This week, the European Commission holds a Scaleup Europe Fund online information session, also a high-level conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Everything But Arms arrangement and present the new EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences; MEPs in committee vote on revised CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and van, proposals for simpler legislation governing the EU automotive industry, and new EU rules to prevent criminals from exploiting loopholes in the controls on chemicals used to manufacture illegal drugs; and we have Gender equality week. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 2 to 7 November 2026.
Monday 2 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Tuesday 3 – Wednesday 4 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Civil Protection
European Civil Protection Forum
Brussels
Under the theme “Preparing today, ready for tomorrow”, the Forum is the flagship event of the European civil protection community. Held every two years, it brings together policymakers, civil protection authorities, first responders, practitioners, researchers and other key stakeholders from across Europe and beyond.
Tuesday 3 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
Gender equality week: the European Parliament will take stock of achievements and identify new measures to advance girls’ and women’s rights and ensure gender equality. Particular attention will be given to women in leadership in the flagship event “Shaping the change and inspiring the next generation of leaders” where European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will participate in a fireside chat. (Tuesday to Friday)
Tuesday 3 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Gender Equality | Labour market | Social rights | Youth
The Socio-Economic Value of Job Quality: Launch of the European Employment and Social Outlook (EESO) 2026
Brussels
Jointly organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), this conference will be an opportunity to discuss key insights from the European Employment and Social Outlook (EESO) 2026 – the flagship report from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion’s (DG EMPL).
Wednesday 4 November
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee and political group meetings
Brussels
CO2 emissions of cars: the Environment, Climate and Food Safety committee will vote on revised CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans. MEPs are expected to propose target reductions, incentives for certain electric vehicles and the use of EU-made low carbon steel, and updated vehicle labelling requirements.
Greener corporate fleets: the Environment and Transport committees will adopt their position on how the EU should speed up the uptake of zero- and low-emission vehicles in corporate fleets, including through specific national plans and targeted financial support for clean vehicles made in the EU.
Electric cars and simpler rules: MEPs on the Environment, Transport and Internal Market committees will vote on proposals for simpler and more consistent legislation governing the EU automotive industry, with a focus on facilitating the market development of small and efficient electric vehicles, and streamlining complex requirements and testing procedures.
Chemicals used to manufacture illegal drugs: MEPs from the International Trade and Civil Liberties committees will vote on new EU rules to prevent criminals from exploiting loopholes in the controls on chemicals used to manufacture illegal drugs, by targeting “designer precursors” developed to evade the restrictions. MEPs are expected to seek stronger checks on online sellers and faster action against newly identified substances.
Future EU funds for border management, internal security and migration: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee MEPs will decide on their position on the 2028-2034 EU programmes that support the Schengen area, border management, visa policy, internal security, asylum, and migration. The MEPs are likely to ask for sufficient funds and greater flexibility to respond to growing challenges.
Enlargement package: Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos will present to the Foreign Affairs committee the 2026 assessment of progress made by nine candidate countries and one potential candidate towards EU accession.
Wednesday 4 November
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Migration
EMN Estonia and EMN Luxembourg workshop: Forecasting and new technologies in migration and asylum governance – State of play and new developments
Tallinn, Estonia
The workshop has become an annual platform for exploring the role of new technologies in migration and asylum governance. A wide range of stakeholders – representatives from EU agencies, international organisations, experts of migration authorities, practitioners, researchers, academics – will present and discuss their ongoing work and examine emerging developments in the use of new technologies in the migration and asylum governance.
Wednesday 4 – Thursday 5 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Clean energy | Energy costs
Strategic Energy Technology Plan
Cork, Ireland
The 20th SET Plan Conference is dedicated to strengthening the competitiveness and sovereignty of European strategic energy technologies and will bring together key EU and national policymakers, investors, industry, researchers and other stakeholders to discuss how clean energy technologies can support affordability, competitiveness, energy security and resilience in Europe.
Wednesday 4 November
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Fund (EU) | Research policy | Business start-up
Scaleup Europe Fund online information session
Online only
In August 2026 the Scaleup Europe Fund was launched and has started to make major investments to build up a portfolio of European growth-stage companies across strategic technologies.
An information session is being organised to provide further insights about the Scaleup Europe Fund for all interested parties.
Wednesday 4 November
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Generalised Scheme of Preferences
25 Years of Everything But Arms: International Partnerships Through Trade
Brussels
The European Commission will host a high-level conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Everything But Arms arrangement and present the new EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences.
For 25 years, the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement has provided Least Developed Countries with duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market for all products except arms and ammunition. From 1 January 2027, the revised EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) will renew the EU’s preferential trade framework and give a fresh boost to EBA for Least Developed Countries.
Wednesday 4 November
Other bodies and agencies | Public debates | Political advertising
Implementation dialogue on the application of the Political Advertising Regulation with Commissioner Michael McGrath
Brussels
Commissioner Michael McGrath is hosting an Implementation Dialogue on the application of the Political Advertising Regulation
The dialogue allows stakeholders to exchange views with the Commissioner and share initial experiences with the application of the Political Advertising Regulation. The implementation dialogue is also exploring measures to support, facilitate and improve its application as well as fostering exchange on its added value.
Thursday 5 November
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Health technology assessment
The EU HTA Regulation: Webinar for health technology developers of medicinal products
Online
Chairs and Co-chairs of the Member State Coordination Group on Health Technology Assessment (HTACG) and its subgroups will explain the process for joint clinical assessments (JCA) and joint scientific consultations (JSC). The webinar will also cover relevant guidance documents adopted by the HTACG.
The European Commission’s HTA Secretariat will provide a training on how to access and use the HTA IT Platform for the JSC and JCA workflows and how to submit early information for HTA purposes.
