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European Parliamentary Week 2026, 23–24 February 2026, Brussels
At a decisive moment for Europe, the conference will provide a forum for democratic debate on the Union's economic direction, budgetary choices and social priorities. The event is jointly organised by the European Parliament and the Presidency's Parliament, the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus.
Through the Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the EU and the European Semester Conference, participants will engage in a frank exchange of views and best practices, strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and reinforcing democratic accountability at the heart of EU economic governance.
Two high-level plenary sessions will address the strategic choices shaping Europe's future.
The first plenary session, Investing in Europe's Future: Labour Market Resilience and Social Cohesion, will focus on the next Multiannual Financial Framework as a powerful instrument to build resilience, foster social cohesion and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy. The debate will examine how collective investment and responsible budgetary decisions can secure prosperity and solidarity for future generations.
The second plenary session, Fostering a Business-Friendly Europe in the context of the Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Prospects and Challenges for the Single Market, will explore how Europe can unleash its economic potential in a rapidly changing global landscape. Participants will discuss how innovation, investment and smart regulation can support European businesses, boost competitiveness and create sustainable jobs, ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with social progress.
A Recap of the Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC in Nicosia, 11-12 January 2026
The European Parliament was represented by Mr Sven Simon, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). In addition, Mr Yannis Maniatis (S&D, EL) was invited by the Cyprus Presidency to deliver a keynote speech during one of the sessions.
The meeting began on Sunday, 11 January, with the meeting of the COSAC Presidential Troika. In this context, the troika refers to the representatives from the current, previous, and upcoming Council presidencies, as well as the European Parliament. During this Troika meeting, the outline of the 45th bi-annual COSAC Report was approved and the draft agenda for the LXXV COSAC Plenary to be held in Nicosia from 15 to 17 March 2026 was adopted.
Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC in Nicosia, 11-12 January 2026
The European Parliament will be represented by Mr Sven Simon, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).
The meeting will begin on Sunday 11 January, with a meeting of the COSAC Presidential Troika (comprising representatives from the current, previous, and upcoming Council Presidencies, as well as the European Parliament).
On Monday 12 January, the meeting of the COSAC Chairpersons will open with a welcome address by Ms Annita Demetriou, President of the Cyprus House of Representatives, followed by formal opening remarks from Mr Harris Georgiades, Chairman of the Cyprus Parliament's Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, who will address procedural questions and miscellaneous matters.
In the first session Ms Marilena Raouna, Cyprus' Deputy Minister for European Affairs, will present the Cyprus Presidency's priorities. A debate will follow. The second and final session will cover geopolitical challenges and responses, with keynote speeches from Mr Yannis Maniatis, Member of the European Parliament, and Mr Jean-François Rapin, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the French Senate, before opening the floor to a debate.
The LXXIV COSAC - A recap from Copenhagen
The plenary, which takes place bi-annually, provides a platform for Members of national Parliaments and the European Parliament to exchange views on the key issues shaping the European policy agenda. This plenary session was co-chaired by Ms Brigitte Klintskov Jerkel, Chair, and Mr Henrik Møller, Vice-Chair, of the Danish Parliament's European Affairs Committee, and was divided into five thematic sessions:
1. A Strong Europe in a Changing World - the Course set by the Danish Presidency
2. EU Trade Policy in an Uncertain World
3. The Green Transition of a Competitive European Agri-food Sector
4. Sustainable Growth and Energy
5. Enlargement, Internal Reforms, and Rule of Law
The sixth Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on 'The situation of the Rule of Law in the EU' (LIBE ICM), 11 December 2025, Brussels
The Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (ICM) took place on Thursday 11 December 2025 at the European Parliament premises in Brussels, room ANTALL 6Q2.
On 8 July 2025, the Commission published its sixth annual Rule of Law Report presenting the situation of the Rule of Law in Member States. This year's report included the "single market dimension", which considers how Rule of Law issues affect the functioning of the EU's single market.
The meeting was dedicated to the assessment of the Report, including both an exchange of views on the current situation of the Rule of Law in the European Union, and a panel on the Single Market dimension of the Rule of Law.
LIBE Chair Javier Zarzalejos opened the meeting and keynote addresses were delivered from EP Vice-President Katarina Barley as well as Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.
SEDE ICM on 'The Future of European Defence', 3-4 December 2025, Brussels
The ICM brought together MEPs and members of national parliaments to discuss the future of the EU's security and defence in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine and increased burden shifting towards Europe within the transatlantic alliance.
SEDE Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman called for a unified European defence pillar alongside NATO. Her remarks were echoed by President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who emphasised the need to accelerate support for Ukraine, enhance deterrence, address duplication, and boost recruitment.
During the panel on the Readiness Roadmap 2030 and Europe's defence industry, Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, called for stronger EU leadership to overcome fragmentation. The discussion showed broad agreement on the need for unity, while also highlighting challenges such as manpower shortages, uneven defence spending, and possible closer cooperation with partners.
In the panel on the new era of warfare, Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, explained that NATO's 5% defence pledge aims to ensure greater resilience, and called for faster military production, particularly of drones. MEPs and members of national parliaments raised concerns about Europe's preparedness for a potential Russian attack.
The panel on strengthening the European pillar of NATO featured Boris Ruge, NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy. He argued that European allies have been slow to increase defence spending, although supporting Ukraine remains a strategic priority. During the subsequent discussion, participants raised concerns including fears of US-Russia cooperation and questions about the extent to which the EU can or should act independently of NATO allies.
During the panel on 'Europe's Defence at a Turning Point', Benedikta von Seherr-Thoß of the European External Action Service warned that Russia's war of aggression is generating new security risks, including closer ties with hostile states and the spread of sensitive technologies. The discussion reflected divisions over militarisation, the role of non-NATO EU members, and Europe's strategic autonomy.
In her concluding remarks, Ms Strack-Zimmerman warned that maintaining Europe's unity is essential to ensuring our collective security.
Exchange of views with the National Parliaments on the housing crisis in the EU
Earlier this year, the Chair of the Special Committee a letter to all National Parliaments requesting to send contributions related to the activities of our committee and in view of our upcoming report.
The purpose of the letter was to share their best practices, ideas, and policy proposals to address the housing crisis.
The meeting was a follow-up invitation to the national parliaments that submitted their contributions in response to the request. National Parliaments had the opportunity to present their contributions directly to the Committee.
As the HOUS Committee finalises its upcoming Report, the input gathered from National Parliaments will be highly valuable, providing Members with important insights and inspiration for their work.
SANT ICM on "citizens' access to cross-border healthcare”, 02 December 2025
With the aim of discussing key policies in the field of cross-border healthcare, the European Parliament's Committee on Public Health (SANT) in collaboration with the Legislative Dialogue Unit of the Directorate for Relations with national Parliaments (DG PART) held an Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (ICM) on " Citizens' access to cross-border healthcare".
The event is organised not only to assess current policies but also with a forward-looking perspective. Considering the ongoing work of the SANT Committee on patients 'rights in cross-border healthcare, the event sought to facilitate a constructive discussion that anticipates legislative developments, ensuring that future policies are well-adapted to the evolving needs and challenges of European citizens when seeking healthcare beyond the border of their Member States.
This meeting brought together representatives from the European Parliament, national parliaments, EU institutions, and relevant officials to explore two key thematic areas:
- Evaluating the existing policy framework; drawing both on the lessons learned and the challenges that lay ahead;
- Analysing the citizens' perspective; assessing patients' rights, access and equity.
By fostering direct exchanges between policymakers and experts, this event served as a high-level forum for dialogue, enabling participants to assess the current policy framework and its impact, and explore key complexities of cross-border healthcare provision within the EU.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to hold an exchange of views between Members of European Parliament and Members of national Parliaments from various European Member States, further contributing to informed decision-making in shaping future policy in the field of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare.
LXXIV Plenary Meeting of COSAC, 30 November to 2 December 2025 in Copenhagen
The meeting brings together Members of the European Affairs Committees from EU Member States' national parliaments, and the European Parliament, to debate key issues shaping the European policy agenda.
The sessions will be co-chaired by Ms Brigitte Klintskov Jerkel, Chair, and Mr Henrik Møller, Vice-Chair, of the Danish Parliament's European Affairs Committee.
The European Parliament's delegation will be led by Mr Esteban González Pons (EPP/ES), Vice-President responsible for relations with national parliaments and COSAC, and Mr Adrián Vázquez Lázara (EPP/ES), Vice-Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). In addition, the delegation will be composed of Ms Romana TOMC (EPP/SL), Ms Heléne Fritzon (S&D/SE), Mr Pierre Pimpie (PfE/FR), and Mr Kristoffer Storm (ECR/DK).
The plenary will begin on Monday, 1 December, with an opening address by Mr Lars-Christian Brask, Deputy Speaker of the Danish Parliament. Following this, Ms Brigitte Klintskov Jerkel, Chair of the Danish Parliament's European Affairs Committee, will formally open the session. Participants will then discuss procedural matters. Once these discussions conclude, a video message from President von der Leyen will be shown.
The plenary will then begin its first session with Ms Marie Bjerre, Denmark's Minister for European Affairs, delivering a keynote speech on the course set by the Danish Presidency of the Council. A debate will follow the speech.
The second session will focus on trade policy and explore how best to safeguard the rules-based global order amid an evolving geopolitical landscape. It will include keynote speeches by Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Mr Esteban González Pons, Vice President of the European Parliament. The speeches will be followed by a debate.
That evening, the COSAC Chairpersons will privately discuss the Draft Contributions and Conclusions of the LXXIV COSAC, as well as changes to the Rules of Procedure.
On Tuesday, 2 December, the plenary will begin with a panel debate on the green transition of a competitive agri-food sector. The panel will consist of Mr Jacob Jensen, Denmark's Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Mr Massimiliano Giansanti, President of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations (COPA), and Mr Ariel Brunner, Regional Director of Birdlife. The panel will be moderated by Ms Connie Hedegaard, former European Commissioner for Climate Action, and will be followed by a debate.
The third session will address sustainable growth and energy, with Ms Hedegaard returning as moderator. The session will include interventions from Ms Agnieszka Pomaska, Chair of the EU Affairs Committee of Sejm of Poland, Mr Kristian Jensen, CEO Green Power Denmark, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Finance, and Ms Jette Bredahl, Professor at University of Copenhagen, Vice-Chair at European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. The session will conclude with a debate.
The fourth and final session will centre on EU enlargement, internal reforms, and the rule of law. The keynote speakers will be Ms Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs, and Mr Adrián Vázquez Lázara, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs. A debate will follow the session.
The meeting will end with a closing session in which the LXXIV COSAC will adopt its Contributions and Conclusions, along with the proposed amendment to the Rules of Procedure.
Sixth annual EUROJUST ICM on the Evaluation of EUROJUST’s activities (LIBE), 20 November 2025, Brussels
In accordance with Article 85(1) TFEU and Article 67(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1727 on the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the President of Eurojust shall appear once a year for the joint evaluation of Eurojust's activities by the European Parliament and national Parliaments, within the framework of an interparliamentary committee meeting, to discuss the agency's current activities and to present its annual report or its other key documents.
Against this background, the Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) organised together with the Legislative Dialogue Unit of the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments, the 6th interparliamentary committee meeting on "The evaluation of Eurojust activities".
The programme of this edition of the ICM was divided into three panels.
The first panel was dedicated to the overview of Eurojust activities, on the basis of the annual report, but included also a debate on recent salient developments the agency has faced in 2025. Economic crime remains a key focus of the Agency's work and represents an important share of its caseload.
Alongside evolving fraud trends, in particular online fraud, Eurojust plays an important role in asset recovery within the EU, supporting national judicial authorities in tracing, freezing and confiscating the proceeds of crime across borders. These activities were addressed in detail in the second panel.
Finally, the third panel focused on the ongoing review of the Eurojust regulation, with a revision expected in 2026.
The Belgian Presidency organised the LXXI Plenary Meeting of COSAC from 24 to 26 March 2024 at the European Parliament, in Brussels.
The Meeting of Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for European Union Affairs (COSAC) convened on 14-15 January 2024, in Namur, Belgium.
The Belgian Presidency will host the COSAC Chairpersons’ meeting in Namur on Sunday 14 January and Monday 15 January.