The View from Brussels #266

Highlights from the Past Week

CW 37

Delivery of a “State of the Union” speech by Ursula von der Leyen: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her annual State of the Union speech on 13 September. She called for an international panel of experts similar to the IPCC on climate change to steer and monitor the development of artificial intelligence. (Parliament press release)

RED III – Draft adopted by Parliament at first reading: The European Parliament adopted the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) at its session on 12 September. The directive aims to boost the deployment of renewable energies in the EU. By 2030, 42.5 per cent of energy consumption in the EU must be covered by renewable energies, while Member States should strive to achieve 45 per cent. The EP’s decision must now also be approved by the Council before the directive can enter into force. (Parliament press release)

CSAM – New compromise text of the EU Council Presidency: A new EU Council presidency compromise text about the regulation to prevent and combat sexual abuse material online (CSAM) places focus on the role of a planned new EU Centre for Preventing and Combatting Child Sexual Abuse. It will be given more tasks and serve as a focal point for expertise on combatting CSAM. (see Euractiv)

Relevant Publications, including from the EP Think Tank:

• Digital euro package
• Electronic evidence in criminal matters
• E2E encryption and protection of children online

A Selection of the EU Commission’s Consultations

• Ecodesign – electronic displays (review of requirements) (to 21.09.2023)
• Waste from electrical and electronic equipment – evaluating the EU rules (to 22.09.2023)
• European standardisation – evaluation (to 29.09.2023)

Selections of the Current Week

CW 38

Here you can find a list of the upcoming dates of the European Parliament. The meeting calendar for 2023 is available here (PDF), while the calendar for 2024 is accessible here.

The work of the Parliament resumed after the summer recess last week. As Week 38 is not a sessions week, no plenary sessions will occur; nonetheless, committee meetings will take place.

An overview of the most important dates of the Council week can be found here and the meeting calendar can be accessed here.

Included among the Council dates are:

Summits and Ministerial Meetings:

• General Affairs Council, 19 September 2023, Programme

Preparatory Bodies (Selection):

• Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Internal Market), 18 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Industry), 18 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues, 18 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Cultural Affairs Committee, 19 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Working Party on Energy, 19 September (Agenda)
• Working Party on Hybrid Threats, 19 September 2023
• Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens’ Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP), 19 September 2023 (Agenda)
• COREPER I, 20 & 22 September 2023 (Agenda)
• COREPER II, 20 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Audiovisual and Media Working Party, 20 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society, 20 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Internal Market), 20 September 2023
• Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society, 21 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Research Working Party Meeting, 21 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Working Party on Intellectual Property (Copyright), 22 September 2023 (Agenda)
• Working Party on e-Justice, 22 September 2023 (Agenda)

Information about the weekly Commission meeting can be found on the website of the Commission in the preview or (at short notice) in the current agenda. The next meeting will take place on 20 September.

The judicial calendar of the ECJ can be found here. There will be a Google-related hearing on 19 September in the case of Google and Alphabet vs Commission (Google Shopping) (C-48/22 P). On 21 September, a hearing related to Telekom is scheduled (Deutsche Telekom vs Commission/ T-64/20). In addition, hearings in the cases of NetCologne vs Commission (T-58/20) and Tele Columbus vs Commission (T-69/20) will take place on 22 September.

European Parliament Committees

CW 38 / 18 to 22 September 2023: Committee Meetings Week (Brussels);

 

LIBE Committee (Civil Liberties)

Current Meetings

• 09.2023, 09.30-12.30, Brussels

Excerpt from the Draft Agenda

 

4. Digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice in cross-border civil,

commercial and criminal matters, and amending certain acts in the field of

judicial cooperation

CJ03/9/08557 ***I 2021/0394(COD) COM(2021)0759 – C9-0451/2021

 

12. Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020

ITRE/9/10122 ***I 2022/0272(COD) COM(2022)0454 – C9-0308/2022

Further Meetings (Calendar)

• 10.2023
• 10.2023

JURI Committee (Legal Affairs)

Current Meetings

• 09.2023, 15.00-18.30, Brussels
• 09.2023, 09.00-12.30, 14.30-18.30, Brussels

Excerpt from the Draft Agenda

 

14. Implementation of the 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation in the digital single market

JURI/9/11286 2023/2019(INI)

 

15. Digitalisation and Administrative Law

JURI/9/07109 2021/2161(INL)

Further Meetings (Calendar)

• 09.2023
• 10.2023

Dossiers Timetable (18 September 2023)

 

ITRE Committee (Industry)

Current Meetings

• 09.2023, 15.00-18.00, Brussels
• 09.2023, 09.00-12.30, 14.30-18.30, Brussels

Excerpt from the Draft Agenda

7. Laying down measures for a high common level of cybersecurity at the

institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union

ITRE/9/08708 ***I 2022/0085(COD) COM(2022)0122 – C9-0122/2022

 

8. Measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications

networks and repealing Directive 2014/61/EU (Gigabit Infrastructure Act)

ITRE/9/11366 ***I 2023/0046(COD) COM(2023)0094 – C9-0028/2023

 

11. Laying down measures to strengthen solidarity and capacities in the Union to

detect, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents

ITRE/9/11824 ***I 2023/0109(COD) COM(2023)0209 – C9-0136/2023

Further Meetings (Calendar)

• 10.2023
• 10.2023

Dossiers Timetable (PDF) (12 September 2023)

 

IMCO Committee (Internal Market)

Current Meetings

• 09.2023, 15.00-18.30, Brussels
• 09.2023, 09.30-12.30, 14.30-18.30, Brussels

Excerpt from the Draft Agenda

 

6. Establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable

products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC

IMCO/9/08746 ***I 2022/0095(COD) COM(2022)0142 – C9-0132/2022

 

8. Presentation of the Implementation report of the Single Digital Gateway

Regulation

 

10. Harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and

amending certain Union Legislative Acts (Report on ongoing interinstitutional negotiations) CJ40/9/07994 ***I 2021/0106(COD) COM(2021)0206 – C9-0146/2021

 

12. Establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero

technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act)

IMCO/9/11582 ***I 2023/0081(COD) COM(2023)0161 – C9-0062/2023

 

19. Virtual worlds – opportunities, risks and policy implications for the single

market (Public hearing) IMCO/9/10917 2022/2198(INI)

 

Further Meetings (Calendar)

• 09.2023
• 09.2023

Dossiers Timetable (July 2023)

 

CULT Committee (Culture)

Current Meetings

• 09.2023, 09.00-12.30, 14.30-18.00, Brussels

Excerpt from the Draft Agenda

The current agenda does not contain any topics directly relevant to the Internet industry.

Further Meetings (Calendar)

• 10.2023
• 10.2023

 

Further Parliamentary Calendar Dates

• CW 39 / 25 to 28 September 2023: Political Group Meetings (Brussels)
• CW 40 / 2 to 5 October 2023: Plenary Sessions Week (Strasbourg)
• CW 41 / 9 to 12 October 2023: Political Group and Committee Meetings Week (Brussels)