EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 30 January-3 February 2023
This week, agriculture and fishing ministrers discuss animal transport, income support measures, imports from Ukraine, industrial emissions, and honey labelling; and MEPs in committee debate proposals to scale up military and financial support to Ukraine; and in plenary vote on new rules on political advertising and rules to improve conditions for workers on digital labour platforms, and outline their demands and expectations for the 3 February EU-Ukraine summit. 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 30 January-3 February 2023.
Monday 30 January
Council of the EU and European Council | Political meetings | Agriculture and Fisheries
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Brussels
Work programme
The Swedish presidency will give a presentation of its work programme for the coming semester in the field of agriculture and fisheries.
Agriculture
Market situation
Ministers will receive information from the Commission and the member states, and exchange views on the current market situation, particularly in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Bioeconomy
Ministers will discuss the opportunities of the bioeconomy in the light of current challenges, with a special emphasis on rural areas.
Other business
Animal transport
On behalf of the Portuguese delegation, ministers will publicly exchange views on the upcoming revision of the animal transport legislation, an essential part of the food production.
Income support measures
The Hungarian delegation will inform ministers of its wish to request temporary derogation for the maximum threshold when it comes to income support measures for 2023.
Imports from Ukraine
The Polish delegation will inform ministers of the impact of increasing agricultural imports from Ukraine on the local market and farmers.
Industrial Emission Directive
Ministers will receive information from the presidency on the state of play regarding the agricultural aspects of the revision of the Industrial Emission Directive. This item will be public.
Honey labelling
On behalf of the Slovenian delegation, ministers will exchange views on the possible revision of the Council Directive on honey. This item will be public.
Ensuring the EU's resilience and global competitiveness
Following a request from the Greek delegation, ministers will publicly discuss the need for urgent support measures and a strategic approach to the agri-food sector in light of the impact of the energy crisis and inflation on EU farmers and food security in the European Union.
Global forum for food and agriculture 2023
Ministers will receive information from the German delegation on the global forum for food and agriculture which took place in Berlin on 21 January 2023. This item will be public.
Tuesday 31 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Enhancing support to Ukraine: MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Security and Defence Subcommittee will discuss with the President of Ukraine's Head of Office, Andrii Yermak, and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, on their proposals to scale up military and financial support to Ukraine, known as the Kyiv Security Compact.
Wednesday 1 February
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Plenary Session of the European Parliament
Brussels
Asylum and Migration: MEPs will present their migration and asylum priorities ahead of the 9-10 February special European Council. The focus of the debate will be on the progress of the legislative proposals included in the Asylum and Migration Pact, as well as the recently proposed strategy to ease the return of migrants and asylum-seekers without the right to remain in the EU.
New rules on political advertising: MEPs will debate and vote on their negotiating position for talks on new political advertising rules to make EU elections more transparent and resistant to interference. The draft text demands that more information be made available to citizens, authorities and journalists, banning online advert providers from carrying out micro-targeting, and introducing additional sanctions for breaches (debate Wednesday, vote Thursday).
Situation in Afghanistan: on Wednesday, MEPs will look into the situation in Afghanistan in a debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. They are set to focus particularly on the living conditions of women, stripped of their basic human rights and under constant threat of violence.
Anti-money laundering: Parliament will debate with Council and Commission the decision to add the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gibraltar, Mozambique, Tanzania and United Arab Emirates to the list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing purposes. MEPs are set to push for a more speedy and credible listing process in the future.
Thursday 2 February
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Plenary Session of the European Parliament
Brussels
New rules on platform workers: Parliament will decide whether to confirm the negotiating position for talks with Council on new rules to improve conditions for workers on digital labour platforms. The rules would regulate how to correctly determine the employment status of platform workers and how digital labour platforms should use algorithms and artificial intelligence to monitor and evaluate workers.
EU-Ukraine summit: MEPs will outline their demands and expectations for the 3 February EU-Ukraine summit in a debate with the Commission and Council on Thursday morning. They are expected to reiterate their call that the EU should continue to support the country, for a special tribunal to punish Russian crimes and support to immediately deploy modern weapons and a next-generation air defence system to Ukraine.