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28th Mar 2024

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Facebook scandal and COP26 climax in focus This WEEK

  • Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has accused the company of prioritising profits over hate speech, violence and misinformation (Photo: Web Summit)
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EU lawmakers will discuss on Monday (8 November) the harmful impacts of 'Big Tech' platforms with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

The hearing comes at a timely moment since the European Parliament and Council are moving into negotiations on two key pieces of digital policy – the Digital Service Act and the Digital Markets Act.

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"Haugen's hearing will help Europeans understand the role of online platforms in society and help us in the European Parliament make better laws to deal with them," said Andreas Schwab, lead MEP for the Digital Markets Act.

The Facebook whistleblower will also be in Paris before the senators of the committee of culture on Wednesday (10 November).

Also on Monday, MEPs will discuss the latest AI development with representatives from the Slovenian, French and Czech parliament.

On Tuesday (9 November), they will debate the currently volatile-but-booming cryptocurrencies and the impact on taxation.

Finance ministers on Monday will also explore crypto developments at the international level and the potential uses of a digital euro, looking into privacy, competition and innovation aspects.

The next day, they will hold a meeting to talk about the EU's recovery plans, skyrocketing energy prices and inflation, as well as about the reform of the EU banking system.

Later on Thursday (11 November), they will discuss the financial programming and the EU budget.

Also on Monday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and EU budget commissioner Johannes Hahn will open the annual budget conference, which will cover issues such as new own-resources and the EU's recovery plan.

Glasgow finale

Discussion over how to tackle climate change will continue this week at the UN climate summit in Glasgow, where EU commissioner for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, will be present until Friday (12 November).

By then, negotiations are expected to reach an agreement over several pending issues, such as finalising the 2015 Paris Agreement rulebook.

On Tuesday, EU commissioner for fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius is expected to participate in the COP26 side event on the third edition of the EU Ocean Day.

On the same day, MEPs will discuss with the EU Commission the EU action plan on organic agriculture and energy aspects of the Fit for 55 package.

The EU Arctic Forum and the Annual Arctic Indigenous Peoples' Dialogue will also take place on Wednesday where representatives of the regions and EU officials will discuss the updated EU Arctic strategy and geopolitical challenges emerging in this fragile region.

Foreign affairs and trade

Additionally, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell is expected to present on Wednesday the so-called Strategic Compass, which is seen as an attempt to define a common EU's security and defence policy.

European trade ministers will discuss on Thursday the World Trade Organization (WTO) reform and the relations with the US.

On the same day, EU lawmakers will hold a debate on the outcome of last month's EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC), aimed at deepening transatlantic cooperation as a response of China's growing power.

MEPs on Tuesday will also discuss the current and future assistance to Afghanistan with EU aid commissioner Jutta Urpilainen.

On the same day, they will also discuss the EU action plan to tackle migrants smuggling with the commission and have an exchange of views with the EU anti-racism coordinator Michaela Moua.

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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.

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