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The Committee on Budgets will vote on a resolution regarding Parliament’s priorities for the EU budget of 2021, reflecting the outcome of the Committee’s recent vote amending the Council’s reading, on 28 October. The Committee will also discuss the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to assist Croatia and Poland in response to natural disasters, and for advance payments to Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Subcommittee on Tax Matters will discuss the ongoing reform of the international tax system on 28 October, with representatives of the European Commission and the OECD. G20 Finance Ministers have recently decided to postpone the possibility for an agreement at global level on the international tax reform to mid-2021. The European Parliament has already expressed its support for the EU to take the lead and introduce an EU Digital Tax in the absence of global agreement by the end of 2020.

The Committee on Protection of Animals during Transport will hold a debate with German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner, on 29 October. The discussion is expected to focus on the priorities of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU regarding animal welfare, and in particular animal welfare labelling.

At the initiative of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee, the European Parliament is holding its first European Gender Equality Week during the last week of October. Several committees are organising dedicated events related to the topic. The FEMM committee itself is holding, amongst others, a hearing on women and digitalisation, on 28 October, in association with the AIDA committee. It will also go over the findings of the Gender Equality Index 2020, on 29 October.

The Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality held a hearing on combating trafficking in human beings on 26 October, to look into gaps in the current legislation and measures needed to reinforce its application. The Committees will now discuss the draft implementation report on trafficking in human beings, which goes over the identification, protection, and support of victims, and the efficiency of criminal systems, on 29 October.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism will discuss the latest developments in relation to the return to service of the 737-MAX and the impact of Covid-19 on aviation safety, with European Aviation Safety Agency Executive Director, Patrick Ky. The Committee will also look into the topic of women in transport with European Commission representatives, as part of the European Gender Equality Week, which is being held by the European Parliament. The meeting will take place on 29 October.

The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will go over the report on achieving a WTO-compatible EU carbon border adjustment mechanism, on 28 October. The Committee will also discuss the reduction of emissions from the maritime transport with Transport Commissioner Vălean. This debate will take place on 29 October, ahead of the 75th session of the International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 75), which is set to take place in November.

The Committees on Foreign Affairs, on Development, and on Budgets will discuss the Commission's proposal to extend the duration of EU Trust Funds until the end of 2021, as a bridging solution to the EU's next long-term budget. Whilst the next Multiannual Financial Framework is to enter into force on 1 January 2021, its financing has not yet been agreed between Council and Parliament. The meeting will take place on 28 October.

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence will discuss the continuing global threat from Daesh and its affiliates, on 28 October. In spite of its drastic loss of territory in Syria and Iraq, the group remains undoubtedly dangerous, as shown by the recent tragedy in France. The debate is expected to focus in particular on the danger of Daesh propaganda and the problems of infiltration and disinformation within the European Union.