EU Review - This Week: 17 - 21 January 2022
17 - 21 January 2022
Recent Developments:
- President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli died after a short illness on Tuesday 11 January, and received a state funeral in Rome on Friday 14 January. Following a memorial service on Monday 17 January, the candidates for the office of President will be announced, with Maltese EPP Roberta Metsola MEP expected to assume the role.
- The European Parliament is in plenary session this week in Strasbourg.
- French President Macron will address the European Parliament to outline the priorities of the French Presidency of the EU.
- The World Economic Forum takes place online this week in Davos, Switzerland - The Davos Agenda | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
- German Foreign Minister Baerbock visits Russia and Ukraine this week amid tensions with Russia in order to revitalise the "Normandy Format" between Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany - Germany ‘cautiously optimistic’ over revitalisation of Normandy talks – EURACTIV.com
- The Polish Government have refused to pay fines over non-compliance with a European Court of Justice Order to close a lignite mine in Turów, but have agreed to accept reduced EU payments - Poland refuses to pay fines for Turów mine, agrees to reduced payments from EU funds – EURACTIV.com
- Ukranian government websites were taken offline by an alleged cyberattack by Russia over the weekend - https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-blames-russia-for-cyberattack-against-government-websites/
- The Austrian Government have presented a law making COVID-19 mandatory from February 2022 onwards amid protests in the country - Austria presents February mandatory vaccination law amid protests – EURACTIV.com
- In response to tensions with Russia, both Denmark and Sweden have increased their military presences in the Baltic region - Sweden boosts patrols on Gotland amid Russia tensions | Reuters, We are responding to Russia's actions, says Danish ambassador to Estonia | News | ERR
- The French Government have introduced a "vaccine pass" to tackle COVID-19 infections which will limit access to restuarants and other spaces for unvaccinated people - Health pass becomes 'vaccine pass': Details of France’s tough new anti-pandemic bill (france24.com)
Monday – 17th January
- Eurogroup - economic adjustment and resilience discussion with OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone, corporate solvency and restructuring, 2022 euro area recommendations, euro area fiscal framework, banking union - Eurogroup - Consilium (europa.eu)
- Agriculture and Fisheries Council - French Presidency Priorities (reciprocal standards for EU and non-EU products, low carbon agriculture and carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, reducing pesticide use, revision of fisheries control legislation, common fisheries policy, sustainable fisheries agreements with Mauritius, Madagascar and Liberia), deforestation-free imports, market situation for agricultural products, trade related agricultural issues, EU animal welfare, sustainable carbon cycles - Agriculture and Fisheries Council - Consilium (europa.eu)
- Extraordinary joint meeting of AFET Committee and SEDE Subcommittee - exchange with High Representative Borrell on European security architecture in light of ongoing crisis in Ukraine and along the Ukraine-Russia border - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/afet/home.html
- Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis meeting with Luxembourg Finance Minister, Yuriko Backes, Dutch Finance Minister, Sigrid Kaag, German Finance Minister, Christian Lindner
- Commissioner Hahn receives Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arba States of the Gulf, Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf
Tuesday – 18th January
- European Council President Michel meeting with Benin President, Patrice Talon
- ECOFIN Council - minimum corporate taxation for multinational groups directive to transpose G20/OECD BEPS IF Two-Pillar Solution into EU law, state of play of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, 2022 European Semester, French Presidency Priorities, German G7 Priorities - Economic and Financial Affairs Council - Consilium (europa.eu)
- Presentation by candidates for election to office of President of the European Parliament, followed by vote to elect the President of the Parliament (and possible Vice-Presidents if to be replaced) - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/3047(RSO)&l=en
- Meeting of the College of Commissioners
- Commission President von der Leyen receives European Parliament Group Chairs, Manfred Weber (EPP), Iratxe García-Perez (S&D) and Stéphane Séjourné (Renew Europe)
- Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis receives Czech Finance Minister, Zbyněk Stanjura
- Executive Vice-President Timmermans videoconference with Saudi Arabian Energy Minister, Abdulaziz Salman Al Saud
- Commissioner Kyriakides videoconference with French Agriculture and Food Minister, Julien Denormandie
Wednesday – 19th January
- COREPER I - Air Transport Agreement between USA and the EU amendments - Meeting calendar - Consilium (europa.eu)
- Election of Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament or Quaestors - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/3046(RSO)&l=en
- Presentation of the priorities of the French Presidency of the EU by French President Macron - Procedure File: 2021/3022(RSP) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament (europa.eu)
- Debates on:
- Conclusions of the European Council meeting 16-17 December - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2506(RSP)&l=en
- Digital Services Act - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/0361(COD)&l=en
- Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and rules of law (Rule 144)
- Hong Kong fundamental freedoms - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2503(RSP)&l=en
- Kazakhstan situation - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2505(RSP)&l=en
- Sudan political crisis - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2504(RSP)&l=en
- Proposal vote on:
- Numerical strength of the standing committees - 2021/3026(RSO)
- Single Votes on:
- Nomination of members of the Court of Auditors - Procedure File: 2021/0802(NLE) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament (europa.eu), Procedure File: 2021/0803(NLE) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament (europa.eu), Procedure File: 2021/0804(NLE) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament (europa.eu), Procedure File: 2021/0805(NLE) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament (europa.eu)
- Provisional agreement on European Medicines Agency interinstitutional negotiations - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/0321(COD)&l=en
- Executive Vice-President Vestager call with Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Minister, Ausrine Armonaite
- Commissioner Reynders videoconference with Austrian Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Wolfgang Mückstein
- Commissioner Schmit receives Luxembourg Minister for Energy and Spatial Planning, Claude Turmes
- Commissioner Kyriakides videoconference with US Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra
Thursday – 20th January
- Informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Amiens, France with Commission Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson, Commissioner Sinkevičius - Informal Meetings of Environment and Energy Ministers - French Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2022 (europa.eu)
- COREPER II - Meeting calendar - Consilium (europa.eu)
- Final votes:
- Objections pursuant to Rule 111(3) in cases where identity data may be considered for purpose of multiple identity detection - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2913(DEA)&l=en, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2912(DEA)&l=en
- Amendment votes:
- Violation of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
- Kazakhstan situation
- Sudan political crisis
- Digital Services Act
- Protection of animals during transportation
- Debates on:
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the EU - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2508(RSP)&l=en
- Empowering European Youth: post-pandemic employment and social recovery - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2952(RSP)&l=en
- Joint Debate:
- Final votes:
- Violation of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2503(RSP)&l=en
- Kazakhstan situation - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2505(RSP)&l=en
- Sudan political crisis - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/2504(RSP)&l=en
- Digital Services Act - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2736(RSP)&l=en
- Commission President von der Leyen deliver a State of the World special address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) by videoconference
- High Representative Borrell receives Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, and Canadian Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly
- Executive Vice-President Timmermans videoconference with COP26 President, Alok Sharma
- Commissioner Lenarčič receives Luise Amtsberg, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance at the German Federal Foreign Office
Friday – 21st January
- European Council President visit to Latvia
- Informal joint working session of energy and environment ministers in Amiens, France with Commission Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson, Commissioner Sinkevičius - Informal Meetings of Environment and Energy Ministers - French Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2022 (europa.eu)
- COREPER II - data protection, restrictive measures regarding situation in Tunisia, relations with Israel and Palestine - Meeting calendar - Consilium (europa.eu)
- Commissioner Hahn meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Niehammer and Austrian Finance Minister, Magnus Brunner, in Vienna, Austria
- Executive Vice-President Vestager meeting with Danish Culture Minister, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, in Copenhagen, Denmark
- Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis receives Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Roberto Sanchez Palomino
- Vice-President Schinas visit to Zurich, Switzerland to FIFA HQ
- Commissioner Johansson receives European Asylum Support Office (EASO) Executive Director, Nina Gregori