This week, defence ministers discuss EU military support for Ukraine, defence readiness and the situation in the Middle East; education ministers look to approve a partial negotiating mandate on the Erasmus+ regulation for 2028-2034; culture ministers discuss the EU’s work plan for culture for 2027-2030; and the European Parliament unveils the three European laureates of this year’s Charlemagne Youth Prize. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 11 to 16 May 2026.
Monday 11 May
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Political group meetings
Brussels
Plenary preparations: political groups will prepare for the 18 – 21 May plenary session, during which President Metsola will confer the European Order of Merit to the inaugural laureates in a ceremony in the hemicycle. MEPs will also vote on a new law to improve the protection of EU strategic sectors from risky foreign investments, on rule of law, fundamental rights and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia and debate the European citizen’s initiative ‘Stop destroying videogames’. They will also debate and vote on new legislation to support and protect victims of crimes, on addressing the gender care gap and on mitigating the negative effects of global steel overcapacity on the EUmarket. MEPs will also debate the future of the EU with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Silina as part of the ‘This is Europe’ debate series.
Monday 11 May
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Ukraine | Western Balkans
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
The Council will discuss relations with the Western Balkans, after an informal breakfast with the foreign ministers of the six Western Balkans partners. The Council will then exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments. EU foreign affairs ministers will informally exchange with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Anita Anand.
Lastly, the Council will be informed about the outcomes of the updated EU threat analysis.
In the margins of the Council meeting, High Representative Kaja Kallas will co-chair the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and will chair the first EU-Syria high-level political dialogue.
Monday 11 May
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Education and Youth
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council
Brussels
EU ministers for education and youth will meet to discuss topics including Erasmus+, teachers in the era of AI, the EU Youth Dialogue, and the youth-friendliness of EU and national policies.
Tuesday 12 May
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Defence
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
The Council will exchange views on EU military support for Ukraine, EU defence readiness, and the situation in the Middle East and its impact on EU security and defence. Ministers will also be informed about the outcomes of the updated EU threat analysis. In the margins of the Council meeting, High Representative Kaja Kallas will chair the European Defence Agency (EDA) Steering Board.
Tuesday 12 May
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Culture and Sport
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council
Brussels
EU ministers for culture, audiovisual, media and sport will meet to discuss topics including AgoraEU, the EU’s work plan for culture for 2027-2030, sport tourism and sustainable development, and mental health in sport.
Tuesday 12 May
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Political group meetings
Brussels
Charlemagne Youth Prize 2026: the three European laureates of this year’s Charlemagne Youth Prize will be unveiled at a ceremony in Aachen. The award, run jointly by the Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation, is given to youth-led projects that foster democracy, promote active citizenship, and bring communities together.
Tuesday 12 May
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Climate change
High-Level Stakeholder Roundtable on EU ETS Review
Brussels
The high-level roundtable discussion will take place with key EU ETS industry sector, civil society and selected other stakeholders, chaired by Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General for Climate Action.
The Roundtable will further explore the policy priorities to guide the upcoming review of the EU ETS and the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) for the 2031-2040 period and the complementary instruments needed to make decarbonisation a driver of EU competitiveness and resilience.
Wednesday 13 May
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Open science | Research policy
Economic impact of options for improving access to and reuse of research results, publications and data for scientific purposes
Online only
The workshop concerns the findings of an economic study launched in the context of structural policy 1 of the European Research Area Policy Agenda 2025-2027.
Wednesday 13 May
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Space industry
EU Orbital Data Centers Workshop
Brussels
The workshop aims at gathering opinions and positions from the European end-users, industry and research on Orbital Data Centers (ODC), as potential new capacity for the European Space Ecosystem and as part of a larger in-space economy.
