This week, the European Commission invites industry stakeholders to an online workshop to discuss excise procedures, and discusses the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism; the first EU-Vietnam Global Gateway business and investment forum meets, also the Turkmenistan-EU Business Forum; and MEPs vote on implification of AI rules and air quality, and are set to confirm a deal with EU member states on a new toolset to address bank failures. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 23- 29 March 2026.
Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Climate change
European Climate Pact: ‘Together in Action 2026’
Brussels and online
Join Europe’s climate action community for ‘Together in Action 2026’, the Climate Pact’s annual celebration marking progress in tackling climate change and the drive towards a cleaner, more resilient Union. Meet policymakers, experts and community leaders; get inspired by grassroots initiatives; and explore the future of climate action from across Europe.
Monday 23 March
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Tax system
Reality check on simplifying excise procedures
Online only
The European Commission invites industry stakeholders to an online workshop to discuss excise procedures. The goal is to collect feedback on the current rules and explore ways to simplify excise procedures.
Monday 23 March
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Economy | Affordable housing | Innovation | Urban planning | Environmental policy | Public safety | Quality of life | Social policy | Public service
Meeting with regions and cities on the European Affordable Housing Plan
Brussels
The European Affordable Housing Plan sets out ten key areas of action where the EU can add value and support efforts by other public authorities and stakeholders to tackle the housing crisis, including an Affordable Housing Act in 2026 and a Housing Simplification Package in 2027. To ensure that these initiatives reflect the realities and needs of regions and cities, we would like to invite you to a hybrid workshop.
Tuesday 24 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Trade | Energy | Transport
EU-Vietnam Global Gateway business and investment forum
Hanoi, Vietnam
Building on the momentum of our upgraded EU-Vietnam relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the first EU-Vietnam Global Gateway business and investment forum aims to facilitate high-level dialogues and create new avenues for shared prosperity.
Tuesday 24 March
Other bodies and agencies | Political meetings| Tourism | Tourism policy | Ecological tourism
Strategic Dialogue: EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism
Brussels
Commissioner Tzitzikostas will convene a third Strategic Dialogue with mayors of key EU tourism destinations to support the preparation of the forthcoming EU strategy for sustainable tourism. Participants will also include urban and regional representatives active in shaping sustainable tourism policy in Europe. The aim is to jointly reflect on challenges related to unbalanced tourism and concrete measures that can help promote balanced management of tourism flows in urban destinations.
Wednesday 25 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session and committee meeting
Brussels
19-20 March EU summit: MEPs will review the 19-20 March European Council meeting in a debate with Presidents António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.
Energy security: MEPs, Council and the Commission will discuss how to ensure energy supply, market stability, and affordable energy for industry and citizens in the current challenging geopolitical context.
Protecting taxpayers and deposits: MEPs are set to confirm a deal with EU member states on a new toolset 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 depositor protection across the EU. The debate will take place on Wednesday, followed by a vote on Thursday.
Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Trade
Foreign Affairs Council
Yaoundé, Cameroon
The Foreign Affairs Council, in its Trade configuration, will be held on the margins of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Trade ministers will seek approval of conclusions both at the start and at the end of the conference, and to adopt a decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU at the conference.
Thursday 26 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament plenary session and committee meeting
Brussels
EU-US trade: 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: plenary will vote in its negotiating position for on proposed changes to EU legislation on making it easier to send back non-EU nationals who do not have the right to stay in the EU.
Simplification of AI rules: MEPs will vote on their position on a proposal to simplify EU artificial intelligence rules. Parliament’s draft position includes a ban on AI “nudifier” systems and clear application dates for high-risk system requirements.
EU water quality: 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.
Thursday 26 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | The EU’s international role | International cooperation | Global Gateway
Turkmenistan-EU Business Forum
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The Forum aims to strengthen cooperation in key sectors relevant to EU-Turkmenistan trade relations and will focus on Global Gateway priorities in Turkmenistan, including connectivity, transport and logistics, energy and sustainable growth.
Thursday 26 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Cross-border cooperation | Orphan disease
Patients’ rights on cross-border healthcare and the European Reference Networks
Brussels
EU citizens have the right to access healthcare in any EU country and to be reimbursed by their home country, but how many people know about this right and benefit from it?
This high-level conference looks at the EU’s achievements in making cross-border healthcare more accessible, as well as at the barriers to making it more widely known and used.
Thursday 26 March
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Culture
Horizon Europe info day—Cluster 2
Online only
Join the Horizon Europe Cluster 2 info day to learn more about the 2026 topics of the forthcoming Work Programme 2026-2027.
Thursday 26 March
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Transport | Energy
EAFO Webinar: Consumer Monitor 2025 – EU drivers’ view on electric cars
Brussels
The European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) will host a dedicated webinar to officially present the EAFO Consumer Monitor 2025 – EU Drivers’ View on Electric Cars.
