Presentation of the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council, with Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Presentation of the priorities of the European Committee of the Regions, with Mr Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Ensuring gender equality and tackling gender-based violence, linked to the adoption of the SOC/726 opinion on Combatting violence against women and SOC/731 opinion on Gender equality, with Cristina Fabre, Team leader on gender-based violence, European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), New EU-US Trade and Technology Council in action: priorities for business, workers and consumers and necessary safeguards, with Fredrik Erixon, economist and writer, linked to the adoption of the REX/544 opinion, Resolution on the European Economic and Social Comm