EU Parliament’s Busy Week Ahead

The European Parliament is set to have a packed schedule from March 2 to March 8, 2026, with several key meetings and initiatives on the agenda. The week will include critical discussions on topics ranging from online child safety to the 2027 EU budget and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee will host an event on International Women’s Day, focusing on “women’s rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age”. This conference will feature a video message from Parliament President Roberta Metsola and speeches from other notable figures such as committee chair Lina Gálvez and EU Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib.

In addition to women’s rights, the Civil Liberties Committee will deliberate on extending a derogation to EU online privacy rules, which permits companies to voluntarily detect online child sexual abuse material. This current derogation is set to expire on April 2, 2026, prompting urgent discussions for a more permanent solution.

Moreover, the Budgets Committee plans to finalize its contributions for the 2027 EU budget, setting the stage for future negotiations with the EU Council and Commission. Another significant discussion will revolve around a European citizens’ initiative that seeks to ban so-called “conversion practices” targeting the LGBTQ+ community, with a public hearing scheduled to further explore this crucial issue.

As the week culminates, the Parliament will prepare for the March 9-12 plenary session, where MEPs will tackle diverse issues including EU-US political relations, Europe’s housing crisis, common EU defense projects, and strategies for clean, independent, and secure energy solutions.

This flurry of activity underscores the European Parliament’s commitment to addressing both longstanding and emergent challenges within the EU, setting a robust legislative agenda for the coming months.