15-20 December

Monday, 16 December 2024

European Commission

Commissioner Teresa Ribera meets with Dr. Fatih Birol (IEA Executive Director), Mr. Eamon Ryan (Irish Minister for Environment), Mr. Lars Aagaard (Danish Minister for Climate and Energy), and Mr. Péter Szijjártó (Hungarian Foreign Minister).
Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič meets Mr. Luca Beccari (San Marino Foreign Minister); holds a videoconference with Mr. Tengku Zafrul Aziz (Malaysian Investment Minister); and meets Mr. Kęstutis Budrys (Lithuanian Foreign Minister-designate).
Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in Vilnius, Lithuania: meets Mr. Rimantas Šadžius (Finance Minister), participates in the Bank of Lithuania’s Annual Economics Conference, and meets Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.
Commissioner Andrius Kubilius attends the EU Secure Connectivity Programme contract signing ceremony.
Commissioner Marta Kos meets Mr. Radosław Sikorski (Polish Foreign Minister).

European Parliament

Plenary Session
- Debates:
  - Activities of the European Ombudsman – Annual Report 2023.
  - Regional Emergency Support: RESTORE.
  - Conclusion of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-Based Investor-State Arbitration.

Council of Ministers

Foreign Affairs Council:
- Discussion on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, including a videoconference with Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha.
- Exchange of views on developments in Georgia, Syria, Lebanon, and the Middle East crisis.
Transport, Telecommunications, and Energy Council:
- Report presentation on geothermal energy by Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.
- Approval of conclusions on geothermal energy promotion and discussion on energy policy priorities for the next legislative cycle.

European Ombudsman

European Commission

College Meeting in Strasbourg to unveil the European Semester – Autumn Package II.
President Ursula von der Leyen holds a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Commissioner Marta Kos attends the General Affairs Council in Brussels.
Commissioner Dubravka Šuica attends the European Parliament Plenary session in Strasbourg.
Commissioner Kaja Kallas hosts Penelope Ying-Yen Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Commissioner Marta Kos engages in discussions with Ms. Andreja Metelko Zgombić (Croatian State Secretary for EU Affairs), Mr. Milojko Spajić (Prime Minister of Montenegro),

European Parliament

Plenary Session
- Votes:
  - Election of the Ombudsman.
  - Discontinuation of the European ODR Platform.
  - EAFRD measures for Member States affected by natural disasters.
  - Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg Machinery and Paper – Belgium).
- Debates:
  - Mis- and disinformation on social media platforms and their impact on elections.
  - Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine.
  - Foreign affairs issues with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Council of Ministers

Environment Council:
- General approach to preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution.
- Discussion on the EU’s 2040 climate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% of 1990 levels.
General Affairs Council:
- Preparations for the European Council meeting (19-20 December).
- Exchange of views on the future of Europe.

European Economic and Social Committee

19th meeting of the EU-China Round Table in Beijing to discuss circular economy cooperation and sustainable development.

European Commission

President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the EP plenary debate on the European Council meeting and attends the EU-Western Balkans summit.
Commissioner Dubravka Šuica meets Mr. Abdallah Bou Habib, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister.
Commissioner Kaja Kallas meets Mr. Andrej Plenković (Croatian Prime Minister), Mr. Hristijan Mickoski (North Macedonian Prime Minister), and Ms. Željka Cvijanović (Chair of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency).
Commissioner Marta Kos meets Mr. Edi Rama (Albanian Prime Minister) and Ms. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu (President of Kosovo).
Commissioner Marta Kos receives Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, in Brussels.

European Parliament

Plenary Session
- Votes:
  - Accession of Tonga, Niue, and Tuvalu to the EC-Pacific States Interim Partnership Agreement.
  - Conclusion of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-Based Investor-State Arbitration.
- Debates:
  - Preparation for the European Council (19-20 December)
  - Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit.
  - Restoring the EU’s competitive edge
  - Challenges facing EU farmers and agricultural workers.

European Economic and Social Committee

Public hearing on result-oriented cohesion policy and the role of civil society.
Debate on defence funding in the EU and investment in defence infrastructure.

European Commission

President Ursula von der Leyen attends the EPP Western Balkans Summit and the European Council meeting.
Commissioner Costas Kadis in Nicosia, Cyprus: meets Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou.
Commissioner Dan Jørgensen in Copenhagen: meets Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke and Bo Lidegaard from Kaya Partners.

European Parliament

Plenary Session
- Debates:
  - Updating the European strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities.

European Council

EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, foreign policy, migration, resilience, and the Middle East crisis.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, attends the meeting.

European Commission

Commissioner Kaja Kallas in Saariselkä, Finland (until 22/12): attends the North-South Summit.
Commissioner Andrius Kubilius meets Mr. Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden.
Commissioner Costas Kadis in Limassol, Cyprus: meets fishermen and aquaculture representatives.
Commissioner Hadja Lahbib meets Mr. Abdallah Bou Habib, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister.
Commissioner Jessica Roswall in Stockholm, Sweden: meets Mr. Jens Henriksson, CEO of Swedbank.