The Foreign Affairs Council will gather on Monday in Brussels where they will focus on Venezuela and also review pressing issues on the international agenda including China and EU-China relations. This discussion will lay the ground for a debate at the European Council meeting on March 21-22. It will also feed into preparations for the EU-China summit on April 9, 2019 in Brussels. Foreign ministers will hold talks with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi,  and will also review the situation Yemen.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package. The Council will hold an exchange of views on the updated bio-economy strategy. 

The General Affairs Council will meet on Tuesday in Brussels. Ministers will hold a policy debate on the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. The Council is expected to adopt its position on the regulation establishing the instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA III). IPA III is a part of the long-term EU budget and supports the enlargement process. The Council will continue preparations for the European Council on March 21-22 by discussing draft conclusions. It will take stock of the implementation of previous European Council conclusions. The Council, in EU27 format, will prepare the meeting of the European Council (Leaders Summit) on Brexit.

The Tripartite Social Summit will meet in Brussels on Wednesday. The Social Summit is a forum for dialogue between the EU institutions at the presidential level and the European social partners at top management level. During this summit, discussions will focus on labor mobility, investments in the single market and social dialogue. 

A legislative proposal that would oblige internet providers to remove terrorist content or disable access to it within one hour after receiving an order from authorities will be up for a vote by the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday. The draft bill includes penalties of up to 4 percent of the providers’ global turnover.

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will assess the rule of law in Hungary on Thursday, with the Commission’s First Vice-President Frans Timmermans.

The European Council (EU Leaders Summit) will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. The Council will focus on strengthening the European economic base and EU leaders will also discuss climate change, the upcoming summit with China and ways to tackle disinformation. During the meeting, EU27 leaders will discuss Brexit-related issues.