European Council. EP President David Sassoli will address the special European Council meeting on Monday at 19:00, where EU leaders will discuss the response to COVID-19, climate change, relations with Russia and with the UK, and will hold a press conference on Tuesday at 10:00.
EU Digital Covid Certificate. Following the provisional agreement reached by Parliament and Council negotiators on 20 May, the Civil Liberties Committee will vote on the deal, ahead of the final adoption expected during the June plenary session (Wednesday).
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. Parliament, Council and Commission negotiators will hold meetings throughout the week to try to conclude a political agreement on EU farm policy post-2023 (from Tuesday onwards).
Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The Regional Development Committee will vote on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, a €5 billion financial tool designed to help EU countries counter the adverse economic and social consequences of Brexit. MEPs will adopt a draft negotiating mandate to enter into talks with EU governments to agree on the final shape of the instrument (Tuesday). A press conference will take place at 10:30 on Wednesday.
Media freedom in Hungary and Poland. Members of the Civil Liberties Committee will debate the latest developments in Hungary and Poland concerning media freedom with the Portuguese Presidency of the Council. The Council Presidency plans to hold two Article 7 hearings, to continue assessing whether there is a possible breach of EU values in the two countries, by the end of June (TBC – Wednesday).
EU funds/Czech Prime Minister Babiš. The Budgetary Control Committee will adopt their views on recent evidence found by the Commission that Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has exercised influence on the allocation of EU subsidies to Agrofert, an agro-chemical conglomerate that he founded. The resolution concludes a plenary debate that was held in May (Wednesday).
EU biodiversity strategy. The Environment Committee will respond to the Commission’s new EU biodiversity strategy, which incorporates MEPs’ proposal on establishing protected areas for at least 30% of EU land and sea area. The draft text calls for a legally binding biodiversity governance framework, similar to the Climate Law, and a set of binding objectives for 2030 and 2050. It also calls for a “Paris-agreement” for biodiversity at the UN conference in October 2021 (Friday).
Slovenian Presidency priorities. To prepare the next Presidency of the Council, held by Slovenia from July until end of 2021, the Conference of Presidents (EP President and groups’ leaders) will meet remotely with Prime Minister Janez Janša. President Sassoli and the Prime Minister will then hold a joint press conference, from Parliament’s press room, with video link to Ljubljana. (Wednesday).
President’s diary. EP President David Sassoli will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Janša on Tuesday. On Wednesday, President Sassoli will also deliver a speech at the Forum ANSA and meet Italy’s Minister of Economic Development Giancarlo Giorgetti. President Sassoli will have an official a visit to Athens for the 40th anniversary of Greece’s accession to the EEC on Thursday and Friday. The visit includes meetings with Hellenic Republic President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Parliament Speaker Konstantinos Tassoulas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as well as addressing a joint session of parliamentary committees on EU and Foreign Affairs.