EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 3-8 October 2022
This week, EU heads of state or government meet for an informal summit; finance ministers look to approve conclusions on climate finance; the Commission holds a workshop on supporting innovations in road transport; MEPs in plenary debate Russia's escalation of its war against Ukraine and rising energy prices, are set to approve a law on a common charger, and provisional agreements to strengthen the EU's capacity to prevent and control communicable diseases; and it's EU Space Week. 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 to 8 October 2022.
Monday 3 - Tuesday 4 October
Council of the EU and European Council | Events/Conf/Fairs | Employment and social rights
The Europe of Tomorrow: Gender Equality and the Economy
Prague, Czech Republic
The purpose of the conference is to discuss how to best promote gender equality in the new realities with a specific focus on economic and social rights. Taking into account the European Year of Youth 2022, the conference will facilitate dialogue with the young generation and address challenges that young people face today in order to achieve the Union of Equality tomorrow.
Monday 3 - Thursday 6 October
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
EU Space Week 2022
Prague
With the theme of 'New Space', sessions, plenaries, events and demonstrations will cover everything from current and future trends, market forecasts, business opportunities, space-application demonstrations and updates on the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, Galileo, Copernicus and Governmental Satellite Communications programmes.
Monday 3 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Health Union: MEPs are expected to endorse provisional agreements to strengthen the EU's capacity to prevent and control communicable diseases and to tackle cross-border health threats more efficiently. The vote will finalise the first Health Union package, building on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. (debate Monday, vote Tuesday)
Monday 3 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
European Parliament, Strasbourg
"Fit for 55"/Alternative refuelling stations: the Transport Committee will vote on new rules to spur the deployment of recharging and alternative refuelling stations for cars, trucks, trains and planes. Draft targets include deploying recharging stations each 60 km on main EU roads by 2026, and hydrogen stations each 100 km by 2028. The committee will also vote on sustainable maritime fuels rules that aim to cut ships' emissions.
Climate change/COP27: MEPs in the Environment Committee will adopt a resolution on the EU's position for the next UN climate change conferenceCOP27, taking place in Egypt in November.
Monday 3 October
Council of the EU and European Council | High Level Visits | Economy and the euro
Eurogroup
Luxembourg
Macroeconomic situation in the euro area
Finance ministers will discuss the macroeconomic situation in the euro area and in particular the fiscal policy response to high energy prices and inflationary pressures, following up on discussions at the Eurogroup meeting in Prague. The Secretary-General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann, will join the discussion.
Euro area recommendations
The Eurogroup will take stock of the implementation of euro area priorities in the recovery and resilience plans based on the analysis from the Commission. This will also allow an exchange of views on the economic challenges and policy priorities for the euro area in the wake of recent developments.
Preparation of international meetings
Ministers will take stock of global economic issues, including – as is customary – exchange rate developments, in view of the upcoming annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
The Eurogroup discusses exchange rate developments at regular intervals, in particular ahead of international meetings.
Digital euro - business models of public and private participants in the digital euro ecosystem
Based on input from the ECB and the Commission, ministers will discuss the role of public and private participants in the digital euro ecosystem. In this context, they will be invited to express views on the role of supervised intermediaries and the Eurosystem throughout the payments process, and on possible distribution models that would ensure the digital euro has a pan-European reach whilst also fostering innovation.
This discussion follows the work plan on the digital euro, agreed by the Eurogroup at its meeting on 12 July 2021 and recalled in its statement adopted in February 2022.
Tuesday 4 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Common charger: Parliament is set to approve the new law ensuring that, as of end of 2024, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones devices will be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. This will reduce electronic waste and make consumers' lives easier. A press conference by the rapporteur is scheduled for 14.30 on Tuesday. (debate and vote)
Suspension of EU funds for Hungary: MEPs will debate the Commission's proposal to freeze funds for Hungary to protect the EU budget over rule of law concerns in the country.
Protests in Iran: on Tuesday, MEPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell will discuss the countrywide protests against the Islamic regime in Iran, triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran's morality police who assaulted her for, they claimed, incorrectly wearing her hijab. (vote Thursday)
Tuesday 4 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Transport and travel
Supporting innovations in road transport: Horizon Europe & its synergies with other EU programmes
Online
At this workshop you will hear about how to increase market uptake of innovative road transport solutions and how to create better synergies between Horizon Europe and other programmes.
Tuesday 4 October
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Economy and the euro
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Luxembourg
Energy prices and REPowerEU
EU economy and finance ministers will exchange views on high energy prices and financial markets, following a presentation by the Commission on the state of play.
The Council will discuss the proposed regulation on REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans with the aim of agreeing a Council position (general approach) on the text.
Economic situation
The Commission will present the review report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. This will be followed by an exchange of views. The Council is expected to adopt its implementing decision under the Recovery and Resilience Facility as regards the national plan of the Netherlands.
Russia's war against Ukraine
The Council will discuss the economic and financial impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
G20
The Council is expected to approve the EU terms of reference and statement to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), in the context of preparations of the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of 12-13 October 2022 and the IMF annual meetings.
Climate finance
The Council will aim to approve conclusions on climate finance ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Sharm El-Sheikh on 6-18 November 2022.
Customs
The Council will discuss the fiscal and non-fiscal role of the EU customs.
Financial services
The Presidency will inform ministers on the state of play as regards current legislative proposals in the field of financial services. In addition, the Commission will inform ministers on the status of the implementation of existing financial services legislation.
Eurogroup
In the margins of Ecofin, a Eurogroup meeting will take place on Monday 3 October 2022 at 15h.
Wednesday 5 - Thursday 6 October
Council of the EU and European Council | Events/Conf/Fairs | Asylum and migration
European Migration Network Annual Conference
Prague, Czech Republic
The topic of the Conference is "EU and Labour Migration: Needs, Strategies and Challenges" and the overall goal is to provide participants with a unique opportunity to examine the current situation and issues which European Union deals with in the field of labour migration.
Wednesday 5 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Russia's escalation of its war against Ukraine: the drafting of Russian reservists, sham referendums in occupied parts of Ukraine, Putin's nuclear threats and several unexplained ruptures in the Nordstream pipelines will be the focus of a debate on Wednesday. MEPs are expected to call for a strong response from the EU and member states to Russia's escalation and its preparations to annex Ukrainian territories. (vote Thursday)
Soaring energy prices: Parliament will adopt a resolution on the European Commission proposals to ease the pressure of rapidly rising energy prices on European households and businesses.
Thursday 6 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Covid-19 - Economy and the euro
The COVID-shock and the new macroeconomic landscape: taking stock and looking ahead
Brussels
The global economy is on an uncertain recovery path from the unprecedented pandemic recession. Policymakers need to evaluate the new macroeconomic landscape and formulate macroeconomic policy appropriately. In this context, DG ECFIN is organising a conference on the theme 'The COVID-shock and the new macroeconomic landscape: taking stock and looking ahead' in cooperation with the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and the European Economic Review.
The conference will bring together researchers and policymakers to discuss innovative research on the crisis' legacies such as public debt and inequality (across demographic groups, sectors, and countries). The event will also look ahead and analyse how growth and inflation prospects are affected by public debt levels, structural changes and scarring effects induced by the pandemic, and by policies (such as NextGenerationEU) to tackle these issues.
Thursday 6 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | EU regional and urban development
International conference "Urban environment - security threat or opportunity for prevention?"
Prague
Conference on Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, Urban Design & Planning and technical standards for security and public order in cities will be organised in cooperation with the Czech Standardization Agency and Committee CEN/TC 325 Crime Prevention through building, facility and area design
Thursday 6 October
European Aviation Safety Agency | Events/Conf/Fairs | Transport and travel
New Method to Report Pavement Strength Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR-PCR) Webinar
Online
The objective of the workshop is to raise awareness, provide clarifications and support the deployment of the new ACR-PCR (Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating) reporting within the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) Member States.
Thursday 6 - Friday 7 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health
Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
Prague
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is responsible for evaluating medicinal products as part of the centralized procedure for obtaining or modifying a marketing authorization valid in all EU Member States.
Friday 7 October
European Council Events/Conf/Fairs - Presidency of the Council of the EU
Informal meeting of heads of state or government
Prague
EU leaders will meet in Prague to discuss the three most pressing, and interlinked, issues facing the EU, namely Russia's war in Ukraine, energy and the economic situation.
The leaders will continue to discuss these topics at the upcoming European Council in Brussels on 20 and 21 October 2022.
This informal European Council meeting takes place following the first meeting of the European Political Community on 6 October 2022.
Ukraine
EU leaders will discuss the EU's response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the Kremlin's continuous escalation, including the organisation of a national mobilisation campaign, the sham coercive 'referenda' and the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. In their statement from 30 September 2022, EU leaders firmly rejected and unequivocally condemned the illegal annexations.
In this context, EU leaders will discuss how to continue providing support to Ukraine, including economic, military, political and financial support as well as how best to protect our critical infrastructure.
Energy
Russia's war against Ukraine has a dramatic impact on the energy situation in Europe, with a spillover effect on the economy. In this context, EU leaders will discuss how to guarantee security of supply and affordable energy for households and businesses, particularly for the coming winter.
As part of the discussions, EU leaders will assess the decisions already taken in this regard, including a set of energy measures to reduce electricity demand and to collect and redistribute the energy sector's surplus revenues for final consumers, which EU energy ministers reached a political agreement on at the end of September.
In light of the discussions, EU leaders will also provide guidance for further reforms and measures to ensure a well-coordinated European response.
Economic situation
EU leaders will examine how to tackle the economic challenges stemming from Russia's war against Ukraine and its impact on energy. In this context, addressing high energy prices, supporting growth and jobs and protecting vulnerable consumers from high energy bills are the prime concern. Against this background, EU leaders will discuss how to coordinate policy responses in a spirit of solidarity and in defence of common interests.