Week full of EU highlights: book fair, digital summit and climate cities!

Week full of EU highlights: book fair, digital summit and climate cities!

Next week there are important events and meetings on the agenda in the European Union that will shed light on both political and cultural aspects. Various activities are planned in different cities from October 18th to 26th, with a particular focus on Frankfurt am Main and Strasbourg.

A highlight at the beginning of the week is the Frankfurt Book Fair, which the EU Commission is presenting with its own stand in the Gaming Corner. The online learning game “Fabulous Council” is presented here, which introduces young people to democratic decision-making processes in a playful way. This initiative aims to raise awareness among younger people about green issues and European funding measures.

Digital challenges and agricultural orientations

The Federal Government’s Digital Summit will take place in Frankfurt on October 21st. In this context, an initial assessment of the Digital Services Act will be taken and the future of digital regulations will be discussed. The participants are high-profile, including representatives from Google Germany and members of the Bundestag, who will shed light on the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation.

The Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries will also meet in Luxembourg from October 21st to 22nd. Here they want to reach a political agreement on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for next year and discuss the conservation of tuna stocks in the Atlantic. These issues have a direct impact on future agricultural policy and the conservation of important resources in Europe.

The plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, which will take place from 22 to 24 October, are another key event. The first day of the meeting begins with a speech by Enrico Letta, who presents the report “Much more than a market” and a series of discussions on strengthening the internal market. The implementation of a single European sky is also discussed. This is about regulation and supervision in the field of electronic commerce, an issue that is important for many companies operating in the digital sector.

Climate protection and humanitarian exercises

On Tuesday, October 22nd, the EU mission label will also be presented in Strasbourg to 20 cities, including Aachen and Münster, that are particularly committed to climate neutrality. This award is presented during a ceremony in the European Parliament. The cities also include several from different European countries, which illustrates the transnational efforts towards sustainable development.

On October 25, Janez Lenarcic, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, will take part in the disaster response exercise “Magnitude 2024” in Baden-Württemberg. Such exercises are important to prepare for potential natural disasters such as earthquakes and to improve communication with the population. The exercise offers a realistic simulation in which participants practice, among other things, medical assistance and infrastructure management.

In addition, a press day for the program launch of “C the Unseen” will be held in the Saxon city of Chemnitz, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2025. Here, press representatives have the opportunity to gain initial insights into the planned cultural events and projects that are planned for the official year 2025. This underlines the importance of culture in European identity and intercultural exchange within the Union.

In summary, the upcoming events offer an exciting mix of digital conferences, agricultural topics and cultural highlights. The EU faces important challenges and this week will show where the political agenda could be moving. Details about the individual events can be found in the reporting on this period, in particular at www.presseportal.de.