At a glance: President Metsola is in Paris to honour terror attack victims and discuss Europe’s economic and digital future; safer toys for children; MEPs call for new EU rules to ensure human oversight of AI in the workplace.

Krátké zprávy  – 13/11/2025 - čeština

Krátké zprávy  – 12/11/2025 - čeština

At a glance: MEPs debate future EU budget and warn against cuts to key programmes; Parliament outlines priorities for new EU gender equality strategy and calls for tougher action on violence and pay gaps; a new European Parliament office opens in Moldova, reaffirming support for country’s EU accession.

Krátké zprávy  – 11/11/2025 - čeština

Alcide De Gasperi, narozen v roce 1881 v převážně italské oblasti Rakousko-Uherska, byl neochvějným odpůrcem fašismu. V roce 1943 založil Křesťanskou demokratickou stranu a stal se prvním premiérem Italské republiky, který zemi vedl až do roku 1953. Společně s Konradem Adenauerem a Robertem Schumanem hrál klíčovou úlohu v evropské integraci.

Alcide De Gasperi, Jeden z „otců zakladatelů“ Evropské unie

At a glance: Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs reviews progress made on Work-Life Balance Directive; MEPs debate youth and fairness priorities with Commissioner Micallef; and a public hearing takes place on the human rights situation in Sudan.

Krátké zprávy  – 10/11/2025 - čeština

At a glance: Parliament and the Council strike deal to boost EU defence investment; MEPs back citizens’ call for safe and accessible abortion across Europe; and the Committee on Civil Liberties warns of deepening rule of law crisis in Hungary.

Krátké zprávy  – 07/11/2025 - čeština

At a glance: MEPs push for faster green pest-control approvals; MEPs warn that Arctic militarisation threatens security; and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs approves proposal to allow MEPs to vote in plenary by proxy.

Krátké zprávy  – 06/11/2025 - čeština

At a glance: MEPs review EU defence readiness with Commissioner Kubilius; Parliament marks 25 years of UN Women, Peace and Security agenda; and the European Commission to present its first report on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the EU.

Krátké zprávy  – 05/11/2025 - čeština

At a glance: MEPs to quiz EU Budget Commissioner on next long-term budget; voting to take place on releasing EU Solidarity Fund money for Spain and France following natural disasters; and Commissioners to discuss the Connecting Europe Facility proposal with MEPs.

Krátké zprávy  – 04/11/2025 - čeština

At a glance: Parliament committees mark the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter; MEPs from the Trade and Foreign Affairs Committees meet in Brussels; the European Parliament hosts the sixth annual Gender Equality Week.

Krátké zprávy  – 03/11/2025 - čeština

Cena Daphne Caruanové Galiziové za žurnalistiku byla za rok 2025 udělena nizozemské platformě pro investigativní žurnalistiku s názvem „Follow the Money“ („Jděte po stopě peněz“). Platforma Follow the Money ve své reportáži, na které spolupracovala ve spolupráci se 13 redakcemi z Belgie, Dánska, Německa, Řecka, Itálie, Norska, Nizozemska a Spojeného království, odhalila, jak si západní majitelé lodí vydělali přes 6 miliard dolarů prodejem 230 starých tankerů ruské stínové flotile.
Cena pomáhá prosazovat zásady a hodnoty, které jsou zakotveny v Listině základních práv Evropské unie. Nese jméno maltské novinářky, bloggerky a protikorupční aktivistky Daphne Caruany Galiziové, jež byla zavražděna v roce 2017.

Cena Daphne Caruanové Galiziové za žurnalistiku za rok 2025

At a glance: MEPs review housing and wildfire response in Madeira, Portugal; Parliament to hold workshop on housing crisis and short-term rentals; EU trade delegation concludes talks in New Delhi on India free-trade deal.

Krátké zprávy  – 31/10/2025 - čeština

At a glance: the European Parliament hosts the sixth annual Gender Equality Week; a delegation from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee concludes its visit to Cyprus; and the Commissioner for Enlargement presents the 2025 enlargement package to the Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Krátké zprávy  – 30/10/2025 - čeština

At a glance: Parliament President Metsola condemns Belarus airspace violations and backs Lithuania’s security; Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meets in Armenia to deepen EU-Eastern Partnership ties; and MEPs conclude DRC mission on sustainable development and governance.

Krátké zprávy  – 29/10/2025 - čeština

At a glance: a delegation from Parliament’s Regional Development Committee is visiting north-eastern Poland; MEPs from the Committee on Fisheries assess challenges for French and Spanish fishing fleets in the Bay of Biscay; and MEPs visit Nova Gorica and Gorizia, the first-ever cross-border European Capital of Culture.

Krátké zprávy  – 28/10/2025 - čeština

At a glance: Parliament sets its climate goals ahead of COP30; MEPs visit Brazil ahead of Mercosur trade deal; economic and investment relations top of the agenda for International Trade Committee delegation visiting India.

Krátké zprávy  – 27/10/2025 - čeština

As co-legislator, Parliament has long been supportive of EU biodiversity protection and climate change policies.

The EU has played an important international role in seeking solutions to biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change notes the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission has proposed a new biodiversity strategy that aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030, for the benefit of people, the climate and the planet.

Biodiversity Strategy 2030

Situated in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and to the south of Turkey, Cyprus is the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean as well as being the third smallest country in the EU, after Malta and Luxembourg. 

Cyprus joined the EU on 1st of May 2024 and is a member of the Euro area since 1st of January 2008.

Cyprus is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Cyprus.

EU - Cyprus

EP President Metsola made&nbsp;a statement at the opening of the February session, followed by a full debate on the emergency humanitarian aid the EU can provide to Türkiye and Syria after the catastrophic earthquake, which cost the lives of more than 30 000&nbsp;people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Turkey has been candidate for EU membership since 1999. Accession negotiations started in 2005. In recent years the EU is often criticizing the backsliding of the country in certain areas. As a major emerging economy and a member of NATO and G20, Türkiye&nbsp;is recognised as an active regional foreign policy player, with a strategic location, including for the EU's energy security. Turkey is a key strategic partner of the EU on issues such as migration, security, counter-terrorism, and the economy, but according to the EU has been backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law and fundamental right.

EU - Türkiye

The European budget supports citizens, farmers, researchers, businesses and regions across Europe and beyond. It has proven&nbsp;essential for improving the lives of Europeans. Together with NextGenerationEU, it helped overcome a pandemic and energy crisis, while saving millions of jobs during lockdowns and investing in our clean and digital future. The EU budget also provided unprecedented support to Ukraine and the security of Europe, in the face of Russia's war of aggression.<a name="_Hlk189216671"></a>

Next long-term budget&nbsp;will start in 2028. Parliament adopted a&nbsp;<a data-analytics-event-attached="true" href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2025-0090_EN.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">resolution</a>&nbsp;on the future MFF during its May 2025 plenary session, asking for a “significantly more ambitious” budget, and arguing that the current spending ceiling of 1% of the EU-27’s gross national income is not enough. MEPs also rejected the Commission’s idea of replicating the Recovery and Resilience Facility’s "one national plan per Member State" model in the EU’s new long-term budget. Instead, they demand a structure that ensures transparency and parliamentary accountability, and involves regional and local authorities.

The decision on the next long-term EU budget requires unanimous agreement among member states and must also be backed by Parliament, by a majority of its component members.&nbsp;

EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034

The parliamentarians are expected to call for a significantly more ambitious long-term EU budget to match EU citizens' expectations in an increasingly complex global landscape. They are likely to argue that the current budget ceiling of 1% of the EU-27’s gross national income is insufficient to respond effectively to the growing range of crises and challenges.

The&nbsp;text&nbsp;prepared by the Budgets Committee highlights that the United States’ retreat from its global role means EU spending will now have to address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in addition to a highly challenging economic and social backdrop, a competitiveness gap, and the worsening climate and biodiversity crisis.

Parliament’s priorities for the next long-term EU budget are designed to feed into the Commission’s proposal on the next MFF, due to&nbsp;&nbsp;be unveiled in July.

The EU’s 2021-2027 long-term budget, together with the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument, amounts to €2.018 trillion in current prices (€1.8 trillion in 2018 prices).&nbsp;The package consists of the long-term budget, the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework, made up of €1.211 trillion in current prices (€1.074 trillion in 2018 prices), combined with the temporary recovery instrument, NextGenerationEU, of €806.9 billion (€750 billion in 2018 prices).

EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.

AGRI - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

The European Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg in France but the bulk of its political work is done at its site in Brussels where the parliamentary committees should meet as well as additional part-sessions.

Find in this package, audiovisual content of the activities of the European Parliament in Brussels such as atmosphere inside and outside the buildings or&nbsp;parliamentary work.

The European Parliament in Brussels

The European Parliament&nbsp;plays&nbsp;a central role in shaping the EU’s migration and asylum policy by&nbsp;scrutinising&nbsp;legislation,&nbsp;monitoring&nbsp;implementation of existing rules, and&nbsp;holding&nbsp;the European Commission and Member States accountable. Parliament&nbsp;emphasises&nbsp;the need for a fair, efficient, and humane system that&nbsp;ensures&nbsp;solidarity and responsibility-sharing among Member States,&nbsp;protects&nbsp;fundamental rights, and&nbsp;supports&nbsp;vulnerable people. MEPs&nbsp;engage&nbsp;in debates, propose amendments, and&nbsp;oversee&nbsp;cooperation with third countries, focusing on safe and legal migration pathways, effective asylum procedures, and the management of returns. Through these actions, the European Parliament&nbsp;guides&nbsp;the development and implementation of EU migration and asylum policies across the Union.

During the Mini-Plenary Session, MEPs&nbsp;discuss&nbsp;the&nbsp;first European Annual Asylum and Migration Report&nbsp;and the establishment of the&nbsp;Annual Solidarity Pool, key elements of the implementation phase of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The debate&nbsp;allows&nbsp;Members to&nbsp;assess&nbsp;current trends in asylum applications, migration flows, and returns, as well as Member States’ preparedness for the full application of the new Pact in 2026. Parliament&nbsp;emphasises&nbsp;the need for&nbsp;fair responsibility-sharing among Member States, stronger&nbsp;solidarity mechanisms&nbsp;to support countries under migratory pressure, and closer&nbsp;cooperation with third countries&nbsp;on migration management, including readmission and legal pathways. MEPs also&nbsp;call&nbsp;for enhanced protection of fundamental rights at borders and transparent monitoring of the new EU return and screening procedures.

Migration

In December 2023 , MEPs and national governments reached a long-sought agreement to revamp the EU’s asylum and migration legislation. Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on the final form of five separate EU regulations, establishing how to share the management of asylum and migration flows among member states and what to do in cases of sudden migratory crisis.

The rules also regulate how to deal with people arriving at the EU’s external borders, the processing of asylum claims, and the identification of those arriving. Following the deal, EP President Roberta Metsola said: “”Today is a truly historic day, as we have delivered on the Migration and Asylum Pact, possibly the most important legislative package of this mandate. Europe will now get a robust legislative framework that is the same in all Member States.

That functions and that protects, an approach that is humane and fair with those seeking protection, that is firm with those who are not eligible, and that is strong with those who exploit the most vulnerable

Refugee movements and migration are at the centre of global attention. &nbsp;The European Parliament is actively involved, in the adoption of new laws on irregular and regular immigration. It is a full co-legislator together with the Council representing member states on these matters since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.

Asylum

MEPs elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) on January 2022 as President of the European Parliament until 2024.

Roberta Metsola won the election in the first voting round, where she received an absolute majority of 458 votes out of 690 cast in the remote secret vote, among three candidates.&nbsp;

President Metsola is leading the Parliament in the second half of the current legislative term, until a new Parliament is constituted following the 2024 European Elections.

Born in Malta in 1979,&nbsp; Roberta Metsola who has been an MEP since 2013, is the youngest EP President ever elected. She became First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022.

She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999- 2002).

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2022-2024

In July 2024&nbsp; MEPs re-elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) as President of the European Parliament until 2027, with 562 votes in the first round. Roberta Metsola won the election in the first round of voting, where she received an absolute majority of 562 votes cast out of 699 by secret paper ballot, among two candidates. She will continue to lead Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.

Born in Malta in 1979, Roberta Metsola has been an MEP since 2013.&nbsp;She was elected First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022. On 18 January 2022,&nbsp;she was elected President&nbsp;for the second half of the 9th legislative term. She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after&nbsp;Simone Veil&nbsp;(1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002).

Addressing the House after she was elected, President Metsola said: “Together, we must stand up for the politics of hope, for the dream that is Europe. I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our project. A belief to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just and more equal. A belief that together we are stronger and we are better. A belief that ours is a Europe for all.”

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2024-2027

The European Parliament supports media professionals reporting on parliamentary activities, providing both content and technical facilities for video, radio, multimedia and photo production. The EP Audiovisual teams coordinate state of the art studios for TV broadcast, multimedia, and radio in Strasbourg and in Brussels.

EP Audiovisual Services

Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

Rule of law

Faced with a growing international terrorist threat, the European Union (EU) is playing an ever more ambitious role in counter-terrorism.&nbsp;Even though primary responsibility for combating crime and ensuring security lies with the Member States, the EU provides cooperation, coordination and (to some extent) harmonisation tools, as well as financial support, to address this borderless phenomenon.

EU spending in the area of counter-terrorism has increased over the years and is set to grow in the future, to allow for better cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and enhanced support by the EU bodies in charge of security, such as Europol and eu-LISA.

The action plan to reinforce the fight against the financing of terrorism focuses on two main strands of action: tracing terrorists through financial movements and preventing them from moving funds or other assets and disrupting the sources of revenue used by terrorist organisations, by targeting their capacity to raise funds.

In April the European Parliament adopted a new regulation that will target content such as texts, images, sound recordings or videos, including live transmissions, that incite, solicit or contribute to terrorist offences, provide instructions for such offences or solicit people to participate in a terrorist group. It will also cover material that provides guidance on how to make and use explosives, firearms and other weapons for terrorist purposes.

Hosting service providers will have to remove or disable access to flagged terrorist content in all member states within one hour of receiving a removal order from the competent authority. Member states will adopt rules on penalties, the degree of which will take into account the nature of the breach and the size of company responsible.

Fight against terrorism

France is a semi-presidential republic with a head of government - the prime minister - appointed by the president who is the directly elected head of state.

France has been a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and part of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995

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EU  - France

Denmark has been an EU member country since 1st January 1973.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. It has a representative parliamentary system with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch - who officially retains executive power, although duties are strictly representative and ceremonial. The kingdom also comprises 2 autonomous constituent countries in the Atlantic, neither of which are EU members: the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

EU - Denmark

President Metsola meets with business leaders organised by MEDEF, with Gérard Larcher, President of the Senate and with Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral AI 
President Metsola also meets with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France)

President Metsola attends a Ceremony to pay tribute to the victims of the November 2015 terrorist attacks and the inauguration of the November 13th Garden

MEPs assess the outcome of the October European Council meeting, in a debate with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen. During their meeting, EU leaders focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration

EP Plenary debate on October European Council

MEPs and Commission and Council representatives discuss the architecture and governance of the EU’s 2028-2034 long-term budget (multiannual financial framework - MFF). Lead MEPs have warned that setting the spending ceiling at 1.26% of the EU-27’s gross national income, as proposed by the Commission in July, will force cuts to flagship programmes. The proposal also falls short of Parliament’s expectations regarding democratic oversight and scrutiny, the EU’s agriculture and cohesion policy, and the need for more regional and local authority involvement.

EP Plenary debate on the new 2028-2034 MFF: architecture & governance

MEPs, with the Commission and the Danish Presidency, debate the next steps in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum 

The Commission is set to table the first European annual asylum and migration report, accompanied by a decision on EU countries that are experiencing migratory pressure and are therefore entitled to rely on the use of solidarity contributions from other member states. A proposal identifying concrete annual solidarity measures, including relocations, financial contributions and alternative solidarity measures, is also expected at the same time.

In the plenary debate, MEPs are expected to voice their concerns about, and priorities for, migration policy, including how to ensure an effective, fair, and humane approach to migration, and the importance of cooperation with countries outside the EU.

Parliament is currently working on three legislative proposals to complete and complement the legislative framework of the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, including an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin, revised rules governing the “safe third country” concept, and a common European system for returning third-country nationals that have been found to be staying in the EU illegally.

EP Plenary debate on next steps in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Chisinau (Moldova) 

President Metsola meets the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Igor Grosu.
She then addresses the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.
She meets the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, followed by a press conference.
She meets the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Alexandru Munteanu.
President Metsola and President Sandu participate in a European Youth dialogue.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Chisinau (Moldova)

Harnessing women’s talent through education, training and employment, to drive economic growth and progress, is the main topic of several events being organised by parliamentary committees this week (Monday to Thursday). 

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opens the hearing on “Women’s leadership in politics” in the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee on Wednesday.

Every year Parliament holds a Gender Equality Week to take stock of the achievements and identify new measures to advance girls' and women's rights and ensure gender equality. Events are organised by Parliament's committees, delegations, political groups and administration. The first edition was held in 2020, on the initiative of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee.

In 2025 the European Gender Equality Week will focus on talent. The main event will host a discussion on how to ensure women can access the same opportunities as men in order to be able to harness their talents.

Parliament wishes to emphasise that creating the conditions for women to participate fully in the workforce and public life is not only a matter of fairness, but it also brings economic and social benefits.

Gender Equality Week: "Women's leadership on politics"

President Roberta Metsola meets with the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and addresses the boards of agriculture sector organisations Coldiretti and Confagricoltura. She also speaks at an event organised by Formiche and addresses the opening of the Sigma Summit

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Rome (Italy)

President Metsola’s three-day mission to Washington DC (27–29 October 2025) featured a dense programme of high-level meetings, strategic dialogues, and media engagements. Her visit included exchanges with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senators and Congressman, alongside discussions with representatives from leading global companies including Warner Bros. Discovery, META, Airbus, Spotify, Amazon and Microsoft. The President also took part in a World Economic Forum roundtable on technology and artificial intelligence and delivered a keynote speech with Q&A at Georgetown University.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Washington DC (USA)

The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visits Milan and participates in the event ‘Sport as a Key Factor in European Policy: The Impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on our Society’. Twenty years after Turin 2006, the event celebrates the return of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics to Europe. In the afternoon, in the Council Room of ICE - Agency for the Promotion Abroad and Internationalisation of Italian Businesses, President Metsola participates in a meeting with business representatives and trade associations to discuss the issues of simplification and competitiveness.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Milan (Italy)

European Council

The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. 

Provisional Agenda of 23.10.2025

1. Adoption of the agenda
2. Ukraine
3. Middle East
4. European defence and security
5. Competitiveness and twin transition
6. Housing
7. Migration

Conclusions: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/10/23/european-council-conclusions-23-october-2025/

European Council meeting 23.10.2025

EP Plenary discusses the recent allegations that the Hungarian government has been spying on the EU institutions.

On 9 October, several media outlets published allegations that the Hungarian secret services, posing as diplomats at the Hungarian Permanent Representation to the EU, attempted to recruit EU officials as informants in Brussels. The Commission has said it will set up an internal group to investigate the allegations.

In a plenary debate on Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss the allegations with Commission and Council representatives.

EP Plenary debate on allegations of Hungarian espionage

In a formal sitting, the two prominent opposition leaders from Belarus address plenary.

Sergey Tihanovski was pardoned and released from jail, along with 13 other political prisoners in June. He ran as presidential candidate in 2020 but was arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison for “organising riots” and “inciting hatred” and then to 18 months extra for “insubordination”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya entered the presidential race in her husband’s place and ran against Alexander Lukashenko, who was declared winner of the fraudulent 2020 elections. In a text adopted in October 2020, the European Parliament noted that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was president-elect in the eyes of the Belarusian people and that her Coordination Council was the legitimate representative of the people of Belarus.

MEPs and Council and Commission representatives discuss the situation in Belarus five years after the fraudulent presidential elections

After the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, the Lukashenko regime launched a brutal and systematic crackdown on peaceful protests against the fraudulent election result. Since then, the Belarusian authorities have pursued a campaign to shut down civil society, silence independent media and eliminate all forms of political opposition. Thousands have been unjustly detained, subjected to torture and ill-treatment, or forced into exile. In January 2025, Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, won a seventh consecutive presidential term. Opposition leaders and activists did not react to the vote, as most had been jailed or gone into exile, and no dissent is tolerated inside the country.

Formal sitting with Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Parliament President Roberta Metsola, announces the laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the EU's highest human rights award. It has been awarded annually by Parliament since 1988, to individuals, groups or organisations in recognition of their outstanding commitment to human rights, freedom of expression or the defence of democratic values.

This year, MEPs from the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Development voted for the following three finalists on 16 October 2025 (in alphabetical order): 

-Imprisoned journalists fighting for your freedom and ours, Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia;
 -Journalists and humanitarian aid workers in Palestine and all conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Red Crescent, and UNRWA;
 -Serbian students.

After this committee vote, the Sakharov Prize laureate is chosen by the Conference of Presidents, composed of President Metsola and the leaders of parliament’s political groups.

Announcement of  the laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

MEPs look ahead to the 23 October EU summit in a debate with the European Commission and the Danish Presidency.

Ahead of the meeting of Heads of State or Government in Brussels on 23 October, plenary discusses how the EU can continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression, as well as the EU’s response to recent developments in the Middle East, where the release of the remaining hostages and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza followed the first phase of a peace agreement between Hamas and Israel.

At their meeting, EU leaders also focus on strengthening Europe’s economic competitiveness, guided by the Competitiveness Compass and the Draghi Report, which call for higher public investment and wide-ranging economic reforms. They will also address Europe’s housing crisis, defence and security policy, and ways to manage migration flows and ensure border protection.

EP Plenary debate on Parliament’s priorities for the October European Council

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

The Prize is a tribute to the Maltese investigative journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was assassinated in October 2017. It rewards, on a yearly basis, outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights.

The Prize is open to professional journalists and teams of professional journalists of any nationality to submit in-depth stories that have been published or broadcast by a media outlet based in one of the 27 European Union member states. From 21 May to 31 July 2025, more than 300 applications were submitted by journalists from the 27 EU countries for this fourth edition of the Prize.

The Prize itself, and the €20,000 prize money, demonstrate the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the protection of journalists around the world.



Follow the Money won the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism for exposing the hidden financial networks enabling Russia’s sanction-evading oil trade.

The investigation, coordinated by the platform for investigative journalism “Follow the Money” in collaboration with media from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, revealed how Western shipowners earned over 6 billion dollars selling 230 aging tankers to Russia's shadow fleet.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize 2025 Award ceremony

A “reparations loan” to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and defence is the subject of a debate with Commission and Council representatives.

The EU is working on an ambitious initiative to unlock €185 billion in frozen Russian Central Bank assets. Announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last month during her State of the Union speech as a “reparations loan”, the assets themselves would not be touched and Ukraine would only reimburse the loan once Russia pays the reparations. EU leaders will be discussing this plan at their summit on 23-24 October.

Background

After Russia launched its full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine, the international community prohibited all transactions involving the assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia. As a result, €260 billion of these assets worldwide are currently “immobilised”, with more than two thirds (about €210 billion) in the EU. Depending on the interest rates, revenues from these immobilised assets can total up to €3 billion annually.

EP Pleanry debate on the stepping up funding for Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets

In a key debate  MEPs and Commission representatives discuss the recent Middle East peace agreement and the role of the EU.

Welcoming the peace deal for the Middle East, Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the EU stands ready to help ensure its implementation. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of providing governance support and support for the reform of the Palestinian Authority. In a statement following his participation in the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, European Council President António Costa said the EU stands ready to participate in the International Peace Board and to support transitional governance, recovery, and reconstruction.

On 11 September 2025, MEPs adopted a resolution, stating that the creation of a Palestinian state is key to peace, Israel’s security, and regional normalisation.

Since the announcement of the peace agreement and the coming into effect of the ceasefire the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for 2,000 Palestinians held by Israel. Key aspects of the peace plan, such as the disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israel’s army, and the future governance of Gaza are yet to be resolved.

EP Plenary debate on the Middle East peace agreement and the role of the EU

EP Plenary session - Protecting EU consumers against the practices of certain e-commerce platforms

EP Plenary session - Short presentations of reports

As many women and girls continue to face barriers in accessing affordable menstrual products, menstrual poverty remains a significant socioeconomic issue. To combat it, the EU Value Added Tax (VAT) Directive now allows Member States to apply reduced or zero VAT rates to sanitary products. On 4 November 2025, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) will hold a public hearing on this issue in light of the Parliament's Gender Equality Week.

VAT rates on tampons across the EU

This briefing provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the current 10th parliamentary term (2024-2029) who had held public office at local, regional and/or national level before taking up their mandates (or, in some cases, continue to hold sub-national level public posts).

MEPs' public-office experience before being elected in 2024

Attracting young people to agriculture has been a goal of the European Union's (EU) common agricultural policy (CAP) since the 1980s. However, EU farmers are getting older – 57 % of farm managers are over 55 years of age, while only 12 % are under 40. Young farmers ensure continuity of agricultural production and bring vitality to rural areas.

Generational renewal in EU agriculture

Maternity leave and voting procedures for Members of parliaments differ widely across the European Union (EU). Maternity-related absences are considered justified for Members of the European Parliament, but the current rules do not permit remote voting, proxy voting or temporary substitution. Maternity leave for parliamentarians is generally permitted across the EU's Member States, although legal frameworks and practical arrangements differ.

Maternity leave and voting procedures in EU national parliaments

This infographics summarises the results of integrated assessments of Baltic Sea's pressures and status. It illustrates the proportion of the Baltic Sea, based on square kilometers, in different assessment status categories. The assessment was carried out during the period 2016-2021.

State of the Baltic Sea environment

Care work, whether provided in institutional settings such as childcare centres and healthcare facilities, or in home settings, is largely invisible, undervalued and carried out by women. The resulting gender care gap has profound consequences for the European Union's (EU) labour market and competitiveness as well as the well-being and cohesion of society. This briefing seeks to support the European Parliament's committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) in their preparation of an own-initiative report on addressing the gender care gap.

Addressing the gender care gap: Potential European added value

With the growing weaponisation of trade, the EU's trade defence toolbox is increasingly relevant. The importance of the EU's trade defence arsenal is underscored, among other factors, by persistent global overcapacity in a range of sectors, which has significant distorting effects on international markets, and by the weaponisation of trade, including through economic coercion amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Understanding the EU trade defence toolbox

Military mobility, defined as the capacity of armed forces to swiftly move troops and equipment across the European Union (EU), is a crucial but long-overlooked aspect of European defence. After decades of underinvestment and unresolved obstacles, there is a need to intensify coordinated and integrated efforts at EU, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Member State level to increase resources and address physical, legislative, and regulatory barriers that continue to cause delays and disruptions for military forces. Failure to act would leave armed forces unprepared in the face of threats, and undermine the security of citizens. This briefing looks within and beyond the current framework and explores the potential impact of additional investment of between €75 billion and €100 billion until 2035 to improve the current state of infrastructure. Our analysis finds that the added value associated with a larger amount of funds invested collectively leads to benefits which are almost three times higher (€21 billion additional GDP per year in 2035) than when Member States invest separately and in an uncoordinated way.

CEF military mobility funding by transport mode

One of the first, and boldest, measures taken by Western countries as a response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was the immobilisation of the Russian central bank assets held under their jurisdictions, the value of which could be around €300 billion worldwide, according to recent estimations. As the war is well into its fourth year, the debate on how to use the immobilised assets to sustain Ukraine's reconstruction efforts – a cost estimated at US$524 billion – has evolved.

Frozen Russian assets: where are they immobilised?

This EPRS paper analyses how the European Commission is delivering on the policy agenda set by its President, Ursula von der Leyen, and her College of Commissioners, since taking office in December 2024. It provides a first assessment of the delivery of the agenda's seven priorities, on the eve of the first State of the Union address of von der Leyen's second mandate as Commission President. The von der Leyen II Commission has set seven new priorities – none of which continues directly from the six priorities of her first mandate – and has so far announced some 250 initiatives with which to achieve them. Half of these initiatives fall under the first priority, on prosperity and competitiveness.

The European Commission's seven priorities: delivery up to 1 September 2025

Smart and sustainable transport plays a significant role in advancing the EU's green and digital transitions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the crisis-response instrument the EU launched to boost EU economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. All EU Member States included transport-related measures in their national recovery and resilience plans.

Smart and sustainable transport investments in the national recovery and resilience plans

The College of Commissioners is currently composed of 27 individuals: the President, Ursula von der Leyen, 6 Executive Vice-Presidents and 20 Commissioners. The Executive Vice-Presidents have a dual role; they manage a specific portfolio and coordinate efforts across the main priorities of the Commission's political agenda. The other Commissioners are each responsible for a specific policy area, working under the guidance of the Executive Vice-Presidents. The table below shows for each Commissioner the Vice-President(s) guiding work on their portfolio (in certain cases, Commissioners work directly under the guidance of the President).

European Commission: Political make-up of the College of Commissioners

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. Under the Treaties, its tasks are to 'promote the general interest of the Union', without prejudice to individual Member States, to 'ensure the application of the Treaties' and measures adopted under them, for instance through taking infringement measures against Member States who do not correctly implement EU legislation, and to 'execute the budget'. It also holds a near monopoly on the right of legislative initiative, alone proposing virtually all EU legislation to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The College of Commissioners is currently composed of 27 individuals: the President, Ursula von der Leyen, 6 Executive Vice-Presidents and 20 Commissioners. The table below shows for each Commissioner the Vice-President(s) guiding work on their portfolio (in certain cases, Commissioners work directly under the guidance of the President).

European Commission: Commissioners' relationships with parliamentary committees

The Council of the European Union – often referred to as the Council of Ministers, or simply the Council – forms one part of the legislature and the budgetary authority of the Union. The Council and European Parliament together adopt much of the EU's legislation and the Union's annual budget, on the basis of proposals put forward by the executive, the European Commission. The Council also takes decisions on specific areas of EU action, in particular in common foreign and security policy (CFSP), where it seeks to coordinate Member States' positions, and concludes – subject to the consent of the Parliament – international agreements, usually negotiated by the Commission on the basis of a mandate from the Council. The Council of the EU is distinct from the European Council, which is a separate institution made up of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States. The European Council is responsible for defining the general political directions and priorities for the Union, but does not have formal legislative functions.

Rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union

As every year, two annual procedures are central to the budgetary work of the European Parliament and the other institutions – agreeing on the 2026 budget, and granting discharge for the implementation of the 2024 budget. In addition, in 2025, the process of agreeing the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the years from 2028 will also get under way. This timeline sets out the main steps in the three procedures up to end 2025.

Timeline for the three key EU budgetary procedures up to end 2025

The EU and its Member States have made efforts and funds available to support the integration of displaced people from Ukraine in terms of employment, housing, education and healthcare. Research indicates that Ukrainian refugees have a high employment rate in host countries, reflecting the circular mobility pattern observed among Ukrainians prior to 2022, when they were the largest non-EU workforce within the EU. However, with no end to the war in sight, the situation of Ukrainian refugees remains uncertain.

Displaced Ukrainians

There are over 210 innovation hubs in the EU, with at least one in every Member State. The scope of innovative European companies could be aligned with the EU's Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), which was established to support European industry and investment in critical technologies. The 28th regime could also help to streamline the public sector's purchasing power and 'European' preference through public procurement. Doing so could help align the strategic scale-up of innovative European companies in relation to society's needs.

Digital innovation hubs

The clean tech sector in the EU is driven to a large extent by the European Green Deal, which aims to support the energy transition and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. At present, the EU is relatively competitive in the development and scale-up of clean technologies and is at the centre of global patenting networks. Yet, urgent and decisive action is needed to ensure the EU's continued leadership, to strengthen its strategic autonomy in access to certain key clean technologies (such as batteries), and to meet the climate neutrality target.

Global trends in clean tech co-patenting

Euroscola

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs - ICM

LIBE

Committee on Security and Defence Ordinary meeting ICM

SEDE

Beyond the numbers: the contribution of Article 17 TFEU to an EU Multiannual Financial Framework grounded in ethics, solidarity and inclusion

EP Plenary session - Conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction

EP Plenary session - Condemning the illegal unilateral declaration of the secessionist entity created by Türkiye in Cyprus and the continued Turkish military occupation

EP Plenary session - Gender Equality Strategy 2025

EP Plenary session - Framework for achieving climate neutrality

Press conference on the MFF negotiations

Press seminar for French journalists

EP Plenary session - The new 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework: architecture and governance

Press briefing of Veronika VRECIONOVA and Hungarian journalists

Press conference on EU must tackle transnational repression amid a global surge in authoritarianism

Press conference on Unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain

EP Plenary session - The first European Annual Asylum and Migration report and the setting up of the Annual Solidarity Pool

EP Plenary session -  Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the islamist attacks of 13 November 2015 in Paris

Last minute briefing

Lex signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Marie BJERRE, Minister for European Affairs on behalf of the Danish Presidency

AGRI - Trilogue on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain

Press Briefing on protection of minors

Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, told the European Parliament that the EU can only address the challenges of a changing world by standing up for its values.

He said EU nations should recommit to the principles of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. 

Frieden urged continued support for Ukraine, investment in common defence and support for an open, competitive economy to build a strong, independent EU.

This is Europe: Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg (9:16)

This is Europe: Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg (16:9)

How is the European Commission ddressing the concerns of Europeans? How effectively is it addressing the issues that matter to Europeans, like the rising cost of living, wars, tariffs, and the housing crisis? 

On September 10, Members of the European Parliament questioned Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the first State of the Union debate since 2024’s European elections.  
 
They evaluated the Commission’s work so far, exchanging views about the EU’s future and how to deal with major challenges: on security and defence, the economy and cost of living , climate change, migration, democracy and much more. The debate turned to the next EU long-term budget - and how it must adapt to new realities.

Watch the full debate here: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/topic/state-of-european-union-2025_29301?tab=videos

Parliament's annual debate with the President of the European Commission (16:9)

Parliament's annual debate with the President of the European Commission (9:16)

Během každoroční rozpravy o stavu EU Evropský parlament podrobně zkoumá práci a plány Evropské komise. Více: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/cs/topic/state-of-the-eu-debates

Projev o stavu Evropské unie 2025 – (9:16)

Projev o stavu Evropské unie 2025 – (16:9)

On 14 June 1985, five European ministers gathered on a riverboat to sign the Schengen Agreement and pave the way to passport-free travel in Europe.
29 countries are now part of the Schengen area, which allows people to cross internal borders without checks.
Let’s take a look at the evolution of one of the pillars of the European project, a symbol of EU unity and integration.

How Schengen opened up borders and opportunities for Europeans (16:9)

How Schengen opened up borders and opportunities for Europeans (short - 9:16)

How Schengen opened up borders and opportunities for Europeans (9:16)

How Schengen opened up borders and opportunities for Europeans (short 16:9)

The EU long-term budget drives investment in Europe’s future, improving citizens’ lives. It funds common projects and delivers on priorities from economic competitiveness to agriculture.
Learn more: https://eubudget.europarl.europa.eu/

EU long term budget – explainer video (16:9)

EU long term budget – explainer video (9:16)

Europe Day 2025

The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

During the ceremony at December’s plenary session in Strasbourg, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola paid tribute to their fight to restore democracy in Venezuela.

Parliament recognises the opposition as the legitimate winners of Venezuela’s July 2024 presidential election, and condemns the electoral fraud and rights violations carried out by the Maduro regime that stayed in power despite mass protests.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU’s highest award for human rights defenders. The other finalists from 2024 were Azerbaijani anti-corruption activist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and the Women of the Sun and Women Wage Peace movements, which promote reconciliation and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.

Read more on the 2024 Sakharov Prize winners: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240913STO23909/sakharov-prize-2024-goes-to-venezuelan-opposition-leaders

Parliament hands 2024 Sakharov Prize to Venezuelan opposition

Evropský parlament udělil Sacharovovu cenu za svobodu myšlení za rok 2024 vůdkyni venezuelské opozice Maríi Corině Machadové a nově zvolenému prezidentovi Edmundu Gonzálezi Urrutiovi.

Předsedkyně Evropského parlamentu Roberta Metsolová během ceremoniálu na prosincovém plenárním zasedání ve Štrasburku vzdala hold jejich boji za obnovení demokracie ve Venezuele.

Parlament uznává opozici za legitimní vítěze venezuelských prezidentských voleb v červenci 2024 a odsuzuje volební podvody a porušování práv ze strany Madurova režimu, který navzdory masovým protestům zůstal u moci.

Sacharovova cena je nejvyšší ocenění EU pro obránce lidských práv. Dalšími finalisty za rok 2024 byli ázerbájdžánský protikorupční aktivista Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu a hnutí Women of the Sun a Women Wage Peace, která podporují usmíření a porozumění mezi Izraelci a Palestinci.

Přečtěte si více o laureátech Sacharovovy ceny za rok 2024: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/cs/article/20240913STO23909/sacharovovu-cenu-za-rok-2024-ziskali-venezuelsti-opozicni-predstavitele

Parlament předá Sacharovovu cenu za rok 2024 venezuelské opozici 9:16

The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

Parliament recognised the opposition as rightful winners of July 2024’s presidential election and rejected the widespread electoral fraud and the proclaimed victory of Nicolas Maduro.

With the EU’s highest honour for human rights defenders, Parliament pays tribute to Ms Machado and Mr González Urrutia’s fight to restore democracy, and stands with those defending freedom against authoritarian regimes worldwide.

Read more on the 2024 Sakharov Prize winners:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240913STO23909/sakharov-prize-2024-goes-to-venezuelan-opposition-leaders

European Parliament honours María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia

Po pečlivém posouzení kandidátů schválili vaši zástupci v Evropském parlamentu novou Komisi EU, výkonný orgán společenství.
Ursula von der Leyenová navrhla svůj nový tým poté, co byla v červenci opětovně zvolena předsedkyní Komise. Poslanci dali jejímu týmu zelenou po rozpravě konané 27. listopadu ve Štrasburku.
V průběhu listopadu poslanci Evropského parlamentu vyslechli budoucí komisaře na zvláštních slyšeních, aby posoudili jejich schopnosti a dosavadní výsledky.
Komise předkládá návrhy politik a zákonů důležitých pro život 450 milionů Evropanů. Parlament bude nyní bedlivě sledovat jednotlivé komisaře, aby se ujistil, že naplňují potřeby a očekávání voličů.

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