This Week in Defence — Brussels (#16, 2026)
Commission refers seven states to EU Court over CER Directive; EUAM Iraq and EUCAP Somalia mission mandates extended; Parliament reviews defence sector raw materials regulation.
April 26, 2026 to May 02, 2026
Commission refers seven states to EU Court over CER Directive; EUAM Iraq and EUCAP Somalia mission mandates extended; Parliament reviews defence sector raw materials regulation.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET): On May 04, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; 2025 Commission report on Albania; 2025 Commission report on Georgia.
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; 2025 Commission report on Albania; 2025 Commission report on Georgia.
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; Establishing Global Europe.
- Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE): On May 06, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Agreement between the European Union and Canada laying down the conditions for the participation of Canadian legal entities and products originating in Canada to procurement under the SAFE Instrument; Chair’s announcements; *** End of electronic vote ***.
- Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE): On May 06, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; Framework of measures to facilitate the transport of military equipment, goods and personnel across the Union.
- Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE): On May 06, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Chair’s announcements concerning coordinators’ decisions; Coordinators’ meeting.
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET): On May 07, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; Exchange of views on the EU-Canada strategic partnership with:• John Hannaford, Personal Representative of the Prime Minister of Canada to the EU• Joost Korte, European Commission Special Envoy for the EU-Canada partnership• Delphine Pronk, Managing Director for the Americas, European External Action Service.
- Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE): On May 07, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Chair’s announcements concerning coordinators’ decisions; Coordinators’ meeting.
European Commission
Commission refers Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden to the Court of Justice for failure to transpose the Critical Entities Resilience Directive
On 28 April 2026, the European Commission decided to refer Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not transposing the Directive (EU) 2022/2557 on the resilience of critical entities (CER Directive) into national law by the 17 October 2024 deadline. The CER Directive is designed to ensure the continuity of essential services in sectors such as energy, transport, health, water, banking, and digital infrastructure, with an all-hazards approach covering risks from terrorism, cyber threats, and sabotage. The Commission had previously issued letters of formal notice in November 2024 and reasoned opinions in July 2025. In the absence of notification of national transposing measures, the Commission is now requesting the Court to impose financial sanctions on the Member States concerned.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Mandate of Head of EU Advisory Mission in Iraq extended
The Official Journal published Decision (CFSP) 2026/925 of the Political and Security Committee, dated 21 April 2026, extending the mandate of Mr Ralf Schröder as Head of Mission for the European Union Advisory Mission in support of Security Sector Reform in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) from 1 May 2026 to 31 October 2026. The extension follows Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/902 and continues the mission's support for security sector reform in Iraq.
Mandate of Head of EUCAP Somalia extended
Decision (CFSP) 2026/920, adopted on 22 April 2026 and published in the Official Journal on 30 April 2026, extends the mandate of Mr Kęstutis Lančinskas as Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) from 1 May 2026 to 28 February 2027. The extension is based on the proposal of the High Representative and under Article 9(1) of Council Decision 2012/389/CFSP.
EP Committee Work
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety issues opinion on amendments to Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 on critical raw materials
On 29 April 2026, the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), with rapporteur Jacek Ozdoba, adopted its opinion for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy regarding the proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. The opinion addresses access to secure and sustainable critical raw materials, supply risks for strategic sectors such as defence, and the role of large companies in risk mitigation and recycling. The committee proposes stronger measures for circular economy, improved risk preparedness, and enhanced Commission powers to specify mitigation measures for supply vulnerabilities, with particular attention to the defence and security dimensions of critical raw material supply chains.
What We're Reading This Week
- Germany’s Pistorius plays down US troop cut, stresses Europe’s defense push: Germany's defense minister emphasizes Europe's military buildup while minimizing concerns over potential reductions in US troops.
- These European countries have mandatory and voluntary military service: Several European nations require or offer military service, reflecting varied approaches to national defense and civic participation.
- After 40 days in a trench, soldiers no longer care whether they survive, says Ukrainian ombudswoman (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,524): Prolonged frontline combat is severely impacting Ukrainian soldiers' mental health and will to survive, warns the ombudswoman.
- Nuclear fury in Kremlin after Tuapse oil strikes by Kyiv, Russian exiles divided (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,526): Kyiv’s attack on Tuapse intensifies Kremlin anger while exposing divisions among Russian exiles over Ukraine’s military tactics.
- Ukraine fortifications slow Russian offensive, burning oil in Tuapse streets (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,525): Ukrainian defenses are hampering Russian advances while attacks ignite oil fires in the Russian city of Tuapse.
