The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday when ministers are set to agree on the 2020 fishing opportunities for the Atlantic and the North Sea. The Council will also take stock of and discuss the progress made on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package.
The European Parliament’s plenary sessions will take place in Strasbourg this week.
Parliament will elect the European Ombudsman for a five-year mandate on Tuesday. Five candidates are running for the post. The Ombudsman will conduct inquiries into cases of maladministration by EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, acting on their own initiative or on the basis of complaints from EU citizens.
Following reports of land grabbing and abuse of power in some member states, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will ask the Commission to propose measures to protect the EU's finances on Tuesday.
Eurostat will release the international trade in goods statistics for October on Tuesday.
MEPs will discuss with European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the results of the Dec. 12-13 summit of EU heads of state or government on Wednesday. During the summit, the leaders discussed climate change, the EU’s long-term budget, Brexit, the Economic and Monetary Union, foreign relations and the future of Europe.
MEPs will celebrate 10 years of the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights on Wednesday. The Lisbon Treaty includes the key reforms that enhance democracy and strengthen Parliament while expanding European citizens’ rights.
On Wednesday, MEPs are expected to push for a further reduction in pesticide use, more funds for research and better monitoring in order to save pollinators such as bees, butterflies and other insects.
Also on Wednesday, Eurostat will release November inflation figures and October’s production in construction.
MEPs will discuss the investigation into the murder of Maltese journalist and writer Daphne Caruana Galizia who was killed in 2017, along with the political turmoil in Malta. A resolution will also be put to the vote on Thursday.
The EU’s Environment Council will gather in Brussels on Thursday. The Council will have an exchange of views on the EU environment and climate policy in the new legislative term. This discussion will reflect member states' positions on the priorities and initiatives for the environment and in the climate policy from 2020, including the European Green Deal.
Ministers aim to adopt conclusions that will offer political guidance for the EU's biodiversity policies after 2020.
Turkey’s Minister of Trade, Ruhsar Pekcan, is expected to visit Brussels on Thursday.