The Week Ahead 2 March – 8 March 2026
Committee and political group meetings, Brussels
International Women’s Day. To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee is organising an event bringing together MEPs and national parliamentarians to discuss “women’s rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age”. The conference will be opened by a video message from Parliament President Roberta Metsola followed by remarks by, among others, committee chair Lina Gálvez, Cyprus’ Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fitiris (TBC) and EU Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib (Thursday).
Online child sexual abuse. The Civil Liberties Committee will vote on extending a derogation to EU online privacy rules, that allows companies to detect child sexual abuse material on a voluntary basis. The current derogation expires on 2 April 2026. EU co-legislators are currently negotiating a permanent legal framework to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online (Monday).
2027 EU budget. The Budgets Committee will adopt its input for Parliament’s priorities on the 2027 EU budget. Once endorsed by Parliament at a future plenary session, these guidelines will be used by MEPs as the basis for their discussions with the Council and the Commission. The Commission is expected to present its position in June (Thursday).
European citizens’ initiative for a ban on conversion practices. A European citizens’ initiative (ECI) proposing an EU ban on so-called “conversion practices” targeting LGBTQ+ citizens will be discussed by MEPs and experts in a public hearing. Women’s Rights Committee chair Gálvez, Equality Commissioner Lahbib and representatives of the ECI will join the discussion (Monday).
Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 9-12 March plenary session, where MEPs will debate and vote on EU-US political relations, on their proposals to tackle Europe’s housing crisis, on common EU defence projects, on economic policy coordination and on the EU’s enlargement strategy. They will also vote on new package travel rules, the need for enhanced cooperation with Canada, and on protecting copyrighted creative work in the age of AI. They will also debate the Commission’s citizens’ energy package as well as the need for clean, independent and secure energy. MEPs will mark International Women’s Day, hold a formal sitting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, and outline their expectations for the 19-20 March EU summit.
Pre-session press briefing. Parliament’s Press Service will hold a press briefing with the political group spokespersons at 11.00 on Friday (Anna Politkovskaya room, press centre, Brussels).
President’s diary. On Tuesday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will receive Rob Jetten, Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
