Weekly European Agenda 29/01/2024

This week, political groups of the European Parliament will prepare for the upcoming plenary session while Belgium’s ministers will continue presenting their priorities in the fields of home affairs, migration, health, and food safety during parliamentary committee meetings. During the College meeting on Wednesday, EU Commissioners are expected to introduce Cancer prevention package which includes a revision of the Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments and on vaccine preventable cancers. On Thursday, EU heads of state and government will convene a special European Council to deliberate on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

European Parliament

On Monday, MEPs from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) will continue their legislative work on the key files of the new European Migration and Asylum Pact, including crisis and force majeure Regulation and Asylum and Migration Fund. On Wednesday, the Committe will vote on a temporary extension of the derogations from EU e-privacy rules, which allow companies to voluntarily detect child sexual abuse material and remove it before their expiration in August 2024 as the adoption of new permanent rules remains uncertain.

Council of Ministers

On Monday, EU ministers will meet in the General Affairs Council (GAC) configuration to hold a policy debate on the “Defence of European Democracy” package introduced by the European Commission ahead of the 2024 European elections. From Tuesday to Wednesday, an informal meeting of EU defence ministers will be hosted by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, followed by the biannual Gymnich meeting of foreign affairs ministers to be held on Friday.

European Commission and High Representative

On Tuesday, Vice-President Margaritis Schinas will deliver introductory remarks at the High-Level Conference on Mental Health and Work, organised by the European Commission. On Wednesday, President Ursula von der Leyen together with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo will co-host the Val Duchesse Social Partners’ Summit, held by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU in Brussels, Belgium. Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni will participate in the roundtable session of the Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum on Friday.