Good afternoon and welcome to our midday briefing.

It is Friday, the 8th of May 2026.

We have a number of announcements for you before we take your questions.

As every Friday we'll start off with the agenda for President von der Leyen next week.

On Monday afternoon, the President will give a video message during.

The high level meeting on the return of Ukrainian children.

On Tuesday morning, she will provide a keynote speech at the European Summit on artificial intelligence and children in Copenhagen.

In the afternoon, she will receive the president of the European Economic and Social Committee, Séamus Boland.

Back in Brussels on Wednesday, she will chair the meeting of the College of Commissioners, which will also be in Brussels.

Finally, on Thursday, President von der Leyen will be in Aachen,

where she will participate in the prize giving ceremony for the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen 2026,

which is awarded to.