Week ahead: Not much really, except saving the planet - maybe

Other than the next two weeks being focused on saving the planet - or at least those who live on the planet at COP26 - the week ahead is a relatively quiet one in Brussels, but there’s one thing I can safely predict, I am probably wrong about this.

The G20 met on Saturday (30 October) to discuss the pandemic and the need for further multilateral co-operation, the challenge of rising energy prices and disruption to supply chains, global tax reform and special drawing rights for countries in difficulty.

1-2 November are public holidays for the European Commission and the European Parliament is on an external week - which usually means that they are working harder than ever on constituency business: pressing flesh, hugging babies and listening hard to the concerns of local businesses. Or maybe, on delegation work, see below. 

Brexit, the gift that keeps on giving

The French have given the UK until 2 November (Tuesday) to resolve outstanding issues on fishing licences, if there is no response they are going to impose blocks and delays. Europe Minister Clement Beaune has said that after 10 months of dialogue, France will take proportional measures. 

In a letter to the European Commission President from the French Prime Minister Jean Castex, he calls on the UK to respect the agreement reached and to undertake dispute resolution measures provided for in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The UK continues to make threatening noises about launching Article 16 safeguarding measures in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol, and so on and so forth, rinse repeat... 

European Parliament delegations for an external week

EU-US defence dialogue meetings in Washington and New York: MEPs from the sub-committee on defence will discuss geopolitical priorities such as establishing a new EU-US defence dialogue, Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific region, Russia and Africa. 

In Washington, the MEPs will meet members of Congress, representatives of the US administration, and figures from the DC think-tank community. They will discuss EU-US security and defence co-operation and dialogue, EU-NATO co-operation and some geopolitical priorities such as Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific region, Ukraine/Russia and Africa.

In New York, the MEPs will meet high-ranking officials of the United Nations. The focus of their discussions will be on EU-UN security and defence partnership including peacekeeping co-operation, multilateral disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Cyber security and the Sahel will also feature, as well as the destabilizing role of the Private Military and Security Company known as the Wagner Group, which has strong links to the Kremlin. 

Greece/Migration & asylum. MEPs on the Civil Liberties Committee will travel to Athens and Samos to assess the situation on the ground of migrants and asylum-seekers and exchange views with Greek authorities, representatives of EU institutions and agencies, and NGOs. They will in particular check how the establishment of new multi-purpose reception centres is progressing. In addition, they will verify how applications for international protection are being managed, and look at reception and integration policies (Tuesday to Thursday).

Gender pay gap/Iceland. The Women’s Rights Committee will send a delegation to Iceland to gather information on a law that requires companies and institutions with more than 25 employees to prove that they pay men and women equally for a job of equal value. MEPs will meet, among others, representatives of the government, women’s rights organisations, civil society and professional organisations to inquire about the practical aspects of implementing this policy and its results (Wednesday to Friday).

Spain/terrorism. A delegation from the Petitions Committee will travel to Madrid and the Basque country to inquire into unsolved murders attributed to the terrorist Basque separatist organisation ETA, following a petition by the Dignity and Justice Association. MEPs will meet the petitioners, representatives of the Government and the police, members of the judiciary and victims’ associations (Wednesday to Friday). A press conference will take place on Friday at 10:00 in Madrid.

USA/Trade. An International Trade Committee delegation will travel to Washington DC to discuss global trade challenges, including Trade and Technology Council deliverables. MEPs will meet with White House officials, members of Congress, the US Trade Representative, US-based European companies as well as US enterprises, trade unions and think tanks (Monday to Thursday).

Conference on the Future of Europe/citizens’ panels. The second round of the four European Citizens’ Panels is set to begin, this time only online. The first Panel will continue its work on the future of European economy and jobs, especially after the pandemic, with a focus on social justice. It will also tackle the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation, and issues related to youth, sport, culture and education (Friday to Sunday).

Share this article: