Written by Clare Ferguson with Áine Feeney.
Parliament is due to adopt its negotiating mandate for the EU’s 2028-2034 budget, with a debate scheduled on Tuesday morning on an interim report on the MFF. The report adopted by the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) defends a budget set at 1.27 % of the EU’s gross national income (GNI), excluding Next Generation EU (NGEU) repayment. This is a 10 % increase compared with the Commission proposal. BUDG also calls for a budget of €385.12 billion to be ringfenced for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF, with a €274.34 billion budget for cohesion policy. In terms of governance and rule of law, Members are concerned that the proposed budget weakens transparency, and stress that the Commission must apply the necessary legal provisions in cases where EU financial interests are threatened.
Members should also vote on guidelines for the 2027 budget, following the debate at the March session, with the aim of feeding into the draft budget the Commission plans to adopt on 10 June.
On Tuesday afternoon, Members are due to debate granting discharge for the 2024 financial year to the various institutions and bodies of the EU. The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) has recommended granting discharge to the Commission and all six executive agencies, but is concerned about the rule of law and corruption, calling on the Commission to ensure the EU budget is protected. Likewise, CONT has recommended granting discharge to seven of the eight other institutions, but yet again recommends postponing discharge for the European Council and the Council of the EU. The Council refuses to acknowledge Parliament’s oversight role, and Parliament has therefore not granted discharge since 2009. The CONT committee also recommends granting discharge for all 33 EU decentralised agencies, but raises concerns about financial risks including rising EU debt and structural weaknesses in financial management, staffing and procurement.
Reform of EU trade with less developed countries is on the horizon, with Members due to consider a provisional agreement on revision of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation on Tuesday lunchtime. Following negotiations between Parliament and the Council in December 2025, the agreed text includes the addition of new human rights and environmental treaties, which participating countries must ratify to benefit from trade preferences, as well as stricter criteria that must be met before GSP countries can see their preferential tariffs withdrawn for non-cooperation in the readmission of migrants illegally present in the EU. Once formally adopted, the legislation would apply from 1 January 2027.
As combating sexual violence and violence against women remains an urgent issue globally, Parliament continues to support a strong and survivor-centred legal framework. On Monday, Members are due to examine a joint own-initiative report from Parliament’s Committees on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), which calls on the Commission to propose EU legislation to define rape based on consent, in line with the Istanbul Convention. The report reiterates Parliament’s previous call to make gender-based violence a specific area of EU crime, stresses that legislation should also apply to virtual acts of sexual assault, and should consider circumstances in which giving consent is precluded. This marks a renewed legislative effort on reform after provisions on a consent-based definition of rape were not included in the EU directive adopted in 2024.
Rising energy costs and a decline in demand are affecting Europe’s chemicals industry. Parliament supports simplification of certain requirements but prioritises consumer protection and clear labelling. In April 2026, Members of the Committees on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) jointly rejected the Commission’s proposals to extend the time before bans are applied on the use of carcinogenic substances in cosmetic products and opposed the removal of certain text requirements to ensure labels remain legible for consumers. On Wednesday afternoon, Parliament is due to vote on its negotiating mandate for the ‘Omnibus VI proposal’, which aims at simplifying rules for chemicals, cosmetics and fertiliser manufacturing.
Transport is responsible for about a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Nevertheless, EU countries have to rely on emissions calculation tools with limited reliability in their efforts to cut emissions. On Tuesday afternoon, Parliament is set to consider a proposed common framework to calculate GHG emissions from both freight and passenger transport. This follows a trilogue agreement reached by negotiators from the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Transport and Tourism (TRAN). The agreed text, which Parliament will consider at second reading, backs the Commission proposal for a single EU methodology and calls for a free public calculation tool to make data widely available. If adopted, this universal methodology would mean a reduction in the administrative burden and allow for greater transparency and fairer comparison between services.
European Parliament Plenary Session April 2026 – agenda
- 2028-2034 EU budget: Parliament’s position
- Discharge for 2024 budget: Commission including RRF, executive agencies, EDFS
- Discharge for 2024 budget: Other institutions
- Discharge for 2024 budget: EU decentralised agencies and joint undertakings
- A new generalised scheme of preferences
- The need for consent-based definition of rape
- Emissions accounting in transport services
- Omnibus VI – Simplification of requirements and procedures for chemicals
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