European Parliament’s Busy Week

The European Parliament (EP) is set to have a packed agenda for the week of April 20-26, featuring a series of committee meetings and key political dialogues, according to an official press release.

The week will kick off on Monday with several important committee sessions. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) will conduct a public hearing on the future of judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters within the EU. Concurrently, the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) will engage in a structured dialogue with Marta Kos, the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy. Later in the evening, the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) will discuss defense and space issues with Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.

A key highlight of the week includes the Conciliation Committee meeting, where EP President Metsola and 27 MEPs will discuss passenger rights regulations with EU country ambassadors, marking the start of the conciliation procedure. This meeting is crucial as negotiators from both the Parliament and the Council will have eight weeks to reach an agreement on updating the regulation.

Other notable activities include President Metsola’s meetings with various international figures, such as Roberto Velasco Álvarez, Mexico’s Foreign Minister, and Oana Țoiu, Romania’s Foreign Minister. The week will also see provisional agreement negotiations on the coordination of social security systems and discussions on gender violence and the trafficking of women from Tunisia and Libya.

The week will conclude with an informal European Council meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, where pressing EU matters will be addressed in a less formal setting.

These activities highlight the European Parliament’s continuous efforts to address significant policy areas and engage in international diplomacy, reflecting the dynamic nature of EU politics.