EU Review - This Week

• The European Parliament is in plenary session this week in Strasbourg, France for the first time in 15 months due to COVID-19 restrictions - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/newsroom/sassoli-strasbourg-is-once-again-the-symbol-of-renewal
• Denmark passed the Danish Aliens Act on Thursday 3 June 2021 authorising asylum processing centres outside the country - https://www.euronews.com/2021/06/07/everything-we-currently-know-about-denmark-s-plans-for-offshore-refugee-centres
• The CDU were the largest party in the state elections in Sachsen-Anhalt increasing their vote share to 37.1%, while the AfD came second with 20.8% with the current ruling CDU-SPD-Green coalition likely to remain in power - https://www.dw.com/en/germany-cdu-fends-off-far-right-afd-in-saxony-anhalt-state-election/a-57794426
• French State Secretary for European Affairs Clément Beaune has indicated that France will prioritise the protection of EU citizens in terms of employment and training during France's Presidency of the EU in 2022 - https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2021/06/06/clement-beaune-sur-l-austerite-l-europe-a-change-de-logiciel_6083106_3234.html
• Thousands of protestors took to the streets oppose the building of a campus in Budapest for the Chinese Fuduan University - https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/thousands-protest-again-chinese-university-in-budapest-beijing-baffled/
• The Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi has written to the European Commission rebutting allegations that Greece is not fully compliant with its obligations regarding border control, asylum and migration policies - https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/06/20210604-YMA-Ministers.pdf
• Serbia has officially begun manufacturing the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V - https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/serbia-launches-production-of-russian-vaccine/
• The Cypriot government broke the law issuing so-called "golden passports" according to an official inquiry - https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/cyprus-government-broke-its-own-laws-in-granting-golden-passports-inquiry-finds/
• A heavily armed far-right Belgian soldier, Jürgen Conings, currently on the run from the Belgian authorities following threats to kill Belgian virologists has garnered significant public support as a symbol of opposition to Belgium's COVID-19 restrictions - https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-jurgen-conings-manhunt-culture-war/

Monday - 7th May

• Justice and Home Affairs Council - combatting illegal online content, public prosecution services, cross border claims, e-CODEX system, amending the EU Fundamental Rights, fighting organised crime and human trafficking - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2021/06/07-08/
• Commissioner Breton videoconference White House COVID-19 Coordinator Jeff Zients

Tuesday - 8th June

• Justice and Home Affairs Council - impact of COVID-19 on fighting crime, critical infrastructure resilience, state of play of the new pact on migration and asylum, Schengen Strategy - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2021/06/07-08/
• President Sassoli meeting with French State Secretary for European Affairs Clément Beaune
• President Sassoli meeting with EU High Representative Josep Borrell
• President Sassoli VISIO meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada Anthony Rota
• ​ Joint Debate on Digital COVID Certificate for Union and non-Union nationals - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/0068(COD)&l=en, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/0071(COD)&l=en
• ​Joint Debate on European Parliament scrutiny of Commission assessments of national recovery and resilience plans - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2738(RSP)&l=en

​Debates on:

• Systematic repression in Belarus and security consequences for Europe - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2741(RSP)&l=en
• Afghanistan - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2712(RSP)&l=en
• Human rights and political situation in Cuba - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2745(RSP)&l=en
• 75th and 76th sessions of UN General Assembly - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/2128(INI)&l=en
• 2021-2027 Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2018/0243(COD)&l=en
• European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027 - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2018/0206(COD)&l=en
• Vote on provisional agreement on EU Digital COVID Certificate - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/0068(COD)&l=en, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/0071(COD)&l=en
• ​Vote on provisional agreement on EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/2273(INI)&l=en
• Debate on Parliament's right of inquiry - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2632(RSP)&l=en
• Meeting of the College of Commissioners

Wednesday – 9th June 

• Informal videoconference of fisheries ministers - https://www.2021portugal.eu/en/events/presidency-event-informal-video-conference-of-fisheries-ministers/
• COREPER I - heavy goods vehicle road charging, European Child Guarantee, Connecting Europe Facility, establishment of European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/mpo/2021/6/coreper-1-(290240)
• COREPER II - cybersecurity, EU Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya, Integrated Border Management Fund establishment, Internal Security Fund establishment, restrictive measures regarding Ukrainian territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, rule of law in Poland, Union values in Hungary, Digital COVID Certificate, EU non-proliferation strategy - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/mpo/2021/6/coreper-2-(290241)/
• COREPER I - EU-UK fishing opportunities and deep-sea stocks consultations, EMCO Committee Country Specific Recommendations on labour and employment policies - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/mpo/2021/6/coreper-1-(305801)/
• ​Debate on Conclusions of the Special European Council 24-25 May 2021 - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2743(RSP)&l=en
• Debate on preparation for G7 Summit 11-13 June 2021, and EU-US Summit - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2715(RSP)&l=en
• Joint Debate on Cyberattacks in the EU and sensitive national public and private institutions - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2713(RSP)&l=en
• Debate and Amendment vote on Rule of Law situation in the EU and application of the conditionality regulation 2020/2092 - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2711(RSP)&l=en
• Final vote on conflict of interest of Czech Prime Minister - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2671(RSP)&l=en
• Final vote on the effects of WTO TRIPS waiver on COVID-19 vaccine - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2692(RSP)&l=en
• Commissioner Schmit videoconference with Wolt CEO Miki Kuusi
• Commissioner Gentiloni videoconference with German Bundestag's Committee on EU Affairs
• Commissioner Johnsson meeting with Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi
• Commissioner Johansson meeting with Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly

Thursday – 10th June  

• Environment Council - batteries and waste batteries regulation, climate change adaptation strategy, zero pollution action plan, Aarhus regulation, transport decarbonisation, preventing biofuel fraud - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/env/2021/06/10/
• Conference of Presidents
• Plenary debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144) and subsequent votes on amendments and final votes on:
• Breach of UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and use of minors by Moroccan authorities in migratory crisis in Ceuta - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2747(RSP)&l=en
• Sri Lanka and arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2748(RSP)&l=en
• Listing of German NGOs as undesirable organisations by Russia and detention of Andrei Pivovarov - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2749(RSP)&l=en
• Vice-President Jourová at the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, and meets Prosecutor General and the Judicial Council of Lithuania Evaldas Pašilis, Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister for Economy and Innovations, Evelina Dobrovolska, Minister of Justice, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas
• Commissioner Breton videoconference with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna
• Commissioner Breton receives Joël Barre, Chief Executive of the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA)
• Commissioner Várhelyi visit to Tirana, Albania, and Vatican City, Holy See
• Commissioner Urpilainen receives Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Bin Mubarak
• Commissioner Urpilainen receives President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer

Friday – 11th June

• Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) - TEN-E regulation for trans-European energy networks, hydrogen strategy, renovation wave for buildings, external energy relations safety recommendations over the Belarussian nuclear power plan Ostrovets - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/tte/2021/06/11/
• COREPER II - VAT rates, banking union, 2021 Ageing Report - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/mpo/2021/6/coreper-2-(305820)/
• Commission President von der Leyen attends the G7 Summit in Cornwall
• Executive Vice-President Vestager meets Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Vice-President Jourovác meets Ingrida Šimonytė, Lithuanian Prime Minister and representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces' StratComm 
• Vice-President Schinas visit to Rome, Italy to meet Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Massimo Garavaglia Italian Tourism Minister,  Dario Francheschini, Italian Culture Minister, and Luciana Lamorgese, Italian Migration Minister
• Commissioner Breton receives French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin
• Commissioner Johansson meeting with French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin
• Commissioner Johansson meeting with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer
• Commissioner Lenarčič meeting with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer
• Commissioner Lenarčič receives Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Bin Mubarak
• Commissioner Kyriakides videoconference with Gilead Sciences representatives