EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 19-24 October 2020
This week, the Council is due to agree on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea, and to adopt conclusions on biodiversity; the Commission launches the Green City Accord, holds the annual privacy forum, and a workshop on revitalising retail; MEPs in (remote) plenary debate the Commission's 2021 work programme, deforestation, and announce the Sakharov Prize 2020 Winner; and it's EU Green Week 2020. 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 19-24 October 2020.
Monday 19 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth - Food, farming and fisheries
Translating food: the added value of translation for the economy and society
Parma, Italy
The focus of this one-day Translating Europe workshop (TEW) will be translation in the domain of food, which is a driver of the Italian economy.The debate will involve world-renowned food industries based in Parma, universities, professional translators, cultural players, the European Commission and the European food safety authority (EFSA) to underline the added-value of translation for stakeholders and the general public.
Topics will include:
- Added-value of translation for the economy and society
- Terminological challenges relating to the food sector
- Translation needs - the industry perspective
Monday 19 - Thursday 22 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate
EU Green Week 2020
Online
EU Green Week 2020 is scheduled for 19-22 October 2020, on the theme of nature and biodiversity.
After the adoption of a new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 in May, Green Week will highlight the contribution biodiversity can make to society and the economy, and the role it can play in supporting and stimulating recovery in a post-pandemic world, bringing jobs and sustainable growth. The new strategy shows how the recovery is an opportunity for a fresh start, in the knowledge that transformative change is possible. It's a chance to rethink our relationship with nature, to change the activities that are driving biodiversity loss and the wider ecological crisis, and to weigh up the implications for our economy and society. EU Green Week will examine how EU policies such as the European Green Deal can help protect and restore nature, leaving it room to recover and thrive.
This year's Green Week will also act as a milestone on the path to the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, now planned for 2021, where world leaders will adopt a 10-year action plan for biodiversity – a new global deal for people and nature.
Monday 19 - Thursday 22 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
European Open Science Cloud Symposium 2020
Berlin, Germany
The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Symposium 2020 brings together researchers, data scientists, EOSC projects, EOSC working group members and representatives of the EU countries and associated countries to discuss the final steps towards the establishment of the first EOSC.
The 2-day programme will analyse the progress of the EOSC two years after its official launch. Success stories, failures and lessons learnt from the first two years of EOSC are on the agenda as well as discussions on strategic research and innovation. This event, organised in the framework of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, will be a key milestone towards the launch of the 2nd phase of the EOSC.
Monday 19 October
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Justice and citizens' rights - Research and innovation
8th BEREC stakeholder forum
Brussels
The postponed 8th stakeholder forum of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) will take place on 19 October 2020 in Brussels, Belgium.
As previously announced, during the event, interested parties will have the opportunity to informally meet and greet the BEREC working groups' co-chairs. BEREC experts will be available to give some technical clarification within the scope of their expertise, in their respective BEREC working groups.
Earlier this year, BEREC has already outlined the main topic of the stakeholder forum, namely 'digital platform regulation'. Stakeholders are invited to follow the thematic discussions relevant to the current challenges in telecoms market and its regulation.
Monday 19 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament remote plenary session
Online
Due to the serious public health situation in Belgium and France, the President, in agreement with EP group leaders, has decided that the October II session will take place remotely.
Digital Services: MEPs will present their demands on how digital services, including online platforms and marketplaces, should be regulated and how they expect the Commission to address and tackle current shortcomings in the online environment in its Digital Services package, due to be presented by the end of the year. (debate Monday, final votes Tuesday, results Wednesday morning)
Artificial Intelligence: MEPs will outline their vision of how the EU can best regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what AI rules are needed on ethics, liability and intellectual property rights, so that the EU can become a global leader in its development. (debate Monday, final votes Tuesday, results Wednesday morning)
Monday 19 - Tuesday 20 October
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Food, farming and fisheries
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Luxembourg
Reform of the CAP
EU ministers will hold an exchange of views on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The Council will seek to adopt a general approach on the three regulations foreseen under the new CAP:
- a regulation on the CAP strategic plans
- a regulation on the single common market organisation (CMO)
- a horizontal regulation on financing, managing and monitoring the CAP
Fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea
EU ministers are due to agree on the total allowable catches (TACs) and member states' quotas for the ten most commercially important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for the year 2021. The Council is responsible for fixing TACs and allocating fishing opportunities. Decisions are taken on the basis of proposals from the European Commission.
Farm to fork
EU ministers plan to adopt conclusions on the 'farm to fork' strategy. The Commission presented its 'farm to fork' strategy on 20 May 2020, as one of the key actions under the European Green Deal.
Monday 19 - Friday 23 October
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Employment and social rights
European Week for safety and health at work 2020
Bilbao, Spain and elsewhere
This year's European Week for safety and health at work is raising awareness about the upcoming Healthy Workplaces campaign 2020-2022, with the topic 'Healthy workplaces lighten the load', by tackling work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
The European Agency for safety and health at work (EU-OSHA) collaborates with an extensive network of national focal points, official campaign partners, media partners and occupational safety and health (OSH) ambassadors from the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). They work together to raise awareness during the European Week, organising many events, including conferences, competitions, training sessions, exhibitions and networking and good practice events.
Tuesday 20 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business - Research and innovation
EIC investor day with Euronext: Ready to scale-up?
Dublin, Ireland
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Business Acceleration Services and Euronext invite you to apply for their joint EIC Investor Day, a specially designed service to pitch your business to top-tier European investors, explore new finance opportunities and learn more about going public.
By attending this event with Euronext, you will have the opportunity to: engage directly with top European investors and Euronext representatives; pitch your business case in front of a world-renowned jury of European investors; network with fellow EIC backed-up companies; access personalised online training on pitching techniques and investors specifications before the event; receive in-depth preparation and understanding of the initial public offering (IPO) process.
The event is open to all innovative approaches with a focus on technology, life science or medtech.
Tuesday 20 - Wednesday 21 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business - Covid-19
Revitalising Retail 2020 - 2nd workshop: Retail recovery and (re)birth
Online
This workshop aims to gather feedback and encourage an exchange on how to help shops recover from forced closures due to COVID-19. The role of retail in enhancing urban regeneration and reviving local communities within and outside city centres will also be discussed.
The workshop will be an opportunity to discuss how small retailers could benefit from support programmes under the 'Recovery and Resilience Facility' that was outlined in the 2021 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy. Participants can also learn how to use the Commission guide 'Facing the Future' through the presentation of a real life example from experts, which shows what really works to revitalise and modernise small retailers and keep city centres lively and attractive, and how this was adapted to deal with the crisis.
This virtual workshop will consist of a plenary and break out groups.
Tuesday 20 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
Ministerial conference on the European Research Area (ERA)
Bonn, Germany
The ministerial conference on the European Research Area (ERA) aims to achieve an ambitious reorganisation of the ERA. The ministers from EU countries provide advice on how the ERA can be made more dynamic and effective through measures such as facilitating transnational cooperation and paying closer attention to societal interests.
In order to strengthen the international dimension of the ERA, important international partners from all around the world will join the event via videoconference in the afternoon. The adoption of the Bonn Declaration will serve to demonstrate a joint commitment to the freedom of research.
Tuesday 20 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament remote plenary session
Online
Future of EU Farm Policy: MEPs will debate and vote on plans to reform the EU's farm policy, to make it more sustainable, resilient and flexible. The package includes plans to enhance mandatory climate- and environmentally-friendly practices, reduce payments to bigger farms and channel more money to smaller farms and young farmers, to help them deal with crises and simplify rules on carrying out checks and controls. (debate Tuesday, final votes and results Friday)
Commission Work Programme for 2021: MEPs will debate the Commission's 2021 work programme, presented by Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, focussing on its plans to boost recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and build a resilient, carbon-neutral and digitally advanced EU economy.
Wednesday 21 - Thursday 22 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Institutional affairs - Security and defence
Conference on the future of Europol
Berlin
Europol's future is one of the key issues in the field of public security. Both at European and national level, politicians pay great attention to the further development of Europol. A key element of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the EU, therefore, is the conference hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Interior (BMI), addressing the future of Europol.
The European Commission intends to present a draft regulation to amend the Europol Regulation during the German Presidency. The BMI would welcome all EU countries to actively contribute to this process so that their concerns and expectations can be taken into account and reflected in the draft regulation. The conference and its outcome will provide a good basis for this. Europol should primarily serve the needs of EU countries, support their police and law enforcement agencies and facilitate their mutual cooperation. Keynote speeches by experts and a thorough discussion should help Europol stakeholders from EU countries come to a common understanding.
Wednesday 21 - Thursday 22 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Enlargement, external relations and trade - Justice and citizens' rights
The Europe we want. The Europe we need 2020
Berlin
The conference contributes to cooperation and constructive dialogue between civil society actors in the Western Balkans and the EU.
Co-organisers are the Southeast Europe Association (Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft e.V.) and the National Network for Civil Society (Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement, BBE).
The event is taking place under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Wednesday 21 October
European Commission - Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business - Institutional affairs
Conference on public procurement
Berlin
The conference, which will be hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, together with the European Commission, in the framework of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, aims to promote intense debate among policymakers and European experts on the expectations that are currently being placed on public procurement.
The focus will be both on the urgent necessities arising from the coronavirus pandemic and its impact, and on long-term projects and issues such as the European Green Deal and the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation.
Wednesday 21 - Thursday 22 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Employment and social rights - Research and innovation
Beyond Work 2020: European conference on labour research
Online / Bonn
On 21-22 October, in the framework of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research will host Beyond Work 2020, a European conference on labour research.
The conference will connect international experts from government, business, industry and civil society, as well as scholars and citizens shaping the working world of the future.
Interactive sessions and an exhibition will provide insights into current findings and innovative solutions. Participants will be able to experience and discuss various national and international perspectives on the future of work. The overarching goal is to identify areas for further cooperation in labour research and workplace innovation in Europe.
Wednesday 21 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament remote plenary session
Online
Deforestation: to ensure that EU consumption does not lead to global deforestation, MEPs are expected to call for binding legislation based on traceability requirements and mandatory due diligence for companies placing products on the EU market. (debate Wednesday, final vote and result Thursday)
EU summit: in a debate with European Council President Charles Michel, MEPs will comment on the outcome of the 15-16 October EU Summit, particularly on EU-UK relations, COVID-19 coordination measures, climate change and EU-Africa relations.
Thursday 22 October
European Commission - European Committee of the Regions | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate - EU regional and urban development
Launch event of the Green City Accord
Online
This high-level event, jointly organised by the European Commission (DG Environment) and the Platform for cooperation on environment of the European Committee of the regions (CoR), will see the launch of the Green City Accord.
This event will feature interventions by high-level EC and CoR representatives, who will set the scene and present the initiative's vision, its objectives and the commitments it will entail. Several mayors will express their intention to join the Green City Accord in 2020 and will encourage other cities to follow suit.
Thursday 22 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth - Employment and social rights
Translation as a career - for senior cycle secondary school students (Galway)
Galway, Ireland
In this Translating Europe workshop (TEW), secondary school students are invited to hear about translation as a career and about the university courses on offer. The students will also be given the opportunity to try translation for themselves in a hands-on workshop.
Teachers and career guidance counsellors will also attend the event and are encouraged to act as multipliers – bringing language-related tips back to the classroom and encouraging language students to consider translation as a career.
Thursday 22 October
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Employment and social rights
Musculoskeletal disorders prevalence, prevention and policy
Online
In 2017, the European Agency for safety and health at work (EU-OSHA) started a multiannual research programme on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A range of projects have been carried out within the programme, resulting in various outputs, ranging from research reports and expert articles to practical tools and a database of MSDs-related resources.
This webinar presents some key findings from this MSDs research, undertaken by EU-OSHA with the support of external experts. The webinar wraps up the research work and the results carry forward into EU-OSHA's 2020-2022 Healthy Workplaces Campaign on MSDs.
Thursday 22 - Friday 23 October
European Commission - Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation - Security and defence
Annual privacy forum 2020
Online
The value of personal data in the online world has significantly increased over the last years as electronic products, services and processes have permeated every fold of everyday life. Limitations in the transparency, the functionality and interconnectivity of online and communication services increases the risk of having personal data processed out of control of any accountable person or organization or simply becoming exposed to all sorts of privacy threats.
The EU legal framework on personal data protection is key in an effort to better control the processing of personal data while ensuring an adequate level of protection. Even the best legislative efforts cannot keep up to speed with the pace of innovative technology and business models that challenge the way personal data is processed and privacy is protected across the EU and beyond; therefore, examining what is at stake and where threats thereto originate from becomes of paramount importance.
Against this background, the EU Agency for cybersecurity (ENISA), the European Commission (DG CONNECT) and the Catholic University of Portugal - Lisbon school of Law are organising the Annual privacy forum 2020.
Thursday 22 October
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Employment and social rights
1st annual conference of the FEAD community
Brussels
The conference is the first mutual learning event of a cycle of capacity-building seminars aimed at improving the delivery of the Fund for European aid to the most deprived (FEAD) at national, regional and local level. The conference will provide an opportunity to take stock of FEAD's achievements to date and discuss future challenges to be addressed. It will give participants the opportunity to share experiences from the ground and to shape the upcoming capacity-building seminars aiming at exploring promising practices and innovative solutions to common issues.
Thursday 22 October
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament remote plenary session
Online
Sakharov Prize 2020 Winner: EP President David Sassoli will announce the winner of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at noon on Thursday. The finalists are: the democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the Coordination Council, an initiative of brave women and political and civil society figures; Guapinol activists and Berta Cáceres in Honduras; Mgr Najeeb Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq.
Member states selling EU passports: MEPs will quiz the Commission about possible measures to stop third-country criminals from buying EU citizenship documents or visas to gain access to EU territory.
Thursday 22 October
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation - Security and defence
Cloud computing information security challenges
Brussels
The EU Defence Agency (EDA), in collaboration with the Computer emergency response team for the European institutions (CERT-EU), the EU agency for cybersecurity (ENISA) and the European cybercrime centre (EC3), is promoting a workshop and asking industry partners to contribute to the discussion.
Friday 23 October
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Energy, environment and climate
Environment Council
Luxembourg
European climate law
The Environment Council will begin with a discussion, in public session, on the European climate law. The aim of the discussion is to make as much progress as possible at this stage on this regulation, by aiming to reach a partial Council negotiating position, pending a decision by the European Council on the updated EU 2030 climate target.
EU biodiversity strategy for 2030
In the afternoon, in public session the Council will aim to adopt conclusions on biodiversity. The conclusions will give political guidance on the implementation of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030.
Other issues
Under any other business, the Polish delegation will present its proposal for improvements to the EU emissions trading system to drive the transformation towards climate neutrality in the EU. The Netherlands delegation will inform ministers on the Climate adaptation summit which is scheduled for 25 January 2021.
The Lithuanian delegation will inform ministers on the eighth session of the meeting of the parties to the Convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (Espoo MOP-8) which is set to take place in Vilnius from 8 to 11 December 2020. The Netherlands delegation will inform ministers on the World circular economy forum which is scheduled for 15 April 2021.
Finally, the European Commission will present its:
- communication on the EU chemicals strategy for sustainability
- communication on access to justice in environmental matters in member states
- current legislative proposal for a regulation amending the Aarhus regulation
- decision on the 8th environment action programme
Friday 23 October
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business - Covid-19 - Transport and travel
19th European tourism forum : Future prospects for the tourism, ways to recover from the coronavirus crisis and to develop a robust tourism industry
Berlin
In light of the massive impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on tourism, this year's European Tourism Forum (ETF), held annually since 2002, will focus on ways of resolving the crisis and reorienting tourism in Europe under the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Representatives from EU countries will engage in a dialogue with the European Commission as well as national, European and international tourism experts, on how the tourism sector in Europe can be revived. Special emphasis will be placed on ways of making tourism fit for the future.
Friday 23 October
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Covid-19 - Security and defence
e-Health security conference 2020 – Session 2
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.
Session 2: Cybersecurity in COVID-19 tracing mobile apps
Mobile applications can help health authorities at a national and EU level in monitoring and containing the spread of COVID-19. Since its declaration as a pandemic, many countries have announced the launch of apps to support the fight against the virus. An EU toolbox was released following the European Commission's recommendation on apps for contact tracing which will serve as a means of combating and alleviating the COVID-19 crisis. Representatives of the teams having developped these applications will share experience and challenges from cybersecurity perspective.