European Parliament Delegation Heads to COP31 in Antalya
Lídia Pereira leads a delegation to the UN climate conference running 9 to 20 November 2026 in Türkiye.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Environmental
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A European Parliament delegation led by Lídia Pereira (EPP, PT) will attend the UN Climate Change Conference COP31 in Antalya from 16 to 20 November 2026. The delegation will meet ministers and delegates from non-EU countries, including Türkiye, Australia, the United States, China, India and Brazil.
Why it matters
COP31 is the next global venue for climate negotiations, and the EU must navigate them while holding a binding target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. Parliament's consent is required before the EU can enter international agreements, giving the delegation a direct role in what comes out of the talks.
The European Climate Law amendment sets a binding target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 versus 1990 levels, with 85% to be achieved within the EU. The extraction does not detail how the remaining reductions will be delivered or what COP31 will commit to.
The players
Lídia Pereira
Lídia Pereira is a Portuguese member of the European Parliament from the European People's Party who leads the delegation to COP31.
Heléne Fritzon
Heléne Fritzon is a Swedish member of the European Parliament from the Socialists and Democrats group who serves as vice-chair of the delegation.
Murat Kurum
Murat Kurum is the President of COP31, whose presidency is held by Türkiye, the host country for the Antalya conference.
Chris Bowen
Chris Bowen is an Australian politician serving as President of Negotiations for COP31.
Simon Stiell
Simon Stiell is the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the body that coordinates global climate negotiations.
The details
The delegation will meet UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, IPCC Chair Jim Skea, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and civil society representatives. Heléne Fritzon (S&D, SE), vice-chair of the delegation, has said COP31 must deliver an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels.
Timeline
February 2026: Parliament approved the European Climate Law amendment setting the 2040 target.
April 2026: The amendment entered into force.
22 October 2026: Parliament adopted its position on COP31.
9 to 20 November 2026: COP31 takes place in Antalya.
16 to 20 November 2026: The European Parliament delegation attends COP31.
Big Picture
The European Climate Law amendment, which entered into force in April 2026, made the 90% emissions cut by 2040 binding in EU law. The delegation will now carry that binding commitment into COP31, where Parliament's consent will be needed for any international agreement the EU joins.
The outcome of COP31 will shape the climate rules and commitments that EU member states and their trading partners must follow over the coming decades. Because Parliament must consent to EU international agreements, the delegation's work may determine which commitments reach binding status.
The takeaway
The 2040 target is now binding in EU law, so what COP31 agrees on fossil fuel phase-out will test how far the bloc's commitments can extend beyond its borders. Readers tracking climate policy should watch the outcomes from 20 November 2026.
What happens next
COP31 runs from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya, with the European Parliament delegation attending from 16 to 20 November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the policy frameworks shaping these talks, explore our Environmental coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Temas | Parlamento Europeo.
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