EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 11-16 February 2019
This week, finance ministers look to adopt conclusions on the EU Budget; the Commission holds a conference on the international role of the euro in the field of energy, and a workshop on revitalising the small retail sector; and MEPs in plenary decide whether to approve the EU-Singapore trade agreement, and vote on screening foreign direct investments, regional funding, EU cross-border payments outside the Eurozone, and upgrading the EU's civil defence mechanism. 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 11-16 February 2019.
Monday 11 February
Council of the EU and European Council, Political Meetings, Economy and the euro
Eurogroup
Brussels
The Eurogroup will first meet in regular format at 15h and come together for a Eurogroup meeting in inclusive format at 16h.
Regular format
Post-programme surveillance: Ireland and Portugal
The European Commission and the ECB will brief ministers on the main findings of the 10th post-programme surveillance mission to Ireland carried out between 13-16 November 2018 and on the 9th post-programme surveillance mission to Portugal carried out between 26-30 November 2018.
Post-programme surveillance (PPS) starts automatically after the end of financial assistance programmes and continues until at least 75% of loans received have been repaid. PPS is biannual in terms of reporting and missions.
Election of a new ECB Executive Board member
The Eurogroup will discuss the nomination for the upcoming vacancy at the ECB . Following the call for applications at the January Eurogroup meeting, the President of the Eurogroup received one candidature. Ireland put forward its Central Bank Governor Philip Lane to succeed Peter Praet, whose term of office expires on 31 May.
Commission's winter interim forecast
The Eurogroup will discuss the economic situation and outlook for the euro area, on the basis of the Commission's winter forecast.
Inclusive format
Deepening EMU - way forward on the budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness
Following the mandate received by EU leaders at the 14 December Euro Summit, the Eurogroup in inclusive format will continue to discuss the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union.
Ministers will hold a first exchange of views on the way forward regarding the budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area and ERM II member states on a voluntary basis.
Monday 11 February
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Tuesday 12 February
European Economic and Social Committee, Events/Conf/Fairs,
Sustainable Europe by 2030
Brussels
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) recognises that the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development is a global, comprehensive, and positive economic, social, and environmental contract.
Making sustainable development a horizontal priority and translating the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into policies that can improve the well-being of our people is the best chance that the EU has to reconnect with its citizens. The EESC continues to advocate for integrating the SDGs fully and urgently into the European policy framework by setting out a vision for a sustainable Europe by 2030 and beyond.
After the long-awaited publication of the reflection paper 'Towards sustainable Europe by 2030', the EESC will hold a first public debate on concrete next steps to achieve the SDGs in the EU within the 11 years that are left. The meeting will also review 3 national sustainable development strategies and processes involving civil society actors.
Tuesday 12 - Wednesday 13 February
European Commission, Events/Conf/Fairs, Consumer affairs and public health, Research and innovation
Integrating genomics into personalised healthcare: a science-for-policy perspective
Brussels
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is organising this high-level conference, which will bring together experts from around the world to discuss the potential of genomics in the prevention, diagnostics, and therapy for cancer and the new opportunities it may bring for citizens and patients in the EU.
The discussions will also highlight challenges to the implementation and uptake of genomics-based screening and diagnosis in health systems and map the appropriate actions.
The focus will be on supporting patient-centric policies, covering important aspects such as quality assurance, ownership and security of the genetic information produced, ethics and the impact of the genomics market on healthcare systems.
The conference will promote cross-disciplinary interactions between specialists in genetics and genomics, health professionals, decision-makers, patient organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
Tuesday 12 February
European Economic and Social Committee, Other bodies and agencies, Events/Conf/Fairs, Culture, education and youth, Employment and social rights
2nd Policy learning forum on upskilling pathways: a vision for the future
Brussels
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), together with the European centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop), is organising the 2nd Policy learning forum (PLF).
The event aims at bringing together governments, social partners and civil society actors, for them to help each other define and implement the Council recommendation 'Upskilling pathways: new opportunities for adults', adopted in December 2016.
This year's PLF follows last year's successful first edition and is part of a series of events aiming at creating a platform for mutual learning on upskilling adults with low level of skills.
Tuesday 12 February
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Future of Europe/Giuseppe Conte: Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will debate the future of Europe with MEPs on Tuesday afternoon. This will be the seventeenth in a series of future of Europe debates between EU heads of state or government and MEPs.
Civil protection: an upgrade of the EU's civil defence mechanism, tested to its limits in 2017 and 2018 by forest fires, storms and floods, will be put to a vote on Tuesday. The new law will help member states to respond faster and more effectively to natural and man-made disasters, by sharing civil protection assets more efficiently.
Tuesday 12 February
European Commission, Events/Conf/Fairs, Business
Revitalising and modernising the small retail sector
Brussels
This workshop will provide an opportunity for local authorities to learn about the European Commission's 'Guide for revitalising and modernising the small retail sector'.
It will give participants the chance to learn first-hand from towns and cities that have successfully implemented initiatives, and the challenges they overcame. Participants will be able to pick up practical tips, learn about sources of finance, and network. This will enable them to prepare solutions or create a successful local retail strategy for their small retailers.
Tuesday 12 February
Council of the EU and European Council, Political Meetings, Business, taxation and competition, Economy and the euro
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Brussels
Financial supervision architecture
Ministers will discuss the review of the existing architecture of financial supervision. They will aim to reach a general approach on all the elements of the reform proposed by the Commission in September 2017.
Decision-making in EU tax policy
Ministers will also exchange views on the Commission communication "Towards more efficient and democratic decision-making in EU tax policy" which suggests a roadmap for a progressive and targeted transition to qualified majority voting in certain areas of EU taxation policy.
EU budget
The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on the fiscal sustainability report for 2018 and review issues related to the EU budget, namely the budget discharge for 2017 and guidelines for negotiations on the budget for 2020.
Wednesday 13 February
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Investing in EU regions: Parliament will vote on EU 2021-2027 funding rules to keep investing in all regions to boost economic and social cohesion. They are likely to oppose cuts to finances dedicated to regions and approve new goals such as support to innovation, digitisation, energy transition, education and access to healthcare.
EU-Singapore trade agreement: MEPs will decide whether to approve the free trade and investment protection agreements between the EU and Singapore, which will remove virtually all tariffs between the two parties within five years and allow for free trade in services, protect unique European products, and open up the Singaporean procurement market to EU companies.
100 days to European elections: the EP's Press service will organise a briefing for journalists to mark 100 days before the new European Parliament will be elected, which will focus on upcoming key dates, lead candidate debates, media tools and practical details on facilities available on Election Day itself as well as in the run-up.
Thursday 14 - Friday 15 February
European Economic and Social Committee, Other bodies and agencies, Events/Conf/Fairs, Culture, education and youth
2nd Policy Learning Forum (PLF) on upskilling pathways: a vision for the future
Brussels
This event is jointly organised by the European centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).
Cedefop's Policy Learning Forums (PLF) on upskilling pathways are a series of policy-learning events on the topic aimed at providing a platform for countries to come together to learn from one another and explore common challenges in upskilling adults with low level of skills.
The 2019 PLF will build on the outcomes and common challenges identified in the 2018 PLF and aims at bringing together stakeholders to effectively support them in the implementation of upskilling pathways for adults.
Thursday 14 February
European Parliament, Political Meetings, Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Foreign direct investments: Parliament will vote on setting up the first EU-level tool to screen foreign direct investment on grounds of security to protect strategic sectors such as water, transport, or communications, and technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and robotics. A press conference is scheduled at 15.30 on Wednesday.
EU cross-border payments outside Eurozone: Parliament will vote on a new law putting an end to the discrimination that payment service users in the EU outside the Eurozone face. Banks would need to charge equally for cross-border payments in euro and domestic payments and make currency conversion costs more transparent.
Transport conditions for animals: following reports about the ill-treatment of transported animals, MEPs will look into ways to improve their welfare and are set to call on EU member states to better enforce existing EU rules protecting transported animals, apply tough penalties for offenders and improve transport conditions.
Thursday 14 February
European Commission, Events/Conf/Fairs, Economy and the euro, Energy, environment and climate
The international role of the euro in the field of energy
Brussels
The EU is the world's largest energy importer with an annual energy import bill averaging €300 billion in the last 5 years. Roughly 85% of this amount is paid in US dollars, even though the euro is a stable, reliable and globally recognised currency widely accepted for international payments. Strengthening its role in the field of energy trade and investment, while preserving general economic efficiency, will reinforce the international position of the euro and support the EU's objective to build an Energy Union that ensures that Europe's energy supply remains safe, viable and accessible to all.
This event will serve as a stakeholders' consultation on the mechanisms and practicalities of implementing the Commission Recommendation on the international role of the euro in the field of energy, adopted on 5 December 2018.
Friday 15 February
European Economic and Social Committee, Events/Conf/Fairs, Institutional affairs
The implications of Brexit for civil society and the peace process
Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
On 15 February, the Diversity Europe Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will host an extraordinary meeting on Brexit.
The seminar will focus on the fragility of the Good Friday Agreement in view of an impending Brexit. Politicians, academia and civil will be called upon to give their views and around 100 participants are expected.