Weekly European Agenda 27 March – 2 April
Monday 27 March
- EP: BUDG, CONT, ECON, FEMM, LIBE
- Justice and Home Affairs Council
- EC: Juncker receives Mr Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President
- EC: Juncker receives Landeshauptmann of Tyrol, Austria
- EC: Mogherini receives Secretary General of Ministry for FA of the Sultanate of Oman
- CoE: Bureau of the Congress and of its chambers
- CoE: Political Affairs and Democracy Committee
- CoE: Conference to launch the Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023
- CoE: Venice Commission regional UniDem Med Seminar
Tuesday 28 March
- EC: Juncker and Mimica receive former Secretary-General of the United Nations
- EC: Juncker receives Tusk for a working lunch
- EC: Juncker, Timmermans, Moedas and Šefčovič receive Mayor of London
- EC: Juncker receives Prime Minister of Georgia; and holds a joint press point
- EC: Malmström in Zagreb, Croatia: meets with Prime Minister of Croatia
- CoR: Communicating Europe: the new approach of the European Commission
- FRA: FRA joins EU’s Roma week
- CoE: 32nd Session of the Congress of local and regional authorities
Wednesday 29 March
- May officially triggers article 50
- EC: College meeting
- EC: Juncker and Vella in Valletta, Malta: participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue
- EC: Katainen, Hahn, Moedas and Stylianides in Malta: participate in the EPP Congress
- EC: Oettinger receives Ms Emily O’Reilly, European Ombudsman
- EESC: Plenary Session
- CoR: Stakeholders consultation on «Energy efficiency and buildings» opinion
- Presidency: Transport Ministerial Conference
- Presidency: Ministerial Conference on Mediterranean Fisheries
- FRA: RightsCon conference Human rights in the digital age
Thursday 30 March
- European Movement International: On Our Watch Launch Event
- EC: Juncker and Commissioners participate in the EPP Congress
- EC: Dombrovskis in Valletta, Malta: meets Prime Minister of Malta
- EESC: Plenary Session
- EESC: Your Europe, Your Say! 2017 event
- CoR: NAT Commission Meeting
- Ombudsman: Award ceremony
Friday 31 March
- EU- Moldova Association Council
- EC: Juncker delivers opening remarks at the 4th Forum of the Outermost Regions
- EC: Hahn, Malmström, Andriukaitis, Creţu receive PM of the Republic of Moldova
- EC: King in Tallinn, Estonia: meets President of Estonia
- CoR: SEDEC Commission Meeting
Sunday 2 April
- EC: Vella in Monaco: meets Prince Albert II of Monaco
- Presidential elections in Serbia
- Parliamentary elections in Armenia
European Movement International
Thursday 30 March
On Our Watch Launch Event
With the 2019 European elections fast approaching, CSOs are gathering to assess what the European Parliament has achieved in this term so far, and what remains to be done for 2019. The On Our Watch project was launched by the European Movement International, European Youth Forum and IHECS School of Journalism and Communication to analyse how MEPs have worked on key issues, ranging from gender equality and transparency to poverty and participation. We aim to inform citizens and offer a platform for organisations to have their say on on the EP’s work in their areas of expertise.
During the event we will inform about how civil society organisations can contribute. Informal drinks will be served in Mundo-J, Rue de l’Industrie 10, on Thursday 30th March from 5-6.30pm.
Register here.
European Union
European Parliament
Monday 27 March
Committee on Budgets (BUDG)
Votes: Proposal for a Council regulation amending the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014 2020; Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision (EU) on the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin; Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision granting an EU guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under financing operations supporting investment projects outside the Union; Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC, Euratom) establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions; 2017 Budget: Any other transfer request; Building blocks for a post-2020 EU cohesion policy; Increasing engagement of partners and visibility in the performance of European Structural and Investment Funds.
Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)
Votes: Draft report / Draft recommendation – Annual Report 2015 on the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests – Fight against fraud; Draft report / Draft recommendation – Annual Report on the control of the financial activities of the EIB for 2015.
Draft report / Draft recommendation – Cost effectiveness of the 7th Research Programme; Draft report / Draft recommendation – Budgetary Control of financing NGOs from the EU Budget; ECA Special Report: More efforts needed to enforce compliance with and raise awareness of State aid rules in cohesion policy.
Joint item with the Committee on Budgets (BUDG): Financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
Scrutiny of delegated acts and implementing measures; Economic Dialogue and exchange of views with Zdravko Marić, Minister of Finance of Croatia; Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive, as regards rates of value added tax applied to books, newspapers and periodicals; Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive as regards hybrid mismatches with third countries; Monitoring the functioning of franchising in the retail sector.
Votes: Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European statistical programme 2013-17, by extending it to 2018-2020; National parliament reasoned opinion on subsidiarity Reasoned opinion of the Netherlands House of Representatives on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive (EU) as regards hybrid mismatches with third countries; Monitoring the functioning of franchising in the retail sector; Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council on key information documents for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs) by laying down regulatory technical standards with regard to the presentation, content, review and revision of key information documents and the conditions for fulfilling the requirement to provide such documents.
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
The EU accession to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Votes: Recommendation to Council about the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
Visit of Myria Vassiliadou: EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator; The outcome of the 61st meeting of the UNCSW: Women’s economic empowerment; Malta mission report – 2017; Prisons’ systems and conditions.
Joint Committee meeting (FEMM, LIBE)
Draft programme LIBE-FEMM Joint hearing on Istanbul convention – 27 March 2017 – Draft programme; Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, by the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
LIBE Security Dialogue with Thomas De Maizière (Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany) and Matthias Fekl (Minister of the Interior of France); Letter from the the German Federal Minister of the Interior and the French Minister of the Interior to the European Commission on an enhanced collective security.
Find the full plenary agenda here. Find an overview of committee agendas here.
Council of Ministers
Monday 27 – Tuesday 28 March
Justice and Home Affairs Council
The Council will exchange views on migration policy, focusing on the implementation of the Malta declaration of 3 February 2017. The declaration outlined measures to stem the flow of migration from Libya to Italy. Ministers will also discuss the return policy, one of the key pillars of the EU overall migration policy, following a Commission communication on a more effective return policy, and a Commission recommendation on making returns more effective when implementing the Directive.
In addition, the Council will take stock of progress regarding several legislative proposals: the proposals to reform the common European asylum system; a proposal on a European travel and information authorisation system (ETIAS); the proposals on an entry/exit system.
The Council will review progress at technical level on several legislative proposals: the directive on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content; the directive on countering money laundering by criminal law; the regulation on mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders.
Ministers will discuss the state of play and way forward on the topic of criminal justice in cyberspace as well as exchange views on policy options for the criminal justice response to the issue of foreign terrorist fighter returnees.
Friday 31 March
EU- Moldova Association Council
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission and High Representative
Monday 27 March
Juncker receives Mr Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President.
Juncker receives Mr Günther Platter, Landeshauptmann of Tyrol, Austria.
Mogherini receives H.E. Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman and hosts a working lunch with Mr Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President.
Tuesday 28 March
Juncker and Mimica receive Mr Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and current Chairman and founder of the Kofi Annan Foundation.
Juncker receives Tusk, President of the European Council, for a working lunch.
Juncker, Timmermans, Moedas and Šefčovič receive Mr Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.
Juncker receives Mr Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia; and holds a joint press point.
Malmström in Zagreb, Croatia: meets with Mr Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia and Ms Martina Dalić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy Enterprise and Small Business of Croatia.
Wednesday 29 March
College meeting
Juncker and Vella in Valletta, Malta (until 30/03): participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue together with Mr Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta.
Katainen, Hahn, Moedas and Stylianides in Valletta, Malta (until 30/03): participate in the European People’s Party (EPP) Congress.
Oettinger receives Ms Emily O’Reilly, European Ombudsman.
Thursday 30 March
Juncker, Dombrovskis, Katainen, Avramopoulos, Stylianides and Moedas in Valletta, Malta: participate in the European People’s Party (EPP) Congress.
Dombrovskis in Valletta, Malta: meets Mr Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta.
Friday 31 March
Juncker delivers opening remarks at the 4th Forum of the Outermost Regions on «The outermost regions, European lands in the world: toward a renewed strategy», in Brussels.
Hahn, Malmström, Andriukaitis, Creţu receive Mr Pavel Filip, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova.
King in Tallinn, Estonia: meets Ms Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia.
Sunday 2 April
Vella in Monaco (until 03/04): meets Prince Albert II of Monaco.
A full list with meetings of Commissioners can be found here; the agenda of specific Commissioners can be found here; Commission events can be found here.
European Economic and Social Committee
Wednesday 29 – Thursday 30 March
Plenary Session
Opinions to be put to vote: Joint communication on International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans; Proposal for a Regulation on the definition, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, the use of the names of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs and the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks; Proposal for a on a framework for the recovery and resolution of central counterparties and amending Regulations; Commission Communication Call for Evidence – EU regulatory framework for financial services; Proposal for a Directive on preventive restructuring frameworks, second chance and measures to increase the efficiency of restructuring, insolvency and discharge procedures and amending Directive.
Opinions: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation as regards the territorial typologies (Tercet).
Debates: On the EU’s future trade policy, with Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade; Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union and Regulation (EU) on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Union; On cohesion policy post-2020, with Corina Crețu, European Commissioner for Regional Policy; Islands in the EU: from structural handicap to inclusive territory (exploratory opinion requested by the Maltese presidency).
Proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound; Proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop).
Proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA); Nautical and maritime tourism diversification strategies; Commission Communication Space Strategy for Europe; EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement – evaluation report on the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter; Amendment to the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR); Regulation amending Regulation (EU) as regards the leverage ratio, the net stable funding ratio, requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities, counterparty credit risk, market risk, exposures to central counterparties, exposures to collective investment undertakings, large exposures, reporting and disclosure requirements; Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) as regards loss-absorbing and Recapitalisation Capacity for credit institutions and investment firms; Proposal for a Directive amending Directive as regards exempted entities, financial holding companies, mixed financing holding companies, remuneration, supervisory measures and powers and capital conservation measures.
Thursday 30 – Friday 31 March
Your Europe, Your Say! 2017
The EESC has invited secondary-school students in their penultimate year from different types of secondary schools across the 28 Member States of the EU and the five EU candidate countries (Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) to come to Brussels on 30-31 March 2017 to debate Europe at 60: Where to next?, the topic of YOUR EUROPE, YOUR SAY! 2017 (#YEYS2017). Participating students will work together on various aspects of this subject, such as: Discovering the stages of European integration and the role of civil society; Discussing the benefits, achievements and failures of the European Union; Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities facing the European Union; Outlining proposals regarding the future of Europe, from the perspective of young Europeans.
At the end of the event, the young participants will have the opportunity to present their recommendations on the future of Europe to EESC members and to vote for the three they judge to be the most important for taking the European Union forward.
More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.
Committee of the Regions
Tuesday 28 March
Communicating Europe: the new approach of the European Commission
Welcome: Ian Barber, Director of Communication, European Committee of the Regions.
Speaker: Mikel Landabaso Alvarez, Director, Strategy and Corporate Communication, European Commission.
In response to recent political developments, the European Commission has launched a new corporate communication approach in order to improve the understanding of the European Union by citizens. This approach consists of three communication strands: the EU delivers, the EU empowers and the EU protects. These strands build on initiatives like the Investment Plan for Europe and communication milestones such as the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty. Implementation of the first strand is well underway with a corporate communication campaign on EU investments, showing how EU action delivers tangible results on the ground, in particular through EU funded projects.
Mikel Landabaso Alvarez, Director for Strategy and Corporate Communication of the European Commission will explain the details at a lunchtime briefing.
Wednesday 29 March
Stakeholders consultation on «Energy efficiency and buildings» opinion
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion on «Energy efficiency and buildings». The rapporteur on the opinion, Mr Michiel Rijsberman (NL/ALDE) would be happy to meet with representatives of local and regional associations and other stakeholders for a consultation and an exchange of views on the relevant topic of this opinion. The objective of this exchange of views is to discuss the European Commission’s proposal for a review of the Energy efficiency and Energy performance of buildings directives.
The stakeholders consultation: After a short introduction by the rapporteur, stakeholders will be invited to exchange views with the rapporteur.
The meeting will be held in English.
Thursday 30 March
NAT Commission Meeting
For decision: Opinions on the basis of consultations – Appointment of rapporteurs; Ongoing work programme and decision on attributions by the president.
For discussion: Opinions – First discussion and adoption: Health in cities; A new stage in the European policy on blue growth.
Opinions – Exchange of views: Future of the CAP after 2020; International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans; A European policy on the seismic requalification of buildings and infrastructure.
Friday 31 March
SEDEC Commission Meeting
The SEDEC members will adopt three opinions: Social innovation as a new tool for creating growth and jobs; Local and Regional dimension of Bioeconomy and the role of regions and cities; Investing in Europe’s youth and in the European Solidarity Corps.
Three other opinions are in discussion: Coordination of Social Security Systems; Building a European Data Economy; Local and Regional Dimension of Horizon 2020 and the New Framework Programme.
More information about Committee of the Regions events can be found here. The agendas of the different Committee of the Regions meetings can be found here.
Maltese Presidency
Wednesday 29 March
Transport Ministerial Conference
On 28 March, the day preceding the Ministerial conference, road safety stakeholders will be meeting together with the Presidency, the Commission and the European Parliament with the aim of proposing actions to improve road safety. The meeting will be held in a participatory form encouraging open discussions around the key pressure points of the road safety system where impact can be maximised for better results. The conclusions from this stakeholder meeting will be presented to transport Ministers on the following day. The objective of this conference is to launch a political debate and outline future political direction. A Declaration on Road Safety will be endorsed during the Ministerial Conference. There will also be an opportunity to visit information stands and exhibits where road safety organisations will present their work.
Wednesday 29 – Thursday 30 March
Ministerial Conference on Mediterranean Fisheries
A ministerial conference on Mediterranean fisheries is organized in Malta to adopt a common declaration (Malta MedFish4Ever Declaration) on the future of Mediterranean fisheries. The event consists of a Stakeholder roundtable, a launching meeting, a ministerial conference meeting and a ceremony for the signature of the ministerial declaration.
The agenda of the Maltese Presidency can be found here.
European Ombudsman
Thursday 30 March
Award ceremony
The ceremony for the European Ombudsman «Award for Good Administration».
The EU Ombudsman calendar of activities can be found here.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Tuesday 28 March
FRA joins EU’s Roma week
In the run up to International Roma Day on 8 April the European Commission and the European Parliament are organising a series of events for EU Roma week. One of these will be an event in Brussels on 28 March to take stock of the EU’s Roma Framework. The Agency is co-hosting the event together with the European Parliament’s Antiracism and Diversity Intergroup, and in cooperation with the Open Society European Policy Institute, the European Roma Grassroots Organisation Network (ERGO), and Fundacion Secretariado Gitano (FSG). The Agency will present its Local Engagement for Roma Inclusion research and its other work on monitoring, indicators and data on the situation of Roma. It aims at providing input to the mid-term assessment of the EU Framework for national Roma integration strategies, improving the remaining years of implementation until 2020. It should also help shape the EU’s Roma policy post-2020.
Wednesday 29 March
RightsCon conference on human rights in the digital age
This year, RightsCon, one of world’s leading digital rights events, will bring together human rights experts, business leaders, technologists, engineers, investors, activists, and government representatives come together. The Agency’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, will take part in a debate about the future of human rights and the need to ensure that legislation to protect rights is applied online as well as offline. Other topics at this year’s conference include countering violent extremism and responding to hate speech; freedom of expression; truth in an age of fake news; and empowering communities at risk.
Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.
Council of Europe
Monday 27 March
Bureau of the Congress and of its chambers
Monday 27 – Tuesday 28 March
Political Affairs and Democracy Committee meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Ad hoc Sub-Committee to participate in the events organised by the IPA CIS.
Conference to launch the Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023 in Nicosia, Cyprus
The new Council of Europe Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2017 – 2023 was drafted over the past year by Council of Europe member States in co-operation with civil society and other stakeholders. The Strategy was adopted by the Committee of Ministers in December 2016 and will be launched during a conference in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Monday 27 – Thursday 30 March
Venice Commission: Performance, merit and equality the civil service – regional UniDem Med Seminar in Tunis, Tunisia
The Venice Commission in cooperation with the Presidency of the Government of Tunisia organises a regional Seminar UniDem Med (Universities for Democracy for the Southern Mediterranean) on the theme of “Performance, merit and equality in the civil service”.
50 senior public servants from the MENA region (Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestinian National Authority and Tunisia) will attend the seminar as well as experts from the two shores of the Mediterranean. The working languages of the seminar are Arabic and English.
The main objective of the Project Campus-Med UniDem (University for Democracy) is to contribute to a more effective administration and good governance respecting human rights, enforcing law and consolidating institutions. Seminars of Campus UniDem Project provide legal capacity development sessions for senior executives of public administration in areas related to good governance and the rule of law and to human rights. The Campus brings together senior civil servants from the southern Mediterranean with a view to exchanging experiences and strengthening the links between the public administrations from the region.
Tuesday 28 – Thursday 30 March
32nd Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will focus its two 2017 sessions on “Decentralised policies for the successful integration of migrants”. In this context, the 32nd session will include several debates focusing on “From reception to integration: the role of local authorities facing migration”, “The reception of unaccompanied child migrants in European cities” and “Border regions facing migration flows”. The agenda will also include thematic debates on “The quality of democratic participation at regional level”, “Forever young? The role of youth policies and youth work at local and regional levels in supporting young people’s transition to autonomy and working life”, “Open data for better public services”, “Developments in human rights at local and regional levels”, as well as a debate on “The fight against anti-Gypsyism”. Congress members will also discuss the South-Mediterranean Partnership, particularly the prospects in Morocco and Tunisia. In the context of its monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress will examine the state of local and regional democracy in Finland, as well as the state of local democracy in Malta, Estonia and Iceland. With regard to the observation of local elections, a report on the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (October 2016) will be submitted for adoption, together with a report, for information, on the electoral information mission carried out by the Congress in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (17 to 21 November 2016) and a checklist for preventing the misuse of administrative resources during electoral processes at local and regional level. The members will also discuss the situation in Turkey following the Congress fact-finding mission.
Find an overview of Council of Europe events here; the PACE diary here; the Congress calendar of events here; information on forthcoming judgments here; the calendar of hearings here; information on Venice Commission events here; the agenda of the Commissioner of Human Rights here; and the Chairmanship agenda here.
Elections
Sunday 2 April
Armenian parliamentary elections
Serbian presidential elections
