The EU heads of states and government don’t want to cancel their summer holidays – the special European Council resumes today at 4 p.m. on its fourth day. No matter how long the summer break in Brussels will be, la rentrée will be hot, too, to make the EU budget and the recovery funds operable by Januar 1st, 2021. Today’s #EBDGrafik dares to look ahead to the huge challenges that are on the German EU Council Presidency’s agenda. A very special moment will be the first-ever De-Briefing with simultaneous intepretation into English and Italian – a very conscious choice with regard to the past months, and in close cooperation with the European Movement Italy and the German Embassy in Rome. We will know later this morning if the event can take place as planned. Follow us on twitter @NetzwerkEBD for the latest updates.

Either way, this summer, at European Movement Germany we are getting prepared:

On the one hand, with our own political agenda for 2021, which will be developed in a structured dialogue between our Board and our member organisations. We are organising three digital exchanges at the end of August – with a clearcut focus on our General Assembly on 30 October.

On the other hand, with our cross-border activities that we had the chance to test during the pandemic and its digital leap forward: our English newsletter, simultaneous interpretation, intensified exchanges within European Movement International. We are planning to consolidate these projects over the summer, and to deliver our newsletter in a fortnightly rhythm. 

Have a good week (and since I’m off then: a great summer)!

Bernd Hüttemann
Secretary General 

#EBDFokus: European summer forecast 2020

Events are scarce on the agenda of the German EU Council Presidency, the European Parliament, and in our own calendar. Summer holidays in Berlin are ending on 7 August in Brussels three weeks later. Until then, we are publishing our newsletter every other Monday. +++ The key event on EM Germany’s political agenda is the General Assembly on 30 October which is taking place in a hybrid format for the first time. You can find more information on the speakers and the agenda items from August on our website. +++ Until mid-August, the Board of EM Germany is giving our political demands a makeover – just in time for the consultation events with the member organisations due at the end of the month. +++ September marks the start of our two biggest education projects: The European Pupils‘ Competition is kicking off its 68th round unter the motto „Digital EU – and YOU?!„. Meanwhile, the Academic Year 2020/21 at the College of Europe will bring together the students of the Mário Soares Promotion, among them 37 Germans, whose selection was organised by us. +++ Our Presidency Calendar on the German EU Council Presidency is putting together all events to come – in the traditional six-month format (scroll to page 2), but also for August 2020. We’re continuously updating this new monthly format with events as they evolve. 

#EBDGrafik of the week:

EM Germany news

What we expect from the MFF and Next Generation EU: It is high time for an agreement on a strong EU budget and Recovery Fund that promote both the rule of law and parliamentary democracy, writes EM Germany President Linn Selle on twitter. Bernd Hüttemann has her comment in English. | More +++ EM Germany is accompanying the special meeting of the European Council with infographics which compare the funding of specific programmes such as Erasmus+ or the European Social Funds+ in the respective proposals by the Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council. Each infographic features a comment by a member organisation affected by the programme. | More (in German)

Two events kicked off the special EUCO week: Cross-border expectations were shared at EM Germany’s and EM Austria’s joint dialogue „Vienna, Berlin, Europe“ that saw interventions from the Head of the Commission Representation in Austria Martin Selmayr, the EIB Berlin bureau chef Eefje Schmid, and the presidents of the two European Movements, Linn Selle und Christoph Leitl. | More +++ Our EBD De-Briefing on the Eurogroup and ECOFIN Council meeting discussed the legal texts behind the political decision of the EU Heads of State and Government. | More (in German)

Yes to growth, no to environmental damages: EBD Briefing with Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius. | More (in German)

For a binding legal framework for the inclusion of Roma people: EBD rapporteur dialogue with Romeo Franz MEP (Greens/EFA). | More (in German)

Events to come

All EM Germany events take place via videoconference. Participation is free, but registration required. Conference language is German unless indicated otherwise. +++ UPDATE: postponed 20.07.2020: EBD De-Briefing on the special European Council with simultaneous interpretation into English and Italian +++ 24.07.2020: Meeting of the Board of EM Germany +++ 06.-08.08.2020: Women of Europe networking event in Bayreuth +++ 25./27./31.08.2020: EBD Exklusiv: Consultation on EM Germany’s political demands 2020/21 +++ Our Presidency Calendar on the German EU Council Presidency is online – in the traditional six-month format (scroll to page 2), but also for August 2020. We’re continuously updating this new monthly format with events as they evolve – the A4 size allows for easy printing at your office (wherever it’s situated).

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