Day-by-day

Monday 8 May

• EP: LIBE
• EC: Juncker participates in presentation of a book by Vice-Chancellor of Germany
• EC: High level conference on sustainable tourism and EMAS awards 2017
• EC: Event on EU-Latin America dialogue on raw materials
• CoR: Citizens’ Dialogue on the Future of Europe
• CoR: Event on Europe – Opportunities for young people
• EIB: Seminar on EU4Business in Georgia

Tuesday 9 May

• EUROPE DAY
• EP: PANA
• EC: Juncker participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue with former PM of Estonia
• EC: Mogherini in New York, the US: addresses the UN Security Council
• EC: Dombrovskis in Riga, Latvia: meets President of Latvia
• CoR: «Reflecting on Europe» on Europe Day
• Presidency: Third Round Table Meeting for European Health Ministers

Wednesday 10 May

• EC: Timmermans and Avramopoulos receive Turkish Minister for EU Affairs
• EC: College Meeting
• EC: Conference on smart regions with smart robots: a winning formula
• CoR: Seminar «Health in cities: making it everyone’s business»
• CoR: Bureau meeting
• Presidency: eHealth week 2017
• Presidency: MISSOC (EU’s Mutual Information System on Social Protection)
• FRA: Czech EU Affairs Committee visits FRA
• CoE: Republic of Moldova – forthcoming opinion – visit to the country

Thursday 11 May

• EP: IMCO, LIBE, BUDG, FEMM
• Agriculture and Fisheries Council
• EU-Tunisia Association Council
• Foreign Affairs Council
• EC: Juncker in Bucharest, Romania: meets President of the Romanian Senate
• EC: Timmermans in Stockholm, Sweden: meets Prime Minister of Sweden
• EC: Joint EC-CEPT workshop on the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019
• EESC: Meeting on EU private sector’s investment
• EESC: Conference on EU at a crossroads
• CoR: Plenary session
• Presidency: Conference – Mobility takes research further
• CoE: Electoral Assessment Mission – Local elections in Yerevan, Armenia

Friday 12 May

• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
• EC: Timmermans receives Ms Nancy Pelosi
• EC: Stakeholder conference on the digital competence framework for citizens
• EC: Announcement of  winners of the 2017 EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture
• EESC: Seminar on new technologies and digitalization
• CoR: Plenary session
• Presidency: Meeting of the Agents before the Court of Justice of the European Union

Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 May

• Open day of the European Institutions in Strasbourg and Luxembourg

 

European Union

European Parliament

Monday 8 May

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
Follow-up to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants: Global Compact on Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF); Joint Way Forward (JWF) on migration issues between Afghanistan and the EU; Commission Staff Working Document – Refit Evaluation of the EU legal framework against facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence: the Facilitators Package.

Tuesday 9 May

Committee on money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion (PANA)
Public hearing on «Cooperation in tax matters with European jurisdictions».

Thursday 11 May

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
Update on Trilogues and Events; Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on the making available on the market of CE marked fertilising products and amending Regulations; Legislative scrutiny: – Implementation update of Directive on Network and information systems across the Union.
Votes: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications; Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services; Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A new skills agenda for Europe – Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness; Draft report / Draft recommendation – The functioning of franchising in the retail sector; Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and retransmissions of television and radio programmes.
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market; Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on a proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions.

LIBE Exchange of views on The Comprehensive Assessment of EU Security Policy
The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee decided to honour the request of Commissioner King and agreed to organise a meeting to exchange views with Members of national parliaments and civil society to provide input to the comprehensive assessment of the EU security policy.

Committee on Budgets (BUDG)
Votes: Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund following an application from Finland –FI/Nokia Network Systems; Draft opinion – Increasing engagement of partners and visibility in the performance of European Structural and Investment Funds; Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast); 2017 Budget: Other Sections Rapporteur: Indrek Tarand (Greens/EFA) – Any transfer request.
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC, Euratom) establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions; 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.
Jointly with the AFET and DEVE committees: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) and establishing the EFSD Guarantee and the EFSD Guarantee Fund.

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
Report on the implementation of Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.

Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 May

Find further information about the Open day of the European Institutions in Strasbourg and Luxembourg here.

Find the full plenary agenda here. Find an overview of committee agendas here. 

 

Council of Ministers

Thursday 11 May

EU-Tunisia Association Council

Agriculture and Fisheries Council
The Council is expected to adopt a general approach on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures. Technical measures are a broad set of rules which govern how, where and when fishermen may fish. Under any other business, ministers will be informed on the MedFish4Ever declaration and the Ocean Conference to be held in New York from 5 to 9 June 2017. They will also have a look at the issue of control measures concerning African swine fever in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova and possible cooperation to stop the spread of the disease.

Foreign Affairs Council
Ministers will discuss the new anti-dumping methodology. Since the Commission presented its proposal in November 2016, the Council has worked intensively on this file with the aim of agreeing a Council mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament. It agreed on its negotiating mandate on 3 May 2017. The Council will hold a debate on the implementation of free trade agreements. Ministers will also take stock of trade relations with Chile, New Zealand and Australia and discuss the state of play of trade negotiations with Japan, Mexico and Mercosur over lunch. Furthermore, they will talk about the EU-Myanmar/Burma Investment Protection Agreement. Ministers will also examine the preparations for this December’s 11th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires.

An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.

 

European Commission and High Representative

Monday 8 May

Juncker in Berlin, Germany: participates in the presentation of a book by Mr Sigmar Gabriel, Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany; and holds a joint press conference.

High level conference on sustainable tourism and EMAS awards 2017
The European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment organises a high level conference on sustainable tourism and the EU eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) awards 2017 in Valletta, Malta. The conference aims at discussing the role of authorities and businesses in addressing the challenges and benefits of a more sustainable tourism sector. In keynote speeches and panel discussions the conference will look at key trends and opportunities within sustainable tourism, present case studies on sustainable tourism in practice and assess the role of EMAS and the EU ecolabel for promoting sustainable tourism in Member States. Commissioner Karmenu Vella will speak at this event. This year, the European EMAS Awards, described as the most prestigious awards in environmental management, will honour registered organisations that are contributing to making the European economy more circular.

Monday 8 – Tuesday 9 May

Event on EU-Latin America dialogue on raw materials: consolidating the cooperation
The main purpose of this event will be to consolidate the cooperation between the European Union and Latin American countries in the field of raw materials. Several thematic areas will be addressed: investment and cooperation opportunities; innovation (technology, finance, business models, partnerships, regulatory frameworks, clusters, etc.); trade, sustainable development goals (SDGs), environmental and safety performance along the mining value chain; research, education, skills and training opportunities along the mining value chain; ongoing cooperation projects and initiatives.
Particular attention will be dedicated to the EU-Latin America mineral development platform, a project funded by the EU partnership instrument.

Tuesday 9 May

Juncker participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue along with Mr Taavi Rõivas, former Prime Minister of Estonia; Ms Maria João Rodrigues, Member of the European Parliament; Ms Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Parliament; Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit, former Member of the European Parliament; and Mr Guillaume Klossa, Director Public Affairs and Communications at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), in Brussels.

Mogherini in New York, the United States of America: addresses the United Nations Security Council.

Dombrovskis in Riga, Latvia: meets Mr Raimonds Vējonis, President of Latvia.

Wednesday 10 May

Timmermans and Avramopoulos receive Mr Ömer Çelik, Turkish Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator for Turkish Accession to the European Union.

College Meeting
Reflection paper on harnessing globalisation by 2025 (White Paper Process); Digital Single Market: Mid-term review.

Conference on smart regions with smart robots: a winning formula
The conference brings together roboticists and representatives from local, regional and national authorities. Some of the best experts in Europe will present state-of-the-art robotics applications, showcases success stories of some regional initiatives, inform about the funding possibilities and explore ways to join forces with other regions. The conference also aims to enable the robotics community to meet with their respective local, regional, national authorities to discuss their local strategy and ecosystems, building on their strength.

Thursday 11 May

Juncker in Bucharest, Romania: meets Mr Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, President of the Romanian Senate; and Mr Liviu Dragnea, President of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies.

Timmermans in Stockholm, Sweden: meets Mr Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden; participates in the seminar «Better regulation – for a more competitive Europe; participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue.

Joint EC-CEPT workshop on the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19)
The European Commission (EC) and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications (CEPT) will organise a public workshop with stakeholders regarding EU policy and the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19). This is an opportunity for stakeholders to present their views on the items in the agenda of that conference and to become more acquainted with the EU policy aspects that have bearing on the European positions at that conference as well as the state of play in the preparations.

Friday 12 May

Timmermans receives Ms Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives for the Congress of the United States of America.

Stakeholder conference on the digital competence framework for citizens (DigComp) and the entrepreneurship competence framework (EntreComp)
The event will be hosted by the Directorate-General for employment, social affairs and inclusion of the European Commission. It will bring together stakeholders from every sector with an interest in the 2 key competences that are DigComp and EntreComp, and seek to create a community around the frameworks to explore and advance the use of both. A key feature of the event will be an exhibition session run during part of the day which will allow stakeholders to present information on how they have applied or used the frameworks in their work. The event will also contain a number of interactive sessions and presentations.

Announcement of the winners of the 2017 EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture
The event will announce the Winners of the 2017 EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture. The Prize is managed jointly by the European Commission (Creative Europe Programme, DG EAC) and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, based in Barcelona. The Prize aims to raise awareness of excellence in the field of architecture, drawing attention to the contributions of European professionals in the development of new architectural concepts, techniques and technologies. High-level representatives from DG EAC, the Foundation and Brussels-Capital Region will participate. The press conference will be followed by a cocktail.

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

Thursday 11 May

Meeting on: Does the EU encourage private sector’s investment?
The Employers’ Group of the EESC is organising an extraordinary Meeting in Malta to reflect on EU’s initiatives to mobilise private investment including the extension in time and financial capacity of the European Fund for Strategic Investment which is a priority file during the Maltese Presidency. The conference will also be the occasion to discuss the specific case of Malta which has been able to attract private sector investment in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds, representatives from Business, academics and other Maltese and European stakeholder.

Thursday 11 – Friday 12 May

Conference on EU at a crossroads: time to step up on social progress and fair trade
The first day will be devoted to the economic and social situation in the host country and the priorities and programme of the Maltese Presidency. With the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Michael Farrugia, the Minister for Finance, Edward Scicluna, the Minister for Education and Employment, Evarist Bartolo, and the Minister for Tourism, Edward Zammit Lewis, we will address social and economic cohesion, the labour market situation and industrial relations in Malta and in the EU. The second day will focus on how to achieve a fairer, more transparent EU trade policy, which actually benefits workers and citizens, without jeopardizing social standards or the freedom of trade unions.

Friday 12 May

Seminar on new technologies and digitalisation: opportunities and challenges for Social Economy and Social Enterprise
The opportunities and challenges emerging around potential synergies between digitalisation, new technologies and social economy actors are manifold and should be thoroughly examined and addressed.  Social economy and social enterprises must use digitalization and digital technologies as a lever for economic and social transformation and increased social impact across Europe. The European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee will hold a joint workshop on «the impact of digitalisation and new technologies on social economy».

More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.

 

Committee of the Regions

Monday 8 May

Citizens’ Dialogue on the Future of Europe
In this Citizens’ Dialogue initiated by the Region of Galicia via its President and CoR Member Núñez Feijóo (ES/EPP) and Jesús Gamallo Aller (ES/EPP), the Italian Ambassador to Spain, Stefano Sannino, will reflect on Europe’s future and interact with the audience attending the debate in Santiago de Compostela on the occasion of the European Day 2017.
Main target audience: students.

Event on Europe – Opportunities for young people
This is the first local event of a series of two citizens’ dialogues within the «Reflecting on Europe» campaign organised in Austria.  The event will take place in Breitenwang, initiated by the Austrian CoR member Hanspeter Wagner (AT/EPP), and will focus on opportunities for young people in Europe.

Tuesday 9 May

«Reflecting on Europe» on Europe Day
All over the EU, Europe Day is celebrated every year on 9 May, to mark the anniversary of the historical ‘Schuman declaration’ of 1950. Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister of the time, introduced his idea of political cooperation in Europe, today considered as the beginning of what is now the European Union. Within the framework of «Reflecting on Europe», a series of events offering a space for citizens to present their ideas, thoughts and opinions about the future of Europe, the European Committee of the Regions co-organises several events on this years’ Europe Day. Find out about them in more detail below and join the debate!

Wednesday 10 May

Seminar «Health in cities: making it everyone’s business»
The secretariat of the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) is organising, together with the UN WHO Regional Office for Europe a half day seminar on ‘Health in Cities’.

Meeting of the European Committee of the Regions Bureau
Resolution on the European Commission white paper on the Future of Europe – Reflections and scenarios for the EU27 by 2025 (for decision); Draft agenda of the 123rd Plenary Session on 11 and 12 May 2017 (for decision); Preliminary draft agenda of the 124th Plenary Session on 12 and 13 July 2017(for information); Consultative works; Allocation of own-initiative opinions (for decision); Assignment of documents by the President (for information); Decision not to draw up an opinion (for information); Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly Action Plan 2017 (for information); Funding available in relations to RLAs in the EaP and UfM countries (for information); 2018 draft; Calendar of CoR Bureau and Plenary Session meetings (for decision); Mid-term report on the work of the Interregional groups (for decision); Subsidiarity; Annual Report 2016 and Executive Summary; Leading to the Subsidiarity conference in Vienna («Converting subsidiarity into action») (for information).

Thursday 11 – Friday 12 May

Plenary Session
Eleven opinions and two resolutions are on the agenda of this plenary session.
On the first day, Mr Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, will address the Plenary in the context of the «Reflecting on Europe» strategy. Mr Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President of the European Commission, will exchange views with CoR members.
On the second day, Ms Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, will debate with members. Mr Christian Cardona, Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Business, will represent the Maltese Presidency of the Council. Finally, Mr Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, will speak about the Draft Annual Budget 2018.

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

Tuesday 9 May

Third Round Table Meeting for European Health Ministers, CEO’s and Heads of Europe-based Pharmaceutical Companies
The aim of the third round table meeting is for the different stakeholders to meet informally, agree to explore various options and agree upon an aligned strategy proposal to improve the overall sustainability of healthcare with a central focus on improving access to treatment for patients, balanced costs for health systems and attractiveness for the industry to innovate and supply.

Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 May

eHealth week 2017
eHealth week 2017 is organised by the Maltese Ministry of Health as part of their Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and HIMSS Europe. The eHealth week 2017 will gather stakeholders from across the globe to address international hot topics related to healthcare IT, including ‘cross-border exchange of personal health data: from policy to practice’ and ‘European reference networks: how digital health helps’. One of the objectives of the Maltese eHealth agenda is to improve the myHealth portal for patients and clinicians. The next generation of myHealth has been launched and will be available for international demonstration in 2017. As such, two of the themes will be addressed during the eHealth week: Giving European citizens access to their personal health data; Improving public health through better use of clinical data.

Wednesday 10 – Saturday 13 May

MISSOC (EU’s Mutual Information System on Social Protection)
MISSOC aims to contribute to the work within the Open Method of Coordination in the field of Social Protection and Social Inclusion by producing regularly updated information on all areas of social protection. The main theme of the Maltese Presidency in the field of employment and social policy is “Making Work Pay”. The aim of this meeting is to complete the description of social protection for the self employed and to discuss the unemployment benefits systems.

Thursday 11 – Friday 12 May

Maltese Presidency conference – Mobility takes research further
The MSCA 2017 Conference will take place in Malta on the 11th and 12th May 2017 under the auspices of the Maltese Presidency of the EU. The event will be organised by the Malta Council for Science and Technology within the Ministry for Education and Employment, with the kind cooperation of the European Commission. The overall objective of the conference is to discuss and reflect on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions with a special focus on ‘Mobility Takes Research Further’. The objectives of the event will be reached by sharing good practices and encouraging a debate on past and ongoing experiences. The input from the participants will be then elaborated into a conference report.

Friday 12 May

Meeting of the Agents before the Court of Justice of the European Union
Legal developments as well as the agents’ own practical experiences and shared problems are discussed and, occasionally, verbal agreement may be reached on a common approach in pending cases. The judges from the host Member State serving on the Court of Justice and the General Court are also regularly invited to address participants on relevant topics, such as current developments in case-law and the conduct of proceedings before the courts.

The agenda of the Maltese Presidency can be found here.

 

European Agency for Fundamental Rights

Wednesday 10 May

Czech EU Affairs Committee visits FRA
The EU Affairs Committee of the Czech Senate will visit the Agency.
It will be an opportunity for them to become better acquainted with the Agency’s and its work. They are also interested in hearing about its work on migration.

Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here. 

 

European Investment Bank

Monday 8 May

Seminar on EU4Business in Georgia
The European Investment Bank Group will host an interactive seminar to present the extensive range of support made available to private sector development in Georgia. The seminar will be introduced by high level representatives of the EU, Georgian Government and EIB Group. A discussion on cooperation with the EIB and private sector development in Georgia will follow, as well as presentations and Q&A sessions on EIB Group’s activities in Georgia. Focus will be put on the latest initiatives made available to improve access to finance for local micro entreprises, SMEs and midcaps. A networking reception will follow.

More information about EIB events can be found here. 

 

Council of Europe

Wednesday 10 May

Republic of Moldova – forthcoming opinion – visit to the country
A delegation of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR visits the Republic of Moldova in view of the preparation of a joint opinion on the revision of the electoral legislation concerning the electoral system for the election of Parliament. The delegation will meet the President of the Republic, the President of Parliament, representatives of political parties and the civil society, as well as the Central Electoral Commission.

Thursday 11 – Monday 15 May

Electoral Assessment Mission – Local elections in Yerevan, Armenia (14 May 2017)

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.