For many in the Brussels Bubble (institutions included), the week from 18 to 22 July marks the beginning of the summer break or represents the last week of work before the summer holidays. As a result, activities in the institutions slow down. As far as the Council agenda is concerned, the Foreign Affairs Council, and the informal meetings of the competitiveness ministers will be held during the week both in their internal market and industry (20-21 July), and in research and innovation (21-22 July) areas. As well, Prague will host the expert’s seminar on long-term emergency preparedness and response organised by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. For the Commission, Vice-President Frans Timmermans is expected to present the “winter-preparedness” energy plan next Wednesday. As for the parliamentary agenda, MEPs will work outside Parliament in their constituencies or delegations. The parliamentary committees will resume meetings starting from the last week of August (29 August – 1 September).
Following are the main dossiers to be discussed during the week:
- Monday 18 July 2022: The Foreign Affairs Council will be held in Brussels. At the end of the Council, EU ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on the following topics: EU digital diplomacy, manipulation of information and interference by foreign actors, EU priorities at the 77th UN General Assembly and objectives in the field of EU development aid for 2022.
- Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 July 2022: The informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for competitiveness (focus on internal market and industry) will take place in Prague. Ministers will discuss the state of the internal market, the twin transition – green and digital – and the resilience of the bloc in the context of the war in Ukraine.
- Wednesday 20 July 2022: The Commission’s Vice-President Frans Timmermans is expected to present an energy plan for the EU “winter-preparedness” next Wednesday. The European executive aims to provide guidance to governments on how to determine which sectors to prioritise in the event that there is a significant deterioration in the gas supply situation and the consequent activation of the emergency status in different Members States.
- Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 July 2022: During the informal meeting of the ministers responsible for competitiveness (focus on research and innovation), ministers will discuss possible synergies in the use of national and European budgets for research, development and innovation. In the same days, Pilsen (Czech Republic) will host the expert’s seminar organised by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU on long-term emergency preparedness and response. The seminar will also address the presidency’s priorities in the field of civil protection.
