A quick glance at the main forthcoming events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings and other EU-related conferences and events.
Events for the week of 11-16 March 2019
Today, Monday 11th March The European Commission will inform the Eurogroup on the main findings of the 2nd enhanced surveillance mission to Greece.
The Eurogroup will also discuss the housing markets in the eurozone on the basis of a technical note by the Commission and an oral presentation by Professor Lars E.O. Svensson, Professor of Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics and former Deputy Governor of the Sveriges Riksbank.
Tuesday 12th March will see the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meet in Brussels to review the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes and is expected to adopt new conclusions on the matter.
The Council is expected to reach a political agreement on the EU framework on the general arrangements for excise duty as well as the directive harmonising the structures of excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The aim of the reform is in particular to modernise the current rules in order to improve the business environment and reduce costs for small alcohol-producing businesses.
Ministers will also hold a policy debate on the digital services tax, in the broader context of digital taxation, also in view of international development.
Tuesday 12th March will also see the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France debate cross-border crime with the aim of improving the tracking of non-EU nationals’ criminal records throughout the EU, MEPs will vote on a brand new EU information system and on the upgrade of another that will ensure information on border control and law enforcement is shared more efficiently and quickly.
The session will also see Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini will debate with MEPs his vision of the future of the EU to ensure it delivers on citizens’ expectations.
Starting Tuesday 12th the EU and the UN will co-chair the third conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, which will take place in Brussels on 12-14 March 2019.
The conference will seek to further mobilise the international community behind efforts to support the Syrian people and achieve a lasting political solution to the Syria crisis, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. It will also be the main pledging event for Syria and the region in 2019.
The outcome of this dialogue will feed into the foreign ministers’ conference on 14 March in the Council’s Europa building. This last day will gather Foreign Ministers for a political discussion on the multiple aspects of the Syria crisis and the pledging part of the conference.
Wednesday 13th March the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg will comment on the outcome of the vote on the Brexit deal in the UK House of Commons on 12 March and assess its consequences.
To ensure the least possible disruption to citizens and businesses, MEPs will vote on travel, air and road transport, Erasmus, social security and fisheries measures to mitigate the effects of a withdrawal of the UK from the EU without an agreement.
MEPs will also discuss their priorities for the 21-22 March EU summit, focussing on jobs, growth, competitiveness, climate change, external relations and ways to fight disinformation.
Friday 15th March in Kraków, Poland will take the centre stage for a Citizens’ dialogue with Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, European Commissioner for the internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, will discuss the future of Europe with citizens.
Whilst on the same day in Ljubljana, Slovenia Violeta Bulc, Commissioner for transport, and Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union, will discuss the future of Europe with citizens in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
