Friday

29th Mar 2024

Agenda

This WEEK in the European Union

  • Is this water clean...? The EU bathing report may give an answer (Photo: EUobserver)

This week the economy will again be high on the EU agenda, while the European Commission will present a proposal for an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

EU economy and finance ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday (8 June) and Tuesday will be preparing the economic chapter of the EU leaders' summit that will take place in Brussels the week after.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

They will discuss proposals on financial supervision drafted earlier by the European Commission and its expert group led by Jacques de Larosiere.

They will also prepare a report assessing the implementation of programmes aimed to support banks and of the EU economic recovery plan.

The 27 ministers' meeting will be preceded by that of the financial ministers of the 16 member states using the euro, the so-called eurogroup.

Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker is likely to get questions on recent press reports that he will resign from his post as Luxembourg's finance minister after the country's general elections on Sunday. Press reports indicate that he will also step down from the eurogroup post, which he has occupied for four years.

On Thursday and Friday the bloc's energy ministers will be looking into energy efficiency and into the energy aspect of relations with Russia and Ukraine.

Baltic Sea Strategy

Meanwhile, EU regional commissioner Danuta Hubner will on Wednesday unveil the commission's proposal for an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region.

The strategy will aim to "promote a more balanced development of the [Baltic] region," tackling a variety of issues such as ecological challenges, energy, transport and economic development.

The commission says the strategy, which is the first of its kind and will be among the priorities of the Swedish EU presidency starting next month, will also aim at co-ordinated action by "member states, regions, financing institutions, pan-Baltic organisations and non-governmental bodies."

On the same day, EU justice commissioner Jacques Barrot will present a paper on a five-year EU plan for co-operation in judicial and home affairs matters, called the Stockholm Programme.

It will include priorities and targets for future EU developments in that area, as well as some ideas on how to achieve these targets.

On Thursday, the commission will present its yearly report on the quality of bathing water in the EU. Coming just ahead of the holidays, the document will give Europeans information on where this summer's cleanest bathing destinations are.

Correction - the agenda previously said that the G8 summit would take place this week, on 8-10 June. This is incorrect. It will take place 8-10 July.

Environment, Ukraine imports, fish and Easter this WEEK

This week, expect no more than talks on environment, agriculture and fisheries, including discussions between the Polish and Ukrainian governments over angry protests by Polish farmers objecting to cheap grain imports from Ukraine.

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.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us