EU Agenda: Week Ahead - November 16 to November 22, 2009
13 November 2009, 14:53 CET
The week's events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings and other EU-related conferences and events. Events for the week of 2 November - 7 November , 2009.
Council of the EU
European Commission
European Parliament
Other Institutions
Monday 16 November
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2009 "EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard" (Brussels) Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potoc(nik, will present the main findings of the 2009 "EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard", which provides information on the top 1000 EU companies and 1000 non-EU companies investing in research and development (R&D) during 2008. In addition, the Scoreboard offers detailed analysis and comparisons on trends by regions and sectors. The Scoreboard is part of the Commission’s monitoring activities to improve the understanding of trends in R&D investment by the private sector and the factors affecting it. |
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3rd Equality Summit (Stockholm, Sweden) Following previous summits in Berlin (for the opening of the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All) and in Paris (2008), the 3rd Equality Summit aims to promote dialogue and debate as well as the exchange of ideas and good practices. The main theme this year is cooperation for equality between all different stakeholders concerned and at different levels (national, regional, local). The Summit will bring together approximately 300 high-level delegates representing EU Member States, candidate and EEA countries, international organisations, EU-level NGO networks and social partners, business sector, media and academia. |
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Consumption and Poverty: EESC Forum (Brussels) The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and DG Health and Consumers of the European Commission will organise a "Forum on consumption and poverty: Back to basics: Affordable basic services for consumers – which role for Europe?". |
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General Affairs (Dev. & Defence) Council (Brussels) the Council will discuss the post-Lisbon strategy and Lisbon strategy for jobs growth and will proceed with the preparation of the European Council meeting of 10 and 11 December. As regards the external relations session, the Council will discuss Russia, in view of the EU-Russia summit, Ukraine and Somalia. |
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World Summit on Food Security (Rome, Italy) The global food security situation has worsened and continues to represent a serious threat to humanity. With food prices remaining stubbornly high in developing countries, the number of people suffering from hunger has been growing relentlessly in recent years. The global economic crisis is aggravating the situation by affecting jobs and deepening poverty. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimates that the number of hungry people could increase by a further 100 million in 2009 and pass the one billion mark. Commission President Barroso will take part. |
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European Parliament Committee Meetings (Brussels) Plenary: Parliament’s political groups will devote most of the week to preparations for the plenary session of 23-26 November in Strasbourg. Likely highlights include the final votes on the telecoms package and energy efficiency labelling for tyres, plus a vote on compensating passengers of bankrupt airlines. MEPs will also debate plans for the Copenhagen Climate Change summit and the December EU summit. Stockholm Programme - Joint Parliamentary Meeting: EP President Buzek welcomes parliamentarians from across the EU to discuss EU policy on freedom, security and justice for the next five years (Monday-Tuesday). |
Tuesday 17 November
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3rd Equality Summit (Stockholm) (see above) |
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General Affairs (Dev. & Defence) Council (Brussels) (see above) |
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World Summit on Food Security (Rome) (see above) |
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Mobile Phone Services: Enforcement Action (Brussels) European Parliament Committee Meetings (Brussels) |
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ECVET/EQARF - new tools for vocational training (Brussels) The Commission will organise, in partnership with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the launch conference of two new European tools for more quality and mobility in vocational education and training in Europe, "ECVET and EQARF - Moving from principles to implementation". The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) will help learners gain recognition of what they have achieved in different countries or learning environments. The European Quality Assurance Reference Framework (EQARF) will promote better vocational education and training by providing authorities with common tools for the management of quality. The conference will focus on examining the most efficient ways to put these tools in practice for the benefit of both learners and the European economy. |
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EU & OSCE: Ministerial Meeting (Brussels) The EU regularly meets with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to discuss issues of mutual interest. These meetings are held at ministerial level and in troika form. |
Wednesday 18 November
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World Summit on Food Security (Rome) (see above) |
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ECVET/EQARF - new tools for vocational training (Brussels) (see above) |
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EU Russia Summit (Stockholm) Russia is the EU’s third biggest trade partner, with Russian supplies of oil and gas making up a large percentage of Russia’s exports to Europe. The Ongoing cooperation is based on 4 specific policy areas. These “common spaces”, cover economic issues & the environment; Freedom, Security & Justice; External Security; and Research & Education, including cultural aspects. |
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Ministerial eGovernment Meeting & Conference (Malmö, Sweden) The 5th Ministerial eGovernment Meeting and Conference, to be held in the city of Malmö in the south of Sweden, will be one of the major events of the Swedish EU Presidency. It will include a Ministerial Meeting of ministers responsible for eGovernment, a Ministerial eGovernment Conference, and an exhibition of more than 50 finalists of eGovernment Awards. |
Thursday 19 November
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Ministerial eGovernment Meeting & Conference (Brussels) (see above) |
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7th Creativity & Innovation debate (Brussels) The 7th and final Brussels Debate within the framework of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 will take place under the title: "Towards a creative Europe: What role for creative industries?" is the final debate. During this period of economic crisis, there is growing political recognition of the importance of the creative industries in the new "experience economy". However, in practice, the potential of this sector as a motor of the economy remains underexploited. This debate will take a closer look at how these industries could be better used as a conduit for innovation for society as a whole and what their place could be in the future European innovation strategy. |
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South/North Dialogue: Alicante Congress (Alicante, Spain) Together with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Casa Mediterraneo, the European Movement Valencia, the European Movement Spain and the Follow-up Committee of the Algiers Congress, the European Movement International is organising the Congress of Alicante on Education and Migration. The Congress is part of a broader initiative, the South/North Dialogue in the Mediterranean region, which started in 2006 in Algiers. It aims to bring together actors from both shores to work on questions of education and of migration in order to analyse the relationship between education, migration and social assimilation and to define a course of action not only for the actors themselves, but also for states and institutions that work for the rapprochement of the two shores. Debate and outcome shall be in accordance with the Algiers Declaration and Agenda. “Education” will thereby serve as a starting point for discussion, which shall then be linked to questions of employment, integration, training and migration. |
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Budget Council (Brussels) The Budget Council is expected to reach agreement on its second reading of the draft general budget for the financial year 2010, following the usual conciliation meeting with the European Parliament. The main points for discussion with the European Parliament are the financing of the second part of the European Economic Recovery Plan and the total amount of the payment appropriations. The Council will also take note of the Annual Report for 2008 by the Court of Auditors. |
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Agriculture & Fisheries Council (Brussels) The Council is expected to reach political agreement on two proposals regarding fisheries: a regulation concerning the conservation of fisheries resources through technical measures; a regulation fixing the fishing opportunities and the conditions relating thereto for certain fish stocks applicable in the Black Sea for 2010. |
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EC Weekly Meeting of the College (Brussels) |
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European Council (Informal) (Brussels) A meeting of EU Heads of State or government will take place on 19 November in the Justus Lipsius building of the Council in Brussels, in the form of a working dinner. Leaders are expected to agree on the future President of the European Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Secretary General of the Council of the EU. |
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European Parliament Committee Meetings (Brussels) |
Friday 20 November
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Ministerial eGovernment Meeting & Conference (Brussels) |
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South/North Dialogue: Alicante Congress (Brussels) (see above) |
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Agriculture & Fisheries Council (Brussels) (see above) |
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Rights of the Child: 20th Anniversary (Brussels) 20 November 2009 sees the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The EU is strongly committed to support the effective implementation of the Convention worldwide. To mark this anniversary, in cooperation with UNICEF and UNRIC, the European Commission is organising a series of events in Brussels and its Delegations worldwide. The aim is to highlight the utmost importance of this legally binding international convention that affirms human rights for all children. |
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Back to School (Sweden) The Back to School initiative involves European officials going back to their old school, or to another school, to discuss European issues with school students. |
Saturday 21 November
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South/North Dialogue: Alicante Congress (Brussels) (see above) |
