Finance ministers from EU member states, which use the euro as currency, will gather in Brussels on Monday for a Eurogroup meeting.
Participating ministers will be informed of progress achieved in implementing the remaining prior actions under the third review of Greece's economic adjustment program. Full implementation of prior actions is a precondition for the disbursement of the next tranche of financial assistance available under the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) program.
Ministers are expected to exchange views on how to bring forward the debate on the reform of the ESM.
The Eurogroup will also discuss the applications received for the upcoming vacancy of the Vice-President of the European Central Bank.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will gather in Brussels on Monday to exchange views on the Future of Food and Farming. Discussions will focus on direct support, environmental aspects, and rural development issues.
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), which consists of finance ministers from all EU member states, will meet in Brussels on Tuesday.
The Council will discuss establishing a comprehensive strategy on sustainable finance, on the basis of recommendations from a group of experts.
Ministers will also discuss issues related to the EU budget, namely the budgetary discharge for 2016 and guidelines for negotiations on the budget for 2019.
Depending on the outcome of the Eurogroup’s discussions the previous day, the Council may issue a recommendation on the nomination of a new vice-president of the European Central Bank.
The Environment and Public Health Committee will vote on a draft resolution calling on the Council and European Commission to achieve a global ban on cosmetics testing on animals on Tuesday. Such a ban is already in force in the EU, but around 80 percent of the world’s countries still allow animal testing and the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals.
The Eurogroup’s new president Mario Centeno will appear before the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee for his first public hearing in Parliament on Wednesday.
The first European Defense Industrial Development Program, with a budget of €500 million for 2019-2020, is up for a legislative vote in the Industry and Research Committee on Wednesday. EU financial assistance would cover the development of new and upgraded defense products and technologies in the EU.
Laws to empower consumers to generate and store electricity as well as manage consumption in an easier way, enhance cooperation between member states in the event of an energy crisis and open the electricity market to more competition will be voted on Wednesday by the Industry and Energy Committee. These proposals also aim to boost investments and ensure the security of electricity supply.
The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will give its opinion on a proposal to create a single, clear and fair European corporate tax regime, dubbed the “Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base” (CCCTB), which would also embrace digital firms on Wednesday. One major feature is to ensure that companies are taxed where their profits are generated, in a bid to crack down on profit shifting.
MEPs will vote on a single set of rules to ensure consumers obtain the remedies they are entitled to if they purchase a faulty product on Thursday. The draft rules harmonize certain contractual rights and would apply to both online and offline (face-to-face) sales of goods, e.g., whether a consumer buys household appliances, toys or computers via the internet or over the counter in his/her local store.
Budget Committee MEPs will put forward proposals to reform the EU long-term budget post-2020 (multi-annual financial framework or MFF) and the European Union’s system of own resources on Thursday.
EU leaders from 27 member states will meet informally in Brussels on Friday to discuss institutional issues, including the European Parliament's composition after the 2019 elections and possible transnational lists and how the EU appoints top positions, including the so-called “Spitzenkandidaten” (German for candidate).
The heads of state or government will also debate the political priorities of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) after 2020, the EU's long-term budget.