EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 3-8 December 2023
This week, the Council looks to agree a general approach on several legislative files on transport, as well as on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks, reform of the economic governance framework, and the Net-Zero Industry Act; the Commission holds the Food 2030 conference; and MEPs in committee vote on the 2022 EU anti-fraud report and an update to EU rules on driving licences; and we have EU Agri-Food Days. The week's events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 3 to 8 December 2023.
Monday 4 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
2022 EU anti-fraud report: the Budgetary Control Committee will vote on its EU anti-fraud report for 2022. MEPs will look into existing measures and future improvements to ensure the EU's financial interests are protected, including on the resources allocated for the EU's response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, national control systems on the Recovery Facility spending as well as protecting journalists and news media concentration.
Plenary preparations: political groups will prepare for the 11-14 December session, during which the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. MEPs will also debate and vote on the Critical Raw Materials Act to increase the supply of strategic raw materials, on the European Health Data Space to boost the right to health data portability and enable secure sharing, and on the EU's relations with both the US and China. They will also vote on their proposals for the 6-9 June 2024 EP elections including a mechanism to elect the Commission President, outline their demands for the 14-15 December European Council and assess the results of the Spanish Council Presidency with President of Government Pedro Sánchez.
Monday 4 December
Council of the EU | Conferences and summits | Transport
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport)
Brussels
The Council will be invited to agree a general approach on several legislative files related to three transport modes (horizontal, land and shipping):
- two Commission proposals of the 'road safety' package: a revised legislation on driving licences and a revised directive to facilitate cross-border exchange of information on road safety-related traffic offences
- four Commission proposals of the 'maritime safety' package: revised directives on port State control, ship-source pollution, compliance with flag State requirements and accidents investigation in the maritime sector
- a Commission proposal for a regulation on the accounting of greenhouse gas emissions of transport services
- a revised regulation on breaks and rests in occasional passenger transport services
Ministers will also discuss the state of play of current legislative files in the field of transport with a focus on the revised regulation on Union guidelines on the trans-European transport networks (TEN-T), the regulations on single European sky (SESII+ package), and the directive on the Union-wide effect of certain driving disqualifications, and hold an informal lunch on the financing of transport infrastructures.
Monday 4 - Tuesday 5 December
Council of the EU | Conferences and summits | Justice | Home Affairs
Justice and Home Affairs Council
Brussels
At the meeting of home affairs ministers, the presidency will present a progress report on all the legislative files of the Pact on asylum and migration. Ministers will also receive a state of play of the external dimension of migration. The impact of the crisis in the Middle East and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on the EU's internal security will also feature on the agenda.
Justice ministers will aim to reach a general approach on a regulation on the transfer of proceedings and approve the e-justice strategy for 2024-2028.
Monday 4 - Tuesday 5 December
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Research | Innovation | Food
Food 2030 conference: Green and Resilient Food Systems
Brussels
On 4 and 5 of December, the European Commission will organise a conference in Brussels entitled "Food 2030: green and resilient food systems" to showcase achievements of EU food systems related projects, explore future research and innovation orientations and levers of change. The EC aims to convene a wide range of actors and policy makers for this in-person event, which will also be web streamed and recorded for those unable to travel.
Tuesday 5 December
Council of the EU | Conferences and summits | Telecommunications
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications)
Brussels
The Council is expected to agree a general approach on the regulation on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks (gigabit infrastructure act) and take note of a progress report on the cyber solidarity act (CSoA) laying down measures to strengthen solidarity and capacities in the EU to detect, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents.
Ministers will also hold a policy debate on technological leadership and competitiveness, and discuss the state of play on a number of current legislative files in the field of telecommunications.
Tuesday 5 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Media event "Six months ahead of the European Elections": accredited journalists are invited to an event for media to mark the six months ahead of the European Elections (EE24). Parliament's Press service will provide professionals with useful information on the 6-9 June EE24. The results of a Eurobarometer survey, to be published the following day, will also be distributed under embargo.
Wednesday 6 December
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Agriculture | Food | Innovation
EU Agri-Food Days: EU Agricultural Outlook Conference & Agri-Digital Conference
Brussels
Join us at the inaugural EU Agri-Food Days in Brussels from 5 - 8 December, for discussions on the outlook of European agriculture, market trends, food security, sustainability, and digital innovation. This international event brings together farmers, policy-makers, business leaders, analysts, and experts from around the world to foster dialogue and inspire transformative ideas.
Wednesday 6 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Autumn 2023 Eurobarometer: Parliament will publish a Eurobarometer public survey on questions to citizens on topics such as their image of the Parliament and the EU, their opinion on EU membership, Parliament's policy priorities and the core values to defend, plus a focus on the 2024 European elections, including awareness, interest and likelihood to vote.
Thursday 7 December
Council of the EU | Conferences and summits | Economy
Eurogroup
Brussels
In regular format
- assessment of euro area member states' draft budgetary plans and of the budgetary situation and prospects of the euro area
- the euro area recommendations for 2024: presentation by the Commission
- functioning of the ERM II
- miscellaneous
In inclusive format
The future of European capital and financial markets: exchange of views with guests on the drivers for progress to develop European capital markets
Thursday 7 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Driving licences: the Transport and Tourism Committee will adopt its position on an update to EU rules on driving licences to improve road safety and move closer to the target of zero deaths on EU roads by 2050. Among several proposals, MEPs will vote on issuing mobile licences along physical ones to embrace digital transition and EU single market. They will also decide if to introduce a two-year probation period and zero tolerance for drink driving for novice drivers. More than 20 000 lives are lost in road accidents in the EU every year.
Thursday 7 - Friday 8 December
Council of the EU | Conferences and summits | Net-zero | Industry | SMEs
Competitiveness Council
Brussels
On Thursday, Internal Market and industry ministers will meet in Brussels and will aim to adopt a general approach on the Net-Zero Industry Act. They will hold a policy debate concerning the Regulation on forced labour. During lunch, ministers will exchange views on SME policy.
The Council will seek a general approach on the proposed reform of the economic governance framework. Ministers will adopt implementing decisions approving modified recovery and resilience plans, submitted by some member states.
The presidency will present progress reports on own resources and the single currency package.
Ministers will discuss the economic and financial impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the European Semester.
The Council will approve report to the European Council on tax issues and conclusions on the progress achieved by the Code of Conduct Group.
Friday 8 December
Council of the EU | Conferences and summits | Economy
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Brussels
The Council will seek a general approach on the proposed reform of the economic governance framework. Ministers will adopt implementing decisions approving modified recovery and resilience plans, submitted by some member states. The presidency will present progress reports on own resources and the single currency package. Ministers will discuss the economic and financial impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the European Semester.
Friday 8 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
COP28 - UN Climate Change Conference: a delegation of MEPs will participate in the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference, where the first Global Stocktake, aiming to provide an overall picture of the implementation progress of the Paris Agreement, will take place (Friday 8 to Tuesday 12 December).