Monday

25th Sep 2023

Agenda

Tusk re-election on EU agenda This WEEK

  • Tusk has served as EU council president for the last two-and-a-half years (Photo: European Commission)

EU leaders will gather this week in Brussels and while the meeting isn’t expected to give way to big decisions, it could produce awkward moments, as the heads of states and governments aim to agree on the re-election of European Council chief Donald Tusk.

On Thursday (9 March) the EU summit will focus on choosing the European Council president for the next 30 months. Tusk is backed by most of the member states, except for his native Poland, where his political foes in the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) are promoting a rival Polish candidate, MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, who hails from Tusk’s party.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

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

... or subscribe as a group

Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament, of which both Tusk and Saryusz-Wolski are members, has said in a statement over the weekend that the EPP stands firmly behind Tusk, as its only candidate.

The group will discuss this week whether to expel Saryusz-Wolski from the centre-right formation.

Tusk will leave the room on Thursday evening, where the EU leaders meet, and Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, will run the re-election show.

Leaders traditionally strive for an agreement based on consensus, without a vote, but this time Poland could push the issue to a vote, although a qualified majority is enough to have Tusk back as president.

After the expected drama is over, EU leaders will focus on migration, during which Muscat is to present a report on the progress since the February Malta summit.

Other topics on the agenda for the two-day summit include encouraging deepening defence cooperation, agreeing to an enhanced cooperation among 17 member states on the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and speeding up trade talks with Japan.

EU leaders will also agree to hold a Western Balkans summit in Trieste on 12 July, as the region is more and more exposed to Russian influence, with diminished chances of becoming EU candidate countries.

Dublin reform

MEPs in the civil liberties committee will have their first opportunity this Thursday (9 March) to debate the proposals to reform the Dublin system, the common asylum rules of the EU.

Liberal Swedish MEP Cecilia Wikstroem is handling the report, and while eastern European member states refuse to take in asylum seekers under any scheme, the European Parliament is likely to push for more solidarity among EU countries.

MEPs on the committee will also have a chance to debate the ongoing probe against Poland over rule of law concerns with European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans on Thursday (9 March.)

Still in the European Parliament, the special committee on money laundering and tax avoidance will finalise its hearings on secret offshore financial holdings on Monday (6 March).

On the International Women’s Day (8 March) MEPs, along with European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, and commissioner responsible for gender equality, Vera Jourova, will host an event aimed at empowering women in the economy.

Foreign affairs

On Monday (6 March) EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels to discuss the progress made on the European Defence Action Plan, and are expected to sign off on a new military headquarters in Brussels.

They will also meet with Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Hassan Shoukry, for lunch, and discuss the latest political tensions flaring up in the Western Balkans.

Opinion

EU defence plan is 'no game-changer'

Package agreed by EU leaders brings nothing new but "hints at promising developments" in future, say former EU foreign policy and Nato chief Javier Solana and EU expert Steven Blockmans.

Poland at war against Tusk's EU job

Poland's Law and Justice Party has put a little-known MEP, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, against Donald Tusk in the race for the European Council presidency.

China trade tension and migration deal This WEEK

An EU-China high-level economic is scheduled on Monday amid renewed tensions. Later this week, EU home affairs ministers will discuss the EU-Tunisia deal and the state of play of the EU pact on asylum and migration.

China trade tension and migration deal This WEEK

An EU-China high-level economic is scheduled on Monday amid renewed tensions. Later this week, EU home affairs ministers will discuss the EU-Tunisia deal and the state of play of the EU pact on asylum and migration.

Latest News

  1. Women at risk from shoddy EU laws on domestic workers
  2. EU poised to agree on weakened emission rules
  3. China trade tension and migration deal This WEEK
  4. Europe's energy strategy: A tale of competing priorities
  5. Why Greek state workers are protesting new labour law
  6. Gloves off, as Polish ruling party fights for power
  7. Here's the headline of every op-ed imploring something to stop
  8. Report: Tax richest 0.5%, raise €213bn for EU coffers

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us