After the major plenary session in Strasbourg from 19 to 22 January, the European Parliament will move into a week of committee meetings in Brussels, from 26 January to 1 February. MEPs will focus on very concrete issues: the housing crisis, public health, the green transition, transport and employment. The weekly agenda published by Parliament’s press service shows a full schedule, where budget debates, social questions and democracy are closely intertwined.
European Parliament: a high‑stakes week in committee
On Monday 26 January, late in the afternoon, a joint meeting of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) will open the week. MEPs will discuss how the rule‑of‑law conditionality mechanism is being applied – the tool that allows EU funds to be suspended when a government undermines judicial independence or sound financial management. Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with certain member states, this meeting will set the tone: budgetary and democratic issues remain tightly linked in Brussels.
On Tuesday 27 January, several committees will meet in parallel. The Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union will examine soaring rents, property speculation and the difficulty young people and low‑income households face in accessing decent housing. The Committee on Public Health (SANT) will devote a full day to preparedness for health crises and to the EU’s capacity to guarantee access to medicines in the event of a new pandemic.
On the same day, the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) will vote on a report proposing new management approaches to protect vulnerable species, tackle invasive species and support coastal economies. The Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) will vote on a key text on the use of railway capacity in the Single European Railway Area, aiming to improve the allocation of train paths and make cross‑border journeys easier.
Also on Tuesday, the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) will discuss support for the cultural and media sectors, against a backdrop of budget cuts and political pressure on editorial independence. This discussion will echo the tensions around public broadcasters in several countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.
On Wednesday 28 January, Parliament’s agenda will remain packed. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) will hold a session from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. entirely devoted to implementing the Green Deal and EU climate policies. MEPs will debate emission reductions, biodiversity protection and the adaptation of agriculture to climate change.
At the same time, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) will meet to discuss recognition of qualifications, job quality and the social situation in the EU. On the table: in‑work poverty, minimum wages and social protection for platform workers – issues that are already at the heart of many social struggles in member states.
On Thursday 29 January, a joint meeting of ENVI and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) will focus on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Union’s support for health‑emergency preparedness. The aim is to strengthen the EU’s response capacity to natural disasters (fires, floods) and health crises, drawing lessons from Covid‑19 and recent wildfire seasons. MEPs will discuss with the Commission the available funding, strategic reserves and coordination between member states.
Council of the EU: agriculture and public finances on the table
While Parliament is working in committee, the Council of the European Union will bring together national ministers on several sensitive dossiers. Important meetings are scheduled up to 1 February in the ECOFIN configuration (finance ministers) and the AGRIFISH formation (agriculture and fisheries).
According to the calendar announced by several permanent representations, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) will meet on 26 January in Luxembourg. On the agenda: a presentation of the Cypriot Council Presidency’s programme for the next six months, a discussion on organic farming and an exchange on the implementation of the European bioeconomy strategy in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. These debates will take place at a time when farmers and fishers in several countries are denouncing international competition and environmental requirements they see as too heavy.
The broader Council schedule for the first half of 2026 shows that the end of January will be marked by several ECOFIN meetings devoted to coordinating national budgetary policies under the new EU framework on deficit and debt. These discussions will be decisive in determining how far governments can go in terms of public spending and green or social investment – and therefore in setting the economic context within which national social struggles will unfold.
In parallel, the Council’s preparatory bodies (working parties on General Affairs, Development, Budget, etc.) will continue their technical meetings in Brussels. These groups work behind the scenes on draft texts that will later be sent up to ECOFIN, the General Affairs Council or meetings of foreign ministers.
Other European events: digital, open source and civil society
Beyond the core institutions, the week of 26 January to 1 February will also be shaped by a series of broader European events. European Open Source Week 2026 will start on 26 January, mostly online, with conferences and workshops on the use of free and open‑source software in the public sector, education and the economy. The aim is to bring together developers, public administrations, associations and businesses around concrete projects.
This kind of event may sound technical, but it directly touches on digital sovereignty, transparency and the cost of public services. Several local authorities, universities and NGOs will present open‑source tools for e‑government, open data and education – all areas where the EU’s choices will have a long‑term impact on how democracy and public services work in practice.
Sources:
- European Parliament – “The Week Ahead 26 January – 1 February 2026” (committee agenda, Brussels)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdfs/news/expert/agenda_week_by_type/05-2026/05-2026_en.pdf - European Parliament – Weekly agenda (updated 23 January 2026)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/agenda/weekly-agenda - European Parliament – “Agendas | Plenary – European Parliament” (overall context of the sessions)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/agendas.html - EUAgenda – “EU Events & Webinars” (including European Open Source Week 2026)
https://euagenda.eu/events - EU Monitoring – “EU Parliament Agenda for 26 January 2026”
https://ieu-monitoring.com/event/eu-parliament-agenda-for-26-january-2026 - Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU – “Agrifish Council 26.01.2026”
https://italiaue.esteri.it/en/news/dalla_rappresentanza/2026/01/agrifish-council-24-25-07-2023/ - European Movement Ireland – “EU Calendar Jan–Jun 2026” (Council: ECOFIN, AGRIFISH, etc.)
https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EMI_25_Calendar_Jan-Jun-26_LY05_VIEW.pdf - IEU Monitoring – “Meetings of EU Council preparatory bodies on 26 January 2026”
https://ieu-monitoring.com/event/meetings-of-eu-council-preparatory-bodies-on-26-january-2026 - Council of the EU – “Forward look of Council meetings until 1 February 2026” (@EUCouncilPress, 16 January 2026)
https://x.com/EUCouncilPress/status/2012209537613250664 - Politis Cyprus – “European Parliament Sets Heavy Agenda for January Strasbourg Plenary” (14 January 2026 – January plenary context)
https://en.politis.com.cy/globe/globe-europe/980225/european-parliament-sets-heavy-agenda-for-january-strasbourg-plenary
