EU agenda - Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay

This week, justice ministers are expected to agree position on the new justice programme 2028-2034, while home affairs ministers discuss the overall state of the Schengen area; EU Parliament and Council negotiators try to reach a deal to update the air passenger rights regulation, and an updated EU common system for the return of third-country nationals without the right to stay in the EU; the Commission holds the European innovation council summit 2026, an online webinar on the recognition process for certification schemes under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation and a conference on the international monetary system and the role of the euro; MEPs in committee vote on EU-US trade, enlargement reports on Ukraine and Moldova and the Western Balkans, and excise duty for tobacco; and we have EU Green Week 2026.

Costa - Tusk - Photo © European Union 2025

Poland took over the presidency of the EU on 1 January promising to strenthen European security in its external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health dimensions.

Ursula von der Leyen - Photo © European Union 2024 - EP

The European Parliament gave formal approval Wednesday to the new team and programme of EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, with her College of Commissioners expected to take office on 1 December.