European Union

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 25 January - 1 February 2026.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Stadtzürcher Grüne lancieren eine Petition nach dem umstrittenen Vorbild der Gemeinde Birsfelden. Schleichverkehr soll mit 100 Franken bestraft werden. Denn in gewissen Quartieren stauen sich die Autos wegen des Ausweichverkehrs.

Brooklyn Beckham hat öffentlich mit seinen Eltern Victoria und David gebrochen. DJ Fat Tony erzählt jetzt von der unangenehmen Hochzeitsfeier Brooklyns, bei der es einen schockierenden Vorfall gegeben hat.

In Davos stand die Zukunft der Nato auf der Kippe. Donald Trump drohte mit neuen Grönland-Zöllen und dem Bruch des Bündnisses. Vermittelt hat Mark Rutte – der Mann, der Trump hofierte, einflüsterte und Europa Zeit verschaffte. Wo wird er die Nato hinführen?

In der National League liegen die Nerven blank, Trainer werden in der laufenden Saison gefeuert als ob es kein Morgen gäbe. Was haben die bisherigen Wechsel bei Ambri, Bern und in Genf bewirkt?

Eine Betrügerin aus Bern hält Konstanz auf Trab. Mit einem perfiden Trick erschleicht sie Geld von Passanten. Bereits fünf Geschädigte meldeten den Fall der Polizei.

Ein gigantisches Fitnessgerät erobert Tiktok: Der «Legasaurus», eine drei Meter hohe Beinpresse, ist der neue Star auf Social Media. Aber warum? Und: Gibt es das Ungetüm auch in der Schweiz?

Er war der meistgesuchte Ex-Sportler der Welt: Jetzt wurde Ryan James Wedding in Mexiko geschnappt. Das FBI hatte den Snowboarder gejagt. Er gilt als Kopf eines Drogenrings.

Beschimpfungen, Drohungen, Einschüchterungen – viele Lehrpersonen in der Schweiz erleben Übergriffe, besonders von Eltern. Eine landesweite Studie zeigt das Ausmass. Blick hat Bildungsexperten und Politiker um ein Einschätzung der Situation an Schweizer Schulen gebeten.

Zyklon Harry hat im sizilianischen Ferienort Taormina eine Schneise der Verwüstung hinterlassen. Ein Drohnen-Video von Pio Andrea Peri zeigt die Schäden und geht auf Instagram viral. Sogar der Bürgermeister Cateno De Luca wurde von einer Welle erwischt.

Bundesrat Parmelin traf sich mit Angehörigen der italienischen Opfer von Crans-Montana. Ein Thema war auch die Frage der Entschädigung und Wiedergutmachung.

Ferrari hat die neue rote Göttin, die eigentlich diesen Namen längst nicht mehr verdient, in Maranello vorgestellt. Ohne Medien, schlicht und fast demütig. Denn der SF-26 muss endlich wieder in die Erfolgsspur kommen.

Über 60 Prozent der Spitex-Geschäftsleitungen verdienen mehr als 150'000 Franken, einer 664'000. Ganze 80 Prozent der Firmen hielten sich nicht an die verbindlichen Abrechnungsregeln. Jetzt schlägt die Zürcher Gesundheitskonferenz Alarm.

FCZ-Präsident Ancillo Canepa und der neue Verwaltungsrat Claudio Cisullo haben am Freitag die neue Ausrichtung seines Klubs vorgestellt. Ein wichtiges Zeichen in Richtung Zukunft, soll es sein.

Bundesrätin Karin Keller-Sutter verteidigt die zur Diskussion stehenden Kapitalmassnahmen für die UBS. Die Bank würde die Vorgaben bereits erfüllen, sagte sie in einem Interview.

Werden wir von den Skigebieten abgezockt? Der Konsumentenschutz vermutet schon lange, dass hinter den dynamischen Ticketpreisen eine Strategie der zur Einnahmensteigerung steckt. Auch viele Leserinnen und Leser sprechen sich dagegen aus.

Aus dem Ausland zu berichten, sei ein Privileg, sagt Stefan Reinhart, Chef der SRF-Korrespondenten. Er äussert sich zum Fall Roger Aebli und erzählt von den Gefahren, in die die Mitarbeitenden geraten können und wie das SRF mit solchen Situationen umgeht.

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

Members debated with the European Council and European Commission on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 18 December 2025 and the geopolitical tensions currently facing Europe. Parliament also heard and debated a presentation of the Cyprus Council Presidency’s programme of activities.

Several debates on external issues were held with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, including: on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark and the need for a united EU response to the United States, the situation in Venezuela following the extraction of Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition, and Iran’s brutal repression of protesters.

Further debates were held following Council and Commission statements on: preparations for the EU-India Summit; tackling AI deepfakes and sexual exploitation on social media through full use of the EU’s digital rules; the pending approval of the Hungarian national plan for Security Action for Europe (SAFE) funding; the attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania; online piracy of sports and other live events; and the proposed cybersecurity and digital networks acts.

Finally, Members rejected a motion of censure against the European Commission, and adopted a resolution requesting an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility of the proposed EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) with the EU Treaties.

40th anniversary of the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Union

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Union, His Majesty Felipe VI, King of Spain, and His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Portugal, addressed Parliament in a formal sitting. Parliament also observed a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the rail accident in Spain on 18 January.

Air passenger rights

Proposed reform of EU air passenger rights to address issues such as delays, cancellations, weak enforcement and unclear rules had been stalled in the Council for over a decade due to disagreements on compensation, extraordinary circumstances and enforcement. Members debated and adopted a recommendation from the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) at second reading. The report rejects the Council’s position in favour of higher delay thresholds and reduced compensation, and supports distance-based compensation of €300-€600, a closed list of exemptions, and stronger passenger protection, such as free hand luggage, bans on unfair fees and longer claim deadlines. The file now returns to the Council for its second reading, with conciliation to follow unless the Council accepts Parliament’s amendments.

Critical medicines act

Critical medicine shortages and the EU’s growing reliance on external suppliers for critical ingredients pose a threat to EU public health. The proposed ‘critical medicines act’ aims to improve the availability and security of supply of critical medicines in the EU by decreasing dependency on single suppliers and non-EU countries, such as India and China, and improving pharmaceutical manufacturing in the EU. Members debated and approved a report from the Committee on Public Health (SANT) regarding the proposed regulation, and set Parliament’s position for trilogue negotiations. The report expands the definition of a ‘strategic project’ to improve EU manufacturing capacity and calls for the creation of a critical medicines security fund within the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework, and an EU coordination mechanism for national stockpiles and contingency stocks of critical medicines.

28th regime

The 28th regime is a proposed EU-level legal framework that would allow innovative companies to operate across the EU under a single set of rules. Companies would not have to deal with differing regulations across Member States, which would help boost the single market. Parliament debated and adopted a legislative-initiative report on the 28th regime from the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI). The report suggests national limited liability companies be able to register as ‘Societas Europaea Unificata’ (S.EU), which would be automatically recognised in all Member States. It recommends a harmonised EU legal framework for corporate law to align national rules across all Member States, while ensuring safeguards for national laws to avoid undermining labour and social laws. It proposes a common digital direct entry point allowing entrepreneurs to establish companies within 48 hours, and harmonised rules on employee financial participation schemes.

Just transition in the world of work

Parliament debated and adopted a legislative-initiative report from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) proposing a new directive to protect workers who may become unemployed in the move towards a greener and more digital society. The report calls on the European Commission to create a comprehensive framework to ensure EU countries create jobs in regions where jobs are most likely to disappear. This framework should ensure the development of viable economic 2

alternatives and attract the necessary investment. The report also calls to set certain workplace conditions, including the right to training during working hours, health and safety measures, the right to worker consultation and collective bargaining and stronger protections against unfair dismissal. It also calls for increased support for a just transition in the 2028-2034 MFF. Lastly, the proposed directive would require Member States to develop national strategies and business support programmes for small and medium-sized businesses.

Drones and new systems of warfare

The EU is facing a rising drone threat linked to Russian provocations, and is boosting drone and counter-drone capabilities. Parliament debated and adopted an own-initiative report from the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) setting out a comprehensive strategy to prepare the EU for drone-enabled conflict, calling for the rapid integration of drone and counter-drone capabilities across EU defence planning and stronger protection of civilian infrastructure. It stresses the need to build a robust, autonomous European drone industry, reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers and shift from a primarily regulatory approach to a security model focused on operational capabilities and strategic autonomy.

CFSP and CSDP 2025 annual reports

Members considered and approved the 2025 annual implementation reports on common security and defence policy from the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and on common foreign and security policy from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). Both reports identify Russia’s war against Ukraine as a primary threat to the EU and Member States, and call for stronger support for Ukraine to protect European security. They both acknowledge the importance of EU relations with the United States in securing peace in Ukraine, with the SEDE report noting the risks of isolationist US foreign policy and expressing concern at the US government’s threats against Greenland’s sovereignty. The AFET report highlights the current global geopolitical instability and accelerated erosion of democratic norms, stating that the EU’s credibility depends on its ability to act coherently and decisively. It calls for a gradual transition to qualified majority voting for common foreign and security policy decisions without military or defence implications, while encouraging greater use of constructive abstention.

Human rights and democracy in the world and the 2025 EU annual report

Members also debated and adopted a resolution on the AFET committee’s annual report on human rights and democracy in the world. This report aims at informing a post-2027 EU action plan for human rights and democracy, and reiterates Parliament’s call for a stronger plan based on a full review of the current framework, with clear benchmarks, indicators and timelines. It highlights growing threats to human rights and the international system, proposes improvements to EU tools such as human rights dialogues, support for human rights defenders, conditionality in EU trade and international agreements and human rights sanctions. It also stresses the need for earmarked funding for human rights anddemocracy support in the next MFF, notably through the proposed Global Europe instrument.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Two decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations – from Parliament’s Committees on Defence (SEDE) and Internal Market (IMCO) on simplification of intra-EU transfers of defence-related products and the simplification of security and defence procurement and acceleration of permit-granting for defence readiness projects, as well as one further decision from the Committees on Defence (SEDE), Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on defence readiness and facilitating defence investments and conditions for defence industry were approved without vote.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘Plenary round-up – January I 2026‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.