Article – Parliament this week: Covid-19 exit strategy and neighbourhood policy

On Monday, the internal market committee will discuss the EU coronavirus exit strategy with Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton. The debate is expected to cover the gradual lifting of lockdown measures taken by member states, the implementation of the recovery fund dedicated to the Covid-19 crisis and its impact on the EU’s long-term budget.

On the same day, the environment and publich health committee will discuss how to ensure that safe vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 are approved quickly in the EU with Guido Rasi, executive director of the European Medicines Agency.

Neighbourhood policy

The foreign affairs committee will on Tuesday exchange views with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on the Eastern Partnership policy and vote on a report. The policy concerns six countries from the EU’s neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukrain. The vote comes ahead of a summit in June.

Migration and security

Nina Gregori, executive director of the European Asylum Support Office, will attend a meeting organised by the civil liberties committee on Monday to present  the Office’s work on Covid-19, especially in Greece.  Catherine De Bolle, executive director at Europol, will also give a presentation on her agency’s work in combatting Covid-19 pandemic-induced criminal behaviour.

On Tuesday, the petitions committee will look into a number of Covid-19 linked petitions including the management of cancellations by the travel industry and the protection of rights of people with intellectual disabilities.