Highlights – The Global State of Human Rights: High-Level Conference – Subcommittee on Human Rights

The Committee on Development will discuss the global humanitarian and food security situation with UN World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley, on 13 July. According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises, the number of people facing acute food insecurity and needing urgent assistance hit a five-year high in 2020. The debate will feed into the Committee’s work on an upcoming report on food security in developing countries.

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development will hold a debate with newly appointed US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, on 12 July. The day after, the Committee will go over the European Commission’s long-term vision for rural areas with Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski. Trade-related issues will then be discussed with Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, on 16 July.

The Committees on Legal Affairs and on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality will vote on a joint report regarding the impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children, on 13 July. The draft calls on the Member States to urgently address the issue by guaranteeing the safety and economic independence to victims by means of access to specific housing, essential public services, and professional psychological support.

The Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affair will hold their second Recovery and Resilience Dialogue with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, and Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, on 14 July. The debate is expected to focus on the Commission’s assessment of national recovery and resilience plans submitted by Member States.

The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will discuss the ‘Fit for 2030’ package with Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, on 14 July. The upcoming legislative package aims to align climate and energy policies with the new objectives of the European Climate Law. The Committee will also go over the latest World Meteorological Organisation report on the State of the Global Climate in 2020, with WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.