A quick glance at the main forthcoming events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings and other EU-related conferences and events. Main events for the week of 18-23 March 2019:
Today, Monday 18 March at the European Parliament in Brussels the 2018 Sakharov Prize finalist – NGOs saving migrant lives across the Mediterranean Sea – will discuss the topic “Migration/NGOs in the Mediterranean” with MEPs from the Civil Liberties and Foreign Affairs committees and the Human Rights subcommittee.
On the same day political groups will prepare for the 25-28 March plenary session in Strasbourg, where MEPs will vote on the new copyright law, single use plastics, quality of drinking water, CO2 emissions for new passenger cars, the internal market for electricity, posting of drivers and their allowed driving times and resting periods, as well as ending the time switch between summer and winter. Parliament will also vote on the final recommendations of its special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (TAX3).
On Monday as well the Foreign Affairs Council will start with a discussion on current affairs, allowing ministers to review pressing issues on the international agenda. Ministers may touch upon the situation in Venezuela. The Council will exchange views on China and EU-China relations; political perspectives for EU engagement with the Republic of Moldova and the way forward, following the parliamentary elections of 24 February 2019 and review the situation Yemen.
Tuesday 19 March EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Andrej Kiska, President of Slovakia whilst Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans receives Reinier van Zutphen, National Ombudsman of the Netherlands, to discuss the migrants and refugees situation in Member States.
At the European Parliament in Brussels the opening of the conference “OCEANS – The Future of the Blue Planet”. The event, hosted by Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, will gather key politicians and experts to discuss the future of oceans, with panel debates covering global ocean governance, a sustainable blue economy, and healthy as well as clean seas and oceans. Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will deliver a speech at the conference.
Wednesday 20 March, President Jean-Claude Juncker meets Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, and Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, for a working dinner. Vice President Frans Timmermans on Wednesday receives representatives of the European Disability Forum
In Spain, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), together with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and the UN Refugee Agency, is organising a workshop in Cadiz – a region with a very high number of migrants and asylum seekers arriving by sea. The session will aim at providing first line reception staff with practical tools to facilitate the identification of vulnerable groups, including victims of trafficking, unaccompanied children, or people seeking international protection. This is the first of a series of workshops planned for 2019 to be organised by FRA in reception facilities in the south of Spain.
Thursday 21 March, in Brussels, the Spring European Council opens and will focus on strengthening the European economic base. EU leaders will also discuss climate change, the upcoming summit with China and ways to tackle disinformation. On 21 March 2019, the EU27 leaders will meet to discuss Brexit.
At the start of the meeting, the President of Romania, representing the current presidency of the Council, will provide an overview of progress on the implementation of earlier European Council conclusions. The EU27 leaders will meet on 21 March 2019 to discuss the latest developments following the United Kingdom’s notification under Article 50. The heads of state or government will also review progress in tackling disinformation and the need to protect the democratic integrity of the European and national elections across the EU.
President Jean-Claude Juncker will participate in the EPP Summit ahead of the European Council which he will attend afterwards.
Also on the day, the Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will assess the rule of law situation in Hungary, with Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and the Romanian Presidency, as well as the progress made by the Council in examining Parliament’s request to determine, in accordance with Treaty Article 7, whether Hungary is at risk of breaching the EU´s founding values.
Friday 22 March Jean-Claude Juncker participates in a special event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the European Economic Area Agreement together with the Leaders of the European Council and the Prime Ministers of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The Prime Ministers of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have been invited as guests to the European Council to mark the 25th anniversary of the EEA.
On this occasion, on Friday 22 March, EU leaders will have an opportunity to exchange views. The Agreement on the European Economic Area was signed in 1992 in Oporto, Portugal and entered into force in 1994. It provides for the inclusion of EU legislation covering the four freedoms – the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital – throughout the 31 EEA states.
Saturday 23 March Federica Mogherini, the EU Foreign Policy Head, starts an official visit to Tokyo, Japan (until 24/03) where she will participate in the 5th World Assembly for Women (WAW!).
