This review highlights the main meetings and events in the EU institutions on a weekly basis, and alerts readers to articles of interest on EU developments. It provides a European perspective on political and policy developments within the European Union.

Compiled by Ciarán O'Donohoe & Aoibhín Dolan

27 April – 3 May 2026

Activities in European Institutions 

European Commission 

Commissioner Michael McGrath visits Latvia

Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, will visit Latvia on Thursday, 30 April 2026. Commissioner McGrath will meet with Members of the Latvian Parliament as well as officials including Latvian Minister for Justice Lībiņa-Egnere, the Director of the Latvian Consumer Protection Centre Zaiga Liepiņa, and Director of the Riga-based NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Jānis Sārts. Commissioner McGrath will also deliver a speech on democratic resilience at the Riga Graduate School of Law.

High Representative Vice-President Kaja Kallas co-chairs EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas will visit Brunei from Monday, 27 to Tuesday, 28 April 2026. While in Brunei, the High Representative will co-chair the 25th EU-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ministerial meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General, Kao Kim Hourn. The leaders will first hold a bilateral meeting to exchange views on ways to further strengthen ASEAN-EU relations, particularly in the lead-up to the partnership’s 50^th anniversary in 2027. The EU’s partnership with ASEAN is grounded in support for an open and inclusive rules-based multilateral order, a strong commitment to regional integration, and an ongoing dedication to fostering peace, stability and prosperity.

European Council 

The European Council held an informal meeting in Lefkosia and Agia Napa, Cyprus, on the evening of Thursday, 23 April 2026. A summary of the outputs from the meeting and working lunch are available here. The primary aim was to discuss the geopolitical environment and Europe's response, including in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East, as well as developments relating to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034. The leaders were also joined by key regional partners from the Middle East for a working lunch on Friday, 24 April 2026.

Council of the EU 

Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg

The Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) Council will meet in Luxembourg on Monday, 27 April 2026. Ministers will discuss the role of agriculture and forest management in preventing wildfires and strengthening resilience. Members will also hold a debate on post-2027 CAP proposals relating to income supports. Finally, the agriculture ministers will analyse the market situation, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in Cyprus

The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council will meet in Lefkosia, Cyprus, on 29-30 April 2026. The programme includes networking and site visits showcasing local innovation, alongside a cultural tour and gala dinner. Ministers will meet on Thursday, 30 April for an informal meeting focusing on the adoption of trustworthy AI, the protection of minors online, and the resilience of Europe’s critical infrastructure. The meeting will conclude with a working lunch and a joint press conference held by Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicodemos Damianou and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen.

European Parliament 

Vote on the EU long-term budget 2028-2034

The EU’s current MFF 2021-2027, which covers over €1.2 trillion of EU spending, will expire next year. In this context, negotiations are continuing for how the EU’s next long-term budget should balance flexibility for immediate priorities with long-term goals such as climate action. On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, MEPs will debate and vote on their negotiating position for the 2028-2034 MFF. MEPs will decide the breakdown of spending that they would like to allocate to each EU funding programme. Following the Parliament’s vote, there will be a press conference which will include European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (Malta, EPP).

Negotiations on the Digital Omnibus Regulation Proposal

On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, Parliament and Council negotiators will meet to discuss the postponement of certain EU rules on high-risk systems using AI. The talks will also cover a possible ban on "nudification" apps. These negotiations are related to the Digital Omnibus Regulation Proposal, which is a first step towards optimising the application of the EU’s digital rulebook.

EU Institutions discuss response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East

On Wednesday morning, 29 April 2026, MEPS, Council members, and representatives from the European Commission will discuss the EU strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis. Participants will also focus on the conflict’s implications for energy prices and supply chains, including the availability of fertiliser. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also participate in the parliament’s plenary debate. In a separate debate on Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will meet with the Commission to discuss the need to maintain a sustainable ceasefire and increased humanitarian access in the region.

Accountability and justice for Ukraine

EU institutions will discuss how they can ensure accountability and justice for Russia’s continued attacks against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. There will be an initial debate on the subject between the Council and Commission that will take place on Tuesday, 28 April 2026. On Wednesday, 29 April, MEPs and the Commission will discuss the danger of normalising relations with Russia, including in relation to the region’s participation in major cultural and sports events, and on Thursday, 30 April, MEPs will vote on a resolution on the subject.

Other News 

On Monday, 27 April 2026, a gathering of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union/Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU) party will confront EU Commission President Von der Leyen over what they see as excessive EU bureaucracy. A draft strategy paper, obtained by POLITICO, lists 27 demands. This includes a call to for the Commission to narrow its interpretation of its powers, cutting staff numbers across the EU institutions, and creating an oversight body with veto power over new Commission legislation. According to POLITICO, this oversight body would either function as a new entity at the European level or else the competencies of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, which currently serves as an advisory body to the Commission, would be expanded. The demands set out in the CDU position would likely require treaty change to come about. 

Articles/Speeches of Interest  

• EU formally approves €90bn Ukraine loan and 20^th sanctions package against Russia (Irish Examiner)
• Mercosur: MEPs letter warns of concentration risk due to quota allocation system (Euronews)
• UK, France agree three-year deal to stop migrant crossings (Euractiv)
• EU and US deepen cooperation on minerals amid concerns over China’s dominance (Euronews)

20 – 26 April 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Visit to Spain

Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection will visit Spain from 20 to 21 April 2026. On Monday, 20 April, Commissioner McGrath will meet with José Manuel Albares Bueno, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation. The following day, the Commissioner will meet with the Joint Committee for the European Union of the Spanish Parliament, followed by Félix Bolaños Garcia, the Spanish Minister for the Presidency, Justice, and Parliamentary Relations. Commissioner McGrath will also hold a discussion with Pablo Bustinduy, the Spanish Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030, as well as Perelló Doménech, the President of the Spanish Supreme Court, along with members of the Spanish Council of the Judiciary.

Visit to Portugal

Commissioner McGrath will also visit Portugal from 22 to 23 April 2026. On Wednesday, 22 April, he will meet with Paulo Rangel, Portuguese Minister to Foreign Affairs. The following day the Commissioner will meet with Committees in the Portuguese Parliament. He will deliver an address at the University of Lisbon and participate in a roundtable discussion with stakeholders regarding Commissioner McGrath will also visit Portugal from 22 to 23 April 2026. On Wednesday, 22 April, he will meet with Paulo Rangel, Portuguese Minister to Foreign Affairs. The following day the Commissioner will meet with Committees in the Portuguese Parliament. He will deliver an address at the University of Lisbon and participate in a roundtable discussion with stakeholders regarding the new singles set of corporate rules that are designed to be an important starting point for the EU’s 28th regime. He will then hold discussions with António Leitão Amaro, the Portuguese Minister for the Presidency, and Rita Alarcão Júdice, the Portuguese Minister for Justice.  

European Council

Informal meeting of heads of state or government

The informal meeting of Heads of State or Government will take place in Cyprus from 23 to 24 April 2026. This meeting will focus on the geopolitical environment and Europe’s response, and the ongoing discussions surrounding the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034. The leaders will be joined by key regional partners from the Middle East for an informal lunch on 24 April where leaders will address the conflicts in Iran and the Middle East. In this context, the leaders will discuss Europe’s contribution to de-escalation and to peace, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the effect of high fossil fuel prices. They will also discuss the implementation of decisions made at the European Council meeting on 19 March 2026, notably in the field of energy. Discussions could also include aspects related to article 42(7) of the TFEU, the EU’s mutual defence clause. EU leaders will discuss the upcoming MFF, especially with a view to matching EU ambitions with the appropriate level of financing. The leaders will focus on new own resources, the sources of revenue in the EU budget, and how the MFF can contribute to the EU’s long-term competitiveness agenda.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. The Council will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, after an informal exchange of views with Andrii Sybiha, the Minister of foreign Affairs of Ukraine. EU foreign affairs ministers will informally exchange views with Nawaf Salam, President of the Council of Ministers of the Lebanese Republic, on the situation in the Middle East. The Council will then discuss this topic in light of the latest developments of the war in Iran and its effects across the region. The Council will also exchange views on the South Caucasus focusing on Armenia ahead of the upcoming EU-Armenia summit taking place in Yerevan on 4 and 5 May 2026, on EU relations with Azerbaijan, and on the situation in Georgia. Ministers will then discuss the situation in Sudan in the context of the ongoing conflict there, on the third anniversary since the start of hostilities.

Informal video conference of transport ministers

On Tuesday, 21 April 2026, EU transport ministers will meet for an informal video conference to discuss the impact of the recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East on the EU’s transport system and sector.

European Parliament

Coordination of security matters

On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, European Parliament and European Council negotiators will aim to reach a deal on the revision of the regulation on social security coordination, which seeks to set fairer and clearer rules on social benefits for mobile workers in the EU.

Defence

On Monday, 20 April 2026, MEPs on the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee will question Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, on a range of issues, including the recently published proposal for an Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation Programme (AGILE), as well as the overall EU defence readiness agenda.

Enlargement

The Foreign Affairs (AFET) Committee will hold discussions with Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement. Members will discuss the current state of the enlargement process and the outlook for the coming months, including the state of preparations for the pre-enlargement policy reviews.

Plenary preparations

Political groups will be preparing for the 27 to 30 April plenary session in Strasbourg, where MEPs will debate and vote on their position for negotiations with the EU Member States on the EU’s 2028-2034 MFF. They will also vote on other topics such as the welfare of dogs and cats, the need for EU legislation to define rape based on absence of consent, revised rules for the EU’s preferential trade arrangement with developing countries, and on the fundamental rights situation in the EU in 2024 and 2025. Plenary will also debate and vote on whether to approve the way the European Commission and other EU bodies managed the EU budget in 2024.

Other News

Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s party Progressive Bulgaria (PB), which was only set up four months ago, has secured an absolute majority in parliament from the Bulgarian parliamentary elections that took place on Sunday, 19 April 2026 – the eighth general election in the country in five years. Top EU officials, such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, have congratulated Radev on his party’s win, despite some concerns over his sympathies towards Russia.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Merz pushes to free industrial AI from ‘corset’ of EU rules (Euractiv)
• European Economic Congress 2026: Central Europe’s top business form (Euronews)
• Reconstruction of Gaza will cost $71 billion, says Kallas (RTÉ)
• Magyar names first ministers in new Hungarian Government (POLITICO)
• ‘Too much is at stake’ - Catherine Connolly tells world leaders ‘democracy is under attack’ as first foreign trip as president (Irish Independent)

13 – 19 April 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Trip to US

Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, will make a trip to the US to meet representatives from the tech sector and Silicon Valley. On Tuesday 14 April 2026, the Commissioner will meet with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI in San Francisco. The following day he will meet with Tomp Kemp, the Executive Director of the California Privacy Protection Agency, and Jeff Bleich, General Counsel of Anthropic. Commissioner McGrath will also participate in a roundtable discussion with venture capitalists and technology investors, and he will speak at a ‘Brussels to the Bay’ event at the EU offices in San Francisco. On Thursday 16 April, Commissioner McGrath will engage in a number of bilateral meetings including with Andrew Wilson, the CEO of Electronic Arts. He will also engage with ROBLOX, meeting its Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufmann, and Vice President for Global Public Policy, Nicky Jackson. Commissioner McGrath will speak with Kent Walker, Google President of Global Affairs, and Leslie Miller, YouTube Vice-President of Government Affairs, with Senior Officials from Apple, and Monika Bickert, Vice-President for Content Policy at META.

Council of the EU

Informal Meeting of Tourist Ministers

From 16 to 17 April 2026, Cyprus will host an informal meeting of EU tourism ministers. Discussions will be split into two sessions. The first session will focus on the European Sustainable Tourism Strategy, an important step toward strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of the European tourism sector while promoting responsible and sustainable growth. The second session will address how to strengthen SMEs, the backbone of European tourism, exploring pathways for building resilience, digitalisation, and the green transition.

European Parliament

EU 2028-2034 Budget

On Wednesday 15 April 2026, the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) will adopt its position on the proposed multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034. The text, once adopted by the Parliament at plenary, will constitute a mandate for negotiations with EU governments on the final shape of the EU’s next multiannual budget.

Iran Opposition

On Wednesday 15 April 2026, members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and of the parliamentary delegation to Iran will discuss current events in the country.

Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon

On Tuesday 14 April 2026, the Committee on Development (DEVE) will debate the situation in Lebanon, in the context of Israel’s ongoing assault, with representatives of the World Food Programme and the Lebanon Humanitarian and Development Forum, and the European Commission.

Unsafe and Illegal Products

On Thursday 16 April 2026, MEPs from the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) will quiz representatives from online marketplace Temu on the company’s adherence to EU rules on product safety, consumer protection, and digital platforms. This meeting follows previous similar discussions with the likes of SHEIN and AliExpress.

Protection of workers from occupational health risks

On Wednesday 15 April 2026, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) will vote on an update of EU rules protecting people from exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace, such as carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances. The aim is to enhance protection from substances that can lead to serious illnesses such as cancer and respiratory diseases.

Energy Community

On Thursday 16 April 2026, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) will host the Energy Community Parliamentary Plenum, bringing together ITRE Members and parliamentarians from Energy Community Contracting Parties (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine). Participants will discuss these countries’ integration into the EU’s electricity and gas markets as well as the phasing out of Russian gas and oil supplies.

Other News

Hungarian Election 2026

On Sunday 12 April 2026, Hungary held its parliamentary election which saw a record high turnout. Péter Magyar, and his Tisza party, won the election in a landslide, securing a supermajority of 136 seats in the 199-seat parliament. This result brought an end to the 16-year rule of Viktor Orbán. This change in power brings a potential reset to EU relations with Hungary and also to how far-right and populist parties approach their ties with US President Donald Trump.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Why Hungary will find it hard to dismantle the Orbán system (Financial Times)
• Europe’s battle for American talent (Euractiv)
• Espionage, sabotage, attacks: German intelligence agency sends warning to defence industry (Euro News)
• Poland’s nationalist right recalibrates after Orbán’s heavy election loss (Politico)

23 – 29 March 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Commissioner McGrath visit to Slovakia

Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, will visit Slovakia from 23 to 24 March 2026 for a series of meeting. On 23 March he is scheduled to meet with Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, as well as other members of the Slovakian Government such as Boris Susko, the Minister for Justice, Tomáš Drucker, Deputy Prime Minister for the Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy, and Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Minister for the Interior. He will also meet with Róbert Dobrovodský, the Slovakian Public Defender of Rights, the Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka, and Zuzana Dlugošová, the Head of the Whistleblowers Protection Office. The Commissioner will also present the 2025 Rule of Law Report to Members of the Slovakian Parliament and will meet representatives of Slovakia’s opposition parties.

Visit to Australia

From 24 to 25 March 2026, European Commissioner President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia, marking the signing of the EU-Australia trade agreement. She will meet the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and will deliver a speech before the Australian Parliament. The President will also deliver a keynote speech at a business event hosted by the European Australian Business Council.

European Council

Conclusions of the recent European Council meeting, held on 19 March 2026, can be found here.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), in its trade configuration, will be held on the margins of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This is being held in Yaoundé in Cameroon from 26 to 29 March 2026. Ministers from WTO Member States will gather at the MC14 to assess the challenges and opportunities within the multilateral trading system, as well as the WTO’s future work in general, including regarding potential reforms designed to modernise its architecture and processes. Ministers will also aim to adopt a decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU to formally endorse and support the adoption of the legally binding outcomes of this ministerial conference.

Eurogroup

The Eurogroup is scheduled to meet on Friday 27 March 2026. On the agenda includes a stocktake on the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on the EU economy, including on energy markets and supply chains.

European Parliament

19-20 March EU Summit

On Wednesday 25 March 2026, MEPs will review the 19-20 March European Council meeting in a debate with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Energy Security

On Wednesday, MEPs, the European Council, and the European Commission will discuss how to ensure energy supply, market stability, and affordable energy for industry and citizens.

EU-US Trade

On Thursday 26 March 2026, MEPs are set to vote on their position for negotiations with EU Member States on two trade legislation proposals relating to the EU-US “Turnberry deal” on tariff and trade exchanges announced in July 2025.

Reform of EU return rules

On Thursday, the plenary will vote on its negotiating position on proposed changes to EU legislation designed to make it easier to send back non-EU nationals who do not have the right to stay in the EU.

Simplification of AI rules

On Thursday, MEPs will vote on their position on a proposal to simplify EU AI rules. The European Parliament’s draft position includes a ban on AI “nudifier” systems and clear dates by which time high-risk system requirements should be applied.

EU Water Quality

On Thursday, MEPs are expected to greenlight new measures to reduce groundwater and surface water pollution and improve EU water quality standards. They will also debate an already approved urban wastewater treatment law and its potential impact on the pharmaceutical industry.

Protecting Taxpayers and Deposits

MEPs are set to confirm a deal with EU member states on a new toolkit designed to address bank failures, protect taxpayer money, broaden the scope of banks covered by the rules, empower authorities to manage potential bank failures more effectively, and harmonise deposit protection across rules the EU. The debate will take place on Wednesday, with a vote taking place the following day.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

•  US warns EU to pass trade deal or risk losing ‘favourable’ access to LNG (Financial Times)
• Denmark’s kingmaker is a man who brushed his teeth with soap (Politico)
• Brussels walks tightrope with farmers as von der Leyen heads to Australia (Euractiv)
• EU calls on Hungary to clarify ‘concerning’ reports of Russia leaks (Euro News)

16 – 22 March 2026

Activities of European Institutions

European Commission

The 2026 EU Anti-Racism conference will be held on Tuesday 17 March 2026. Co-hosted by the European Commission and the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, this conference will bring together representatives from EU institutions, Member States, international organisations, equality bodies, civil society organisations at both EU and national levels, and academia to debate this topic.

European Council

The next European Council meeting is due to take place from 19 to 20 March 2026. Topics on the agenda include the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, competitiveness and the Single Market, the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), European defence and security, and migration.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will meet on Monday 16 March 2026. The Council will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, following an informal exchange of views with Andrii Sybiha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. EU foreign ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments following the outbreak of war between the US, Israel, and Iran. Ministers will exchange views on EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood, including taking stock of the implementation of the EU’s Pact for the Mediterranean. Over lunch, the ministers will be joined by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India, for an informal discussion on bilateral relations.

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council

The Transport, Telecommunications, and Energy Council will meet on Monday 16 March 2026 where ministers will hold a policy debate on the European grids package. The Council will take stock of the progress made on the action plan for affordable energy. During the exchange of views, energy ministers will have the opportunity to present effective measure taken to implement the action plan and to examine ways to further reduce energy costs in the short term. Ministers will be invited to share their views on advancing mutual energy security through integration and shared lessons with Ukraine and Moldova. Dorin Junghietu, the Moldovan Minister of Energy, and Denys Shmyhal, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine. Over lunch, ministers will be joined by the Director ad interim of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), Volker Zuleger, and the Director-General of the EIB’s Projects Directorate, Laura Piovesan, to discuss ways to accelerate clean energy investments for European competitiveness.

Environment Council

The Environment Council will meet on Tuesday 17 March 2026. EU environment ministers will hold a policy debate on the amendment to the regulation on CO₂ emission standards for cars and vans. Ministers will discuss decarbonisation efforts in the area of climate post-2030. Following the recent establishment of a binding EU-wide climate target for 2040, the Commission is expected to propose a set of legislative proposals in the second half of this year, to support European industry and citizens in achieving this target. Ministers will be invited to approve European Council conclusions on the recently adopted EU bioeconomy strategy. The Council will also exchange views on how to enhance EU strategic collaboration and strengthen the EU’s position in global environmental negotiations in an ever-changing geopolitical landscape.

General Affairs Council (GAC)

The General Affairs Council (GAC) will meet on Tuesday 17 March 2026. Ministers with responsibility for European affairs will meet to continue preparations for the upcoming European Council meeting taking place from 19-20 March 2026. They will also hold a policy debate on the next MFF 2028-2034 with a focus on governance aspects. Ministers will exchange views on a synthesis report on Council contributions on the 2026 European Semester. The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will present an updated roadmap for the 2026 European Semester. The Council will be invited to agree in principle on a decision amending the European Electoral Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament.  

European Parliament

Child Sexual Abuse Online

On Monday 16 March 2026, European Parliament and Council negotiators will try to reach a deal on the prolongation of an exemption to EU privacy legislation allowing for the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material online.

Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday 17 March 2026, MEPs from the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs (AFET) Committee and Kaja Kalls, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will discuss recent events at the global stage, focusing on the EU’s response and the European Commission’s forthcoming initiatives in the field of EU external action.

Digital Omnibus on AI

On Wednesday 18 March 2026, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee will adopt their position on the digital omnibus on AI, which seeks to delay the application of certain rules on high-risk AI systems and simplify various provisions included in the AI Act. Among the amendments to be voted on is the introduction of a ban on AI “nudification” systems.

European Tourism

On Wednesday 18 March 2026, the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee is expected to propose the creation of new transport connections to less-frequented destinations and caps on visitor numbers to relieve pressure on places experiencing overtourism. Other measures MEPs may recommend for a more sustainable tourism industry include targeted support for low- or zero-emission vehicles, and high-speed and night trains.

The Future of Democracy Support

From 18 to 19 March 2026, the European Parliament will host a conference on the future of democracy support with key MEPs, representatives of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Commission, the Council of Europe, and several other experts. The event will start with a video message from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta) and an opening address by the President of Moldova’s parliament, Igor Grosu.

EU Tax Symposium 2026

From 16 to 17 March 2026, the European Parliament and Commission will co-host the 2026 edition of the EU tax symposium under the headline “the future of taxation: inequality and growth in the global economy”. The symposium will bring together ministers, senior policymakers, academics, and Nobel Prize winners.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

•  Serbia and Albania issue joint text on EU accession without veto (Euro News)
• How European governments are trying to keep a lid on petrol prices (Euractiv)
• Trump is ‘wrong’: Europeans slam US decision to ease Russia oil sanctions (Politico)
• Poland’s Eurosceptic president vetoes EU funding for defence (Financial Times)

9 – 15 March 2026

Compiled by Ciarán O’Donohoe

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Conference of EU Ambassadors

The annual EU Ambassadors conference will take place from 9 to 13 March 2026 in Brussels. The conference is titled “Advancing EU interest at a Turning Point”. The Conference will bring together over 145 EU Ambassadors and Heads of EU delegations worldwide, alongside the Heads of EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations. Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, will host and open the conference which will see keynote addresses from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.  Members of the European Commission that will also partake in the conference includes Adrius Kubilius (Defence and Space), Marta Kos (Enlargement), Jozef Síkela (International Partnerships), and Hadja Lahbib (Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management).

European Council President

On Monday 9 March 2026, European Council President António Costa, will hold a video conference with leaders from the Middle East, along with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The following day, he will deliver a speech at the Annual Ambassadors Conference.

Council of the EU

Eurogroup

On Monday 9 March 2026, the Eurogroup will hold a meeting where Ministers are expected to adopt a statement on the Belgian draft budgetary plan for 2026. Ministers will discuss economic developments and prospects for the euro, building on insights from the European Commission and the European Central Bank. They will also discuss recent developments in digital finance, such as distributed ledger technologies, tokenisation and stablecoins, with a view to assessing their potential benefits for the EU financial system and the broader economy.  In the context of recent events, energy prices and their implications for the euro area economy will also be discussed by the Ministers. Eelco Heinen, the Minister for Finance of the Netherlands, will be invited to present the new Dutch government’s policy priorities.

Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will hold a meeting on Monday 9 March 2026. Ministers are expected to approve European Council conclusions on strengthening child well-being and social inclusion and combating child poverty in the EU. They will also be invited to adopt a Council recommendation on human capital development, which will provide guidance to member states on tackling labour and skills shortages across the EU. Ministers will also be invited to exchange views on the use of AI to strengthen quality jobs and workers’ rights. They will also hold discussions on approaches to prevent poverty and social exclusion in general.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECONFIN)

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will meet on Tuesday 10 March 2026 where Ministers will have an opportunity to express their views on the Market Integration and Supervision Package, as part of the EU’s Savings and Investment Union agenda. The Council will adopt a recommendation regarding the national medium-term fiscal-structural plan of Ireland.  Ministers are expected to adopt an implementing decision approving the modified-recovery and resilience plan of Estonia. The Cyprus Presidency will present the state of play of financial services legislative proposals. In a recurring biannual item on the ECOFIN agenda, ministers will also be invited to take note of the state of play and progress in implementing EU financial services legislation.

European Parliament

Iran War & EU Summit

On Wednesday 11 March 2026, MEPs will debate the US-Israeli military operation against the Iranian regime, its consequences, and the need to support the people of Iran. They will also discuss their expectations for the next EU Summit that is scheduled to take place on 19-20 March.

Tackling Europe’s Housing Crisis

On Tuesday 10 March 2026, MEPs will hold a debate and vote on Europe’s housing crisis. They will set out their recommendations to promote decent, sustainable, and affordable housing across the EU.

EU Single Market for Defence

Following a debate on Tuesday 10 March 2026, the Parliament will outline the following day its proposals to move towards a genuine EU single market for defence and close critical EU defence capability gaps.

Traveller Protection

Following a debate on Wednesday 11 March 2026, MEPs are expected to confirm an update of the Package Travel Directive on Thursday 12 March. This update will seek to clarify holidaymakers’ rights to assistance and compensation in cases of travel disruption.

Energy Package and North Sea energy outlook

On Tuesday 10 March 2026, MEPs will discuss the European Commission’s proposed energy package. The following day, they will debate the need for clean, independent, and secure energy sources, following January’s North Sea summit.

Single Market Barriers

In two debates on 10 and 11 March 2026, MEPS, the Commission and the Council will debate reducing bureaucracy, removing obstacles, and unleashing the Single Market’s full potential, including for financial services.

Copyrighted Work and AI

On Tuesday 10 March 2026, MEPs are expected to call for measures to protect the EU’s creative sector against exploitation by AI.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• How job cuts and the AfD fuelled Germany’s far-right ‘alternative union’  (Financial Times)
• Ursula von der Leyen faces blowback over diplomatic ‘overreach’ (Politico)
• Brussel urges ‘rapid’ progress on delayed Greece-Cyprus subsea cable (Euractiv)
• Are young Europeans really left-leaning? Poll shed some lights (Euro News)

2 - 8 March 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

The European Employment and Social Rights Forum

The European Employment and Social Rights Forum 2026 will be held in Brussels from 3 to 4 March. Organised by DG EMPL, the forum will address the EU’s response to the challenges faced by many today, including the rising cost of living, job insecurity, and changes in the labour market. The forum will look at how we can secure quality jobs, fair opportunities, and effective social protection while continuing to adapt to technological advancements, economic pressures, and the increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

European Council President

On Tuesday 3 March 2026, European Parliament President, António Costa, will join a meeting involving European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, ECB President, Christine Lagarde, and Eurogroup President, Kyriakos Pierrakakis. Later that day, President Costa will meet with the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten.

Council of the EU

Informal Meeting of Culture Ministers

From 5 to 6 March 2026, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will host an informal meeting of EU ministers of culture. The meeting will feature two thematic roundtable sessions. The first will address policy approaches to safeguarding culture as a democratic public good, with emphasis on cultural rights in the digital age, and the impact of AI on culture and creativity. The second session will examine ongoing challenges as a result of armed conflict, as well as legislative approaches for combatting the trafficking of cultural goods.

Justice and Home Affairs Council

The Justice and Home Affairs Council will hold meetings on 5 and 6 March 2026. Home affairs will be the focus on the meeting on 5 March. Ministers will begin with a discussion on the overall state of the Schengen area and will exchange views on the implementation of the priorities of the Schengen Council cycle 2025-2026. Ministers will be asked to approve the revised post-2026 EU interoperability roadmap, which includes visa milestones. Several migration-related issues will be on the agenda, including an update on the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Ministers will debate the external dimension of migration, exchanging views on cooperation with transit countries, with a focus on Lebanon and Libya. Over lunch, ministers will discuss the impact of the current geopolitical environment of the EU, and they are expected to give strategic guidance to the Commission on the future of Europol, a discussion which will likely continue into the Irish presidency in the second half of 2026. Finally, the Council are expected to approve the conclusions of the new EU Drugs Strategy, proposed by the Commission on 4 December 2025.

Justice will be the focus of the Council meeting on 6 March. As usual, the Council will discuss the fight against impunity for crimes committed in Ukraine and the Cyprus Presidency will provide an update on the state of play of that subject. The Council is expected to approve the conclusions on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Ministers will also discussion the independence of the legal profession in Europe, the Council of Europe Convention on protecting lawyers, and the EU’s role in this regard. Over a working lunch, ministers will discuss the issue of members of criminal organisations who continue to run illegal businesses from inside prison.

European Parliament

International Women’s Day

On Thursday 5 March 2026, the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) is organising an event to mark International Women’s Day 2026. This event will bring together MEPs and national parliamentarians to discuss “women’s rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age”. The event will open with a video message by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. This will be followed by remarks from FEMM committee chair Lina Gálvez MEP (S&D, ES), the Minister of Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, Costas Fitiris, and the European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib.

Online Child Sexual Abuse

On Monday 2 March 2026, the Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee will vote on extending a derogation to EU online privacy rules, that allows companies to detect child sexual abuse material on a voluntary basis. The current derogation expires on 2 April 2026. EU co-legislators are currently negotiating a permanent legal framework to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online.

2027 EU Budget

On Thursday 5 March 2026, the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) will adopt its input for the European Parliament’s priorities on the 2027 EU budget. Once endorsed by the Parliament at a future plenary session, these guidelines will be used by MEPs as the basis for discussions with the other EU institutions regarding budgetary allocations. The Commission is expected to present its own position in June.

European Citizens’ Initiative for a Ban on Conversion Practices

On Monday 2 March 2026, a European citizens’ initiative (ECI) call for an EU ban on so-called “conversion practices” targeting LGBTQ+ citizens will be discussed by MEPs and experts in a public hearing. Women’s Rights Committee chair Lina Gálvez, Equality Commissioner Lahbib, and representatives promoting the ECI will join the discussion.

Plenary Preparations

Political groups will spend the week preparing for the 9 to 12 March plenary session, where MEPs will debate and vote on EU-US political relations, on proposals to tackle Europe’s housing crisis, on economic policy coordination, and on the EU’s enlargement strategy. They will also vote on new rules relating to package travel, the need for enhanced cooperation with Canada, and on protecting copyrighted creative work in the age of AI. Parliamentarians will also debate the European Commission’s citizens’ energy package as well as the need for clean, independent, and secure energy. MEPs will also mark International Women’s Day, will hold a formal sitting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and will outline their expectations for the EU summit that is scheduled to take place on 19 to 20 March.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Iran crisis poses fresh test for divided EU (Politico)
• The EU’s climate retreat problem: punishing early movers (Financial Times)
• Questions about European deterrence loom over Macron’s nuclear speech (Euractiv)
• ‘Not that optimistic’: As 30x30 goals falter, can an Ocean Act save Europe’s waters? (Euro News)

23 February – 1 March 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

On Monday 23 February 2026, Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, will meet with the Moldovan Presidential Adviser on Justice, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru. That same day he will meet with a group of Irish local councillors. On Tuesday 24 February 2026, Commissioner Mcgrath will meet with ministers on the margins of the General Affairs Council to kick-off the work of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience (ECDR). That same day he will also meet with the Chair of the High-Level Reflection Group on the Future of the Commission’s Civil Service, Catherine Day, and he will deliver a keynote address at the European Cooperation Network on Elections (ECNE) strategy seminar. He will also participate in a structured dialogue with members of the Legal Affairs (JURI) Committee of the European Parliament. The following day, Commissioner McGrath will participate in a structured dialogue with members of the Petition (PETI) Committee of the European Parliament. He will also meet with members of the parliament’s special committee on the European Democracy Shield.

European Council President

On Tuesday 24 February 2026 European Council President, António Costa will travel to Ukraine to mark the fourth anniversary since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  On Wednesday 25 February 2026, President Costa will meet with Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia. On Thursday 26 February the President has meetings with Inga Ruginiené, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Evika Silina, the Prime Minister of Latvia, and Kristen Michal, the Prime Minister of Estonia. On Friday 27 February, President Costa will meet the soon-to-depart President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. António José Seguro will succeed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as President of Portugal later this year.

Council of the EU

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet on Monday 23 February 2026. The Council will discuss the European Commission’s recommendations for a revised Common Agricultural Policy. The Council will also exchange views on the report on evaluation of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive presented by the Commission.

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on Monday 23 February 2026 in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The Council will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, after an informal exchange of views with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha. EU foreign affairs ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments concerning Gaza and the West Bank, and possibly Iran. Ministers will be joined by the High Representative for Gaza, Nikolai Mladenov.

General Affairs Council (GAC)

Ministers with responsibility for European affairs will meet in Brussels on Tuesday 24 February 2026 to start preparations for the March European Council meeting by discussing an annotated draft agenda. Over lunch, ministers will exchange views on the European Centre for Democratic Resilience (ECDR). 

The GAC will meet again on Thursday 26 February 2026, where ministers will be invited to approve conclusions on the EU agenda for cities as a follow-up to the Commission’s communication titled ‘An EU agenda for cities: driving growth and prosperity’ of December 2025. The Council will also hold an exchange of views on the mid-term review of cohesion policy 2021-2027. The discussion will be based on a presidency paper titles ‘Mid-term review of cohesion policy 2021-2027: lessons learnt for the future’.

Informal meeting of health ministers

From 25-26 February 2026, there will be an informal meeting of health ministers in Lefkosia, Cyprus. The meeting will bring together EU health minsters, ministers of health of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, and the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Emer Cooke.

The first day will involve a tour of Lefkosia. The meeting the following day will consist of two sessions. The first session will explore an initiative submitted by the Cypriot Presidency for the establishment of a European Centre of Clinical Excellence for Pharmaceuticals. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, improve the quality of decision-making, and strengthen the coherence of European health systems. The discussion will be followed by an exchange of views. The second session will focus on the EU’s role and leadership in mental health and inclusion, with particular emphasis on young people. The meeting will conclude with a working lunch devoted to enhancing the effective implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

Competitiveness Council

The Competitiveness Council will meet on Thursday 26 February 2026. Ministers are expected to adopt European Council conclusions on the 2030 consumer agenda, which the European Commission presented on 19 November 2025. The consumer agenda outlines four key priorities: i) completing the single market for consumers, ii) enhancing digital fairness and protection, iii) promoting sustainable consumption, and iv) ensuring effective enforcement and redress. Ministers will also hold a policy debate on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). They will then hold an exchange of views on the 2026 annual single market and competitiveness report, which the European Commission presented on 2 February 2026. Ministers will then exchange views on the emergency plans for industrial resilience, the follow-up to the industrial action plans for Europe’s steel, automotive, and chemical industries under the clean industrial deal. The Irish delegation, along with the Czech, Estonian, Finish, and Latvian delegations, will inform the Council about ‘effective competition policy is a cornerstone of well-functioning resilient and competitive single market’.  

European Parliament

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

On Tuesday 24 February 2026, the day that marks four years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the European Parliament will debate and vote on the European contributions to a just peace and sustained security for Ukraine.

EU-US Trade Deal

On Tuesday 24 February 2026, the Parliament’s International Trade Committee will vote on its position relating to two legislative proposals aimed at implementing certain aspects of the EU-US Framework Agreement, particularly on the customs duties on goods imported from the US.

ECB President Lagarde

On Thursday 26 February 2026, the Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee will hold its first ’monetary dialogue’ of the year with Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank (ECB). Among the topics likely to be raised by MEPs are the recent decision to keep key interest rates unchanged, communication around monetary policy, and the gap between actual and perceived inflation.

Competitiveness/Omnibus IV

On Wednesday 25 February 2026, two proposals to reduce administrative burdens for so-called small-caps companies (SMCs), as part of the Omnibus IV package, will be up for a vote. The proposals will be dealt in two separate votes. The Economics, Environment, and Civil Liberties committees will hold a vote on one proposal, and the Economic and Civil Liberties committees will hold a second, seperate vote on the other proposal.

US Sanctions against Thierry Breton and EU citizens

On Wednesday 25 February, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee will debate the subject of user rights and EU digital laws, and the recent visa sanctions imposed on them by the United States, with former European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and other EU advocates. MEPs will discuss these measures and their broader implications for Europe’s digital sovereignty.

The Next European Chief Prosecutor

On Monday 23 February 2026, The Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee will hold a final vote on the appointment of Andrés Ritter from Germany as the New European Chief Prosecutor, starting from November 2026. The EU Chief Prosecutor is responsible for directing the work of the European Public Prosecutor Office and is appointed jointly by the European Parliament and the European Council.

EU-wide Definition of Rape

On Wednesday 25 February 2026, MEPs in the Women’s Rights (FEMM) and Civil Liberties (LIBE) committees will vote on whether to call for legislation establishing an EU-wide definition of rape based on the absence of consent, recognising gender-based violence as a new EU crime and ensuring rape survivors’ full access to medical services, including abortion.

Other News

On Monday 23 February 2026, a new Dutch government will be sworn in, with Rob Jetten set to become the country’s first openly gay and youngest ever prime minister. Jennen’s centre-to-centre left party, Democrats 66 (D66), has formed a coalition with the centre-right CDA party and the liberal VVD, but are still nine seats short of a majority.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Iceland looks to fast-track vote on joining EU (Politico)
• Why Europe won’t confront Trump on trade – even when the courts do (Euractiv)
• Hungary to block new EU sanctions against Russia (Financial Times)
• EU to make ‘mature assessment’ on US tariffs changes (RTE News)

16 – 22 February 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Navigating Change: Towards the Energy Transition in the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture

Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for the Fisheries and Oceans, will deliver opening remarks at the High-level Conference, Navigating Change: Towards the Energy Transition in the EU fisheries and Aquaculture in Brussels.

European Council President

On Tuesday 17 February 2026, European Council President, António Costa will have a meeting with Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth Culture, and Sport. President Costa will also attend the meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Joint Committee that day. On 19 February 2026, President Costa, will travel to Norway for an official visit. There he will meet with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Council of the EU

Eurogroup

The Eurogroup will meet on 16 February 2026. They will discuss the draft European Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area for 2026, with a view to its approval by the Economic and financial Affairs Council the following day. Ministers will also exchange views on the state of play and possible policy actions to strengthen the international role of the euro, with a view to promoting European monetary sovereignty. The Eurogroup is also expected to re-appoint Tumos Saarenheimo as President of the Eurogroup Working Group for a fourth two-year term starting April 2026. Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, will attend the meeting, while Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, will participate.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will meet on 17 February 2026. Minister will have an opportunity to exchange view on the supplementary pensions package which aims to boost this sector in the EU. Ministers are also expected to adopt a recommendation on the discharge to be given to the European Commission for the implementation of the EU general budget for 2024. The Council will also be invited to approve conclusions on the guidelines for the 2027 budget which will serve as a reference in the coming budget cycle. The Council will be invited to activate the national escape clause under the stability and Growth Pact (SGP) for Austria to help facilitate its transition to higher defence spending at national level while ensuring debt sustainability. The Council is also expected to approve the European Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area. Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, will attend the meeting, while Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, will participate.

Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)

An informal meeting of EU trade ministers will take place from 19 to 20 February 2026. On 19 February, the ministers will be address by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The following day, the ministers will convene for the informal meeting which will consist of two sessions. The first session will focus on the EU’s objectives for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, to be held from 26 to 29 March 2026. The second session will address EU-China trade relations, reviewing recent developments and emphasising the importance of dialogue within a rules-based international trading system. The meeting will conclude with a working lunch where the European Commission will provide an update on ongoing bilateral trade negotiations.

European Parliament

Defence Committee visit to Poland and Czechia

From 16 to 18 February 2026, a delegation from the Security and Defence Committee will visit Poland and Czechia to assess how their defence industries are adapting to the ongoing war in Ukraine. MEPs will also investigate how the sector is responding to new EU initiatives on strengthening Europe’s defence, technological, and industrial base and their cooperation with their Ukrainian counterparts.

International Trade and the Philippines

From 16 to 18 February 2026, members of the International Trade Committee will go to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to discuss economic, trade, and investment relations between the EU and the Philippines. MEPs will meet representatives of the government, lawmakers, and other relevant partners and focus on the recent progress made in negotiations on a free trade agreement.

European Democracy Shield and the USA

Members of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield will travel to the USA from 16 to 18 February 2026. They will visit Washington D.C. and New York to discuss how to address hybrid threats, cybersecurity, espionage, foreign information manipulation and interference, as well as other topics, with representatives of the Department of Justice, the US Congress, the FBI, and other organisations.

Enlargement

From 16 to 18 February 2026, a delegation from the Committee on Foreign Affairs will visit Montenegro and Albania, the two most advance EU candidate countries. While there, the delegation will assess the progress made and the remaining reforms on the countries’ respective paths to EU membership. The visit will also feed into the committee’s work on forthcoming reports on the two countries.

Committee visits to Spain

On 16 and 17 February 2026, MEPs from the Civil Liberties Committee will travel to Madrid to meet members of the country’s parliament, the judiciary, and civil society organisations. They will assess the state of European values, with a focus on judicial independence and anti-corruption efforts. The visit was organised on the recommendation of the European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group.

MEPs from the Legal Affairs Committee will travel to Madrid on 16 February 2026. From 16 to 18 February, they will gather information on how the country is tackling the illegal streaming of live events, including sports. MEPs will meet representatives from the government, Senate, and National Court as well as the national police and sports and broadcasters’ organisations. Spain is the first EU country to set a judicial precedent for blocking illegal live streams.

Erasmus+ and Creative Europe

A delegation of the Culture and Education will visit London from 16 to 18 February 2026. While there they will review the ongoing re-integration of the UK into EU programmes, particularly Erasmus+ and Creative Europe. MEPs will also discuss youth mobility and touring artists with, among others, representatives of the UK government, UK parliament, cultural institutions, and creators.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the Munich Security Conference 2026 (14 February 2026)
• Speech by Federal Chancellor Merz at the Munich Security Conference (13 February 2026)
• Europe’s path to security without the US (Financial Times)  
• Macron’s mission: Le Pen proof France before the 2027 election (Politico)
• 5 things to watch as EU Parliament gears up for midterm reshuffle (Politico)

9 – 15 February 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Munich Security Conference 2026

The 62nd Munich Security Conference will take place from 13 to 15 February 2026. Hundreds of decision-makers and opinion leaders from different regions of the world will discuss some of the most pressing security policy challenges of our times. Nearly 50 Heads of State and Government from all over the world have confirmed their attendance at the conference, including leaders form most European countries, including President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, and Implementation and Simplification, and Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing will be attending, as well as Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. Cristophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, will take part in a panel discussion entitled War of Nutrition: Resilience Against Food Weaponization.

European Council

Informal EU Leaders’ Retreat

President of the European Council, António Costa has invited EU leaders to take part in an informal retreat on Thursday 12 February 2026 to discuss ways to strengthen the EU Single Market, reduce economic dependencies, and boost EU competitiveness in the new and rapidly evolving geoeconomic context. Former Prime Ministers of Italy Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta will join the discussions, which will be held at the Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, to share their perspectives on European competitiveness. The first working session will receive a presentation by Mario Draghi on the impact of the changing geopolitical and geoeconomic environment on the EU’s competitiveness. Enrico Letta will take part in the second working session of the meeting when he will present his views on how to better leverage the single market in an ever-changing world.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Council involving defence ministers will take place in Brussels on Wednesday 11 February 2026. The meeting will be chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The Council will discuss EU military support to Ukraine, with a focus on cooperation in defence innovation, after an informal exchange of views with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov. Following the Council, ministers will informally exchange views on the security and defence outlook for 2026 over a working dinner.

Informal Meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers

From 12 to 13 February 2026, there will be an informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers that will take place in Cyprus. The meeting will focus in part on the European Anti-Poverty Strategy and the EU’s overarching objective of eradicating poverty.

European Parliament

Housing crisis in the EU

On Monday 9 February 2026, MEPs from the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU will adopt their proposals to promote decent, sustainable and affordable housing.

European Defence

On Tuesday 10 February 2026, the European Parliament will discuss efforts to strengthen European defence in light of the increasingly volatile international environment. The following day MEPs will vote on a report outlining their plans to bolster joint efforts in security and defence between the EU and key bilateral partners.

Asylum

On Tuesday 10 February 2026, MEPs are expected to greenlight the first ever EU list of safe countries of origin for asylum seekers, as well as new rules on when a non-EU country to be considered safe. The votes will be preceded by a short debate.

EU 2024 Climate target and Extreme Weather Events

On Tuesday 10 February 2026, MEPs will decide on a 90 per cent reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, to achieve a climate neutral EU by 2050. That same day, the European Parliament will debate the need to strengthen EU readiness, preparedness, and solidarity mechanisms following recent extreme weather events in southern Europe.

Mercosur

On Tuesday 10 February 2026, MEPs are set to adopt a safeguard mechanism to prevent imports from the Mercosur countries from harming Europe’s agriculture sector.

EU Competitiveness

On Wednesday 11 February 2026, MEPs, the European Council, and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will debate matters relating to boosting EU competitiveness, deepen the single market, and reduce the cost of living.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

•  European alternatives to Visa and Mastercard ‘urgently’ needed, says banking chief (Financial Times)
• Europe’s big week of crisis diplomacy (Politico)
• Why EU leaders won’t rescue Europe’s economy this week (Euractiv)
• Tech firms lobby EU commissioner Michael McGrath in advance of law targeting addictive apps (Irish Times)

2 – 8 February 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Visit by Two Key Commissioners to Ireland

Christoph Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, and Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud, and Public Administration will meet with Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dublin on Tuesday 3 February 2026. Commissioner Serafin is the key Commissioner reporting to the President of the European Commission on the MFF. The visits to Ireland are seen as crucial for aligning Ireland’s national interests with the EU’s future financial planning, particularly the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in advance of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. The discussions aim to ensure that Ireland’s economic, agricultural, and infrastructural priorities are considered during critical budget negotiations, especially as Ireland is a net contributor to the EU budget.

The Commissioners will meet with members of the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs and members of the Agriculture Committee. The Commissioners will also meet with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The EU budget plays a central role in supporting shared European priorities, and this meeting allows the Committee to examine how future funding arrangements can deliver for Ireland while contributing to the common good across the EU.

Commissioner Serafin, will brief the Committee on the Commission’s proposed €2 trillion long term budget package and ongoing work to modernise the EU’s financing system, strengthen financial governance, and ensure a smooth transition to the EU budget’s next cycle.

Commissioner Hansen, leading the Agriculture and Food portfolio, will outline the emerging direction of the Common Agricultural Policy within the new MFF, including efforts to secure competitiveness, sustainability, and generational renewal in the farming sector. Given the central role of CAP funding in Irish agriculture, the Committee will address concerns about maintaining dedicated supports for farmers amid wider budgetary reforms.

This engagement forms part of the Committee’s ongoing scrutiny of major EU policy developments and their potential impact on Ireland’s economic, social, and rural priorities ahead of negotiations on the next EU long term budget

They will later participate in a roundtable with representatives of farming organisations.

UK Visit by Commissioners for Trade and Economy

Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, will travel to the UK on Monday 2 February 2026. There he will meet with Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Cabinet Office, and Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade. He will also meet Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, along with Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, where they will discuss the global economy and trade issues, along with Peter Kyle. Commissioner Šefčovič will co-chair, along with Nick Thomas-Symonds, the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting and the EU-UK Partnership Council meeting. These are the first meetings of the joint bodies to take place since the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 in London.

Commissioner Dombrovskis will meet Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England

European Council President

On Tuesday 3 February 2026, European Council President, António Costa will have a meeting with President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Séamus Boland, and on Wednesday 4 February 2026, President Costa will meet with the UNRWA High Commissioner, Phillippe Lazzarini and attend the EP Conference of Presidents.

Council of the EU

Informal Meeting of Competitiveness Ministers

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will hold an informal meeting of European Competitiveness Ministers and the European Commission from 2 to 3 February 2026. They will discuss strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, addressing persistent structural challenges, such as insufficient scale, and underling the need for closer integration of defence and industrial policies within a coherent strategy. They will also review the Competitiveness Compass one year after its launch, taking stock of progress, identifying key challenges and exploring ways to accelerate implementation and enhance effectiveness.

Informal Meeting of Housing Ministers

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will bring together European housing ministers via video-call, with the aim of presenting the first European Plan for Affordable Housing by the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen. The meeting will provide an opportunity for ministers to put forward their preliminary comments on the European plan.

Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will host an informal meeting of European environment ministers from 5 to 6 February 2026. They will discuss on how legislation and finance can better align European climate and water resilience policies. Discussion will centre on the effective implementation of the European Water Resilience Strategy, the development of the new European Climate Adaptation Plan, and the integration of water resilience across key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, energy and climate legislation, ensuring coherence and complementary across EU policies. Ministers will also have the opportunity to reflect on the EU’s experience in international climate negotiations, drawing lessons from COP30. They will exchange views on how the EU can strengthen its effectiveness in global climate processes, enhance international coordination, and better translate political ambition into tangible outcomes on the ground. The meeting will also address key challenges related to the circular economy, building on the European Commission’s Winter Package presented in December 2025.

European Parliament

Plenary Preparations

Political groups will be preparing for the 9-12 February 2026 plenary session, where MEPs will debate and vote on EU-US political relations. They are also set to adopt new rules on asylum policy, including an EU list of safe countries of origin, and to determine whether non-EU countries may be considered safe third countries. Also high on the agenda will be votes on a new and binding EU 2040 climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and a safeguard clause for the EU-Mercosur agreement to prevent imports from harming Europe’s agriculture sector. Plenary will also discuss and vote on new rules to support EU wine producers, and on the priorities and activities of the European Central Bank with President Christine Lagarde. The session will also feature debates on the Commission’s action plan against cyberbullying and a new EU anti-poverty strategy.

During a formal sitting, MEPs will hear from Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly and former German Foreign Minister of Germany.

Cyprus Presidency Priorities

Cypriot Ministers will continue holding hearings in the relevant parliamentary committees to present their priorities, with Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides in the Public Health Committee on Monday 2 February 2026.

Eurobarometer Survey

The European Parliament is publishing its lates Eurobarometer on Wednesday 4 February 2026. The survey shines a spotlight on EU citizens’ perceptions of the future and their expectations of the EU. The survey covers a range of issues, including: the role of the EU in the current global context and in protecting Europeans; key citizen priorities and values; and how citizens view the European Parliament, the EU and EU membership.

MFF

On Thursday 5 February 2026, the European Parliament Committee on Budgets will discuss the amendments tabled to the draft interim report on the Commission’s proposal for the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF). More than a thousand amendments have been tabled by MEPs. The interim report, expected to be put to a plenary report in May, will be the basis for Parliament’s negotiating mandate on the next MFF.

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Speech by Minister Helen McEntee – “Ireland’s Enduring Place in Europe: Our 2026 EU Presidency (22 January 2026)
• Slovakia advisor Lajčák resign over Epstein revelations (Politico)
• Can the EU tax its way to a €2tn budget? (Euractiv)
• France adopts budget after premier survives no-confidence vote (Financial Times)
• German leader hails Europe as an ‘alternative to imperialism and autocracy’ (The Independent)  

19 – 25 January 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Council

Based on the events at the World Economic Forum in Davos where world leaders gathered to discuss the theme: ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’, an informal meeting of the members of the European Council was held on 22 January 2026 at which EU leaders discussed recent developments in transatlantic relations and their implications for the EU. The topics for discussion were Greenland, tariffs, and strategic autonomy.

On Greenland, President Costa stressed that the EU and the US had a shared interest in the Arctic region, notably working through NATO, and that the EU would play a stronger role in the region. In this context, he further emphasised that Denmark and Greenland had the full support of the UE and that only Denmark and Greenland could decide on matters concerning them. He also reiterated the EU’s commitment to the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty which, he said, were essential for Europe and the international community and would continue to guid EU action.

President Costa welcomed the announcement that there would be no new US tariffs on Europe, stating that the imposition of additional tariffs would have been incompatible with the EU-US trade deal. HE stressed the importance of moving forward on implementing the deal, with the aim of stabilising trade relations between the EU and the US. He added that the EU would continue to stand up for itself and defend its interests against any form of coercion, and that it had the power and the tools to do so if and when necessary. He reaffirmed that the EU wanted to continue to engage constructively with the US on all issues of common interest, including creating the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He said that the EU had serious doubts about a number of elements in the charter of the Board of Peace related to its scope, its governance and its compatibility with the UN Charter. However, he stressed that the EU is ready to work together with the US on implementing the comprehensive peace plan for Gaza, with the Board of Peace carrying out its mission in accordance with UN security Council resolution 2803.

On strategic autonomy, President Costa reiterated that the EU is focused on strengthening its defence and competitiveness to build a more autonomous Europe. He referred to the forthcoming informal retreat of EU leaders on 12 February 2026, which will take the form of strategic brainstorming on strengthening the EU single market in a new geoeconomic context.

European Commission

EU-India Summit

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the 16th EU-India summit in New Delhi, along with President of the European Council, António Costa. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, will host the summit. The summit will offer an opportunity to build on the EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthen collaboration across key policy areas such as trade. Security and defence, the clean transition. And people-to-people cooperation.

Council of the EU

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will hold a meeting on Monday 26 January 2026. During a public session, the Cyprus Presidency will present its work programme and priorities for the first half of 2026. The Council will also discuss amending the organic farming regulation as regards rules on production, labelling, certification and trade. Ministers will also exchange views on the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.

General Affairs Council (GAC)

The General Affairs Council (GAC) will hold a meeting on Monday 26 January 2026 where ministers responsible for European affairs will hear a presentation of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency with a focus on those falling within the remit of the GAC. Ministers will also hold a country-specific discussion in the framework of the annual rule of law dialogue, focusing on the rule of law situation in Denmark, Estonia, Greece, and Spain. Over a working lunch, ministers will hold an exchange of views on the European Democracy Shield.

Commissioner Michael Mc Grath had recently outlined the main files on his agenda for 2026: The 28^th Regime to enable startup and scale-up companies to operate across borders seamlessly; strengthening  protection for children and consumers online and provide business with predictable rules; revision of the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation; a strong focus on democracy to ensure implementation of the European Democracy Package, and ensure that the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society have an impact on the ground; to publish the annual rule of law reports; to deliver the first ever Anti-Corruption Strategy to protect trust in public life; and to examine how the institutional architecture of the EPP, OLAF functions and review the mandate of Eurojust.

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will meet on Thursday 29 January 2026 and will be chaired by Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Council will discuss the latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention by Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Over a working lunch, EU foreign ministers will informally exchange views with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The Council will also discuss the situation in the Middle East considering the latest developments. Ministers will exchange views on the Great Lakes Region, focusing on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

European Parliament

Discussion on NATO

On Monday 26 February 2026, MEPs in the Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence Committees will discuss the latest developments in transatlantic security and defence commitments with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General.

Holocaust Remembrance Day

The European Parliament will hold a plenary session in Brussels to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola will open the ceremony, which will be followed by a speech from Holocaust survivor, Tatiana Bucci.

EU Steel Industry

On Tuesday 27 January 2026, the International Trade Committee will adopt its position on a bill designed to protect the EU steel industry from sustained import pressure in terms of volume and price. The proposal includes limiting duty-free import volumes, doubling import duties from 25% to 50% for certain steel products, and strengthening the traceability of imported steel goods.

SHEIN and Amazon

Representatives of the online marketplace, SHEIN will appear before the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection to discuss compliance with EU product safety, consumer protection, and online platform rules. This follows repeated invitations that have been declined by the company in recent months.

On Wednesday 28 January 2026, MEPs on the Employment and Social Affairs Committee will question three Amazon vice-presidents on working conditions in Amazon warehouses. The public hearing will include testimony from an Amazon Poland warehouse worker, among others.

EU-US relations

On Wednesday 28 January 2026, MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee will examine EU-US relations and recent developments with Andrew Puzder, US Ambassador to the EU

Other News

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• “Principles and pragmatic: Canada’s path” Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (20 January 2026)
• The EU’s capital market strategy must support innovation (Financial Times)
• EU-India trade pact a boost for Europe’s cars, wine and olive oil (Euractiv)
• Ursula von der Leyen: Europe is not retreating behind tariff walls, but diversifying (Irish Times)

19 – 25 January 2026

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

European Council

European Council Meeting December 2025

European Union leaders met before Christmas at the European Council on 18 and 19 December 2025 and adopted conclusions on a number of issues including Ukraine, the Middle East, European defence and security, the next MFF, enlargement and reforms, migration, the geo-economy, and competitiveness. A detailed outline of the conclusions from the meeting can be found here.

An extraordinary meeting of the European Council has been called by European Council President Costa for Thursday 22 January 2026 to discuss President Trump’s statement that he would use tariffs to punish EU countries who oppose his pursuit of Greenland.

Mercosur Trade Deal

On Friday 9 January 2026, the majority of EU governments gave the go-ahead for the EU to ratify the Mercosur trade deal. Italy held the casting vote, supporting it after securing extra concessions for European farmers, while France, Ireland, Poland, Austria, and Hungary opposed the deal. Belgium abstained from voting and the remaining Member States supported it. The European Commission signed the deal in the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, on 17 January 2026. However, the agreement must still gain the consent of the European Parliament and must be ratified by the legislatures of the Mercosur members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Council of the EU

Eurogroup

The Eurogroup will meet on 19 January 2026 and this meeting is expected to be dominated by the new economic threat from the US that they would impose additional tariffs of 10% on countries who oppose President Trump’s pursuit of Greenland. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that proposals to use the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) is retaliation might be premature.

Another item concerns Bulgaria’s adoption of the Euro on 1 January 2026 and ECOFIN (Finance Ministers) signed off on the changeover from the Bulgarian Lev to the Euro. The Eurogroup will receive an update on the euro cash changeover in Bulgaria. Ministers will also exchange views on the policy priorities for the euro area based on the draft Euro area recommendation presented by the European Commission. The Eurogroup will also discuss the candidacies for the post of ECB Vice-President ahead of the recommendation by the Council. Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, will attend the meeting.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Ecofin, will meet on 20 January 2026 and the meeting will pick up discussions from the Eurogroup meeting the previous day on the proposed imposition of the EU’s ACI on the US. The meeting will be crucial in forming a unified European response to emerging trade risks linked to President Trump’s design on Greenland, and their potential implications for the European economy, supply chains, and open trade. According to the Department of Finance, he will underline the importance of a coordinated EU engagement and response to protect the rule-based international trading system and economic stability.

The Cyprus Presidency will present its work programme for the first semester of the year in the field of economic and financial affairs. The council is also expected to approve conclusions on the 2026 alert mechanism report, which initiates the European semester’s annual macroeconomic imbalance procedure. Ministers will exchange views on the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

 Informal Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU have organised an informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers to take place from 21 to 23 January 2026. Ministers will discuss issues related to returns, the Schengen area, asset recovery, the cross-border return of illegally removed cultural objects, and the treatment of adolescents and young adults within the criminal justice system.

European Parliament

December European Council and EU Sovereignty

On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, MEPs will debate the results of the 18 December European Council and the need for a stronger and more sovereign Europe amid rising geopolitical tensions, with Antonio Costa, President of the European Parliament, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Greenland, Iran, and Venezuela

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, MEPs will discuss the EU’s response to US President Donald Trump’s claims on Greenland. MEPs and Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will debate recent events in Iran. A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday, 22 January 2026. MEPs and High Representative Kallas will also debate the situation in Venezuela following the abduction of Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition.

Ukraine Loan

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, the plenary will vote on whether to fast-track the approval of the enhanced cooperation by 24 member states on the establishment of a €90 billion Ukraine loan, on the setting up of the Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027, and amendment of the Ukraine Facility.

EU-US Relations

On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, MEPs will vote in a plenary session on a new report assessing EU-US relations, which urges self-reliance for the EU, while maintaining strong transatlantic ties. The report from the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), which was compiled by the standing rapporteur, Michal Szcerba, was adopted in late 2025 and calls for a transatlantic political council and annual summits to formalise dialogue, while also highlighting the need for the EU to act independently amidst US foreign policy shifts. The draft text references the need for the EU to enhance its strategic autonomy and capacity to act, becoming a more resilient global player, and stresses the need for Europe to take on greater responsibility for its security, while emphasising support for Ukraine.

Mercosur

On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, MEPs will decide whether to seek the European Court of Justice’s opinion on the compatibility of the EU-Mercosur deals with the EU Treaties.

Other News

The World Economic Forum in Davos runs from 19-23 January 2026 on the theme :”A Spirit of Dialogue”.

40th Anniversary of the Accession of Spain and Portugal to the EU

His Majesty Felipe VI, King of Spain, and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will address MEPs on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, during a formal sitting to recognise the 40th anniversary of Spain and Portugal joining the EU.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Speech by President António Costa at the signing ceremony for the EU-Mercosur agreements (17 January 2026)
• Speech by President von der Leyen on the signature of the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement (17 January 2026)
• Eamon Ryan: Why Ireland should have voted in favour of Mercosur (Irish Times)
• How the Greenland deployment of a few European troops enraged Donald Trump (Financial Times)
• Special Address by President von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum (20 January 2026)

2026 Weekly EU Review – Priorities of Cyprus for the EU Presidency

On 1 January 2026, Cyprus assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU which runs until 30 June 2026. Cyprus is the final country in the 18-month trio presidency programme which commenced with Poland in the first half of 2025 and was followed by Denmark in the second half of 2025. Ireland will take over the Presidency from Cyprus on 1 July 2026 and will lead in a new trio with Lithuania and Greece.  The purpose of the trio programme is to ensure policy continuity over the 18-month duration of the programme.

On 21 December the President of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, presented his country’s programme for its six-month Presidency and on 7 January 2026 the opening ceremony was held in Lefkosia.

Under the motto “An Autonomous Union, Open to the World”, President Christodoulides outlined the five pillars on which his country’s tenure will be based:

• Autonomy through Security, Defence Readiness and Preparedness
• Autonomy through Competitiveness
• Open to the world, Autonomous
• An Autonomous Union of Values that leaves no one behind
• A Long-Term Budget for an autonomous Union

Autonomy though Security, Defence Readiness and Preparedness

In order to strengthen the EU’s defence readiness and strategic autonomy, the Cypriot Presidency will prioritise the quick implementation of the White Paper on the Future of European Defence – Readiness Roadmap 2030. As an island nation with a strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus will seek to progress the implementation of the EU Maritime Security Strategy, including through enhanced cooperation with EU bodies and partners in regions such as the Gulf, the Indo-Pacific, and the Red Sea. The Presidency will also seek to steer the implementation of the European Water Resilience Strategy and support the 2023 Economic Security Strategy.

As Cyprus and the Mediterranean region are at the frontline of migratory flows, another priority for the Presidency is the full implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and will promote a strengthened return system and more meaningful cooperation with key third countries.

Political concerns in Europe about the backsliding of democracy and the rise of right-wing extremist parties suggest that the Cypriot Presidency will work closely with the Commission and Member States to strengthen democratic resilience through initiatives such as promoting democratic values, and countering cyberbullying which are elements of Commissioner Michael McGrath’s portfolio in the European Commission.

The implementation of the EU Preparedness Strategy is the final priority for this Presidency under this pillar, which aims to ensure that the EU is prepared to protect its citizens.

Autonomy through Competitiveness

Under this pillar, Cyprus will work to simplify regulations by advancing the Omnibus and Simplification Strategy to streamline EU rules and reduce red tape, recognising the need to complete the Single Market, and to boost Europe’s financial Autonomy. The Cypriot Presidency also aims to deepen capital markets and progress the Savings and Investment Union, recognising that open and efficient capital markets are fundamental to financing Europe’s future.

Connectivity is an important focus for Cyprus in terms of improving energy grid infrastructure and interconnections, promoting citizen engagement, and investing in clean and breakthrough technologies. Cross-regional connectivity, particularly for islands and peripheral regions, through resilient digital networks, modern transport links, and key energy corridors will also be promoted. Recognising the importance of digital sovereignty and innovation, Cyprus will focus on key technologies, such as AI, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity.

Concluding on the maritime theme and given the strategic location of Cyprus in terms of trade routes, the Presidency will prioritise the Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies to empower Europe’s ports and waterborne industries to lead the clean and digital transition, to safeguard shipping routes, and to ultimately reinforce Europe’s maritime leadership.

Open to the World, Autonomous.

The Cypriot Presidency is ready to increase the EU’s visibility, and act as an enabler to reinforce the Union’s role as a strategic global actor. It is committed to advancing the Enlargement agenda, by delivering tangible results on a merit-based process. The compass of the Presidency will pivot north to Ukraine, which is a key priority for this Presidency, and Cyprus will continue to progress the EU’s diplomatic, political, economic, military, energy, and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

Swivelling to the South, the Cypriot Presidency’s work will also include revitalising the EU’s engagement with the MENA region and its Southern partners. Cyprus sees the New Pact for the Mediterranean as providing a renewed framework for cooperation with its Middle East and Gulf partners, as well as supporting deeper relations with regional organisations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab States.

Finally, the Cypriot Presidency will aim to elevate the role that the EU plays in global crisis response, as well as promote efforts to enhance the EU’s capacity for rapid and effective crisis response.

An Autonomous Union of Values that ‘Leaves No One Behind’

Social values are important for the Cypriot Presidency and a key priority will be affordable housing and promoting the implementation of both the European Affordable Housing Plan, as well as the forthcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy. The implementation of the European Child Guarantee will also be advanced under this Presidency, the objective of which is to ensure equal access for all children not just to housing but also to free education, healthcare, and nutrition and for those who experience social exclusion due to poverty or other forms of a disadvantage. The Presidency will also seek to promote digital well-being by fostering a safer online environment for minors, including through the Commission’s anticipated Action Plan against cyberbullying.  

Cyprus will also support the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social rights, promoting gender equality, removing barriers for people with disabilities, and supporting active ageing with dignity, solidarity, and intergenerational balance.

A Long-Term Budget for an Autonomous Union

One of the key portfolios on the agenda of the Cyprus Presidency is the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 which is the EU’s strategic roadmap for the decade ahead and is a key instrument that converts long-term goals into concrete actions. Building on what has already been achieved regarding the MFF, the Cypriot Presidency will try to significantly advance negotiations on all sectoral legislative files of the proposed MFF, which are likely to continue during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026.

Presenting the Presidency’s priorities in Nicosia, Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, emphasised that Cyprus will act as an honest broker in discussions on sensitive issues such as agriculture, fisheries, and environmental policy, seeking outcomes acceptable to the widest possible majority of EU Member States.

Key Events

European Council meetings will take place on 19-20 March 2026 and 18-19 June 2026, preceded by a leaders’ retreat on competitiveness on 12 February 2026 outside Brussels. The informal meeting of Foreign Ministers, the Gymnich Meeting, will be held on 24/25 May 2026.

The calendar for the Cyprus Presidency is available here.

15 – 21 December 2025

Activities in European Institutions

This week is a very busy week for the European Commission, as preparations for the European Council on Thursday and Friday are being finessed before decisions are taken on some of the major portfolios for 2026; the MFF, where agriculture is a central feature, enlargement, competitiveness and support for Ukraine.

European Commission

On Monday 15 December, Commission President von der Leyen and Nato Secretary General, Mark Rutte, and the leaders of Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden will meet in Berlin for a possible peace talks meeting in the evening.  Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky is already in Berlin with Chancellor Friedrich Merz who is hosting Donal Trump’s US envoys for negotiations on peace talks.

EU Agri-Food Days

The EU-Agri Food Days are being held from 15 to 17 December 2025 in Brussels. Organised by the Commission Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, this forum allows stakeholders to discuss the outlook of European agriculture, agricultural market trends, food security, sustainability, digital technologies and data flows together with farmers, EU policy makers, civil society, business representatives, analysts and digital experts.

EU-Lebanon Association Council

Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, will represent the European Commission at the Association Council between the EU and Lebanon will hold its 9th meeting on 15 December 2025. The EU delegation will be led by Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, while the delegation of Lebanon will be led by Youssef Raggi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon. In a plenary session, the parties will discuss the state of play of bilateral relations and their future prospects, building on the EU-Lebanon Association Agreement, which forms the legal, institutional and political basis of the partnership and cooperation between the EU and Lebanon. They will then hold a political dialogue on regional issues.

Council of the EU

EU-Angola Ministerial Meeting

The EU and Angola will hold their 7th ‘Joint way forward’ ministerial meeting on Monday 15 December 2025. The meeting will be co-chaired by the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Téte António, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Resmussen, on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The parties will discuss political, peace and security issues, both in Europe and in Africa, and cooperation in multilateral fora. There will also be an exchange of views on policy priorities for cooperation, including the Global Gateway Strategy, with a focus on the Lobito Corridor, and trade and investment opportunities.

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on Monday 15 December 2025 and will be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The Council will discuss the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, after an informal exchange of views with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha. The EU Foreign Ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments, including on Syria one year after the fall of the Assad Regime. They will also exchange views on China and the EU’s relationship with the country. The Council will also be informed about hybrid threats against EU Member States.

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council

On 15 December 2025, EU energy Ministers are expected to reach partial agreement on the 2028-2034 Connecting Europe Facility. The proposal falls under the broader negotiations of the post-2027 MFF. The Ministers will also hold a policy debate on the upcoming European grids package, which is to be issued by the European Commission ahead of the Council meeting. The Ministers will also exchange views on the link between energy and security with Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO. Finally, Cyprus will present the work programme of its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU which commences on 1 January 2026.

Environment Council

On Tuesday 16 December 2025, the Environment Council will meet. The council is expected to approve conclusions on ‘Europe’s Environment – Building a more circular and resilient Europe’. The EU environment ministers will exchange views on the EU bioeconomy strategy, as recently presented by the European Commission. The Danish Presidency, together with the Commission, will report on five recent international meetings including COP 6, MOP 37, COP 30, MOP 8, CITES CoP 20, UNEA-7.

General Affairs Council (GAC)

The General Affairs Council will meet on 16 December 2025. The Council will continue preparations for the December European Council meeting by discussing draft conclusions. Ministers will hold a policy debate on the EU’s MFF 2028-2034. The Council will also be invited to approve conclusions on EU enlargement. The Commission will present to the Council its annual progress reports on simplification, implementation and enforcement, and Minsters will hold an exchange of views.

European Council

The European Council meet on 18 and 19 December 2025 in Brussels to hold strategic debates on Ukraine, the next MFF, enlargement, and legislative priorities for 2026.

EU leaders will discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and issues that require urgent EU action. They will take stock of progress made so far on the next MFF since the European Commission put forward its proposals on 16 July 2025 and will also aim to provide guidance for the next phase of negotiations. An exchange views on the geoeconomic situation is also on the agenda and how it impacts the EU’s competitiveness, including pressures and opportunities.

European Parliament

Boosting EU Defence

MEPs will hold a debate on boosting EU defence on 15 December 2025. The following day they are set to approve measures to strengthen Europe’s defence technological and industrial base by channelling EU funding to defence, that same day, there will also be a debate on two reports on facilitating the movement of troops and military equipment across the EU and on preparing European defence for any potential Russian aggression.

Simplification, Mercosur, Housing, and Automotive.

On 16 December 2025, the plenary will take final votes to update rules on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies, on simplifying and delaying the application of the EU’s deforestation law, and on more flexibility and support for farmers to comply with the EU’s CAP rules. MEPs will also vote on their position to safeguard mechanisms for agricultural imports linked to the trade agreement for Mercosur countries.  Discussions will follow with the Commission on how to ensure access to affordable housing across the EU through a dedicated construction strategy and how to accelerate the renovation of existing homes. The Commission will also present a new set of measures to boost the EU automotive sector’s competitiveness, after which it will debate the topic with MEPs.

On 17 December 2025, in a debate with the European Commission and the Danish Council Presidency, MEPs will outline their expectations for the 18-19 December EU summit, in particular on the need to support Ukraine, on transatlantic relations and on EU strategic autonomy,

Other News

EU-Western Balkans summit

On 17 December 2025, EU and Western Balkan leaders will meet in Brussels. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to demonstrate and reconfirm the strength of the EU-Western Balkans strategic relationship and the benefits it brings to citizens. António Costa, President of the European Council, will represent the EU at the summit together with the Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. President Costa will also chair the meeting, while High Representative (HRVP), Kaja Kallas will also participate. At the end of the summit, the EU-Western Balkans summit declaration will be issues which the Western Balkan partners are expected to endorse.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Trump assault opens EU rift as leaders split on US strategy (Financial Times)
• Two trade deals, one deadline: Brussel’s high-stakes year-end push (Euractiv)
• Europe’s housing costs akin to ‘new pandemic’, warns Barcelona mayor (The Guardian)
• Ireland has second highest emissions per head in EU and must do more to reach net zero by 2025 (Irish Times)
• Forget the far right. The kids want a ‘United States of Europe’ (Politico)

8-14 December 2025

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

On Wednesday 10 December 2025, the European Commission will host the second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Brussels. European Commissioner President, Ursula von der Leyen, will open the event with a keynote speech. The Conference will bring together more than 75 delegations and more than 35 ministers from EU Member States and partners, along with high-level representatives from international organisations.

They will discuss and agree on new measures to strengthen global cooperation in breaking the criminal business model of migrant smuggling, which exploits vulnerable people and puts lives at risk. Executive-Vice President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Maria Luís Albuquerque will participate. Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, will deliver both the opening remarks and will conclude the Conference jointly with Executive-Vice President Virkkunen. 

European Council

This week the focus of the European Council focus is on preparations for the summit on 18/19 December. As part of these preparations, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, is meeting Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheal Martin in Dublin on 9 December 2025 to discuss the EU Budget, Ukraine, enlargement and security issues. A raft of Council meetings are being held this week to set the stage for the European Council meeting. They include:

Council of the EU

Competitiveness Council

On Monday 8 December 2025, the Competitiveness Council will meet to discuss the internal market and industry. European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, and Implementation and Simplification, Valdis Dombrovskis, will give a presentation on the ‘Annual Overview Report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement’.  Ministers will also discuss and agree on positions for the Mercosur trade deal’s safeguard clause

As requested by the French delegation, the ministers will also hold a policy debate on how to better ensure surveillance of products sold via e-commerce platforms. Ministers will also discuss the removal of barriers in the internal market and unlocking the potential for investments in new innovative green technologies.

The Competitiveness Council will hold another meeting on 9 December 2025, this time focusing on research and space. During this meeting, ministers are expected to adopt the Council position on the regulation amending the regulation on the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking. Ministers will also exchange views on the Horizon Europe MFF package. Finally, Ministers will also take stock of a progress report on the EU Space Act. 

A major meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on 10/11 December to set fishing quotas for the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Justice and Home Affairs Council

On 9 December 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council will hold a meeting where Ministers will exchange views on progress in the Pact and Migration and Asylum, the solidarity pool, the fight against impunity regarding crimes committed in Ukraine. Ministers and will also approve conclusions on model provisions for EU criminal law.

Eurogroup

The Eurogroup will hold a meeting on 11 December 2025. This is the first meeting since the resignation of Ireland’s Paschal Donohoe as President of the Eurogroup. Makis Keravnos, the Minister of Finance of Cyprus, has taken over as the Acting President until a new one is elected. This meeting marks Simon Harris’s first Eurogroup meeting as the new Irish Minister of Finance. On Monday 1 December to 2025, he met with Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Minister of Economy and Finance of Greece, in Dublin, who made his case to become the next President of the Eurogroup. He is one of two candidates, along with Vincent Van Peteghem, the Belgian Minister of Finance, vying for the role.  While in Dublin, Minister Pierrakakis also spoke at the IIEA.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

The Economics and Financial Affairs Council will meet on 12 December 2025, where they will take stock of the negotiations with the European Parliament on the EU customs reform package. The Council will also tackle other topics such as the single currency package, the digital euro, the savings and investments union, financial services, and the economic consequences of EU legislation. 

European Parliament

Plenary Preparations

Political groups will use this week to prepare for this year’s final plenary session, which is taking place from 15 to 18 December. During this session, the 2025 Sakharov Prize will be awarded to journalists Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus, and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia. The plenary will also discuss the December European Council summit and the European affordable housing plan and will debate and vote on simplifying EU agriculture laws.

There will also be a discussion on the European citizens’ initiative ‘My voice, my choice: for safe and accessible abortion’. MEPs will hold final votes on phasing out Russian natural gas imports, on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, and on the deforestation regulation. They will also vote on the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and on own-initiative reports on military mobility and European defence readiness for 2030. 

Sustainability and EU Climate Law

On 8 December 2025, European Parliament and Council negotiators will try reach an agreement on a proposal to ease sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations for companies, as part of the “Omnibus 1” package. 

The following day, negotiators will seek an agreement on a Commission proposal to amend the EU Climate Law, introducing a new, intermediate and binding 2040 EU climate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared with 1990 levels. 

Mercosur Trade Deal

On Monday, 8 December 2025, the International Trade Committee will adopt its position on a proposed safeguard clause for the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries, intended to protect the EU’s most sensitive agricultural sectors. 

EU Foreign Affairs Priorities

On 9 December 2025, MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee will quiz the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, (HRVP), Kaja Kallas on a broad range of topical issues.

EU Pharmaceutical Policy

On Wednesday 10 December 2025, the European Parliaments and Council will try to conclude their negotiations on revamping EU pharmaceutical legislation. The goal is to foster innovation, and enhance the security of supply, accessibility, and affordability of medicines.

Long-term budget

On 11 December 2025, the Budgets Committee will hold its first discussion on its draft interim report on the MFF for 2028-2034. The report outlines the Parliament’s negotiating mandate for upcoming talks with Member States, detailing figures for each EU policy and programme. The plenary vote is scheduled for May. 

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Greek finance minister to meet Simon Harris in Dublin and press case to become next Eurogroup president (The Irish Times)
• Brussels delays ‘made in Europe’ plan after backlash (Financial Times)
• European Council president warns US not to interfere in Europe’s affairs (The Guardian)
• MEPs aim to break EU budget jobs deadlock by Christmas (Euractiv)

1-7 December 2025

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Following on from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, representing the Commission and the EU at the EU-African Union Summit and the G20, partnership is a key theme again this week. During her time at the EU-African Union Summit and G20, President von der Leyen emphasised the need for greater trade and investment links with the Global South, as well as the need for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. This week, the EU will engage in proactive discussions with both Armenia and Kazakhstan.

EU-Armenia Partnership Council

On 2 December 2025, the 6th Partnership Council between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia will take place and will be chaired by Ararat Mirzoyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. The EU delegation will be led by Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and VP of the European Commission, and Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, will also take part. The bilateral meeting will review the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, as well economic, trade and sectoral cooperation but is not a step in the enlargement process. It will involve a political dialogue on democracy, reforms in the area rule of law and human rights and discussions on migration, mobility and visa liberalisation. Regional and international developments, including on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, and security and defence cooperation will also feature on the agenda of the high-level meeting.

EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council

On 1 December, the Cooperation Council between the EU and Kazakhstan will hold its 22nd meeting. The meeting will be chaired by Yermek Kosherbayev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, will lead the EU delegation. The meeting will discuss the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, marking its 10th anniversary since its signature, and 5th anniversary since it came into force. The delegations will also exchange views on political, economic and trade matters, cooperation, and regional international developments.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

The next Foreign Affairs Council meeting with defence ministers will take place on Monday, 1 December 2025. The ministers will discuss EU military support for Ukraine, as well as defence readiness, focusing on the implementation of the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030.

The EU’s Future Trade Policy

The Danish EU Presidency is hosting a conference in collaboration with Danish Industry and Think Tank EUROPA on The EU’s Future Trade Policy. Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, will take part in the conference, as will Cecilia Malmström, the former European Commissioner for Trade.

Democracy and the Rule of Law

The Copenhagen Conference on Democracy and the Rule of Law will place from 4-5 December 2025. It will be a key event in the Danish presidency's agenda, which includes a strong focus on cultural and democratic dimensions of European unity. It will bring together key stakeholder to discuss the state of democracy and the rule of law in the EU, explore how to better respond to challenges to our democracies, and what role the EU can play. European Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, will be taking part, as well as Koen Lenaerts, the President of the European Court of Justice.

European Parliament

Conference of Presidents

President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. will be in Nicosia, Cyprus on 1 and 2 December 2025 for the Conference of Presidents’ visit for the upcoming Cypriot Presidency. On 1 December 2025, President Metsola will meet Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, and will participate in the Conference of Presidents’ meeting with the government of Cyprus. The following day, President Metsola will join the Conference of Presidents’ meeting with Annita Demetriou, President of Cyprus’ House or Representatives, and with the leaders and representatives of the political parties in the House of Representatives.

EU-US Relations

The Foreign Affairs Committee will take stock of EU-US political relations on Tuesday 2 December 2025 MEPs are set to call for a more coherent approach to the transatlantic partnership, urge the US to strengthen its leadership role in supporting Ukraine, welcome commitments to end the war in Gaza, and encourage both sides to work towards the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade.

EU Trade Priorities

On Tuesday 2 December 2025, MEPs in the International Trade Committee will discuss the upcoming adoption of two regulations, on the implementation of the tariff deal with the US and on Mercosur agreement safeguards.

Dialogue with Christine Lagarde

On Wednesday 3 December 2025, MEPs in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will hold the regular monetary dialogue with Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Banks. This will be followed by a discussion with her in her role as the Chair of the European Systemic Risk Board.

Appointment of European Public Prosecutor

The Civil Liberties Committee will hear the proposed candidates to lead the European Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday 3 December 2025. After the hearing, the committee will decide on their order of preference. The European Chief Prosecutor is appointed by the European Parliament and the European Council for a seven-year period. Laura Codruța Kövesi currently serves in the role, having been appointed in October 2019. 

Disability Rights Week

This week marks the third edition of the European Parliament’s Disability Rights Week. The week will highlight the rights and inclusion of person with additional needs across all areas of EU policy. Committees will organise hearings and other activities focusing on the rights of persons with additional needs, identifying barriers, sharing good practices, and strengthening accessibility.

Other News

Politico Sustainable Future Summit

The 2025 Politico Sustainable Future Summit will take place on 2 and 3 December 2025 in Brussels. This summit will explore the challenges surrounding the EU’s trajectory towards a greener and more competitive future with participants including Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, and Elisabeth Werner, Director General of DG AGRI at the European Commission and Anthony Wheland, DG COMP, amongst others.

Costas Kadis, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and the Irish Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the marine, Timmy Dooley, will take part in a session on the EU Ocean Pact, which was signed in June 2025, entitled “Can Europe translate ocean protection pledges into real world impact”.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Macron, Merz and Starmer are forming a new trilateral leadership (The Economist)
• Who killed Europe’s Single Market Dream? (Financial Times)
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP plenary debate on the EU position on the proposed pan and EU engagement towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine (26 November 2025)
• Opening speech by President von der Leyen at the 7th European Union – African Union Summit (24 November 2025)
• Capitals push for major restructuring of EU institutions to curb costs (Euractiv)

24 – 30 November 2025

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

On 24 November 2025, Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, will host a business roundtable and Implementation Dialogue on EU-US trade and investment relations, with the Participation of Howard Lutnick the US Secretary of Commerce, and Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative. Commissioner Šefčovič will also participate in the Foreign Affairs Council that day.

On 24 November 2025, Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration will meet Jim O’Callaghan, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration in Dublin. Commissioner Brunner will hold talks with Minister O’Callaghan over the Migration Pact. He will also receive briefings from senior gardaí and the head of the Criminal Assets Bureau, as well as paying a visit to the Citywest IPAS centre.

EU-Chile Joint Council

On 26 November 2025, the EU-Chile Joint Council will hold its 1st meeting in Brussels, following the start of provisional application of the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement on 1 June 2025. The meeting will be co-chaired by Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Alberto van Klaveren, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile. The parties will discuss key aspects of EU-Chile relations, including the state of implementation of the Advanced Framework Agreement. The parties will also touch on global and regional issues, and foreign policy issues.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

Following the US-EU Joint Statement on 21 August 2025, EU trade ministers will meet on 24 November in Brussels to discuss the state of and prospects for US-EU trade relations. The Ministers are expected to be joined by Howard Lutnick, the US secretary of Commerce, and Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, over lunch to discuss transatlantic trade cooperation.

Ministers will also exchange views on the state of play and future prospects for EU-China trade relations based on the most recent developments, including the announcement by Chinese authorities of new export controls on rare earth elements and their subsequent year-long suspension.

European Council

On Monday 24 November 2025, following the conclusion of the G20 Summit in South Africa, which took place from 22 to 23 November, the EU-AU Summit will commence in Luanda, Angola, marking 25 years of EU-AU partnership. The theme of the summit is ‘Promoting peace and prosperity through effective multilateralism’. Leaders will participate in two thematic sessions to discuss how to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as, peace, security, governance and multilateralism, prosperity, people migration and mobility.  There will be a joint press conference on Tuesday 25 November 2025, with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, João Lourenço, the President of Angola, and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chair of the African Union Commission.

European Parliament

The European Parliament plenary will be held from 24-27 November in Strasbourg.

The first item on the agenda, according to EP sources, is a debate on Hungary with Commissioner McGrath, based on a Civil Liberties Committee report highlighting concerns about the state of EU values in the country, including reports of judicial interference, and government pressure on civil society amongst others, Police cooperation on migrant smuggling is also on the agenda. A discussion will take place on draft legislation equipping Europol to contribute more effectively to national efforts against migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

On 25 November 2025, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, MEPs will debate the measures necessary to improve EU action to prevent and combat violence against women and ensure the effective implementation of new rules. European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, will participate in this debate.

Safer Online Platforms

On 25 November 2025, MEPs will debate their proposals to ban harmful practices like addictive design and gambling-like game feature, as well as establishing an age threshold of 16 years for accessing social media. MEPS will vote on these proposals on 26 November, after which a press conference with the rapporteur will take place.

European Defence Industry Programme

On 25 November 2025, the European Parliament is set to approve the first-ever European defence industry programme (EDIP), designed to strengthen the EU’s defence industry and increase defence support for Ukraine. A press conference with the lead MEPs will take place the following day.

EU 2026 Budget

The European Parliament is set to adopt the EU’s budget for 2026 on 26 November 2025. MEPs secured additional funding during negotiations with member states for research, competitiveness, and security. The rapporteurs will hold a press conference after the vote.

Other News

Academic Freedom in Action 2025 Conference

The Academic Freedom in Action 2025 Conference will take place from 25 to 26 November in Strasbourg. This conference will bring together parliamentarians, state representatives, academics, civil society actors, international organisations, and legal experts to take stock of the current situation, share innovative practices, and explore avenues for coordinated action. Organised by the Council of Europe Education Department, this event is to shape the collective response to increasing threats, and it will make the launch of the Report on the Erosion of Academic Freedom and the Academic Freedom Insights.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• EU countries ready to agree to von der Leyen’s budget merger of farm, regional funds (Euractiv)
• ‘At least a year’ before agreement on EU budget – Byrne (RTE)
• EU to tighten investment rules to stand up to China (Financial Times)
• EU missing the boat on AI, Lagarde warns (Irish Times)

17 – 23 November 2025

Activities in European Institutions

This week’s review features several international engagements for the EU and its member states. Starting with the EU/AU summit in Luanda, Angola, the EU will also be represented at the G20 summit in South Africa, and at the COP 30 in Belem, Brazil.

European Commission

On 18 November 2025, European Commission President von der Leyen, will deliver a speech at the EU Enlargement Forum. The EU Enlargement Forum is the European Commission’s flagship initiative to elevate the conversation on EU enlargement as a shared political, societal, and generational project. EU-AU Summit, 24-25 November 2025

EU-AU Summit

On 24-25 November 2025, the leaders of the European Union (EU) member states and the countries of the African Union (AU) will meet in Luanda, Angola for the seventh EU-African Union summit. This multilateral summit between the EU27 and 55 leaders of African countries will be co-chaired by the President of Angola, João Lourenço, and the President of the European Council, António Costa. The EU will also be represented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

On Thursday 20 November 2025, a leaders meeting will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, between President of the European Council, António Costa, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosal.

Ireland to attend G20 Summit in South Africa

On 22 November 2025, South Africa will host the G20 summit of the world’s top economies, the first to be held in Africa. The themes of the summit are "solidarity, equality, sustainability". President Ursula Von der Leyen, representing the EU and Antonio Gutteres, Secretary General of the UN will be in attendance as will France, Germany and Italy. Although the United States has been involved in G20 working groups throughout this year, US President, Donald Trump, is boycotting the summit and Russian President, Vladimir Putin is unable to attend as South Africa would be legally obliged to act on the International Criminal Court warrant for President Putin's arrest on war crimes charges. Russia and China will be represented by high-level officials instead.

Although Ireland is not a member of the G20, it has been invited as a guest by the South African Presidency, and an Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, will lead the Irish delegation. Ireland has close bilateral relations with South Africa going back to 1984 when employees of Dunnes Stores refused to sell grapefruits originating in South Africa in protest against apartheid. Later, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa alongside the then President of Finland, Martii Ahtisaari, played a crucial role as weapons inspectors during decommissioning in the Northern Ireland Peace process which led to the Good Friday Agreement. Furthermore, a year after the instigation by South Africa a case of genocide against Israel in the International Court of Justice, an Irish barrister, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, presented part of South Africa’s case against Israel under the Genocide Convention in December 2O24. Finally, Ireland has strong trade ties with South Africa, which is its largest trading partner in Africa.

EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council

The Cooperation Council between the EU and Tajikistan will hold its 11th meeting on 19 November 2025. The meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin. The Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, will lead the EU delegation on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The meeting focus on progress towards the signing of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Tajikistan, as well as justice, human rights, and economics and trade matters.

EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum

From 20 to 21 November 2025, the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum will be held in Brussels. Chaired by High Representative, Kaja Kallas, this forum will discuss building a resilient prosperous and secure future, in support of the rules-based international order, free trade, and the principles of the UN Charter.

Council of the EU

General Affairs Council, (GAC)

The General Affairs Council will hold a meeting on 17 November 2025 where Ministers will hold a policy debate on the EU’s MFF 2028-2034. The Council will also begin preparations for the European Council meeting on 18/19 December, as well as taking stock of EU-UK relations.

Foreign Affairs Council, (FAC)

The Foreign Affairs Councill will meet on 20 November 2025 in Brussels, where EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the Sudan, and the Sahel region.  

European Council President

On 17 November 2025, President Costa will deliver a keynote speech at a seminar “30 years in the EU: Looking back into the future”. This seminar will analyse the economic, political, and societal impact of EU membership, as well as the drivers of EU enlargement and what explore what the EU’s next thirty years will look like.

European Parliament

EP Represented at COP 30

A delegation from the European Parliament will attend the 30th UN climate conference (COP 30) this week, in Belem, Brazil. MEPs will stress that all sectors must play a part in reducing emissions and achieving climate neutrality. They will make the case for all countries to contribute their fair share towards providing adequate climate finance. MEPs will also advocate in favour of ending fossil fuel dependence, phasing out related subsidies and accelerating the energy transition.

First EU Parliamentary Democracy Forum

On Wednesday 19 November 2025, the Parliament will host the first EU Parliamentary Democracy forum, bringing together members of national and EU parliaments to discuss ways to reinforce democratic systems. This will include the recently proposed European Democracy Shield, designed to counter election interference and strengthen resilience. The President of the European Parliament, Ms Roberta Metsola, will open the event with Danish Parliament Speaker, Søren Gade, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Maria Ressa, who is the author of a book entitled: “How to Stand up to a Dictator”.

Other News

Enlargement

On 17 November 2025, the seventh meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania will be held in Brussels. This meeting will serve to open negotiations with Albania on resources, agriculture and cohesion. In the presentation of the enlargement reports in September 2025, Montenegro was the leading candidate on track for accession followed by Albania, which has already opened five out of six negotiation clusters since it commenced negotiations. Support for EU accession in Albania is reported to be the highest amongst the candidate countries at 91%. However, successful accession will depend on continuing reforms in the area of rule of law and the judiciary.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Speech by President António Costa at the COP 30 session on forests and oceans (6 November 2025)
• Coalitions of the willing are Europe’s path to ever closer union (The Financial Times)
• EU Commission lifts growth forecast despite ‘adverse’ economic environment (Euractiv)
• EU Democracy Shield: the slings, arrows of disinformation (RTE News)

10 – 16 November 2025

Activities in European Institutions

On 9-10 November 2025 the fourth EU-CELAC summit will take place in Colombia and will bring together the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to discuss a wide range of topics including the defence of multilateralism, trade and investment, and the green and digital transitions. Both the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa and Commission President von der Leyen will attend. President Costa will co-chair summit with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petra.

European Commission

President von der Leyen will meet the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola and the Danish PM, Mette Frederiksen, whose country currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU on Monday,10 November 2025 in an attempt to avoid a clash between the European Parliament and the European Commission over the MFF. This meeting comes in advance of the plenary debate on the new 2028 – 2034 Multiannual Financial Framework on 12 November, 2025.  According to Politico, (see link below), the Commission tweaked its own proposal in a letter on Sunday 9 November for a few reasons: MEPs are opposed to proposed cuts to regional and agricultural payments, which account for almost half of the budget, because they feel that it cuts regional leaders and the Parliament out of decision-making on these important issues and give too much power to national governments; second, the proposal to merge regional and agricultural budget into one envelope would give national governments more sway than regional and local leaders  in how the funding would be spent; third, the EP would like a greater role in how the EU’s public funding is spent.

European Democracy Shield

The European Commission is planning to publish its EU Democracy Shield, (EUDS), proposal on 13 November 2025, which aims to safeguard information integrity in the EU and to fortify Europe’s defences against foreign interference in democratic processes across the EU. The EPP has called for a “concrete action plan”, and has declared that the “time for piecemeal or complacent solutions is over”. In December 2025, the first report by the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the EUDS is expected.

Council of the EU

Eurogroup

The Eurogroup, which is chaired by Paschal Donohoe, will hold a meeting on 12 November to               review macroeconomic and fiscal developments, Euro area challenges, and fiscal policy coordination in the group. Ministers from member states involved in banking union will also be briefed by the chairs of the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the Single Resolution board as part of their twice-yearly reports on the banking union.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council is meeting on 13 and 14 November 2025. The meeting on 13 November will cover a number of topics including customs, energy taxation, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the G20. The meeting on 14 November 2025 will focus solely on the EU’s annual budget for 2026.

European Council

President Costa will be delivering a report to the European Parliament on 13 November 2025 on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025. The MEPs will assess the outcome of this Council meeting in a debate with President Costa and President von der Leyen. The October Council meeting focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration.

European Parliament

MFF 2028-2036 Plenary Debate

The European Parliament is scheduled to hold a debate on the architecture and governance of the next MFF on 12 November 2025. President von der Leyen will participate in this debate. Lead MEPs have warned that setting the spending ceiling at 1.26% of the EU-27’s gross national income, as proposed by the Commission in July 2025, will force cuts to flagship programmes. The proposal also falls short of the Parliament’s expectations regarding democratic oversight and scrutiny, the EU’s agriculture and cohesion policy, and the need for more regional and local authority involvement.

European Climate Law

The European Parliament Committee for the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety is scheduled on 10 November to vote on its position on the European Climate Law, including its 2040 climate target. Members of the EPP are in favour of delaying the start of the Emissions Trading System 2 until 2030. A plenary debate on the European Climate Law is expected to take place during the 12-13 November session.

2026 EU Budget

Negotiators from the Parliament and the Council’s Danish presidency will attempt to reach an agreement this week on the EU’s annual budget for 2026. The Parliament’s position, adopted back in October 2025 restored cuts made by the Council to the Commission’s draft budget and proposed top-ups to key programmes. If agreement on a compromise is reached by the negotiators, and once the Council formally adopts it, a vote is expected at the November plenary sessions in Strasbourg.

Other News

The European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) annual conference is taking place on 13 November 2025. Co-hosted by the European Commission and the European Parliament, this conference will focus on the future and the strategic choices facing the European Union as it charts its own course on the coming decade and more.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• EU Enlargement: No Big Bang, just a challenging trickle (RTE News)
• Commission makes changes to its own budget proposal to avoid Parliament rebellion (Politico)
• EU pitches new agency to fight Russian disinformation and bots (Euractiv)
• EU faces rift over carbon border tax revision (The Financial Times)

3 November- 9 November

Several EU leaders, including President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola will travel to Belem in Brazil for the UN COP30. From 6-21 November, world leaders, scientists, NGOs and civil society will meet to discuss actions to tackle climate change. The EU will present its nationally determined contributions (NDC) at the summit, which are submitted every 5 years.

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Public Consultation on Europol

The European Commission is reviewing the current mandate of Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. The EU hopes to strengthen Europol's operational role so that it can respond to the evolving security landscape and tackle online and offline crime and terrorism.

The Commission is seeking inputs to the consultation from public authorities as well as private stakeholders, such as members of the public, academia, NGOs, and private companies, within the EU and beyond. The consultation is open until 15 January 2026 and can be accessed here.

Sustainable Transport Investment Plan

On 5 November 2025, Commissioner Tzitzikostas, the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, will unveil the High-Speed Rail Master Plan and Sustainable Transport Investment Plan for the EU. The Plan will leverage public and private investment, prioritising fuel projects under existing programmes such as Horizon Europe, the Innovation Fund, and InvestEU. The EIB and other financial institutions will be involved to mitigate risk for private investors. The plan includes additional funding, such as €570 million for alternative fuel infrastructure and €200 million for maritime hydrogen projects through the hydrogen bank.

Enlargement Package 2025

The European Commission’s enlargement package for 2025 is expected to be unveiled on 4 November 2025 by HR/VP Kaja Kallas. The annual ‘enlargement package’ is a set of documents which includes an assessment of the progress made by EU candidate countries and country-specific reports on progress in each country on its alignment with the EU. This year, the third document in the package will include an internal EU-Reform review, the “pre-enlargement policy review”, on the changes the current EU members should adopt to accommodate new member states under three headings: governance, decision-making, and budget. There are concerns amongst some existing EU member states about cohesion policy funds, and a fear that an enlarged EU would move even slower than now on matters where unanimity is required. The imperative of Enlargement for security and stability in the region is balanced by the necessity of internal EU reform to enable the EU to be ready for further expansion.

Council of the EU

Informal Meeting of Culture and Media Ministers

The Danish presidency will host an informal meeting of EU culture and media ministers in Copenhagen on 3-4 November 2025. Culture ministers will discuss recovering and supporting Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Media ministers will focus on reliable information and European content as a foundation of democracy.

European Council

President Costa will speak at the Euronews’ EU Enlargement summit on 4 November 2025, where he will also meet with the leaders of Moldova, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

On Thursday, 6 November 2025, President Costa will travel to Belém, Brazil for the UN Climate Summit (COP30).

European Parliament

Pro-EU MEPS call on European Commission to amend national plans for MFF 2028-2034

EPP, S&D, Greens/EFA and Renew Europe have rejected the Commission’s proposal for the next EU long-term budget in a letter sent to President von der Leyen on 30 October 2025. One of the most contentious points concerns the so-called “National and Regional Partnership Plans”, which concentrates nearly half of the EU funds to be disbursed. MEPs from the centrist political groups fear that the new scheme will centralise the budget and sideline the regions as well as impact on the European Parliament, effectively handing more power to the Commission and the member states.

Another contentious issue underlined in the letter is the merging of the cohesion and agricultural funds, which the co-signatories would like to see funded separately.

“Pooling these policies together dilutes their distinct role,” MEPs say in the letter, adding that “dedicated budgets per policy would ensure more predictability and certainty for its beneficiaries”.

Short Term Rentals and Housing Affordability

On 4 November, the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union will host a public hearing on Tourism, Short-Term Rentals and Housing Affordability: Balancing Economic Growth with Housing Accessibility. The European Commission has launched a public consultation for its first ever European Affordable Housing Plan.  It is proposing to change state-aid rules (Services of General Economic Interest rules) to speed up the provision of state aid for affordable housing

Other News

In the Dutch General Elections results, Rob Jetten’s centre-left D66 Party is poised to lead the next government in the Netherlands, having won a resounding victory over the far-right Party for Freedom, (PVV), led by Geert Wilders. As no party won an outright majority, discussions on the formation of a coalition will commence.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Joint Statement by Executive Vice-President Virkunnen, High Representative Kallas, and Commissioner McGrath on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (1 November 2025)
• Speech by President António Costa at the Euronews EU Enlargement Summit (4 November 2025)
• EU moves to prevent ‘Trojan horses’ from joining bloc (Financial Times)
• The EU wants to help fix Europe’s housing crisis, can it? (Irish Times)

27 October – 2 November

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

The College of Commissioners returns to regular scheduling after unveiling the Commission’s work programme for 2026 last week.  The annual work programme sets out the key strategies, action plans and legislative initiatives for the European Union. 

RESourceEU Plan

In a speech at the Berlin Global Dialogue on Saturday, 25 October, President von der Leyen announced that the European Commission will soon present a plan to reduce the EU’s dependence on China for critical raw materials. This plan, called the RESourceEU plan, would follow a similar model as REPowerEU, that was introduced in 2022 to phase out Russian fossil fuels. The EU would speed up work on partnerships with countries like Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Chile and Greenland.

EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs

Sarajevo hosts the Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs on 30-31 October. Commissioner McGrath and Commissioner Brunner are participating in the forum. Key topics on the agenda include the online dimension of security, and strengthening migration and asylum management. The forum will also feature the signing of the Joint Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism.

Council of the EU

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

On 27-28 October, ministers with agriculture and fisheries portfolios meet to discuss fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea. Ministers will discuss the post-2027 CAP proposals on green architecture and the market situation.

European Council

At the European Council meeting on 23 October, the Council held an exchange of views with President Zelenskyy. EU leaders committed to ensuring that Ukraine’s financial needs be covered for the next two years, and requested the Commission to put forward financial options as soon as possible. The Council also approved the 19^th package of sanctions on Russia.

Welcoming the news of the ceasefire in Gaza, the European Council committed to continuing its humanitarian support, through the Cyprus Maritime Corridor and its missions at the Rafah Crossing Point.

The European Council took stock of the defence agenda being carried out across EU member states. It held an in-depth discussion on how to further reinforce EU competitiveness, focusing on simplification, the green transition and a sovereign digital transition. It called on the Commission to take the implementation of the Single Market Strategy by 2028 forward ambitiously. The Council specifically welcomed the work done on the simplification omnibus packages on investment and the carbon border adjustment mechanism. It also specifically called on the Commission to propose without delay an optional 28^th company law regime allowing innovative start-up companies to scale up. This recently published IIEA blog examines the 28^th Regime and its implications for Ireland.

In an unusual turn of events, housing was on the European Council agenda, and in its conclusions, the Council called on the Commission to present a plan for affordable housing.

European Parliament

This week, European Parliamentary delegations travel across the world. The delegation from the Committee on Foreign Affairs travels to Nigeria and Ghana, while the delegation from the Security and Defence Committee travels to Djibouti to reaffirms the EU’s commitment to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The delegation of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development visits Brazil to hold talks with government officials, farmers, food producers and researchers on Brazilian agriculture.

President Metsola’s Agenda

President Metsola is in Washington DC this week, where she is participating in the World Economic Forum’s strategic dialogue on tech, digital and artificial intelligence. She will also meet with industry representatives, including META, Airbus, and Spotify.

Other News

Dutch Parliamentary Elections

The Netherlands goes to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new lower house of parliament. The four-party Dutch coalition government collapsed in June, over disagreements on much stricter migration policy proposals. The results were too close to call on Thursday afternoon, with the far-right PVV and the liberal D66 tied on 26 seats as the last results trickled in. The leader of D66, Rob Jetten, has claimed the results as a victory for the centrists, stating that “it is possible to beat populist and extreme-right movements”.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

1. EU Preparing to Train Soldiers in Post Ceasefire Ukraine says Top General (Euractiv)
2. Speech by President von der Leyen at the 2025 Berlin Global Dialogue (European Commission)
3. EU finally takes ownership of housing crisis (Politico)
4. Europe needs a fix to its rules on markets and finance (Financial Times)

20 October – 26 October 2025   

European leaders at Council, Commission and Parliamentary levels are shaping up for an extremely active and important week during which the European Council meets; the European Commission unveils its work programme for 2026; and the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg for its second plenary session in October.

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Work Programme 2026

The European Commission will unveil its proposed work programme for 2026 to the European Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, 21 October 2025. The programme outlines upcoming legislation, proposals and planned repeals that will form the basis of the Commission’s work for next year. A draft version of the proposal shows that next year’s plans include a legislative proposal for the ‘28^th Regime’, which would act as a pan-EU legal regime for innovative companies who wish to expand their business across the single market.

Weekly College Meeting

The College of Commissioners will meet in Strasbourg in advance of the European Commission’s presentation of its Work Programme 2026. The Commissioners will discuss the 2025 Annual Overview Report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement, presented by Commissioner Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification. Executive Vice President Fitto, responsible for Cohesion and Reforms will present on the Commission’s Communication on the Generational Renewal in Agriculture.

EU-Egypt Summit

The first ever EU-Egypt summit will take place in Brussels on 22 October, with President von der Leyen and President Costa representing the EU. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi will represent Egypt. The focus of the summit is strengthening bilateral relations, both politically and economically, based on the objectives set out in the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership. Global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, migration and security, will also be discussed by the leaders.

Eleven human rights organisations, including a number based in Egypt, EuroMed Rights, and Human Rights Watch, have called on the EU to ensure that human rights are also on the agenda in the summit. They warn of the repression and intolerance of the Egyptian authorities to peaceful dissent and criticism of the government and urge the EU to use this opportunity to push for structural reforms in Egypt.

Council of the EU

Foreign Affairs Council

The Foreign Affairs Council met on 20 October to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine, at which EU Foreign Ministers were joined by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha. High Representative Kallas addressed the Council about Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of ships that seek to evade sanctions placed on Russian oil exports.

Energy Council

Also on Monday, 20 October, EU energy ministers met and reached an agreement on a proposal to phase out the remaining gas imports that the EU receives from Russia (REPowerEU). The ban will come into effect for short-term contracts from next year and a full import ban will be introduced in 2028.

Environment Council

EU environment ministers are meeting on Tuesday, 21 October where they are expected to adopt Council conclusions in advance of the COP30 conference, taking place in November in Brazil. The EU had been expected to present its concrete plan on climate targets for 2035 at the UN General Assembly in September, but due to divisions between member states, could only reach a ‘statement of intent’.

 Environment ministers will also exchange views on the European Ocean Pact, an initiative that aims to restore marine health, support coastal economics and enhance maritime security. Under the Nature Restoration Regulation, at least 20% of sea areas must be restored by 2030. Ireland has taken an active role in ocean governance and is currently president of the Atlantic Strategy Committee. An explainer on Ireland’s role in ocean governance at an EU and international level, published by the IIEA can be read here.

General Affairs Council

Ministers will meet in advance of the European Council meeting on 23-24 October to discuss draft conclusions. Ministers will also debate the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034. The ninth hearing of Hungary under the Article 7 procedure will also take place in the General Affairs Council. At the eighth hearing in May 2025, exchanges focused on the functioning of the constitutional system and checks and balances, the fight against corruption, the protection of civic space, academic and media freedom, and the protection of LGBTQI rights in Hungary.

European Council

Three weeks since the informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen, leaders of the EU member states will reconvene in Brussels to continue discussions on defence and Ukraine. Specifically, the leaders will address Russia’s frozen assets and the 19^th sanctions package against Russia. Leaders will discuss the EU’s competitiveness in relation to simplification, the interconnection between green transition and industrial policy, and digital sovereignty in the EU. Further down the agenda but certainly not less important, are the topics of the situation in the Middle East, housing and migration.

Afterwards, EU leaders will convene for the Euro Summit, that will focus on the capital markets union, the international role of the euro, and the digital euro.

European Parliament

The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg for its plenary session this week, with a bumper package of debates, resolutions, and formal sittings.

EU Priorities for 2026

MEPs will receive the European Commission’s proposals for the Work Programme 2026 and offer their initial assessments of the policy and legislative initiatives for the year ahead.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

The 2025 winner of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be announced in an awards ceremony on 21 October. Ms Caruana Galizia was a Maltese journalist who was assassinated for her role in investigating government corruption and uncovering links between the online gambling industry in Malta and organised crime.

2025 Sakharov Prize

On 22 October, President Metsola will announce the laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The three finalists are (in alphabetical order): Imprisoned journalists fighting for freedom, Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia; Journalists and Humanitarian Aid Workers in Palestine and all conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Red Crescent, and UNRWA; and Serbian students. After the prize is announced, Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, opposition leaders from Belarus, and past winners of the Prize will address the plenary.

Institutional Consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations

The European Parliament will debate the institutional challenges that could face an enlarged EU. A report published in October by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, argued that he report shows how the cost of “no reforms” – in the institutional architecture and decision-making for the enlarged Union of more than 30 Member States – is too high and risky. The report suggests possible ways of implementing the pre-enlargement institutional reforms. These include availing of the flexibilities offered by the current Treaties (passerelle clauses, enhanced cooperation, constructive abstentions, permanent structured cooperation and opt-out mechanisms) and targeted key Treaty amendments.

Other News

Irishman Elected as President of the European Economic and Social Committee

Seamus Boland, a farmer from Offaly, has been elected as the President of the European Economic and Social Committee for its 2025-2028 mandate. The EESC acts as an institutional forum that represents civil society, working to ensure that European policies and legislation are based on on-the-ground experiences. It represents different socio-occupational interest groups (employers, workers and civil society organisations), and its opinions are addressed to the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The president of EESC is responsible for the orderly conduct of the Committee's business and represents the EESC in relations with EU institutions, national and international bodies.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

1. New Turkish Cypriot president pledges to resume peace talks (The Irish Times)
2. Von der Leyen to push even harder on housing in 2026 (Politico)
3. Irish farmer who left school at 13 now holds meetings with von der Leyen and Macron (The Irish Times)
4. Deforestation proposal eases rules for farmers - but will Parliament approve? (Euractiv)
5. France's democratic crisis is showing increasingly alarming symptoms (Le Monde)

13 October – 19 October 2025   

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

The EU’s new Digital Border System

A new digital exit/entry system to the EU for non-EU travellers became operational on 12 October 2025. The system will gather passport, biometric, and entry/exit data and replaces the current practice of manually stamping passports. The system will be progressively rolled out over six months.

Political Advertising Rules

The Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising became fully applicable on 10 October 2025. From now on, all political ads will have to be clearly labelled and accompanied by basic information about who paid for them and how much they cost, and whether they are targeted toward a specific audience. Though the Regulation does not ban political advertising, big tech companies including Google and Meta have opted to stop showing political ads in the EU altogether. Over 18 civil society organisations have called on these companies to reconsider their decisions, arguing that public awareness drives, advocacy initiatives and NGO fundraising campaigns will all be affected by the platforms’ decisions to withdraw completely from political advertising.

President von der Leyen visits the Western Balkans

President von der Leyen is travelling to the Western Balkans this week, where she has a number of political engagements. She meets the Prime Minister and President of Albania on Monday, 13 October 2025 and later addresses the opening ceremony of the first EU – Western Balkans Investment Forum, taking place in Tirana on 13–14 October 2025. The event is supported by the European Commission and is an opportunity for the governments of the six Western Balkan countries, senior EU officials, CEOs, and investors to strengthen economic cooperation and promote investment opportunities across the Western Balkans and the EU. The forum focuses on sectors including energy, bioeconomy, digital transformation, manufacturing and the circular economy.

Von der Leyen’s visit continues in Montenegro, where she will meet the President and Prime Minister, before travelling on to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and finally North Macedonia – with meetings with the heads of state/government in each country.

Weekly Commission Agenda

The College of Commissioners will meet on Wednesday, 16 October 2025 for their weekly meeting where they will discuss the Roadmap for European Defence Readiness; A global vision for global energy and climate diplomacy; and the Pact for the Mediterranean.

Council of the EU

The Justice and Home Affairs Council met on 13-14 October 2025. Ministers of Justice held a debate about the future of Eurojust, the EU criminal justice agency, and how it can further its support to national prosecuting authorities.

At a working lunch, chaired by the Danish Presidency, the Ministers discussed how to ensure political participation and protection of politicians from threats, violence, and hate speech with female politicians recognised as being particularly at risk. They exchanged views and experiences regarding national protection regimes for politicians and their families. Minister O’Callaghan stated that, in Ireland, “we have seen politicians targeted in a way that is not about holding them to account or criticising their work, but is personal, targeted and intended to frighten and intimidate. Protecting everyone from such abuse is integral to protecting democracy, fostering debate and ensuring that our politics reflects the diversity of our people.”

At the press conference following the meeting, the Danish Minister of Justice, Peter Hummelgaard, said: “Politicians today face a wide spectrum of threats, from physical violence and intimidation to online hate speech, with female candidates being more frequently attacked. Online platforms have further strengthened these risks”.

He stated that it was “very important that we discuss this issue not merely as a question of protecting elected officials and their spouses and children, but also as a broader debate. (...) A lot of it is about democratic culture. And there has been a slide to the worst when it comes to democratic culture”.

The European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, commented that “some people get more abuse than others”, citing, in particular, women, young people and minorities. This could result in “fewer women, fewer young people” and fewer representatives from minority groups in politics, making democracy “less representative” and therefore “poorer”. He confirmed that the security of candidates and elected representatives would form part of the European Democracy Shield “Any act of violence against a public representative is an attack on democracy itself”.

The Foreign Affairs Council meets on 15 October 2025 to exchange views on defence readiness. The meeting is chaired by HR/VP Kaja Kallas and Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers of the EU Member States will be in attendance.

On Friday, 17 October, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet to approve conclusions on the topic of violence against women and on the topic of social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Ministers will exchange views on ways to combat discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and will discuss EU measures that could combat sexual violence and promote sexual consent.

European Council

Gaza Peace Plan

European Council President António Costa attended the Summit of Peace, hosted in Egypt on 13 October 2025, which was organised by President Trump to mark the Israel-Gaza Peace Plan. In his speech, he stated that the European Union stands ready to participate in the International Peace Board and to support all processes- transitional governance, recovery and reconstruction.

Agenda for European Council Meeting on 23 October 2025

The European Council will meet on Thursday, 23 October for a one-day meeting. The agenda includes discussions on how Europe can step up its support for Ukraine; on defence capabilities; and competitiveness. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, and Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup, will join the Council meeting for a Euro Summit, where they will discuss the international role of the euro and the digital euro. The European Council will also discuss housing, the situation in the Middle East, and migration.

European Parliament

Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield

The European Parliament’s Special Committee on the EUDS met on Monday, 13 October 2025. The meeting included an exchange of views on online advertising, FIMI and media resilience; lessons learned from Moldovan elections; and an exchange of views with the OECD on its Reinforcing Democracy Initiative. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 5 November.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting

On Monday 13 October, the Legal Affairs Committee in the European Parliament approved new draft rules to reduce the sustainability reporting requirements for companies. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, adopted in 2022, originally required all large companies to disclose information on the impact of their activities on the planet and any sustainability risks. Centre left groups in the Committee finally agreed to the proposals of the European People’s Party to reduce the scope of the Directive such that only companies with over 1000 employees and a net turnover of over €450 million would be covered. Now, only 4,700 companies will be compelled to report on their sustainability impacts, compared to the original 11,000. The draft rules will be followed by a full vote in Parliament next week.

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

At the ITRE Committee meeting on 16 October 2025, ITRE member will debate the subject of geothermal energy, in the context of the EU decarbonisation agenda and the steps needed to de-risk investments in this area.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, will present the Commission’s proposals for the new Horizon Europe 2028-2034 programme. The Commission proposes to almost double Horizon Europe’s funding to €175 billion, of which €68 billion will be controlled through the new European Competitiveness Fund. The European Parliament has already called for an even bigger budget increase for Horizon Europe.

Other News

EU Week of Regions and Cities

The biggest Cohesion Policy event of the year opened in Brussels on Monday, 13 October 2025, with introductory remarks from Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto and from the President of the Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttő. EU Week of Regions and Cities brings together regional policy experts and practitioners, politicians, and other stakeholders. Topics for discussion include feminist cities; dual use and defence; European Youth Capitals; and strengthening the feeling of belonging in Europe’s marginalised territories.

President Tüttő addressed the IIEA last week on the importance of Cohesion Policy in the EU’s competitiveness agenda and argued against the Commission’s proposal to merge Cohesion Policy, Common Agricultural Policy and other funds into one single pot for the next MFF. Her address is available to listen back to here.

European Parliament v. European Commission in the European Court of Justice

On Tuesday, 14 October, the Court of Justice of the European Union heard the European Parliament’s legal action against the Commission complaining of the Commission’s decision to unfreeze EU funds to Hungary in December 2023 against the backdrop of threats by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that he would veto a financial aid package for Ukraine. The Parliament alleges that the Commission’s decision provided no substantive explanations for why or how Hungary had fulfilled its conditions for judicial reform in the country. The decision of the Court is not expected for several months.

Paschal Donohoe to Present at Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank

Eurogroup President and Minister for Finance of Ireland, Paschal Donohoe, will represent the euro area at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington, DC, this week. He will participate in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting as well as in a range of IMF meetings. Minister Donohoe commented that “multilateralism, particularly in the face of persistent and ongoing global conflicts and recent economic turbulence, is key for securing effective and resilient outcomes.”

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• This is Europe' debate in the European Parliament: Speech by Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg (7 October 2025)
• EU to propose short-term rental rules to tackle ‘social crisis’ in housing (The Guardian)
• Von der Leyen urges Serbia to 'get concrete' about joining the EU (Euractiv)
• EU to bypass Washington and woo US states on green agenda (Financial Times)
• Regional and local barometer, Ireland (Committee of the Regions)

6 October-12 October

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

European Commissioners are participating in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week. President von der Leyen faces two motions of censure (no confidence motions) on Monday evening, 6 October. The votes in response to the motions will be held on Thursday, 9 October. The two motions, brought by the Patriots for Europe and the Left, will likely bring up shared grievances, including the EU-US trade deal, and the Mercosur trade deal. Other issues, on which the Patriots and the Left are divided, include irregular migration and the war in Gaza.

The College of Commissioners will meet for their weekly meeting on Tuesday, 7 October at which the European Strategy for AI in science, overcapacity in the EU’s steel market, and a new equality strategy for LGBTQ+ will be discussed.

Global Gateway Forum 2025

The second Global Gateway Forum takes place on 9-10 October in Brussels. The Global Gateway is the EU’s external investment and development strategy, with €300 billion being invested in projects across the world, especially those with digital, climate and transport objectives. The Forum brings together governments, the private sector, and civil society and this year will docus on advancing global connectivity in the face of geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges. A background paper on the conference can be found here.

President von der Leyen will give a keynote address at 9.00am on Thursday and closing remarks will be given by HR/VP Kaja Kallas.

Council of the EU

Informal Meeting of Ministers for Telecommunication

National ministers for telecommunication will meet in Denmark to discuss how to better protect children and young people online. The theme of the meeting will focus on age verification on social media platforms and the responsibility of big tech companies to protect minors. This meeting occurs in the lead-up to the Digital Fairness Act, a piece of legislation for which Commissioner McGrath is responsible. The Digital Fairness Act aims to address harmful practices that consumers face online, including misleading marketing, and addictive designs. A public consultation is currently open and members of the public are invited to contribute their thoughts here.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

Economic and finance ministers of the EU member states will meet in Brussels on Friday, 10 October to exchange views on the European Commission’s recent proposals to update the system of own resources for financing the EU budget. The Commission will also present its proposals on updating tobacco taxation rules to the Ecofin Council. The Council hopes to approve conclusions on climate finance in advance of the COP30, taking place in Belém, Brazil on 10-21 November 2025.

European Council

Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government of the European Union

The Danish Presidency hosted an informal meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government at Christiansborg on 1 October. EU leaders discussed progress made on nine priority areas in the field of defence that they had identified in March 2025, specifically air and missile defence, artillery, drones and anti-drone systems, military mobility and cyber resilience. In that regard, President Costa stated that the leaders broadly supported priority flagship projects presented by the Commission and the High Representative, including the European Drone Wall and the Eastern Flank Watch.

European Parliament

This week, the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg for this month’s plenary session. The agenda for the plenary session includes debates on the EU’s digital sovereignty, the situation in Afghanistan, EU-India relations, and votes on simplifying aspects of the EU’s agricultural policy.

On Monday 6 October, the Parliament will debate the two Motions of Censure brought against President von der Leyen.

On Tuesday 7 October, the Parliament will debate the motion: Time to complete a fully integrated Single Market: Europe’s key to growth and future prosperity. The Parliament will also welcome the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden for a Key Debate on ‘This is Europe’. Later on Tuesday afternoon, the Parliament will debate the EU’s roles in supporting the recent peace efforts for Gaza and a two-state solution. Other topics for debate include amendments to the Common Agricultural Policy, Rising antisemitism in Europe, the new Strategic EU-India Agenda, and the situation in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday 8 October, the Parliament will debate the topic ‘A united response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure’. The Parliament will also welcome Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland.

On Thursday 9 October, the Parliament will host a debate on the declaration of principles for a gender-equal society and will vote on the Motions of Censure brought against President von der Leyen.

Other News

France's fifth prime minister in under two years resigns after 26 days in office

Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally of President Macron and France’s former defence minister, has resigned one day after unveiling his cabinet. His choices for cabinet were largely unchanged from the previous cabinet and were criticised by political parties across the political spectrum in the National Assembly. President Macron must now decide whether to appoint a new prime minister - this time potentially from outside his political camp - or dissolve the National Assembly.

Czech Parliamentary Elections

Billionaire businessman Andrej Babis’ ANO party has won parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, though the result has fallen short of an overall majority. Mr Babis previously served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021. ANO is a right-wing populist party, which sits in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament.  Russia welcomed Babis’ win, as did Eurosceptics across the continent, although Mr Babis himself has stated that his party is pro-European and pro-Nato.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

1. Speech by President von der Leyen at the Copenhagen Competitiveness Summit (European Commission)
2. Deletion of Jim Gavin ads shows we can’t rely on big tech for democratic architecture (The Irish Times)
3. EU must seize ‘unique opportunity’ to supplant US dollar dominance, says ECB president (Euractiv)
4. Speech by Commissioner Šefčovič at the Conference on Trade and Economic Security, hosted by the IIEA (European Commission)

29 September – 5 October 2025   

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

Warsaw Security Forum

Two European Commissioners will participate in the Warsaw Security Forum which takes place on 29-30 September 2025. Organised by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation in partnership with NATO and Poland’s National Security Bureau, the WSF is an important annual security conference on transatlantic and European security. Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, will give a keynote address on: Turning Strategy into Strength: EU’s Defence Roadmap. Commissioner Michael McGrath, with responsibility for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, will give opening remarks at a roundtable on the Role of Media in the Democratic Shield: Between Anarchy, Political Control and Foreign Interference. He will also participate in a panel discussion on Fortress Democracy: Building Europe’s Shield from Within. The panel discussion is open access and can be watched here from 17:00-17:50 (CET) on 29 September.

Commissioner Šefčovič in Ireland

Over a two-day visit on 2-3 October 2025, Commission Šefčovič, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security will participate in the Conference on Trade and Economic Security organised by the IIEA and the European Commission on Friday, 3 October. This high-level conference will include a keynote address by the Taoiseach, a fireside chat with Commissioner Šefčovič and the Tánaiste, and a panel discussion on Trade for Competitiveness and Economic Security. Commissioner Šefčovič will also speak at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference and will meet the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and on Agriculture.

Council of the EU

Meeting of the European Political Community (EPC)

The seventh meeting of the European Political Community, an informal intergovernmental gathering of heads of state or government of 47 countries and heads of EU institutions, will take place on 2 October 2025. It will be hosted by the current Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, in Copenhagen. Building on the work of previous summits, the focus will be on how to strengthen Ukraine, the general security situation in Europe, and how to make Europe stronger and more secure in this new geopolitical reality.

High-level Conference on Affordable and Sustainable Housing

On 29-30 September, the Danish presidency will host a conference on the challenges of ensuring affordable and sustainable housing across Europe. Representatives from civil society, the member states and the EU institutions will participate and share best practices.

European Council

Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government of the European Union

The Danish Presidency will host an informal meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government at Christiansborg on 1 October. It will be hosted by Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and chaired by the President of the European Council, António Costa. The focus of the meeting will be on strengthening European common defence readiness and reinforcing support for Ukraine.

European Parliament

The political groups of the European Parliament will meet this week to prepare for the Parliament’s plenary session from 6-9 October. The agenda for the plenary session includes debates on the EU’s digital sovereignty, the situation in Afghanistan, EU-India relations, and votes on simplifying aspects of the EU’s agricultural policy.

 Parliamentary Elections in Moldova

On Sunday, 28 September, Moldovans went to the polls for parliamentary elections to choose whether to continue down the path of European integration or a path towards closer ties with Russia. President Maia Sandu claimed success for the pro-European incumbent Party of Action and Solidarity, (PAS), with 50.1% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Block received 24.2%.  A delegation of MEPS observed Moldova’s parliamentary elections, which have suffered from Russian interference and cyberattacks. President Sandu gave a statement to the European Parliament last week that Russia was spending “hundreds of millions of euros” to subvert the election.

Diary of the President of the European Parliament

President Metsola will participate in both the informal European Council meeting and the European Political Community Meeting, taking place in Copenhagen this week.

Other News

Slovak Parliament Approves Anti-LGBT Constitutional Changes

On Friday 26 September, the Slovak parliament voted to amend the constitution, that now states that all citizens must be either male or female. The changes also prevent same-sex couples from adopting children. The amendments claim to give national law precedence over EU law, though Commissioner Michael McGrath commented, in response to the news, that the primacy of EU law is non-negotiable.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

1. Commission backs Costa’s plan to sidestep Hungary’s veto over Ukraine’s EU bid (Politico)
2. EU ‘drone wall’ to protect entire continent, says defence chief (Irish Times)
3. National Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 26th September 2025 (gov.ie)
4.  Germany and Poland must bury the hatchet (Financial Times)

22 September – 29 September 2025   

 Activities in European Institutions

Many of the EU’s leaders will swap Brussels for New York this week for the “high-level week” of the 80^th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. 

The General Assembly was opened on 9 September 2025 by the new President of the General Assembly, former German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock. This year’s theme is Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.

 The high-level week begins on 22 September with a meeting to commemorate 80 years of the United Nations and a one-day summit organised by France and Saudi Arabia on Israel’s war on Gaza and the implementation of a two-State solution following on from the recognition of Palestinian statehood by France, Australia, Canada, the UK, Portugal and others. The Conference will reaffirm international commitments to the two-State solution and seek to mobilise support for its implementation

On 23 September, the General Debate will begin between Heads of State and Government and other high-ranking officials, including President von der Leyen, Commissioner Brunner (EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration) and Commissioner Roswall (EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy).

European Commission

Sanctions on Israel

The European Commission has proposed the suspension of certain trade-related provisions of the EU-Israel Agreement that fall within the Union's common commercial policy. The European Council will decide on the proposed sanctions at the next European Council meeting on 23 October and must adopt the decision with a qualified majority. Article 2 of the EU-Israel Trade Agreement establishes respect for human rights and democratic principles as essential elements of that Agreement.

The Commission has also proposed a package consisting of 5 draft legal acts with 9 listing proposals against extremist Israeli ministers and settlers and a reinforced package of listings against 10 members of the Hamas politburo. This package would need to be agreed by the European Council unanimously.

Council of the EU

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place from 22-23 September 2025. The agenda includes a public session where the European Commission will present its proposals on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy. Minister Heydon is in attendance and has stated that on CAP negotiations, Ireland will prioritise “a CAP that is workable and flexible, that balances economic, social, and environmental sustainability, and that is backed by adequate EU funding.” EU Agriculture Ministers will also discuss trade-related issues, the future of the common fisheries policy and will exchange views on the upcoming EU-UK and EU-Norway and coastal states fisheries consultations for 2026.

European Council

President of the European Council

President Antonio Costa will attend the United Nations General Assembly next week. On Monday 22 September, he will deliver a speech at the second session of the Two-State Solution Conference and on Wednesday 24 September, he will deliver remarks at a meeting on the theme: ‘In Defense of Democracy: Fighting against Extremism’.

European Parliament

Parliamentary committee meetings resume in Brussels this week. The Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield will meet from 22-23 September, who will host an exchange of views with Radio Free Europe on the state of democracy in Georgia, an exchange of views on the Russian influence on the clergy in the EU neighbourhood, and an exchange of views on the broadcasting of sanctioned Russian media.

Analysts have described how Russia is seeking to build links in EU neighbourhood countries, through activities with the Russian Orthodox Church, in order to stress religious affinity and shared goals with other Orthodox churches, including in the Balkans. Russia tends to take a 'highly nation-specific approach' to propaganda that combines narratives of Orthodox affinity with pan-Slavic brotherhood, defence of ethnic/linguistic minorities, or preservation of Europe's Christian values, depending on the national context.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs will meet from 22-24 September and will discuss amongst other things developing a feminist foreign policy, and the Ukraine Facility Dialogue.

The Committee on Fisheries will welcome Commissioner Kadis for a presentation on the European Ocean Pact and related fisheries initiatives.

On Tuesday, European Parliament President Metsola will be in New York, where she will attend an engagement hosted by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on the occasion of the 80^th United Nations General Assembly.

Other News

Ireland’s Campaign for the Human Rights Council

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is hosting an event in New York on 22 September as part of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week to mark the start of Ireland’s campaign for the Human Rights Council. This campaign has five thematic priorities that Ireland will prioritise if elected to the HRC:

1. to support civil society space and human rights defenders;
2. to champion women’s rights and gender equality;
3. to defend the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons;
4. to call attention to the most basic right to adequate food; and
5. to bring a strong focus to the rights of persons with disabilities in conflict.

Russian Sanctions

EU ambassadors met on Friday 19 September to agree the 19^th sanctions package against Russia. The package will attempt to accelerate the EU’s distancing from Russian fossil fuels, tighten controls on sanctions circumvention, increase pressure on Russian banks and energy firms, blacklist additional shadow fleet vessels, and explore export restrictions to third countries and will implement tougher rules on Russian tourist visas. The 27 Member States will now have to agree to the proposed sanctions.

EU Climate Targets

European leaders will present EU climate plans for 2035 at the UNGA next week. The climate ministers of the 27 Member States failed to reach consensus for a finalised plan or ‘nationally determined contribution’ at meetings convened by the Danish presidency last week, however they did agree a ‘statement of intent’ that promises to deliver a nationally determined contribution before the COP30 summit in November. France, Germany, Poland, Italy and smaller countries including Slovakia, blocked discussions from reaching a definitive conclusion.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

1. The Unfortunate EU Foot-dragging on the Draghi Plan (Financial Times)
2. EU aims to ‘Le Pen-proof’ its budget with swift deal by 2026 (Politico)
3. Tánaiste's Remarks at the Launch of Ireland's Human Rights Council Campaign (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
4. Minister Heydon addresses future CAP and EU trade policy at Council meeting in Brussels (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
5. Finland is ready for the next crisis, with stockpiled food and 72-hour kits – Europe should be too (The Guardian)

15 September – 21 September 2025   

Activities in European Institutions

Last week’s State of the European Union address by Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament began with wartime references of an unforgiving world, in which the EU must fight to defend its territory. Russia’s incursions into EU territory – in Poland last week and Romania this week – have sent shockwaves through the EU political institutions and capitals, as the vulnerabilities of the EU’s eastern borders are exposed. 

As President von der Leyen’s speech progressed to address issues of trade, competitiveness, just transition and social policies, the number of existential issues facing the EU continued to mount. Her comments on Israel and Gaza were seen by many media outlets as her strongest yet, where she lamented the paralysis amongst heads of state that prevented a coordinated European response to Israel’s actions and proposed suspending parts of the EU-Israel trade deal and sanctioning Israel’s far-right ministers and extremist settlers.

European Commission

The Draghi Report

On 16 September, President von der Leyen will host the conference: “One Year After the Draghi Report”. The Draghi Report set out 383 recommendations to help the EU adapt to a changed world and boost its competitiveness. According to the Draghi Observatory & Implementation Index, only 43 of 11% of recommendations have been fully implemented. Twenty percent of recommendations have been partially implemented, while 23% of recommendations have not been touched.

EU External Relations

The College of Commissioners will have their weekly meeting on Wednesday 17 September, where the new EU-India Strategic Agenda will likely be discussed. The EU and India are engaged in finalising a trade deal by the end of the year, and negotiations have gained pace since President Trump took office in January.

On 21 September, President von der Leyen and President Costa will meet with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairperson of the African Union in New York.

Rural Pact Conference

A number of European Commissioners will participate in the European Pact Conference from 16-17 September. The Rural Pact Conference, entitled "From vision to action: Empowering rural areas for the future," will take place in Pecq, Belgium. Organised by the Rural Pact Support Office, this two-day event will bring together 250 stakeholders to reflect on the Commission’s Rural Pact, launched in 2022 to advance stronger, more connected and more prosperous rural areas, advance the EU's Rural Vision 2040, update the Rural Action Plan, and guide future Rural Pact actions and policies.

European Council

President of the European Council

President Costa begins his third week of touring the European capitals in Greece, meeting Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens on 15 September. On the same day, he will hold a meeting with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in Nicosia, followed by a meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, in Rome.

On 16 September, he will meet the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris, as well as the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in Madrid. On 17 September, he will be in Luxembourg for a meeting with Prime Minister Luc Frieden.

Finally, on 19 September President Costa will meet the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, in Porto, where he will also attend the Porto Social Forum.

European Parliament

This week is a constituency week, where MEPs are in their home countries. A large number of parliamentary delegations will visit countries across the world, including a Delegation from the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, who will go to Washington D.C. to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between EU agencies, such as Europol, and its US counterparts, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in areas such as combating organised crime, terrorism and cybercrime, and protecting children online. MEPs will also discuss recent developments in personal data protection developments in border management, security and law enforcement and possible ways to guarantee full visa reciprocity between the EU and the US.

European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, will address a plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee.

Other News

Russian Drones in Poland and Romania

Last week, Russian drones were shot down in Polish airspace and on Saturday, 13 September, entered Romanian airspace. Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, expressed his belief that Russian is attempting to test Nato’s reactions by incremental escalations without prompting a full-scale response, stating that “Interestingly, they were all duds, which suggests to me that Russia tried to test us without starting a war”.

New Prime Minister of France

Following Francois Bayrou’s resignation after a vote of No Confidence by the French parliament, President Macron has appointed his close ally Sébastien Lecornu, as the new Prime Minister, who most recently served as France’s defence minister and who has featured in every one of President Macron’s governments.

German Local Elections see Surge in Support for AfD

Local Elections took place on 14 September in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state and home to 18 million citizens - around one quarter of Germany’s population. The Christian Democratic Union won 33.3% of the vote, a clear victory for Chancellor Merz’s party, while the Social Democrats took 22.1%.

The far-right, nationalist, anti-immigration AfD party (Alternative for Germany) tripled its vote share compared to the last local elections five years ago, winning 14.5% of the vote, giving pause for thought to the jubilant CDU Land Minister-President, Henrik Wüst.

Former German Foreign Minister is new President of UNGA

The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which opened on September 9, 2025,  at the UN headquarters in New York welcomed the new UNGA President – Ms Annalena Baerbock, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany who takes over from the Prime Minister Yang of Cameroon in a geopolitical context which according to French sources calls for support of an open and effective multilateralism where international law and diplomacy prevail over power relations.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• Ursula von der Leyen, The State of the European Union 2025 (IIEA)
• Germany’s weakness could be France’s salvation (Politico)
• Blue Diplomacy and water cooperation – solutions to relieve the pressure of climate induced migration (EESC)
• New French PM Sébastien Lecornu walks a tightrope (Le Monde)

8 September – 14 September 2025   

A lot of the attention this week will be on France as its internal political crisis worsens. French Prime Minister François Bayrou faces a confidence vote on Monday, 8 September which he is expected to lose, whereupon he will have to submit his resignation to President Macron. He would be the fourth Prime Minister to resign since President Macron’s re-election.

President Macron himself is leading plans for a “coalition of the willing” to provide assistance to Ukraine post-war. At a summit convened by President Macron on Thursday, 4 September, leaders from over 35 countries attended in-person or online, at which 26 coalition members agreed to send troops or provide other assistance to Ukraine after its war with Russia is over.

Then, Strasbourg will host the European Parliament’s plenary session from 8 – 11 September, where Ukraine will continue to feature high on the political agenda. President von der Leyen will issue her State of the Union address to the Parliament on Wednesday 10 September.

Activities in European Institutions

European Commission

President of the European Commission

On 10 September 2025, President von der Leyen will issue her State of the Union address. This is an annual speech by the President of the European Commission to the European Parliament, setting her priorities for the Union for the year ahead. The IIEA will host a live streaming of the speech in Europe House, Balfe Street, which will be followed by an expert panel discussion to assess the themes that emerge.

The MFF

The European Commission presented its second and final package of budget proposals for the MFF 2028-2034 on 3 September. This included almost doubling the funding for the Single Market and Customs Programme to €6.2 billion, and close to €800 million for the justice programme to support inclusive and digital-first justice systems across the EU. Nuclear Research and Training will also see a budget increase, up to €9.8 billion to assist the Euratom Research and Training Programme.

Strategic Foresight

At their weekly Wednesday meeting on 10 September 2025, the College of Commissioners will discuss the 2025 Strategic Foresight Report. Every year since 2020, the European Commission has been producing annual Strategic Foresight Reports, which inform the Commission's Work Programmes and multi-annual programming exercises.

European Council

President of the European Council

This week, President Costa continues his visits the heads of government of EU member states. On Monday 8 September he will meet the heads of government of Finland, Stockholm and Estonia. On Tuesday, President Costa will meet the heads of government of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, before travelling to meet the Prime Minister of Hungary and the Chancellor of Germany on Wednesday. On Thursday, he will meet the Prime Minister of Slovakia.

European Parliament

The European Parliament’s first plenary session since the summer break will take place from 8-11 September. The week’s agenda includes a focus on geopolitical challenges to policy and the need for simplification, ahead of negotiations on the next EU budget.

Address by Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova

On Tuesday morning, President Sandu of Moldova is scheduled to address Parliament in a formal sitting. This will be President Sandu’s first address since 2022, following her election in 2024, and the first since the country’s constitutional referendum on EU accession. The EU opened accession negotiations with Moldova in June 2024. Council and Commission statements are expected later in the day on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian hybrid threats and malign interference.

Ukraine

MEPs will hear a statement on Tuesday morning by HR/VP Kallas on EU actions to ensure security guarantees and just peace for Ukraine. Members will also debate a Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) report on the Commission’s 2023 and 2024 reports on Ukraine. The report notes Ukraine’s consistent commitment to its European path but emphasises that Ukraine needs to step up its fight against corruption, including by granting greater independence to the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. 

Common Agricultural Policy

Proposed changes to the common agricultural policy will be discussed on Wednesday, where Members will vote on a report from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) that opposes the Commission’s plans to include agricultural funding in a single fund covering structural and cohesion policy, fisheries, security and defence. The AGRI committee suggests increasing funding for agriculture in the post-2027 CAP budget instead, and to reinforce direct income support for farmers, regardless of their size, as well as increasing support for smaller and family-run farms.

Cohesion Policy

On Tuesday afternoon, Members will debate three reports from Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI) calling for increased EU cohesion policy support for citizens. The first proposes strengthened cohesion policy support for regions most affected by the need to transition towards a climate-neutral economy. The second REGI report recommends increased and more flexible cohesion policy funding for housing, beyond the current focus on social housing and energy efficiency. Finally, the third report considers plans to simplify EU cohesion funds more generally, where the REGI committee seeks assurance that modernisation to improve implementation can be carried out without sacrificing the current focus on long-term investment and place-based rationale. The report recommends simplifying cohesion funds by earmarking resources for integrated territorial development tools, direct funding for cities, and eliminating duplication of national oversight.

Digital Tax

Members of Parliament and the Commission will discuss the issue of a digital tax for large digital platforms on Wednesday evening. Members are likely to ask the Commission if a unilateral EU-level digital tax could be considered in the absence of an international agreement on taxation of digital platforms.

Other News

EU-Mercosur Partner Agreement

On Wednesday 3 September, the European Commission adopted a text to begin the process of ratifying the EU-Mercosur Partner Agreement by EU Member States and the European Parliament. The deal must be ratified by 15 member states accounting for 65% of the EU’s population before it then progresses to the European Parliament, where it must secure a majority. The deal which was struck by the European Commission and the South American bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay would create the world’s biggest free trade zone. However, it has been met with opposition from some EU Member States including France, Poland and Ireland, whose farmers fear that imported beef would reduce demand for EU agricultural products (including Irish beef). These three countries alone will not be sufficient to prevent the deal from ratification by the weighted majority of 65%.

The European Commission has proposed to introduce safeguards into the deal, by which European products such as beef would be protected by “any harmful surge in imports”, allowing EU Member States to trigger an emergency brake if they are badly affected.  This poses strategic choices for Ireland and other EU countries who could benefit from reductions on EU exports in other sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cars and machinery.

Future of Ukraine

At a summit in Paris, on Thursday, 4 September, 26 countries in the “coalition of the willing," offered security guarantees to Ukraine after a potential ceasefire.  Putin responded on Friday, saying that all Western troops in Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Russia. 

The European Commission and Israel’s War on Gaza

Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, the most senior portfolio after President von der Leyen, described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide while addressing a French university on Thursday, 4 September 2025. Subsequently, the European Commission chief spokesperson distanced the Commission from this opinion. Previously, EVP Ribera, and three commissioners, including Michael McGrath, wrote a letter to civil servants saying that the situation in Gaza was at the top of the Commission’s political agenda.

Russian Involvement in Von Der Leyen GPS Jamming Now Doubted

An incident that caused President von der Leyen’s flight to lose GPS signal while flying into Bulgaria last week was initially blamed on Russian GPS jamming. However, officials in Bulgaria and Brussels are now playing down Russia’s involvement, with the Bulgarian Prime Minister instead calling the incident a routine glitch tied to broader fallout from the war in Ukraine.

Articles/Speeches of Interest 

• 5 September 2025, Speech by President António Costa at the Congress of Regional and Local Authorities in Uzhhorod (Ukraine)
• Are Ukraine’s ‘coalition’ allies willing to turn words into action? (Financial Times)
• Merz and Macron anxious to speak the same political language (Irish Times)
• Von der Leyen’s GPS scare gripped Europe. The Russia allegations are starting to unravel (Politico)

7 – 11 July 2025   

Activities in the EU Institutions

European Commission

The European Commission has published its sixth annual Rule of Law Report, which examines rule of law developments in all EU Member States. According to the Commission, The Rule of Law Report and the annual rule of law cycle contribute to the resilience of Europe's democracy, security and economy in a global environment where the respect for fundamental rights and democratic systems are increasingly under pressure. Similarly to 2024, this year’s Report does not only cover the 27 Member States, but also includes four country chapters dedicated to developments in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

This year's Report confirms that there is a positive trajectory in many Member States, as important reforms have been taken forward across the four key areas covered by the report – justice, anti-corruption, media freedom and institutional checks and balances. While challenges remain in some Member States, most have addressed a substantial number of the 2024 recommendations, in full or in part.

The key findings for 2025 are:

Justice systems: Many Member States have advanced on justice reforms over the last year. Measures include strengthening the independence of Councils for the Judiciary, additional safeguards for judges' appointments and autonomy of prosecutors, as well as for the quality and efficiency of justice systems. Nevertheless, reforms are progressing at a slower pace in some Member States, and serious concerns remain in certain cases. In the four candidate countries, efforts to implement judiciary reforms, to strengthen accountability, and to improve efficiency have continued, but undue influence and attempts to undermine judges' independence need to be addressed.

Anti-corruption frameworks: The Report shows that several Member States have developed new anti-corruption strategies and strengthened their institutional capacity, including by increasing the resources for law enforcement, prosecution services and the judiciary. At the same time, further action is needed to strengthen preventive frameworks, such as those related to lobbying and conflicts of interest, as well as to ensure the effective investigation, prosecution and final judgments of corruption cases. In the EU candidate countries, legal and institutional frameworks were strengthened, while the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of corruption cases - including high-level cases - need to be further improved.

Media freedom and pluralism: Many Member States are undertaking reforms to strengthen the independent functioning and financing of public service media and to improve fairness and transparency of state advertising allocation. Additionally, several national media regulators are expanding their competences to also comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA). Increasing attention is also given to the safety and protection of journalists, amidst continuing threats. In the enlargement countries, there are concerns in relation to the politicisation of media regulators and the financial sustainability of public broadcasters.

Institutional checks and balances: While the report finds that most Member States continue to ensure an enabling and supportive framework for civil society, obstacles remain in several Member States related to funding or registration requirements. However, in some Member States, civil society organisations are facing serious challenges, being subject to excessive financial restrictions or controls or inadequate protection. In the enlargement countries, challenges to legislative processes and ineffective public consultations limit inclusive governance. Challenges also remain regarding the systematic follow-up to recommendations of the Ombudsperson institutions and other independent bodies.

Across the four pillars, the Report emphasises the impact on the functioning of the Single Market and the operating environment for businesses. An effective justice system, the fight against corruption, good governance, legal certainty and sound lawmaking all have a significant economic impact, shaping the business environment and guiding investment decisions. Across the four pillars, the report emphasises how the issues identified impact the functioning of the Single Market and the operating environment for businesses.

Council of the European Union

Economic and Financial Affairs Council: 7 July 2025

Ministers will convene to discuss (i) the euro area fiscal stance ahead of the preparation of 2026 budgets, (ii) the international role of the euro, based on the annual review published by the European Central Bank, and (iii) Bulgaria’s conversion rate to the euro. The Council will also elect a new President of the Eurogroup, with Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance of Ireland, likely to be elected for a third term.

Meeting of Directors General for European Affairs: 8 –9 July 2025

Directors General for European Affairs will meet in Aalborg, Denmark to discuss EU enlargement and internal reforms.

European Parliament 

European Parliament Plenary: 7 – 10 July 2025

The European Parliament will hold a plenary session in Strasbourg, focusing on the following agenda items:

On Monday, 7 July 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, will resume the session by commemorating the 30^th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. This will be followed by a discussion regarding the 2024 Annual Report on the Financial Activities of the European Investment Bank.  

On Tuesday, 8 July 2025, the Plenary will discuss preparations for the 2025 EU-China Summit, which will take place on 24 – 25 July 2025 in Beijing and Anhui, China. The Council of the EU and the European Commission will also present the programme of activities of the Danish Presidency, which will be followed by votes on Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026 and on the EU-Greenland and Denmark Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement. In the afternoon, MEPs will address the situations in the Middle East and Belarus, and reports on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Georgia.

On Wednesday, 9 July 2025, the key debates will focus on the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 26 June 2025 and on the EU’s post-2027 long-term budget. In the afternoon, MEPs will debate EU-US trade negotiations, the EU Preparedness Union in light of the upcoming wildfire and drought season, the alleged misuse of EU funds by Members of the far-right, and the continued Turkish occupation of Cyprus.

On Thursday, 10 July 2025, the Plenary will discuss the role of cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures, which will be followed by an exchange of views on tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions.

Articles and Press Releases of Interest    

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP plenary joint debate on EU-China relations
• Joint Declaration following the first EU-Republic of Moldova Summit
• EU Parliament confidence vote: Where do parties stand on von der Leyen? Euronews
• Far-right climate delayers to lead Parliament talks on EU’s 2040 target Politico
• Eurogroup: Paschal Donohoe re-elected president by consensus Agence Europe

 30 June – 4 July 2025   

Activities in the EU Institutions

European Commission

The European Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, which enshrined in legislation the EU’s commitment to reach climate neutrality by 2050, by setting a 2040 EU climate target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990 levels.

The European Union is currently on track to meet its next target of a 55% reduction by 2030, with the new proposal building on this legally binding goal. The proposed 2040 climate target considers the current economic, security, and geopolitical landscape. It also emphasises the importance of accelerating and strengthening the conditions to achieve said target and is aligned with the EU Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Affordable Energy Action Plan.

The Commission’s proposal will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for adoption. A future agreed EU climate target will also serve as a benchmark for the post-2030 EU policy framework.

Council of the European Union

Visit of the College of Commissioners and Official Opening Ceremony: 3 July 2025

On Thursday, 3 July 2025, the European Commission College will visit Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark, as part of the launch of the Danish Presidency to the Council of the European Union. The European Commission will meet with the Danish Government, which will be followed by a press conference with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. In the evening, the official opening ceremony will be held at Aarhus City Hall, with attendance from the King and Queen and speeches by the Prime Minister Frederiksen and the Commission President.

European Parliament 

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety: 3 July 2025

The Committee will convene to adopt a draft opinion on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which will be followed by a debate on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield: 3 July 2025

The Special Committee will exchange views on domestic disinformation with the European Fact-Checking Standards Network and with the Director of the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations.

Other News

The 4^th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) will take place in Seville, Spain from 30 June – 3 July 2025. The conference will address new and emerging issues in the field of development and the urgent need for full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the reform of the international financial architecture.

The International Conferences on Financing for Development are the only space where leaders from all governments, along with international and regional organisations, financial and trade institutions, businesses, civil society and the UN System unite at the highest levels, fostering stronger international cooperation.  

Articles and Press Releases of Interest    

• Remarks by Executive Vice-President Ribera and Commissioner Hoekstra at the press conference on the proposal for an EU climate target for 2040
• Western Balkans Leaders' meeting in Skopje reaffirms commitment for swift delivery of the Growth Plan
• Denmark pushes to suspend Hungary’s EU voting rights Politico
• Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to make swift and decisive progress on the prevention of irregular arrivals and returns Agence Europe
• Fourteen member states oppose the Commission's EU budget overhaul Euronews

23 – 27 June 2025   

Activities in the EU Institutions

This week marks the final week of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on 1 January 2025. This was Poland’s second Presidency, after its first in 2011. The slogan of the 2025 Polish Presidency was “Security, Europe” and focused on the following priorities:

• Stronger trans-Atlantic partnership
• Border security
• Health and welfare security
• Military security
• Greater European economic and military independence

The next Presidency will be held by Denmark beginning on 1 July 2025 until 31 December 2025. It will be the eighth time Denmark assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Under the slogan “A strong Europe in a changing world”, the Danish Presidency will focus on a secure, competitive, and green Europe. It will work on further enlargement of the EU as a geopolitical necessity, strengthening the EU’s resilience to handle current and future crises, reinforcing EU competitiveness, strengthening European defence industry and its economic security, tackling illegal migration and ensuring effective control of the EU’s external borders, strengthening Europe’s internal energy market, simplifying the EU’s agriculture, food, and fisheries policies, reducing environmental consumption footprints and better protecting natural resources, among others.

European Commission

The European Commission has released its Annual Report on Taxation, which provides an overview of the current state of taxation in the EU.

Some of the key findings include:

• Tax revenues in the EU-27 have decreased to 39% of GDP, the lowest ratio since 2011. The decline is mostly driven by lower revenues from environmental and property taxes.
• Member States reported close to 500 tax reform measures for 2024, aiming to generate revenue, ensure fairness, sustainability, and investment.
• Compliance gaps remain a concern, with VAT revenue losses estimated at €89 billion (for 2022) and corporate income tax losses estimated at €40 billion (in 2018). These are substantial losses in a time when public deficits and debt remain high.
• An ageing population will increase the pressure on tax systems due to increased expenditure and a reduced workforce. Member States may need to shift away some burden from labour taxation towards other revenue sources. Additionally, an ageing workforce may also pose a challenge for the business continuity in tax administrations where increasingly the average age of staff is moving closer to retirement age.

The European Commission is employing different instruments to address the key challenges laid out in the report. For instance, the European Semester makes Member State specific recommendations to call on Member States to address imbalances in their tax mix, for example, by reducing reliance on revenues from labour taxation.

Council of the European Union

Foreign Affairs Council: 23 June 2025

The Foreign Affairs Council will convene to discuss the following agenda items:

• Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, particularly military support to Ukraine and the 18^th package of sanctions on Russia.
• China and European security in the context of how China’s support to Russia and hybrid activities affect the security of the European Union.
• The situation in the Middle East and Libya, including latest developments in Iran and Gaza.
• The rapidly deteriorating situation in Georgia and serious human rights violations and abuses in Syria.

EU Eastern Border Regions High-Level Conference: 25 – 26 June 2025

This Conference, in line with the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, will provide a forum for discussion on strengthening EU security by developing solutions to increase the cohesion and resilience of regions on the EU's eastern border in the face of challenges arising from Russian aggression against Ukraine.

European Council: 26 – 27 June 2025

EU leaders will convene in Brussels for the European Council, which will focus on current geopolitical challenges and the ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. European defence and security, migration, preparedness, and internal security will also feature on the agenda.

On Ukraine, EU leaders will take stock of recent developments regarding Russia’s war of aggression, particularly how to further support efforts towards peace and putting pressure on Russia to accept a meaningful ceasefire.

On the Middle East, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the escalation that threatens to destabilise the region will be at the forefront of the discussion.

On European defence and security, EU leaders will follow up on ongoing work to build up defence capabilities and strengthen the EU’s defence industry. They will also discuss the outcome of the June NATO Summit.

On competitiveness, the EU’s place in the world will be addressed, particularly in the context of completing the single market and the geoeconomic challenges Europe is facing. Opportunities for strengthening the international role of the euro will also be discussed.

The European Council will also provide an opportunity for an exchange of views on migration and the strengthening of security at Europe’s external borders, on Moldova’s EU accession process, on the situation in the Western Balkans and the EU’s support for the partners’ reform efforts and their European paths, and on the EU’s preparedness in the face of crises and risks.

European Parliament 

Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield: 23 June 2025

The Special Committee will convene to discuss financing interferences and attacks on democracy in the form of two panel discussions. The first will focus on money flows, financial networks, opaque financing of fake NGOs and other strategies used to undermine democratic processes. The second panel will contemplate the best practices and methods to combat financial interference as a threat to democracy.

Committee on International Trade: 24 June 2025

The Committee will discuss the state of play of EU-US trade relations, the trade aspects of the EU-Israel Association agreement, and the EU’s Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Ukraine and Moldova. A public hearing will also take place on the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement.

Articles and Press Releases of Interest    

• Statement by President von der Leyen with President Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary-General Rutte and President Costa at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum
• Association agreement - EU Council gives Israel another chance to improve humanitarian situation in Gaza Agence Europe
• EU readies retaliatory tariffs to secure better trade deal with Trump Financial Times
• French government to face no-confidence vote after pension talks collapse Politico
• Brazilian ambassador denounces disinformation campaign on Mercosur deal Euronews

2 – 6 June 2025   

Activities in the EU Institutions

European Commission

The European Commission has put forward a new strategy for a stable and secure Black Sea region, which aims to link Europe with the South Caucasus and Central Asia to boost connections and growth and reinforce the EU’s geopolitical role as a reliable actor in the Black Sea region amidst Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The European Union will forge closer cooperation with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Türkiye, Armenia, and Azerbaijan by investing in and deepening key mutually beneficial partnerships.

The three pillars for future EU-Black Sea cooperation are:

• Enhancing security, stability, and resilience;
• Fostering sustainable growth and prosperity;
• Promoting environmental protection, climate change resilience and preparedness, and civil protection.

Three flagship initiatives will be implemented in the region through investments in line with the Gobal Gateway Strategy to promote regional growth and address the immediate challenges of conflict and security:

• The establishment of a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub will strengthen maritime safety and security and protect critical maritime infrastructure and the marine environment.
• A dedicated Connectivity Agenda will develop transport, energy, and digital networks to leverage the potential of the Black Sea region as a vital corridor linking Europe with Central Asia to boost economic growth and competitiveness.
• Reinforcing the preparedness of coastal communities and blue economy sectors will enable Black Sea countries to tackle war-related environmental damage, respond to climate-change related risks, and promote sustainable growth.

The European Union will implement the new strategic approach to the Black Sea in conjunction with the enlargement process and the Eastern Partnership policy. The European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, have proposed an EU ministerial meeting with partner countries to advance cooperation under the new approach.
 

Council of the European Union

EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting: 2 – 3 June 2025

The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will host the EU-US Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs in Warsaw on 2nd and 3rd June, to reaffirm the value of sustained EU-US cooperation in addressing shared challenges in justice and home affairs matters. They will review recent joint achievements and identify joint actions in areas of common interest and priorities, such as fighting transnational organised crime and drug trafficking, counterterrorism, illegal migration, and cyber-related criminal activity.

The United States will be represented by Attorney General, Pamela Bondi, and by Senior Counsellor to the Secretary for Homeland Security, Rob Law. The European Union will be represented by the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, along with the Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak, and the Polish Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar.

EU Industry Days 2025: 5 – 6 June 2025

One of the flagship events of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EU Industry Days 2025, will convene senior industry figures and EU officials to discuss three main themes: (i) Competitiveness and Decarbonisation, (ii) An Innovative Industry, and (iii) Increasing Security and Reducing Dependencies with EU Industry. The conference will highlight the key drivers of EU competitiveness, particularly in support of decarbonisation, clean-tech development, and strengthening the single market. Amid growing geopolitical instability, it will also focus on ways to enhance security and defence capabilities and reduce European industry’s strategic dependencies.

European Parliament 

Joint Meeting of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): 2 June 2025

Both the LIBE Committee and Special Committee on the EUDS will convene to exchange views on the use of migration by foreign state actors as an instrument of foreign interference and information manipulation.

European Parliament Conference of Presidents visit to Copenhagen: 3 June 2025

The European Parliament Conference of Presidents will visit Copenhagen ahead of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which commences on 1 July 2025. European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, will meet with Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, along with the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Members of the Danish Parliament’s Political Groups, and the Danish Minister of European Affairs. She will also meet with His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark and Her Majesty Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark.

Committee on Foreign Affairs: 4 June 2025

The Foreign Affairs Committee will convene to adopt the European Commission’s draft reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, and Georgia. An exchange of views with Stefano Sannino, the Commission’s Acting Director-General for Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf will also take place, followed by a debriefing on the parliamentary elections in Albania, which were held on 11 May 2025.

Other News: 

The second round of the 2025 Polish Presidential Elections took place on 1 June 2025, after no candidate had secured more than 50% of the vote in the first round on 18 May 2025. In the first round, the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, of the centre-to-centre-right Civic Platform party, came in first with 31.4% of the vote. Independent candidate Karol Nawrocki, with conservative political views, came in second with 29.5% of the vote. Despite Trzaskowski’s lead in the first round and backing by the incumbent government, Karol Nawrocki won with a narrow 50.89% of the vote. The second round also saw an increase in voter turnout from 67% to 72%. Nawrocki ran on a Christian nationalist and culturally conservative platform and against Donald Tusk’s ruling coalition. He called for significant government intervention in the economy, maintaining close ties between the Polish Government and the Catholic Church in Poland, the broad criminalisation of abortion, and opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriage or civil unions. In contrast, Trzaskowski ran on a platform of economic liberalisation, European integration, the broad legalisation of abortion, and the introduction of same sex civil unions. He also supported further strengthening relations with the European Union and Ukraine’s membership to NATO, which Nawrocki opposed.

Articles and Press Releases of Interest    

• No candidate country can join EU without “fully respecting and defending” European values, says Marta Kos Agence Europe
• No majority among EU countries to sanction Hungary over rule of law Euronews
• Dutch premier resigns after far-right leader Wilders quits government Financial Times
• Defiant Tusk to call confidence vote to reassert his authority in Poland after election setback Politico

26 – 30 May 2025   

Activities in the EU Institutions

European Commission

The European Commission has launched a new Call for Interest to support 10 cities in the Eastern Partnership with EU financing to foster resilience and local economic growth. The call is open to Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine, where selected cities will receive up to $120, 000. According to Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, the programme aims to support cities across the Eastern Partnership to lead their own economic transformation journeys by aligning local, national, and EU priorities, which will foster inclusive and sustainable growth and strengthen their economic resilience.
Council of the European Union

Competition Policy and Law: 26 May 2025

European Competition Day is an event organised by each Presidency of the Council of the EU and serves as a platform to exchange views on competition policy and law, particularly focusing on the adaptation of the law to political changes and global trends in Europe and globally. This year’s theme is The Evolution of Competition Law: Adapting to Current Policy Shifts and Global Challenges. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, will serve as a special guest and present the Commission’s approach towards the development of competition policy and its role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness worldwide.

Foreign Affairs Council: 26 May 2025

In advance of the 4^th International Conference on Financing for Development, (FfD4), which is taking place in Seville from 30 June 2025 to 3 July 2025, the Foreign Affairs Council will convene to discuss development financing and the EU’s role in external relations in development.

The Seville conference will be held against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, exacerbated by proposed cuts to overseas development aid by the US, the UK, and several other countries, which have put considerable strain on development financing. It will focus on reform of the international financial architecture to make it more inclusive and fairer, and on the need to fully implement the sustainable development goals.  

A particular focus of the Development FAC will be on EU-Africa relations and on highlighting the visibility of the EU’s Global Gateway projects for investments in Africa. Other important items on the agenda will be the discussion on alignment between Africans and Europeans in multilateral fora with a view to possible joint action, and on humanitarian aid from the EU to deal with the parlous situation in Ukraine.

General Affairs Council: 27 May 2025

Ministers responsible for European Affairs will convene to begin preparations for the European Council meeting, which will take place on 26 – 27 June 2025. The eighth hearing of Hungary as part of the Article 7 procedure features on the agenda, along with country-specific discussions on the rule of law situation in Belgium, Finland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

European Parliament 

Committee on Budgets delegation to Montenegro: 26 – 28 May 2025

A delegation of 10 MEPs will visit Montenegro in the context of the country’s progress towards EU accession. The delegation’s focus will be on the implementation of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, on Montenegro’s overall progress towards EU membership, and on the potential budgetary implications of Montenegro’s future accession for the EU’s post-2027 long-term budget.

Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield delegation to Moldova: 26 – 28 May 2025

MEPs from the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) will be in Chișinău, Moldova to learn about the country's experience and capacities in countering foreign information manipulation, hybrid threats, and cyberattacks, while strengthening democratic resilience and securing critical infrastructure.

Committee on International Trade delegation to Washington, D.C.: 27 – 29 May 2025

A delegation of 8 MEPs will travel to Washington, D.C. to discuss political, trade and investment relations between the US and the EU with representatives of various US administration departments, legislators, US business organisations and major EU businesses active in the US,  focusing on how the recent tariffs are being applied, how business is adapting, and how EU-US trade tensions can be eased.

Articles and Press Releases of Interest    

• EU countries 'losing patience' as Hungary grilled on rule of law Euronews
• EU countries frustrated by Commission's delay on Ukraine trade deal Euronews
• Austrian chancellor says EU asylum rules are no longer fit for purpose Financial Times
• Nicușor Dan starts nightmare new job as president of Romania Politico
• Trade negotiations between EU and Washington expected to continue until 9 July Agence Europe