The Week Ahead 21 – 27 October 2019

Plenary session, Strasbourg

EU Summit. MEPs will take stock of the outcome of the 17-18 October meeting of EU heads of state or government in a debate with Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The summit focussed on Brexit, negotiations for a long-term EU budget, strategic priorities for the next five years, climate change, enlargement and foreign affairs (Tuesday).

Juncker Commission. In a debate with Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday morning, MEPs will take stock of the work done by the outgoing Commission during its five-year mandate.

Turkey/ Syria. MEPs will discuss the Turkish military operation in north-east Syria and how the EU should react on Wednesday morning, with a resolution to be put to the vote on Thursday.

Albania and North Macedonia’s EU Accession. MEPs will debate with Council and Commission on whether to open accession talks with the two Western Balkan countries. Parliament has, in previous resolutions, expressed its strong support to start negotiations with both countries (Wednesday).

EU budget 2020. Parliament will adopt its position on next year’s EU budget, focussing on climate change, youth unemployment, Erasmus, migration and external policies (debate Tuesday, vote Wednesday).

Multinationals/Taxes. MEPs will discuss stalled legislation obliging multinationals to disclose what taxes they pay in each country and vote on a resolution, which is likely to call on EU ministers to adopt a position to start negotiations on the new law (debate Tuesday, vote Thursday).

Brexit/EU funds. MEPs are set to approve changes to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to include support for workers who would lose their jobs due to a no-deal Brexit. They are also expected to endorse a measure to make sure that UK researchers, students and farmers would continue to get EU support in the event of a no-deal Brexit until the end of 2020 (Tuesday).

Sakharov Prize. Following a decision by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents, EP President Sassoli will announce the winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2019. The award ceremony will take place on 18 December in Strasbourg (Thursday).

President’s Diary. EP President David Sassoli will meet Klaus-Heiner Lehne, President of European Court of Auditors, on Tuesday, George Tsereteli, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE on Wednesday and the Speaker of Northern Macedonian Parliament Talat Xhaferi on Thursday.

Pre-session press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing with political groups’ spokespersons at 16:00 on Monday in the Daphne Caruana Galizia Press conference room, Strasbourg.