Monday

4th Dec 2023

Agenda

EU summit plus pesticide vote in focus This Week

Listen to article

European leaders come together again this week (for the third time this month), to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, reconfirm their support to Ukraine and address migration concerns.

The European Council on Thursday and Friday (20 and 21 October) follows last week's emergency online meeting on the situation in the Middle East plus an informal summit in Granada earlier this month.

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

Pressure is mounting on EU leaders to deliver a clear and consistent message regarding the conflict in the Middle East, especially after previous contradictory communications over EU aid to Palestine.

And concerns have arisen about European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen possibly exceeding her mandate due to her strong support for Israel.

The terrorist attacks in Brussels and France have also raised alarm bells across Europe — amid a rise in antisemitic attacks and fears of an increased risk of radicalisation or further terrorism.

Islamist terrorism linked to migration is also expected to be discussed. Migration, the other hot topic on the agenda, was left out of the Granada declaration after Hungary and Poland refused to sign the pre-negotiated text.

The Hamas-Israel war is "extremely polarising" in Europe and in the broader international community, confirmed an EU diplomat.

The conflict has triggered profound divisions in some countries, such as France, which is home to some of the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe.

And the EU risks being accused by third countries of applying "double standards" when it comes to Ukraine and Gaza, the diplomat also said.

Meanwhile, EU leaders are expected to reconfirm their support for Ukraine — including a debate on the allocation of €50bn in funding for Kyiv as part of talks over the revision of the EU budget.

"It is important to support Ukraine to ensure that it has not been forgotten," said the diplomat

Ministers responsible for EU affairs will gather in Luxembourg on Tuesday (24 October) to prepare for the summit.

The annual discussion on the rule of law, and Spain's request to make Catalan, Galician, and Basque into official EU languages will also be discussed.

Ahead of the summit, EU foreign affairs ministers will also meet in Luxembourg on Monday (23 October) to address the Israel-Hamas war and the EU's response — which has the potential to significantly hurt relations between the 27-nation bloc and the Middle East and North Africa.

EU funds for Ukraine, the use of frozen Russian money, as well as the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan will also be part of the agenda of the meeting.

In addition, the commission's proposal to increase EU aid for Palestine following the Hamas attack will be discussed by MEPs in the development committee and commission officials on Tuesday.

The human rights situation in Israel and Palestine will also be discussed by MEPs on Thursday.

EPP against pesticide rules

On Monday and Tuesday, EU agriculture ministers are expected to agree on fishing quotas for 2024 in the Baltic Sea.

The ministers will also have an exchange on the agricultural market situation and efforts being undertaken to increase grain exports through the so-called solidarity lanes — given Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports.

Also on Tuesday, the parliament's environment committee will vote on the proposal to reduce the use of pesticides in Europe by 50 percent by 2030.

The EPP is expected to vote against, as they argue that reducing pesticide use without alternatives could increase food costs, lower food production in Europe, and force farmers out of business.

EU ministers are still negotiating their position on the file, with a recent rejection by a group of 11 EU member states on binding national targets, proposed in the EU Commission's initial plan.

On the same day, the environment committee will vote on the objection to the re-approval of glyphosate for another 10 years. While the objection is non-binding, it is the only way for the European Parliament to have a say in the process. EU member states failed to reach a substantial majority earlier this month.

MEPs in the environment committee will on the same day vote on rules aimed at phasing-out almost entirely traditional combustion engines in trucks and lorries.

Rules aimed at reducing packaging and packaging waste will also be subject to a vote on Tuesday.

Still on Tuesday, the commission will present its European Wind Power Package which aims to fast-track permitting to unlock the bloc's wind power.

This and other green proposals will be discussed in the energy committee on Wednesday (25 October). MEPs will then have an exchange of views with EU commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, commission vice-president and current EU Green Deal chief.

Trade and enlargement

EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, for his part, will talk with MEPs in the trade committee on Monday.

The debate comes two days before another round of negotiations with Mercosur countries and after the recently signed free trade agreement with New Zealand. MEPs will also give their consent to the free agreement on Tuesday.

MEPs in the committee on the internal market will vote on the right-to-repair report on Wednesday. The plenary vote is planned for November.

On the same day, MEPs will discuss with EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson the latest allegations regarding a highly-subjective and emotional micro-targeting campaign used to swing public opinion in at least seven member states.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament will hold this week its fourth European Gender Equality Week. Different events will reflect on EU achievement and what is still pending. Here is the full programme.

Additionally, EU leaders and social partners are expected to gather in Brussels for the tripartite social summit on Wednesday.

Column

Russia — balancing between Hamas and Israel

Russia will try — and is already trying — to benefit from the Israeli-Hamas conflict, which has an unfortunate potential to develop into a regional conflict.

EU 'must tax pesticides' to cut use, expert warns

The European Commission put forward a new proposal to reduce pesticides in mid-June. But experts warn that it is based on weak rules, and that European agriculture is stuck in a "permanent pesticide-dependence."

Arab diplomats voice anger at EU inaction on Gaza war

Palestine's EU envoy and 15 other Arab diplomats have voiced outrage at Europe's inaction on Israel's killing in Gaza. The Palestinian ambassador also hit out at "Israeli lies" over the Al-Ahli hospital bombing on Tuesday night.

EU-China summit and migration files in focus This WEEK

This week, EU and Chinese leaders will meet in Beijing to discuss how to cooperate in the international area despite their rivalry. Meanwhile, a marathon trilogue on the five migration files takes place on Thursday.

UN climate talks and passengers' right in focus This WEEK

The two-week UN climate talks (#COP28) will kick off on Thursday. Earlier this week, the EU Commission will unveil a proposal to improve passengers' rights and Nato foreign affairs ministers will meet in Brussels.

Opinion

The EU's U-turn on caged farm animals — explained

A European citizens' initiative — signed by 1.4 million people — saw the EU Commission promise to ban cages for 300 million farmed animals. Then the farming lobby got involved.

Latest News

  1. Afghanistan is a 'forever emergency,' says UN head
  2. EU public procurement reform 'ineffective', find auditors
  3. COP28 warned over-relying on carbon capture costs €27 trillion
  4. Optimising Alzheimer's disease health care pathways across Europe
  5. Georgian far-right leader laughs off potential EU sanctions
  6. The EU's U-turn on caged farm animals — explained
  7. EU-China summit and migration files in focus This WEEK
  8. COP28 debates climate finance amid inflated accounting 'mess'

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  3. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  4. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  5. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  6. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  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. 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

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us