The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council will gather in Brussels on Monday to discuss development issues. Ministers are expected to touch upon the Global Refugee Forum that will take place in Geneva next month. Development ministers will also discuss future financial architecture for sustainable development.
The European Parliament’s (EP) Plenary sessions will take place in Strasbourg this week.
President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present her team of Commissioners-designate to Parliament and discuss the new Commission’s objectives with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Parliament will then decide through a simple majority whether to approve the College of Commissioners in its entirety on Wednesday. If elected, the European Commission will take up office on Dec. 1.
Next year’s budget for the EU, which was agreed with the Council on Nov. 18, will be put to the plenary vote and immediately signed into law by Parliament’s President on Wednesday.
MEPs will debate climate and environmental issues and vote on two draft resolutions on Thursday. The resolutions will call for the EU to commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to make the EU reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Measures to mitigate the impact of the World Trade Organization Airbus ruling and subsequent tariffs levied by the U.S. on European agricultural goods will be discussed with the Commission and wrapped up by a resolution on Thursday. These measures followed the ruling over a 15-year-old case that allows the U.S. to impose $7.5 billion in retaliatory tariffs in response to illegal EU subsidies to Airbus that hurt its American rival, Boeing.
MEPs will discuss and vote on measures to halt violence against women. The debate comes after the weekend when thousands took to the streets in France in protests ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
All member states were urged to ratify the Istanbul Convention to halt violence against women this Thursday.
The EU’s Competitiveness Council will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to discuss the internal market, research and space.