This week, Cyprus begins its six-month stint as President of the EU Council; a stakeholder webinar looks at the EU cardiovascular health plan; the Commission holds the launch event for its Expert Group Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse; a Horizon Europe Cluster 5 info day explores the 2026 topics of the forthcoming work programme 2026-2027; MEPs in committee take stock of the EU’s defence partnerships; and 14 January is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The week’s events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 12 – 17 January 2026.
Monday 12 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Committee and political groups meetings
Brussels
Air passenger rights: Transport and Tourism Committee MEPs will adopt their amendments to the position agreed by EU governments on an update of EU air passenger rights in cases of cancelled or delayed flights and denied boarding. Among the measures to be voted: a single deadline for compensation after a three-hour delay, the right to carry one personal item and a small trolley on board free of charge, as well as enhanced rights for vulnerable travellers.
Affordable Housing Plan: the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU will discuss the Commission’s affordable housing plan, adopted on 16 December 2025, for the first time with Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. MEPs will quiz the Commissioner on the plan’s key measures to address the EU’s housing crisis ahead of the adoption by the committee of its own recommendations.
Plenary preparations: political groups will be preparing for the 19 – 22 January plenary session, where MEPs will discuss the results of the December EU summit, hold a formal sitting with the King of Spain and the President of Portugal celebrating 40 years of EU membership of Spain and Portugal and debate the programme of the Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council which started on 1 January. MEPs will also debate and vote on the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy, on the need to adapt to new security challenges like drones and new systems of warfare, on air passenger rights and on strengthening the availability and security of supply of critical medicines. Plenary will also vote on a report assessing EU-US relations and on European technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure.
Monday 12 – Tuesday 13 January
Other bodies and agencies | Expert meetings | Child sexual abuse | Fight against crime
European Commission Expert Group Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Launch event
Brussels
The European Commission will hold the launch event for its Expert Group Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.
The Prevention Network will stimulate the sharing of best practices, will inform research and support the development and implementation of rigorously evaluated, effective prevention measures in a multidisciplinary, integrated, and comprehensive approach to the protection of children from child sexual abuse.
The event will provide an important opportunity to start the work of the expert group and enable practitioners, policymakers, and experts to discuss together innovative approaches, and explore concrete ways to enhance prevention measures across different contexts.
Wednesday 14 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Committee and political groups meetings
Brussels
Foreign Affairs/High Representative Kallas: President Metsola and political group leaders (the Conference of Presidents) will discuss the state of international affairs and EU role in the current geopolitical challenges with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
Wednesday 14 January
Other bodies and agencies | Conferences and summits | Holocaust remembrance
2026 Holocaust Remembrance Conference: Remembering the past. Shaping the future
Live streaming available
The Holocaust Remembrance Conference: Remembering the past. Shaping the future. taking place on 14 January on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is organised by the European Commission in partnership with the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and in cooperation with the American Jewish Committee Transatlantic Institute, B’nai B’rith International, Conference of European Rabbis, European Jewish Association, European Jewish Congress, European Jewish Community Center, European Union of Jewish Students, European Union of Progressive Judaism, Hias Europe and World Jewish Congress.
Thursday 15 January
European Parliament | Political Meetings | Institutional affairs
Committee and political groups meetings
Brussels
EU strategic defence partnerships: the Security and Defence Committee will take stock of the EU’s defence partnerships, including with the UK, Canada, Norway, South Korea, Japan, Moldova, Albania, North Macedonia, the US and Ukraine. It will adopt recommendations on how to align these relationships with the broader objectives of building a strong EU defence policy. MEPs are also expected to address relations with NATO.
Thursday 15 January
Other bodies and agencies | Info days | Research | Climate | Energy
Horizon Europe info days – Cluster 5
Online only
Are you interested in funding opportunities for research and innovation in the areas of climate, energy and mobility?
Join the Horizon Europe Cluster 5 info day to explore the 2026 topics of the forthcoming work programme 2026-2027. This online event will be streamed via the European Commission’s web platform.
What to expect:
- Insights into the policy context
- Guidance for preparing a high-quality proposal
- Tips for enhancing the role of Social Sciences and Humanities in relevant topics
- Interactive parallel sessions by thematic area to address specific questions on the topics
Thursday 15 January
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Chronic illness
Stakeholder webinar: EU cardiovascular health plan
Online only
Following the adoption on 16 December 2025 of the first-ever EU cardiovascular health plan (Safe Hearts Plan) – that will address the EU’s number 1 killer – there is now a policy tool at EU level to coordinate the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases with actions that have EU added value. The Safe Hearts Plan focuses on prevention, early detection and screening, and treatment and care, including rehabilitation. Issues that are addressed horizontally include data and digitalisation, research and innovation, and reducing health inequalities.this webinar is the first occasion to discuss the Safe Hearts Plan’s flagship initiatives and other actions.
Thursday 15 January
Other bodies and agencies | Training and workshops | Health technology assessment
The EU HTA Regulation: Webinar for health technology developers of medicinal products
Online only
In this webinar, 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.
In the second part of the webinar, the European Commission 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 (Letter of Intent) for HTA purposes.
