How to watch European Union parliamentary committees

Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)

MEPs’ questions: enforcement, taxation and EU competences

Daniel Freund and 5 others

Rapporteur and Members challenge the Commission’s stance on ECA recommendations, raise enforcement gaps, data weaknesses and burden on legal operators, and debate the impacts of taxation levels, product bans and possible use of tobacco excise as an EU own resource.

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Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

Commission replies: reduced 2026 envelope, link to CSRs, social projects and use of consultancies

DG Costello explains the drop from €117 million (2025) to €48 million (2026) as driven by staff redeployment to complete the RRF and a policy decision to concentrate resources on larger, cross‑border projects tightly linked to country‑specific recommendations and EU priorities (energy, public and defence procurement); he outlines future technical support via national allocations and the EU Facility, highlights that many TSI projects address labour markets, social protection, health, care, and skills alongside revenue and tax administration reforms, and clarifies that about 26% of 2025 projects used public procurement (often involving consultancies), a share that is declining in favour of indirect management with institutions such as the OECD and World Bank.

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Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

MEPs Lewandowski and Fita: budget cuts, future MFF, social dimension and consultants

Janusz Lewandowski and 1 other

MEP Lewandowski questions the impact of the €57 million cut to the 2026 TSI budget on supported actions, the prioritisation of RRF closing tasks, risks for 2027 staff resources, and whether planned technical support in the next MFF will be sufficient for national and regional authorities; MEP Fita welcomes rising demand but asks how social objectives are safeguarded amid potentially conflicting European Semester recommendations and how the TSI avoids becoming a fiscal conditionality tool, and requests data on the share of projects outsourced to private consultancies.

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Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)

OLAF perspective: fraud patterns and coordination limits

Ernesto Bianchi and 1 other

OLAF details the evolution from border smuggling to intra‑EU manufacturing, stresses the centrality of intelligence and multi‑actor cooperation, and explains both the possibilities and institutional limits of EU‑level assessment and data‑driven market estimates.

In this chapter

1. OLAF: evolving fraud patterns and role of intelligence
2. OLAF: multi‑actor complexity and limits to EU assessmentErnesto Bianchi

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Committee on European Democracy Shield (special committee) (EUDS)

Hearing closure and Bosnia and Herzegovina mission assessment

Nathalie Loiseau and 1 other

The Chair closes the gendered disinformation hearing and reports on the Bosnia mission, followed by members’ interventions on corruption, judiciary and governance reform, EU communication failures, foreign interference, and the need for a coherent, accountable EU strategy and stronger engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In this chapter

1. Closing of hearing and suspension before next itemNathalie Loiseau
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina mission: overview and key themesNathalie Loiseau
3. Mendes: corruption, judiciary reform and EU communication

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Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

Commission: presentation of 2025 TSI cycle and shift to multi-country focus

Johan Van Overtveldt ECR

DG Costello presents the 2025 TSI annual report, detailing 900 support requests, 136 selected projects worth €117 million, the dominance of flagship and multi‑country projects, examples on tax/customs modernization and CBAM implementation, extensive use of indirect management via OECD/World Bank, and then explains the institutional merger into SecGen REFORM and the strategic refocusing of the 2026 and 2027 cycles on fewer, larger multi‑country projects including defence procurement, data spaces, e‑waste statistics, grids and renewables, and national development banks, as well as the envisaged shift to the EU Facility and national envelopes for future technical support under the next MFF.

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Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

Opening of joint ECON–BUDG meeting and TSI mandate

Johan Van Overtveldt ECR

Chair Van Overtveldt opens the joint committee meeting, adopts the agenda, and frames the annual exchange with DG Costello under Article 15 of the TSI Regulation, recalling last year’s debate, recent TSI reports, evaluation findings, and the ECA’s Special Report on RRF support to public administrations, and outlining the speaking and Q&A procedure.

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Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)

Opening and audit mandate on illicit tobacco

Andreas Schwab PPE

The Chair opens the CONT item on illicit tobacco, presents the ECA special report and invited institutions, and the ECA outlines the scale, scope and main findings of its audit, including fragmented data, legal divergences and recommendations to strengthen the EU strategy.

In this chapter

1. Chair: opening and report contextAndreas Schwab
2. ECA: background and audit scope
3. ECA: fragmented data and legal divergences
4. ECA: weak coordination and key recommendationsAndreas Schwab

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Committee on European Democracy Shield (special committee) (EUDS)

MEP Q&A: EU enforcement, legal tools and victim protection

Michał Wawrykiewicz and 2 others

MEPs question the practical use of DSA and AI rules, the effectiveness of nudifier bans, the need for further legislation and criminal law, profit incentives, and legal definitions, while experts emphasise enforcement, treating gendered disinformation as gender-based violence, and focusing on harms to victims.

In this chapter

1. MEP questions: EU tools, enforcement and profit driversMichał Wawrykiewicz
2. Schulz and Scheele: enforcement focus and evidence systems
3. Question on definition of ‘woman’ and impact-focused responseNathalie Loiseau

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Committee on European Democracy Shield (special committee) (EUDS)

Expert evidence: gendered deepfakes, democracy risks and EU gaps

Nathalie Loiseau Renew

Experts Schulz and Scheele detail the scale and gendered nature of pornographic deepfakes, their democratic and security implications, specific exposure of women in politics, and identify shortcomings and priorities in EU regulation, enforcement, and data systems.

In this chapter

1. Schulz: deepfakes, erosion of reality and scale
2. Schulz: women’s exposure and EU regulatory gaps
3. Schulz: five concrete EU-level policy measuresNathalie Loiseau

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Committee on European Democracy Shield (special committee) (EUDS)

Opening: agenda, Gender Equality Week and threat framing

Nathalie Loiseau Renew

The Chair opens the meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, relays the President’s Gender Equality Week message, and frames the hearing on gendered disinformation and AI deepfakes targeting women in public life as a hybrid threat issue.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and agenda adoptionNathalie Loiseau
2. President Metsola video: Gender Equality Week message
3. Chair Loiseau: framing gendered disinformation threatNathalie Loiseau

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Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

EEAS and Canada: Clarifications on status, safeguards, programmes and strategic diversification

Delphine Pronk and 2 others

EEAS and the Canadian Ambassador respond by defining ‘association without accession’, describing programme participation (SAFE, Horizon, Erasmus+), governance mechanisms and dialogues (Arctic, oceans, democratic resilience), addressing wildfire aircraft procurement, LNG and energy transition options, security safeguards and European preference in sensitive technologies, provincial and Member State reactions, supply‑chain diversification away from US dependence, and the planned conclusion of association talks by June 2027 before the Chair closes the meeting.

In this chapter

1. EEAS (Pronk): Clarifying associate membership, Arctic, wildfires, energy and defence techDelphine Pronk
2. Canada (Ambassador Wilkinson): Programmes, governance mechanisms and resilience with EUJonathan Wilkinson
3. Canada (Ambassador Wilkinson): US politics, civil protection aircraft, energy and strategic diversificationJonathan Wilkinson

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Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

MEPs: Questions on associate membership, defence, energy and ratification

Sebastião Bugalho and 6 others

MEPs from several groups welcome deeper EU‑Canada ties but scrutinise the practical meaning and timetable of associate membership, its impact on EU institutional balance, Atlantic/Arctic strategies, industrial sovereignty in defence and civil protection aircraft, energy infrastructure, CETA ratification, partner balance with countries like Australia, and security risks linked to ITAR and Five Eyes integration.

In this chapter

1. MEPs Bugalho & Schieder: Questions on associate membership, Atlantic/Arctic and multilateralismSebastião Bugalho
2. MEP Thionnet & Maréchal: US context, defence-industrial safeguards and firefighting aircraftHana Jalloul Muro
3. MEP Søvndal, Moreno & Žovko: Energy, Ukraine, ratification and partner balanceVilly Søvndal
4. MEP Gomart: Security risks of defence cooperation and ITARChristophe Gomart

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Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

Canada: Geopolitical framing, minerals and people-to-people ties

Jonathan Wilkinson and 1 other

The Canadian Ambassador situates the Alliance for the Future in a deteriorating geopolitical context and deepening security cooperation, presents CETA’s economic benefits, and details cooperation on critical minerals, the Green Alliance, youth and labour mobility, and the ambition to structure an associate‑type relationship and regular high‑level contacts by 2027.

In this chapter

1. Canada (Ambassador Wilkinson): Geopolitical context and Alliance rationaleJonathan Wilkinson
2. Canada (Ambassador Wilkinson): Critical minerals, Green Alliance and people-to-peopleJonathan Wilkinson

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Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

Opening and EEAS: Summit outcomes and Alliance concept

Hana Jalloul Muro and 1 other

The Chair opens the AFET meeting, sets the agenda and contextualises the EU‑Canada summit, followed by EEAS outlining the summit format, concrete deliverables and the new Alliance for the Future, including its six strategic areas, 2027 scoping deadline and the emerging notion of Canadian ‘associate membership’ to the EU framework.

In this chapter

1. Chair: Opening, agenda and summit contextHana Jalloul Muro
2. EEAS (Pronk): Summit format and concrete deliverablesDelphine Pronk
3. EEAS (Pronk): Alliance for the Future and associate membership conceptHana Jalloul Muro

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Council of the European Union

Closing of the Council meeting

Final remarks by the Presidency summarising the day’s work and underlining the value of EU cooperation on energy policy.

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: 2026 annual progress report on simplification, implementation and enforcement

Darragh O'Brien

Presentation by the European Commission of the 2026 progress report on simplifying, implementing and enforcing EU energy and housing legislation, followed by the Council taking note.

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: High‑voltage electrical switchgear and ESPR delegated act

Cyril Piquemal and 1 other

Exchange on the need for an urgent delegated act under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) concerning high‑voltage electrical switchgear in light of F‑gas rules, supply security and industrial competitiveness.

In this chapter

1. France: Call for ESPR delegated act on high‑voltage electrical switchgearCyril Piquemal
2. European Commission: Position on F‑gas rules and ESPR for switchgear
3. Slovakia: Support for French initiative on ESPR delegated act

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: Political message by Bulgaria and Slovakia on Central and Eastern European fuel industry declaration

Efthymios Costopoulos

Presentation and initial reactions to a joint declaration by Central and Eastern European fuel industry associations on the balanced and realistic implementation of EU climate and energy legislation.

In this chapter

1. Bulgaria: Presentation of Central and Eastern European Energy Alliance joint declaration
2. Romania: Support for Central and Eastern European fuel industry declaration
3. Poland: Methane regulation and coking coal sector concerns

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: Long-term vision for the resilience and competitiveness of European refineries

Marco Peronaci and 3 others

Information point requested by several Member States on the need for a long-term EU strategy to maintain resilient and competitive refining capacity while supporting the energy transition.

In this chapter

1. Poland: Call for long-term EU vision for resilient and competitive refineries
2. Czechia: Support for EU long-term refinery strategy and targeted exemptions
3. Romania: Inclusive strategic dialogue on European refining capacities

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: CO2 transportation infrastructure and markets

Cyril Piquemal and 1 other

Exchange of views, at the request of Belgium, on developing an EU framework and cross‑border infrastructure for CO2 transport, storage and markets to support industrial decarbonisation and competitiveness.

In this chapter

1. Belgium: Role of CO2 capture and storage for industrial decarbonisation
2. Belgium: Need for cross‑border CO2 transport framework and key principles
3. France: Support for flexible EU framework and risk‑sharing for CO2 transportCyril Piquemal

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Council of the European Union

Post-2030 EU energy and climate framework

Darragh O'Brien and 4 others

Debate of EU energy ministers and the Commission on the post-2030 energy and climate framework to reach the 2040 climate target and enhance energy security and competitiveness.

In this chapter

1. Opening statementsDarragh O'Brien
2. Member States’ interventions on the post-2030 frameworkDarragh O'Brien
3. Conclusion of exchange on post‑2030 framework and move to AOBDarragh O'Brien

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Council of the European Union

Council debate on electricity network charges and taxation

Darragh O'Brien and 5 others

Plenary discussion of the Commission proposal on electricity network charges and taxation in the context of high energy prices and the EU energy transition.

In this chapter

1. Opening statementsDarragh O'Brien
2. Member States’ interventions on network charges and taxation proposalDarragh O'Brien

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: Use of rural development funds to address rising agricultural fuel and energy costs (cont.)

Christophe Hansen and 1 other

Information point by Italy proposing that temporary EAFRD crisis support be extended to cover rising agricultural fuel and related energy costs.

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: Water management and climate resilience of EU agriculture (cont.)

Christophe Hansen

Joint information point by France and Portugal on using the CAP and other EU instruments to support water management, irrigation and climate resilience projects in agriculture.

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: Future framework for agricultural structural statistics surveys (cont.)

Christophe Hansen

Information point by Austria on reducing the frequency and administrative burden of agricultural structural surveys under the future integrated farm statistics framework.

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Council of the European Union

Any other business: Joint declaration on strengthening the fight against unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain (cont.)

Martin Heydon and 1 other

Any other business item requested by Slovakia on a joint declaration by Visegrad countries plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia to reinforce the fight against unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain.

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