The EU’s Competitiveness Council will meet in Brussels on Monday to debate 'digitalization of the EU economy'. Ministers will exchange views on industrial policy with a view to adopting conclusions on a future 'EU industrial policy strategy'. In 2018, the EU celebrates 25 years since the creation of the single market and ministers will look at options to improve and deepen this market.
The Eurogroup will gather in Brussels on Monday to discuss whether Greece has completed the remaining two prior actions under the third review of its economic adjustment program. Completion was a requirement for unlocking the payment of the fourth tranche of financial assistance available under the program. The institutions will also brief ministers on the first mission of the fourth program review, which took place at the end of February. The Eurogroup will continue its discussion on the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union, in preparation for the Euro Summit that will take place in March. The Eurogroup will discuss inflation and exchange rate developments in the euro area ahead of upcoming International Monetary Fund spring meetings, which will take place in April.
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will meet in Brussels on Tuesday. Ministers are expected to agree on a package of measures that aim to reduce risks in the banking sector. The measures strengthen rules on capital requirements and on the recovery and resolution of banks in difficulty. Their aim is, among others, to ensure the resilience and smooth functioning of the banking union and facilitate the overall stability of the euro area. Ministers are also expected to agree on a proposal for greater transparency in tax planning schemes. The proposal on tax transparency for intermediaries, such as tax advisors, lawyers or accountants aims to fight tax avoidance and potentially harmful planning schemes.
The European Parliament’s plenary sessions will take place in Strasbourg this week. MEPs will discuss the EU’s post-2020 budget known as the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) on Tuesday and vote it on Wednesday.
A resolution laying out the EP’s position on a possible framework for EU-U.K. future relations will be debated on Tuesday and put to a vote on Wednesday. The draft resolution suggests that an association agreement could provide an appropriate framework for the future relationship and stresses that even closely aligned third countries with identical legislation cannot enjoy similar benefits or market access to those of EU member states.
Additional U.S. duties on imported steel and aluminum and the EU’s response to protect jobs and its industry will be debated with EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on Wednesday.
In a bid to prevent companies from moving their tax base to low-tax jurisdictions, MEPs will vote on Thursday on a major overhaul of the EU’s corporate tax system. The proposals include plans to ensure that companies pay taxes where they make their profits, introduce a single set of tax rules, which would apply throughout the EU and use digital data to help calculate tax liabilities.
Consumers and companies will be able to compare prices of having a parcel delivered to or from another EU country, under draft rules to be put to the vote on Tuesday. Cross-border parcel delivery prices would be published on a dedicated website so that they can be compared more easily and thus help reduce unreasonable differences.
NATO Secretary General will hold a press conference at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Thursday to release the Annual Report for 2017.