Expensive readers,
Welcome again to EURACTIV’s International Europe Transient, your weekly replace on the EU from a world perspective. Subscribe to obtain our publication right here.
In immediately’s version:
- Our final season cheat sheet with all the important thing dates to mark in your calendar over the approaching months.
After an admittedly gradual begin to the season, Brussels is again in full swing, and so are we with this article.
Anticipate a wild transition interval as European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen assembles her new workforce and the bloc’s future EU diplomat, Kaja Kallas, takes over from incumbent Josep Borrell.
And there might be extra wrestling over the EU’s continued response to Ukraine, tit-for-tat tariffs with China, and a nail-biting US election pitting Kamala Harris towards Donald Trump.
Right here’s a run-down of the important thing occasions to maintain an eye fixed out for:
SEPTEMBER
- 2 September: First Coreper II of the season.
- 4 September: First School of Commissioners assembly.
- 5 September: Presentation of the Draghi Report.
- 10 September: ABC’s Harris/Trump election debate.
- 16-19 September: First European Parliament plenary.
- 22-23 September: UN Summit for the Future.
- 24-28 September: UN Common Meeting, together with EU-led talks on Gaza.
- late September-October, TBD: Commissioner hearings.
- EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell travels to Ukraine.
OCTOBER
- 1 October: Mark Rutte takes over as NATO Secretary-Common as Stoltenberg steps down.
- 14 October: International Affairs Council, Luxembourg.
- mid-October: Final enlargement bundle beneath the present European Fee.
- 16 October: EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ Summit, Brussels.
- 17-18 October: European Council.
- 20 October: Moldova presidential elections and EU referendum.
- 26 October: Georgian parliamentary elections.
- mid-late October: UfM Ministerial for the Mediterranean.
- EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell travels to Ukraine.
- NATO Defence Ministerial, Brussels.
- Presentation of the Niinistö /HRVP report on find out how to improve Europe’s civilian and defence preparedness and readiness.
- EU Fast Deployment Capability (RDC) second train.
NOVEMBER
- 1 November: tentative begin date of the brand new European Fee (if there no delays).
- 5 November: US presidential elections.
- 7 November: European Political Neighborhood Summit, Hungary.
- 8 November: Casual European Council, Hungary (TBC).
- 11-22 November: COP29 in Azerbaijan.
- 18-19 November: International Affairs and Defence Council.
- 21 November: International Affairs (Commerce) Council.
- NATO Casual International Ministerial, TBD.
- EU establishments and member states negotiate on the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP).
DECEMBER
- 1 December: tentative begin date of latest European Fee (if a number of candidates are rejected).
- 2 December: International Affairs Council (Growth).
- 16 December: International Affairs Council.
- 19-20 December: European Council.
- 31 December: Hungary fingers over the rotating EU presidency to Poland.
OTHER KEY EVENTS
- Talks on the EU’s subsequent long-term finances spherical are anticipated to begin in autumn.
- First 100 days of the brand new Fee mandate: EU govt to current White Paper on the Way forward for European Defence.
- European Fee anticipated to make proposals for pressing defence funding wants and suggest a number of defence tasks of widespread European curiosity, together with European Air Protect and cyber defence.
- European Fee anticipated to current Preparedness Union Technique.
- European Fee to current a technique to help medical countermeasures towards public well being threats, akin to these linked to CBRN safety, together with joint procurement and stockpiling.
- European Fee anticipated to work on increasing the sanctions framework for cyberattacks and the way a brand new sanctions regime for hybrid assaults on the EU and its member states may work
EU IN THE WORLD
BATTLES AHEAD | With a flurry of self-declared peace missions on Ukraine earlier than summer season, Hunagry’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán branded himself as a intermediary who may repair sure points with Russia, China, or different actors thinking about influencing European politics.
The transfer, nonetheless, has irritated the EU and its member states, culminating within the choice to downgrade and transfer Thursday’s prestigious assembly from Budapest to Brussels. And there’s extra to come back.
ESCALATION RISK | Because the struggle between Israel and Gaza approaches the one-year mark, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Below-Secretary-Common for Peace Operations, referred to as on Europeans to not underestimate the danger of an escalation within the area.
DEFENCE BRIEFING
RESTRICTIONS UPDATE | Ukraine this week stepped up its push for Western approval to strike army targets deep inside Russia, urging allies to raise restrictions on using their donated long-range weapons.
EUMAM TARGET | The EU is anticipated to boost its coaching targets for Ukraine’s military from the present 60,000 to 75,000 by the top of the yr as ministers look into reviewing the mission’s mandate, however the concept of transferring coaching in Ukraine remains to be removed from getting unanimous help.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE READING
ON OUR RADAR NEXT WEEK
- EU’s chief diplomat Borrell addresses Ventotene Worldwide Seminar
| Sunday, 1 September 2024 | Ventotene, Italy - European Fee President von der Leyen to attend Bled Strategic Discussion board
| Monday, 2 September 2024 | Lake Bled, Slovenia - Casual assembly of European affairs ministers
| Tuesday, 3 September 2024 | Budapest, Hungary - European Parliament’s SEDE committee meets
| Wednesday, 4 September 2024 | Brussels, Belgium - Ukraine Protection Contact Group meets
| Friday, 6 September 2024 | Ramstein, Germany - Italy’s Prime Minister Meloni addresses assembly of G7 parliamentarians
| Friday, 6 September 2024 | Verona, Italy - Spain’s Prime Minister Sanchez’s state go to to China
| Saturday, 7 September 2024 | Beijing, China
And as all the time, in case you’d prefer to contact me for ideas, feedback, and/or suggestions, drop me a line at alexandra.brzozowski@euractiv.com.
[Edited by Daniel Eck]
