15 – 19 December 2025

EU News

Monday, 15 December 2025

European Commission

Commissioner Brunner participates in the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review (Geneva, Switzerland).
Commissioner Hansen attends the EU Agri-Food Days (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Kadis delivers a speech at the 5th Croatian Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Days via video-message (Zagreb, Croatia).
Commissioner Kubilius delivers a keynote speech at the Workshop on the EU’s Role in strengthening the European Eastern Flank, hosted by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU (Brussels, Belgium).
High Representative Vice-President Kallas co-chairs the EU–Lebanon Association Council (Brussels, Belgium).
High Representative Vice-President Kallas chairs the Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu attends the joint ECON–EMPL Economic Dialogue on the Autumn Semester Package 2026 (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Šuica participates in the EU–Lebanon Association Council (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Šuica attends the Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Jørgensen participates in the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting on energy (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Lahbib participates in the Foreign Affairs Council.
Commissioner Tzitzikostas meets Kimberly Guilfoyle, US Ambassador to Greece (Athens, Greece).
Commissioner Hoekstra meets Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Ribera receives Nikos Tsafos, Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Serafin meets Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister of EU Affairs (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Serafin meets Ignacy Niemczycki, Polish Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Roswall gives an address at the event ‘Europe’s Environment 2030 – Building a more Climate resilient and Circular Europe’ hosted by the Danish Presidency and Green 10 (Brussels, Belgium).
President von der Leyen participates in a meeting on Ukraine, convened by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Berlin, Germany).
Commissioner Dombrovskis participates in the joint ECON–EMPL Economic Dialogue on the Autumn Semester Package 2026 (Strasbourg, France).

European Parliament

President’s Agenda

14:30 – President Metsola receives Andrew Puzder, US Ambassador to the EU (Strasbourg).

16:00 – President Metsola receives Amine Kessaci (Strasbourg).

16:15 – President Metsola meets President von der Leyen (Strasbourg).

17:00 – President Metsola presides over the opening of the plenary session (Strasbourg).

17:30 – President Metsola addresses the Peace Light Ceremony (Strasbourg).

18:00 – President Metsola presides over the European Parliament’s Bureau (Strasbourg).

Plenary Session (Strasbourg)

17:00 – 22:00 Plenary debates, including ReArm Europe budget investments, CAP amendments, access to medicines, and EU–Saudi Arabia relations (Strasbourg).

Parliamentary Committees

19:30 – 19:45 ENVI – Votes on the deforestation regulation file and maximum residue levels motion for a resolution (Strasbourg, WEISS, N1.4).

19:30 – 21:00 ECON–EMPL Joint Meeting – Economic Dialogue on the European Semester 2026 with EVP Mînzatu and Commissioner Dombrovskis (Strasbourg, CHURCHILL, 200).

20:00 – 20:15 INTA–ITRE Joint Meeting – Vote on phasing out Russian natural gas imports and monitoring energy dependencies (Strasbourg, WEISS, N1.3).

20:30 – 21:00 SANT – Vote on the framework to strengthen the availability and security of supply of critical medicinal products (Strasbourg, DE MADARIAGA, S1).

Council of the European Union

EU–Lebanon Association Council – Ongoing.

Foreign Affairs Council – Ongoing.

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) – Ongoing.

European Ombudsman

Maison de l’Europe Strasbourg-Alsace event

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

European Commission

Commissioner Kubilius participates in the Eastern Flank Forum (Helsinki, Finland).
Commissioner Kubilius meets with members of the Finnish Parliament Defence Committee (Helsinki, Finland).
Commissioner Kubilius attends the event marking the Galileo L14 launch (Brussels, Belgium).
High Representative Vice-President Kallas attends the Diplomatic Conference for the adoption of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, including the signing of the Convention and the Final Act (The Hague, Netherlands).
Commissioner Lahbib participates in the European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Lahbib participates in the plenary debate on combating discrimination in the EU through the Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Šuica participates in the European Parliament plenary debate on recent developments in Palestine and Lebanon (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Šuica meets Katrin Langensiepen, Member of the European Parliament (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Fitto attends the General Affairs Council (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Jørgensen participates in the European Parliament plenary debate on the European Grids Package (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Jørgensen participates in the European Parliament plenary debate on REPowerEU (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Roswall participates in the Environment Council.
Executive Vice-President Ribera participates in the Renew Europe ITRE breakfast (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Ribera participates in the press conference on housing (Strasbourg, France).
Meeting of the College of Commissioners (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Brunner visits Strasbourg Cathedral to hand over the Light of Peace (Strasbourg, France).

European Parliament

President’s Agenda

11:00 – President Metsola receives representatives of the Sakharov Prize Laureates.

11:30 – President Metsola addresses a press conference with the Sakharov Prize Laureates.

12:00 – President Metsola presides over the Sakharov Prize Award Ceremony.

Plenary Session (Strasbourg)

09:00 – 11:50 Debates on phasing out Russian natural gas imports and the EU grids package.

12:00 – Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Award Ceremony.

12:30 – 13:30 Votes, including EU–Mercosur safeguard clause, CAP amendments, ReArm Europe, macro-financial assistance to Jordan, corporate sustainability reporting, and relations with Saudi Arabia.

13:30 – 15:00 Joint debate on EU defence readiness and military mobility.

15:00 – 22:00 Debates on the European Affordable Housing Plan, automotive package, EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, abortion ECI, Palestine and Lebanon, Belarusian hybrid attacks, and digitalisation and AI in the workplace.

Council of the European Union

General Affairs Council – Ongoing.

Environment Council – Ongoing.

24th Accession Conference with Montenegro – Ongoing.

European Economic and Social Committee

21st Meeting of the EU–Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (Brussels).

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

European Commission

High Representative Vice-President Kallas attends the EU–Western Balkans Summit (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu meets with MEP Rasmus Andresen (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu meets with MEP Maravillas Abadía Jover (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu meets with MEP Marczułajtis-Walczak (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu meets with MEP González Casares (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Fitto attends the event “Acqua, energia e ambiente per progettare città digitali e sostenibili” (Florence, Italy).
President von der Leyen participates in the European Parliament plenary debate in preparation of the European Council meeting of 18–19 December 2025, focusing on support to Ukraine, transatlantic relations, and EU strategic autonomy (Strasbourg, France).
President von der Leyen participates in the EU–Western Balkans Summit (Brussels, Belgium).
President von der Leyen participates in EuroChanukah 2025 (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Ribera receives Susana Muhamad, former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Lahbib participates in the Sakharov Prize nominees event (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Dombrovskis participates in the European Central Bank Governing Council (Frankfurt, Germany).
Commissioner Serafin meets with Polish S&D Members of the European Parliament (Strasbourg, France).

European Parliament

President’s Agenda

09:00 – President Metsola presides over the plenary session (Strasbourg).
15:00 – President Metsola meets with the President of the European Council, António Costa (Brussels).
18:00 – President Metsola participates in the EU–Western Balkans Summit (Brussels).

Plenary Session (Strasbourg)

09:00 – 11:50 Key debate on preparation of the European Council meeting of 18–19 December 2025, including support to Ukraine, transatlantic relations, and EU strategic autonomy.
12:00 – 13:00 Votes, including phasing out Russian natural gas imports, deforestation regulation obligations, EU–Jordan scientific cooperation (PRIMA), EuroHPC, appointment of the EIOPA Executive Director, military mobility, European Defence Readiness 2030, digitalisation and AI in the workplace, and the ECI “My Voice, My Choice”.
13:00 – 22:00 Debates on the Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive, rule of law conditionality, democratic crisis in Georgia, consumer agenda 2030, cases of pro-Russian espionage in the European Parliament, and human rights breaches worldwide, followed by explanations of votes.

Council of the European Union

EU–Western Balkans Summit – Ongoing.

European Ombudsman

Meeting with Heads of European Parliament Liaison Offices and exchange of views on possible collaboration.

Thursday, 18 December 2025

European Commission

High Representative Vice-President Kallas attends the European Council meeting (Brussels, Belgium).
President von der Leyen participates in the EPP Summit (Brussels, Belgium).
President von der Leyen participates in the European Council meeting (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Ribera attends the PES Pre-Council Meeting (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Ribera receives Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Fitto attends the Regions and Autonomous Provinces Conference (Rome, Italy).
Commissioner Dombrovskis holds a videoconference with Daði Már Kristófersson, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of Iceland.
Commissioner Tzitzikostas receives the Themistoklis Award from the Department of International and European Studies, University of Piraeus (Athens, Greece).
Commissioner Tzitzikostas delivers opening remarks at the “Diamonds of the Greek Economy – Business Excellence Awards” (Athens, Greece).

European Parliament

President’s Agenda

07:30 – President Metsola participates in the EPP Summit.

10:00 – President Metsola participates in the European Council meeting, followed by a press conference.

Plenary Session (Strasbourg)

09:00 – 11:50 Debates on the 30th anniversary of the Dayton–Paris Peace Agreement and the European Democracy Shield, including platform algorithms, foreign interference, and disinformation.

12:00 – 14:00 Votes on maximum residue levels for acetamiprid, human rights cases in Azerbaijan, Nigeria, and Guinea-Bissau, appointment of a member of the AMLA Executive Board, implementation of the rule of law conditionality regime, decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and continuous Belarusian hybrid attacks against Lithuania.

15:00 – 16:00 Debate on the dramatic global rise in violent attacks against humanitarian workers and journalists, followed by explanations of votes.

Council of the European Union

European Council meeting – Ongoing (18–19 December 2025).

Friday, 19 December 2025

European Commission

Commissioner Kadis holds a youth dialogue with students of Dasoupoli Lyceum and visits Frederick University to discuss the TASC-RestoreMed project under the European Mission “Restoring our oceans and waters” (Nicosia, Cyprus).
Commissioner Šuica presents the Pact for the Mediterranean to EU and Southern Neighbourhood countries’ Ambassadors to Croatia (Strasbourg, France).
Commissioner Šuica meets Donika Hoxha, Ambassador of Albania to Croatia (Strasbourg, France).
Executive Vice-President Fitto attends the Christmas Reception hosted by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella (Rome, Italy).
President von der Leyen participates in the European Council meeting (Brussels, Belgium).
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu participates in the opening ceremony for the installation of the new building corner of the Bistrița County Emergency Clinic Hospital (Bistrița, Romania).
Commissioner Dombrovskis participates in the virtual G7 Finance Ministers’ Meeting.

European Parliament

President’s Agenda

15:30 – President Metsola visits the Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral Museum (Mdina, Malta).
19:30 – President Metsola attends a Christmas Concert at St John’s Co-Cathedral (Valletta, Malta).