The Hague, 12 May 2017

Two years after her first visit in June 2015, Commissioner Věra Jourová, the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, and a high-level delegation from the Commission, returned to Eurojust to meet with the College Presidency and the College of National Members for insight into its operational work, specifically in the areas of terrorism, cybercrime, illegal immigrant smuggling and cooperation with third States, and to meet with staff members.

Commissioner Jourová set out her priorities in the field of criminal law, including the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). She has received positive feedback from Member States on the work of Eurojust. Two strong pillars, Eurojust and the EPPO, working together, is the Commission’s goal. The presentations given by the President and National Members illustrated the coordinating role of Eurojust in the recent terrorism cases and in some large and complex cybercrime cases and provided insight into how Eurojust cooperates with specialised practitioners’ networks, Europol and third States. One of the Liaison Prosecutors hosted at Eurojust explained what their presence at Eurojust entails, including casework and participation in practitioners’ network meetings. Two milestones in 2017 are the move to the new Eurojust premises and the reorganisation of the Administration to ensure day-to-day support to operational work.

Commissioner Jourova said, ‘I am happy to visit Eurojust today. Its role in guaranteeing smooth and efficient judicial cooperation in criminal matters is crucial for Europe’s security. I praise Eurojust for achieving high marks in the three ‘r’s: reputation, respect and results. With the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Eurojust will become an even more important partner in the fight against terrorist threats or other crimes such as drug and human trafficking.’

President Coninsx said, ‘Cross-border cooperation, speed and trust are essential. Eurojust is a bridge-maker among Member States, practitioners’ networks, JHA agencies and third States in the fight against serious and organised cross-border crime and terrorism. We were delighted to meet with Commissioner Jourová to discuss our operational work in supporting and coordinating cases in a timely and result-driven manner.’

Photo: © Eurojust

Note to readers: Due to maintenance in preparation for the move to the new Eurojust premises, the Eurojust website will not be available on 13 and 14 May 2017. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Some 88 million tonnes of food are wasted in the EU every year, equivalent to 173 kilos per person. Not only is this a waste or resources, it also contributes to climate change. Parliament is working on new measures to cut food waste in the EU by 50%. Check out our infographic to find out which sectors and countries waste the most food and read what is being done at EU level and what you can do yourself.

Food is lost and wasted along the whole supply chain from farms to processing and manufacturing to shops, restaurants and at home. However most of the food in the EU is wasted by households with 53% and processing with 19%.

Consumers are often unaware of the issue or its causes. According to a Eurobarometer survey,  date markings on food products is poorly understood, even though nearly six out 10 Europeans say they always check “best before” and “use by” labels.

 

Why food waste is a problem

Food waste does not only mean that valuable and often scarce resources such as water, soil, and energy are being lost, it also contributes to climate change. According to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), food waste has a global carbon footprint of about 8% of all global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. For every kilo of food produced, 4.5 kilos of CO2 are released into the atmosphere.

There is also the ethical aspect: FAO says about 793 million people in the world are malnourished. According to Eurostat, 55 million people (9.6% of the EU’s population), were unable to afford a quality meal every second day in 2014,.

What Parliament is doing

 

On Monday 15 May, MEPs will debate a report by Croatian S&D member Biljana Borzan, which proposes a set of measures to reduce food waste in the EU by 50% by 2030. This objective was already set out in the waste legislation package  adopted in March.

“The European Union, as one of the richest and most prosperous communities in the world, has a moral and political obligation to reduce huge quantities of food wasted every year,” said Borzan before the committee vote in April.

The report also includes several proposals to reduce food waste such as facilitating food donations.  The report calls on the European Commission to propose a change in the current VAT directive to explicitly authorise tax exemptions for food donations. Donations reduce food waste while helping people in need at the same time.

In addition the report lists solutions to end the confusion about “best before” and “use by” labelling on food products.

The report by Borzan will be debated on Monday 15 May and voted on the following day. Follow the debate live online.

We thank all participants of the Single European Railway Area (SERA) Regional Conference Baltic Nordic on 10 May in Helsinki for their interest and their contributions.

 
The conference series will reach a conclusion at the
SERA Convention
on 20 June in Brussels.

We thank all participants of the Single European Railway Area (SERA) Regional Conference Baltic Nordic on 10 May in Helsinki for their interest and their contributions.

 
The conference series will reach a conclusion at the
SERA Convention
on 20 June in Brussels.

(Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine)

Déplacements et visites

 

Lundi 15 mai 2017

Foreign Affairs Council

EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council

15-18/05 European Parliament Plenary Session

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Hannover, Germany:delivers a speech at an event for the 70th anniversary of the constituent meeting of the Landtag of Lower Saxony.

Mr Frans Timmermans in The Hague, the Netherlands: delivers a keynote speech at the Council of State (Raad van State).

Mr Frans Timmermans in Eindhoven, the Netherlands: visits VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG).

Mr Andrus Ansip receives members of the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA).

Mr Maroš Šefčovič and Ms Violeta Bulc receive cross-sectorial Social Partners (BusinessEurope, CEEP, UEAPME (European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises); and ETUC (Confederation of European Trade Union) on the Mobility Package.

Mr Jyrki Katainen in Beijing, China: participates in the “Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation“; meets Mr Ma Kai, Vice-Premier of the State Council of China; and representatives of the business community.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Luxemburg: delivers a speech at a reception of the Conference of Presidents of the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete in Madrid, Spain: meets the CEOs of leading gas companies in Europe, members of GD4S group – Gas Distributors for Sustainability: GRDF, France; Italgas, Italy; DGSR, Romania; Gas Natural, Spain; Galp Gás Natural Distribuição, Portugal.

Mr Karmenu Vella signs a declaration to proclaim the 21 May 2017 as the “European Natura 2000 Day” together with Ms Adina Ioana Vălean, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament; Mr Karl-Heinz Lambertz, First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR); and Mr Neil Kerr, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU during a dedicated event, in Brussels.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Saarbrücken, Germany: visits the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland. 

M. Pierre Moscovici participe dans un déjeuner de travail avec M. Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Président du Comité Exécutif et PDG de Solvay, à Bruxelles.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. José Carlos Díez, chercheur d’économie à l’université d’Alcala et à l’école de commerce ICADE.

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Sulisław, Poland: meets entrepreneurs and local authorities of Opole region.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Turku, Finland: participates in and delivers a speech at the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage Awards Ceremony, together with Mr Plácido Domingo, tenor and conductor.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Copenhagen, Denmark: delivers a keynote speech at the “Publicist prize” event organised by the Danish Publicistklubben.

Mr Carlos Moedas delivers a keynote speech at the event “Open Innovation, Open Science and Open to the World: RISE group publication on the future of EU research and innovation policy“, in Brussels.

Mr Carlos Moedas receives Ms Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London (UCL).

Mr Julian King participates in a debate on the present and future security priorities and needs in the context of the comprehensive assessment of EU Security Policy, organised by the European Organisation for Security (EOS), in Brussels.

 

Mardi 16 mai 2017

College meeting

General Affairs Council

European Economic Area Council

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Strasbourg, France (until 17/05): receives Ms Mariya Gabriel, candidate for Commissioner; together with Mr Neven Mimica receives Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and meets the Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Strasbourg, France: exchanges views on the Energy Union Strategy with the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC) of the European Parliament.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Speyer, Germany: delivers a speech on the EU budget at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Allan, Jordan:delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of SESAME (Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) – first major international research centre in the Middle East, in the presence of King Abdullah II of Jordan.

 

Mercredi 17 mai 2017

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Strasbourg, France: addresses the Plenary of the European Parliament on the conclusions of the 29 April European Council (Article 50); and attends the speech of Mr António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to the European Parliament.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Vienna, Austria (until 18/05): onEnergy Union Tour:visits smart city project “Smarter Together”; delivers a keynote speech at the 40th anniversary of the Austrian Energy Agency conference on “Energy 2027”; meets CEOs of leading Austrian energy companies; meets Mr Andrä Rupprechter, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria; Austrian Social Partners (Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), Austrian Chamber of Labour (Austrian AK), Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) ); delivers a lecture and exchanges views on energy and climate change with students at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Wismar, Germany: delivers a speech at the annual meeting of Ministers for European Affairs of the German Länder.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Berlin, Germany: meets representatives of the Working Group on Europe and on Budget of the CDU/CSU Bundestag Fraction.

Mr Neven Mimica receives Ms Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Ms Marianne Thyssen in Bad Neuenahr, Germany (until 19/05): attends the G20 labour and employment ministers meeting.

Mr Phil Hogan attends the presidium of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) for the handover of their paper on the Future of CAP, in Brussels.

Mr Phil Hogan receives Mr Kevin O’Connor, Associate professor at University College Dublin Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research.

Ms Violeta Bulc receives Mr Jean-Claude Kihn, President of Goodyear & Rubber Company, Europe, Middle East and Africa business unit.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (until 18/05): participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue.

Ms Margrethe Vestager receives Mr Euclid Tsakalotos, Minister for Finance of Greece; and Mr Panagiotis Kouroumplis, Minister for Maritime Affairs and the Islands of Greece.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Israel: meets Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel; Mr Eli Cohen, Minister for Economy and Industry; visits cyber tech park and pilot smart city within Digital Israel initiative; delivers a lecture at the Centre for European Studies Ben Gurion University; visits a lab funded by EU research and innovation funding programmes; and participates in the European Research Council (ERC) 10th Anniversary Event.

Mr Julian King in Berlin, Germany: meets Mr Thomas de Maizière, Minister for the Interior of Germany; and Mr Heiko Maas, Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection; participates in a meeting with the Bundestag Committee on Internal Affairs; and participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue on the Security Union and internal security.

 

Jeudi 18 mai 2017

Justice and Home Affairs Council

18-19/05 Foreign Affairs Council

18-19/05 Informal meeting of energy ministers

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Luxembourg: attends an event for the 80th birthday of Jacques Santer, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, organised by the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV).

Mr Andrus Ansip in Tallin, Estonia (until 19/05): meets the members of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Vienna, Austria: on Energy Union Tour: exchanges views at the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting; and meets Ms Ulli Sima, City Councillor in charge of Environment and Animal Protection in Vienna.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Riga, Latvia: meets Mr Māris Kučinskis, Prime Minister of Latvia; participates at a launch event f the book “Latvijas tautsaimniecības vēsture”, on the economic history of Latvia.

Ms Cecilia Malmström in Stockholm, Sweden: meets members of the parliamentary committee for foreign affairs to discuss the White Paper on the Future of Europe.

Mr Neven Mimica receives Mr Claver Gatete, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete in Valetta, Malta: participates in the Informal meeting of energy ministers; in the Informal High-Level Meeting on Energy Efficiency in the Mediterranean; and in signature ceremony of the political declaration on ‘Clean Energy for EU islands’.

Mr Karmenu Vella in Poole, the United Kingdom: delivers a speech at the European Maritime Day: “The Future of our Seas”; meets Mr Jean D’Amour, Minister for Maritime Affairs in the Executive Council of Quebec; and Mr Pierre Erwes, Chairman of BioMarine International Clusters Association (BICA).

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Berlin, Germany (until 20/05): delivers a keynote speech at the “REFRESH Food Waste 2017 Conference”.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos receives Mr Eimutis Misiūnas, Minister for the Interior of Lithuania.

Ms Marianne Thyssen in Bad Neuenahr, Germany: attends the G20 labour and employment ministers meeting.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Ioannina, Greece: participates in a Citizens’ dialogue.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Prague, the Czech Republic (until 20/05): delivers a keynote speech at the Conference on General Data Protection Regulation organised by the Office of the Government; a keynote speech at the plenary meeting of the Lower Chamber of Parliament of the Czech Republic; exchanges views at a roundtable with stakeholders on Country Specific Recommendations; and meets representatives of the Committee on EU Affairs of the Senate of the Parliament.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Cluj-Napoca, Romania:visits Bonțida Bánffy Castle, a project supported by Creative Europe; meets representatives of Transylvania Trust Foundation; and participates in a panel debate and delivers a speech at the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN)congress on “The Contribution of the Autochthonous Minorities to the European Cultural Heritage”.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Bucharest, Romania: meets Mr Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania; attends the Romanian Competition Council Anniversary Conference; participates in a joint meeting with selected members of the national Parliament; meets Mr Sorin Mihai Grindeanu, Prime Minister of Romania; Mr Toma-Florin Petcu, Minister for Energy; Mr Mihai Tudose, Minister for the Economy; Mr Alexandru-Răzvan Cuc, Minister for Transport; and Mr Augustin Jianu, Minister for Communication and Information Society.

Mr Carlos Moedas receives a group of Finnish editors-in-chief.

Vendredi 19 mai 2017

Foreign Affairs Council

Informal meeting of energy ministers

Ms Federica Mogherini, Mr Christos Stylianides and Ms Violeta Bulc at the Dead Sea, Jordan: attend the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.

Mr Andrus Ansip in Tallinn, Estonia: meets the members of the European Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis delivers the keynote address at the conference “Completing Banking Union and developing Capital Market Union”, organised by the European Commission and European Central Bank, in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Aditya Mittal, Group CFO and CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives representatives of the Association of Finnish Editors.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Berlin, Germany: participates in G20 health ministers meeting.

Ms Marianne Thyssen in Bad Neuenahr, Germany: attends the G20 labour and employment ministers meeting; participates in a working breakfast on Youth Employment/Quality Apprenticeship; and visits the ThyssenKrupp Rasselstein GmbH to discuss Youth and Quality Apprenticeship upon invitation of Ms Andrea Nahles, Minister for Labour and Social Affairs of Germany.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Prague, the Czech Republic: delivers a keynote speech at a colloquium on “Causes, consequences and possible outcome of the current crisis of the European Union” organised by the European Movement in the Czech Republic.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Budapest, Hungary: participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Copenhagen, Denmark: meets the members of the European Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Denmark; delivers a keynote speech in front of the trade unions HK and Akademikerne on EU competition rules; meets Mr Kristian Thulesen Dahl, leader of the Danish Peoples’ party; and participates in a policy forum organised by the students’ organisation of Copenhagen University.

 

Samedi 20 mai 2017

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Berlin, Germany: participates in the G20 Health Ministers meeting.

 

Dimanche 21 mai 2017

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Ballymaloe, Ireland: delivers a speech at the Ballymaloe Food and Drinks Literacy Festival.

Prévisions du mois de mai:

15/05 Foreign Affairs Council

15/05 EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council

15-18/05 European Parliament Plenary Session

16/05 General Affairs Council

16/05 European Economic Area Council

18/05 Justice and Home Affairs Council

18-19/05 Foreign Affairs Council

18-19/05 Informal meeting of energy ministers

21-23/05 Informal meeting of agriculture and fisheries ministers

22/05 Eurogroup

22-23/05 Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council

23/05 Economic and Financial Affairs Council

29-30/05 Competitiveness Council

31/05 European Parliament Plenary Session in Brussels

 

Permanence DG COMM le WE du 06 au 07 mai 2017:

Carlos MARTIN RUIZ DE GORDEJUELA: +32 460 79 17 16

Permanence RAPID – GSM: +32 (0) 498 982 748

Service Audiovisuel, planning studio – tél. : +32 (0)2/295 21 23