This week EU institutions’ agenda will be dominated by the European Council on 19–20 March and, on the Commission side, by the expected presentation of the “28th Regime” by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen. In parallel, a packed schedule is expected across the Energy Council (TTE), Environment Council, Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council, alongside parliamentary work in ENVI and SANT and the joint IMCO–LIBE vote on the AI Digital Omnibus.
DIGITAL
Monday 16 March. In the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), a file with implications for resilience and security in the space domain is expected to advance: the adoption of the opinion on “Safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities in the Union”, with Pierfrancesco Maran (Italy, S&D) designated as rapporteur for the opinion; the file remains under the lead of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), with Elena Donazzan (Italy, ECR) as the lead rapporteur.
Wednesday 18 March. Under a joint committees procedure, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) will hold votes on the “AI Digital Omnibus”, amending Regulations (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act) and (EU) 2018/1139 to streamline the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence; Arba Kokalari (Sweden, EPP) and Michael McNamara (Ireland, Renew) are listed as rapporteurs.
On the same day, the presentation of the proposal on the “28th Regime” is expected, led by Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen. The initiative aims to reduce regulatory fragmentation across Member States and facilitate companies’ cross-border operations in the Single Market through the establishment of a unified EU legal framework, which could particularly benefit innovative firms.
SUSTAINABILITY
Monday 16 March. The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) will meet, with a debate on the “European grids package” and discussions on energy security and measures to contain energy prices, also drawing on lessons learned from support to Ukraine and Moldova. On the same day, ENVI will hold a structured dialogue with Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera Rodríguez.
Tuesday 17 March. The Environment Council will meet, with a debate on CO₂ emission standards for cars and vans and, more broadly, on decarbonisation pathways within the EU’s climate and industrial policies. Also on Tuesday, ENVI is expected to move forward on several files: from discussions on methodologies for certifying permanent carbon removals (with Tiemo Wölken (Germany, S&D) among the rapporteurs) to a second-reading vote on aspects of EU water policy with Javi López (Spain, S&D) as rapporteur. A further exchange is expected on potential developments related to the CBAM and a “Temporary Decarbonisation Fund”, with Mohammed Chahim (Netherlands, S&D) and Pascal Canfin (France, Renew) listed as rapporteurs.
HEALTH
Wednesday 18 March. In the Committee on Public Health (SANT), a package of work is expected, including the opinion on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), with Radan Kanev (Bulgaria, EPP) listed as rapporteur. The agenda also includes the EU strategy on cardiovascular diseases with Romana Jerković (Croatia, S&D) as rapporteur, as well as a file on strengthening the availability and security of supply of critical medicines, with Tomislav Sokol (Croatia, EPP) listed as rapporteur. The committee is also expected to address procedural steps related to the pharmaceutical package/EMA and the “Union code” on medicinal products, with references to Tiemo Wölken (Germany, S&D) and Dolors Montserrat (Spain, EPP).
Thursday 19 March. In SANT, a focus on rare diseases is expected, with the file associated with Nicolás González Casares (Spain, S&D) listed as rapporteur. On the same day, a joint meeting between SANT and ITRE on the European Biotech Act is scheduled, with presentations by the rapporteurs Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis (Lithuania, S&D) and Wouter Beke (Belgium, EPP), followed by a Q&A with Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi.
OTHER EVENTS
Monday 16 March. The Foreign Affairs Council will meet, with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood on the agenda.
Tuesday 17 March. The General Affairs Council will meet to prepare the European Council of 19–20 March, working on draft conclusions and the main items for leaders’ discussion.
Wednesday 18 March. The Commission is expected to hold an orientation debate on the review of the EU Merger Guidelines, under the responsibility of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Thursday 19 March. The European Council (19–20 March) will open, with an agenda centred on the crisis in the Middle East and its geopolitical and economic spill-overs for the EU, including energy prices and energy security, as well as a specific focus on the situation in Iran. In parallel, leaders are expected to relaunch the “One Europe, One Market” competitiveness agenda, with measures and timelines to strengthen the Single Market and strategic autonomy. Discussions will also cover the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, including a debate on the level of financing required.
Friday 20 March. The European Council will continue and conclude, with the finalisation of conclusions and political guidance across the main strands of discussion.
