European Parliament

Monday 4 December

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
Debates: Frontex Scrutiny Working Group: Exchange of views with Hans Leijtens, Frontex ED, Exchange of views with stakeholders on Frontex cooperation with Tunisia; The Situation of the Rule of Law in the EU; Mission Report following LIBE delegation to Malta.
Votes: Automated data exchange for police cooperation (“Prüm II”), amending Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA and Regulations (EU) 2018/1726, 2019/817 and 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
Debates: Exchange of views with Andrea AMMON, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Addressing medicine shortages in the EU.

Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)
Debates: Establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 (2023/0156(COD); 2022 discharge: General budget of the EU – European Parliament (2023/2130(DEC)); Presentation of the project on “Use of Artificial Intelligence on Audit of European Union Funds.”
Votes: Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2022.

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Debates: Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) of the International Labour Organization; Participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process – exchange of views with National Parliaments.

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
Debates: Combating late payment in commercial transactions; Establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013; Amending Regulations (EU) No 1024/2012 and (EU) 2018/1724 as regards the use of the Internal Market Information System and the Single Digital Gateway for the purposes of certain requirements laid down by Directive (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council on European cross-border associations; Public hearing “Performance of the Package Travel Directive and consumer protection.”

Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Debates: Exchange of views with Commissioner Ivanova; Exchange of views with the Commission on STEAM education and research; Exchange of views on cohesion policy funding contributing to culture and education (with REGI participation); 2022 discharge: General budget of the EU – Commission; Report on ongoing interinstitutional negotiations: Establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU.

Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Debates: Debriefing by the EEAS on the outcome of the EU-Canada summit of 23-24 November 2023 (In association with the Delegation for Relations with Canada).

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
Debates: Public Hearing with Dominique Laboureix, Chair of the Single Resolution Board (SRB).
Votes: Transparency and integrity of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating activities; Competition policy – annual report 2023.

Thursday 7 December

Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)
Votes: Driving licences, amending Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012; European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002; Amending Directive 2009/18/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector; Amending Directive 2009/21/EC on compliance with flag State requirements; Amending Directive 2009/16/EC on port State control; Electric aviation – a solution for short- and mid-range flights; Building a comprehensive European port strategy.

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
Debates: Presentation of the study ‘Development of milk production in Europe after the end of milk quotas’, organised by Policy Department B; Exchange of views with the Commission on joint effort and common ambition of CAP Strategic Plans 2023-2027.

Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Debates: Multilevel governance: the role of the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions.
Votes: Implementation of the Treaty provisions on EU citizenship; Implementation of the Treaty provisions on national parliaments.

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
Debates: Study by Policy Department C on Gendered aspects of sexual and reproductive health: adequate screening, treatments and research, including fertility, endometriosis, HPV and toxic shock syndrome in the EU Member States; Gender Mainstreaming and EU climate policy.

Find an overview of the parliamentary agenda here.

Council of Ministers

Monday 4 December

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport)
EU Ministers responsible for transport will aim to agree a general approach on the Commission’s proposals to reform EU legislation related to driving licences, amend a directive aiming at facilitating the cross-border exchange of information on road safety-related traffic offences, and amend a regulation regarding breaks and rests in occasional passenger services. The Council will also discuss topics related to the maritime safety and  transport inrastructures, including the single European sky ‘package’ and proposals for revised directives on port state control, ship-source pollution, compliance with flag state requirements and accidents investigation in the maritime sector.

Monday 4 – Tuesday 5 December 

Justice and Home Affairs Council
In the matters of Justice, the Council will aim to adopt a general approach on a new EU law on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters, hold a policy debate about the revision of the directive on the rights of victims, return to the issue of the fight against impunity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and discuss the functioning of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). In regard to the Home Affairs, the agenda features the discussions pertaining to the state of the Schengen area, a progress report on all the legislative files of the Pact on asylum and migration, and EU internal security.

Tuesday 5 December

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications)
Telecommunications ministers will be invited to agree a general approach on the regulation on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks (gigabit infrastructure act) aiming to lower the unnecessarily high costs of the electronic communication infrastructure deployment. Ministers will also hold a timely policy debate on technological leadership and competitiveness with a focus on investments in digital networks and infrastructure. Moreover, the presidency will update ministers on the state of play of a number of legislative files, including the regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence, the regulation establishing a framework for a European electronic identity (eIDAS), the regulation laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union, and the regulation on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements. In an inclusive format, the participatns will discuss the future of European capital and financial markets.

Thursday 7 December

Eurogroup
Ministers of the Eurozone states will gether in regular fromat to assess euro area member states’ draft budgetary plans and the budgetary situation, prospects and recommendations for 2024, and functioning of the ERM II.

Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry)
Ministers are expected to take a negotiating position (‘general approach’) on the regulation to strengthen Europe’s net-zero technologies manufacturing sector in Europe, better known as Net Zero Industry Act, that was adopted by the Commission on 16 March 2023. This proposal is a crucial legislation to reinforce the strategic open autonomy of Europe, one of the main priorities of the Spanish presidency of the council. The meeting will continue with for a policy debate on the proposal of the Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market. During the lunch, ministers will discuss on SME policy with an exchange of views. On 12 September 2023 the Commission presented a package of measures to relief the Small and Medium Enterprises.

Friday 8 December

Competitiveness Council (Research and space)
The EU ministers responsible for research will meet in Brussels to discuss the impact of research and innovation in policy making, reach a political agreement on the Council recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe, and hold a policy debate on the subject ‘Research valorisation as a tool for economic and industrial recovery and resilience’. Ministers dealing with Space are expected to approve the Council Conclusions on ‘Space traffic management: state of play’ and exchange views on the “future EU policy on space in a changing world.”

Economic and Financial Affairs Council
EU Ministers will seek a general approach on the proposed reform of the economic governance framework. The Spanish presidency will present a progress report on the ‘single currency package,’ consisting of a proposal setting the legal framework for the possible introduction of a digital euro, and a proposal on the legal tender status of euro cash, and a progress report on the adjusted package for the next generation of own resources. Finally, the Council will 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.