The Week Ahead 31 October – 06 November 2022

No parliamentary meetings are foreseen in Brussels, as the week is set aside for committee delegations/visits in relation to topics falling under their responsibility.

Inquiry on use of spyware/Cyprus and Greece. A delegation from the Inquiry Committee on Pegasus and other spyware will visit Cyprus and Greece to investigate the development and use of spyware in these member states. In Cyprus, they will meet with government officials, NGO representatives, and people (including journalists) that were targeted with spyware. MEPs will then continue to Greece to talk to NGO representatives, human rights defenders, journalists, data protection authorities and government officials. MEPs will hold a press conference on Friday at 12:00 (Cyprus: Tuesday and Wednesday; Greece: Thursday to Friday).

Women’s rights/Poland. A delegation from the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee will visit Poland to gather information and discuss women’s rights as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights. MEPs will meet members of the Polish Sejm, in particular the Chair of the Intergroup on Women’s Rights and the Chair of the Social Policy and Family Committee as well as representatives of the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. They will also meet representatives of NGOs, including FEDERA – the Foundation for Women and Family Planning. MEPs will hold a press point at 12:30 on Friday (Wednesday to Friday).

Culture/Hungary. A delegation of the Culture and Education Committee will travel to Budapest to gather insights into recent developments in cultural, education and media policies. MEPs are set to meet their counterparts in the Hungarian parliament, Culture and Innovation Minister János Csák, Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics and the National Media and Infocommunications Authority as well as representatives from media and civil society. MEPs will hold a press conference on Friday at 13:00 (Wednesday to Friday).

42nd ACP-UE Assembly. The 42nd session of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly, which brings together MEPs and parliamentarians from 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, will hold its opening session in Maputo, Mozambique, in the presence of President Filipe Nyusmeet. The consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine on food security and the fight against terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa are among the topics to be discussed (Monday to Wednesday).

President’s diary. EP President Roberta Metsola will address the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malta European Meet-Up, on Monday. On Thursday, President Metsola will participate in the Die Zeit for Democracy event and meet Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.