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commissioner, Paolo Gentiloni, and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Main opinions to be voted: https://bit.ly/2SAsTEO.

Tuesday 13 October

Luxembourg. Council of the EU. General Affairs Council. – Update on EU/UK negotiations. – Examination of the conclusions of the European Council of 15-16/10. – Exchange of views on the annual dialogue on the rule of law. – Progress on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and the Recovery Plan. – Coordination at EU level of national measures against the Covid-19 pandemic. – Exchange of views on the preparation of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Videoconference of the Ministers of Labour, Social Affairs and Equality. – Political debate on worker participation and support for workers during restructuring. – Political debate on equal participation of men and women in the labour market. Miscellaneous: Decision on cooperation between Public Employment Services (PES); preparation of the Tripartite Social Summit (see below); information from the Commission on the Directive on carcinogens and mutagens at work.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: Education Committee, SCIFA, Safety Committee.

Wednesday 14 October

Brussels. Council of the EU. Tripartite Social Summit (videoconference) on “Implementing together an inclusive economic and social recovery in Europe”. – Recovery Facility in support of employment and social resilience. – Contribution of EU recovery funds to the new 2030 climate target. – Accelerating the digital transition and new opportunities for workers and SMEs through economic recovery. – Contribution of social dialogue to the success of Next Generation EU.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: Coreper I, PSC, EUMC.
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – Communication on removing barriers to investment for a successful recovery (von der Leyen). – Renovation wave (Timmermans). – 8^th Environmental Action Programme (Timmermans). – Methane strategy (Timmermans). – Chemical strategy for sustainability (Timmermans).
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – BUDG: vote on EU general budget 2021 – all sections (rapp. P Larrouturou et O Chastel) (agenda: https://bit.ly/36OzEez ).

Thursday 15 October

Brussels. European Council. Summit of Heads of State or Government (and 16/10). – EU/United Kingdom relations: update on the implementation of the withdrawal agreement and the state of play of the negotiations on the future partnership; discussion on the preparatory work for all scenarios likely to occur after 1 January 2021. – Climate change: progress towards achieving the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050; policy debate on climate change issues following the adoption by the Commission of the climate target plan for 2030. – External relations: EU-Africa relations and other foreign policy issues.
Berlin. Council of the EU. Informal videoconference meeting of Telecommunications Ministers. – Political discussion on topical issues in the field of European telecommunications and digital policy.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – LIBE-CULT-PETI: Public hearing on the citizens’ initiative “Minority Safepack – one million signatures for diversity in Europe”. – BUDG: Exchange of views on buildings policy and on the state of play of the negotiations on the MFF, own resources and the Recovery Plan (agenda: https://bit.ly/36OzEez ). – BUDG-ECON: votes on the Public Sector Loan Facility under the Just Transition Mechanism (rapp. J Van Overtveldt and H Hahn) and the Investment Plan for a Sustainable Europe (rapp. S Mureșan and P Tang) (agenda: https://bit.ly/33Hlg5N ). – SEDE: 2019 Annual Report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (rapp. S Mikser); exchange of views with the EEAS and officials on the ground on the EU’s engagement in the Central African Republic in the framework of the CSDP; exchange of views with the Director of OCCAR (agenda: https://bit.ly/3dhRx6v ). – CONT: votes on the opinion on the establishment of a Recovery and Resilience Facility (rapp. M Hohlmeier); on OLAF investigations conducted in the context of cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (rapp. M Marinescu) (agenda: https://bit.ly/33JTJkk ). – LAW: amendments to the report on due diligence and corporate responsibility (rapp. R– Glucksmann) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3nsIRPz ). – LIBE: consideration of a draft motion for a resolution on the impact of Covid-19 on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (rapp. JF López-Aguilar) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3nA2vsM ). – EMPL: vote on enhanced cooperation between public employment services (rapp. M Pizzarro); vote on a strong social Europe for a just transition (rapp. D Radtke and A Jongerius); vote on the implementation of the Directive establishing a framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (rapp. K Langensiepen) (agenda: https://bit.ly/2SF89f3 ). – INTA: debates: Franco-Dutch paper on sustainable trade; debate on the report on the Commission proposal to eliminate tariffs on certain products in EU-US trade (rapp. B Lange); debate on the report on the application of tariff and other import quotas (rapp. C Hansen) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3iKPfOD ).
Luxembourg. * Court of Justice of the European Union. #Rulings: C-778/18 (Association française des usagers de banques – compliance with EU law of French regulations requiring a borrower to direct all his salary or similar income to a payment account for a period fixed by the loan contract). #Conclusions: Conclusions: Joint Cases C-562/19 P (Commission v Poland) and C-596/19 P (Commission v Hungary – are the Polish retail sales tax and the Hungarian advertising tax contrary to Union law on State aid)