During the week of 8–12 December, the European Commission is expected to release several strategies and legislative proposals, including the Clean Industrial Deal Implementation Package, the Environmental Omnibus, and the European Grids Package. In addition, the Competitiveness Council (Research and Space configuration) will meet in Brussels to discuss the next legislative steps on the proposed EU Space Act.
DIGITAL
Tuesday 9 December. The Competitiveness Council in its Research and Space configuration will meet in Brussels.
The agenda opens with the adoption of a position on the Council Regulation concerning the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). This initiative, which is central to Europe’s digital sovereignty, aims to build a world-class ecosystem of data infrastructures, services, quantum computing and supercomputing supported by a secure and resilient supply chain. It also seeks to broaden access to this supercomputing and quantum computing infrastructure for a wide range of public and private users — an essential factor for the development of AI models, among other applications.
Ministers will also discuss the Horizon Europe funding programme as outlined in the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, with a particular focus on EU research and innovation for dual-use, security and defence purposes.
Finally, this week will be pivotal for the proposed EU Space Act. The ministers will receive an update on the progress of negotiations and hold an orientation debate on the way forward in the legislative process. The European Commission and the incoming Cypriot Presidency will also take part, with the latter outlining its space-related priorities for the next six months.
SUSTAINABILITY
Wednesday 10 December. The European Commission will present the Clean Industrial Deal Implementation Package. Following the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal last February, the Commission is now ready to unveil a set of legislative and non-legislative initiatives designed to support the achievement of climate neutrality while safeguarding the competitiveness of Europe’s industrial sector. The package consists of:
- Industrial Accelerator Act: a proposed regulation intended to advance Europe’s decarbonisation by streamlining permitting procedures, supporting the clean transition of energy-intensive sectors, and accelerating energy infrastructure projects of common interest.
- Strengthening the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): enhancements to the EU instrument designed to ensure a fair carbon price for emissions embedded in carbon-intensive goods imported into the EU, while encouraging cleaner industrial production in third countries. It is worth noting that Regulation 2023/956 establishing this mechanism was already amended last October as part of the Omnibus I package.
- Temporary Support Mechanism: an initial framework to simplify State aid rules—considered essential for the industrial decarbonisation effort—for companies undertaking projects that contribute to the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal.
The same day will also see the publication of the Environmental Omnibus, a legislative act intended to streamline the EU’s environmental acquis, as well as the European Grids Package. The latter will take the form of a legislative proposal aimed at strengthening and upgrading Europe’s energy infrastructure by modernising and expanding the grids needed to support electrification — an essential driver of a competitive energy transition and of greater energy resilience and autonomy.
According to the call for evidence opened last June, the initiative seeks in particular to simplify the regulatory framework governing Europe’s energy networks (for example, the Trans-European Networks for Energy – TEN-E Regulation) and to ensure integrated planning and delivery of cross-border projects.
HEALTH
On Monday, 8 December, the Public Health Committee (SANT) will meet in Brussels to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the EU’s research and innovation ecosystem for rare and complex diseases.
OTHER EVENTS
Monday 8 December. The European Commission will present the European Economic Security Package to the Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA). Introduced on 3 December, the package comprises the European Economic Security Doctrine and the ResourceEU Plan—measures aimed at reducing the EU’s strategic dependence on critical raw materials and strengthening Europe’s economic and industrial security.
Wednesday 10 December. The Commission is expected to publish the Automotive Package, a set of measures aimed at strengthening the European automotive sector. However, ongoing debate over the phase-out of combustion engines by 2035 may delay its release.
Thursday 11 December. In the Committee on Budgets (BUDG), the co-rapporteurs Siegfried Mureșan (EPP) and Carla Tavares (S&D) will present the interim report on the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034. This report sets out the position of the competent parliamentary committee ahead of the Parliament’s decision on whether to approve the new EU budget proposal.
