This week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses MEPs from Ukraine in an extraordinary plenary session; foreign affairs ministers discuss EU support to Ukraine; the Commission hearings move towards their final evaluation; and it’s European Hydrogen Week 2024. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 18 to 23 November 2024.
Monday 11 – Friday 22 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | International negotiations | Climate change | UN Framework Convention on Climate Change | Paris Agreement on Climate Change | Climate change policy
COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP29, will be the 29th United Nations Climate Change conference. COP29 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.
Monday 18 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Extraordinary plenary session, Commission hearings, committee and political groups meetings
Brussels
Commission hearings/Final evaluation: once all committees have adopted their evaluation letters on the Commissioner-designate hearings, the Conference of Committee Chairs will assess the outcome of the procedure and forward its recommendations to Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group leaders). They will conduct the final evaluation and decide whether to declare the hearings process closed.
Climate change/COP29. A Parliament delegation will attend the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, which is discussing a new collective goal for providing financial support for global climate action. MEPs want all major and emerging economies with high emissions and high GDP to contribute financially and they want the EU to step up its green diplomacy (Monday to Friday).
Priorities of the Hungarian Presidency/Economic affairs and innovation: Hungary’s Finance Minister Mihály Varga and Culture and Innovation Minister Balázs Hankó will discuss with the Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Industry, Research and Energy committees, respectively, on Hungary’s priorities for the rotating Council presidency (Monday and Thursday).
Plenary Preparations: MEPs will prepare for the 25-28 November session, where they are set to debate the programme of the new Commission with President-elect Ursula von der Leyen before voting on the approval of the full college. During the session, MEPs will also debate and vote on the 2025 EU budget, honour the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, discuss strategies for strengthening children’s rights in the EU, and assess recent legislation regarding the LGBTQI community and the need to tackle discrimination.
Monday 18 – Thursday 21 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Hydrogen | Energy research
European Hydrogen Week 2024
Brussels
The 2024 edition of European Hydrogen Week is co-organised by the European Commission, Hydrogen Europe, and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, and it brings together all stakeholders across the value chain covering a variety of topics: from policy, business, technology, research matters to finance and funding – all around the hydrogen sector. To ensure as many people as possible can join the conversations and learn more about hydrogen solutions, access to the event is free of charge and open to all interested participants.
Monday 18 November
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Agriculture | Ukraine | Fishing quotas
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Brussels
Based on information from the European Commission and member states, agriculture ministers will discuss the situation of agricultural markets and commodities, a recurring topic on the Council’s agenda. The Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitalii Koval, is expected to join the ministers prior to their discussion.
Furthermore, fisheries ministers will hold an initial exchange of views on the 2025 fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea and in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, based on a presentation by the Commission of its proposals.
Monday 18 November
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Ukraine | Georgia | Russian aggression
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
The Foreign Affairs Council will take place over two days and be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
On 18 November EU Foreign Affairs Ministers will discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference.
The Council will then exchange views on Georgia, and hold a lunch discussion on EU-US relations. In the afternoon the Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the situation in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, and will be informed about current affairs.
Tuesday 19 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Extraordinary plenary session, Commission hearings, committee and political groups meetings
Brussels
Ukraine/Extraordinary plenary session with President Zelenskyy: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address Parliament from Ukraine in an extraordinary plenary session marking 1000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. EP President Roberta Metsola will make a statement at the beginning of the session, and political group leaders will speak after President Zelenskyy’s intervention.
Tuesday 19 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Health | Cross-border cooperation
Workshop on raising awareness of patients’ rights to cross-border healthcare
Brussels
Tuesday 19 – Thursday 21 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Space
Space Tech Expo Europe
Bremen, Germany
Welcome to Space Tech Expo Europe, the premier gathering for space professionals across the continent. Get ready to ignite your network, engage with top industry players, and discover the latest advancements in one convenient location. Join us for an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your expertise and forge meaningful connections in the dynamic world of space technology.
Tuesday 19 November
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Defence | Ukraine
Foreign Affairs Council (Defence)
Brussels
EU Defence Ministers will hold a discussion on EU support to Ukraine, on which they will informally exchange with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, the advisor to President Zelenskyy on Strategic Affairs Alexander Kamyshin, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The Council will also exchange views on defence readiness and preparedness, and be informed about current affairs, notably about the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity and the PESCO Strategic Review.
The meeting will be followed by the European Defence Agency Steering Board.
Tuesday 19 November
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Rule of law
General Affairs Council
Brussels
Ministers will start preparations for the December European Council. They will also focus on the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue and the Article 7 procedure regarding Hungary.
Wednesday 20 – Thursday 21 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | European Health Union
European Cancer Summit 2024
Brussels
The European Cancer Summit 2024 will unite the cancer community in accelerating efforts against a most relentless disease. Experts, patients and policymakers will explore new innovative solutions to pressing challenges faced by healthcare systems across Europe and propose new opportunities in cancer research.
Thursday 21 November
Council of the EU | Political Meetings | Trade
Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)
Brussels
The Foreign Affairs Council, in its Trade configuration, will hold an exchange of views on the future of the EU’s trade policy, followed by a discussion on the state of play of the trade relations with the US.
The working lunch will focus on the World Trade Organization (WTO) reform.
