EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 23-28 November 2020
This week, development ministers debate the sustainable development goals and gender equality; the Commission holds virtual conferences on strengthening geographical indications, and the review of the alternative investment fund managers directive; ENISA holds the e-Health security conference 2020; and MEPs in plenary vote on collective interest of consumers, the 'right to repair' for consumers and strengthening media freedom. 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 23-28 November 2020.
Monday 23 - Tuesday 24 November
European Commission - Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate
SET plan conference 2020: Making the SET plan fit for the EU green recovery
Online
The 14th Strategic energy technology (SET) plan conference will be an online event, co-organised with the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The conference will discuss the contribution of the SET plan to achieving the ambitious energy and climate targets for 2030 and 2050, while going through the economic and social recovery.
The SET plan plays an enabling role in better aligning research and innovation programmes and policies with the energy and climate targets, both at national and European level, enhancing the competitiveness of the clean energy industry. The conference will look in particular at the contribution of the SET plan work into the main energy policy initiatives of 2020, namely energy system integration, hydrogen, the renovation wave and the offshore renewable energy strategy.
The opening speeches will be given by Peter Altmaier, German Federal Minister for economic affairs and energy, Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for energy, and Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth.
Monday 23 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
"Right to repair" for consumers: Parliament will debate and vote on ways to boost sustainability by granting EU consumers a "right to repair" and by tackling practices that intentionally shorten the lifetime of products. MEPs will also address the issue of products that contain dangerous chemicals, have unsafe software, or pose other safety hazards and debate the EU's New Consumer Agenda. (debates Monday, voting results Wednesday)
Strengthening media freedom: MEPs fear that media pluralism is at risk in several EU member states and warn of the increasing pressure and harassment faced by journalists. In a debate and vote, they are set to focus particularly on political interference, the protection of journalists, threats such as the proliferation of hate speech and disinformation, and the role of internet platforms. (debate Monday, voting results Wednesday)
Monday 23 November
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Covid-19 - Security and defence
e-Health security conference 2020 - Session 3
Online (WebEx)
The EU Agency for cybersecurity (ENISA) is organising a series of virtual e-health security conferences in cooperation with the Danish Healthcare Data Authority on cybersecurity topics touching the healthcare sector. The aim of the events is to invite professionals from the healthcare sector and experts in cybersecurity to share their experiences and challenges through open discussion sessions. Each monthly session will focus on individual topics.
Monday 23 November
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Enlargement, external relations and trade - International aid, development and cooperation
Foreign Affairs Council (Development)
Brussels
EU ministers of development will exchange views on linking debt relief and investments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting gender equality in all external action, and the post-Cotonou agreement.
Sustainable Development Goals
EU ministers of development will exchange views on linking debt relief and investments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably in the context of the COVID-19 international response and recovery effort.
Gender equality
They will then discuss how to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in all external action, in light of the forthcoming Joint Communication on the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III: An Ambitious Agenda for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in EU External Action.
Under any other business, ministers will be informed on the state of play regarding negotiations on the post-Cotonou agreement and the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).
Tuesday 24 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Collective interest of consumers: MEPs will vote on new rules that will allow groups of consumers, harmed by illegal practices, to defend their rights collectively and seek compensation. Member states will need to put in place systems for representative action that guarantee consumers are well protected against mass harm, while ensuring appropriate safeguards from abusive lawsuits. (debate Tuesday, voting results Wednesday).
Fundamental rights in the EU: MEPs are expected to warn against the deterioration of fundamental rights and EU values within the EU, and underline the critical need for a mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. (debate Tuesday, voting results Thursday)
End homelessness by 2030: 700,000 people face homelessness each night in Europe, representing a 70% increase over a decade. MEPs are therefore set to advocate for an EU goal to eradicate housing exclusion and put an end to homelessness by 2030. (voting results Tuesday)
Wednesday 25 November
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business, taxation and competition - Economy and the euro
Virtual conference on the review of the alternative investment fund managers directive
Online
The European Commission is reviewing the effectiveness of the alternative investment fund managers directive (AIFMD) and considering targeted amendments to improve the functioning of the legal framework. Based on the outcome of the review, the Commission may bring forward an amending proposal for consideration by the EU co-legislators.
The Commission has assessed the extent to which the objectives pursued by the AIFMD have been achieved and has presented on 10 June 2020 a report to the European Parliament and Council that concluded that the AIFMD has been largely effective, despite some regulatory gaps and areas that could be improved. In October 2020, the Commission launched a public consultation to gather input on potential changes to the AIFMD.
This event is an opportunity for interested parties to discuss the key issues and debate possible policy solutions. There will be 3 panels focusing on macro prudential, investor protection and competitiveness matters to facilitate the exchange of views among the panellists and contribute to the Commission's work on this important file.
Wednesday 25 - Thursday 26 November
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Food, farming and fisheries
Strengthening geographical indications
Online
This online event falls at the optimum moment in a major European Commission reform process. Indeed, the impact assessment of the geographical indications (GIs) reform - to "strengthen GIs" as requested by President von der Leyen in her mission letter to Commissioner Wojciechowski – will be in full development and with it an intensive consultation of stakeholders. The conference will therefore serve as the focal point for stakeholders to make their views known on the range of issues in the reform process from delivering sustainability to the legal challenge to protect GIs on the internet.
This conference is the follow-up of the jointly hosted conference of the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Commissions' Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) on the intersect between GIs and trademarks in 2018, 'Trademarks and geographical indications: future perspectives'.
Producers, stakeholders and EU country officials will be able to participate and give their views on the different panel sessions.
Wednesday 25 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
December EU summit: vaccines, terrorism, climate protection targets and the EU long-term budget are among the topics MEPs are expected to bring up in a debate with Commission President von der Leyen and the German Presidency ahead of the 10-11 December EU summit. (debate Wednesday)
Abortion rights in Poland: MEPs are expected to denounce the ruling of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal, which effectively bans abortion, and to call on the Polish Government to guarantee every woman's right to her own personal choice in such cases. (debate Wednesday, voting results Thursday)
Thursday 26 - November
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth - Employment and social rights
Workshop on the future of vocational education and training (VET)
Online
The workshop will bring together an extended group of researchers and policymakers to discuss initial findings of a new project of the European Centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop) on 'Future of vocational education and training in Europe' (2020-2022).
The workshop will discuss the extent to which the content and profile of vocational education and training (VET) is changing and the challenges and opportunities arising from this. Particular emphasis will be given to the changing relationship between occupationally specific and transversal skills and competences and how this may influence the relevance of VET qualifications to learners and employers.
Thursday 26 - November
European Economic and Social Committee | Events/Conf/Fairs | Asylum and migration
New Pact on migration and asylum
Online
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising a virtual hearing on the new Pact on migration and asylum, with the aim to provide an understanding of the key elements of the pact and evaluate its impact on the European migration and asylum framework.
By including perspectives from relevant institutional stakeholders, think tanks, social partners and civil society organisations, it will explore whether the pact brings about the systemic change necessary to overcome the current deadlock and develop a sustainable, rational and rights-based EU asylum and migration policy.
Thursday 26 - November
EU Agency for Large-Scale IT Systems | Events/Conf/Fairs | Justice and citizens' rights
eu-LISA Annual Conference: Interoperability - Building Digital Resilience for the EU Justice and Home Affairs Community
Online
On 26 November 2020, eu-LISA will host its 7th Annual Conference "Interoperability - Building Digital Resilience for the EU Justice and Home Affairs Community", organised in cooperation with the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The event focusses on the paradigm shift introduced by interoperability, one of the EU Justice and Home Affairs domain's top priorities, while also reflecting on aspects pertaining to technical implementation. The panellists will explore how the JHA community can benefit from an enhanced focus on innovation and technology as well as on the potential influence of innovation and the latest technological solutions to policy-making at EU and national levels. Furthermore, possible implications from the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of digital transformation, as well as benefits and possibilities for the law enforcement sector stemming from the new information architecture will also be discussed.
We look forward to welcoming you to the discussion with high-level representatives of EU Institutions and Agencies as well as practitioners from the Member States to reflect on the opportunities, challenges and perspectives being brought forth by building digital resilience for the JHA community through interoperability.
Friday 27 November
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business, taxation and competition - Economy and the euro
Bank resolution in times of COVID-19
Online and/or Brussels
The Single Resolution Board (SRB) and the Florence School of Banking and Finance (European University Institute) are organising an interdisciplinary academic event on 'Bank resolution in times of COVID-19'.
The aim of the event is to bring together leading scholars and policymakers in order to discuss economic, financial, legal, political and public policy topics located at the intersection between financial stability and bank resolution and in the context of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Friday 27 November
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Business, taxation and competition - Research and innovation
Competitiveness Council (Research and innovation)
Brussels
Friday 27 November
European Committee of the Regions - European Parliament | Events/Conf/Fairs | Covid-19 - EU regional and urban development
A European rural agenda urgently needed for rural areas after COVID-19 crisis
Online
The current pandemic crisis has exposed and exacerbated the consequences of a number of long-standing threats faced by rural areas, and has added to the urgency for rural revival in regions across the EU. On the other side, the pandemic can encourage more local consumption and production patterns, remote working habits, increase the importance of quality of life and develop new forms of mobility, which may open new opportunities for sustainable jobs and growth in rural regions.
Following the European Parliament resolution on addressing the specific needs of rural, mountainous and remote areas, the new Commission has been asked to develop a new long-term vision for rural areas. This webinar co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Parliament, will explore lessons learned by rural areas during the COVID-19 crisis and how the new long-term vision for rural areas should be translated into a concrete policy framework – the European rural agenda - that would enable and empower rural communities to turn challenges into opportunities.