EUobserver.com

EUOBSERVER / AGENDA (4 – 11 May) – This week the European Commission will publish its convergence report evaluating the economic and fiscal policy development of the EU countries not using the euro, and offer a nod to Slovakia that it can become the 16th eurozone country.

According to a draft report, seen by EUobserver, the commission is expected to conclude that "amongst the assessed member states only Slovakia fulfils the conditions for the adoption of the euro" as of 1 January 2009.

The document will also contain proposals on how to improve the general functioning of the European economic and monetary union, which will next year celebrate its 10th birthday.

Later on in the week, Brussels will be keenly watching Serbia, which is to hold early elections on Sunday.

The vote, pitting current President Boris Tadic's pro-EU Democrats against the country's radical and nationalist forces, is being billed as crucial for Serbia's EU path.

Last week, EU foreign ministers signed a pre-accession deal with Belgrade, in what was largely interpreted as an attempt to boost the pro-EU forces ahead of the 11 May poll.

However, many observers have questioned the move, suggesting it may have the opposite effect and in fact improve the nationalists' chances of winning in a country where hostility to the 27-nation bloc has been increasing since the recognition of Kosovo's independence by a majority of member states.

Meanwhile, a regular meeting between the EU and Turkey – currently undergoing accession negotiations - will take place in Ankara on Tuesday.

On Monday, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša - whose country currently holds the EU presidency, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, and the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering attend a meeting in Brussels of some 21 leaders from the various religious communities.

Parliament's mini-plenary in Brussels
The European Parliament will hold a mini-plenary session in Brussels this week, with several items on the agenda.

On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss the commission's convergence report on the euro, while they will also debate and vote on an annual report on human rights in the world.

The parliamentarians will also talk about the EU's trade relations with southeast Asia.

On Thursday, they will discuss a report on the rules concerning lobbying in the EU institutions, as well as a white paper on sport policy.

Prior to this, UN special advisor Jeffrey Sachs will talk about rising food prices and their impact on developing countries with the parliament's development committee on Monday, amid strong warnings of an impending global food crisis.

The human rights sub-committee will on Tuesday meet the information and international relations minister of the Dalai Lama's exiled Tibetan government.

On the same day, the environment committee will vote on a second reading of legislation on food additives and water quality standards.

Also on Tuesday, the EU's proposed telecoms package will be examined by both the internal market and the industry committees. The industry committee will also vote on a proposal for a reform of the competition rules in the electricity market.

This WEEK in the European Union