The Week Ahead 09 – 15 November 2020

Committee meetings

MFF/Own Resources. Political talks will pick up again on Monday with Council and Commission on future EU financing. Technical talks have been held throughout this week to prepare the ground for a good and ambitious agreement.

EU recovery fund. The Economic and Monetary Affairs and Budgets Committees will jointly vote on the ‘Recovery and Resilience Facility’, which will support reforms and investments by member states with grants and loans worth €672.5 billion. This measure aims to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and make EU economies more robust and sustainable. (Monday)

Rule of Law. MEPs will discuss with national parliamentarians the Commission’s first annual rule of law report and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on EU values, in light of Parliament’s proposal for a permanent monitoring mechanism. President Sassoli will deliver the opening speech, followed by contributions by Commissioner Reynders, the German Presidency of the Council, the President of the Venice Commission, the Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, and civil society representatives (Tuesday)

Plenary session

US elections. After the opening of the session, leading speakers of political groups will take the floor to comment on the outcome of the US elections of 3 November. (Debate Wednesday)

EU4Health Programme 2021-2027. Parliament will discuss and adopt its position on a legislative proposal that aims to increase EU capacities to help member states deal with the ongoing sanitary crisis and be better equipped for future public health threats. (Debate Thursday, vote Thursday/Friday)

Investing in the Green Deal. MEPs will discuss and vote on Parliament’s input to the Sustainable European Investment Plan that would allow a smooth transition to a carbon-neutral EU in 2050. (Debate Wednesday, vote Wednesday/Friday)

COVID-19. Transparency regarding the purchase and the access to future COVID-19 vaccinations will be debated with the Commission on Thursday. In a separate debate, MEPs will discuss and vote on a resolution scrutinizing the impact of the pandemic on democracy, fundamental rights, and rule of law. (Debates Thursday, vote Thursday/Friday)

Terrorism and freedom of expression. On Wednesday afternoon, the House will discuss how to stop impunity for crimes committed against journalists, followed by a debate on ways to fight terrorism and safeguard the right to freedom of expression and education.

Election of first Vice-president. Members will elect Parliament’s first Vice-president on Thursday. He or she will replace Mairead McGuinness who became EU Commissioner for Financial Services in October.

President’s diary. EP President Sassoli will speak in his capacity as Chair of the Advisory board at a meeting of the ‘European Initiative a Soul for Europe’, and on Tuesday he will take part in the EU Ambassadors Conference. On Thursday, he will speak remotely in the Italian Senate on the access to internet as a human right.

Press briefing. On Monday at 11:00, the EP press service will hold a remote press briefing on this week’s committee business and the plenary session.