The Week Ahead 21 – 27 November 2022

Boosting gender balance on company boards. Parliament is set to adopt the so-called “Women on Boards” Directive, which introduces transparent recruitment procedures for businesses so that at least 40% of non-executive director posts or 33% of all director posts are occupied by the under-represented sex by July 2026. (Tuesday)

Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on a resolution declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, following its war crimes and violations of international and humanitarian law. MEPs want to prepare for holding Putin and his government accountable before an international tribunal.

Ukraine/Financial Aid/Grain export. MEPs will discuss and vote on helping Ukraine with its short-term funding needs with an €18-billion-loan for 2023 (vote on urgent procedure Tuesday, debate Wednesday, final vote Thursday). During “Question Time” on Tuesday, MEPs will discuss with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell the work to ensure that grain and fertilisers can continue to be exported through the Black Sea.

Violent crackdown on protests in Iran. On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell a response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini.

Asylum and migration/coordinated sea rescues. Plenary will quiz the Czech Presidency and the Commission on Wednesday about guaranteeing solidarity and burden sharing in the management of migration into Europe.

Rule of Law/Hungary. On Monday, MEPs will discuss the negotiations between the Commission and Hungary on the rule of law conditionality mechanism and the protection of the EU budget, and Hungary’s recovery and resilience plan. A resolution will be put to the vote on Thursday.

FIFA World Cup 2022/Human Rights in Qatar. On Monday afternoon, MEPs will take stock of the human rights situation in Qatar, with the country hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Protecting essential infrastructure. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate and vote on new rules to improve the protection of the EU’s essential infrastructure by introducing harmonised minimum requirements for risk assessments and national resilience strategies.

EU budget for 2023. Parliament will discuss on Tuesday the deal on next year’s EU budget, equipped with an additional €1 billion for tackling the consequences of the war in Ukraine, energy, climate and the recovery from the pandemic (vote Wednesday).

70th birthday of Parliament. MEPs will mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle on Tuesday at 11.30. EP President Roberta Metsola will open the ceremony, followed by speeches by the Prime Ministers of Parliament’s three host countries – French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, Alexander de Croo of Belgium, and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.

President’s Diary. EP President Metsola will meet Croatia’s Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, Bulgaria’s Parliament Speaker Vejdi Rashidov and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on Monday. On Tuesday, President Metsola will meet Sweden’s Minister for European Affairs Jessika Roswall, France’s Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, ahead of the ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament. Later in the day, she will also meet Malta’s House of Representatives Speaker Anġlu Farrugia. On Thursday, President Metsola will participate in the 60th Anniversary of the European School of Karlsruhe, Germany.

Last-minute briefing. On Monday at 16.30, Parliament’s Spokesperson will hold a press briefing on the plenary session, which starts at 17.00. Political group briefings will take place on Tuesday morning.