This week, EU leaders exchange views on current political developments and issues of strategic importance for the European Union; a European Commission webinar explains the first diversification round under the Raw Materials Mechanism; Parliament and Council negotiators try 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 EU mobile workers; and we have European Immunization Week. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 20 to 25 April 2026.
Monday 20 April
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Defence: MEPs in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee will quiz Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius 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 Committee will discuss with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos the current state of the enlargement process and the outlook for the coming six months, including the state of preparations for the pre-enlargement policy reviews.
Plenary preparations: political groups will be preparing for the 27-30 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 next long-term budget (2028-2034 multiannual financial framework). They will also vote on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, on the need for EU legislation to define rape based on absence of consent, on 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 Commission and other EU bodies managed the EU budget in 2024.
Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 April
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | the EU’s international role | International cooperation | Global Gateway
EU–Ethiopia Business Forum 2026
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The EU–Ethiopia Business Forum (EEBF) will spotlight Ethiopia’s economic opportunities and demonstrate how the European Union and its Member States can strengthen their partnership with the country under the Global Gateway strategy.
Monday 20 April
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Transport policy | Air transport
AZEA General Assembly 2026
Brussels
EUROCONTROL will host the 7th General Assembly of the Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation (AZEA) and the Roadmap Publication Ceremony. The closed-door General Assembly (10:00–13:35) will gather AZEA members to discuss priorities for 2026–2027.
The Roadmap Publication Ceremony (14:30–17:20) will present the “Roadmap for the deployment of hybrid, electric and hydrogen flights in Europe” to the public, in the presence of Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and will be livestreamed on the DG DEFIS YouTube channel available hereafter.
Monday 20 April
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Health
European Immunization Week: For every generation, vaccines work
Online only
European Immunization Week (EIW) is an initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the vital role immunisation plays to prevent diseases and protect life. This year’s EIW runs from 19-25 April.
Find out the latest data on vaccination and vaccine preventable diseases, join the discussion with experts on the impact of vaccination across generations and hear country experiences on successful strategies to improve vaccination uptake.
Tuesday 21 April
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Russia | Ukraine | Middle East
Foreign Affairs Council
Luxembourg
The Council will exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments. Ministers will also touch on the South Caucasus and the situation in Sudan, three years since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict.
Tuesday 21 April
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Transport
Informal video conference of transport ministers
Videoconference
Ministers of transport will meet informally over video conference to discuss the impact of recent geopolitical developments on EU transport.
Tuesday 21 April
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Research | Knowledge management | Intellectual property
What gets measured gets done: new metrics for knowledge valorisation
Online only
Join our upcoming webinar on 21 April to explore innovative approaches in measuring the impact of research & valorisation activities.
Discover new indicators that capture societal and economic benefits.
Tuesday 21 April
Other bodies and agencies | Public debates | Advanced materials | Research | Innovation
Scientific Advice on Advanced Materials: Handover to Commissioner Zaharieva EBS Live TV debate
Online only
The Scientific Advice Mechanism will formally hand over its latest scientific advice to Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation.
The topic: Advanced Materials and why Europe’s strategic autonomy may well depend on how it approaches them.
Wednesday 22 April
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Coordination of social security systems: Parliament and Council negotiators will try 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 EU mobile workers.
Thursday 23 – Friday 24 April
European Council | Political meetings | Geopolitical environment | Multiannual financial framework
Informal meeting of heads of state or government
Lefkosia, Cyprus
EU leaders will engage in an open exchange of views on current political developments and issues of strategic importance for the European Union, in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Thursday 23 April
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Climate change
Carbon Removal Expert Group meeting on carbon farming
Brussels
The meeting will focus on the presentation of the revised delegated act for carbon farming methodologies, discuss the key methodological elements for carbon storage in buildings and will provide an update on the upcoming Commission recognition of certification schemes.
Thursday 23 April
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Energy
Q&A: Preparing a successful application for the Prize for governance innovation in energy communities
Online only
Are you preparing an application for the Horizon Europe Prize on Governance Innovations in Energy Communities (HORIZON-CL5-2026-2-PRIZE)?
In this workshop, you will learn how to navigate the Funding & Tenders Portal and how to correctly complete the application forms.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to ask questions in a one-stop-shop format. Please tick the box below if you would like to secure a 5-minute slot with European Commission policy officers to address your questions directly.
Thursday 23 April
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Critical raw materials | Mineral resources | Natural resources | Strategic technologies | Raw material | Trade policy
Webinar: Launch of the Raw Materials Mechanism’s first Diversification Round
Online
On 13 April, the European Commission launched the first round under the Raw Materials Mechanism, connecting EU buyers with suppliers of strategic raw materials to support resilient, diversified supply chains across Europe.
To this end, the European Commission has organised a webinar to explain the first diversification round.
Friday 24 April – Friday 1 May
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Youth
European Youth Week 2026
Brussels
The European Youth Week 2026 is an event organised by the European Commission every second year to celebrate and promote youth engagement, participation and active citizenship all over Europe and beyond. This edition will be dedicated to ‘Solidarity and Fairness’.
