European Parliament

Monday 15 January

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Debates: Establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act); Amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe.
Votes: Amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011 and (EU) 2019/942 to improve the Union’s protection against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market; Amending Regulations (EU) 2019/943 and (EU) 2019/942 as well as Directives (EU) 2018/2001 and (EU) 2019/944 to improve the Union’s electricity market design; Energy performance of buildings (recast).

Plenary
Debates: Commemoration of Jacques Delors; Ozone depleting substances; Fluorinated gases regulation; Amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II); Revision of the European Labour Authority mandate; The role of social award criteria in public procurement in strengthening social rights, good working conditions and inclusive labour markets.

Tuesday 16 January

Plenary
Debates: Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency; Keeping commitments and delivering military assistance to Ukraine; Empowering consumers for the green transition; Transparency and accountability of non-governmental organisations funded from the EU budget; Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire and the risks of regional escalation; EU-India relations; Role of preventive diplomacy in tackling frozen conflicts around the world – missed opportunity or change for the future?; Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2022; Implementation of the Treaty provisions on national parliaments; Fight against the resurgence of neo-fascism in Europe, also based on the parade that took place in Rome on 7 January; State of emergency in Ecuador; Building a comprehensive European port strategy; Implementation of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Votes: Election of a Vice-President of the European Parliament (to replace Nicola Beer);  Targets for fixing fishing opportunities; Ozone depleting substances; Fluorinated gases regulation; Amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II); Amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR); Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the Stabilisation and Association process (codification); Debt-equity bias reduction allowance and limiting the deductibility of interest for corporate income tax purposes; Implementation of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027; Implementation of the Creative Europe programme 2021-2027; Implementation of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme 2021-2027 – citizens’ engagement and participation; Implementation of territorial development (CPR, Title III, Chapter II) and its application in the European Territorial agenda 2030; Competition policy – annual report 2023; Banking Union – annual report 2023; Role of the European Parliament and its parliamentary diplomacy in the EU’s foreign and security policy; Electric aviation – a solution for short- and mid-range flights; Current and future challenges regarding cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Wednesday 17 January

Plenary
Debates: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and preparation of the Special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024; Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds; Review of the economic governance framework; Quality jobs in a competitive future-oriented Social Market economy; Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime; Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2022 and 2023; Rule of Law and media freedom in Greece; Geothermal energy; Gender aspects of the rising cost of living and the impact of the energy crisis; Addressing urgent skills shortages and finding the right talents to boost job creation (European Year of Skills); The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan.
Votes: EC/Indonesia Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation: accession of Croatia to the EU; Empowering consumers for the green transition; Mercury: dental amalgam and other mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export restrictions; Cultural diversity and the conditions for authors in the European music streaming market; Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law Motions for resolutions; Promotion of the freedom of scientific research in the EU; Implementation of the Treaty provisions on national parliaments; Implementation of the Treaty provisions on EU citizenship; Building a comprehensive European port strategy; Implementation of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); EU strategy on Central Asia; Security and defence implications of China’s influence on critical infrastructure in the European Union; Policy implications of the development of virtual worlds – civil, company, commercial and intellectual property law issues; European historical consciousness; EU development cooperation in support of access to energy in developing countries; Virtual worlds – opportunities, risks and policy implications for the single market; EU-India relations; Role of preventive diplomacy in tackling frozen conflicts around the world – missed opportunity or change for the future?; Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2022; Transparency and accountability of non-governmental organisations funded from the EU budget.

Thursday 18 January

Plenary
Debates: Recent ecological catastrophe involving plastic pellet losses and its impact on micro plastic pollution in the maritime and coastal habitats; Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives; EU Action Plan: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries; Implementation of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation in fisheries and aquaculture – Regulation (EU) 1379/2013; Recent EU-Audits identifying that Uruguayan and Argentinian meat from horses with unreliable sworn declarations and unknown drug history is entering the EU.
Votes: The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande; The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan; Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media; Implementation report on Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods; Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2022; Shaping the EU’s position on the UN binding instrument on business and human rights, in particular on access to remedy and the protection of victims; Impact of illegal fishing on food security – the role of the European Union; Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime; Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives; EU Action Plan: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries; Implementation of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation in fisheries and aquaculture – Regulation (EU) 1379/2013; Gender aspects of the rising cost of living and the impact of the energy crisis; Geothermal energy; Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2022 and 2023; Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire and the risks of regional escalation; Revision of the European Labour Authority mandate; Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds.

Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.

Council of Ministers

Monday 15 January

Eurogroup
The Eurozone Ministers will gather in regular format to discuss the mission to the euro area under the article IV of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 2024 euro area recommendation, euro area competitiveness: developments of energy prices in the euro area, impact on the euro area economy and policy responses, and Eurogroup work programme for I/2024.

Tuesday 16 January

Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Ministers of Economy and Finance of the EU Member States will meet in Brussels to work on approving conclusions on the alert mechanism report 2024 and the annual sustainable growth survey 2024 for the European Semester 2024. The Belgian Presidency will present its work programme for the first semester of the year in the field of economic and financial affairs. Ministers will also exchange views on the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

An overview of planned Council meetings can be found here.