This week - 31 March - 6 April - the European Commission will discuss plans designed to better sell the EU to its own public.

Known as “Plan D”, the concept was launched after the shock of the NO votes to the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands three years ago. The commission realized then that  they better go back to the drawing board to re-examine its public image.

Since then it has concentrated on churning out less legislation, and more attention to spelling out the benefits to citizens - with the famous example being its fight to lower tariffs for mobile phoning abroad.

EU communications commissioner Margot Wallstrom will present an update of the plan on Wednesday.

The following day, her external relations colleague Benita Ferrero Waldner will publish a report detailing the progress made in the bloc’s neighbourhood policy.

The policy covers eastern European states as well as Mediterranean and North African states. The commission says it tailors its agreements to the particular country concerned but several complain that the deals are too formulaic. Ukraine and Georgia, in particular, want more political commitment from the EU.

On Tuesday, the constitutional affairs committee will vote on a report by Finnish centre-right MEP Alexander Stubb on setting out rules for the thousands of lobbyists that work the institution to try and influence EU legislation.

The main sticking point is whether there should be a mandatory or voluntary register for the lobbyists, of which there are around 3000 permanently accredited to the parliament.

Tuesday will also see internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy address the economic and monetary affairs committee, with continued turmoil on the financial markets providing the backdrop.