Brussels briefing, Jan. 27

The EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the council’s work program.

The Commission will present the European Green Deal communication followed by an exchange of views on the agricultural aspects of the communication.

 On Tuesday, the EU-Ukraine Association Council will gather in Brussels to review the implementation of the EU-Ukraine association agreement and developments on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The European Parliament (EP) will organize a Western Balkans summit on Tuesday in Brussels. Speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia as well as the president of Croatia's Parliament will convene to discuss European perspectives of Western Balkans countries.

The EP will redistribute seats this week. As of Feb. 1, the number and distribution of seats in Parliament will change following the U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU. Of the U.K.'s 73 seats, 27 will be redistributed to other countries, while the remaining 46 will be kept in reserve for potential future enlargements.

On Tuesday, the EU’s General Affairs Council will gather in Brussels where ministers will hear a presentation of the priorities of the Croatian presidency for the first half of 2020.

European Parliament plenary sessions will take place in Brussels this week. Parliament is scheduled to hold its final vote in plenary on the U.K. withdrawal agreement on Wednesday. For any withdrawal agreement between the EU and the U.K. to enter into force, it needs MEP approval through a simple majority vote. The U.K. is due to leave the EU on Friday.

On Wednesday, the refugee situation on the Greek islands, especially regarding sick children, will be debated with the Commission and the Council in the EP. MEPs may ask for urgent measures to be taken to ensure that those affected are protected, relocated and offered family reunification.

 On Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in the presence of the college of Commissioners, will present the Commission's work program for this year and then debate it with MEPs in Brussels.

 Also on Thursday, MEPs will vote on a resolution calling for measures to make common chargers a reality for consumers to reduce e-waste. According to estimates, old chargers generate more than 51,000 tons of electronic waste per year.

Friday will see the U.K. leave the EU.