Brussels letter, week beginning June 20
New Skills Agenda
The European Commission is launching a New Skills Agenda for Europe on Monday to boost human capital, employability and competitiveness in the EU’s labor market.
Environmental concerns
The Environment Council will meet in Luxemburg on Monday to adopt a statement on the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement. The ministers will hold a policy debate on the revision of the emissions trading system. The Council will also address the proposed directive on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants.
External border checks
Terrorism/foreign fighters: a new draft law that would make preparing to commit terror attacks a crime throughout the EU will be put to a vote in the European Parliaments Civil Liberties Committee. External border checks on EU citizens: proposals to make checks on EU citizens entering and leaving the EU mandatory, similar to non-EU nationals, will be put to a vote in the Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday.
Israel and Palestine
Both presidents of Israel and Palestine will give speeches in the European Parliament plenary session. Reuven Rivlin, the President of the State of Israel, will address Parliament in a formal sitting on Wednesday and on Thursday, Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority, will speak in a plenary session.
Energy efficiency and renewables
The European Parliament this week will assess member states' progress towards EU targets of using 20 percent less energy, and at least 20 percent from renewable sources by 2020.
Panama Papers
Panama Papers/inquiry committee members: Parliament will vote to appoint 65 MEPs from all political groups to the "Panama Papers" inquiry committee, set up on June 8 to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration by the EU Commission or member states on EU laws on money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion.
Energy security
The Eastern Partnership Platform on energy security brings together representatives from the EU, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to discuss ways to promote energy security, renewable energy, energy efficiency and nuclear safety. It also discusses the construction of missing infrastructure links and ways to bring partner countries' energy-related rules more in line with EU rules. The platform meets twice a year and is due to meet on Friday June 24.
Brexit referendum
The United Kingdom's European Union membership referendum, Brexit, will take place on June 23.
Conference of the Presidents
UK referendum: an extraordinary Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) will meet on Friday morning to discuss the outcome of the U.K.'s EU membership referendum. Later in the day, EP President Martin Schulz will meet European Council President Donald Tusk, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the Netherlands Prime-Minister Mark Rutte at the Berlaymont Building to also discuss the referendum outcome.