This week’s European agenda

Adoption of infractions, new rules on State aid for airports and airlines, tourism strategy for coastal areas, transfer of European funds for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. And then Ecofin, Eurogroup and Competitiveness Council. Only a few of the meetings to be held in Brussels this week. In the Parliament, groups will be committed in preparting the plenary to be held in Strasbourg the last week of the month, hence activities will be slower. To be noted, economic dialogue with the Eurogroup President.

Monday 17

European Parliament

President Martin Schulz is at work in his constituency (look for the President’s full agenda). The Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a discussion with Igor CORMAN, Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, on EU-Moldova relations after the Vilnius Summit (15.00 – 16.00), then a discussion with Maia PANJKIDZE, Foreign Minister of Georgia, on EU-Georgia relations after the Vilnius Summit (16.00 – 17.00). After that, the vote on a report by Arnaud DANJEAN (EPP) about the EU comprehensive approach and its implications for the coherence of EU external action.

The Committee on Budgetary Control holds a hearing of Oskar HERICS, candidate nominated by the Austrian authorities, dealing with the partial renewal of members of the Court of Auditors (15.00 – 15.50). After that a vote in camera on the report on the matter by Inés AYALA SENDER (S&D).

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs votes on a draft regulation by Sharon BOWLES (ALDE) on the indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts, on a draft regulation by Rodi KRATSA-TSAGARAPOULOU (EPP) on European Long-term Investment Funds and on a draft regulation by Saïd El KHADRAOUI (S&D) on money market funds (15:45-17:15).

Eurogroup meeting

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

European Commission

Mr José Manuel Durão BARROSO attends the EU Urban Policy event, then receives a delegation of the Conference of European Rabbis. Mr Antonio TAJANI participates at the working group “Anaemic Europe – how to achieve dynamism and well-being” (Rome). Mr Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ meets the organisers and takes part in the first hearing in the framework of the ‘Right2Water’ European Citizens’ Initiative (Brussels). Mr Janez POTOČNIK receives Dr Joan CLOS, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, then Mr Andrä RUPPRECHTER, Federal Minister of Environment of Austria. Mr Andris PIEBALGS receives Mr Arup BANERJI, World Bank’s Global Director for Social protection and Labour.

Tuesday 18

European Parliament

President Schulz will be in Rome. He will attend a meeting with Enzo MOAVERO MILANESI, Minister for European Affairs (8.30), then he will attend the conference-debate: ‘Between recovery and renewal: quo vadis Europa?’ (11.00). In the afternoon, he will be back in Brussels for the opening of the Solidarność Centre exhibition (18.30). The Committee on Budgetary Control will vote on a report by Marinescu (EPP) on the EIB activities in 2012 and on a report by Jazlowiecka (EPP) on the existence of tools for monitoring the efficacy of ESF spending (9.00 – 9.30).

European Commission

Mr José Manuel Durão BARROSO attends the European Strategy and Analysis System (ESPAS) Conference 2014 (Brussels). Mr László ANDOR opens the expert conference on Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2013, Hotel Thon EU (Brussels), then chairs a workshop on inclusive investments at “Cities of Tomorrow: Investing in Europe” conference.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

Other Events

At the European policy center in Brussels: “The Macedonian European future – Prospects and challenges”, Youth Employment Task Force “The Youth Guarantee Scheme: what can be learned from successful countries?”, DGAP-EPC panel discussion in Berlin “Transatlantic Perspectives on TTIP: Can TTIP deliver jobs and growth by bridging regulatory divergences?”.

Wednesday 19

European Parliament

President Martin Schulz will hold a meeting with Igor CORMAN, Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament (10.00). In the afternoon, he will hold a meeting with Daniel BARBU, Romanian Minister for Culture (16.30), then he will attend the Drama “Speak truth to Power – Voices from beyond the dark” (18.30).

The Committee on Development will hear the presentation of a report on 10 years of Strategic Partnership UNDP-EU, presented by Rebeca GRYNSPAN, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator, and Fernando FRUTUOSO DE MELO, European Commission, Director General DG DEVCO/ EuropeAid (14-15).

Other Events

Press Conference by (EPP), on the European Elections and Citizen Involvment (European Parliament, 16.00 – 16:30). At the European policy center in Brussels: Smart Regions Workshop “Measuring the real impact of ICT investment on regional development” and Policy Briefing “The Cyprus issue – One final push to settle it?”

Thursday 20

European Parliament

President Martin Schulz will hold a meeting with Bohuslav SOBOTKA, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (13.00), and a joint press conference will follow (13.30). A joint meeting of the Committees on Budgetary Controls, Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will examine the amendments to the report by Grasse (EPP) and Lopez-Aguilar (S&D) on fraud damaging financial interests of the Union (9.00 – 10.00). The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will hear Jeroen DIJSSELBLOEM, President of the Eurogroup (9.00 – 10.30). Votes on a draft directive by Diogo Feio (EPP) on payment services in the internal market, and on a draft regulation by Pablo Zalba Bidegain (EPP) on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions (10.30 – 11.30). The Committee on Transport and Tourism will vote a draft regulationand a draft directive by Corien WORTMANN-KOOL (EPP) on a Community-fleet capacity policy to promote inland waterway transport and on technical requirements for inland waterway vessels, respectively (9.00 – 10.30). The Committee on the Environment,Public Health and Food Safety will discuss on a draft recommendation for second reading by Miroslav OUZKY (ECR) on sound level of motor vehicles (9.00).

EU Council

Competitiveness Council.

European Commission

The Commisson adopts the infactions month package.

New strategy for tourism in the coastal area presented by Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Mr José Manuel Durão BARROSO receives Mr Bohuslav SOBOTKA, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, then he meets with Mr Sigmar GABRIEL, Minister for Economy and Energy and Vice Chancellor of Germany. Mr Antonio TAJANI meets the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, Mr Jan MLÁDEK, the Minister of Industry of The Netherlands, Mr Henk KAMP, and the German Minister of Economics and Energy, Mr Sigmar GABRIEL. Mr Michel BARNIER participates in the 12th Annual European Financial Services Conference “Financial Markets and the Growth Agenda”, organised by Forum Europe. Mr Janez POTOČNIK attends a working lunch with Ms Rebeca GRYNSPAN, UN Under-Secretary General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Other Events

At the European policy center in Brussels: LAB-MIG-GOV Research-Policy Dialogue “Labour migration governance in hard times – New approaches for reconciling economic needs and social resistance” and Policy Dialogue “Enhancing EU-US cooperation on Democracy Support”.

Friday 21

European Commission

A day for external missions. Mr Joaquín ALMUNIA participates in the Conference New Frontieres of Antitrust (Paris). Mr Dacian CIOLOŞ in Berlin: meets with Mr Hans-Peter FRIEDRICH, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture; meets with Ms Barbara HENDRICKS, German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety; meets with members of the Committee for Agriculture in the German Bundestag; meets with Mr Joachim RUKWIED, President of the Deutsche Bauernverband (German Farmers’ Association). Mr Olli REHN at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Sydney (21-23/2).