This week, finance ministers look to agree on new rules to help fight value added tax (VAT) fraud in the EU; the Commission’s Brussels Economic Forum focuses on the AI revolution; the European Parliament in committee evaluate progress made by Albania and Montenegro towards EU membership, and adopt a position on revision of EU rules on periodic roadworthiness tests and roadside inspections for vehicles; and we have Europe Day 2026. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 4 to 9 May 2026.
Monday 4 May
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Daphne Caruana Galizia prize for journalism: the European Parliament is launching the 2026 edition of its journalism prize dedicated to the late Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. From Monday, journalists will be able to submit their entries for this annual award rewarding outstanding journalism that promotes or defends core EU values.
Monday 4 May
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Finance
Eurogroup
Brussels
Finance ministers will discuss the operational resilience of banks in terms of cyber security and the use of artificial intelligence, as well as cross-border banking issues. The Eurogroup will assess the impact the Middle East conflict on the EU economy
Monday 4 May
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Finance
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Brussels
Among other items on the agenda, ministers will be invited to agree on new rules to help fight value added tax (VAT) fraud in the EU. The Council will also hold a policy debate on the market integration and supervision package – a key part of the EU’s saving and investment union.
Tuesday 5 May
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Eurozone: MEPs in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will quiz Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Eurogroup President, on euro area economy resilience amid the Middle East crisis, and on the need for structural reforms to better withstand future shocks. They will also discuss the role of multilateral cooperation in navigating current global economic challenges. MEPs are also set to ask how the Eurogroup intends to foster competitive financial markets that can channel EU savings into productive investments. This will be the first time Pierrakakis has appeared before MEPs.
Enlargement/Montenegro and Albania: in a vote, the Foreign Affairs Committee will evaluate the progress made by Albania and Montenegro towards EU membership. Both countries are well advanced in their negotiations to become the newest EU member states.
Enlargement/Ukraine: the Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss with Ukrainian parliamentarians the current situation in Ukraine and the country’s path towards EU membership.
Periodic testing of cars: the Transport and Tourism Committee will adopt its position on the revision of EU rules on periodic roadworthiness tests and roadside inspections for vehicles. Among the proposals to be voted on are the frequency of testing, more testing points, including the emission of nitrogen oxide in the tests, making heavy motorcycles inspection mandatory, and allowing a car to be tested in an EU country other than the one in which it was registered.
Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6 May
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Organised crime | Drug traffic
Research and innovation against illicit drugs: from foresight to operational impact
Brussels
Illicit drugs and drug trafficking remain major and evolving security challenges for the European Union, affecting public health, organised crime, border management and social cohesion.
This two-day CERIS workshop will bring together policymakers, practitioners, EU agencies, researchers, civil society and industry to explore how EU-funded security research can support a more effective and integrated response to drugs-related threats. Discussions will cover drug markets and foresight, organised crime, forensics, border and customs controls, and the societal dimension, including youth.
Wednesday 6 May
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Mayor of Mariupol: Vadym Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol in Ukraine, will debate with Regional Development Committee on the challenges of governing temporarily occupied cities and territories while in exile.
Wednesday 6 May
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Energy policy | Energy transition
Clean Energy Transition Investment Forum
Brussels
The Clean Energy Transition Investment Forum 2026 (CETIF 2026) brings together practitioners, public authorities, businesses, and finance actors to share practical solutions for financing Europe’s clean energy transition.
The forum focuses on real projects, peer exchange and actionable follow-up.
Wednesday 6 May
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Translation | Multilingualism | Language industry
All together now! Collaborative approaches in accessibility
Antwerp, Belgium
Taking place during the 4th OPEN Forum in Antwerp, this multilingualism workshop is part of the European Master’s in Translation (EMT) ‘train-the-trainer’ summer school.
This annual summer school is specifically aimed at trainers in audiovisual translation and media accessibility, with a view to enhancing their knowledge and teaching resources on media accessibility practices. It is coordinated by a consortium of 6 EMT universities.
Thursday 7 May
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Economy | AI
Brussels Economic Forum
Brussels
The Brussels Economic Forum (BEF) is the European Commission’s annual flagship economic event. For more than 25 years, it has brought together political leaders, business representatives, civil society, academics, and key economic actors to engage in forward-looking discussions on key issues shaping the European economy.
Just as the industrial revolution transformed the 19th century, the AI revolution is reshaping our economic landscape in profound and lasting ways. The 26th edition will focus on the EU’s strategic role and its ambitions in the global AI race.
Thursday 7 May
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Finance
European Financial Integration 2026
Brussels
Joint conference of the European Commission and the European Central Bank.
Thursday 7 May
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Climate change policy | Reduction of gas emissions | Carbon neutrality | Emission trading | Renewable energy
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: How to make decarbonisation efforts pay off
Online
This webinar will provide information to help exporters in a third-country master the CBAM methodology and turn CBAM compliance into a strategic advantage. Discover how to navigate the requirements effectively and ensure your low-carbon investments translate into a tangible competitive edge in the EU market.
Thursday 7 May
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Energy policy | Climate change policy
Second workshop on the revision of the Governance Regulation
Online only
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Directorate-General for Climate Action are convening a second workshop on the revision of the Regulation on the governance of the energy union and climate action. The Commission plans to present a legislative proposal in Q4 2026 to simplify, strengthen and modernise the Governance Regulation.
Saturday 9 May
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | European Instritutions
Europe Day 2026
Brussels
To celebrate 2026 Europe Day, marking the Schuman Declaration, EU institutions in Luxembourg and Brussels will open their doors and invite citizens to engage in a wide range of activities.
