This week, EU leaders at a summit discuss Ukraine, Middle East, Competitiveness and the Single Market, as well as defence and migration; energy ministers hold a policy debate on the European grids package; the Commission and Parliament co-host the EU Tax Symposium 2026; there are info days for Horizone Europe research programmes; and MEPs in committee adopt their position on the digital omnibus on artificial intelligence (AI). The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 16- 21 March 2026.
Monday 16 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Child sexual abuse online: Parliament and Council negotiators will try to reach a deal on the prolongation of an exemption to EU privacy legislation allowing for the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material online.
EU Tax Symposium 2026: Parliament and Commission will co-host the 2026 edition of the EU tax symposium under the headline “The future of taxation: inequality and growth in the global economy”. The symposium will bring together ministers, senior policymakers, academics, and Nobel Prize winners (Monday and Tuesday).
Monday 16 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Russia | 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 following the outbreak of war between the US, Israel and Iran, and the EU-Southern Neighbourhood relations.
Monday 16 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Energy
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
Brussels
EU energy ministers will hold a policy debate on the European grids package. At the same meeting, they will also exchange views on the implementation of the action plan for affordable energy and discuss energy security and lessons learned from Ukraine and Moldova.
Monday 16 – Tuesday 17 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Taxation
EU Tax Symposium
Brussels
Te EU Tax Symposium is an unmissable moment for decision makers and experts in taxation policy. The fourth edition returns to a 1.5-day format under the headline “The future of taxation: inequality and growth in the global economy”. The programme will include ministers, senior policymakers, academics and Nobel Prize winners.
Keynotes and panels will explore the link between tax, prosperity and fairness. How can taxation boost competitiveness and unlock economic potential? What does fairness look like in a changing world?
Monday 16 March – Wednesday 16 May
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | The EU’s international role | International cooperation | Global Gateway
Angola-EU Lobito Corridor Business Forum
Online
The Lobito Corridor is booming! And Angola – as its main venue – is now in the international spotlight for investment and partnerships.
The Angola–EU Lobito Corridor Business Forum 2026 is a focused platform designed to accelerate this process in agriculture, agro-industry, and transport & logistics along one of Africa’s trade routes with biggest potential of development.
Monday 16 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Medical device
Medical Devices: Innovation and Patient Safety
Brussels
The European Commission will host this high-level conference under the auspices of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council.
The conference will take stock of the latest developments in the sector and will offer a glimpse into the future following the adoption of the Commission’s proposal for the revision of the medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices on 16 December 2025.
Monday 16 March
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | EU Ecolabel | Circular economy
Webinar – Stay green, shine on the market: How the EU Ecolabel brings environmental excellence to your tourist accommodation
Online only
Interested to learn how the EU Ecolabel for tourist accommodation services guarantees environmental excellence, enhances visibility to consumers and guarantees compliance with new EU legislation on sustainability labels? Curious to know how the EU Ecolabel can boost your business’s competitiveness?
Tuesday 17 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Climate | CO2 emissions
Environment Council
Brussels
EU environment ministers will hold a policy debate on C02 emission standards for cars and vans and exchange views on decarbonisation efforts in the post-2030 climate framework. The Council will also approve conclusions on bioeconomy and explore ways to enhance strategic EU collaboration in global environmental diplomacy.
Tuesday 17 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | General Affairs
General Affairs Council
Brussels
Ministers responsible for European affairs will continue preparations for the March European Council meeting by discussing draft conclusions. Ministers will also hold an exchange of views on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and focus on the 2026 European Semester. Finally, the Council is expected to agree in principle on an amendment to the European Electoral Act and request the European Parliament’s consent on this file.
Tuesday 17 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Kaja Kallas/foreign affairs: Committee on Foreign Affairs MEPs and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will discuss recent events at the global stage, focusing on the EU’s response and the Commission’s forthcoming initiatives in the field of EU external action.
Tuesday 17 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Anti-discriminatory measure | Equal treatment | Racial discrimination
EU Anti-Racism Conference
Brussels and online
The 2026 EU anti-racism conference will be a pivotal gathering of key stakeholders in the fight against racism, bringing together representatives from EU institutions, Member States, international organizations, equality bodies, civil society organisations at both EU and national levels, and academia.
Tuesday 17 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Communications industry | Digital content | Scientific research | Disinformation | Democracy
Science communication beyond tomorrow IV
Brussels | Live streaming available
In this fourth edition of our forward-looking conference, we will explore how science communication can better serve policymaking in a changing society.
Through two focused panels, participants will first examine how societal shifts are reshaping future audiences for science, and then discuss how to make credible science visible, clear, and compelling amid today’s information noise — so that evidence can stand out and inform decisions.
Wednesday 18 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
Digital omnibus on AI: the committees on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will adopt their position on the digital omnibus on artificial intelligence (AI), which seeks to delay the application of certain rules on high-risk AI systems and simplify various provisions included in the AI Act. Among the amendments to be voted, is the introduction of a ban on AI “nudification” systems.
European tourism: the Transport and Tourism committee is expected to propose the creation of new transport connections to less-frequented destinations and caps on visitor numbers to relieve pressure on places experiencing overtourism. Other measures MEPs may recommend for a more sustainable tourism industry include targeted support for low- or zero-emission vehicles, and high-speed and night trains.
EU Public Prosecutor’s activities in 2025: European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi will present and discuss with MEPs in the Budget Control and Civil Liberties committees the 2025 activities of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The future of democracy support: Parliament is hosting a conference on the future of democracy support with key MEPs, representatives of the Cyprus Council Presidency, the Commission, the Council of Europe, and several experts. The event will start with a video message by Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola and an opening address by the President of Moldova’s Parliament, Igor Grosu (Wednesday and Thursday).
Wednesday 18 March
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Research
Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures info day
Online only
This is an information event targeted at potential applicants to the 2026 calls of the Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures Work Programme 2026-2027.
Wednesday 18 March
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Urban planning | Local government | Public administration | Participatory democracy | Innovation
EUI applicants webinar: Spring 2026 Call for Peer Reviews
Online only
As a reminder, a Peer Review is a capacity building activity offered by European Urban Initiative (EUI) to support European cities in improving the design and implementation of their Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) strategies, through a process of benchmarking and peer learning.
Each Peer Review involves one ‘city under review’, working with individuals from several other European cities acting as ‘peer reviewers’ to address challenges in developing, implementing or monitoring an effective SUD strategy.
Thursday 19 – Friday 20 March
Council of the EU | Political meetings | Defence | Migration
European Council
Brussels
EU leaders will discuss Ukraine, Middle East, Competitiveness and Single Market, the Next Multiannual Financial Framework, European defence and security, Migration, and other items.
Thursday 19 March
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
European Parliament committee meetings
Brussels
European Council: EP President Metsola will address EU leaders at the 19-20 March European Council that will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness, the next EU multiannual financial framework, European defence and migration.
Thursday 19 – Friday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Trade
EU – Central America Global Gateway Forum: Trade, Connectivity and Sustainable Investment
Brussels
The EU-Central America Global Gateway Forum is a high-level bi-regional platform that turns cooperation into investment, connects strategic priorities with concrete business opportunities, and strengthens alliances between the European Union and Central America.
Bringing together policymakers, investors, business leaders and regional institutions from both regions, the Forum provides a unique space to accelerate sustainable trade, enhance connectivity and unlock new investment flows.
Thursday 19 – Friday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Climate change policy | Transport policy | Digital transformation | Economy | Urban planning
Climate Neutral Blue Cities by 2030: Accelerating Local Change under the EU Cities and Ocean Missions
Limassol, Cyprus
The event brings together European and local leaders, national authorities, and urban stakeholders and practitioners to explore how port and coastal cities can rapidly advance towards climate neutrality.
Thursday 19 – Friday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Energy policy | Hydrogen
European Hydrogen Regulatory Forum
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The European Hydrogen Regulatory Forum, organised by the Commission, gathers key stakeholders across the European energy sector to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the development of the hydrogen market and regulation in Europe.
Thursday 19 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Single market | Research
Research Conference on the Single Market
Brussels
The European Commission’s Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs organises a fourth edition of the Research Conference on the EU single market. The conference will bring together top researchers to present their findings and policy insights related to the EU single market.
Friday 20 March
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Industry
Industry 5.0 community of practice: Plenary session 2026
Brussels
The second Plenary Session of the Industry 5.0 Community of Practice will bring together members of the Industry 5.0 Community of Practice (CoP 5.0), representing stakeholders from across Europe, from various sectors, including industry, academia and policy makers.
The objective is to take stock of the main achievements as well as to discuss Industry 5.0 in relation to current industry and policy priorities and industrial transformation needs, calling for competitiveness and accelerating technology and innovation uptake.
