Weekly European Agenda 15/01/2024

This week, the first European Parliament plenary session of the year will take place in Strasbourg where MEPs will discuss several topics such as the expectations for the 1 February special European Council and an assessment of the situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds. This debate will be joined by Presidents Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, while a resolution on Hungary will be put to a vote on Thursday. Also on Tuesday, EU Commissioners are expected to debate the revision of the European Works Council Directive during the College meeting, while Ministers of Economy and Finance of the EU Member States will work on the alert mechanism report for the European Semester 2024.

European Parliament

On Tuesday morning, MEPs will discuss the programme of Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo followed by the discussion of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire, and the risks of escalation in the Middle East. Also on Tuesday, MEPs are expected to call on the EU to live up to its commitments and deliver more military assistance to Ukraine. On Wednesday, the plenary will hold a final vote on the directive banning greenwashing and misleading environmental claims on the product labelling.

Council of Ministers

Ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting on Tuesday, the Eurozone ministers will gather in Brussels on Monday to discuss the 2024 euro area recommendations and euro area competitiveness: developments of energy prices in the euro area, and the Eurogroup work programme for the first half of 2024. At the same time, EU ministers responsible for environment will also hold an informal meeting in Brussels organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council. The discussions on Monday and Tuesday will focus on three main topics: adaptation and resilience, circular economy, and just transition.

European Commission and High Representative

On Monday and Tuesday, Vice-President Schinas will visit Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. On Wednesday, Vice-President Šuica will meet with Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube on Wednesday, while Commissioner Hoekstra is set to speak with María Susana Muhamad, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, with the Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, and with James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of the Coca Cola Company during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. On Friday, Vice-President Schinas will take part in the Brussels Cybersecurity Summit.