Brussels briefing, Sept. 30

An EU-Moldova Association Council meeting, chaired by Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu, will convene in Brussels on Monday with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini leading the EU delegation. The Association Council will discuss political association, economic and sectoral cooperation.

From Monday afternoon until Thursday evening, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will hold public hearings of Commissioners-designate in parliamentary committees to examine whether a candidate is qualified both to be a Member of the College of Commissioners and to carry out their assigned duties. Each Commissioner-designate will face a three-hour hearing in one or several committees related to their assigned portfolio. MEPs will assess their ability and willingness to address citizens’ concerns and deliver on the program that President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented to MEPs in July. Hearings are set to run until Oct. 8.

On Tuesday, the Budgets Committee will adopt their position on next year’s annual budget.

Thursday will see the Civil Liberties Committee holding a public hearing on the Search and Rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

The EU’s Environment Council will meet on Friday in Luxemburg where EU environment ministers will hold a policy debate on the EU's strategic long-term vision for a climate-neutral economy.