This week, EU leaders meet at a summit to address Russia’s war on Ukraine and European defence; energy ministers discuss the action plan for affordable energy; and MEPs in committee debate the EU response to US trade policy. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 17 to 22 March 2025.
Monday 17 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
UN Commission on the Status of Women: a delegation from the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee will attend the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. The CSW is expected to adopt its annual conclusions on gender equality, fundamental rights and social policies (Monday to Thursday).
Monday 17 – Thursday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Civil society
Civil Society Week 2025
Brussels
Civil Society Week 2025 will gather a diverse range of civil society stakeholders from Europe and beyond, providing a unique platform to engage in critical debates, share best practices, and collaborate to develop solutions that foster social cohesion and strengthen democratic engagement.
Monday 17 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Ukraine | Russia
Foreign Affairs Council
Brussels
Ministers will exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference. They will then hold discussions on the situation in the Middle East, Iran and EU-US relations. They will be also informed about current affairs.
Monday 17 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Energy
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
Brussels
Energy ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the action plan for affordable energy and to exchange views on the EU’s energy security architecture. They will receive information on the energy situation in Ukraine, on EU electricity and gas market developments, on the successful synchronisation of the Baltic electricity systems with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area and on winter preparedness.
Tuesday 18 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | General Affairs
General Affairs Council
Brussels
Ministers responsible for European affairs will meet in Brussels to continue preparations for the European Council meeting on 20-21 March 2025 and hold an exchange of views on the state of play of EU-UK relations. Ministers will also focus on the 2025 European Semester. Finally, the Council will approve a joint declaration on the EU legislative priorities for 2025, as well as joint conclusions on policy objectives and priorities for 2025-2029.
Tuesday 18 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | e-Health
The European Health data Space (EHDS) – Unlocking Europe’s Health Data Future Together
Brussels
The European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation is a landmark initiative within the European Health Union and the broader European Data Strategy. It represents a major step forward in creating a secure, trusted environment for accessing and sharing electronic health data across the EU, with the goal of fostering innovation, improving healthcare delivery, and enabling a single market for digital health services and products.
Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 March
Other bodies and agencies | Partner meetings | International trade | Civil society | Trade agreement
2025 EU-Canada CETA Civil Society Forum
Brussels & online
Representatives from employers, unions, labour and business organisations, environmental groups, indigenous organisations, and other interested civil society organisations are welcome to register for a meeting of the Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development established under the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Wednesday 198 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Migration/EU talent pool: the Civil Liberties Committee will vote on setting up an EU talent pool to allow non-EU nationals to apply for jobs when and where there is a shortage in an EU country’s labour market that cannot be met by national workers.
Migration/visa suspension: the Civil Liberties Committee will also vote on a proposal to update the list of reasons for suspending visa-free agreements with non-EU countries and for temporarily introducing visa requirements to enter the EU, in cases of abuses or security concerns, including hybrid threats and investor citizenship schemes.
International Criminal Court President Akane: International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge Tomoko Akane will speak to the Human Rights Subcommittee and the Legal Affairs Committee on the impact of the Court’s recent decisions, and its fight against impunity in cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
European Chief Prosecutor Kövesi: the Budgetary Control and Civil Liberties Committees will hear from Laura Kövesi, European Chief Prosecutor, on the activities of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in 2024.
Wednesday 19 – Thursday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Data
EU Open Data Days 2025
Luxembourg & online
From insights to impact – the power of open data.
Thursday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Research | AI
EC Horizon Results Platform & EU IP Helpdesk “IP and Artificial Intelligence”
Online only
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, economies, and societies worldwide. As AI continues to advance, the need for robust regulatory frameworks to ensure its ethical and safe deployment becomes increasingly paramount. The European Union has taken a pioneering step in this direction with the proposed AI Act, a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at fostering innovation while safeguarding fundamental rights and public trust.
Thursday 20 – Friday 21 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Ukraine | Russia | Defence
European Council
Brussels
EU leaders will meet in Brussels to address the following topics: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s support to Ukraine and its people; the situation in the Middle East; European defence; migration; EU’s economy and competitiveness; the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and new own resources; oceans, and other foreign policy items.
Thursday 20 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
ECB President Lagarde: the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will hold its regular debate with European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde. MEPs are likely to question her on the US shift to protectionism and its impact on the euro area economy, and on the recent decision to lower interest rates, among other issues.
EU response to US trade policy: MEPs in the International Trade Committee will discuss the implications and possible follow-up to the EU trade countermeasures taken in reaction to the US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports, with Maroš Šefcovic, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
EU 2026 budget: Budgets Committee MEPs will adopt their input for next year’s EU budget, focusing on five political priorities, namely: the economy, crisis response, citizens’ opportunities, foreign affairs, and repayment of Next Generation EU-related debt.
Financial assistance to Egypt and Jordan: the International Trade Committee will vote on two proposals to provide macro-financial assistance in loans to Egypt (up to EUR 4 billion) and Jordan (EUR 500 million).
