This week, EU leaders meet at a summit to address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the Middle East; ministers look to promote geothermal energy, and prevent plastic pellet losses; and MEPs in plenary session vote on the EU deforestation law, debate misinformation and disinformation on social media, and award the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 16 to 21 December 2024.
Monday 16 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
Strasbourg
EP President Roberta Metsola will preside over the opening of the 16-19 December plenary session.
Monday 16 December
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Waste recycling | Circular economy | Single market | Waste | Labelling | Waste management | Raw material
Webinar on new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Online only
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation has sparked enormous interest among stakeholders. The European Commission is, therefore, hosting a webinar about the new regulation.
This interactive session is your opportunity to get the latest information on the content, implementation steps, and answers to your questions.
Monday 16 December
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Ukraine | Georgia | Middle East
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
The December Foreign Affairs Council will be chaired for the first time by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Ministers will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference.
They will then hold discussions on Georgia, and the situation in the Middle East, including Syria.
Under current affairs, the Council will exchange views on Belarus.
Monday 16 December
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Geothermal energy
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
Brussels
EU energy ministers will seek to approve conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy, following the presentation of a report on the future of geothermal energy. They will also exchange views on the future of energy policy in view of a genuine Energy Union.
Monday 16 December
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Plastic pellet losses
Environment Council
Brussels
EU environment ministers will meet in Brussels to reach a general approach for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses. They will also discuss the proposed regulation on end-of-life vehicles and the communication on the EU’s 2040 climate target.
Tuesday 17 December
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Future of Europe
General Affairs Council
Brussels
Ministers will focus on preparations for the December European Council, legislative planning, the future of Europe, as well as EU relations with the UK and Switzerland. The Council will also be invited to approve conclusions on enlargement and endorse its next 18-month programme.
Tuesday 17 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
Strasbourg
Award of the 2024 Sakharov prize: at noon EP President Metsola will award the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. A press conference with EP President Metsola and the laureates will take place after the ceremony, Ahead of the ceremony, on Tuesday morning from 9.00 to 11.15, Parliament’s Press Service will organise a hybrid media seminar with this year’s Sakharov Prize laureates and finalists as well as MEPs.
Disinformation online: MEPs and the Commission will discuss misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media platforms such as TikTok, and the dangers they pose to the holding of free and fair elections in Europe.
Syria: MEPs will assess the latest developments in Syria, its geopolitical implications, and the humanitarian situation in the region in debate with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. A resolution will be put to a vote in a future session.
Russian disinformation on Ukraine: MEPs and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will debate Russia’s manipulation of history and use of false narratives to justify its war in Ukraine. A resolution will be put to a vote during the January plenary session.
Protests in Georgia: in a debate with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, MEPs will discuss the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections.
EU deforestation law: Parliament is set to give its green light for the one-year postponement of the application of the EU deforestation law, which aims to ensure that products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land anywhere in the world.
Using EU funds to recover from natural disasters: Parliament is set to approve the use of EU funds to finance recovery efforts after climate-related disasters in EU countries. A press conference is scheduled after the vote.
European Ombudsman: Parliament will elect a new European Ombudsman, with six candidates vying for the position.
Tuesday 17 – Wednesday 18 December
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | EU financing | Carbon neutrality | Batteries
Innovation Fund 2024 Call and Battery Info Day
Online only
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) are hosting an info day to present the key features and award criteria of the recently launched Innovation Fund 2024 Call (IF24 Call) and the Innovation Fund 2024 Battery call (IF24 Battery), and present the lessons learned from previous calls to demonstrate best practices.
Tuesday 17 December
Other bodies and agencies | Partner meetings | International agreement | Sustainable agriculture | Agricultural economics
Sustainable animal nutrition solutions for the transition towards climate neutral livestock production systems
Online only
The workshop on “Sustainable Animal Nutrition Solutions for the Transition Towards Climate Neutral Livestock Production Systems” will be organised by the US and EU stakeholders and industry in the framework of the EU-US Collaboration Platform on Agriculture (CPA) supported by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Wednesday 18 December
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session
Strasbourg
December European Council: MEPs will outline their demands of European leaders ahead of the 19 December EU summit, which is set to focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, crisis prevention, and migration. Plenary will also express its expectations for the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which will take place on 18 December.
New EP Committees: following a proposal by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents to set up two standing committees on security and defence and on public health, and two special committees on democracy protection and on housing, plenary will decide on Wednesday on their remit, size and term of office.
Thursday 19 – Friday 20 December
European Council | Political Meetings | Ukraine | Middle East | Migration
European Council
Brussels
EU leaders will meet in Brussels to address the following topics: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s support to Ukraine and its people; the situation in the Middle East; EU’s global engagement and priorities in the current geopolitical context; migration; EU resilience, preparedness, crisis prevention and response capacities, and other foreign policy items.
