Weekly European Agenda 04/09/2023

On Tuesday, MEPs will hold a hearing with Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, to assess her competences and suitability to become Commissioner. Agriculture ministers will hold an informal meeting from Sunday until Tuesday to debate the role of new technologies as a tool for making agriculture more resilient to climate change, including the latest gene editing techniques. On Wednesday, the College of Commissioners will gather to discuss digitalisation in social security and the European disability card. President Ursula von der Leyen will participate in the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi, India, during the weekend.

European Parliament

On Thursday, MEPs from the AFET and SEDE Committees will discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, Western long-term support and the possibility of security guarantees for Kyiv as well as EU-NATO relations, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. On the same day, the CULT Committee will vote on the EP's draft position on the European Media Freedom Act, while the ITRE Committee will adopt its position on draft legislation aiming to protect the wholesale energy market from manipulation.

Council of Ministers

An informal EU agriculture ministerial meeting will take place from Sunday until Tuesday at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones of Cordoba and will discuss how to address the growing global food insecurity caused by climate change, economic crises and conflicts. An informal ministerial meeting on development will also take place in Cordoba on Monday and Tuesday.

European Commission and High Representative

On Monday, Commissioner Didier Reynders will meet President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi, as well as other political and civil society representatives in Kinshasa. On Tuesday, President Ursula von der Leyen will participate in the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. On Thursday, Commissioner Kadri Simson will attend the Conference of the Heads of Government of the German Federal Länder.