EU Parliament’s Upcoming Week: Where AI Meets Avocados (Sort Of)
Mark your calendars for Friday, June 12—wait, make that April? The EU Parliament seems to have invented a new month, but let’s not dwell on temporal anomalies when there’s serious business ahead.
The European Parliament is gearing up for what might be the most eclectic week since someone decided to put pineapple on pizza. Starting with their press briefing at 11:00 AM in the Anna Politkovskaya press room, MEPs are tackling everything from trade deals to “nudifiers” (yes, that’s apparently a thing we need to ban now).
The Greatest Hits:
First up, they’re voting on an EU-US trade deal and updated migrant return rules—because nothing says “productive week” like international commerce and immigration policy before lunch.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Parliament will debate new genomic techniques for plants (designer tomatoes, anyone?) while simultaneously voting to simplify the AI Act, which includes banning AI-powered apps that digitally remove people’s clothes. One minute you’re discussing Brussels sprouts, the next you’re legislating against creepy deepfakes.
Social media’s impact on children’s mental health is also on the agenda, sandwiched between discussions on EU-China relations and the Middle East situation with Kaja Kallas. It’s like a geopolitical buffet with a side of parental concern.
The Formal Stuff:
Two formal sittings will honor Sakharov Prize laureate Andrzej Poczobut and Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović, providing brief moments of ceremony amid the legislative chaos.
Journalists can tune in via webstreaming or the fancy Interactio platform—just remember to connect 30 minutes early if you’ve never used it, because nothing screams “cutting-edge democracy” like tech support during a press conference.