The agenda for this week will mark the last week of effective work in Brussels before the summer break, with activity mainly concentrated in parliamentary committees. In the European Parliament, several items are expected in ITRE, IMCO, LIBE, ENVI and SANT, while on the European Commission side key initiatives are expected to be presented such as the ETS Revision and the Energy Package. On the Council side, the Foreign Affairs Council and the General Affairs Council will be the main meetings to watch.
DIGITAL
Monday 13 July. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) will hold an exchange of views on the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU in the areas of telecommunications and cybersecurity, with the participation of Patrick O’Donovan, Irish Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, and Catherine Ardagh, Irish Minister of State at the Department of Justice. On the same day, a joint ITRE–LIBE meeting is also expected on the Digital Omnibus, concerning the simplification of the EU digital legislative framework.
Tuesday 14 July. In the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), an exchange of views will be held with Anthropic on potential safety and cybersecurity risks stemming from advanced AI systems, as well as on the implementation of the EU AI Act and European digital rules. Also in IMCO, MEPs will discuss the Commission review of additional categories of radio equipment that can be recharged via USB-C cable, under the common charger directive.
SUSTAINABILITY
Monday 13 July. The IMCO and ENVI committees, under the joint committee procedure, will vote on the provisional agreement on the simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products, through amendments to the rules on classification, labelling and packaging of substances, cosmetics and fertilising products. The rapporteurs are Dimitris Tsiodras (EPP–Greece) and Piotr Müller (ECR–Poland).
Tuesday 14 July. IMCO will vote on its opinion on the suspension of the application of the rules on the designation of the authorised representative for extended producer responsibility for batteries and waste batteries, and for packaging and packaging waste. The rapporteur for the opinion is Klára Dostálová (PfE–Czechia).
Tuesday 14 July. In ITRE, two key exchanges of views will take place on energy and industry: the first with Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, in particular on the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal and the new State aid framework supporting European industry; the second with Céline Gauer, Director-General of DG Energy at the European Commission, on energy priorities.
Thursday 17 July. The European Commission is expected to present the ETS revision, under the responsibility of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera Rodríguez. On the same day, the Commission is also expected to present the Energy Package, which should include the Electrification Action Plan and an initiative on network charges.
HEALTH
Monday 13 July. The Committee on Public Health (SANT) will vote on the file concerning the strengthening of the availability and security of supply of critical medicinal products, as well as the accessibility of medicinal products of common interest. The rapporteur is Tomislav Sokol (EPP–Croatia). SANT will also discuss the simplification of rules on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, with Oliver Schenk (EPP–Germany) as rapporteur.
Monday 13 July. Also in SANT, the EPRS study “Mental health of young people in a digital era: Cost of non-Europe report” will be presented, followed by an exchange of views on promoting youth mental health and healthy behaviours in Europe. In the same meeting, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Irish Minister for Health, will present the health priorities of the Irish Presidency.
OTHER EVENTS
Monday 13 July. The Foreign Affairs Council will meet in Brussels, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Ministers will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, following an informal exchange with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and the situation in the Middle East, with a focus on Iran, Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. The agenda will also include the implementation of the EU’s strategic approach to the Black Sea and EU–UN relations ahead of the UN General Assembly high-level week. In the margins, a high-level EU–Gulf Cooperation Council forum on regional security and cooperation is also expected.
Tuesday 14 July. The General Affairs Council will meet. Ministers will hear the presentation of the Irish Presidency priorities for the second half of 2026 and hold an exchange of views on the state of play of the Council’s work on simplification. Conclusions on the evaluation of the annual rule of law dialogue are also expected, alongside an update on work related to the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 and, during the informal lunch, a discussion on the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap with Enrico Letta.
Friday 17 July. Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen is expected to present the 2026 Rule of Law Report. On the same day, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné is expected to present the report on the competitiveness of the banking sector.
