The Week Ahead 18 – 24 September 2023

Committee meetings, Brussels

Free movement/Schengen Borders Code. The Civil Liberties Committee will adopt its position on reforming the Schengen Borders Code rules on free movement within the area. In the context of increasingly permanent border controls within the Schengen area, the proposal seeks to clarify the rules, strengthen free movement and introduce targeted solutions to genuine threats (To Be Confirmed, possibly on Wednesday).

Short-term rentals. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will vote on new rules to improve data generation and data sharing for short-term rentals. MEPs want to increase transparency and promote a safer, more sustainable tourism ecosystem that has a positive impact on local communities. Public authorities are currently struggling to get reliable data to assess the impact of short-term rentals and enforce their policies. Short-term rentals represent around 25% of all tourist accommodation in the EU (Tuesday).

Gigabit infrastructure act. The Industry, Research and Energy Committee will vote on a draft regulation that seeks to facilitate and stimulate the development of very high-capacity electronic communication networks. The new measures would include using existing physical infrastructure along with faster and cheaper deployment of new infrastructure (Tuesday).

Revision of EU long-term budget. In response to challenges such as Russia's aggression and the need for greater EU strategic autonomy, the Budgets Committee will vote on the revision of the EU long-term budget for 2021-2027 (multiannual financial framework - MFF). Lead MEPs suggest an additional €10 billion to make up for insufficient funding - in particular for migration and external challenges and for the new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). They also want to make sure the EU can settle its debts from the recovery fund without curtailing programs that benefit its citizens and strengthen EU's crisis response mechanisms. (Wednesday).

Appointment of the Chair of the ECB Supervisory Board. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will quiz and vote on Claudia Buch (Germany), the candidate put forward by the European Central Bank for Chair of its Supervisory Board (Wednesday).

2023 Sakharov Prize. In a joint meeting of the committees on Foreign Affairs and Development and the Human Rights Subcommittee, MEPs will present their candidates for the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the highest tribute paid by the EU to human rights work (Wednesday).

Priorities of the Spanish Presidency. Spain’s ministers will continue their round of hearings in the relevant parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council until the end of 2023 (Monday to Thursday).

President’s diary. On Monday, EP President Metsola will participate in the Concordia Summit in New York, give the keynote address at the World Leaders' Forum at Columbia University and speak to the Jewish community of New York. On Tuesday, she will attend the Opening Session of the 78th UN General Assembly and have a bilateral Meeting with H.E. Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly. On Wednesday, she will be in Malta and will lay a wreath at the Independence Monument, Floriana.