In the week of January 16-20, the spotlight will be on the first plenary session of the new year to be held in Strasbourg. One of the hot topics the Parliament will focus on is health, especially regarding the drug shortage that is plaguing the major capitals. The Eurogroup, which will be monitoring Croatia’s just-completed changeover to the euro, will also meet again.
DIGITAL
Tuesday 17 January 2023. The Working Group on Telecommunications and the Information Society will work on two important dossiers before the Council. The first, the Interoperable Europe Act, essentially introduces a framework for collaboration between the Union and states with a view to strengthening and securing the exchange of data and on shared digital solutions. Specifically, an impact assessment will be presented by the Commission. Whereas the second is the Data Act, the new EU framework for managing data generated within the EU. The Swedish Presidency will be finding on the table critical issues that emerged during the Czech Presidency, such as the exemption for SMEs, B2G data sharing and trade secrets.
HEALTH
Tuesday 17 January 2023. The Parliament plenary in Strasbourg will debate Council and Commission statements regarding the rise of respiratory infections and drug shortages in Europe. In addition, the joint meeting of the Working Party on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices and the Working Party on Public Health will consider the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746 as regards transitional arrangements for certain medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices.
OTHER APPOINTMENTS
Monday 16 January 2023. The Eurogroup will meet in Brussels with important issues on the table. In particular, the agenda includes an update on the cash changeover in Croatia, a review of the progress of the Digital Euro project, a review of case studies on fiscal policy coordination in the euro area with reference to energy support to households and businesses, the economic situation and review of IMF Article IV on euro area policies, some euro area aspects of the economic governance review and, finally, euro area recommendations for 2023.
