THIS WEEK offers a weekly snapshot lookahead of the key developments in Brussels and across Europe over the next seven days, published every Monday morning.<\/p>\n
The European Commission is set to present its latest sanctions package against Russia to EU ambassadors this week, with its approval targeted for 24 February, marking four years since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Different countries are proposing different things, including a potential full maritime services ban on Russia, as well as additional sanctions on the country\u2019s energy and fertiliser<\/a>.<\/p>\n US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks will take place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (4 February) and Thursday (5 February).<\/p>\n This week, EU ambassadors will also aim to reach an agreement over the \u20ac90bn Ukraine loan<\/a> and eligibility criteria to buy weapons.<\/p>\n While the final say will be in Kyiv, Ukraine would be restricted to purchasing vital military equipment only from approved non-European partners such as Canada and the UK, or when no European alternative is realistically available.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to ensure that the loan is used in a flexible manner and is fully in line with Ukraine\u2019s needs,\u201d said Germany\u2019s foreign affairs ministry last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n As part of the negotiations, Ukraine is expected to provide a strategy outlining Ukraine\u2019s military needs and reforms, focusing on anti-corruption measures and EU accession progress<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the EU Parliament\u2019s lead trade negotiators meet to decide on resuming work on the US-EU trade deal, under pressure from the European Commission and the Council to unfreeze it, despite resistance from the Left, the Greens and S&D MEPs.<\/p>\n This follows the European Parliament\u2019s trade committee postponing ratification of the deal,\u00a0reached by US president Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen last July<\/a>, after Washington threatened tariffs on several EU capitals over the Greenland crisis \u2014 backtracking shortly after Trump and Nato chief Mark Rutte reached an agreement on 21 January.<\/p>\n The July deal includes EU commitments to buy $750bn [\u20ac630bn] in US energy (mostly LNG), $600bn investments, and 15 percent US tariffs on most EU exports.<\/p>\n The ratification vote is expected to take place at the end of the month, on either 23 or 24 February.<\/p>\n Eurobarometer and EU budget<\/strong><\/p>\n Also on Wednesday, the European Parliament releases its latest Eurobarometer, focusing on the EU\u2019s global role, citizen priorities and views on EU institutions.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the parliament\u2019s budget committee will discuss over 1,000 amendments to the draft report on the proposed 2028\u20132034 EU multiannual financial framework<\/a> (MFF), ahead of a May plenary vote.<\/p>\n EU parliament president Roberta Metsola will receive Sakharov Prize and Nobel Prize laureate Iraqi human rights activist Nadia Murad<\/a> in Brussels on the same day.<\/p>\n And still on Thursday, the European Central Bank convenes to decide on interest rates.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, political groups are gearing up for the 9\u201312 February plenary, with votes on EU-US relations, asylum rules and a binding 2040 climate target topping next week\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n On Monday (2 February), an EU-UK partnership council meeting will take place in Brussels, focusing on post-Brexit trade barriers.<\/p>\n Also on Monday, MEPs and representatives from EU capitals will have the first round of trilogue negotiations on the critical medicine act, proposed by the EU Commission in March 2025 to avoid shortages and reduce dependencies.<\/p>\n Internal EU talks to align positions ahead of the Turkish COP31, where Chris Bowen will serve as president of negotiations, also begin this week.<\/p>\n Norway\u2019s high-profile royal trial<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, the trial of 29-year-old Marius Borg H\u00f8iby, son of Norwegian princess Mette-Marit, is set to begin Tuesday (3 February). He faces charges including rape, domestic abuse, and assault.<\/p>\n Another high-profile case concluding this week is that of German citizen Maja T, accused of causing bodily harm during protests against far-right groups in early 2023. Her trial wraps up Wednesday in Budapest. If convicted, she faces up to 24 years in prison.\u00a0<\/p>\n