Tuesday

19th Mar 2024

Agenda

This WEEK in the European Union

  • The financial crisis will again get most of the attention next week. (Photo: European Community)

This week will start with a meeting of the EU's economy and finance ministers (ECOFIN) in Luxembourg on the need for a European response to the international financial crisis, just a day after the bloc's four biggest states - Germany, France, Britain and Italy – hold emergency talks on the subject in Paris.

The ECOFIN meeting on Tuesday (7 October) is expected to highlight the need for co-operation and cohesion among EU states on the issue, as well as the necessity of constructing a "structural response" to the crisis, rather than taking ad hoc actions.

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The ministers will also underline the need to respect the so-called Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) – the rules underpinning the euro, following comments coming from some EU capitals that tackling the crisis should take priority over keeping budget deficits in line with EU rules.

"[The SGP rules] are temporarily not the priority of priorities. The priority is to save the global banking system and the savings of citizens. There is no other choice," Henri Guaino, a close adviser of French President Nicolas Sarkozy told French television channel Canal Plus on Thursday.

The meeting – which will be preceded on Monday by a meeting of the economy and finance ministers from EU countries using the euro – will also assess the impact of the crisis on banks and insurance companies, as well as on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Discussions on taxation and financial services are also planned.

Later in the week, on Thursday and Friday (9 – 10 October) EU transport and energy ministers will meet in Luxembourg, focusing mainly on transport safety and 'greening transport' on the one hand, and energy efficiency and security on the other.

Maritime safety measures known as the 'Erika III package' will be discussed, as well as several proposals made by the commission for the transport sector to take environmental concerns more into account.

Busy week for commissioners

Meanwhile, in the European Commission, EU regional commissioner Danuta Hubner will on Monday present a paper on territorial cohesion, aiming to achieve a "balanced economic development across the EU's territories."

On Wednesday, consumer rights commissioner Meglena Kuneva will propose a single set of rights that European consumers could apply wherever in the EU they shop, including online.

The same day, the commission will also adopt a series of documents on migration, including a communication on the application of an EU directive on the right to family reunification.

Also on Wednesday, commissioner Viviane Reding, responsible for information society and media will be among the key-note speakers at the 'Wild West Web' conference in Brussels.

The conference, organised by the EUobserver in partnership with Blueprint Partners, is focusing on the latest developments on the internet and how they affects consumers, content developers and business. Representatives of Google, EMI, BBC, RTL, ETNO and CISAC will be among the speakers at the event.

Plenary session in the European Parliament

For their part, MEPs will gather for a plenary session in Brussels with a number of issues on their agenda, including the current financial crisis.

On Thursday, MEPs will debate and vote on a formal request for the commission to propose laws for better regulation and supervision of financial markets in the wake of the crisis.

They will also discuss the upcoming EU summit with representatives from the commission and the French EU presidency on Wednesday, as well as hold a debate on the situation in Belarus following a critical OSCE verdict on the parliamentary elections that took place in the country last week.

Several parliament committees will also meet this week, with the Environment Committee set to vote on several closely-followed issues – the emissions trading system, carbon capture and storage, and effort sharing in reducing CO2 emissions – on Tuesday.

The Agriculture Committee will adopt a position on a proposed Common Agricultural Policy reform on Tuesday, while the Employment Committee will vote in a second reading on a recommendation related to the rights of agency workers.

A number of high-profile invitees will also walk the parliament's corridors this week, with former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was freed in July after being held in captivity by the FARC guerilla forces for more than six years, addressing the plenary session on Wednesday.

FIFA chairman Joseph Blatter will participate in a discussion with MEPs from the Culture Committee on Monday.

The same day, Irish foreign minister Michael Martin and EU commission vice-president Margot Wallstrom will on Monday discuss the process of ratification of the Lisbon treaty with MEPs from the Constitutional Affairs Committee, following Ireland's rejection of the document in June.

Dublin is expected to present other EU member states with proposals on the way forward by the end of the year.

EU summit, Gaza, Ukraine, reforms in focus this WEEK

This week, EU leaders come together in Brussels for their usual two-day summit to discuss defence, enlargement, migration and foreign affairs. EU ministers for foreign affairs and EU affairs will meet earlier in the week to prepare the European Council.

EU summit prep work and von der Leyen's Egypt visit This WEEK

MEPs will hold a debate with EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen about the next European Council on Tuesday. Later this week, on Sunday, von der Leyen will be in Egypt for talks regarding a potential 'cash-for-migrant-control' deal.

Defence, von der Leyen, women's rights, in focus This WEEK

Ursula von der Leyen is expected to be confirmed as the EPP candidate for president of the next EU Commission. A new defence strategy will be unveiled this week, while the ECB is expected to maintain interest rates.

More farmers, Ukraine aid, Yulia Navalnaya in focus This WEEK

EU agriculture ministers meet in Brussels amid new farmers' protests. MEPs will hear from Alexei Navalny's widow and give the final green light to the €50bn Ukraine facility, while the CBAM proposal faces a formal challenge at a WTO meeting.

New Red Sea mission and more Russia sanctions This WEEK

EU foreign affairs ministers launch the bloc's new Red Sea naval mission, plus hold talks on new sanctions against Russia — amid Hungarian objections — on Monday. Plus a home for the EU's new anti-money laundering authority will be picked.

Nato, defence summit, and UNRWA in focus This WEEK

Nato defence ministers will meet this week ahead of the Munich Security Conference. ECB chief Christine Lagarde will address MEPs in the committee on economic affairs and MEPs will hold a debate about the defunding of the UNRWA agency.

Opinion

Potential legal avenues to prosecute Navalny's killers

The UN could launch an independent international investigation into Navalny's killing, akin to investigation I conducted on Jamal Khashoggi's assassination, or on Navalny's Novichok poisoning, in my role as special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, writes the secretary-general of Amnesty International.

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