Friday

29th Mar 2024

Agenda

THURSDAY in the European Union

The highlight of Thursday's action in the EU is set to be UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's appearance in the European Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Mr Annan will be accompanied by a delegation of staff injured in attacks on the UN and by family members of those who died in Baghdad. Six former Sakharov prizewinners will also attend the ceremony - amongst them Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor who won the award in 1999. Mr Gusmao will later meet Antonio Vitorino, Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs.

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The prize was first awarded in 1988 and is named after the late Soviet dissident physicist Andrei Sakharov.

The House will also debate and vote on a report on EU-UN relations on the same day.

Education through sport

Thursday also sees the launch of the European year of education through sport in Dublin by Vivianne Reding, commissioner for culture and education.

Other commissioners taking part in events include telecommunications commissioner Erkki Liikanen making a speech in Copenhagen on the subject of "Innovation and opportunities in the enlarging Europe".

And Vice-President of the Commission Anna Diamantopoulou will attend the European Seminar on "The European Social Fund, Cohesion Policy and the European Employment Strategy: Mid-term review and perspectives".

Constitution clashes continue

Another attempt will be made to acheive a breakthough in negotiations over the future EU Constitution as Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern meets his Polish counterpart Leszek Miller.

Poland, along with Spain, opposed the newly proposed system of voting in the EU Constitution, which led to the failure of the talks during last month's EU summit.

Finally, there will a conference of journalists in Brussels to discuss journalistic ethics in the vast Brussels press pack. A code of conduct for media that will try to define a set of guidelines will be unveiled.

Environment, Ukraine imports, fish and Easter this WEEK

This week, expect no more than talks on environment, agriculture and fisheries, including discussions between the Polish and Ukrainian governments over angry protests by Polish farmers objecting to cheap grain imports from Ukraine.

EU summit, Gaza, Ukraine, reforms in focus this WEEK

This week, EU leaders come together in Brussels for their usual two-day summit to discuss defence, enlargement, migration and foreign affairs. EU ministers for foreign affairs and EU affairs will meet earlier in the week to prepare the European Council.

EU summit prep work and von der Leyen's Egypt visit This WEEK

MEPs will hold a debate with EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen about the next European Council on Tuesday. Later this week, on Sunday, von der Leyen will be in Egypt for talks regarding a potential 'cash-for-migrant-control' deal.

Defence, von der Leyen, women's rights, in focus This WEEK

Ursula von der Leyen is expected to be confirmed as the EPP candidate for president of the next EU Commission. A new defence strategy will be unveiled this week, while the ECB is expected to maintain interest rates.

More farmers, Ukraine aid, Yulia Navalnaya in focus This WEEK

EU agriculture ministers meet in Brussels amid new farmers' protests. MEPs will hear from Alexei Navalny's widow and give the final green light to the €50bn Ukraine facility, while the CBAM proposal faces a formal challenge at a WTO meeting.

New Red Sea mission and more Russia sanctions This WEEK

EU foreign affairs ministers launch the bloc's new Red Sea naval mission, plus hold talks on new sanctions against Russia — amid Hungarian objections — on Monday. Plus a home for the EU's new anti-money laundering authority will be picked.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

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