The Week Ahead 30 May – 05 June 2022
Committee and political group meetings, Brussels
Ukraine/European Council. EP President Roberta Metsola will address EU leaders gathering for a special meeting of the European Council that will focus on the war in Ukraine, energy, defence and food security. Her address will be followed by a press conference at around 17:00 (Monday).
Recovery and Resilience Facility. MEPs in the Economic and Monetary Affairs and Budgets committees will evaluate the state of play on the use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which allows the Commission to raise funds to help member states implement reforms and investments in line with the EU’s priorities (Monday).
Green Deal/Taxonomy. The Economic and Monetary Affairs and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committees will hold a public hearing with experts on the Commission’s proposal to classify, under certain conditions, specific gas and nuclear energy as transitional activities contributing to climate change mitigation (the so-called taxonomy). The two committees are expected to vote on whether to veto the proposal on 14 June (Monday).
Ukraine/Solidarity Lanes. MEPs in the Agriculture Committee will debate plans to open Solidarity Lanes between the EU and Ukraine to help the country to export grain, but also to import the goods it needs, from humanitarian aid to animal feed and fertilisers, with the Commission (Monday).
Ukraine/temporary protection. The Civil Liberties Committee will take stock of EU support to Ukraine and solidarity between member states, and particularly of the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive, activated on 4 March to offer those fleeing the war decent reception conditions and swift integration in EU countries (Monday).
Frontex. The Civil Liberties Committee will discuss with Frontex how the EU’s border agency is being managed following the resignation of former executive director Fabrice Leggeri and the process to appoint its new chief (Monday).
Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 6-10 June plenary session in Strasbourg, where MEPs will discuss and vote on eight key legislative files that are part of the Fit for 55 package –aimed at drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate neutrality by 2050-, assess the situation in Ukraine, review the latest report on Turkey and hold a question time session with the Commission. Plenary is expected to give a final green light to the new international procurement instrument. There will be the prize-giving ceremony for this year’s cinema LUX audience award, and a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the Common Agriculture Policy.
Media seminar on Fit for 55. The EP press service is organising a seminar for media on the Fit for 55 package, with Environment Committee Chair Pascal Canfin and MEPs in charge of the legislative files. Emissions, taxonomy, energy dependency and the impact of the war are among the topics to be discussed (Wednesday).
