This week, foreign affairs ministers exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East; farm ministers debate the EU Bioeconomy strategy; the Commission convenes a strategic dialogue over the forthcoming EU strategy for sustainable tourism; the European Parliament holds a plenary session to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 27 January; and MEPs in committee adopt their position on a bill designed to protect the EU steel industry from sustained import pressure, and discuss EU-US relations, working conditions in Amazon warehouses, defence issues with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Hungary’s frozen funds and the rule of law. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 26 – 31 January 2026.
Monday 26 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: 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.
Hungary’s frozen funds: the Budgetary Control and Budgets Committees will discuss the rule of law conditionality mechanism and Hungary’s frozen funds with Commission Executive Vice-Presidents Raffaele Fitto and Roxana Mînzatu and Commissioner Piotr Serafin.
Priorities of the Cyprus Presidency: Cyprus’s ministers will present their priorities in meetings with the relevant parliamentary committees. Cyprus holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of June 2026 (Monday to Thursday).
Monday 26 January
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Farming | Bioeconomy
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Brussels
The Council will begin with a public session, during which the Cyprus presidency will present its work programme for the first half of 2026. Ministers will then exchange views on amending the organic farming regulation and on the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. The latter will provide input for the draft Council conclusions on the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy, to be approved by the Environment Council.
Monday 26 – Thursday 29 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Bhutan
EU-Bhutan Business Forum
Brussels
As 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and Bhutan, the forum presents a unique opportunity for business and government leaders from both regions to explore emerging investment opportunities in Bhutan.
Monday 26 January
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops| Green economy | Regulatory policy
Environmental reporting and simplification workshop
Online only
As part of the study ‘Environmental Reporting and Simplification – Trinomics’, consultation activities will be conducted, including this second online workshop. The European Commission’s study team has conducted a comprehensive review of the legislative instruments managed by DG Environment (ENV), identifying reporting obligations and other administrative requirements, and assessing their costs and, where possible, their benefits. Concrete options for simplification have been reviewed for a select number of legislative acts. The main purpose of this workshop is to present draft conclusions of the work completed.
Monday 26 January
Other bodies and agencies | Political meetings | Tourism
Strategic Dialogue: EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism
Brussels
In the margins of the European Tourism Day, Commissioner Tzitzikostas will convene a Strategic Dialogue with senior representatives of the tourism sector to support the preparation of the forthcoming EU strategy for sustainable tourism. The objective is to jointly identify challenges, opportunities and key actions necessary to support the development of the EU tourism sector and to better prepare it for future challenges.
Monday 26 January
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Farming | Cyprus presidency priorities
General Affairs Council
Brussels
Ministers for European Affairs will hear a presentation of the Cyprus presidency priorities and hold a country-specific discussion in the framework of the annual rule of law dialogue. The Council will also hold a policy debate on the European Democracy Shield.
Tuesday 27 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Holocaust Remembrance Day: the European Parliament will hold a plenary session in Brussels to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January). Parliament President Roberta Metsola will open the solemn ceremony. A speech by Holocaust survivor Tatiana Bucci will follow.
EU steel industry/tariffs: 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/illegal and unsafe products online: with repeated invitations having been declined by the company in recent months, representatives of the online marketplace SHEIN will now appear before the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection to discuss compliance with EU product safety, consumer protection, and online platform rules.
Tuesday 27 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Defence technology
TeChBioT: final event
Thessaloniki, Greece
Funded under the European Defence Fund (EDF), TeChBioT develops a miniaturised, low-cost gas chromatography–ion mobility spectroscopy (GC-IMS) instrument for the rapid detection and identification of chemical and biological warfare agents. In parallel, the MoSaiC project, also funded under the EDF, contributes innovative sampling technologies and real-time monitoring capabilities to support chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat mapping and response. Join leading experts, innovators and decision-makers for an engaging full-day event showcasing the next generation of CBRN defence detection technologies.
Tuesday 27 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Energy policy | Energy industry | Nuclear industry
European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors: Stakeholders’ Forum
Brussels
The first SMR Stakeholders’ Forum is part of the activities of the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (Alliance). The Forum will serve as an element of the broader public consultation supporting the forthcoming Commission Communication on a Strategy for SMRs, which is planned for publication later this year.
Tuesday 27 – Wednesday 28 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Space industry
18th European Space Conference
Brussels
2026 will mark a turning point for Europe’s space ecosystem. Key decisions will shape the next decade: the outcomes of the ESA Ministerial Council meeting, the negotiations of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework and its Competitiveness Fund, and the development of the future EU Space Programme and its components.
The European Space Conference will provide a platform to debate these critical issues, and also engage in high-level dialogues on upcoming space and defence initiatives, national space strategies, and Europe’s role in global partnerships.
Tuesday 27 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Nutrition | Food security
Stronger Data for Stronger Futures
Brussels
Bringing together global and country partners, technical experts and practitioners to connect evidence and action in responding to child undernutrition and strengthening food and nutrition data systems.
Hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), this exchange will bring together global and country partners, technical experts and practitioners to connect evidence and action in responding to child undernutrition and strengthening food and nutrition data systems.
Tuesday 27 January
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Energy policy
Webinar on the EU Hydrogen Mechanism’s offtake collection
Online only
On 12 November 2025, the Commission launched the first call for interest under the Hydrogen Mechanism. This initiative connects suppliers of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen or derivatives (ammonia, methanol, eSAF and eMethane) with potential offtakers.
The submission phase for supply offers closed on 2 January 2026. It attracted significant interest, with more than 260 projects placed by European and international suppliers. The offtake collection window will begin on 20 January and last until 20 March 2026.
This online webinar will allow you to learn more about the offtake collection window It is open to industry, financial institutions, academia, and interested stakeholders and will cover.
Wednesday 28 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
EU-US relations: MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee will examine EU-US relations and recent developments with Andrew Puzder, United States Ambassador to the EU.
Working conditions in Amazon warehouses: MEPs on the Employment and Social Affairs Committee will quiz three Amazon vice-presidents on working conditions in Amazon warehouses. The public hearing will include testimony from an Amazon Poland warehouse worker, among others.
Copyright and generative artificial intelligence (AI): Legal Affairs Committee MEPs will put forward their proposals to ensure stronger protection, transparency, and fair compensation for creators of copyrighted materials used to train generative AI technologies.
Wednesday 28 January
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Corporate social responsibility
The Business Case for Responsible Business Conduct: Strategic Opportunities and Policy Incentives
Brussels
This full-day event aims to advance dialogue between academics, businesses, associations and policymakers on how responsible business conduct can drive long-term business value and competitiveness. It will also explore how public policy can create an enabling environment to accelerate responsible business conduct across the EU.
Thursday 29 January
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Ukraine | the Middle East
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
The Council will exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and in the Great Lakes Region. Furthermore, EU foreign affairs ministers will informally discuss the outlook for 2026 over breakfast and exchange views with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk over a working lunch.
Thursday 29 – Friday 30 January
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Innovation | Research policy | Industrial research | Space research | Digital technology
Horizon Europe info days – Cluster 4
Online only
Are you looking for research & innovation funding opportunities to develop a competitive, digital, low-carbon and circular industry? Are you interested in ensuring sustainable supply of raw materials, develop advanced materials and provide the basis for advances and innovation in global challenges to society? Join the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 info days to learn more about the topics of the Work Programme 2026.
Thursday 29 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Recovery and Resilience Facility
Research Conference: Understanding the impact of the Recovery and Resilience Facility
Brussels
The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is the EU’s €650 billion post-COVID instrument and supports reforms and investments across different policy areas. As the last year of the RRF implementation has started, the aim of the conference is to take stock of its impact so far. The conference invites the academic and research community to join practitioners from public administrations and international organisations to discuss the research and preliminary evidence available.
Thursday 29 January
Other bodies and agencies | Partner meetings | Pollution | Noise pollution | Air pollution | Water pollution | Soil pollution | Marine pollution | Environmental protection | Degradation of the environment | Environmental policy
8th Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting – Mid-Term Review
Brussels
This meeting will focus on the mid-term review report of the Zero Pollution Action Plan which will focus on the activities towards 2030. Another topic will be to launch the dialogue with stakeholders on PFAS which was set out in the Chemicals Industry Action Plan. Moreover, it will be the occasion to inform about the plans for future organisation of the Stakeholder Platform.
