EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 14-19 June 2021
This week, the Council discusses minimum wages, economic recovery in Europe and VAT issues; the Commission holds conferences on capital markets, battery safety and plastics pollution; MEPs in committee debate the Single European Sky; and the First Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe takes place on 19 June. 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 14-19 June 2021.
Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 June
European Railway Agency - Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Security and defence - Transport and travel
European Rail Safety Days
Porto, Portugal
Organised by the EU Agency for Railways (ERA) in cooperation with the upcoming EU Presidency of Portugal, the European Rail Safety Days will be held on 14-16 June 2021 in Porto.
This event is a unique opportunity for European rail leaders and professionals to meet and reflect on the safety developments within and outside the sector. Sharing cross-industry lessons to drive cultural change is paramount to accomplish the goal of Europe as world leader in railway safety. The event will provide the setting to exchange such good practices. It will also mark the official start of the first European rail safety climate survey, open to all European rail professionals.
Conference topics will be: Cultural changes; Safety leadership; Maintenance of the railway system.
Monday 14 June
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
European Parliament, Brussels
High-Level Conference on Asylum and Migration: EP President David Sassoli will contribute with a video message at the opening and speak at the closing of the second high-level inter-parliamentary conference on migration and asylum. The conference will debate the impact of COVID-19 and the external dimension of migration and asylum policies.
Monday 14 - Tuesday 15 June
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health - Research and innovation
Methods and models in biomedical sciences: building bridges
Online
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is a co-organiser of this an online workshop on scientific methods and models used in biomedical research.
The workshop aims to create an open cross-disciplinary environment to discuss how the combination of different models can contribute to the development of biomedical sciences.
The event is open to scientists interested in biomedical sciences with any relevant professional profile and comprise 4 different sessions, in which examples on how to successfully combine different methods and models to generate knowledge will be presented and discussed.
Monday 14 - Tuesday 15 June
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Consumer affairs and public health - Employment and social rights
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
Luxembourg
Employment, social affairs and health ministers will meet in Luxembourg. For employment and social affairs (14 June) they will discuss minimum wages, the follow up of the Porto Social Summit and the new challenges for social dialogue and collective bargaining. On the agenda for health matters (15 June) are a reinforced role for the European Medicines Agency in crisis preparedness, and access to medicines and medical devices.
Employment and social affairs (Monday 14 June)
Follow up of the Porto Social Summit
EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs will hold a policy debate on the follow up of the Porto Social Summit (7 May 2021) focusing on the next steps in the implementation of the European Social Pillar. In particular, ministers are asked to share their views on setting national targets and monitoring progress within the European Semester process.
European Child Guarantee
The Council is expected to adopt a recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee. The aim of the recommendation is to prevent and combat social exclusion of children in need by guaranteeing access to a set of key services.
The European Child Guarantee would be the first EU-level policy instrument to break the cycle of disadvantage and exclusion during childhood leading to disadvantage in adult life. It puts into practice Principle 11 of the European Pillar of Social Rights on "Childcare and support to children".
Minimum wages
Ministers will discuss the proposed directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU.
Other matters
Ministers will also hold a policy debate on new challenges for social dialogue and collective bargaining.
At the meeting, ministers are also expected to adopt conclusions on: telework; the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on gender equality; the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
Also on the agenda is the European Semester and in particular an assessment of the implementation of the 2020 and 2019 country-specific recommendations and an opinion of the Employment and Social Protection Committees on a proposal for a revised Social Scoreboard.
Ministers will finally be informed by the presidency on the state of play of ongoing legislative proposals: a draft directive on gender balance on company boards; stricter rules to protect workers from the risks of carcinogens and mutagens; revision of regulations on the coordination of social security systems.
Health (Tuesday 15 June)
Reinforced role of the European Medicines Agency
Ministers will aim to adopt a Council position ('general approach') on rules to reinforce the role of the European Medicines Agency in crisis preparedness and management for medicinal products and medical devices. They will also take stock of progress on proposals to revise the regulation establishing the European centre for disease prevention and control and on serious cross-border health threats.
COVID-19
Ministers will exchange views on the pandemic situation.
Access to medicines and medical devices
Ministers are expected to approve conclusions on access to medicines and medical devices for a stronger and resilient EU.
Other matters
Ministers will be informed by the presidency on: the state of play of draft rules on health technology assessment; global health initiatives
They will also receive an update from the Commission on the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 June
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
C-DAYS 2021 – Cybersecurity conference
Online
The annual cybersecurity conference (C-DAYS), organised by the Portuguese national cybersecurity centre, is an important moment for debate between decision-makers, professionals, researchers, students and civil society on subjects related to cybersecurity, from different perspectives: strategic, operational and technical.
This year's event is taking place under the auspices of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU. Focusing on cybersecurity skills and the need to make these commonplace among people and organisations, C-DAYS 2021 is aimed at making skills come 'naturally', thus not only turning cybersecurity into a natural concern and know-how, assimilated from early on in the process of educating citizens, but also in how companies and public administration work.
Monday 14 - Tuesday 15 June
European Commission - European Investment Bank | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business, taxation and competition - Economy and the euro
Capital markets seminar: Focus on Europe
Online
The European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the European Stability Mechanism are organising an online investors seminar to discuss the latest developments at these institutions and in EU capital markets, with a special focus on the investor perspective.
The speakers will include leaders from the organising institutions and the capital markets.
Monday 14 June
Other bodies and agencies - Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
A new EIT strategy to power Europe's largest innovation network
Braga, Portugal - Online
Join the European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT) for the launch of its new strategy, the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021-2027.
Learn more about upcoming opportunities to innovate with the EIT Community and hear from inspiring speakers such as Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, Manuel Heitor, Portuguese Minister of science, technology and higher education, and Gioia Ghezzi, Chair of the EIT governing board.
To raise awareness of the EIT's plans and opportunities, a hybrid launch event for the new strategy is being organised with the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, consisting of 2 parts: a high-level policy session including high-level speakers; 4 thematic sessions focused on the main focus areas of the EIT's new strategy.
Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 June
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
3rd international conference on European studies
Milan, Italy
This conference will bring together economists and political scientists to address European socioeconomic issues.
The conference is jointly organised by the Network for European Studies: CefES-DEMS (University of Milano-Bicocca), KOF (ETH Zurich), EI (London School of Economics and Political Science), Joint research centre - JRC (European Commission).
Conference topics include: Macro, money, banking and finance; European governance; Well-being, inequality and polarisation; Migration, cooperation and trade; Climate change and energy policies; The economic, social and political impact of COVID-19.
Monday 14 - Tuesday 15 June
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate
Meeting of the European Electricity Regulatory Forum
Online
The Electricity Regulatory Forum, also referred to as the Florence Forum, was set up on the initiative of the Commission in 1998, to discuss the creation of the internal electricity market.
The Forum is currently addressing the cross-border trade of electricity, in particular the management of scarce interconnection capacity and how to organise electricity markets to meet our decarbonisation objectives and facilitate the integration of renewable electricity.
The invited participants and speakers include national regulatory authorities, Member State governments, the European Commission, Transmission System Operators (TSOs), electricity associations, consumers, network users, and power exchanges.
Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16 June
European Medicines Agency - Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Consumer affairs and public health
Risk management information day
Online
The focus of this information day will be an update of the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) ongoing activities on medicines' risk management with the opportunity for an interactive platform to exchange experiences between regulators and industry.
Tuesday 15 June
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
European Parliament, Brussels
First Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe: the inaugural Conference Plenary will take place on 19 June, in Strasbourg, with remote and physical participation, in full compliance with the public health situation, and will include presentations on the European Citizens' Panels and the Multilingual Digital Platform. Ahead of the event, on Tuesday 15 June, Parliament's Co-Chair of the Conference Board, MEP Guy Verhofstadt, will inform the Constitutional Affairs Committee on the state of play of the Conference.
Protection of EU budget/OLAF: MEPs in the Budget Control Committee will discuss the European Anti-Fraud Office's (OLAF) 2020 activities in its fight to protect the EU budget, including over 200 investigations closed and more than €293 million recommended for recovery, with its Director-General Ville Itala.
Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16 June
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business, taxation and competition - Energy, environment and climate
Covenant of Mayors investment forum: Energy efficiency finance market place
Online
The 2021 edition of the Covenant of Mayors investment forum - energy efficiency finance market place is jointly organised by the European Commission's Directorates-Generals for Energy and Climate Action and the Executive Agency for small and medium-sized enterprises (EASME).
The conference will include plenary sessions with high-level representatives from the Covenant of Mayors initiative, the investment community and the European Commission. It will also showcase successful projects financing energy efficiency, climate adaptation, clean mobility and innovative energy planning.
The conference will bring together cities, industry and financial institutions to exchange good practices and successful solutions to common challenges.
Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16 June
European Food Safety Authority - Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Food, farming and fisheries
GMO workshop on allergenicity assessment
Parma, Italy
The aim of the workshop is to set the scene on the current state-of-the-art in the science of GMO allergenicity assessment and to define what specific elements of such assessment need to be developed to move forward a field still in its infancy. The formulation of specific research requirements for allergenicity assessment and protein safety in general is urgently needed in a world that demands more sustainable food systems. To meet this need, collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, academia and the scientific international community at large will be strongly pursued.
Introductory speeches will open the floor for exchanges on allergenicity assessment and future developments. The meeting will take place in a single plenary session. At the end of the meeting, conclusions will summarise the main discussion points. The European food safety authority (EFSA) will draft a short report collecting and summarising the discussions which will be published together with the presentations.
Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16 June
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation
58th ESReDA seminar - Using knowledge to manage risks and threats: practices and challenges
Alkmaar, the Netherlands
The 58th seminar of the European safety, reliability and data association (ESReDA) will be a forum for participants to discuss theories, concepts, and experiences of enhancing the use of knowledge for better risk management and governance. This seminar will bring together researchers, practitioners, specialists and decision-makers to discuss strategies and practical experiences.
The seminar is jointly organised by ESReDA and European Commission's joint research centre (JRC).
Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16 June
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation - Security and defence
International forum on advanced and digitalised smart textiles (IFAST 2021)
Online
The International forum on advanced and digitalised smart textiles (IFAST) will take place online on 15-16 June 2021, with the objective to evaluate the development of advanced smart textiles in the European defence sector, aiming at laying the foundation of a possible European future dual-use programme for multifunctional smart textiles.
The IFAST forum is composed of: a virtual exhibition centre (15-16 June 2021) , where industries and academia involved in smart textiles can have their stand to show their products, services and projects: a dedicated conference on 15 June 2021.
The event will gather relevant stakeholders coming from governmental defence bodies, industry, academia and research and technology communities, as well as European institutions and organisations.
Tuesday 15 June
European Commission | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate
A holistic approach to battery safety and sustainability for Europe
Online
The 'Batteries Europe' workshop will develop around the issues of sustainability and safety in the EU battery value chain.
The speakers invited, representing the European Commission and stakeholders from the research and innovation sector and the industry, will focus on the balance between social, environmental and economic sustainability, safety and performance, taking into account the major advances of the industry in light of the regulatory framework.
A Q&A and a panel session will conclude the webinar.
Wednesday 16 June
European Union Agency for Railways - Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Security and defence - Transport and travel
Online launch event of the European rail safety climate survey
Online
In order to further improve safety in the European rail system, the EU Agency for railways (ERA) is conducting a unique safety perception survey open to all rail professionals working in the EU and in EFTA States: the European rail safety climate survey (ERA-SCS).
The deployment of the ERA-SCS comprises 2 successive phases:
- Phase 1: About 100 partnerships with volunteering European companies and authorities were set up. The ERA-SCS has been disseminated among these partners' organisations and more than 25,000 surveys were completed by their staff during the first half of the year.
- Phase 2 (as of 16 June): During the online launch event, the ERA-SCS will be made accessible to any rail professional and further disseminated across Europe until the 7 October, with the support of the European transport workers' federation (ETF) and the Autonomous train drivers' unions of Europe (ALE).
For the launch event, a distinguished panel will gather partners and key stakeholders from the rail sector who will discuss about the topic of "a more inclusive and resilient European rail safety".
Wednesday 16 - Thursday 17 June
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Food, farming and fisheries - Research and innovation
4th EIT Food innovation forum
Online
The EIT Food innovation forum is an annual event dedicated to targeted nutrition.
On 16-17 June, the Food section of the European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT Food) will bring together the most innovative targeted-nutrition projects and experts to talk about the future of targeted nutrition and how new trends will transform the sector in the upcoming years.
Are you a food expert, innovator or investor? Are you working on an idea or a business that can change the agrifood game? This event is offering you expert-led workshops, inspiring talks and roundtables where participants will come together virtually and discuss everything related to agrifood and innovation.
Wednesday 16 June
European Commission - European Parliament | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate - Research and innovation
Plastics pollution: Are biodegradable plastics a solution?
Online
This European Parliament intergroup event will review the latest scientific evidence on the biodegradability of plastics from SAPEA, the consortium of European academies, and discuss the policy recommendations made by the European Commission's independent group of chief scientific advisors — recommendations which will inform the forthcoming EU policy framework related to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics, and help to define the main challenges and policy actions needed in this area.
In doing so, this event, co-organised with SAPEA, brings together EU policymakers and representatives from both the private sector and NGOs, to openly discuss and explore the opportunities and challenges ahead in relation to biodegradable plastics.
Wednesday 16 - Thursday 17 June
European Commission - Other bodies and agencies - Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate - Security and defence
Conference of the Consultation forum for sustainable energy in the defence and security sector (CF SEDSS)
Lisbon, Portugal
The CF SEDSS is a European Commission initiative managed by the European Defence Agency and it is now in its 3rd phase.
Its purpose is to assist the EU Ministries of Defence to move towards green, resilient, and efficient energy models, ensuring a coordinated approach to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable defence and security sector.
Within the framework of the Clean Energy Package, the experts of the CF SEDSS focus on improving energy efficiency and buildings' performance, utilising renewable energy sources, increasing the resilience of defence-related critical infrastructure, and also addressing the general issues of energy management and policy, energy innovative technologies, and the applicable funding for defence energy projects.
Thursday 17 - Friday 18 June
European Commission - Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Research and innovation - Security and defence
Annual privacy forum 2021
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 organisation, 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 University of Oslo organise the Annual Privacy Forum (APF) 2021 as an online event.
Thursday 17 - Friday 18 June
Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth
Launch conference of the Creative Europe programme
Lisbon, Portugal
This high-level conference will feature speakers from all over Europe – cultural agents, thinkers, politicians and governmental decision-makers – with the aim of getting Europe behind the new Creative Europe programme and fostering broad debate on the main strategic innovations and new priorities for the 2021-2027 cycle, highlighting the links with other EU funds and the relationships with current societal issues.
Thursday 17 June
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
European Parliament, Brussels
Single European Sky: the Transport and Tourism Committee will set its negotiating position on the reform of the Single European Sky. The new rules aim to modernise Europe's air traffic management, improve efficiency and capacity as well as reduce fragmentation, flight delays and CO2 emissions in the aviation sector.
Thursday 17 June
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Energy, environment and climate - Research and innovation
EIT Raw Materials Summit 2021
Online
The Raw Materials section of the European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT Raw Materials) is organising the EIT Raw Materials Summit 2021, the global innovation and technology conference in the raw materials sector.
The event will gather prominent speakers from the raw materials value chain, key policymakers, and European Commission representatives. With more than 700 global participants last year, the EIT Raw Materials Summit hosted the launch of European raw materials alliance (ERMA) and addressed critical challenges for the industry.
Thursday 17 June
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Economy and the euro
Eurogroup
Luxembourg
Eurogroup
- Post-programme surveillance
- Portugal
- Cyprus
- Spain
- Ireland
- Greece: 10th enhanced surveillance report and policy contingent debt measures
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) article IV interim mission to the euro area
- Functioning of the Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II)
- Miscellaneous
Eurogroup in inclusive format
- Completing the banking union – reporting from the high-level working group chair and preparation of the June Euro Summit
- Miscellaneous
Friday 18 June
European Investment Bank | Events/Conf/Fairs | Business - Energy, environment and climate
The trans-European networks for energy: a milestone towards a renewables-powered EU
Brussels
In the context of the revision of the regulation on the trans-European networks for energy, this conference – jointly organised by the Ministry of Energy of Luxembourg, IRENA and the European Investment Bank (EIB) – will gather experts from various backgrounds, political leaders, industry and civil society organisations to discuss the future of the EU energy infrastructure.
Friday 18 June
Other bodies and agencies | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth - Employment and social rights
Workshop on comparing vocational education and training
Online
The workshop will present the final findings of the project 'Comparing vocational education and training qualifications: towards a European comparative methodology' of the European Centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop).
The workshop will present a series of use-cases where a systematic analysis and comparison of learning outcomes can support researchers, policymakers and practitioners involved in the development as well as review and renewal of skills and qualifications.
It will allow for a discussion on how to strengthen the feedback-loop between education and training and the labour market; and thus provide a better link between the supply and demand of skills and qualifications.
The event will gather selected international experts and researchers working on comparative methodologies from different angles.
Friday 18 - Saturday 19 June
European Commission - Other bodies and agencies - Presidency of the Council of the EU | Events/Conf/Fairs | Culture, education and youth
Informal meeting of desks of the Creative Europe programme 2021-2027
Lisbon
This informal meeting between the European Commission, the Education, audiovisual and culture executive agency (EACEA) and the national contact points for the Creative Europe programme, the Creative Europe desks (CED) is organised under the auspices of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU.
This meeting will take place over 2 days, with a view to promoting adequate training for the programme's support structures and fomenting the sharing of good practices in the CED network. A further aim is to promote future collaborations both between the network members and in terms of furthering actions that could potentially lead to the establishment of transnational partnerships between professionals from the European cultural and creative sectors.
Friday 18 June
Council of the EU and European Council | Political Meetings | Business, taxation and competition - Economy and the euro
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Luxembourg
EU economic and finance ministers will debate the economic recovery in Europe, VAT issues and the state of play of the banking union. They will also exchange views on financial services and fiscal sustainability and focus on the European Semester 2021.
Economic recovery
Ministers will exchange views on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The RRF lies at the heart of the EU's Next Generation EU recovery plan. It will make €672.5 billion in grants and loans available for public investment and reforms in the member states to help them address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to foster the green and digital transitions and to build resilient and inclusive societies.
Value-added tax (VAT)
Ministers will hold a policy debate on VAT rates. They will also discuss VAT exemption to facilitate measures taken at Union level in the public interest, in particular where the EU is acting on a mandate to buy goods and services in order to distribute them free of charge to member states according to their emergency needs. The Commission presented the 'buy and donate' proposal in April 2021.
Banking union
The Council will take note of the progress report on strengthening the banking union.
Financial services
The presidency will inform ministers about the state of play of financial services legislative proposals.
Fiscal sustainability
Ministers will aim to adopt a recommendation on the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact, that consists of a set of rules for the coordination of national fiscal policies in the EU. They are also expected to adopt recommendations on the updated stability or convergence programmes of the member states in the framework of the European Semester 2021.
The Council is expected to approve conclusions on 2021 age-related spending.
International meetings
Ministers are also expected to approve terms of reference for the meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors that will take place from 7 to 10 July 2021.