Day-by-day

Monday 5 December

• EP: AFET, INTA, CONT, ECON, EMPL, IMCO, TRAN, AGRI, PECH, CULT, LIBE, AFCO, EMIS
• Eurogroup
• Energy Council
• EC: Juncker and Timmermans receive UN High Commissioner for Refugees
• EC: European Vocational Skills Week

Tuesday 6 December

• EP: Political Groups
• Economic and Financial Affairs Council
• EC: Hahn receives the speaker of the Albanian Parliament
• EC: The 2016 EU agriculture outlook conference
• CoR: Integration of third country migrants: role of local and regional authorities
• CoR: Conference of Presidents
• FRA: at EU Agencies Forum at the European Parliament
• CoE: PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
• CoE: Human Rights Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies
• CoE: 71st Plenary of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Wednesday 7 December

• EP: PANA, Political Groups
• EC: College of Commissioner and launch of Youth Initiative
• EC: Juncker receives leader of Turkish Cypriot community
• EC: Moedas at High level group on future of European research and education
• CoR: Plenary Session
• Presidency: Conference on Revolutionary innovation
• FRA: at High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and intolerance
• CoE: PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons

Thursday 8 December

• EP: DROI, SEDE, BUDG, ECON, EMPL, ENVI, LIBE
• Justice and Home Affairs Council
• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
• EC: Hahn visits Montenegro
• EC: Hogan visits Turkey
• EESC: COP22 debriefing public debate
• CoR: Plenary Session
• Presidency: Conference ‘the Energy Union for you’
• CoE: 57th Meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections
• CoE: PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media
• OSCE: Ministerial Council in Hamburg

Friday 9 December

• Justice and Home Affairs Council
• EC: Hahn visits Bosnia and Herzegovina
• EC: Malmström at ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Council
• EC: Thyssen and Dombrovskis receive social partners on European Social Pillar
• EESC: debate on Roma evictions
• CoE: 109th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission
• OSCE: Ministerial Council in Hamburg

Sunday 11 December

• Parliamentary elections in FYR of Macedonia
• Parliamentary elections in Romania

 

European Union

European Parliament

Monday 5 December

Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Hearing on the situation in the Great Lakes region; Exchange of views with Raed Al Saleh, Head of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets); Exchange of views with Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran; Adoption of amendments on Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Mongolia, of the other part; Adoption of amendments on Motion for a resolution accompanying the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Mongolia, of the other part

Committee on International Trade (INTA)
Exchange of views with the EP’s Legal Service on the legal status of instruments, statements and declarations in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) (continuation); Exchange of views on State of play of ongoing trilogue negotiations; Adoption of draft opinions on: An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic; Prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing; Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests;; Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations on Bilateral safeguard clause and the stabilisation mechanism for bananas of the Trade Agreement between the EU and its Member States and Colombia and Peru, of the other part; Exchange of views on Sri Lanka’s GSP+ application; Consideration of working document on Laying down rules on the making available on the market of CE marked fertilising products; Consideration of draft report on EU Common Commercial Policy in the context of wildlife sustainability imperatives.

Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) 
Exchange of views with Marianne Thyssen, Member of the European Commission responsible for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, in the presence of the ECA member responsible, Iliana Ivanova on Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU – European Commission;  Partial renewal of members of the Court of Auditors – Hearing of Juhan Parts; Presentation of the ECA Special Report 27/2016 (Discharge 2015): Governance at the European Commission — best practice? by the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Lazaros S. Lazarou, and consideration of a working document; Presentation of Policy Department D Study on «Value for money: EU Programme funding in the field of democracy and rule of law».

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) 
Exchange of views with Martti Hetemäki, Chair of the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board (ESGAB); Consideration of draft report on European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2017; Adoption of draft Annual Report on EU Competition Policy;  Public Hearing with Elke König, Chairperson of the Single Resolution Board (SRB).

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) 
Consideration of draft opinions on Approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as regards the accessibility requirements for products and services, on EU flagship initiative on the garment sector, on The functioning of franchising in the retail sector and on Conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part; Exchange of views with Pedro S. Martins (Member of the Expert Group for the review of the Greek labour market institutions) on Greek labour market reforms; Adoption of opinion(s) in letter form on EGF application(s)

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) 
Consideration of amendments on Annual Report on the Single Market Governance within the European Semester 2017; Consideration of draft report on Cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws (Text with EEA relevance); Adoption of draft opinions on Coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services in view of changing market realities and on Establishing a Union programme to support specific activities enhancing the involvement of consumers and other financial services end-users in Union policy making in the field of financial services for the period of 2017-2020.

Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)  
Adoption of draft report son  An Aviation Strategy for Europe and on  Logistics in the EU and multimodal transport in the new TEN-T corridors; Adoption of draft recommendations for second reading on:  Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 concerning the opening of the market for domestic passenger transport services by rail, Amendment of Directive 2012/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area, as regards the opening of the market for domestic passenger transport services by rail and the governance of the railway infrastructure, Repeal of Regulation (EEC) No 1192/69 of the Council on common rules for the normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings; Adoption of draft opinion on Approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles; Exchange of views with Commissioner Bulc.

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
Consideration of draft report on State of play of farmland concentration in the EU: how to facilitate the access to land for farmers; Exchange of views on Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 for a resilient Energy Union and to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change; Exchange of views on Inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry into the 2030 climate and energy framework and amending Regulation No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change; Exchange of views on the proposal for a Regulation on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and amending a number of sectoral regulations («Omnibus»); Presentation by the Commission (DG AGRI) on the Promotion Regulation: results of the call for proposals 2016 and work programme 2017.

Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations on Specific conditions to fishing for deep-sea stocks in the North-East Atlantic, provisions for fishing in international waters of the North-East Atlantic and repeal of Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002; Adoption of draft reports on Sustainable management of external fishing fleets and on Characteristics for fishing vessels (recast); Adoption of draft opinions on An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic and on Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU – European Commission; Consideration of draft recommendation (consent) on Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Cook Islands; ·Consideration of draft interim report on Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Cook Islands;  Report on the ICCAT mission by the Committee on Fisheries to Vilamoura, Portugal, from 15 to 19 November 2016.

Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Exchange of views with Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport; Adoption of draft reports on Implementation report on Erasmus + and on An integrated approach to Sport Policy: good governance, accessibility and integrity; Consideration of draft opinion on European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and Social Aspects in the Annual Growth Survey 2017;  Presentation by the European Commission of the Annual work programmes (Erasmus+ and Creative Europe).

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) 
Presentation of  The Charter of Digital Fundamental Rights in the EU in the presence of the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz and Prof. Heinz Bude, Sociologist, from the group of authors of the Charter of Digital Fundamental Rights; Presentation by Director-General Matthias Ruete, DG HOME, European Commission, on Reporting on the implementation of the EU readmission agreements, with particular reference to the ongoing work of the Joint Readmission Committees; Presentation by Director-General Matthias Ruete, DG HOME, European Commission, on Joint Way Forward (JWF) on migration issues between Afghanistan and the EU; Exchange of views with Bernard Cazeneuve, French Minister of the Interior; Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations on Combating terrorism and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism; Adoption of draft opinion on Annual Report 2015 on the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests – Fight against fraud.

Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Presentation by experts Federico de Montalvo & Professor Richard Rose invited by AFCO and exchange of views on Constitutional implications of referenda on European issues; Presentation by Charles Grant, Director of CER, of a briefing commissioned by Policy Department C on  The constitutional relationship of the United Kingdom with the European Union: the consequences of the results of the referendum of 23 June 2016; Presentation by Professor Olivier de Schutter of a study commissioned by Policy Department C on The European Social Charter in the context of implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Committee on Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS)
Exchange of views with representatives from the National Parliaments of Germany, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom on the parliamentary investigations into emissions measurement in the automotive sector; Presentation of the study on ‘Car emissions – Differences in EU and US legislation’.

Wednesday 7 December

Committee on Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA)
Exchange of views with Pierre Moscovici, Member of the European Commission responsible for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, on Fight against tax evasion and anti-money laundering: state of play of progress made at EU level; Exchange of views with Ashish Kumar, Policy Analyst at Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Thursday 8 December

Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI)

Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE)

Committee on Budgets (BUDG)
Exchanges of views on: Amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020; Mobilisation of the Contingency Margin amending Decision (EU) 2015/435; Proposal for amendment of Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management; Constitutional, legal and institutional implications of a common security and defence policy: possibilities offered by the Lisbon Treaty;  European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2017; European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and Social Aspects in the Annual Growth Survey 2017; Consideration and adoption of: Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund – EGF/2016/004 ES/Comunidad Valenciana automotive – Spain; EU funds for gender equality; Implementation report on Creative Europe; Implementation report on Europe for Citizens; Establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States of the EU and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes; Building policy; Financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Adoption of opinion(s) in letter form on EGF application(s); Adoption of draft opinions on: Conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part; The status of fish stocks and the socio-economic situation of the fishing sector in the Mediterranean; The need for an EU strategy to end and prevent the Gender Pension Gap; Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU – European Commission; Discharge 2015: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop);  Discharge 2015: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound);  2015 discharge: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA); 2015 discharge: European Training Foundation (ETF); 2015 discharge: Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agencies for the financial year 2015: performance, financial management and control; Cross-border exchange between the Union and third countries of accessible format copies of certain works and other subject-matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled; Permitted uses of works and other subject-matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled and amending Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society; Consideration of draft reports on: A European Pillar of Social Rights; Amendment to Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work; European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and Social Aspects in the Annual Growth Survey 2017.

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
Report back on ongoing interinstitutional negotiations on Regulation on mercury and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008; Adoption of draft report on Cost-effective emission reductions and low-carbon investments; Adoption of motion for a resolution further to a question for oral answer on The Regulation on Paediatric Medicines; Consideration of draft opinions on European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2017; Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU – European Commission; Discharge 2015: European Medicines Agency (EMA); Discharge 2015: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); Discharge 2015: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); Discharge 2015: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); Consideration of amendments on EU options for improving access to medicines.

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
Consideration of draft report on Establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States of the EU and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes; Consideration of draft report on Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the use of the Entry/Exit System; Presentation of the state of play of trilogue negotiations on List of the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (review of the suspension mechanism; Presentation of the FRA opinion on the Fundamental Rights situation in the hotspots by Mr Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos, Head of Department, Equality and Citizens’ Rights Department; Presentation of the FRA opinion on Dublin by Mr Tamas Molnar, Legal Research Officer on asylum, migration and borders; Adoption of draft report on European Union Agency for Asylum; Adoption of draft opinions on European Cloud Initiative and on Addressing Refugee and Migrant Movements: the Role of EU External Action; Vote on the text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations on List of the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (review of the suspension mechanism); Hearing on Fundamental rights implications of Big Data: privacy, data protection, non-discrimination, security and law-enforcement.

Find the full plenary agenda here. Find an overview of committees here. An overview of delegation meetings can be found here.

 

Council of Ministers

Monday 5 December

Eurogroup
Discussion on the euro area member states’ draft budgetary plans for 2017 and the budgetary situation and budgetary prospects in the euro area as a whole, based on the evaluations of the European Commission; Briefing on the state of play of the second review of the economic adjustment programme of Greece; adoption of the Eurogroup work programme for the first half of 2017.

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
On Energy
Ministers will debate measures to safeguard the security of gas supply, focusing on issues such as the scope of regional cooperation, solidarity related procedures and the extent of information exchange on gas contracts; the Commission will present the winter package, in the framework of the Energy Union Strategy implementation, which includes legislative proposals on energy efficiency, market design, renewables and governance; and the Council will also evaluate the progress on the development of the external dimension of the EU’s energy policy.

Tuesday 6 December

Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Ministers are expected to agree its negotiating position on amending the regulation on the European fund for strategic investments. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on a number of issues affecting investment in the EU, identified by the Economic Policy Committee. The Council will exchange views on the progress achieved on a proposal on a financial transaction tax in 10 EU countries, which are willing to introduce it into their national law. Ministers will also be invited to adopt conclusions in response to the Communication from the Commission entitled «Building a fair, competitive and stable corporate tax system for the EU», which presents the Commission’s package of proposals for a comprehensive corporate tax reform. The Council is expected to reach a general approach on the proposal to amend the existing anti-tax avoidance directive to tackle hybrid mismatches with non-EU countries. Furthermore, the Council presidency will brief the Council on the progress made in technical discussions on the proposal to establish a European Deposit Insurance Scheme. The Council will also hear European Commission’s presentation on proposals to further reduce risks in the EU’s banking sector. Lastly, ministers will exchange views on the European Commission’s presentation of the annual growth survey for 2017.

Thursday 8 December

Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
On Employment and Social Policy
Ministers will discuss the progress on the posting of workers directive and on the accessibility directive; debate the European pillar for social rights; exchange views on the European Semester 2017; adopt the following sets of conclusions: implementation of the Youth guarantee and the Youth employment initiative, and accelerating the process of Roma integration.
On Health
Ministers will exchange views on the public health related part of the annual growth survey 2017 in which the Commission outlines the most pressing economic and social priorities; the Commission will inform ministers on the European reference networks, that will to pool the expertise of healthcare specialists throughout the EU.

Justice and Home Affairs Council
On Justice
Justice ministers will discuss the latest development regarding the directive on the fight against fraud to the EU’s financial interests.  Ministers will  also discuss the latest development regarding the directive on the fight against fraud to the EU’s financial interests
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Protection Council
Ministers will discuss the progress on the posting of workers directive and on the accessibility directive. There will also be a debate on the European pillar for social rights. Ministers will also exchange views on the European Semester 2017. The Council is expected to adopt  conclusions on: Implementation of the Youth guarantee and the Youth employment initiative, Accelerating the process of Roma integration and Women and poverty. Health ministers will exchange views on the public health related part of the annual growth survey 2017. The Commission will inform ministers on the European reference networks.

Friday 9 December

Justice and Home Affairs Council
On Home Affairs
The Council will discuss the reform of the common European asylum system. Ministers are also expected to agree on a mandate for negotiations with the European parliament on a draft Eurodac regulation. Ministers will hear a presentation by Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-Terrorism coordinator, which will set out various policy options to tackle the issue of foreign terrorist fighters and returnees. They will also discuss a proposal from France and Germany that seeks to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies and telecommunications companies in the fight against terrorism.

An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.

 

European Commission and High Representative

Monday 5 December

President Jean-Claude Juncker and Frans Timmermans receive Mr Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Monday 5 – Friday 9 December

The European Vocational Skills Week
This first European Vocational skills week takes place in Brussels, in parallel with activities in Member States and other participating countries at national, regional and local levels, where these can be organised. This event aims at improving the attractiveness and image of vocational education and training by showing that vocational education and training (VET) can lead to: quality employment,
an entrepreneurial mindset, attractive and challenging careers, and opportunities for up-skilling and re-skilling. All stakeholders will be invited: learners, parents, companies, business organisations, education and training providers, adult learning organisations, researchers, career counsellors, Member States and other participating countries, social partners, and society at large.

Tuesday 6 December

Johannes Hahn receives Mr Ilir Meta, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania.

Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7 December

The 2016 EU agricultural outlook conference
This conference will provide an opportunity for a broad exchange of views on the state of EU agriculture and the global issues which lie ahead, like climate change. President Juncker will open the conference, and Commissioners Phil Hogan, Miguel Arias Cañete and Karmenu Vella will introduce the conference, and contribute to high-level panel discussions. The second day will focus on the latest outlook for EU dairy, meat and arable crop markets for the next ten years of Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. This outlook, covering prospects for 2016-26 and elaborated with the support of the Joint Research Centre, will be discussed by panels of experts.

Wednesday 7 December

College of Commissioners

Launch of Youth Initiative
The youth initiative will set out new actions to step up support of young people by broadening opportunities. One of the main elements of the package will be the European solidarity corps, which has been announced by President Juncker in his 2016 state of the European Union address.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Mustafa Akıncı, leader of the Turkish Cypriot community of Cyprus.

Carlos Moedas participates in the first high level group on the future of the European research and innovation, in Brussels.

Thursday 8 December

Johannes Hahn in Podgorica, Montenegro: on official visit.

Phil Hogan in Ankara, Turkey (until 09/12): on official visit.

Friday 9 December

Johannes Hahn in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina:on an official visit.

Cecilia Malmström participates in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Council, in Brussels.

Marianne Thyssen together with Valdis Dombrovskis receive social partners on European Social Pillar.

A full list with meetings of Commissioners can be found here.

 

European Economic and Social Committee

Thursday 8 December

COP22 debriefing public debate
The EESC’s Sustainable Development Observatory will organise a COP22 debriefing to discuss if the so called «COP of action» fulfilled its promises. The public debriefing will be an occasion to hear from the civil society organisations if their expectations were met, what were the main achievements of the COP22 and where an urgent action is needed in the coming months. The seminar will also provide an opportunity to discuss the next steps for EESC’s involvement in the coalition on multi-level and multi-stakeholder climate governance.

Friday 9 December

Debate on Evictions of Roma
The session will allow for interchange between Roma organizations across Europe and is part of the continuous work of the EESC to bring attention to Roma issues.

More information about EESC events can be found here.

 

Committee of the Regions

Tuesday 6 December

Integration of third country migrants: role of local and regional authorities
The CoR organises this event to showcase the best practice examples in different areas – such as housing, skills and jobs, education and civic integration –  in the municipalities and to discuss the challenges in short, medium and long term.

Conference of Presidents
Preparation of the December Bureau meeting and Plenary Session; Human Resources in the political groups – mobility; Strategic guidelines for the CoR draft budget 2018; Reflecting on Europe: the voice of regional and local authorities; Follow-up of the Brexit Referendum: preparing the CoR’s work; Activities of the CoR during the Maltese Presidency

Wednesday 7 December 

Plenary Session
Mr Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, will exchange views with CoR members.
Debates on: The REFIT Programme: the local and regional perspective; Tourism as a driving force for regional cooperation across the EU; EFSI 2.0, Collaborative economy and online platforms: a shared view of cities and regions; The Revision of the Posting of Workers Directive; A New Skills Agenda for Europe; Regulating price volatility of agricultural products; Technical measures in fisheries; Review of the audio-visual and media services Directive (AMSD)

Thursday 8 December 

Plenary Session
Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, will debate  with members on Regional Authorities dealing with migration challenge: from crisis modus to daily management.
Debates on: Reform of the Common European Asylum System; Integration of third country nationals; Legal Migration; Resolution on the European Commission Work Programme for 2017; Resolution on the situation in Hungary from a local and regional perspective; Election of Bureau Members; New CoR members and alternates.

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.

 

Slovak Presidency

Wednesday 7 December

Revolutionary innovation: how could innovation change our world?
This conference, organised by the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU together with the Slovak Liaison Office for Research and Development in Brussels and the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, aims to present revolutionary innovations in selected spheres, bring together researchers, innovators, businessmen, entrepreneurs and policy-makers to discuss the impact of innovation in the future and changes we will have to address and open up discussion on social and economic dimensions of revolutionary innovation.

Thursday 8 December

ENTSO-E Annual Conference 2016 – the Energy Union for You
The conference, organised by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity under the patronage of the Slovak Presidency of the EU, will focus on the key features of the EU’s Energy Union strategy. The event will address the question of the Energy Union’s benefits for European citizens, economies and industry, as well as the future of smart cities.

The agenda of the Slovak Presidency can be found here.

 

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7 December

EU Agencies Forum at the European Parliament
The Agency will join its 43 sister agencies at the EU Agencies Forum. The high-level Forum aims to be a platform for fostering exchange between EU Agencies and their stakeholders with EU policy makers, civil society and other EU Institutions. It will present the benefits that EU Agencies provide to citizens and businesses throughout Europe, the added value that stakeholders receive from EU Agencies as well as their contribution to the EU policy making-process. The Forum will also give special attention to how EU Agencies are working to help make Europe more competitive and a better place to live and work.

Wednesday 7 December

FRA at High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance meets
The EU’s High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance will hold its second meeting. The Agency will present the results of the first meeting of the sub-group on methodologies for recording and collecting data on hate crime at the meeting. The group will adopt the terms of reference and the plan of activities of the sub-group.

Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here. 

 

European Investment Bank

Friday 9 December

Seminar: Joining forces for integrity
On International Anti-Corruption Day, this seminar aims at providing stakeholders with an opportunity to learn about and discuss the advantages, features and suitability of innovative approaches based on transparency and stakeholder engagement. Experts from the EIB, representatives from Transparency International and the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST), and business representatives will share their expertise and experience in an interactive format. This EIB stakeholder engagement workshop will be particularly useful for NGOs, private organisations and public authorities looking for innovative and complementary approaches to strengthen integrity in the implementation of large-scale projects.

More information about EIB events can be found here. 

 

Council of Europe

Tuesday 6 December

PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
Ending cyberdiscrimination and online hate; The protection of the rights of parents and children belonging to religious minorities; Work Programme; The political rights of persons with disabilities: a democratic issue; Promoting the human rights of and eliminating discrimination against intersex people; Migration from a gender perspective: empowering women as key actors for integration.

Tuesday 6 – Thursday 8 December

Human Rights Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 December

71st Plenary meeting of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Strasbourg, France.

Wednesday 7 December

PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza; Integration of refugees in times of critical pressure: learning from recent experience and examples of best practice; Report of the fact-finding mission on the situation of migrants and refugees in Calais and Grande-Synthe, France; Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Co-operation with non-European countries of origin and transit ; Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Integration; Training for parliamentarians and visit of a detention centre in Vienna; Follow-up to the proposal of the PACE President to hold a major debate devoted to the migration issue and the management of the current refugee crisis; Recommendation 2078 (2015) on “Countries of transit : meeting new migration and asylum challenges”; Detention of migrants: current intergovernmental work and follow-up to Recommendation 1900 (2010) of the Assembly; Follow-up to Resolution 2109 (2016) on “The situation of refugees and migrants under the EU-Turkey Agreement of 18 March 2016” and to Resolution 2118 (2016) on “Refugees in Greece: challenges and risks – A European responsibility”; Follow-up to Resolution 2088 (2016) on “The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration”; Parliamentary Campaign to end immigration detention of children; work programme and structure of work.

Thursday 8 December

57th Meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections in Venice, Italy.

Thursday 8 – Friday 9 December

PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media
European Museum of Media; Parliamentary scrutiny over corruption: parliamentary co-operation with investigative media; Online media and journalism: challenges and accountability; Attacks against journalists and media freedom in Europe; Reply from the Committee of Ministers (Doc. 14153) to Recommendation 2080 (2015) “Freedom of religion and living together in a democratic society”; Good football governance; The status of journalists in Europe; The protection of editorial integrity; Council of Europe Museum Prize 2017; The protection and promotion of Regional or Minority Languages in Europe; Technological convergence, artificial intelligence and human rights.

Friday 9 – Saturday 10 December

109th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission

Find an overview of Council of Europe events here; the PACE diary here; the Congress calendar of events here; and information on Venice Commission events here.

 

OSCE

Thursday 8 – Friday 9 December

23rd OSCE Ministerial Council
The 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council will take place in Hamburg, Germany. The event will be held at the invitation of the 2016 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The meeting, held annually, provides the foreign ministers of the 57 OSCE participating States an opportunity to review and assess the Organization’s activities and strengthen the dialogue on security issues in the OSCE area.

Find more here.

 

Elections

Sunday 11 December

Parliamentary elections in FYR of Macedonia

Parliamentary elections in Romania