The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) takes part four times a year in a monetary dialogue with Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) to report on monetary policy and answer question from MEPs.&nbsp;Although guaranteed independence under the Treaty, the ECB is accountable for its actions towards the European Parliament, and more precisely the ECON Committee. The European Central Bank is the central institution of the Economic and Monetary Union and has been responsible for conducting monetary policy for the euro area since 1 January 1999 The ECB and the national central banks of all EU Member States constitute the European System of Central Banks.

monetary dialogue with the ECB (T)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

LAGARDE, Christine (FR)

9th parliamentary term

Monetary dialogue

EU leaders met&nbsp;in Brussels for a two-day summit on 18 and 19 June.&nbsp;&nbsp;European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East, the next multiannual financial framework, competitiveness and global economic challenges, European defence and security, migration, illicit drugs, enlargement and reforms, the Republic of Moldova, Western Balkans and other items.

European Council, 18-19 June 2026

In June 2026, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed provisionally on changes to EU policy on the return of non-EU nationals staying illegally in the EU.

The revised rules, based on the Commission proposal presented in March 2025, aim to simplify and speed up procedures, with full respect for fundamental rights and international law, while preventing abuses and unauthorised movements within the EU. Under the deal, a return decision issued to a non-EU national staying illegally in a member state by the competent national authorities will come with the obligation to leave the relevant EU country immediately or within a given time.

Non-EU nationals subject to a return decision will be required to cooperate with the authorities. For the purpose of preparing their return, third country nationals may be detained, based on an individual assessment, for example if they are not cooperating, present a risk of absconding or pose a security risk. Detention will have to be ordered by an administrative or judicial authority.

If a third-country national moves to another member state and there are grounds for their detention, a new detention period may apply. Member states will also be able to require regular reporting or the obligation to reside in a designated place.

Alternatives to detention, such as a financial guarantee or electronic monitoring, can also be imposed. Detention may be ordered for unaccompanied minors and families with children, as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period taking into account the best interests of the child.

The new rules will also allow for the possibility of transfers, excluding unaccompanied minors, to a country that agrees to accept the person, based on an agreement concluded by an EU member state (also known as "return hubs"). Such agreements may only be made with third countries that uphold human rights, international law and the principle of non-refoulement.

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

Migration

On 16 June 2026, MEPs gave their final approval to two pieces of legislation implementing EU tariff commitments under the August 2025 EU-US joint statement. The main proposal for a regulation, adopted by 440 votes to 151 with 50 abstentions, eliminates tariffs on all US industrial goods and provides preferential market access for a wide range of US seafood and agricultural goods. The second proposal for a regulation, endorsed by 444 votes to 152 with 54 abstentions, concerns the prolongation of tariff-free imports of lobster, and now also includes processed lobster. Both proposals were previously agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators, who introduced several elements strengthening the Commission’s original proposal.

The main regulation on industrial and agri-food imports will expire on 31 December 2029. By 30 June 2029, the Commission will make a comprehensive assessment of its trade effects on EU industry, agriculture and small and medium-sized enterprises, and of changes in trade patterns with third countries, accompanied by a legislative proposal to prolong the regulation’s duration, if appropriate.

&nbsp;In August 2025, the US added 407 product categories to the list of derivative steel and aluminium products subject to tariffs. Parliament considered that these new tariffs increased the level of trade instability and pushed for this issue to be addressed in the main regulation. As a consequence of this, the Commission will now be able to suspend tariff preferences if by 31 December 2026 the US continues to apply a tariff rate higher than 15% on EU steel and aluminium derivatives.

&nbsp;Parliament and Council also agreed to establish a safeguard mechanism should tariff preferences granted to the US lead to increases in imports that threaten to cause serious injury to EU industry, including the agricultural sector.

EU - United States of America (T)

presidential elections in the United States (T)

BIDEN, Joe

EU - USA

Situation in the Middle East remain complex. On Iran, the EU is advocating de-escalation, while considering a revision of the mandate of its naval&nbsp;operation Aspides&nbsp;to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Regarding Israel, EU ministers agreed on Monday 11 May to impose&nbsp;sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The EU is also working&nbsp;to advance the normalisation of relations with Syria&nbsp;and to support Syria’s transitional authorities in their political reform and reconstruction efforts.

The European Parliament debated in April recent US-Israel military operation targeting the Iranian regime, examining its geopolitical and humanitarian consequences. The discussion focused&nbsp;on the impact of these actions on regional stability and the situation of the Iranian people, as well as the European Union’s role in addressing the crisis and supporting those affected by the escalating tensions in the Middle East.&nbsp;

Situation in the Middle East

Have a look at stockshots (from 2021 onwards) with illustrative pre-edited broadcast quality video footage. These editable stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), produced to illustrate priority EU dossiers and parliamentary work. They are intended to help audiovisual media produce their own programs, for example, editing of news reports or documentaries.

Stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), pre-edited videos

Infoclips (T)

Infoclips - Illustrative footage

Italy is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - appointed by the president and a head of state - the president. The Parliament is composed of 2 houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic.

Italy is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 October 1997. There are 75&nbsp;members of the European Parliament from Italy.

EU - Italy

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 work of CONT committee&nbsp;involves controlling and monitoring the correct, targeted use of the budget (some EUR 166 billion in 2019). The main responsibility for budget management lies with the European Commission, which distributes the lion's share of the funds. Some 80% of the money goes to the Member States, around 13% is invested around the world, and roughly 7% is spent on administration.

The Committee on Budgetary Control is supported in its work by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in Luxembourg. The remit also covers the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). CONT is also involved in all legislative procedures concerning issues relating to the proper management of the budget and the safeguarding of the EU's financial interests. The Committee is also committed to having a robust European Public Prosecutor's Office.

CONT - Committee on Budgetary Control

The EU long-term budget (MFF) drives investment in Europe’s future, improving citizens’ lives. It funds common projects and delivers on priorities from economic competitiveness to agriculture.

It is time for the EU to decide on a long-term budget from 2028 onwards. Europeans expect clear action in several key areas: economy and social issues, defence and security, climate change, and agriculture. The European Parliament is working together with the other EU institutions to address these expectations.

Over the last few years, the political, economic and social context has changed significantly. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as the need for the EU to stay competitive, support businesses in the digital transformation and tackle climate change pose major challenges.

During the plenary session in April 2026, the European Parliament set out its position for negotiations with member states on the 2028-2034 EU budget.

The 2028-2034 EU budget should be set at 1.27% of EU GNI (+ 10% compared to the Commission’s July 2025 proposal).

MEPs stress that the next long-term EU budget must remain an investment tool supporting EU policies, citizens, regions, businesses and small and SMEs, while securing EU added value compared to national spending. They firmly oppose any re-nationalisation that risks to weaken EU policies, reduce transparency and create competition between beneficiaries.

MEPs want strong and adequately funded policies, with distinct allocations for policies under the national and regional partnership plans, including the common agricultural policy and fisheries policy, also for the outermost regions, cohesion policy, the European Social Fund and home affairs.&nbsp;

Simplification must not undermine transparency, accountability or democratic oversight. The report also underlines that respect for EU values and the rule of law is a precondition for accessing EU funds, while avoiding penalising final recipients for breaches of the rule of law by their governments.

EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034

David McAllister (EPP, DE) will continue as the Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee for the coming two and a half years. He was re-elected by acclamation on Wednesday, 10 July. During its constituent meeting, the Committee also elected Witold Waszczykowski (ECR, PL) as the Committee’s First Vice-Chair. The remaining three Vice-Chairs will be elected at a future meeting. Together, the Chair and Vice-Chairs will form the Bureau of the Committee.

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