EU agenda - Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay

This week, COP31, the UN Climate Change Conference, gets underway in Antalya, Türkiye; EU leaders meet for an informal summit in Dublin; finance ministers look to reach political agreement on the tobacco taxation package; the Commission holds implementation dialogues on research security and on geographical indications, and the European research and innovation days 2026; the EU Council and European Parliament aim to agree on the EU’s annual budget for 2027; and MEPs in plenary assess the need for further sanctions against Russia in response to the escalating attacks on Ukraine, and discuss how to enhance the EU’s cyber resilience capabilities.

Costa - Tusk - Photo © European Union 2025

Poland took over the presidency of the EU on 1 January promising to strenthen European security in its external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health dimensions.

Ursula von der Leyen - Photo © European Union 2024 - EP

The European Parliament gave formal approval Wednesday to the new team and programme of EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, with her College of Commissioners expected to take office on 1 December.