EP Delegations | EU-AU Meeting | General Affairs

After last week's inconclusive special European Council where the EU heads of state left Brussels with no real agreement on the MFF, this week seems to be a little quieter. In parliament, no meetings are planned - the week is set aside for MEPs to focus on external affairs. Several commitee delegations will travel to other countries for the week: LIBE is sending a delegation to Frontex in Poland, and another to the USA to discuss EU-US relations; IMCO is sending a delegation to Italy to examine the goods market; PETI is sending a delgation to Bulgaria on a fact-finding mission; and CONT is sending a delegation to Czechia to assess the distribution of EU funds. A day after their College Meeting, President Ursula von der Leyen and the commissioners will travel to Africa this week, in order to participate in the tenth Commission-to-Commission (European Union - African Union) meeting. Furthermore, council ministers will meet in order to discuss general affairs related to the next European Council (which will take place in March), as well as future relations with the UK.

European Parliament

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) specifically will be sending two groups of delegates, one to Poland and one to the US. The first delegation will spend two days in Warsaw to visit the Frontex headquarters, in order to get an overview of the activities of the agency, and understand the challenges that come with implementing regulations on the European Border. The second delegation will be spending five days in the United States, going over issues related to EU-US relations. LIBE delegates will also discuss issues related to data protection, digital privacy and electronic communications, as well as counterterrorism and justice and fundamental rights.

European Commission

This week, commissioners and president von der Leyen will congregate at their college meeting on Wednesday, and then travel to Addis Ababa to meet with the African Union commission representatives on Thursday. In related affairs, on Friday Commissioner Vestager will meet with interlocutors on digital cooperation in Kenya in order to discuss EU-supported projects in innovation and digitisation. Vice-President Borrell will meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the Prime Minister of Sudan, and the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union. Furthermore, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Várhelyi will travel to Prague on Thursday in order to attend the Ministerial meeting of the Visegrad 4 countries, as well as the six Western Balkan partners.

Council of the EU

This week council ministers will meet to begin preparations for the next EUCO, set for March. On the general affairs meeting agenda, ministers will discuss the next steps in the EU-UK relationship, as well as meet with Commission representatives who will give a presentation on the new enlargement methodology. The agenda may also include further talks on the MFF negotiations. Later in the week, there will also be a two-day Competitiveness Council meeting, where the focus will be on the internal market and industry on Thursday, and then on research on Friday. The agenda includes discussions on the European Green Deal's impact on EU industry, the single market performance report, and adopting new regulations. Ministers will additionally discuss the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the EIT, and debate international cooperation in research and innovation.