The Week Ahead 18 – 24 May 2020

Committee meetings – Brussels

COVID-19 outbreak: recovery and exit strategy. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will debate the EU’s coronavirus exit strategy, including the gradual lifting of lockdown measures and the recovery fund, with Internal Market Commissioner Breton, as well as its impact on customs-related initiatives with Economy Commissioner Gentiloni (Monday and Wednesday, respectively).

COVID-19/availability of vaccines. The Environment and Public Health Committee will discuss how to ensure fast approval of safe COVID-19 vaccines and treatments in the EU with Guido Rasi, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (Monday).

COVID-19 induced crime. Europol’s work in combatting pandemic-induced criminal behaviour will be up for a debate in the Civil Liberties Committee with the Agency’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle. Europol report shows that COVID-19 has led to an increase in various types of crime e.g. cyber-attacks, online sexual exploitation of children and the sale of counterfeit healthcare products and medication (Monday).

EU response to economic crisis. Changes to EU rules on banks’ capital requirements to maximise the ability of banks to absorb losses related to the pandemic and thus facilitate their lending to support households and businesses in the EU, will be debated and voted upon by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (Monday debate, Wednesday vote).

Eastern Partnership Summit 2020. In the run-up to the Eastern Partnership summit in June, the Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on its recommendation on the future of this joint policy initiative. The committee will also debate with Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Várhelyi on various issues, such as the Eastern Partnership policy, COVID-19-related EU support to neighbouring countries including Turkey, as well as the future of external financing instruments (Tuesday).

Media webinar on long-term budget. The EP press service is organising an online seminar on the EU long-term budget (MFF) and Europe’s economic recovery plan. Speakers include the EP negotiating team for the MFF and the Chair of the Budgets Committee (Tuesday).