EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 14-20 September 2020
This week, the Commission president gives her State of the European Union address: the German presidency holds events on cancer prevention, and European standardisation for a successful Green Deal; the Commission holds webinars on InvestEU, animal-free antibodies, European Citizens' Initiatives and Science advice; and MEPs in plenary vote on the Recovery Plan, and the Just Transition Fund. 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 14-20 September 2020.
Monday 14 September
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Recovery Plan/Own Resources: MEPs are set to accelerate the procedure that will enable the EU to borrow €750 billion for the "Next Generation EU" recovery plan. The vote on the own resources decision will make it possible to start the ratification process in 27 EU countries - so that the COVID-19 recovery plan can be launched as soon as possible (debate Monday, vote Wednesday)
EU Civil Protection capacity: MEPs are expected to call for the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism to be enhanced so that the EU can better respond to large-scale emergencies such as COVID-19 and to ensure that member states are not left to rely on own assets and voluntary support when dealing with such emergencies (debate Monday, vote Wednesday).
Poland/Rule of law/Fundamental rights: MEPs will debate the democratic backsliding and rule of law breaches in Poland and are set to call on the Council and the Commission to act to protect fundamental rights in the country (debate Monday, vote Thursday).
Tuesday 15 September
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business, taxation and competition - Economy and the euro
Webinar on InvestEU programme and financial instruments under shared management
Online (WebEx)
The European Commission is organising a technical webinar that will focus on the InvestEU programme and financial instruments under shared management for 2021-2027.
Speakers from Directorates-General for Budget, Economic and Financial Affairs and Regional and Urban Policy will provide some updated information, which would be important for the managing authorities during the programming, notably as regards the latest state of play of the InvestEU, the organisation of an InvestEU member state compartment and the possibilities for combining financing under InvestEU and the Common Provisions Regulation.
Participants will also learn what would be the key information they would need to provide for shared management financial instruments when filling in the programme template.
Tuesday 15 September
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate
LIFE Taiga final project conference
Kolmarden, Sweden
This conference will share the knowledge gained and lessons learned within the LIFE Taiga project. It will also look at how a number of other countries in the northern hemisphere work with prescribed burning. The event includes a day of field visits to several forests where the project has carried out controlled burning for nature conservation.
Tuesday 15 September
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Justice and citizens' rights
Webinar on the support tools for organisers of European Citizens' Initiatives
Online (WebEx)
Setting up a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) might seem challenging to organisers at first. However, organisers have online tools and platforms at hand that provide help and facilitate their journey:
- The ECI website provides organisers with information, their own dedicated account and a dashboard.
- The ECI Organiser account enables organisers to manage their initiative during the whole lifecycle of the initiative.
- The Commission's Central online collection system (COCS) enables organisers to collect their statements of support online and to upload their paper collected signatures.
- The File exchange service is a platform offered to successful initiatives in order to transfer their statements of support to EU countries for validation.
- The ECI Forum provides guidance and active help for current and potential organisers throughout the process and the opportunity to connect and discuss with peers.
In order to make the best possible use of this support infrastructure, this webinar will provide valuable expert insights into the practical features of the tools to the participants. The speakers will do so by displaying how to use the tools best and how they help organisers to turn their initiative into a success story.
Tuesday 15 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation - Security and defence
Strategic-political dialogue: Armed forces in the digital age
Online
The digitalisation of EU countries' armed forces is a key issue of the future and contributes to improving the EU's ability to act.
This event, organised under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, brings together experts from the EU institutions and countries to discuss the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation and of new technologies for the armed forces, and to work together to identify potential solutions for dealing with these.
Tuesday 15 September
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Just Transition Fund: MEPs will adopt Parliament's position for negotiations with EU ministers on setting up the Just Transition Fund to mitigate the social impact of greening the economy by supporting regions most affected by the energy transition (vote Wednesday).
COVID-19 tests/risk classification: MEPs will debate the lack of coordination regarding COVID-19 health assessments and risk classification and its consequences for the Schengen area. They are set to call for a common EU approach (debate Tuesday, vote Thursday).
Foreign Affairs: in a series of debates with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, MEPs will comment on the situation in Russia and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, on Belarus, Lebanon and on the upcoming Special EU summit, focusing on the dangerous escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Resolutions will be put to the vote on Russia, Belarus and the Eastern Mediterranean (Tuesday, votes Thursday)
Wednesday 16 September
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Covid-19 - Research and innovation
Science advice – What works in a crisis?
Online
In 2019, the European Commission undertook a review of best practice in science advice, publishing major reports by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA), together with a comprehensive evidence review by the consortium of Europe's academies, SAPEA. More recently, the advisors and the European Group on Ethics in science and new technologies (EGE) have issued a joint statement on scientific advice during the coronavirus pandemic, together with Peter Piot, Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission (EC).
This webinar is part of the International Network for Government Science Advice's (INGSA) Global Week of Dialogue, titled 'Science advice and COVID-19: What are we learning?'. EC chief scientific advisors, experts and staff will reflect on how effectively Europe is rising to the challenge and what lessons can be learned for the future. They will share practical experiences of giving science advice in the face of unprecedented complexity, uncertainty and public visibility during the outbreak, as well as how best to apply science advice frameworks and practices to secure greater resilience in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Wednesday 16 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Employment and social rights
Our social Europe
Berlin, Germany
The German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) aims to boost European solidarity. The focus lies on the goal of greater equivalence of living and working conditions in Europe's efforts to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Our Social Europe is only strong when we stand together.
On 16 September 2020, the BMAS will host a conference in Berlin. High-ranking political decision-makers, representatives of social partners, civil society and the academic community from across Europe will discuss the topic 'Our social Europe – Strong together'.
Wednesday 16 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate - Institutional affairs
Workshop: Relaunching European standardisation for a successful Green Deal
Berlin, Germany
Standardisation is an important tool for achieving the objectives of European policies and of the Green Deal in particular. Successful examples of the work on standardisation in industry and the circular economy will show what opportunities standardisation offers, particularly with a view to achieving the Green Deal.
This event, organised under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, provides a platform to discuss current problems and challenges for the European system of harmonised standards together with representatives from government, associations and commerce, and to develop potential solutions.
Wednesday 16 September
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
State of the European Union: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will give her first State of the European Union address at 9.15 on Wednesday morning. She is set to outline the impact of the Commission's work in mitigating the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, and to present her vision for economic recovery, the fight against climate change, and the situation in Europe's neighbourhood. Political group leaders will react to her speech, assess the Commission's work and set out their views on the 2021 priorities.
Wednesday 16 September
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Research and innovation
Webinar: Scientific and economic benefits of animal-free antibodies
Online
The Joint Research Centre's (JRC) EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) is organising a webinar on its new recommendation on non-animal-derived antibodies.
EURL ECVAM has recently issued a Recommendation on non-animal-derived antibodies which states that animals should no longer be used for the development and production of antibodies for research, regulatory, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. It also challenges misconceptions existing in the scientific community about non-animal-derived antibodies and highlights the scientific and economic benefits of their use.
The webinar will provide an overview of the scientific benefits of using animal-friendly affinity reagents as replacements for animal-derived antibodies.
Wednesday 16 September
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth - Employment and social rights
Annual meeting of the Cedefop community of apprenticeship experts
Online
The 2020 annual meeting of the European centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop) community of apprenticeship experts will take place in the form of a virtual event on 16 September 2020.
The main objectives of this year's meeting are to take stock of the 2020 activities and look forward to the strategic orientation of the community for 2021 onwards.
Thursday 17 - Friday 18 September
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth - Employment and social rights
3rd Cedefop policy learning forum on apprenticeships
Online
The 3rd Policy learning forum (PLF) on apprenticeships of the European Centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop) will take place in the form of a virtual event on 17-18 September 2020.
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss with representatives of all the countries involved in Cedefop's thematic and flash thematic country reviews on apprenticeships.
Like the 2017 and 2018 PLFs, the objective of the 2020 virtual PLF is to offer participants the possibility of peer-learning, by sharing knowledge and reflecting on the experience of other countries. This virtual event is also a chance for the PLF community to keep in contact and get in touch with new countries working on apprenticeship.
The focus of the 2020 virtual PLF will be on apprenticeship governance and in-company training design and deliver.
Thursday 17 - Friday 18 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth
Museums, an asset for social cohesion
Karlsruhe, Germany
Today museums increasingly see themselves as important players in society, contributing to a socially, ecologically and culturally aware community.
Against this backdrop, the German Association of Museums (Deutscher Museumsbund) and NEMO - the Network of European Museum Organisations, are using the opportunity of the EU trio Presidency of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia to organise a series of 3 conferences to discuss the role museums play at the European level.
The series will begin with the conference 'Museums and social responsibility – Values revisited', at the Badisches Landesmuseum, in Karlsruhe on 17-18 September 2020. Subsequent conferences are planned to take place in Portugal and Slovenia in 2021. The conferences are sponsored by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
Thursday 17 - Friday 18 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health
International conference on cancer prevention
Heidelberg, Germany
The high-level expert conference, which will take place in the context of the 2nd National Cancer Prevention Week (14-18 September 2020) and under the patronage of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, will cover the full spectrum of prevention research.
Strengthening prevention is of high importance for public health, since up to 40% of new cases of cancer could be prevented by primary prevention through lifestyle changes alone. This is why prevention is an essential aspect of all relevant national and international cancer control programmes.
The conference will provide a platform for national and international experts to discuss complex issues regarding primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, as well as to form and develop potential partnerships. The conference agenda also takes current urgent challenges in cancer care into account, including strategies and new approaches in the field of personalised and risk-adjusted cancer prevention.
Thursday 17 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Justice and citizens' rights
Lecture series on current challenges in EU law
Berlin
The lecture series on current challenges in EU law, organised under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, aims to facilitate, through an informal debate forum, an exchange between staff members of the German Parliament (Bundestag), the German Federal Council (Bundesrat), embassies, think tanks, NGOs, federal ministries and representatives of science and research. The series will include three 2-hour panel discussions on current issues of EU law in the area of security and defence.
Thursday 17 September
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Moria refugee camp: MEPs are expected to call for an urgent EU response to address the humanitarian crisis on the island of Lesbos following the fire that razed the Moria refugee camp (debate Thursday).
Thursday 17 September
European Aviation Safety Agency | Events/Conf/Fairs | Transport and travel
EASA implementation workshop on airlines' support programmes
Cologne, Germany
A dedicated workshop on the implementation of airlines' support programmes will take place on 17/09/2020 at the EASA headquarters in Cologne.
Support programmes have been introduced by Regulation (EU) No 2018/1042 of 23 July 2018. The Regulation foresees that pilots of European airlines operating commercially have access to a support programme by August 2020.
With this workshop, EASA aims to provide implementation support to the European aviation industry ahead of the application of new safety rules to allow airlines to set up the necessary processes.
The workshop is addressed to European national competent authorities, airline operators and aircrew. It will showcase practical examples of how to implement a support programme along the following themes:
- how to set up a multi-stakeholder support programmes
- the importance of trust and confidentiality
- support programmes for small operators
- what is the role of peers and trained mental health professionals in support programmes
- when to seek aero-medical advice in case of a decrease of medical fitness
- how to establish an interface between the support programme and the operator's management system while ensuring confidentiality
- the role of the authority in supporting the implementation and in overseeing support programmes.
Friday 18 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Justice and citizens' rights - Research and innovation
Forum: Algorithms and consumers – Focus on legal tech
Stuttgart, Germany
The Ministry for rural affairs and consumer protection of Baden-Württemberg (MLR) organises, under the patronage of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, a consumer research forum on 'Algorithms and consumers – Focus on legal tech' in cooperation with the Center for consumers, markets and politics (CCMP) at Zeppelin University, ConPolicy - Institute for consumer policy in Berlin, and the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence.
Practitioners from consumer policy and consumer associations, and researchers are welcome to participate. With this event, organisers want to:
- discuss the use of legal tech in the enforcement of individual and collective rights
- present and discuss concrete practical experience with class action
- discuss the potential and pitfalls of legal tech in consumer policy
Friday 18 - Sunday 20 September
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth
The Disappearing Wall
Warsaw, Poland
Whether it's a quote from Hannah Arendt, a lyric from a Beatles tune or a statement by the Hungarian Nobel Prize winner Imre Kertész, in local competitions, the Goethe-Institut asked people in 10 European countries for their favourite quote from European high and pop culture.
The quotes submitted reflect the linguistic and intellectual diversity of Europe and are now being engraved in the original language and in a translated version on 6,000 wooden blocks. They will be made visible as an installation called the 'Disappearing Wall'. From August 2020, this installation will be set up in central public locations in participating countries. But the diverse ideas of Europe are not only visible in this project. They are also tangible – and lasting. After the unveiling, all passers-by will have the opportunity to take blocks with quotes home with them. All that remains is the clear Plexiglas grid: The wall will disappear. This event is organised under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.