Back from the Christmas break, Belgium’s new EU Council Presidency will host its first informal Council meeting this week, and European Parliament committees will resume their work in Brussels.
This week, attention continues to be focused on continued tensions in the Red Sea, where the EU is considering launching a new mission following several attacks on cargo ships by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Dew. Israel’s war in Gaza is also expected to be on the agenda, following EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s visits to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet fellow German Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck on Monday (8 January). Habeck is also scheduled to meet with EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders later in the day.
A month after resuming her job, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager spoke on Thursday (January 11) and Friday (January 12) about Apple, Google’s Alphabet, semiconductor companies Broadcom and Nvidia. He plans to travel to the United States to meet with representatives. Discussions will focus on Europe’s new digital regulations and competition policy.
On Wednesday (10 January), European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas will present an announcement on the European Year of Youth 2022, reviewing achievements to date and a roadmap for future initiatives and programmes. be.
EU Green Deal Commissioner Maroš Šefčović will attend an event on sustainable agriculture and young farmers on Tuesday 9 January in Lennik, Belgium.
Von der Leyen will then conclude the week on Friday in Jodoigne, Belgium, chairing the Commissioner’s University seminar.
EU employment and social affairs ministers will meet in an informal meeting in Namur, Belgium, from Wednesday to Friday.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are preparing for the next plenary session scheduled for later this month, and committee activities will resume from Thursday’s scheduled meeting.
EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will exchange views with MEPs on the financial part of the 2024 European Semester in Parliament’s Economic Committee.
On the same day, MEPs on the Environment Committee will discuss ways to prevent the loss of plastic pellets in order to reduce microplastic pollution. This topic was recently taken up by EUobserver in a two-part study.
Similarly, MEPs on the Transport Committee will discuss a report on calculating greenhouse gas emissions from transport.
The EU Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee will adopt a position on the European Disability Card.
Also on Thursday, Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon and Belgian Youth Minister Benjamin Dal will brief culture committee members on Belgium’s priorities as EU president.