Today in the EU
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton is on an official visit to Mexico where she meets president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and holds talks with foreign minister Patricia Espinosa.
Later, Ashton attends the official opening of the EU-Mexico joint council.
International cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response commissioner Kristalina Georgieva is on a high level visit to turkey, where she meets Turkish minister for EU affairs Egemen Bagis, deputy prime minister Besir Atalay and visits the office of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees.
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi holds a press conference in Frankfurt following the ECB governing council meeting.
Parliament president Martin schulz holds talks in Brussels with Greek education, lifelong learning and religious affairs minister Anna Diamantopoulou.
Daily Diary
The European Commission holds a two-day conference on Diabesity - a worldwide challenge.
The European Commission and Prof. Robert Miller (Queen’s University Belfast) co-organise a conference on the development of European identities: policy and research issues.
The EPP Group holds three events:
A public hearing on Tourism for all, a challenge to win, together with the European Disability Forum.
A public hearing on Youth and volunteering: new active EU citizenship.
A conference on EU-Azerbaijan: new horizons for the partnership.
The S&D Group holds two events:
A conference on Beyond the crisis: developing sustainable alternatives, co-organised with the Greens and the European Trade Union Institute.
A joint roundtable on Next left economic circle, the Euro crisis and the need for an alternative economic policy package for the Euro area.
The GUE/NGL Group organises a hearing entitled Defend the right of independent living: how the EU’s austerity policy is undermining the lives of people with disabilities, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum.
The European Nuclear Energy Leadership Academy holds a conference in Munich on Putting severe accidents into perspective: learning from the past, preparing for the future of nuclear energy.
The European Defence Agency organises three events:
The 5th workshop on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): research and development for UAS.
A workshop for end-users on the HDR-HF Programme, in Colombes France.
The 3rd collaborative database workshop on cooperative opportunities.
Solidar holds a seminar on Migrants and young people in Bucharest.
Forum Europe holds The 10th Annual European Financial Services Conference - The Financial World Tomorrow.
UNIFAB organises the 17th European Intellectual Property Forum in Paris, entitled Intellectual property: a human right.
The Centre for European Policy Studies hosts an event on Investing where it matters: an EU budget for long-term growth.
UEAPME, ACCA and Leaseurope organises a lunch debate entitled From Basel III to alternative sources of funding: assessing the impact of financial regulation on access to finance for SMEs and the real economy.
In the Institutions
Council of Ministers
COREPER II
Brussels
COREPER I
Brussels
European Commission
Viviane Reding delivers a keynote speech at the European Insolvency & Restructuring Congress (Brussels)
Joaquín Almunia receives Frédéric Mitterand, French Minister of Culture
Siim Kallas receives Aivis Ronis, Latvian Minister of Transport
Neelie Kroes receives Frédéric Mitterand, French Minister of Culture
Andris Piebalgs in Germany
Androulla Vassiliou receives John Fahey, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency
Androulla Vassiliou receives Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture and Communication
Janusz Lewandowski in Finland (9-10/2). On 9/2: meeting with Jyri Häkämies, Minister of Economic Affairs; meeting with Jari Koskinen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. On 10/2: meeting with Alexander Stubb, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade; meeting with members of the Grand (EU) Committee at the House of Parliament
Maroš Šefcovic on official visit to Bulgaria : meeting with Nickolay Mladenov, Minister of Foreign Affairs; meeting with Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the National Assembly; speech on the "Main priorities of the European Commission Working Programme 2012" at the Sitting of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds, National Assembly
John Dalli receives members of the senior management of Cancer Research UK
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in Dublin: visits Science Foundation Ireland to meet with the Chairman and the Board; presents CREST Awards (programme rewarding excellence in Science, Technology, Mathematics & Engineering) at Dublin City University (DCU); meets with Professor Kieran Murphy, President of the Medical Council of Ireland; launches the Irish Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons
Maria Damanaki presents the Common Fisheries Policy Reform at an event organised by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (Athens)
Kristalina Georgieva travels to Turkey: meeting with Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs of Turkey; meeting with Red Crescent representatives; meeting with Besir Atalay, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey; meeting with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Günther Oettinger and Štefan Füle on official visit to Istanbul, Turkey
László Andor opens the expert conference on the 2011 Review on Employment and Social Developments in Europe (Hotel Bloom, Brussels)
László Andor participates in the Signing Ceremony of the European Charter for Social and Societal initiatives at Railway Stations (Hotel Renaissance, Brussels)
European Parliament
The President's diary
13:00 - 18:00 President's Diary
Brussels
13:00 Meeting with Coreper Ambassadors - Council
17:00 Meeting with Anna DIAMANTOPOULOU, Greek Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs - President's office
Parliamentary committees
• 09:00 - 12:30 Subcommittee on Human Rights
Brussels, Paul Henri Spaak (PHS) building, room 3C50
(9.00 - 11.30)
Presentation and update by the EEAS on the Joint Communication: Human rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action – towards a more effective approach
Annual Report on Human Rights in the World and the European Union's policy on the matter including implications for the EU's strategic human rights policy (INI) - Consideration of draft report by Richard HOWITT (S&D, UK)
Jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in association with the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries
Hearing on the follow-up to the Egyptian elections - see "Public hearings" (11.30 - 12.30)
• 09:30 - 13:00 Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) building, room 4B1
EUJUST LEX-Iraq - Discussion with Hansjoerg HABER, Civilian Operations Commander and Director of CPCC, and László HUSZÁR, Head of Mission
Role of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) - Discussion with Ambassador Theodor H. WINKLER, Director of DCAF
• 09:00 - 12:30 Committee on Development
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli (ASP) building, room 5G2
Priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council - discussion with Christian FRIIS BACH, Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark (11.30 - 12.30)
• 09:00 - 12:30 Committee on Budgetary Control
Brussels, Altiero Spinelli (ASP) building, room 3G-2
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors - Mr Baudilio TOME MUGURUZA (ES) (NLE) - Evaluation, vote and adoption of a draft report (in camera) by Inés AYALA SENDER (S&D, ES)
Special report No 12/2011 (2011 discharge) : Do EU measures contribute to adapting the capacity of EU fishing fleets to available fishing opportunities? (DEC) - Report by Marta ANDREASEN (EFD, UK) - Discussion in the presence of the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible, Lazaros LAZAROU
• 09:00 - 12:30 Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Brussels, building József Antall (JAN), room 4Q2
Hearing on the future strategy for EU consumer policies - see "Public hearings"
• 09:00 - 18:30 Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak building (PHS), room 1A2
Votes (10.15-10.45)
Schengen acquis - establishment of an evaluation mechanism to verify application of the Schengen acquis (COD) - confirmation vote on report by Carlos COELHO (EPP, PT)
11.00-12.30
Work Programme 2012 for the European Commission and state of play in the area of justice, fundamental rights and citizenship - discussion with Viviane REDING, Vice-President of the European Commission
Afternoon
Hearing on the situation in Hungary (15.00-18.30) - see Public hearings
Public hearings
09:00 - 12:30 The future strategy for EU consumer policies
Brussels, Building József Antall (JAN), room 4Q2
Organized by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) the public hearing on Consumer protection, product safety and better redress mechanisms, will be on the agenda when MEPs, Commissioners Viviane REDING and John DALLI and invited experts debate the future EU Consumer Strategy 2014 -2020.
The Commission is expected to present the new Consumer Agenda in May 2012.
11:30 - 12:30 Hearing on the follow-up to the Egyptian elections
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak Building (PHS), room 3C50
Organised jointly with the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in association with the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries
MEPs will discuss the results of recent elections in Egypt, the transition process and the freedom of association, particularly the situation of NGOs. EEAS and the Egyptian NGOs will be represented in the hearing.
15:00 - 18:30 The situation in Hungary
Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak building (PHS), room 1A2
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Following a debate in the Civil Liberties Committee on 12 January and a plenary debate with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor ORBÁN on 18 January, the Civil Liberties Committee will hold a hearing on the situation in Hungary. Representatives from European and international institutions and the civil society will take part in the event.
