This week, foreign affairs ministers discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East; the EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue holds its first ever meeting; and the European Parliament sends delegations to Hungary, Greece, Indonesia, Rotterdam and Antwerp and Austria. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 14 to 19 April 2025.
Monday 14 April
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament delegations
Budapest, Greece, Indonesia, Antwerp, Rotterdam
EU values/Hungary: a Civil Liberties Committee delegation will travel to Budapest to look into developments in Hungary around EU values, judicial independence, media and academic freedom, transparency and anti-corruption measures, the situation of civil society, and the rights of LGBTIQ persons, since the committee’s last visit to the country in October 2021. MEPs will meet with members of parliament (MPs) and representatives from the government, the judiciary, and local authorities, as well as from civil society across all areas of concern. Press conference on Wednesday at 14.30, local time (Monday to Wednesday).
Scrutiny of the Recovery and Resilience Facility/Greece: MEPs from the Economic and Monetary Affairs and Budgets Committees will travel to Greece to assess implementation of the Greek national recovery plan on the ground. MEPs will meet, inter alia, with the Minister for Finance and Economy, representatives from the Hellenic Court of Audit and the relevant parliamentary committees, and with the Governor of the Greek Recovery and Resilience Agency and representatives from the General Confederation of Workers. Press conference on Tuesday at 16:00, local time (Monday to Wednesday).
International trade/Indonesia: MEPs from the International Trade Committee and the chair of the delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will travel to Jakarta to take stock of ongoing negotiations on the comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Additionally, MEPs will address the EU’s trade relations with the Indo-Pacific region, in particular on relevant EU legislation such as the Deforestation Law and the Renewable Energy Directive. MEPs will meet with government representatives from the ministries of trade, investment and economic affairs, as well as with MPs and other stakeholders. Press conference on Wednesday at 16:30, local time (Monday to Wednesday).
Drug trafficking/Rotterdam and Antwerp: a Civil Liberties Committee delegation will head to Antwerp, Belgium, and Rotterdam, Netherlands, to take stock of the drug trafficking situation in the two major EU ports, and learn about counter-measures on the ground. MEPs will visit container terminals and meet relevant local, port, customs authority and shipping industry representatives, to inform the committee’s work on fighting drug trafficking and organised crime (Monday and Tuesday).
Deforestation and wolf management/Austria: A delegation from the Petitions Committee will go on a fact-finding mission to Austria to assess the possible impact of the Deforestation Law on the Austrian forestry and timber industry. MEPs will also look into the implications of wolf population management for the farming sector. They will engage with affected citizens and with policymakers, including MPs and representatives of the ministers for agriculture and for the environment, as well as with non-governmental organisations. Press conference on Wednesday at 13.15, local time (Monday to Wednesday).
Monday 14 April
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Employment and social rights
Foreign Affairs Council
Luxembourg
The Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, including Syria, EU-Africa relations and Western Balkans, and will be informed about current affairs.
Monday 14 April
Other bodies and agencies | International ministerial meetings | Palestine
1st EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue
Luxembourg
At the first ever meeting of the EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue, the EU and Palestinian Authority will exchange views concerning the conflict in Gaza, the unfolding situation in the West Bank and the Israel-Palestinian relations, as well as the prospects for advancing the Two State Solution.
Tuesday 15 April
Other bodies and agencies | Partner meetings | Trade agreement
Third Trade and Sustainable Development Public Stakeholders’ Forum under EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Singapore
Civil society representatives from employers, unions, labour and business organisations, environmental groups and other relevant civil society organisations are invited to an online meeting of the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Public Stakeholders’ Forum established under the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA).
Wednesday 16 April
Other bodies and agencies | Training & workshops | Climate change policy
Stakeholder Consultation workshop on new Innovation Fund auction
Brussels
The first stakeholder consultation workshop on the design of a new auction for industrial process heat decarbonisation under the Innovation Fund. As announced in the Clean Industrial Deal communication, this new auction is scheduled for 2025.
