--- title: "Roberta Metsola in New York for UN General Assembly; meets UN Secretary-General; attends multiple summits" sdDatePublished: "2026-09-18T16:07:00Z" source: "https://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdfs/news/expert/agenda_week_by_day/39-2026/39-2026_en.pdf" topics: - name: "legislative body" identifier: "medtop:20000615" - name: "transport" identifier: "medtop:20000337" - name: "railway transport" identifier: "medtop:20000340" - name: "road transport" identifier: "medtop:20000341" - name: "waterway and maritime transport" identifier: "medtop:20000343" - name: "air transport" identifier: "medtop:20000338" - name: "artificial intelligence" identifier: "medtop:20001298" - name: "tax evasion" identifier: "medtop:20001195" - name: "women's rights" identifier: "medtop:20001326" locations: - "Agía Paraskeví" - "France" - "Helsinki" - "Madeira" - "Portugal" - "Veneto" - "Ancona" - "Finland" - "Iceland" - "Emilia-Romagna" - "South Korea" - "Seoul" - "Singapore" - "Hovedstaden" - "Marche" - "United States" - "Italy" - "Oulu" - "Lithuania" - "Slovakia" - "New York" - "Occitanie" - "Denmark" - "Delaware" - "Greenland" - "Chioggia" - "Greece" - "Vilnius" - "Bratislava" --- Roberta Metsola in New York for UN General Assembly; meets UN Secretary-General; attends multiple summits 39-2026_en.pdf The Week Ahead 21 – 27 September 2026 Delegations Iceland/foreign affairs. A delegation from the Foreign Affairs committee will travel to Iceland for talks on foreign policy, security and the future of EU-Iceland relations in the aftermath of the 29 August referendum. (Monday to Wednesday). South Korea/artificial intelligence. An Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee delegation will be in South Korea to explore how the country regulates new digital technologies, artificial intelligence and deepfakes, and enforces online trade rules. The visit follows the recent conclusion of the EU–South Korea digital partnership. (Monday to Thursday) USA/taxes. MEPs from the Subcommittee on Tax Matters will travel to Washington DC and Delaware to discuss EU-US relations in the field of taxation, how to combat tax evasion and progress at global level on various tax issues. They will meet with representatives of the US Department of the Treasury, Congress, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Internal Revenue Service, as well as with stakeholders from the private sector, experts, and civil society. (Monday to Wednesday) Greenland/transport and gender equality. MEPs from both the Transport and Tourism and the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality committees will visit Greenland. Transport MEPs and local authorities will discuss EU-Greenland cooperation on transport infrastructure projects, maritime, air connectivity, and sustainable tourism in the Arctic. Gender equality MEPs will visit Ilulissat and Nuuk to learn about the situation of indigenous women and girls and discuss gender-based violence, access to healthcare and education, and the impact of climate change on indigenous communities. (Monday to Thursday) Finland/culture and civil protection. A Culture and Education committee delegation will go to Oulu, Finland, the 2026 European Capital of Culture, to discuss sustainable development, cultural diversity and resilience. At the same time MEPs on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee will explore the Finnish model of preparedness and civil protection in meetings with national authorities and stakeholders in Helsinki. (Monday to Wednesday) Greece/railway safety. A delegation of the Petitions committee will go to Greece, to review the lessons learned from the 2023 passenger and freight trains crash near Tempi, which claimed 57 lives. MEPs will meet national and regional authorities to be updated on steps taken to improve Agenda 21 September - 27 September 2026 20260914APR47507 EN Press Service, Directorate General for Communication European Parliament Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 1 I 13 railway safety. (Monday to Wednesday) President’s diary. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will be in New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as of Sunday, where she will meet UN Secretary- General António Guterres. On Monday, she will participate in the Friends of the Western Balkans Meeting hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Antonio Tajani, and will later address the opening of the Foreign Policy Magazine Summit. On Tuesday, Metsola will address the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. On Wednesday, the president will give a keynote speech at the Global Citizen NOW summit and will take part in Bloomberg Green New York. EP Press service contacts Agenda EN Press Service, Directorate General for Communication European Parliament Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 2 I 13 • • • Monday 21 September 2026 THE PRESIDENT'S DIARY The President's diary New York City, United States (all times local) 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 09:00 President Metsola participates in the Friends of the Western Balkans Meeting hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Antonio Tajani 10:00 President Metsola meets with Chris Fearne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Republic of Malta 12:30 President Metsola participates in the Gathering of World Economic Leaders, hosted by the World Economic Forum 15:30 President Metsola addresses the Opening of the Foreign Policy Magazine Summit at UNGA DELEGATIONS Committee on Culture and Education delegation to Oulu, Finland Five members from the Committee on Culture and Education are in Oulu, Finland, from 21 to 23 September, to discover the 2026 European Capital of Culture, under the motto "Cultural Climate Change". The delegation, led by the chair Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE), will learn more on the preparation of the city to the event, the application process and the rollout of the main highlights: promotion of sustainable development, cultural diversity and resilience. MEPs will visit the main infrastructure refurbishing projects and largest cultural investments made in Oulu. Committee on Employment and Social Affairs delegation to Lithuania A delegation of three MEPs from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee will travel to Vilnius from 21 to 23 September to discuss issues relating to labour and social affairs and meet with government representatives and social partners. A press briefing is foreseen on 23 September at 12.30 EEST. Committee on Employment and Social Affairs delegation to Slovakia A delegation of four MEPs from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee will travel to Bratislava from 21 to 22 September to visit the European Labour Authority Agenda EN Press Service, Directorate General for Communication European Parliament Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 3 I 13 • • • • • • (ELA) to take stock of its achievements and priorities. Committee on Fisheries delegation to Italy A delegation from the Committee on Fisheries will visit the Upper Adriatic coast — Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Marche — from 21 to 23 September to learn more about the challenges facing local fishing communities. Meetings with representatives of fishers' associations, mayors and regional authorities will offer a first-hand look at how some of Italy's main fishing ports, such as Chioggia and Ancona, are dealing with issues including the blue crab proliferation, environmental pressures, and soaring fuel costs. Committee on Foreign Affairs delegation to Reykjavik, Iceland A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs will travel to Reykjavik from 21 to 22 September for talks on foreign policy, security and the future of EU-Iceland relations in the aftermath of the 29 August referendum. Committee on Petitions delegation to Athens and Tempi, Greece From 21 to 23 September, a delegation of eight Members led by Petitions’ Vice-Chair Dolors MONTSERRAT will travel to Athens and Tempi, Greece, to assess the progress made since the 2023 Tempi train accident, with reference to railway-safety measures, the application of EU legislation, and the implementation of EU-funded railway infrastructure. MEPs will also focus on the efficiency of accountability mechanisms and of judicial follow-up related to the accident. Committee on Public Health delegation to Greece SANT members led by Ignazio MARINO (Greens/EFA, Italy) will visit Greece to discuss strategic autonomy in medicines, life sciences innovation and equitable access to healthcare. They will meet the Minister of Health, Mr Adonis Georgiadisc, and Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Ms Sofia Zacharaki, to discuss health workforce shortages, alongside industry and patient organisation roundtables and a hospital visit. Committee on Regional Develpment delegation to Madeira, Portugal 10 Regional Development Committee MEPs led by Younous OMARJEE (the Left, FR) will visit Madeira to visit local projects funded by cohesion funds, including a hydroelectric power plant and an affordable housing project. They will also meet with local research & development agency ARDITI and the Ports Administration. The visit will conclude on Wednesday 23 September with a meeting with Regional Government President Dr. Miguel Filipe MACHADO de Albuquerque. Committee on Transport and Tourism delegation to Greenland A delegation of the Transport and Tourism Committee will travel to Greenland from 21 to 24 September to discuss EU-Greenland cooperation, particularly linked to transport infrastructure projects, maritime and air connectivity, and sustainable tourism in the Arctic. MEPs will meet with representatives from local authorities and politicians, harbour and airport logistics, businesses and non-governmental organisations. Subcommittee on Tax Matters delegation to Washington DC and Delaware, USA Agenda EN Press Service, Directorate General for Communication European Parliament Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 4 I 13 • MEPs from the Subcommittee on Tax Matters will travel to Washinton DC and Delaware, USA between Monday and Wednesday to discuss EU-US relations in the field of taxation and progress at global level on various tax issues. They will meet with representatives of key institutions, such as the the US Department of the Treasury, Congress, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Internal Revenue Service, as well as with stakeholders from the private sector, experts and civil society. In Delaware, Members will look into the state’s corporate legal system as well as into what it is doing to combat tax evasion and tax avoidance. Agenda EN Press Service, Directorate General for Communication European Parliament Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 5 I 13 • • • • Tuesday 22 September 2026 THE PRESIDENT'S DIARY The President's diary New York City, United States (all times local) 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly Opening of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly 15:30 President Metsola addresses the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting DELEGATIONS Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development delegation to Occitanie, France A Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development delegation will travel to Occitanie, France from 22 to 24 September to discuss water management as well as new farming techniques and market opportunities with farmers, regional politicians, and representatives of agricultural unions. Committee on Budgetary Control delegation to Singapore A delegation of eight Budgetary Control Committee MEPs, led by committee chair Andreas Schwab (EPP, DE), will travel to Singapore on 22-24 September to discuss Singapore’s approach to fighting fraud and corruption, strengthening digital and transparent governance, and ensuring sound public financial management. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs delegation to Finland MEPs will look into the Finnish model of preparedness, protecting the population, and securing society’s ability to function in emergency conditions as a consequence of hybrid threats, accidents, or military conflict. They will meet with government and national agency representatives, as well as experts and stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Committee on Constitutional Affairs delegation to Denmark and Iceland Constitutional Affairs MEPs will debate Danish opt-outs from the EU Treaties and the future of EU-Iceland cooperation during their visit to Copenhagen, Denmark and Reykjavik, Iceland from 22 to 24 September. They will meet with ministers, Members of Parliaments and academics in both countries. Agenda EN Press Service, Directorate General for Communication European Parliament Press switchboard number (32-2) 28 33000 6 I 13 • • • • • • • Committee on Culture and Education delegation to Oulu, Finland Five members from the Committee on Culture and Education are in Oulu, Finland, from 21 to 23 September, to discover the 2026 European Capital of Culture, under the motto "Cultural Climate Change". The delegation, led by the chair Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE), will learn more on the preparation of the city to the event, the application