ITRE - Exchange of views with Mr Timo Pesonen, Director-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS), on Defence Strategy and the EDIP proposal

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

EP Plenary session - Joint Debate - European Semester for economic policy coordination 2024

EP Plenary session - Compulsory licensing for crisis management

EP Plenary session - Energy performance of buildings

EP Plenary session - Preventing work-related deaths following the Florence tragedy

EP Plenary session - Debate - Statement by the VPC/HR - The current situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

EP Plenary session - Debate - HRVP statement - War in the Gaza Strip

EP Conference of Presidents meets the upcoming Belgian Presidency - Family Photo with the Belgian Federal Parliament

EP Conference of Presidents meets the upcoming Belgian Presidency - Family Photo with the Belgian Government

Press seminar with journalists of Ouest France and 20 Minutes

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. First part of MEPs debate.

Energy performance of buildings: MEPs debate (part 1)

Plenary discusses the latest ruling by the International Court of Justice regarding Israel and the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the 7 October attacks The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take a series of measures to prevent any acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, after South Africa filed an application against Israel at the court in December 2023. It also ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure aid can reach people in Gaza. During the debate with the Council and the European Commission on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs also discuss the allegations that 12 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA ) were involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel. While several donor countries have suspended their UNRWA funding, the EU said it will take a decision in light of the outcome of the investigation announced by the UN and its subsequent actions.

Debate - War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region: MEPs debate part 3

MEPs are set to approve long-term funding for Ukraine, the “Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform” (STEP), and associated major changes to the multi-year EU budget. The revision of the EU’s long-term budget – the multiannual financial framework (MFF) – includes the €50 billion Ukraine Facility and the “Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform” (STEP) which aims to support EU competitiveness and resilience in strategic sectors. It also bolsters the EU’s budget to deal with migration and external challenges as well as the EU's crisis preparedness and budgetary flexibility. Furthermore, in line with Parliament’s demands, the revision introduces a mechanism to tackle escalating costs linked to the repayment of the NextGenerationEU recovery plan amid rising interest rates. On Tuesday, Parliament will debate and vote on the corresponding texts recently agreed with the EU member states: MFF revision

Joint debate - MFF revision: MEPs debate

After the parade that took place in Acca Larentia street in Rome on 7 January, marking the 46th anniversary of the killing of three neo-fascists in the Italian capital, in which participants gave fascist salutes, MEPs debate on how to prevent neo-fascism from resurfacing in Europe. MEPs debate

Fight against the resurgence of neo-fascism in Europe, also based on the parade that took place in Rome on 7 January: MEPs debate

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. Round of the Political Group Leaders.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: Round of the Political Group Leaders

The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016 and as part of it a Global Stocktake takes place every five years. The first-ever stocktake, scheduled to conclude at COP28, aims to provide an overall picture of its implementation progress. Parliament adopted its demands ahead of this year’s global climate talks on 21 November 2023. MEPs debate with Commission and Council representatives the conclusions of the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference. MEPs debate

Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28): MEPs debate

After the opening statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, MEPs debate on the need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution.

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union - Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution: MEPs debate part 2

MEPs put forward draft changes to the EU’s core rules, following up on the Conference on the Future of Europe and reacting to unprecedented challenges. The text, prepared in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs by five co-rapporteurs representing a broad majority, includes a more bicameral system, as well as granting Parliament the full right to initiate legislation and the right to co-legislate on the EU’s long-term budget. It also calls for an increase in the number of decisions taken by qualified majority in the Council. Other proposals touch upon the election of the Commission President, citizens’ participation including EU-wide referendums, and more EU powers in areas such as environment and biodiversity, security and defense, civil protection, public health, energy, and cross-border-infrastructure.

BOTENGA, Marc (The Left, BE)

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