Friday

29th Mar 2024

Agenda

EU commissioners sworn in this WEEK

  • EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and his team will be sworn in by the European Court of Justice this week

EU lawmakers enter the 11th hour of budget negotiations as European commissioners and President Jean-Claude Juncker swear an oath to respect fundamental rights this Week.

As Belgian trade unions on Monday kick off strikes in protest against government cut backs throughout Brussels, the European Parliament and member states enter last minute talks on the annual EU budget.

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Budget negotiators must find a solution before the end of the week or the EU will have to run on provisional monthly installments starting in January.

On Wednesday, commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and all the EU commissioners head to Luxembourg where they will be sworn in by the European Court of Justice.

Each will pledge to be independent from any outside influence and promise to respect the charter of fundamental rights.

Other top EU officials, including EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and enlargement negotiations commissioner Johannes Hahn, are heading to Turkey to meet its new government on Monday.

It is also a busy week for EU ministers.

On Monday, both EU finance and energy ministers are in Brussels.

EU finance ministers are discussing national budget plans and assessing a possible bailout extension for Greece.

EU energy ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on the completion of the internal energy market. They will also be holding a policy debate on the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

On Wednesday, EU ministers for jobs and health are expected to reach an agreement on the women on company boards directive.

They will also discuss the equal treatment directive. The talks signal a possible new development in the stalled bill, which was first proposed in 2008.

On Friday, EU ministers for foreign affairs, development, and education are meeting.

Foreign affairs ministers, along with ministers for development co-operation will discuss international development issues. Migration and refugees are also on the agenda.

Meanwhile, ministers for education are set to discuss youth education and entrepreneurship.

The European Parliament, for its part, has a relatively quiet week.

On Monday, MEPs in the economy and finance committee will hold a public hearing with the candidate set to head the single resolution board.

The board, composed of a director, four appointed members and the representatives of national resolution authorities, is set to assess what to do when a bank is in danger of insolvency.

On Thursday, the civil liberties committee will discuss migration and assess the Italian EU presidency’s work in justice and home affairs.

The MEPs will be holding a debate on the issue with Italy’s interior minister Angelino Alfano.

EU to unveil investment fund this WEEK

The unveiling of a highly anticipated investment fund, a censure vote, a decision on France's budget and the visit by the Pope to the European Parliament makes next week one of the busiest since the Juncker commission began.

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.

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.

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