EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 22-26 April 2024
This week, EU foreign ministers discuss Russia's aggression against Ukraine; the Commission holds meetings on the transition to a climate-neutral economy, fusion energy, the pandemic, Net-Zero and the Role of Export Finance; and MEPs in their last session of this legislature before the European elections hold final votes on packaging and packaging waste, ambient air quality and clean air for Europe, working conditions for platform workers, due diligence rules for companies, new 'ecodesign' rules and the European Health Data Space. The week's events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 22 to 26 April 2024.
Monday 22 April
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament Plenary session
Brussels
During the last session of this legislature ahead of the 6-9 June elections, MEPs will hold debates and final votes on, among other things:
- the right to repair of goods (debate Monday/vote Tuesday);
- fighting violence against women (debate Tuesday/vote Wednesday);
- anti-money laundering (debate and vote Wednesday);
- combating trafficking in human beings and protecting victims (debate Monday/vote Tuesday);
- economic governance (debate and vote Tuesday);
- establishing the European Disability Card (debate Tuesday/ vote Wednesday);
- the new EU Ethics Body (debate and vote Thursday);
- the Net Zero Industry Act (debate and vote Thursday); and
- prohibiting products made with forced labour (debate Monday/vote Tuesday).
They will hold final votes on, among other things:
- packaging and packaging waste (Wednesday);
- ambient air quality and clean air for Europe (Wednesday);
- working conditions for platform workers (Wednesday);
- due diligence rules for companies (Wednesday);
- trade liberalisation measures for Ukraine (Tuesday);
- new 'ecodesign' rules (Tuesday);
- cross-border exchange of information on traffic offences (Wednesday); and
- the European Health Data Space (Wednesday).
MEPs will also debate the outcome of the 17-18 April Special European Council and will debate and vote on Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response.
They will also debate the EU's response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip, the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine's victory and reconstruction, and vote on the simplification of certain Common Agricultural Policy rules, on resolutions on new allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament and on Russia's undemocratic presidential elections.
MEPs will also debate the outcome of the 17-18 April Special European Council and will debate and vote on Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response.
They will also debate the EU's response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip, the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine's victory and reconstruction, and vote on the simplification of certain Common Agricultural Policy rules, on resolutions on new allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament and on Russia's undemocratic presidential elections.
On Wednesday morning, Parliament will hold a formal sitting commemorating the 20th anniversary of the largest ever EU enlargement.
Monday 22 April
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs Council
Luxembourg
The Council will discuss first Russia's aggression against Ukraine, following an informal exchange of views with Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and Minister for Defence Rustem Umerov via VTC. The ensuing debate will be attended by both EU Foreign Affairs Ministers and Defence Ministers meeting in a joint session.
During a lunch discussion, the Council will then exchange views on the situation in the Middle East.
After that, the Council will proceed to assess the situation in Sudan with an informal exchange of views with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, who will attend the meeting in person.
Lastly, the Council will exchange views on current affairs.
Monday 22 April
Commission | Conferences and summits | Financial services | Sustainable finance
Financing the transition to a climate-neutral economy
Brussels and online
The European Commission and the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance (Platform) will hold a technical workshop to discuss the uptake of the EU sustainable finance framework and to present aspects of the Platform's work.
The event is intended to foster dialogue and collaboration among financial institutions, industry leaders, the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance and representatives from the European Commission. The workshop will show how the EU sustainable finance framework can mobilise green private finance and support the real economy's transition efforts, offering business and investment opportunities to companies.
Monday 22 April
Other bodies and agencies | Infoday | Research
Horizon Europe info day - WIDERA Work Programme 2023-2025
Online only
This infoday aims to inform interested applicants about new ERA call topics in the WIDERA Work Programme 2023-2025.
Speakers from the European Commission will present the new call topics and are joined by speakers from stakeholder organisations to further explain the benefits of the proposed actions.
Tuesday 23 April
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Nuclear fusion
The EU blueprint for fusion energy
Strasbourg, France
As a part of an ongoing process together with the Directorate-General for Research and Development towards creating an agile policy framework for fusion research and innovation, the Directorate-General for Energy invites the key fusion stakeholders to Strasbourg to discuss the current state of fusion in the EU and how to foster acceleration in fusion development. This discussion will inform concrete actions and recommendations for the Commission and EU countries to develop joint winning strategies and build a thriving European ecosystem.
Tuesday 23 April
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Social sciences | Education policy | Right to education
The pandemic, socioeconomic disadvantage, and learning outcomes
Brussels
The European Commission in collaboration with experts in the field has published the book 'The Pandemic, Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Learning Outcomes. Cross-National Impact Analyses of Education Policy Reform'.
During this book launch, the authors compare their case studies and look into what policies worked thus drawing some longer term lessons learnt and policy implications.
Thursday 25 April
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Export financing | Export credit | Export subsidy | Export policy
High-Level Conference: 'Net-Zero by 2050: The Role of Export Finance'
Brussels
With a distinguished lineup of speakers, including European Commission Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, as well as representatives from Member States' export credit agencies, Ministries responsible for export credits, international organisations (the International Energy Agency and the OECD), the private banking sector and NGOs, we are confident that this conference will offer valuable insights into work ongoing to align export finance policies with climate goals.
This conference will be an occasion to report on progress made by EU Member States following the Council Conclusion of March 2022 on export credits, which included an 'EU climate pact for export finance'.
Thursday 25 - Friday 26 April
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Energy policy | Energy efficiency | Energy union
European Gas Regulatory Forum
Madrid, Spain
The European Gas Regulatory Forum, also known as the Madrid Forum, gathers key stakeholders across the European energy sector to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the further development and decarbonisation of the internal EU gas market and to its integration with other energy sectors.