On Tuesday 21 October, the European Commission will present an ambitious work programme for 2026 to MEPs in Strasbourg, including new legislative and non-legislative initiatives designed to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability, security and social cohesion of the European Union. The European Parliament will have the opportunity to debate this work programme, which is still in the process of being finalised.
In order to stimulate growth, the European Commission is proposing a number of flagship initiatives, including a 28th regime for innovative companies scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, and the updating of rules on public procurement in the second quarter of 2026. A number of initiatives have been announced in the field of research and emerging technologies: European Research Area Act; Advanced Materials Act; European Biotech Act; Cloud and AI Development Act; Quantum Act.
Proposals on the circular economy are expected during the third quarter of next year.
The single market package, which is divided into several parts, will be presented between the first and third quarters of 2026. The European Commission is planning an electrification package with a legislative proposal in the third quarter and an omnibus package on energy covering governance, CO2 transportation and renewable energies, which is also scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.
The climate package, which is expected by the end of 2026, will include an update of the framework for effort sharing for: - reducing greenhouse gas emissions not covered by the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS); - land use, land use change and forestry. It will also include the updating of the ‘ETS 2’ system for maritime aviation and stationary installations, as well as the market stability mechanism. In addition, an omnibus simplification package on taxation is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
In terms of defence, initiatives include the simplification of sensitive defence and security markets and the launch of the ‘Qualitative Military Edge’ programme.
The internal security package will include strengthening of the European agency Frontex in the third quarter of 2026, the digitalisation of the return process also in the third quarter of 2026, the strategy to combat trafficking in human beings in the second quarter of 2026, the strengthening of Europol in the second quarter of 2026 and the creation of a critical European communication system in the third quarter of 2026.
Other initiatives include measures for affordable housing, intergenerational fairness and the fight against poverty, as well as proposals to improve skills mobility (European Social Security Pass and Quality Jobs Act) in addition to a global health resilience initiative. A communication is planned for early 2026 on the Eastern border regions and another on the islands and coastal communities.
Regarding agriculture, the European Commission is planning a strategy for livestock farming, including elements on animal welfare, and an update of the rules on unfair trading practices in the food chain.
With regard to citizens and the protection of their rights, a number of measures have been announced, including the Digital Fairness Act, scheduled for the end of 2026, the strengthening of the fight against cross-border crime by strengthening Eurojust in the second quarter of 2026, the updating of the rules on audiovisual media services, the ‘anti-corruption’ package, the action plan against cyberbullying in early 2026, the gender equality strategy 2026–2030 in early 2026, and support for the transition in Syria in early 2026, as well as a communication on humanitarian aid.
See the draft work programme: https://aeur.eu/f/izk (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur, with Pauline Denys)