The Week Ahead 26 September – 02 October 2022

ECB President Lagarde. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will hold her regular debate with the Economic Affairs Committee, the first since the ECB’s decision to twice raise interest rates. MEPs are likely to quiz her on the ECB’s monetary policy stance in a context of rapid inflation, and the new “Transmission Protection Instrument” (TPI) for purchasing national bonds under certain conditions. Afterwards, MEPs will discuss ongoing and upcoming taxation policy priorities with Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni (Monday).

Ukraine/Transport. The Transport and Tourism Committee will talk to Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Mustafa Nayyem about the logistics situation in Ukraine, including the new ‘grain corridor’ via the Black Sea that was agreed on 27 July 2022 with Russia (Monday).

Ukraine/Russian disinformation. The EP Special Committee on Foreign Interference and Disinformation will hold a public hearing on “Russian disinformation and propaganda regarding Ukraine in the light of its war of aggression and its impact on democratic processes in the EU”. Among the guest speakers are Dmitry Muratov, the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, and Olga Rudenko, editor-in-chief of Kyiv Independent (Thursday).

Taiwan/Chinese disinformation. The Special Committee on Foreign Interference and Disinformation will hold a debate with Taiwanese Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang on Taiwan’s responses to Chinese interference (Thursday).

2022 Sakharov Prize. MEPs on the Development and Foreign Affairs Committees and the Human Rights Subcommittee will present the candidates for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The nominees include the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Brazilian environmental and indigenous activist Sônia Guajajara, and Colombia’s Truth Commission (Monday).

Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 3-6 October session, during which MEPs will debate and vote on rules for a common charger to reduce hassle for consumers and curb e-waste, on the EU Health Union to improve prevention, preparedness and response at EU and national levels, and adopt a resolution on the EU’s response to soaring energy prices. Parliament will also discuss and vote on resolutions relating to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan following the devastating floods, the situation of Roma people living in settlements in the EU, and ending all illegal wildlife trade by 2025.

President’s diary. On Tuesday, EP President Roberta Metsola will meet the Executive Director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle. On Wednesday, she will meet Yulia Navalnaya and Leonid Volkov, Chief of Staff for Alexey Navalny and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, before giving the opening address at the European Research and Innovation Days. In the evening, the President will be in Berlin for the “Night of European Ideas” and give the keynote speech. On Thursday, she will have a meeting with the Director General of the International Organization for Migration, António Vitorino.

Pre-session press briefing. The EP Press Service will hold a press briefing with the Parliament’s political group spokespersons at 11.00 on Friday (Anna Politkovskaya room, press centre, Brussels).