On Tuesday 17 December, (DP), the budget rapporteur, will present her report to the MPs on Bills 8444 concerning the state revenue and expenditure budget for the financial year 2025 and 8445 concerning the multi-annual financial programming for the period 2024-2028. The following day, finance minister (CSV) will give a presentation to parliament, followed by a debate during which representatives of all political groups will take a stand on the budget position for 2025 and for the period 2025-2028. The vote will take place on Thursday 19 December.
During this session, the members of parliament will also have to approve the accounts for 2023 of the Chamber of Deputies and the related bodies--Court of Auditors, Ombudsman, Ombudsman for Children and Youth (Okaju) and Centre for Equal Treatment. Five bills concerning the taxation of multinationals, blockchain, the implementation of the so-called Basel III banking rules and ship recycling will also be examined before the Chamber of Deputies suspends its work for the Christmas break. Parliament will resume on Monday 6 January with consideration of a bill amending the amended Act of 30 July 1960 on the creation of a National Solidarity Fund.
The European Parliament will be in plenary session in Strasbourg from 16 to 19 December. During this session, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2025 will be awarded to María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia from Venezuela. Parliament will also assess the need to update the European strategy on the rights of people with disabilities, debate the right to drinking water in the EU, and MEPs will vote on European aid to member states affected by natural disasters and elect a new European Ombudsman.
Monday 16 December
Government. (DP), minister for national education, children and youth, and Georges Metz, director of the National Youth Service, present their priorities for youth policy.
Chamber of Deputies. Exchange of views with the prime minister, (CSV), ahead of the European Council summit on 19 December 2024.
European Council. The minister for the economy, SMEs, energy and tourism, (DP), is taking part in the meeting of the Council of Energy Ministers in Brussels. This meeting will focus in particular on geothermal energy and the future of energy policy with a view to a genuine "Energy Union", characterised by a fully integrated and interconnected energy market, decarbonising the EU's energy mix and supplying affordable and clean energy to all citizens and businesses. The European Commission will also provide information on winter preparations, international energy relations, gas storage, the export of cleaner fuels, and the work programme of the forthcoming Polish presidency.
Tuesday 17 December
Government. The minister for the economy, SMEs, energy and tourism, Lex Delles (DP), presents the concept for sustainable tourism in Luxembourg. The concept is based on four pillars: environmental protection, social cohesion, cultural authenticity and economic issues. The concept is in line with the national sustainable development strategy and aims to strengthen a sustainable and accessible tourism offer, while preserving the country's natural and cultural heritage. It defines the strategic framework for supporting the sector's stakeholders in their transition to a more responsible and forward-looking tourism sector.
European Council, General Affairs Council meeting with the European Council meeting on 19 December on the agenda. The draft conclusions will be examined. The current and incoming presidencies will also present the roadmap for the 2025 European Semester.
European Council. The minister for the environment, climate and biodiversity, (CSV), will attend the meeting of the Environment Council in Brussels. On the agenda are the European Commission's proposal for a regulation aimed at preventing the loss of plastic granules in order to reduce pollution by microplastics in the environment; the commission's proposal for a regulation on circularity requirements in vehicle design and in the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs); and the EU's climate target for 2040.
European Court of Auditors. The ECA publishes a report on how the European Commission detects and corrects breaches of EU law. The EU auditors examined the time taken to enforce EU legislation and the effectiveness of procedures to discourage non-compliance and sanction infringements.
Thursday 19 December
Chamber of Deputies. Budget vote.
European Council. EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, the EU in the world, the Middle East, resilience and preparedness, migration and foreign policy issues. Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, will attend the meeting.
Friday 20 December
Statec. The Luxembourg Statistical Office presents its “Note de conjoncture 2-24” detailing recent economic developments and prospects in Luxembourg.
Read this guide to the week’s political agenda in French /