The Week Ahead 20 – 26 June 2022

Committees

ECB/Lagarde. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will quiz the European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on the implications for the ECB of the war in Ukraine, as well as on the high and disparate inflation in the Eurozone. (Monday).

Plenary session

Green Deal/Fit For 55. MEPs will vote on three draft laws that are part of the “Fit For 55” package – the Revision of the Emissions Trading System, the Social Climate Fund and the Carbon Border Adjustment Fund – following their postponement during the previous session (Wednesday).

Restocking EU gas reserves before winter. Parliament will debate and vote on an agreement with EU governments to refill Europe’s strategic gas reserves more quickly before winter, to ensure households and businesses have enough gas for the next heating season (Thursday).

EU summit/Candidate status of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will outline their expectations for the 23-24 June European Council and will discuss whether Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia should be granted EU candidate status. A resolution on these countries will be put to the vote on Thursday.

“This is Europe” debate with Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. MEPs will discuss the state of the EU and its future prospects with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, on Wednesday at 15.00. This will be the fourth in a series of debates on the EU labelled “This is Europe”.

EU COVID Certificate. MEPs will vote on a deal reached with EU ministers prolonging the EU Digital COVID Certificate scheme – set to expire on 30 June – for another 12 months, to ensure EU citizens the right to free movement even if a new variant of concern emerges (Thursday).

Russia and extremist EU parties. On Thursday morning, MEPs will debate the Russian government’s relations with European parties on the extreme right and left, in the context of the war in Ukraine.

President of Zambia. On Thursday at 11.00, Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, will address MEPs in a formal sitting.

Spring 2022 Eurobarometer. Parliament will publish its spring 2022 Eurobarometer public survey, carried out between 19 April and 16 May 2022, on citizens’ perception of the EU (Wednesday).

President’s Diary. On Monday and Tuesday, President Metsola will be in Finland where she will meet President Sauli Niinistö and the Speaker of Eduskunta (the Finnish Parliament) Matti Vanhanen (both followed by press points). She will also meet the Chair of the Grand Committee Satu Hassi and representatives of political parties represented in Eduskunta, attend the Plenary Session of Eduskunta, take part in a town-hall discussion with students, and deliver the keynote address at the Paasikivi Society on ‘Europe’s Security & Future’. On Wednesday, she will meet the President of the German Bundesrat Bodo Ramelow and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. On Thursday at 15.00, she will address heads of state or government during the EU summit, followed by a press conference.