Exit strategy | Eurogroup | EU-UK

As the European institutions continue to tackle the coronavirus pandemic at all levels, leaders will work on a coordinated exit strategy and a recovery plan for the economy. Moreover, following last week’s European Council, Eurogroup President Mário Centeno will convene finance ministers of the euro area this week to discuss possible crisis support measures for the euro area at the EU level. Meanwhile, the European Parliament will hold Committee meetings this week to discuss, amongst other issues, the EU’s macroeconomic response to COVID-19 as well as the future EU-UK partnership.

European Parliament

Last week, the European Parliament announced that until September, all plenary sessions will take place in Brussels in the form of short plenaries. The latest revision of the parliamentary calendar can be found here.

As the Parliament continues to operate remotely, several Committees will meet this week, including the Committee on Development, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Moreover, on Thursday, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection will exchange views with Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, on the EU response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Committee will also discuss recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the UK.

European Commission

As the Commission continues to jointly address the pandemic through coordinated responses, Commissioners follow up on their respective responsibilities and will take part in various meetings this week. On Monday, Maroš Šefčovič, responsible for the Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, together with Michael Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom, will launch via teleconference the work of the EU-UK Joint Committee under the Withdrawal Agreement. On Tuesday and Friday, Commissioner Johansson will hold Informal Justice and Home Affairs Interior Ministers' videoconferences to coordinate measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19. On Wednesday, Commissioners will take part in their weekly College meeting via video call.

Council of the EU

Eurogroup President Mário Centeno will convene finance ministers this week to further discuss the policy measures that can address the COVID-19 outbreak, after leaders got together last Thursday.

Further measures have also been adopted by the Council of the EU, after their meeting last Monday 23 March, ending physical Council meetings for the next month. Therefore, ministerial video conferences will continue to be classified as informal meetings, meaning that no formal decision will be taken at them. Formal decisions will be made after video conferences instead via written procedure. These should be preceded by a thorough preparation by ambassadors on the Committees of Permanent Representatives. The next official Council meeting is scheduled for the week of 19 April.