Sunday

1st Oct 2023

Agenda

Russia sanctions and EU elections on top This WEEK

Listen to article

European voters will head to the polls from 6-9 June next year to choose the next European Parliament, selecting the around 705 MEPs to serve from 2024-2029, EU ambassadors decided last week.

The shake-up could rattle the EU Commission too, if alliances among European parties shift.

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

Current parliamentarians pushed for a single voting date across the continent on 9 May, but that has not gained the support of member states, as in many EU countries elections are held on Sundays.

The parliament's constitutional affairs committee is set to vote on Wednesday (24 May) on a draft proposal on the number of seats in the European Parliament, and their distribution among EU countries, ahead of the 2024 elections.

The seat distribution takes into account the population of member states, and its changes in the last five years.

At the beginning of the week, top EU officials will be in Seoul for the EU-Korea summit.

European Council president Charles Michel and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet with president Yoon Suk-Yeol on Monday (22 May).

The leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine, North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches, and its ongoing nuclear programme, economic partnership based on the South Korea-EU free trade agreement.

Hungary holdup

Back in Brussels on the same day, EU foreign ministers are set to discuss the 11th sanction package.

Sanctions are focused on cracking down on those breaking trade curbs already in place, and the commission proposed limiting trade with third countries that are deemed to be involved in bypassing sanctions.

Hungary has been holding up talks, saying that the EU's latest sanctions against Russia plan was "fully contrary to common sense" and that the previous 10 had failed.

Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said last week that his government will block a further €500m to Ukraine from the European peace facility, a fund used to reimburse EU countries that supply military aid to Ukraine, unless Kyiv removes Hungary's OTP Bank from its list of war sponsors.

Committee business

MEPs on the environment committee on Wednesday are set to vote on their position on the revision of EU industrial emissions rules that currently cover over 30,000 large industrial plants and 20,000 intensive livestock farms.

The civil liberties committee is expected to vote on Tuesday (23 May) on new rules to beef up the EU's regime for recovering criminal assets, extending the scope of the rules. Profits from organised crime in Europe are estimated to be worth around €139bn annually.

MEPs on the foreign affairs committee on Wednesday will adopt two resolutions evaluating the progress made by North Macedonia and Albania towards EU membership.

MEPs are expected to urge the government in North Macedonia to intensify its efforts to improve governance and access to justice, and ask Albania to demonstrate progress in guaranteeing the rule of law and fundamental rights.

It comes as EU foreign ministers on Monday are set to have an informal discussion over lunch with their counterparts from the six countries in the Western Balkans.

On Wednesday, EU Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis is expected to set out the European spring semester package.

In its annual exercise, the executive examines and assesses the member states' budgetary plans, and progress on economic reforms.

On the same day, MEPs on the budget and budget control committee are set to hear from budget commissioner Johannes Hahn on how effective is the new tool of linking EU funds to the rule of law.

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.

Spain's EU-language bid and UN summit This WEEK

While the heads of EU institutions are in New York for the UN high level meeting, Spain's EU presidency will try to convince ministers to make Catalan, Basque, and Galician official EU languages.

Opinion

Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war

While Belarus has not sent its own troops to fight Russia's war in Ukraine, the Minsk dictatorship has been heavily involved. As a result, Belarus must be punished for its involvement — what can the world do to sanction Belarus?

Latest News

  1. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  2. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  3. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  4. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  5. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials
  6. Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'
  7. Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling
  8. Germany tightens police checks on Czech and Polish border

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. 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.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. 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
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us