COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,update

 

Meetings Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Press service European Parliament

Available in       Press release 17-03-2026 Fisheries Committee chair calls on Commission to activate emergency crisis fund     The chair of Parliament's Committee on Fisheries wants to trigger the EU’s crisis and transition temporary framework due to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. Committee chair Carmen Crespo Díaz (EPP, ES) said: “The current geopolitical context, especially instability in the Middle East and rising oil prices, is having a direct impact on the European fisheries sector. Fuel represents one of the largest operating costs of the fleet, so the continued increase in prices is putting at risk the economic viability of many vessels. If this situation continues, many vessels could be forced to halt their activity, with serious consequences for employment in coastal communities and for the supply of seafood on the European market. That is why we are asking the European Commission to swiftly activate emergency support mechanisms, such as the crisis and transition temporary framework, similar to those used during the 2022 energy crisis. Among the possible measures, we must mobilise the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) crisis instruments so that we can immediately support the fleets most affected by the exceptional increase in fuel prices. It is also proposed to temporarily adapt the State aid rules, so that member states can urgently support their fleets. In parallel, exceptional market measures could be activated within the Common Fisheries Policy to mitigate the economic impact of this situation. Beyond the emergency, progress is needed on structural solutions that strengthen the sector's resilience, such as facilitating access to strategic fuel stocks in European ports.” Background On 28 February, the US and Israel started a joint military operation against the Iranian regime. The passage of vessels with fuel through the Strait of Hormuz has been affected, resulting in oil price increases. Further information  Committee on Fisheries

Press release 17-03-2026 LIBE   Child sexual abuse online: statement by the rapporteur on extending temporary rules

Lead MEP Birgit Sippel has issued a statement on the temporary framework for voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. On Monday, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU met to discuss a temporary extension to the current e-Privacy derogation that allows the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. It currently applies until 3 April 2026. Parliament rapporteur Birgit Sippel (S&D, Germany) made the following statement: "It is unfortunate that Parliament and Council could not reach an agreement on the prolongation of the interim regulation last night, despite our willingness to negotiate constructively. However, with their lack of flexibility, Member States have deliberately accepted that the interim regulation will expire in April. From then on, voluntary scanning to counter the dissemination of child sexual abuse material online by the providers will no longer be possible. As Parliament, it was important to us that child sexual abuse material that has already been identified or reported should remain discoverable and usable for law enforcement purposes. However, regarding previous unknown material and grooming, the Commission’s implementation reports lack clear proof of effectiveness of the measures; Parliament therefore asked for a more targeted approach. With the interim regulation coming to an end, the priority now is to raise awareness among citizens, to strengthen law enforcement and their capacities to proportionately combat the dissemination of child sexual abuse material online and remind providers of their own responsibility and cooperation with civil society and law enforcement. And most importantly, this bolsters the European Parliament's mandate in negotiations on the permanent child sexual abuse regulation on which negotiations with the Council are still ongoing." Background The voluntary framework was already extended in 2024. Parliament has been ready for negotiations on the permanent framework since November 2023. Since Council adopted its position in November 2025, talks on the permanent law have been ongoing.

Further information  Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs  Procedure file

Press release 17-03-2026 TRAN   ENVI   Green light from TRAN and ENVI on accounting of transport emissions

On Tuesday, Transport and Environment Committees backed new rules that introduce a single EU methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions from transport services. Under the provisional agreement, negotiated by Council and Parliament negotiators, led by EP rapporteurs Norbert Lins (EPP, DE) and Antonio Decaro (S&D, IT), in November 2025, and confirmed by Council in March 2026, calculating transport emissions will follow a common standard. The aim is to make it easier to compare the environmental performance of different transport modes across the EU and to tackle greenwashing. Transport companies will not have an obligation to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions, but if they choose to do so for reporting, contractual or marketing purposes, or when required by other EU rules, they will need to apply the common EU methodology. To reduce the administrative and financial burden on companies, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, MEPs secured a commitment from the Commission to develop a public, simple and free-of-charge calculation tool. For more details you can consult the press release on the outcome of the negotiations between EP and Council and the text of the agreement. Next steps The recommendation to support Council position, which represent last year agreement on the accounting of greenhouse gas emissions of transport services was approved by Transport and Environment Committees by 81 votes to 16 and with four abstentions. It now needs to be approved by the full House, scheduled to convene in April.

Further information  Draft recommendation for second reading  Draft EU rules on accounting of greenhouse gas emissions of transport services  Procedure file  EP Research Service briefing on measuring emissions from transport services (January 2025)  Committee on Transport and Tourism  Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

● International ministerial meetings   17/03/2026 19:47 | Meetings | Main results - 26th Accession Conference with Montenegro, 17 March 2026   The twenty-sixth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro held today in Brussels served to provisionally close negotiations with Montenegro on Chapter 21 ‘Trans-European networks’.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   17/03/2026 19:43 | Press release | EU and Montenegro provisionally close chapter on Trans-European networks in accession negotiations   Today, the 26th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed accession negotiations on chapter 21 (Trans-European networks). “In the current geopolitical context, enlargement is more than ever a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability, and prosperity. I am delighted to see another negotiating chapter with Montenegro being closed today, in the second Intergovernmental Conference for Montenegro under the Cyprus presidency, bringing their total number to 14. Montenegro remains a frontrunner in the enlargement process and today’s progress confirms the strong momentum of its accession negotiations, which is based on own merits.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU The EU may, if necessary, return to this chapter at an appropriate moment. This provisional closure follows less than two months after the previous accession conference on 26 January 2026, which provisionally closed chapter 32 on financial control. Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the EU acquis will continue throughout the negotiations. Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters in its EU accession negotiations. With the provisional closure agreed today, a total of fourteen of these chapters have now been provisionally closed. According to the negotiating principles endorsed by the Accession Conference, agreements reached in the course of negotiations on specific chapters may not be considered as final until an overall agreement has been reached for all chapters. Background The European Union delegation was led by Ms Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU, with the participation of Commissioner for Enlargement, Ms Marta Kos. The Montenegrin delegation was led by Mr Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro. EU common position regarding chapter 21 Twenty-fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro, 26 January 2026 Council conclusions on enlargement, 17 December 2024 Enlargement: new enlargement methodology will be applied to Montenegro and Serbia (press release, 11 May 2021) Montenegro (background information) How EU enlargement works (background information)   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   17/03/2026 19:42 | Meetings | Main results - Environment Council, 17 March 2026   EU environment ministers held a policy debate on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans and exchanged views on decarbonisation efforts in the post-2030 climate framework. The Council also approved conclusions on bioeconomy and explored ways to enhance strategic EU collaboration in global environmental diplomacy. Over lunch, ministers discussed the way forward in international climate negotiations.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   17/03/2026 18:29 | Meetings | Main results - General Affairs Council, 17 March 2026   The Council continued preparations for the March European Council, held a policy debate on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and focused on the 2026 European Semester.   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   17/03/2026 18:18 | Press release | Bioeconomy: Council backs moving bio-based innovations from lab to production   Today, the Council approved conclusions on the new EU’s bioeconomy strategy. The Council conclusions welcome the vision for a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy by 2040, promote the use of bio-based and circular solutions across all relevant sectors – as fossil-free alternatives – and support innovation and investments.  Bioeconomy uses renewable biological resources such as plants, animals and microorganisms to produce food, energy and industrial goods. “The transformation led by bioeconomy is already tangible across Europe, from everyday bio-based products such as beeswax lip balm and linen textiles to cutting-edge materials like car parts from olive tree waste. With today’s Council conclusions, we say it loud and clear: competitiveness, sustainability and homegrown innovation must be at the core of the EU’s path toward a resilient bioeconomy by 2040 and Europe’s strategic autonomy.” — Maria Panayiotou, Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus In its conclusions, the Council welcomes the EU bioeconomy strategy proposed by the Commission as a timely and essential step in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, prosperity and sustainability. According to the Council conclusions, it is important to efficiently implement existing EU law that is relevant to the bioeconomy and update national actions with the strategy. The Council backs more innovation and measures to support investment  in sustainable bio-based solutions, including faster approvals and simplified rules, as well as leading global action in bioeconomy. Creating predictable demand for sustainable bio-based materials and technologies is essential to unlocking private investment. In this context, the Council stresses the need to identify and strengthen high-potential sectors (lead markets). These lead markets should not be limited to the ones listed in the EU bioeconomy strategy (e.g. bio-based plastics, chemicals, construction products, fertilisers) but could also be extended to additional sectors, including footwear and textile, paper, or the blue bioeconomy (e.g. the use of algae and sponges). According to recent reports, the EU is largely self-sufficient in biomass supply (at around 90%). The Council calls for ensuring sustainable biomass supply, as this is essential for the long-term viability of the bioeconomy.  It calls on member states to use biomass across value chains in a resource-efficient way that safeguards the environment and to promote the use of use of by-products, bio-waste and residues (secondary biomass).   Read more ● European Council   17/03/2026 11:55 | Statements and remarks | Joint statement by President von der Leyen and President Costa on the Druzhba pipeline   Following the renewed Russian strikes on January 27 on the Druzhba pipeline, leading to the interruption of crude oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council have engaged in intense discussions with member states and Ukraine at all levels to restore the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The EU has offered Ukraine technical support and funding. The Ukrainians have welcomed and accepted this offer. European experts are available immediately. Our priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens. In this sense, the  President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council will continue to work with the concerned parties on alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Letter by President Costa and President von der Leyen to President Zelenskyy, 16 March 2026 Letter from President Zelenskyy to President Costa and President von der Leyen, 17 March 2026   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   17/03/2026 11:49 | Press release | European electoral act: Council agrees to allow proxy voting for MEPs during pregnancy and after giving birth   Today, the Council agreed to amend the European electoral law to allow proxy voting at the European Parliament (EP) during late pregnancy and early motherhood. A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who is pregnant or has recently given birth may delegate her vote to another member for up to three months before the estimated date of birth and up to six months after childbirth. “Today’s agreement is about equality, inclusiveness, and democratic representation. By enabling proxy voting for MEPs who are pregnant or have recently given birth, we are actively supporting women’s participation in European politics, making it easier for them to balance their parliamentary duties with motherhood. This measure will increase trust in our democratic processes and strengthen democratic participation. We look forward to the European Parliament’s consent.” — Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus With a view to the practical implementation of the proxy voting, the Council added to the Parliament’s initial proposal that the statute for MEPs should lay down the general conditions governing such delegation of vote, ensuring compliance with the principles of transparency, accountability, traceability, legal certainty and integrity of the vote. Furthermore, the EP rules of procedure should lay down the modalities for this delegation of vote. Next steps Following today’s agreement in principle, the Council will forward the text to the EP for its consent. The proposal will then return to the Council for formal adoption. Finally, the act must be ratified by the member states in accordance with their respective national constitutional procedures before it can enter into force. Background The existing rules provide that the mandate of an MEP is personal, which requires that their vote be cast individually and in person. On 13 November 2025, the EP adopted a resolution for a targeted revision of the European electoral act. This file follows a ‘special legislative procedure’ whereby the European Parliament first adopts a proposal, which is then transmitted to the Council. The Council must then establish its position on the proposal and shall request the consent from the Parliament. Council decision amending the act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, 17 March 2026 Proposal for a Council decision amending the act on the elections of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, European Parliament’s resolution, 13 November 2025   Visit the website