The Week Ahead 13 – 19 February 2023

Fit for 55/CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans. On Tuesday, Parliament is expected to give its green light to the introduction of zero CO2 emissions rules for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035, part of the “Fit for 55” package. The new law also includes a new methodology for assessing CO2 emissions throughout the full life-cycle of a vehicle.

REPowerEU/national recovery plans. MEPs will discuss on Monday, and vote on Tuesday, a deal reached with the Council, under which REPowerEU energy measures will have to be included in revised national recovery plans. The aim is to support independence from Russian fossil fuels, accelerate the green transition, and tackle energy poverty.

Russia’s war against Ukraine. On Wednesday morning, MEPs will look back on the year since the start of Russia’s assault on Ukraine and set out what the EU must do in support of Kyiv. A resolution will be put to the vote on Thursday. On Thursday morning, the Press Service is organising a seminar with lead MEPs to assess the EU’s actions in response to the war and the support measures to minimise its impact on the EU’s economy.

Inflation/ECB President. MEPs will debate high inflation rates and the ECB’s efforts to curb it with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on Wednesday afternoon. The vote on the ECB’s 2022 work is scheduled for Thursday.

Istanbul Convention/combating violence against women. Parliament will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on a resolution, calling on the EU to ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women. Six years after the EU signed the Convention, it has still not ratified it, due to the refusal of a few member states.

Green Deal Industrial Plan/New EU industrial strategy. On Wednesday, MEPs will comment on the new proposal for a Green Deal Industrial Plan for the net-zero age to stimulate the development of clean technology in the EU and secure EU strategic autonomy in a debate with Commission President von der Leyen. MEPs will vote on a resolution on an EU strategy to boost industrial competitiveness, trade and quality jobs on Thursday.

Independent EU Ethics Body. In a debate on Tuesday with Council and the Commission, MEPs are set to repeat their demand for the creation of an independent ethics body for the EU institutions. It would aim to guarantee that decisions are taken for “the common good and citizens’ trust” and would have powers to investigate and advise.

Formal Sitting/President of Latvia. Egīls Levits, President of Latvia, will address MEPs at a formal sitting on Tuesday at 11.30. Before his speech, Presidents Metsola and Levits will hold a bilateral meeting, followed by a press point.

President’s diary. President Roberta Metsola will meet the President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde on Wednesday. On Friday, she will be in Rome where she will meet the Presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies – Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana, respectively – Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers, and President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. She will also inaugurate Rome’s “Europa Experience”, named in honour of late European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli, and will hold a town hall discussion with students.

Last-minute briefing. On Monday at 16.30, Parliament’s Spokesperson will hold a press briefing on the plenary session, which starts at 17.00. Political group briefings will take place on Tuesday morning.