EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 15-20 July 2019
This week, foreign affairs ministers discuss Iran; the farm Council debates the future of the CAP and the sugar sector; the EU-Canada summit takes place in Montreal; and MEPs in plenary vote on Ursula von der Leyen's nomination for Commission President. 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 15-20 July 2019.
Monday 15 July
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
Strasbourg, France
Monday 15 July
Council of the EU and European Council, Presidency of the Council of the EU, Political Meetings, Enlargement, external relations and trade, International aid, development and cooperation
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
Current affairs
The Foreign Affairs Council will start with a discussion on current affairs, allowing ministers to review pressing issues on the international agenda.
This may include the situation in Sudan, Ethiopia and Venezuela. Ministers may also touch on Turkey's current illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The High Representative may also debrief ministers on the EU-Ukraine summit on 8 July and the EU-G5 Sahel ministerial meeting.
Iran
Foreign ministers will discuss Iran, in light of the recent developments concerning the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA. The discussion follows the meeting of the Joint Commission on 28 June and the recent announcements by Tehran on the JCPOA.
Iraq
The Council will also discuss and adopt conclusions on Iraq. They will take stock of the situation after the holding of parliamentary elections one year ago, in a context of mounting regional tensions.
Central African Republic
The Council will discuss the situation in the Central African Republic. They will reflect how the EU could further strengthen its support to the country given the rising violence. The High Representative is expected to travel to Bangui ahead of the Council and will debrief on her visit
Migration
Foreign ministers may discuss migration, focusing on the external aspects.
Informal exchange with the Minister of the Republic of Moldova
Over lunch, EU foreign ministers will have an exchange of views with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Popescu.
Monday 15 July
Council of the EU and European Council, Presidency of the Council of the EU, Political Meetings, Food, farming and fisheries
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Brussels
Finland's presidency
The Council will be informed about the priorities and work programme of Finland's presidency in the field of agriculture and fisheries.
Future of the CAP post 2020
Ministers will exchange views on the environmental and climate-related aspects of the post 2020 Common Agricultural Policy reform package.
Sugar sector
The Council will be updated on the work of the high level group on sugar created by the Commission to carry out a thorough evaluation of the sugar sector at EU and national level.
Any other business
Ministers will be informed about a variety of issues:
- the state of play of African swine fever
- animal welfare during transport
- plant protection products and pest management
- the EU-Mercosur trade agreement
- the outcome of the third EU-African Union agriculture ministerial conference
- the BIOEAST initiative
- the difficult situation in the rice sector
Tuesday 16 July
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
Strasbourg, France
Election of Commission President: at 18.00, Parliament will vote on Ursula von der Leyen's nomination for Commission President. To be elected, she needs an absolute majority (50% plus one) of Parliament's component members. The vote will be held by secret paper ballot and will be preceded by a statement from Ms von der Leyen and a full debate with MEPs.
Outgoing Romanian, incoming Finnish Council Presidency: in a debate on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will assess the work of the outgoing Romanian Presidency of the Council with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila. On Wednesday, they will discuss the priorities of the incoming Finnish presidency, which started on 1 July, with Prime Minister Antti Rinne.
Foreign Affairs: on Tuesday evening, MEPs will hold four debates with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy, the situation in Venezuela, in the Persian Gulf and in Moldova. A resolution on Venezuela will be put to the Vote on Thursday.
Wednesday 17 - Thursday 18 July
European Aviation Safety Agency, Other bodies and agencies, Events/Conf/Fairs, Security and defence, Transport and travel
General aviation and low-level weather seminar
EASA, Cologne, Germany
Weather factors play a major role in safety of general aviation. In particular low-level weather conditions pose a special challenge to pilots, especially those operating visual flight rules (VFR).
These challenges include the provision of weather information to the pilot community both prior to flight and in the cockpit as well how pilot interpret information to make good decisions.
This seminar will bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders from the pilot community, weather service providers, safety investigation authorities, national aviation authorities and other associated organisations to discuss some of the common issues and identify practical solutions that can be introduced as part of the General Aviation Roadmap 2.0 of the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Wednesday 17 - Thursday 18 July
European Commission, Political Meetings, Enlargement, external relations and trade
17th EU-Canada summit
Montreal, Canada
The 17th EU-Canada summit will take place on 17-18 July in Montreal. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and European Council President Donald Tusk, will represent the European Union. Canada will be represented by its Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström will also participate for the EU.
The summit offers an opportunity for leaders to take stock of the successful cooperation between the European Union and Canada and joint efforts to promote international peace and security and achieve prosperity for people in a safer, fairer and more inclusive world.
The EU and Canada enjoy a long-standing and vibrant strategic partnership built on effective multilateralism, a progressive international policy agenda and inclusive trade. New political opportunities under the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) and new trade opportunities under the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) have brought Canada and the EU closer than ever, in a close friendship and a reliable partnership.
The EU and Canada are also global partners in the fight against climate change and work in concert to reverse the trend of global warming, mitigate the impact of climate change and preserve global biodiversity, the Arctic and oceans.
Wednesday 17 July
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
Strasbourg, France
Humanitarian assistance in the Mediterranean: Parliament will debate NGOs' operations in the Mediterranean and the diverging positions of member states with the Finnish Presidency and the Commission on Wednesday afternoon.
Interparliamentary delegations. MEPs will vote on how many MEPs should sit in each interparliamentary delegation on Wednesday at 12.00, with appointments announced at 19.00 on the same day.
Commissioners-designate: Parliament's Conference of Committee Chairs is set to meet with Commissioners-designate Ioan Mircea Pascu from Romania and Kadri Simson from Estonia on Wednesday, who are set to replace Commissioners Cre?u and Ansip who were elected Members of the European Parliament. The plenary vote is likely to take place on Thursday.
Thursday 18 June
Council of the EU and European Council, Presidency of the Council of the EU, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
General Affairs Council
Brussels
The Council will hear a presentation on the priorities of Finland's presidency for the next six months. The presidency will inform ministers about its plans for work on the multi-annual financial framework for 2021-2027.
Ministers will also exchange views on the implementation of the new strategic agenda 2019-2024.
The European Commission is expected to present its new communication on further strengthening the rule of law in the EU, if adopted by the college in time for the Council meeting. The Council will also take stock of the state of play on the rule of law in Poland following the judgement of the European Court of Justice on Poland's Supreme Court law.
Thursday 18 - Friday 19 June
Council of the EU and European Council, Presidency of the Council of the EU, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers
Brussels
Migration, the course of internal security and strengthening of common values and the rule of law will be the key issues as the justice and home affairs ministers of EU member states convene in an informal meeting in Helsinki on 18–19 July.
On Thursday 18 July, the home affairs ministers will discuss in their working sessions the future of EU internal security and migration policy. During the working lunch, they will address artificial intelligence. In the afternoon, the ministers will hold a political debate based on a fictitious hybrid threat scenario with the aim of highlighting hybrid threats from the internal security angle.
On Friday 19 July, justice ministers will discuss the future of justice. The first working session will be devoted to strengthening the rule of law, and the second will focus on topical challenges in the field of cooperation in criminal matters. The role of civil justice in multilateral cooperation will be discussed during the working lunch.