THIS WEEK offers a weekly snapshot lookahead of the key developments in Brussels and across Europe over the next seven days, published every Monday morning.

The European Commission is set to present its latest sanctions package against Russia to EU ambassadors this week, with its approval targeted for 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Different countries are proposing different things, including a potential full maritime services ban on Russia, as well as additional sanctions on the country’s energy and fertiliser.

US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks will take place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (4 February) and Thursday (5 February).

This week, EU ambassadors will also aim to reach an agreement over the €90bn Ukraine loan and eligibility criteria to buy weapons.

While the final say will be in Kyiv, Ukraine would be restricted to purchasing vital military equipment only from approved non-European partners such as Canada and the UK, or when no European alternative is realistically available.

“It is important to ensure that the loan is used in a flexible manner and is fully in line with Ukraine’s needs,” said Germany’s foreign affairs ministry last week. 

As part of the negotiations, Ukraine is expected to provide a strategy outlining Ukraine’s military needs and reforms, focusing on anti-corruption measures and EU accession progress. 

On Wednesday, the EU Parliament’s lead trade negotiators meet to decide on resuming work on the US-EU trade deal, under pressure from the European Commission and the Council to unfreeze it, despite resistance from the Left, the Greens and S&D MEPs.

This follows the European Parliament’s trade committee postponing ratification of the deal, reached by US president Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen last July, after Washington threatened tariffs on several EU capitals over the Greenland crisis — backtracking shortly after Trump and Nato chief Mark Rutte reached an agreement on 21 January.

The July deal includes EU commitments to buy $750bn [€630bn] in US energy (mostly LNG), $600bn investments, and 15 percent US tariffs on most EU exports.

The ratification vote is expected to take place at the end of the month, on either 23 or 24 February.

Eurobarometer and EU budget

Also on Wednesday, the European Parliament releases its latest Eurobarometer, focusing on the EU’s global role, citizen priorities and views on EU institutions.

On Thursday, the parliament’s budget committee will discuss over 1,000 amendments to the draft report on the proposed 2028–2034 EU multiannual financial framework (MFF), ahead of a May plenary vote.

EU parliament president Roberta Metsola will receive Sakharov Prize and Nobel Prize laureate Iraqi human rights activist Nadia Murad in Brussels on the same day.

And still on Thursday, the European Central Bank convenes to decide on interest rates.

Meanwhile, political groups are gearing up for the 9–12 February plenary, with votes on EU-US relations, asylum rules and a binding 2040 climate target topping next week’s agenda.

On Monday (2 February), an EU-UK partnership council meeting will take place in Brussels, focusing on post-Brexit trade barriers.

Also on Monday, MEPs and representatives from EU capitals will have the first round of trilogue negotiations on the critical medicine act, proposed by the EU Commission in March 2025 to avoid shortages and reduce dependencies.

Internal EU talks to align positions ahead of the Turkish COP31, where Chris Bowen will serve as president of negotiations, also begin this week.

Norway’s high-profile royal trial

Meanwhile, the trial of 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norwegian princess Mette-Marit, is set to begin Tuesday (3 February). He faces charges including rape, domestic abuse, and assault.

Another high-profile case concluding this week is that of German citizen Maja T, accused of causing bodily harm during protests against far-right groups in early 2023. Her trial wraps up Wednesday in Budapest. If convicted, she faces up to 24 years in prison. 

The case has been heavily-politicised, symbolising Hungary’s crackdown on foreign activists under PM Viktor Orbán, who labeled Antifa “terrorists,” and contrasts with the fate of Ilaria Salis (a co-defendant, and now MEP) whose immunity was upheld by the European Parliament. 

In Paris, the prosecution makes its final arguments on Tuesday in the appeal trial of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen over alleged misuse of EU funds.

Also this week, Cyprus’ EU Council presidency will host several informal ministerial meetings on education, housing crisis industry, internal market and climate policy. 

A first meeting of the EU Security of Supply Board is scheduled for Monday, aiming to monitor and advise the commisison on defence supply chains. 

Meanwhile, preparations will also continue for next week’s informal EU leaders’ retreat at Alden Biesen Castle, focused on geoeconomics and competitiveness, where Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi are expected to participate.