At a glance: Parliament and Council strike 2026 budget deal with boost for research, competitiveness and security; a Parliament delegation attends the 30th United Nations climate conference; and the first EU Parliamentary Democracy Forum takes place in Brussels.

Kurznachrichten – 18/11/2025 - Deutsch

At a glance: the European Parliament backs a 90% emissions cut by 2040 to keep the EU on track for climate neutrality; MEPs demand a strong 2026–2030 EU gender equality strategy and EU-wide action on gender-based violence; Parliament approves over €1 billion in EU aid for Spain and France after severe floods and cyclones.

Kurznachrichten – 17/11/2025 - Deutsch

Was macht der Gerichtshof der Europäischen Union, und welche Rolle spielt er in unserem Alltag? In dieser Folge geht es darum, wie das rechtssprechende Organ der EU dafür sorgt, dass das Unionsrecht in allen Mitgliedstaaten auf die gleiche Weise ausgelegt und angewendet wird – von wegweisenden Urteilen bis hin zur Verteidigung der Bürgerrechte.

Der Gerichtshof der Europäischen Union

At a glance: the European Parliament remembers the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris ten years ago; plenary debate on the EU’s next long-term budget; MEPs discuss the outcome of October European Council meeting.

Kurznachrichten – 14/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 13/11/2025 - Deutsch

Kurznachrichten – 12/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 11/11/2025 - Deutsch

Alcide De Gasperi wurde 1881 in einem überwiegend italienischsprachigen Ort im damaligen Österreich-Ungarn geboren. Als überzeugter Gegner des Faschismus gründete er 1943 die christdemokratische Partei. Außerdem war De Gasperi bis 1953 der erste Ministerpräsident der Republik Italien. Neben Konrad Adenauer und Robert Schuman trug er maßgeblich zur europäischen Einigung bei.

Alcide De Gasperi – einer der Gründerväter der EU

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.

Kurznachrichten – 10/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 07/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 06/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 05/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 04/11/2025 - Deutsch

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.

Kurznachrichten – 03/11/2025 - Deutsch

Der Daphne-Caruana-Galizia-Preis für Journalismus 2025 geht an die niederländische Investigativplattform Follow the Money. Sie enthüllte gemeinsam mit 13 Nachrichtenredaktionen, dass westliche Reedereien 230 veraltete Tanker an Russlands Schattenflotte verkauft und damit über 6 Mrd. Dollar eingenommen hatten. Beteiligt an den Recherchen waren Medien aus Belgien, Dänemark, Deutschland, Griechenland, Italien, Norwegen, den Niederlanden und dem Vereinigten Königreich.
Mit der Vergabe des Preises untermauert die EU ihren Einsatz für die Prinzipien und Werte, die auch in ihrer Charta der Grundrechte verankert sind. Benannt ist die Auszeichnung nach der maltesischen Enthüllungsjournalistin, Bloggerin und Korruptionsbekämpferin Daphne Caruana Galizia, die 2017 ermordet wurde.

Der Daphne-Caruana-Galizia-Preis für Journalismus 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.

Kurznachrichten – 31/10/2025 - Deutsch

Situation in the Middle East escalated after Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran in&nbsp;&nbsp;"Operation Rising lion".&nbsp;Since then Iran reposted and both countries continue to fire missiles daily with rising number of casualties on both sides. The US has joined Israel later by bombarding three nuclear sites in Iran spraking fears of spreading the conflict even further.&nbsp;&nbsp;EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Polish EU Affairs Minister Adam Szłapka for the Council presidency discussed&nbsp;the situation in the Middle East with MEPs during the plenary session in June.&nbsp;This debate&nbsp;focused on the risk of further instability in the Middle East following the Israel-Iran military escalation, the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Situation in the Middle East

On 24 February Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Shortly before&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized&nbsp;two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine&nbsp; as independent.&nbsp;The Conference of Presidents of the EP condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. "Ukraine is an independent and sovereign nation and its territorial integrity is non-negotiable. The invasion is unjustified and illegal. It is a threat to European and regional stability, as well as to the rules-based world order. The attack targets our model of democratic society. It cannot go unanswered, " says declaration of the COP.

"The Russian invasion into Ukraine is part of President Putin’s destabilisation agenda. It is a path that will bring the Kremlin in direct confrontation with Europe and the rule-based world-order. It is a path that pits authoritarianism against democracy. It is a path that we cannot allow him to walk unchallenged," said EP President Roberta Metsola.

European Union leaders met for a special European Council in Brussels on 24 February&nbsp;and adopted a set of sanctions related to the the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors,dual-use goods, exports, Russian individuals etc.&nbsp;

Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union (EU). The EU supports Ukraine in ensuring a stable, prosperous and democratic future for its citizens and is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Association Agreement (AA), including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) signed in 2014, is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together. Since 2014, the EU and the Financial Institutions have mobilised more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support the reform process in the country, with strong conditionality on continued progress.

As a result of the cooperation with Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada in the field of democracy support, European Parliament launched on 11 March the website “<a href="https://ukraine.europarl.europa.eu/en/home.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">The EU stands with Ukraine</a>” (in English and Ukrainian) provides the latest news, videos and podcasts, relevant legislation and resolutions to show how the EU is helping Ukraine. Content from the Ukrainian Parliament could also be shared on the site. Actively supporting EU efforts to promote democracy and human rights in the world is one of Parliament's core responsibilities.

EU - Ukraine

On 24 February 2022,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;began a&nbsp;military invasion&nbsp;of Ukraine, in a major escalation of the conflict that had begun in 2014. Shortly before, on 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.&nbsp;

Since then, the EU and its international allies have rallied firmly behind the Kyiv government. This support has resulted in unprecedented levels of financial aid, assistance, weapons deliveries to Ukraine, sweeping sanctions against Moscow, and the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

On 1&nbsp;March&nbsp;the European Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels to assess Russia’s military assault on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&nbsp;and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk spoke live from Kiev.&nbsp;The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Kyiv on 1 April&nbsp;to express the European Union´s support of&nbsp;the Ukrainian people and to condemn the Russian attack. On&nbsp;8 June&nbsp;Stefanchuk adressed Parliament in the Strasbourg hemicycle.

Following the atrocities carried out by Vladimir Putin’s regime against Ukrainian civilians, the European Parliament has&nbsp;recognised Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in a resolution on November 2022.

On 9th February 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;addressed the European Parliament during an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels.

Russian aggression against Ukraine

The EP President Roberta Metsola was&nbsp;in Ukraine in September&nbsp;to express Europe´s continued&nbsp;support to the country. In her meetings with Ukraininan representatives she&nbsp;expressed support to permanent, just and real peace, strenghtened parliamentary cooperation, continued efforts to weaken Russia&nbsp;through coordinated and strong sanctions and the need to advance on Ukraine´s membership bid.

Ever since Russia launched an illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24&nbsp;February 2022, the EU and the Parliament have supported the country by condemning Russia’s aggression, sanctioning those responsible and providing financial and material aid. Parliament has also been supportive of Ukraine’s efforts to become an EU candidate country and has been calling on EU countries to launch accession talks.

The&nbsp;new EP reconfirmed in July 2024&nbsp; its view that the EU must continue to support Kyiv for as long as it takes until victory. The resolution, which sets out the newly-elected European Parliament’s first official position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, restates the continued support of MEPs for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. It calls on the EU to maintain and extend its sanctions policy against Russia and Belarus, monitor and review its effectiveness and impact, and systematically tackle the issue of sanctions circumvention by EU-based companies, third parties, and third countries.



Using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction is the subject of a debate with Commission and Council representatives. MEPs, the Commission, and the Danish Council Presidency discuss ending all energy imports from Russia and closing loopholes that enable imports via non-EU countries.

Solidarity with Ukraine

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.

CULT - Committee on Culture and Education

As part of the European Green Deal, with the European Climate Law, the EU has set itself a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This requires current greenhouse gas emission levels to drop substantially in the next decades. As an intermediate step towards climate neutrality, the EU has raised its 2030 climate ambition, committing to cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

On 18 April 2023, MEPs&nbsp; adopted the reform of EU´s Emissions Trading System including for aviation and the maritime sector, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and a new Social Climate fund. The&nbsp;deal on the reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS)&nbsp;increases the ambition for 2030, phases out free allowances to companies and creates a separate new ETS II for fuel for road transport and buildings that will put a price on emissions from these sectors by 2027.

According to the&nbsp;agreement with EU countries, an EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be set up to ensure that importers of goods covered by the EU ETS would have to pay any price difference between the price paid for carbon in the country of production and the price of carbon allowances in the EU ETS. This will incentivise non-EU countries to increase their climate ambition and ensure that EU and global climate efforts are not undermined by production being relocated from the EU to countries with less ambitious policies.

A separate deal with member states&nbsp;sets up an EU Social Climate Fund to ensure that the climate transition will be fair and socially inclusive. Vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users who are particularly affected by energy and transport poverty will benefit from the fund. When fully in place, it will be funded from auctioning ETS II allowances up to an amount of €65 billion, with an additional 25% covered by national resources (amounting to an estimated total of €86.7 billion).

As part of the "Fit for 55 " package, thePArliamnet has also adopted during MArch 2024, plans, already agreed upon with Council, to help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector.

The proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive aims to progressively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. It also aims to have more worst-performing buildings renovated and improve information-sharing on energy performance.

More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19003/energy-efficiency-of-buildings-meps-adopt-plans-to-decarbonise-the-sector">https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240308IPR19003/energy-efficiency-of-buildings-meps-adopt-plans-to-decarbonise-the-sector</a>

Fit for 55

LIBE - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed MEPs during the plenary session on 24 March. On Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he stressed that NATO and the EU are more resolved and united than ever and that pressure on Putin must be increased. Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Canada was an ally and precious partner of the EU. “Our relationship has withstood the test of time”, she said. 
Canada´s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the first Canadian PM to address the European Parliament on February 2017, one day after the European Parliament approved the EU-Canada trade agreement.

The collaboration between the EU and Canada, based on shared values, a long history of close cooperation, and strong people-to-people ties, has been considerably strengthened in the last few years. 

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is the result of the positive developments in EU-Canada trade relations that have taken place over the past decade. It has considerably improved the economic, trade and investment relationship between the EU and Canada, opening up the markets to one another’s goods, services and investments, including public procurement.

EU - Canada

IMCO - Committee on Iternal Market and Consumer Protection

<center>Image: ©sibway/AdobeStock</center>

 

International Women’s Day is held every year on 8 March. Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union.

Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treates have helped shore up this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.

On this occassion, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of Belarus’ democratic forces,&nbsp;Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, a Belarusian opposition activist,&nbsp;Leniie Umerova, a&nbsp;Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar activist&nbsp;and Tata Kepler, a Ukrainian volunteer in military medicine highlighted the ongoing struggles for freedom, justice, and democracy in Belarus and Ukraine, stressing the deep connection between both countries' fates. They called on the EU to maintain strong support for civil society, independent media, and political prisoners, particularly the many women still unjustly detained.Testimonies exposed the brutal realities of occupation, including torture, forced labour, and systematic repression in Russian-controlled territories. The message was clear: only a strong and united Europe can help secure freedom for Belarus and Ukraine, ensuring peace and stability for the entire region.

International Women’s Day

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;

MEPs have voted during May 2023 plenary to approve the European Union’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, concluding Parliament’s role in the process. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention - it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of a few member states, despite&nbsp;Parliament’s multiple calls to this end.

However, the EU&nbsp;Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021&nbsp;confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention without having the agreement of all member states. The Court found that the appropriate scope for the EU’s accession is asylum, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and obligations of the EU institutions and public administration.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention does not exempt member states from ratifying it themselves, MEPs have repeatedly said, urging the remaining six countries - Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - to ratify the Convention without delay, so that it can protect women to the full extent of the Convention’s intended scope

Violence against women

FEMM - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on the week from 27th to 31st january 2025. 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.

SEDE - Committee on Security and Defence

JURI - Committee on Legal Affairs

In 2004 Slovakia joined the European Union as a Member State. It is a member of&nbsp;the Schengen area&nbsp;since 21 December 2007.&nbsp;It is a member of the&nbsp;Eurozone, when the Euro was introduced to replace the Slovak Crown as the national currency.

There are more than 5.4 million people in Slovakia. The country has 14 Members of European Parliament (MEPs). Slovakia has presided the EU between July and December 2016. Slovakia is a parliamentary democratic republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who holds the most executive power and a head of state - the President - who is the formal head of the executive, but with&nbsp;limited powers. The country is subdivided into 8 regions, each named after its principal city.&nbsp;

The country was in the centre of attention nad underwent huge political turbulences in&nbsp;2018 when the investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée were murdered.&nbsp;

EU - Slovakia

BUDG - Committee on Budgets

A Parliament delegation attends the 30th United Nations climate conference taking place in Belém, Brazil. MEPs will stress that all sectors must play a part in reducing emissions and achieving climate neutrality, and will push for all countries to contribute their fair share towards providing adequate climate finance. MEPs will also advocate in favour of ending fossil fuel dependence, phasing out related subsidies and accelerating the energy transition.

COP30 in Bélem, Brazil

Antonio COSTA, President of the European Council participates in  the CoP

Conference of Presidents (CoP) with Antonio COSTA, President of the European Council

The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola meets the President of Finland Alexander Stubb. Having taken office in 2024, Stubb previously served as prime minister of Finland from 2014 to 2015.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets the President of Finland, Alexander STUBB

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

Press point with EP President Roberta Metsola and rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar on Proxy voting in plenary before and after childbirth place, outside the hemicycle after the votes at around 12.30

Press point with EP President Roberta Metsola and rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar on Proxy voting in plenary before and after childbirth

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

Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America, including the EU-Central America Association Parliamentary Committee (DCAM) meeting

Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America, including the EU-Central America Association Parliamentary Committee (DCAM) meeting.

Over the past two EU legislatures, efforts to tackle foreign information manipulation and interference have grown into a broad, society-wide approach involving citizens, fact-checkers, civil society, media, and governments. The new European Democracy Shield aims to strengthen these efforts by expanding existing tools and responsibilities. It focusses on combating disinformation and protecting elections, supporting media and journalists, and safeguarding civil society and human rights defenders.

Timeline: the EU’s response to information manipulation since the Russian annexation of Crimea

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

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

CONT - Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - European External Action Service

ECON - Extension of the term of office of the Executive Director of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) - Hearing with Natasha Cazenave

HOUS - Exchange of views with Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice - President of the European Commission for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

ECON - Exchange of views with Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Alexander STUBB, President of Finland

ECON -  Public Hearing with the Chairpersons of the European Supervisory Authorities

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Visit of the  Station F and meeting with startups

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Arthur MENSCH, CEO of Mistral AI

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Gérard LARCHER, President of the French Senate

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with business learders organised by MEDEF

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Ceremony for the victims of November 13th attacks

Press conference on simplified sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements

Photo action by pregnant women after voting in plenary for Members during pregnancy and after giving birth

Press point on proxy voting in plenary for Members during pregnancy and after giving birth

EP Plenary session - Voting session

This News items shows the arrival of Alexander STUBB, President of Finland, welcome and roundtable meeting with EP President Roberta METSOLA.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Alexander STUBB, President of Finland: arrival, welcome and roundtable

EPRS - Timeline: the EU’s response to information manipulation since the Russian annexation of Crimea

During her official visit to Paris, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, meets with Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. The video shows her arrival at the Élysée Palace, a formal handshake and family photo with President Macron.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic: arrival, welcome and family photo

On the occasion of her official visit to Paris, EP President Roberta METSOLA visits Station F and meets with Startups and with Benjamin HADDAD, Minister attached to the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Europe.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - visit to Station F: meeting with startups and with Benjamin HADDAD, Minister attached to the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Europe

During her official visit to Paris, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets with Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate. The video shows her arrival at the Senate, a formal greeting and handshake with Larcher at the French Senate.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Gérard LARCHER, President of the French Senate: arrival and meeting

On the occasion of her official visit to Paris, EP President Roberta METSOLA attends the meeting with business leaders organised by MEDEF (Movement of the Enterprises of France). MEDEF is the largest employer federation in France. It has more than 750,000 member firms, 90 percent of them being small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees. MEDEF is engaged in lobbying at local, regional, national, and EU-wide levels.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with business leaders organised by MEDEF: extracts

During her official visit to Paris, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets with Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The video shows her arrival at the ministry, a handshake greeting with Barrot, and their bilateral meeting at the Quai d'Orsay.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Meeting with Jean-Noël BARROT, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs: arrival and meeting

Jörgen WARBORN (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, holds a press conference on simplified sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements. Parliament endorsed reduced reporting duties and due diligence requirements for companies. With 382 votes in favour, 249 against, and with 13 abstentions, Parliament adopted its negotiating position on simplified sustainability reporting and due diligence duties for businesses. MEPs consider that only businesses employing on average over 1750 employees and with a net annual turnover of over €450 million should have to carry out social and environmental reporting. Only businesses within this scope would also be required to provide sustainability reporting under taxonomy rules (i.e. a classification of sustainable investments). This transcription isa result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Jörgen WARBORN (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, on simplified sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, hold a press point on proxy vote during pregnancy. Parliament is seeking to improve gender equality and ensure mothers can participate fully in political life. The targeted change to the electoral rules would confer proxy voting rights to MEPs three months before their estimated due date and six months after childbirth.This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Rapporteur on proxy vote during pregnancy

MEPs vote on the following items: EU/Andorra agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/Monaco agreement: exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/San Marino agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/Liechtenstein agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/Switzerland agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Spain and France in relation to natural disasters in 2024 and 2025; Appointment of Maria Berger to the panel set up under Article 255 of the TFEU; Partial renewal of Members of the Court of Auditors; Gender Equality Strategy 2025.

Voting Session - Gender Equality Strategy

MEPs vote on the following items: Van Dijck (A10-0188/2025) - Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the Stabilisation and Association Process; Opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the proposed Agreement on Digital Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore; Hahn (A10-0187/2025) - Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore; Hahn (A10-0190/2025) - Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (Resolution); Regner (A10-0194/2025) - Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT)

Voting Session, including new trade and taxation measures

MEPs vote on the following item: Warborn (A10-0197/2025) - Certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements.

Voting Session - Due diligence Omnibus

MEPs vote on the following items: López Aguilar (A10-0214/2025) - Amendment of the European Electoral act, allowing Members to vote in plenary by proxy voting during pregnancy and after giving birth; Ridel (A10-0206/2025) - Addressing transnational repression of human rights defenders; Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 170) - (C10-0263/2025) - Deforestation Regulation: certain obligations of operators and traders; Žalimas (A10-0216/2025) - Request for the waiver of the immunity of Grzegorz Braun; Humberto (A10-0217/2025) - European Maritime Safety Agency; Joveva (A10-0207/2025) - Statistics on population and housing; Knotek - (A10-0223/2025) - Framework for achieving climate neutrality; Wiezik (A10-0205/2025) - Conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Voting Session, including the proxy vote in plenary by proxy voting during pregnancy and after giving birth

This news item presents excerpts from the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 23 October 2025. Members of the European Parliament assess the results of the October European Council meeting in a debate with President Von der Leyen, focusing on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration. President Von der Leyen stressed the need to accelerate the transition to clean energy while boosting growth and competitiveness, as well as unwavering support for Ukraine, especially now that President Putin is using winter as a weapon against that country. MEPs expressed their concerns about the energy transition, defence and economic competitiveness.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025. During their meeting, EU leaders focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: MEPs debate (part 2)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: MEPs debate (part 1)

Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, closes the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025. MEPs assess the outcome of the October European Council meeting. During their meeting, EU leaders focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: closing statement Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

&lt;p>Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission opens the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025. MEPs assess the outcome of the October European Council meeting. During their meeting, EU leaders focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration.&lt;/p>

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