A European Parliament Plenary session will take place on Tuesday in Strasbourg where Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will take stock of the outcome of the Oct.17-18 meeting of EU heads of state in a debate with Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The October meeting focused on Brexit, negotiations for a long-term EU budget, climate change, enlargement, foreign affairs and strategic priorities for the next five years.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will address the Plenary of the European Parliament on the review and achievements of the Juncker Commissions' five-year mandate. Juncker will meet with President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.
MEPs will discuss Turkey’s Peace Spring Operation in northeast Syria on Wednesday and Parliament will vote on a resolution on Thursday.
MEPs will debate with the Council and Commission the proposed opening of accession talks with two Western Balkan countries, Albania and North Macedonia on Wednesday after a handful of small countries led by French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the Western Balkan countries from moving forward with their membership bids at the EU summit last Friday. Parliament has, in previous resolutions, expressed its strong support to start negotiations with both countries.
Parliament will adopt its position on next year’s EU budget on Wednesday. The budget will focus on climate change, youth unemployment, Erasmus, migration and external policies.
MEPs will discuss stalled legislation obliging multinationals to disclose what taxes they pay in each country and vote on a resolution on Thursday. The resolution is expected to call on EU ministers to adopt a position to start negotiations on the new law.
The EU’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet in Luxembourg on Thursday. The ministers are expected to adopt Council conclusions on the Economy of Wellbeing. Ministers are also due to adopt Council conclusions on the United Nations Agency, International Labour Organization (ILO). Ministers will debate on matching skills and labor market needs in the changing world of work.
NATO’s meeting of Defense Ministers will take place on Thursday and Friday. Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar is also expected to attend.