This Week in Environment — Brussels (#13, 2026)
European Parliament scrutinises EU climate, carbon and biodiversity funding; Committee reports address energy infrastructure, research & innovation, and budget discharge; Council discusses CAP post-2027.
April 05, 2026 to April 11, 2026
European Parliament scrutinises EU climate, carbon and biodiversity funding; Committee reports address energy infrastructure, research & innovation, and budget discharge; Council discusses CAP post-2027.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Amending Regulations (EC) No 1272/2008, (EC) No 1223/2009 and (EU) 2019/1009 as regards simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products; Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Empowering France to accede to the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles; *** End of electronic vote ***.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; ------; Amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards the market stability reserve for the buildings, road transport and additional sector.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 16, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; ------; Amending Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards the market stability reserve for the buildings, road transport and additional sector.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On April 16, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: ECA Special Report 11/2026: Innovation Fund - High potential, but slow progress and little impact on emissions reduction.
EU Council
Agriculture and Fisheries Council discusses post-2027 CAP and wildfire prevention
On 27 April 2026, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council convened to exchange views on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals. Ministers considered future income support measures and the role of agriculture and forest management in addressing the increasing risk of wildfires, as well as the current market situation. Discussions focused on policy continuity, resilience to climate impacts, and the evolving needs of rural areas.
EP Committee Work
AGRI Committee votes on farmers’ position in the food supply chain and reviews EU agri-food policy
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) met on 8–9 April 2026 in Brussels. Members held a vote on the provisional agreement from interinstitutional negotiations for 'Strengthening of the position of farmers in the food supply chain' (COM(2024)0577 – 2024/0319(COD)), with Céline Imart (PPE) as rapporteur. The agenda also included a draft opinion on Horizon Europe for 2028–2034, presented by Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), and a draft opinion on the EU-Swiss Confederation relations package led by Veronika Vrecionová (ECR). The committee considered a draft report on EU agri-food promotion policy (Salvatore De Meo, PPE), and engaged in an exchange with the European Economic and Social Committee regarding the CAP post-2027. Additional items included a workshop on the Multiannual Financial Framework and CAP for 2028–2034, and a presentation by the Commission on the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’.
CONT Committee reviews EIB Group financial control and annual performance
On 10 April 2026, the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) published its annual report on the control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group for 2024 (A-10-2026-0086, rapporteur Dick Erixon). The report examines EIB Group operations, risk management, and the implementation of EU policy objectives including climate, cohesion, and defence financing. It addresses audit gaps, transparency, the application of environmental and climate benchmarks in EIB operations, and the bank’s role in supporting energy transition and biodiversity. The committee also scrutinised the EIB’s cooperation with OLAF and the EPPO, and reviewed the bank's involvement in large-scale projects in the context of due diligence, accountability, and environmental sustainability.
CONT Committee delivers draft report on EU budget discharge 2024, with focus on environment and climate
The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) issued its report on the discharge for the implementation of the general budget of the EU for 2024 (A-10-2026-0085, rapporteur Daniel Freund) on 10 April 2026. The report covers Section III – Commission and executive agencies, with an assessment of climate policy, carbon markets, biodiversity spending, and environmental regulation compliance. The committee analysed the effectiveness of EU climate-related expenditure, the reliability of biodiversity finance tracking, and the performance of environmental programmes under the Multiannual Financial Framework. The report includes recommendations on financial management, error rates in environmental and cohesion funds, and the transparency of climate and biodiversity mainstreaming in EU spending.
ENVI Committee reviews draft amendments to CBAM extension and anti-circumvention measures
On 10 April 2026, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) released its draft report on the proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 regarding the extension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to downstream goods and anti-circumvention measures (rapporteur Mohammed Chahim). The draft report addresses technological neutrality, climate targets for 2040, and energy system integration, with amendments on grid planning, the role of nuclear energy, biodiversity, and emission reduction criteria for cross-border infrastructure. The report considers the impact of the regulation on decarbonisation objectives and market competitiveness.
AGRI Committee opinion calls for stable funding for agricultural research in Horizon Europe 2028–2034
On 8 April 2026, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) adopted its opinion on the proposal for a regulation establishing Horizon Europe for 2028–2034 (rapporteur Bert-Jan Ruissen, ECR). The opinion calls for continued, stable funding for agricultural and food security research, proposes ring-fenced allocations within the health, biotech, agriculture, and bioeconomy chapter, and recommends a multi-actor approach to ensure on-farm relevance and applicability of research results. The committee also emphasises the need for innovation in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, water management, and animal health. The opinion was adopted with 44 votes in favour, 0 against, and 1 abstention.
What We're Reading This Week
- 'Turn off the taps before mopping the floor': Renewables more cost effective than direct air capture: Prioritizing renewable energy deployment offers greater cost savings and emissions reductions than relying on direct air capture technologies.
- Inside Portugal's €111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing: Portugal invests €111m in coastal defenses as erosion threatens the future of its iconic beaches.
- Babies risk microplastic exposure from surprising sources, study finds: New research reveals infants may ingest microplastics from everyday items like baby bottles and formula.
- Portugal introduces refund scheme for recycled bottles and cans: Consumers in Portugal can now receive refunds for returning used bottles and cans under a new recycling initiative.
