The European Parliament’s September plenary session not only signals the end of the summer break, but hosts one of the most important events for the EU’s legislative planning: the State of the Union address. Next Wednesday morning is no different: on 16 September 2026, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will present the 14th State of the Union address – a reflection of the EU’s work and priorities over the past 12 months, as well as an overview of what lies ahead for the upcoming year.
The State of the Union takes place annually, except in election years, and provides an opportunity for Parliament to hold the Commission to account and actively participate in shaping the EU’s agenda. It enhances the politicisation of the EU’s decision-making process whilst reinforcing its transparency. Von der Leyen’s speech is expected to be structured around her seven overarching priorities for the 2024-2029 mandate. It will surely consider both internal and external challenges, including but not limited to long-term budget negotiations, security, transatlantic trade relations, enlargement, and the Middle East.
There will be debates and votes on other pertinent topics throughout the week, from climate to customs. Following events over the summer, on Tuesday Parliament will consider the instrumentalisation of migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta. On Thursday morning, Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, is scheduled to address the plenary.
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) aligns the price of imports with the carbon emissions they are responsible for.
The European Commission put forward two proposals in December 2025: one to widen the scope of the CBAM and one on creating a related, temporary decarbonisation fund. The latter would provide financial support to manufacturers whose competitiveness is particularly impacted by the CBAM.
In April 2026, the Commission tabled a further proposal, on adjusting the market stability reserve (MSR) for companies’ carbon allowances. At present, allowances in the MSR above a specific threshold are invalidated, and cannot be put back into the market. The Commission wants to overturn this rule so that these allowances can be used during future market fluctuations; whilst maintaining the integrity of the EU’s emissions trading system.
Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) have adopted reports on each of these proposals, which Members are set to debate on Monday afternoon. The vote on the proposals will set Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council.
The Commission proposes including 180 additional downstream goods (products at a later stage in the supply chain) into the CBAM; which the ENVI committee would like to see increased to 457.
The ENVI committee also calls for the creation of two new categories in the temporary decarbonisation fund that are eligible for support (cement and cereal), and for leftover money from the fund to go towards the EU’s international climate contributions rather than to Member States.
Regarding the MSR, the ENVI committee recommends that allowances in the reserve be invalidated once the threshold of 650 million is passed (rather than the current 400) as opposed to the Commission’s proposal to abolish this rule altogether.
European Democracy Shield
On Tuesday morning, Members are due to consider the own initiative report drafted by Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS). The EUDS was established in 2024 to scrutinise and support development of the EU’s European Democracy Shield; a framework for addressing a wide range of threats (primarily foreign interference) and bolstering democratic resilience. The report backs the proposed EU centre for democratic resilience that gathers expertise from different Member States, and advocates that it has a legal act and budget.
The report stresses the dangers of foreign and hybrid interference (identifying Russia as the primary threat in this regard) as well as the importance of investigative journalism and media literacy.
2026 European Union budget
On Tuesday afternoon, Parliament is scheduled to vote on the Council’s position on the Commission’s proposed amendments to the EU’s budget for 2026 (DAB 2/2026). The report drafted by Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) supports the Commission’s planned mid-year adjustments to expenditure based on the updated revenue forecast.
Fisheries
The EU is a contracting party to 18 regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), which govern areas beyond national jurisdiction. It is therefore obligated to implement recommendations and decisions made by these RFMOs into EU law.
On Tuesday afternoon, Members are due to vote on two distinct regulations that do so. One encompasses measures adopted in recent years by six RFMOs. The other regulation relates specifically to measures of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). It is responsible for areas beyond national jurisdiction in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH) has already reached provisional agreements with the Council on both proposals.
Defence
Members are expected to debate the three legislative files that make up the Defence Readiness Omnibus package on Tuesday afternoon. Together, they strive for a swifter, simpler, and therefore stronger EU defence industry. The changes would accelerate permit-granting, facilitate defence investment, and simplify intra-EU defence product transfers and procurement. Parliament has already shaped these files during interinstitutional negotiations. For example, it reduced administrative burdens and increased support for small and medium sized enterprises, and this will aid the implementation of the European Defence Fund.
European Union–Switzerland cooperation
A report from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) recommends to Parliament to give its consent to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland to share passenger name records (PNR). The agreement would enable information from PNRs (created when one books a flight) to be used in the detection and prevention of crime and terrorism.
Members are set to vote on Wednesday afternoon on the agreement which sets out rules for data processing and data protection, as well as strengthening communication between Swiss authorities and Europol, Eurojust, and Member State authorities.
Single market and customs union
On Wednesday afternoon, Members are set to vote Parliament’s position on the Commission’s proposal for a single market and customs programme (SMCP). This comes under the proposals for the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-2034 (its multiannual financial framework). It merges five current, standalone programmes into one instrument. The report by Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) suggests a number of amendments. For one, it would increase the budget of the SMCP by 10 % of what the Commission originally set out. It would also reduce the flexibility sought by the Commission to reallocate funds between policy areas, preferring to allocate specific budgets to specific objectives.
In parallel, Members are expected to consider an early second-reading agreement on a law to replace the Union Customs Code. It will also establish an EU Customs Authority which is to oversee an EU customs data hub; a platform that centralises analysis for Member States.
Parliament has agreed with the Council that the hub is to be functional from July 2028, becoming fully operational by 2034. Initially, it will be used for goods sold online from non-EU countries and will then gradually expand its capacities.
