The Week Ahead 18 – 24 February 2019
Erasmus. The Culture and Education Committee will vote on the funding rules for the new Erasmus programme, for 2021-2027. The renewed programme aims to help create a European Education Area by 2025 by promoting cross-border learning mobility for students, apprentices and adult learners (Wednesday).
Asylum and migration. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on the funding rules for the EU Asylum and Migration Fund, for 2021-2027. The fund will provide support to the member states to manage migration, particularly on asylum, integration and countering irregular migration (Tuesday).
Road safety. EU-wide safety features, to be included on vehicles to limit fatalities and severe injuries due to road accidents, will be up for a vote by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. Proposed features include intelligent speed assistance, driver drowsiness monitoring and other tools to mitigate injuries in collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. This proposal also paves the way for automated vehicles (Thursday).
Climate change. The Environment Committee will give its input to the EU’s long-term climate strategy, proposing the objective of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The strategy will shape the way the EU will implement the Paris Agreement on climate change (Wednesday).
Rule of law in Malta and Slovakia. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on the conclusions made by the working group on the respect of the rule and law, and particularly corruption and freedom of the press, which was set up following the murders of journalists Daphne Caruana Galizia and Ján Kuciak, in Malta and Slovakia (Tuesday).
Trade negotiations with the US. The International Trade Committee will decide on its input to the Commission's negotiating mandate for future trade negotiations with the US. The draft resolution suggests not approving the draft negotiating directives, while amendments going in the opposite direction have also been tabled for the vote (Tuesday).
President’s diary. EP President Antonio Tajani will deliver a key address at the 2019 European Parliamentary Week on the Euro at 20 as well as the opening speech at the high-level roundtable on audiovisual media and the challenge of the digital revolution, all on Tuesday. On Wednesday, European Parliament President will meet with President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor.
Press briefing 100 days to European elections. The EP Press Service will organise a briefing for journalists at 10.30 on Monday to mark 100 days before the elections, in the “Anna Politkovskaya” EP press conference room. The briefing will unveil the first seat projections for the next European Parliament, highlight upcoming key dates, debates with the lead candidates, media tools and the organisation of Election Day itself.