CALENDAR / Main activities of european institutions
Until Friday 26 February 2021
Monday 22 February
Brussels. Council of the EU. Foreign Affairs Council. – Topical issues: an overview of the main recent and forthcoming developments, including the situation in Myanmar after the coup d’état and in Belarus in the face of repression, and the follow-up to be given. – Southern Neighbourhood: follow-up to the strategy for a renewed partnership presented by the Commission and the High Representative. – Africa: Report on the G5 Sahel Summit and report on the situation in Ethiopia and Sudan (humanitarian access). – Russia : strategic debate on the latest developments in the EU’s relations with this country, following the High Representative’s visit to the country. – Security and Defence and the ‘Strategic Compass’: exchange of views on the current situation, the EU’s strategic guidelines in the face of new challenges and how they relate to existing policies and instruments; discussions on the contents of the ‘Strategic Compass’ (EU autonomy or closer relations, particularly with the USA and NATO) and the objective of its adoption in the first half of 2022. – Hong Kong: current situation and next steps and approaches of the EU. – United States: videoconference talks with the new US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in particular on the main issues of common interest.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Informal Meeting of Employment, Social Policy and Health Ministers. – Ministers will discuss the theme ‘A future with jobs: Jobs for the future of a strong social Europe’.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Informal videoconference of Fisheries Ministers. – Consultation with the United Kingdom on fisheries opportunities: stocks managed together by both parties for the year 2021 and shared deep-sea stocks for the years 2021 and 2022.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom).
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – ECON-EMPL-BUDG-ENVI: European Parliamentary Week with MEPs from candidate countries and others to discuss economic, budgetary, environmental and social issues taking into account the impact of the pandemic crisis on EU economies (European Semester Conference and Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the EU). – JURI-FEMM: joint draft report on the impact of domestic violence and custody rights on women and children (rapp. E Kountoura and L Regimenti) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3s8BrCl ). – JURI: vote on the draft opinion on the amendment of Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work. (agenda: https://bit.ly/3dsTAqq ). – INGE: debate with Commissioner Thierry Breton (Internal Market) on new proposals to regulate social media platforms to combat disinformation; discussion with NATO representatives on strategic communication as a means of countering disinformation (agenda: https://bit.ly/3k9cTq7 ). – CONT: workshop on the use of Big Data and artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption and misuse of public funds (agenda: https://bit.ly/3k3wQP4 ). – AFET: exchanges of views with the EEAS and the Burmese Ambassador to the EU on the situation in Myanmar and with the EEAS on the joint communication on the new partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood countries (agenda: https://bit.ly/2ZuOX7h ). – IMCO: vote on the implementation of the Directive on defence and security procurement and defence-related products (rapp. E Tóth) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3seyT5Z ). – ENVI: Interparliamentary committee meeting the Recovery and Resilience Plan: synergies between the European Green Deal and the path towards a more resilient European health union (agenda: https://bit.ly/37sQmja ). – PECH: adoption of the draft report on the effects of marine litter on fisheries (rapp. C Chabaud) and the interim agreement resulting from the interinstitutional negotiations on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (rapp. G Mato).
Tuesday 23 February
Brussels. Council of the EU. Informal videoconference of European Affairs Ministers. – Preparation of the European Council of 25-26/02. – Information from the Portuguese Presidency on the Conference on the Future of Europe. – Exchange of views on the Action Plan for European Democracy. – State of relations between the EU and the United Kingdom.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – BECA: public hearing with Commission representatives on new treatments for childhood and adolescent cancers and rare cancers (agenda: https://bit.ly/2OV5Rda ). – CONT: discharge on the 2019 budget for the European Commission, the European Development Fund, Agencies and Joint Undertakings (agenda: https://bit.ly/37MSDWD ). – IMCO: discussion with the Commission’s Executive Vice-President, Margrethe Vestager, on the proposed regulations on digital markets (DMA) and digital services (DSA) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3k4LUfq ). – ECON: exchange of views with Margrethe Vestager on the DMA and DSA proposals and with representatives of the European Commission and the European Securities and Markets Authority on recent market events (agenda: https://bit.ly/2OWtSR5 ). – AFET: exchange of views with the EEAS and the Commission on relations with East African countries (Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3dvvFH8 ). – INGE-AFCO: expert hearing on standards at the European level to make the funding of political parties and foundations during election campaigns more transparent (agenda: https://bit.ly/37xbwfR ). – AIDA-AFET-SEDE: hearing on “Artificial Intelligence and Competitiveness” as well as on the external policy dimension of AI (info: http://bit.ly/37JAYiz ). – EMPL: exchange of views with stakeholders on the amendment of Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (rapp. S Zambelli); exchange of views with the Portuguese Minister of Labour, Ana Mendes Godinho (agenda: https://bit.ly/2ZzssxP ). – ITRE: vote on the European Data Strategy (rapp. M Kumpula-Natri); exchange of views with the Director General of DG CONNECT, Roberto Viola, and with the Director General of DG ENER, Ditte Juul Jørgensen on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Luxembourg. * Court of Justice of the EU. #Conclusions: C-603/20 PPU (MCP – do the courts of a Member State have jurisdiction in a parental dispute when a child, who was habitually resident in that Member State, is wrongfully removed to a third State where he or she acquires habitual residence?)
Wednesday 24 February
Brussels. European Commission. Weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. – New EU strategy for adaptation to climate change (Timmermans). – Improvement of working conditions for platform workers (Vestager). – Revision of the Roaming Regulation (Vestager).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Preparatory proceedings: Coreper I, Coreper II, Trade Policy Committee (Experts – Services and Investment), Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom), Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI), Political and Security Committee (PSC), European Union Military Committee (EUMC).
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – INTA: state of play on the implementation of EU trade policy; exchange of views with the Commission on the EU/China Comprehensive Investment Agreement; exchange of views with Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis on the Communication on the EU Trade Policy Review (agenda: https://bit.ly/3duHtt5 ). – AGRI: exchange of views on the trilogue negotiations on strategic plans for the CAP; exchange of views with the Director General of DG AGRI, Wolfgang Burtscher, on the work programme for EU agri-food promotion policy for 2021 (agenda: https://bit.ly/37u9ddp ). – LIBE: vote on the discharge for the 2019 budget (rapp. C Chinnici); resolution on the rights of the child (rapp. J López Aguilar) (agenda: https://bit.ly/2NIzUnA ). – CULT: vote on the report/recommendation on digital education policy (rapp. V Negrescu); exchange of views with the Commission on Multimedia Actions (agenda: https://bit.ly/3bkqG9m ). – PETI: examination of various petitions (and 25/02) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3k5paf6 ). – FEMM: vote on the discharge for the 2019 budget (rapp R Biédron) (and 25/02) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3dqBZ2B ). – SEDE-AFET: debate on regional insecurity in the Horn of Africa and the role of CSDP; debate on China’s military actions in the Indo-Pacific region (agenda: https://bit.ly/3k3mUoV ). – TRAN: state of play of dedicated transport green lanes during the Covid-19 pandemic (Commission presentation, coordinators’ meeting, votes (agenda: https://bit.ly/3blz8Fh ). – FISC: public Hearing on “The Cum-Ex/Cum-Cum Scandal” (agenda: https://bit.ly/2OWuRRh ).
Brussels. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). 558th plenary session (and 25/02). – Debate on the Conference on the Future of Europe, with Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Democracy and Demography (on 24/02). – Resolution on the participation of organised civil society in national plans for recovery and resilience. – Debate with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Budget and Administration (on 25/02) (agenda: http://bit.ly/37wGipk ).
Luxembourg. * Court of Justice of the EU. #Judgments: C-95/19 (Silcompa – can an operation involving the disposal of ethyl alcohol be subject to double taxation of the same excise duties by the Member State of dispatch and by the Member State of destination of the products in question?)
Thursday 25 February
Brussels. European Council. Videoconference of Heads of State or Government (and 26/02). – Covid-19: update on the epidemiological situation in the EU and coordination of the response to the pandemic (production and distribution of vaccines, movement of people within the EU and with non-Member States); lessons learned from the pandemic and building resilience to future health threats; follow-up to the Commission’s ‘health union’ package and possible next steps; strengthening international cooperation on health (global pandemic treaty). – Security and defence: strengthening CSDP; increasing the EU’s capacity to act autonomously and promote its interests and values on the world stage; developing partnerships between Member States and with NATO; resilience to cyber and hybrid threats. – Southern Neighbourhood: strategic debate with Southern Neighbourhood countries and promotion of democracy, political stability, environmental protection and the fight against climate change in these countries.
Brussels. Council of the EU. Informal videoconference of Ministers responsible for the Internal Market and Industry. – European Semester: policy debate on National Recovery and Resilience Plans as an instrument to achieve industrial policy objectives (strengthening the Single Market and green and digital transition in an open EU). – New Consumer Agenda: policy debate on the role of consumers for economic recovery and the need to strengthen consumer resilience. – Country by country public reporting: political debate. – Miscellaneous : information from the Finnish delegation on the D9+ ministerial meeting on ‘Paving the way for the digital decade in Europe’ of 27/01.
Brussels. European Parliament. Committee activities. – INTA: public hearing on the EU/Mercosur trade agreement (agenda: https://bit.ly/3qAGew4 ). – CULT: discussion with the Commission on the ‘Minority SafePack’ citizens’ initiative (agenda: https://bit.ly/3bmZmHx ). – SEDE: Implementation of PESCO: presentation of the European Medical Command project in the light of the Strategic Review; EU Counter-Terrorism Programme (agenda: https://bit.ly/3dqDTAh ). – TRAN: exchange of views with Ms Cinzia Missiroli, Director of Standardisation and Digital Solutions of CEN and Cenelec, and with the European coordinators for the TEN-T corridors (agenda: https://bit.ly/2NMoZJW ). – AFCO: votes (agenda: https://bit.ly/3bgau98 ). – DROI: exchange of views on the attacks on democracy and growing authoritarianism in different countries and on the human rights situation in China (agenda: https://bit.ly/3quWVsR ). – ANIT: public hearing on the transport of live animals over long distances; exchange of views with the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes (agenda: https://bit.ly/3aAFl1d ). – DEVE: exchange of views with the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, on the EU’s humanitarian response during the Covid-19 pandemic (agenda: https://bit.ly/3s8RGiX ). – BUDG: guidelines for the 2022 budget (agenda: https://bit.ly/3sfpiMd ). – ENVI-ITRE: joint hearing on “How to increase the production capacity of Covid-19 vaccines and improve their distribution” (agenda: https://bit.ly/3qBw3HR ). – ENVI: General EU Environment Action Programme for 2030 (rapp. G O’Sullivan) (agenda: https://bit.ly/3aBVUts ).
Luxembourg. * Court of Justice of the EU. #Judgments: – C-615/18 P (Dalli v Commission – considering that former European Commissioner John Dalli did not establish that the implicated conduct of the Commission or OLAF was, by its seriousness, of such a nature as to cause him damage, did the Court of First Instance err in law and distort the application at first instance?) – C-940/19 (Les Chirurgiens-Dentistes de France et al. – can a Member State limit access to professions to which automatic recognition of professional qualifications applies (in particular dental surgeons)?) – C-129/20 (Caisse pour l’avenir des enfants – Employment following birth – can a Member State make the right to parental leave subject to the requirement that the parent be in employment at the time of the birth or adoption of the child?) – C-857/19 (Could Slovak Telekom, condemned by the Commission for abuse of a dominant market position for certain telecommunications services, also be penalised by the Slovak authorities for such market abuse for other telecommunications services?) – C-658/19 (Commission/Spain – has Spain failed to fulfil its obligations by failing to adopt, by 6 May 2018 at the latest, all the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directive on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the competent authorities) #Conclusions: – Joint Cases (C-804/18 WABE) and C-341/19 (MH Müller Handel – is the rule of a private company prohibiting, as part of its policy of neutrality, the wearing of ostentatious religious signs in the workplace in conformity with Union law?) – C-458/19 P (ClientEarth v Commission – is the decision by which the Commission granted three companies authorisation to use bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) based on an incomplete assessment of the socio-economic benefits of those uses in relation to the risks to human health or the environment?) – C-821/19 (Commission/Hungary – criminalisation of assistance to asylum seekers – where a Member State criminalises the activity of an organisation aimed at enabling the initiation of asylum proceedings by persons who do not fulfil the criteria being granting international protection laid down by national law and takes measures resulting in restrictions on persons prosecuted or punished for such an offence, is a Member State failing to fulfil its obligations under EU law?)
Friday 26 February
Brussels. European Council. Videoconference meeting of Heads of State or Government. (see above).
Brussels. Council of the EU. Informal videoconference of Research Ministers. – Political debate on the Recovery and Resilience Plans and the European Research Area (synergies in the context of investments and reforms). – Miscellaneous: State of play of the Council Regulation on the establishment of the High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (information from the Presidency); information from the Commission on progress towards the European Research and Innovation Pact and the Common Research Area Transition Forum ; information from the Commission on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the EU Council on EU participation in the European Metrology Partnership launched jointly by various Member States (possibly); information from the Commission on the Proposal for a Council Regulation setting up Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe (possibly); information from the Commission on the Scientific Opinion on the biodegradability of plastics in an open environment.
