Welcome to the Weekly European Agenda! Thanks to our colleagues at European Movement International, each Monday we bring you a breakdown of the agendas of European Institutions for the upcoming week.
European Union
European Parliament
Monday 27 February
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Exchange of views with Srdjan Darmanović, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro; Report on the 2016 European Commission Report on Montenegro, the 2016 European Commission Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the 2016 European Commission Report on Serbia, and the 2016 European Commission Report on Kosovo; Exchange of views on the situation in Venezuela with the European External Action Service.
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
State of play of ongoing ‘trilogue’ negotiations; Evaluation of external aspects of customs performance and management as a tool to facilitate trade and fight illicit trade; Laying down rules on making CE marked fertilising products available on the market; Towards a new trade framework between the EU and Turkey and the modernisation of the Customs Union.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
European venture capital and social entrepreneurship funds; FinTech: the influence of technology on the future of the financial sector; Amending Regulation (EU) No 99/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on the European statistical programme 2013-17, extending it to 2018-2020.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Better services for skills and qualifications (Europass); A new skills agenda for Europe; Increasing engagement of partners and visibility in the performance of European Structural and Investment Funds; Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast); Amending Regulation (EU) No 99/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on the European statistical programme 2013-17, extending it to 2018-2020; Exchange of views with Christa Sedlatschek, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA).
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
Laying down rules on making CE marked fertilising products available on the market; Management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Convention Area of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); Guarantee to the European Investment Bank (EIB) against losses under financing operations supporting investment projects outside the EU; 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 with the European Commission.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Study on ‘European Energy Industry Investments’, presentation by Luc Van Nuffel and Jessica Yearwood; Promotion of Internet connectivity in local communities; Financial rules applicable to the EU general budget; Protection against dumped and subsidised imports from non-EU countries.
Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)
Joint debate: Registration of persons sailing on passenger ships operating to or from Member State ports and amending Directive 2010/65/EU of the European Parliament and the Council on reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from Member State ports; System of inspections for the safe operation of ro-ro ferry and high-speed passenger craft in regular service and amending Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on port State control and repealing Council Directive 1999/35/EC, Safety rules and standards for passenger ships, Financial rules applicable to the EU general budget.
Joint Debate: Digitising European industry, European standards – implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, Approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as regards the accessibility requirements for products and services.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
Laying down rules on making CE marked fertilising products available on the market; Promoting cohesion and development in the Outermost Regions of the EU: the implementation of Article 349 Treaty on the Functioning of the EU; 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; Presentation by the European Commission (DG AGRI) on the development of the dairy market situation and the operation of the ‘Milk Package’ provisions (COM(2016)724); Presentation of the report on the AGRI mission to Berlin International Green Week (Germany), 19-20 January 2017.
Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
Hearing on ‘Information on the state and development of the biomass of fish stocks managed by the Common Fisheries Policy’; Exchange of views on the fishing of swordfish in the Mediterranean; Management, conservation and control measures in the Convention Area of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); Report on the mission by the Committee on Fisheries in Vigo, Spain, 20-22 February 2017.
Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Better services for skills and qualifications (Europass); A new skills agenda for Europe.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
Hearing on the situation of fundamental rights in Hungary.
Votes: Registration of persons sailing on passenger ships operating to or from Member State ports and amending Directive 2010/65/EU of the European Parliament and the Council on reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from Member State ports; Proposal for a Council implementing decision on the launch of automated data exchange with regard to vehicle registration data in Denmark; Proposal for a Council implementing decision on the launch of automated data exchange with regard to DNA data in Greece; Establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register data and refusal of entry data of third country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes; Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the use of the EES.
Tuesday 28 February
Interparliamentary Committee Meeting
Meeting on the third reform of the Common European Asylum System.
Joint Committee Meeting (AFET, DEVE, BUDG)
Establishing the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) Guarantee and the EFSD Guarantee Fund.
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Votes: Towards a new trade framework between the EU and Turkey and the modernisation of the Customs Union; The 2016 European Commission Report on Montenegro; The 2016 European Commission Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; The 2016 European Commission Report on Serbia; The 2016 European Commission Report on Kosovo.
Committee on Development (DEVE)
Votes: Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests; Discharge 2015: EU general budget – 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs; Discharge 2015: EU general budget – European Commission.
Guarantee Fund for external actions; Guarantee to the EIB against losses under financing operations supporting investment projects outside the EU; EU flagship initiative on the garment sector; 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.
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
Votes: EU flagship initiative on the garment sector; Guarantee to the EIB against losses under financing operations supporting investment projects outside the EU; Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the EU and Brazil pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of Croatia in the course of its accession to the EU; Protection against dumped and subsidised imports from non-EC countries.
Ad-hoc delegation to Mexico, 20-22 February 2017; Agreement between the EU and Chile on trade in organic products; Exchange of views on the Malaysia and ASEAN Free Trade Agreements; Conclusion of the Agreement between the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021; the Agreement between Norway and the EU on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2014-2021; the Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Norway and the Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland; Setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering, technical assistance and transit of dual-use items (recast); Guarantee Fund for external actions; EU Trade Defence Instruments.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
Votes: Prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.
Scrutiny of delegated acts and implementing measures; Structured Dialogue with Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union; Hybrid mismatches with non-EU countries.
Votes: 2015 discharges.
Ranking of unsecured debt instruments in insolvency hierarchy; Loss-absorbing and recapitalisation capacity of credit institutions and investment firms and amending Directive 98/26/EC, Directive 2002/47/EC, Directive 2012/30/EU, Directive 2011/35/EU, Directive 2005/56/EC, Directive 2004/25/EC and Directive 2007/36/EC; Loss-absorbing and Recapitalisation Capacity for credit institutions and investment firms.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Votes: Amendment to Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work; The functioning of franchising in the retail sector; Extension of the duration of the European Fund for Strategic Investments as well as the introduction of technical enhancements for that Fund and the European Investment Advisory Hub.
Approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as regards the accessibility requirements for products and services; European Commission presentation of Agencies Regulations; Financial rules applicable to the EU general budget; Minimum income policies as a tool to tackle poverty; Establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households.
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
Votes: Budgetary Control of financing NGOs from the EU Budget.
A longer lifetime for products: benefits for consumers and companies; Exchange of views with the European Commission on Food Defence; Exchange of views with the European Commission on the draft Commission Implementing Decision on a simplified procedure for amending the list of establishments in Canada from which the Member States are authorised to import commodities for human consumption for which equivalence has been agreed between the EU and Canada; Exchange of views with the European Commission on Global Rare Diseases Day.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Votes: Rules for wholesale roaming markets; EU eGovernment action plan 2016-2020.
Energy performance of buildings; Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast).
Joint debate on EFSI in the presence of Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, EIB: Extension of the duration of the European Fund for Strategic Investments as well as the introduction of technical enhancements for that Fund and the European Investment Advisory Hub, The implementation of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, Study on “Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency Trends in the EU-28 (2000-2014)”, presentation by Paolo Bertoldi (Joint Research Centre).
Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)
Votes: Approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as regards the accessibility requirements for products and services; 2015 discharges; Motion for resolution on German road toll system; Motion for resolution on Road transport in the EU.
Scrutiny of the European Commission: roadworthiness of motor vehicles (Directive 2014/45) – odometer frauds; 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 with TEN-T co-ordinators, Pawel Wojchiechowski, Laurens-Jan Brinkhorst and Matthieu Grosch on ‘Extending cooperation with third countries and unblocking cross-border problems’.
Hearing on ‘Economic losses of transport companies because of strengthened border checks’; European Agenda for the collaborative economy; Internet connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: European gigabit society and 5G; Promotion of Internet connectivity in local communities.
Committee on Regional Development (REGI)
Votes: Establishment of the Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017-2020
Exchange of views with Corina Crețu, European Commissioner on Regional Policy; Exchange of views with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR); Financial rules applicable to the EU general budget.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
Votes: Introduction of temporary autonomous trade measures for Ukraine supplementing the trade concessions available under the Association Agreement; The right funding mix for Europe’s regions: balancing financial instruments and grants in EU cohesion policy; Working conditions and precarious employment; Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests.
Presentation by the European Parliament’s Legal Service and the European Commission on the implications of the European Court of Justice ruling on Western Sahara in the Morocco free trade agreement – agricultural produce (Case C-104/16P Council v Front Polisario); Presentation by the European Commission (DG AGRI) on possible US retaliatory measures against EU imports following an EU ban on hormone treated beef; Exchange of views with European Commissioners Phil Hogan and Margrethe Vestager on the application of competition policy in the agricultural sector; Approval of recommendations by AGRI co-ordinators.
Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
Votes: Characteristics for fishing vessels (recast); Sustainable management of external fishing fleets.
Exchange of views following the ruling of the European Court of Justice on the agreement between the EU and Morocco; A Space Strategy for Europe; Financial rules applicable to the EU general budget.
Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Votes: European Year of Cultural Heritage; European Capitals of Culture 2020-2033; 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; Cross-border exchange between the EU and non-EU 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; Internet connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: European gigabit society and 5G.
Copyright in the Digital Single Market; Rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and re-transmissions of television and radio programmes; The implementation of the European Fund for Strategic Investments; Structured dialogue with the European Youth Forum.
Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)
Ratification and accession by Member States on behalf of the Union to the Protocol of 2010 to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea with the exception of aspects related to judicial cooperation in civil matters; Cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market; Common minimum standards of civil procedures; Monitoring the application of EU law 2015; Protection of vulnerable adults; EU accession to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; Addressing geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers’ nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market; Implementation of the Treaty provisions concerning national Parliaments; Cross-border restitution claims of works of art and cultural goods looted in armed conflicts and wars; Scrutiny of delegated acts and implementing measures; European Commission Implementing Decision concerning the adoption of the work programme for 2017 and the financing for the implementation of the Justice Programme; Commission implementing regulation laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the EU trade mark.
Votes: Cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws (text with EEA relevance); EU eGovernment action plan 2016-2020; Protection against dumped and subsidised imports from non-EU countries; Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the EU trade mark (codification); Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast).
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
Votes: Prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
Women and their roles in rural areas; European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND); European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE); Assessment of Horizon 2020 implementation in view of its interim evaluation and the Framework Programme 9 proposal; Knowledge and know-how: the role of self-defence in the prevention of violence against women; Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Private and Public Sectors in the EU.
Votes: Approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as regards the accessibility requirements for products and services; Addressing human rights violations in the context of war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including genocide.
Wednesday 1 March
Plenary Session
Debates: Resumption of session and order of business; Preparation of the European Council meeting of 9-10 March 2017; Tackling the disappearance of migrant children in Europe; Gender pay gap; Recent partial decriminalisation of domestic violence in Russia; Breaches of current freedom of movement rights of EU citizens residing in the UK and the use of six-month expulsions; Gender balance among judges at the European Court of Justice; Information exchange mechanism with regard to intergovernmental agreements and non-binding instruments in the field of energy; Options for improving access to medicines; e-Democracy in the EU: potential and challenges.
Thursday 2 March
Plenary Session
Debates: Implementation of the Creative Europe programme; Implementation of the Europe for Citizens programme; Presentation of the ‘Common Commercial Policy in the context of wildlife sustainability imperatives’ report.
Votes: EU-Lebanon Euro-Mediterranean Agreement: accession of Croatia; EU-Liechtenstein Agreement on supplementary rules in relation to the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa; Information exchange mechanism with regard to intergovernmental agreements and non-binding instruments in the field of energy; Obligations in the field of visa reciprocity; e-Democracy in the EU: potential and challenges; Implementation of the Creative Europe programme; Implementation of the Europe for Citizens programme; Common Commercial Policy in the context of wildlife sustainability imperatives.
Find the full plenary agenda here. Find an overview of committee agendas here.
Council of the European Union
Monday 27 February
Intergovernmental conference with Serbia
Transport, Communications and Energy Council
The Council will have an exchange of views on eight legislative proposals included in the Clean energy package. The proposals relate to energy efficiency, electricity market design, security of supply, renewables and energy and governance, which are the five strands of the Energy Union strategy. Ministers will be informed by the European Commission on progress made in 2016 towards the Energy Union objectives, in particular the 2020 energy and climate targets. Ministers will also discuss Energy Union governance.
Tuesday 28 February
Environment Council
Ministers will discuss the revision of the emissions trading system (ETS) with the aim of agreeing the Council’s position. Ministers will exchange views on what sustainable development means for the EU’s environmental policy. In particular, they will focus on how to put in practice the sustainable development goals, what should be the priorities and how to involve citizens and companies. In the context of the greening of the European Semester, the Council will look at the environmental implementation review, a tool to address implementation gaps on environmental legislation and policy. Under any other business, the Council will be informed among others about the action plan for circular economy, aviation emissions and the follow-up to the Paris Agreement.
Thursday 2 – Friday 3 March
Informal meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers in Valetta, Malta
Friday 3 March
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
Ministers will debate a proposal for an amended regulation to update and modernise the coordination of European social security systems. Ministers will also discuss the European Semester 2017. Focusing on the implementation of the country-specific recommendations, they will talk about how to enhance labour market access and reduce divergence across the EU. In addition, the Council will adopt conclusions on the 2017 annual growth survey and joint employment report, dealing with priorities for action in the areas of employment and social policies. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on enhancing the skills of women and men in the EU labour market. The Maltese Presidency and the European Commission will inform the Council about preparations for the Tripartite Social Summit on 8 March which deals with ‘The future of Europe: charting the course towards growth, employment and fairness’.
Informal meeting of trade ministers
Ministers responsible for trade and delegates working on trade will have informal discussions on key dossiers. Working Session I: Legislative dossiers Plenary; Working Session II: Multilateral Investment Court.
An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.
European Commission
Monday 27 February
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the Vatican City State: meets Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Vatican City State and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.
Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for the Energy Union, in Bratislava, Slovakia: meets Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia; Peter Pellegrini, Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Minister for the Interior; and Andrej Kiska, President of Slovakia.
Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations: receives Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia.
Tuesday 28 February
Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President, and High Representative Mogherini: receive Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia.
Věra Jourová, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, in Vienna, Austria: meets Alexander Van der Bellen, President of Austria; Muna Duzdar, State Secretary for Diversity, Public Service and Digitalisation; and delivers a keynote speech at the 10th Anniversary Symposium of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Wednesday 1 March
College of Commissioners Meeting
Orientation debate on the White Paper on the future of the EU; 5th Security Union Progress Report; 5th Report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement; 2nd Report on the operationalisation of the European Border and Coast Guard; European Agenda on Migration: ‘A revised Action Plan on return’; 10th Report on Relocation and Resettlement; 3rd Report on the Partnership Framework on Migration
President Juncker addresses the European Parliament on the preparations ahead of the European Council, 9-10 March 2017.
President Juncker and Günther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources: receive Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag.
Thursday 2 March
President Juncker accompanied by Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport, in Ljubljana, Slovenia: meets Miro Cerar, Prime Minister of Slovenia.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue: receives Stepan Kubiv, First Vice-Prime Minister, Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine; and a delegation of European IMF Executive Directors.
Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development: meets Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, in Brussels, Belgium.
Friday 3 March
Vice-President Dombrovskis in Vilnius, Lithuania: meets Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania; Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of Lithuania; Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania; and members of the Seimas.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, in Copenhagen, Denmark: meets Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark; delivers a keynote speech at the Business Academy Aarhus Finance Conference.
A full list with meetings of Commissioners can be found here. Commission events can be found here.
European Economic and Social Committee
Tuesday 28 February
46th meeting of the Labour Market Observatory – Long-term unemployment
The Labour Market Observatory (LMO) is organising a public event on the topic of long-term unemployment, including aspects related to Roma and persons with disabilities. The current state of play, further initiatives and good practices examples in this field, as well as the ILO project to assess the implementation of the 2016 Council recommendation on long-term unemployed by Member States, will be discussed.
4th EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee meeting
For the 4th time, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Serbia will hold the Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) – a civil society platform established between the EESC and Serbian civil society which complements the EU institutional framework related to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia. This joint institution allows civil society organisations on both sides to monitor the country’s accession negotiations. It is also a platform to discuss issues of common interest and to inform the public at large of the challenges ahead during the accession period.
Wednesday 1 March
Hearing on towards a more sustainable Europe
The EESC intends to launch the debate with an EESC opinion on a long-term strategy for a sustainable Europe. The hearing with experts and stakeholders should provide input for the further elaboration of the EESC opinion.
Public hearing on towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations
In June 2016, the European Commission and the European External Action Service presented the Joint Communication ‘Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations’. In it, three work streams are outlined: Supporting culture as an engine for sustainable social and economic development; Promoting Culture and intercultural dialogue for peaceful inter-community relations; Reinforcing cooperation of cultural heritage.
Thursday 2 – Friday 3 March
European Migration Forum – 3rd meeting
At its 3rd meeting, this dialogue platform on migration, asylum and migrant integration will discuss migrants’ access to the EU, to rights and to services – Challenges and ways 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
Wednesday 1 March
12th ECON commission meeting
For decision: Opinions on the basis of consultations – Rule 41 a) Own-initiative opinions – Rule 41 b) i) Own-initiative opinions – Rule 41b) ii) Decisions not to draw up an opinion, Ongoing work programme and decision on attributions by the President.
For discussion: Contribution of the ECON Commission to the 2016 Committee of the Regions (CoR) Impact Report.
For adoption: 2017 Action Plan for cooperation between the CoR and the EIB.
Opinions – First discussion and adoption: Improving the governance of the European Semester: a Code of Conduct for the involvement of local and regional authorities; Smart Regulation for SMEs.
Opinion – Exchange of views: Europe’s next leaders: the Start-up and Scale-up Initiative.
Thursday 2 – 3 Friday March
12th meeting of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) and conference on the Future of Cohesion Policy beyond 2020
For decision: Opinions on the basis of consultations (Rule 41(a)), Own-initiative opinions (Rule 41b) i)), Own-initiative opinions (Rule 41b) ii)), Decisions not to draw up an opinion, Ongoing work programme and decision on attributions by the President.
For discussion: Follow-up to opinions, COTER contribution to the CoR impact report 2016.
Opinions – Second discussion and adoption: The Future of Cohesion Policy beyond 2020.
Debate with Ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4+4) and European Commissioner Creţu on Cohesion Policy beyond 2020.
Opinions – First discussion and adoption: The financial rules applicable to the EU general budget; Entrepreneurship on Islands: contributing towards territorial cohesion.
Opinions – Exchange of views: A European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility.
More information about CoR events can be found here. The agendas of the different CoR meetings can be found here.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Tuesday 28 February
10 years anniversary symposium
Government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives and those charged with making human rights relevant for the general public will come together in Vienna, Austria to mark the 10th anniversary of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. The anniversary provides the framework for participants to discuss the situation of human rights in Europe today and look to the future on how to ensure that human rights remains central to tackling the various challenges that the EU currently faces.
Information on upcoming FRA events can be found here.
European Investment Bank
Thursday 2 March
Seminar on supporting innovation in Sofia, Bulgaria
The EIB Group will host an interactive seminar to present the extensive range of support available to innovative and growing businesses in Bulgaria.
Friday 3 March
Seminar on supporting innovation in Bucharest, Romania
The EIB Group will host an interactive seminar to present the extensive range of support available to innovative and growing businesses in Romania.
More information about EIB events can be found here.
Council of Europe
Tuesday 28 February
Event on the role of local and regional authorities in preventing corruption and promoting good governance
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Committee of the Regions of the EU will host a conference in Brussels, Belgium on the role of local and regional authorities in preventing corruption and promoting good governance.
Tuesday 28 February – Thursday 2 March
Monitoring visit to Serbia, Belgrade
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will carry out a monitoring visit to examine the situation of local and regional democracy in the light of the European Charter of Local Self Government, which was ratified by Serbia in 2007.
Thursday 2 March
Launch of new EU-Council of Europe programme on justice, economic crime and anti-discrimination
A new EU/Council of Europe programme for Western Balkans (the Horizontal Facility) will be launched in Belgrade, Serbia. Seven projects in the areas of ensuring justice, combating economic crime, promoting anti-discrimination and protecting rights of vulnerable groups will be implemented in Serbia from January 2017 to May 2019.
Find an overview of Council of Europe events here. The Congress calendar of events here.