AFET - Presentation of the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council

EP Plenary session - 2023 and 2024 reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina

EP Plenary session - Situation in the Middle East

EP Plenary session - Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges

EP Plenary session - European Ocean Pact

AFET - Structured Dialogue on the Commission Work Programme

Members of the EP Conference of Presidents meet with  Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition forces

Antonio TANGER CORREA in the EP in Brussels

MEPs assess the latest developments in the Middle East, in particular in Iran, and what the EU can do to help restore peace. Parliament reviews the latest events in the region, including the US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities at the end of June 2025, and Israel’s earlier attacks on Iranian targets, which led to Iran launching missiles at Israeli cities. In a plenary debate on 16 June, the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, said that Iran, as the main source of regional instability, must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. She also defended diplomacy as the best way to address Iran's nuclear programme in the long run. MEPs also repeat their calls for an end to the deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza, for a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and for a hostage release agreement.

Situation in the Middle East: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate with Council and Commission representatives the EU’s response to the Israeli government's plan to seize the Gaza Strip, and how to provide effective humanitarian support and secure the hostages’ release. Extracts from the debate. The leaders of the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left political groups have expressed serious concern over the threat of further military escalation by the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip. They also denounced all violations of international law in the conflict, including statements pointing towards forced territorial or demographic changes in the area.

Israeli government's plan to seize the Gaza Strip, ensuring effective humanitarian support and the liberation of hostages: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on the resilience and the need to improve the interconnection of energy grid infrastructure in the EU and the first lessons from the blackout in the Iberian Peninsula.

Resilience and the need to improve the interconnection of energy grid infrastructure in the EU: the first lessons from the blackout in the Iberian Peninsula: MEPs debate

MEPs and the High Representative discuss the EU's common foreign, defence, and security policy objectives for 2025. MEPs demand more investment in defence, including more military and political support for Ukraine. They are also aiming for greater EU presence in the Middle East, closer ties with like-minded partners, and support for EU candidate countries. The two related reports – Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) – are put to a plenary vote on Wednesday. First par of MEPs debate.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP): MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs and the Commission debate changes to EU rules on the returns of people who have no legal right to remain in Europe. The proposal for a new legal framework on so-called “returns”, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in July 2024, is formally unveiled by the European Commission. During the plenary debate, MEPs scrutinise the proposal, which is intended to increase the return rate of third-country nationals not entitled to stay in the EU. Parliament emphasises the importance of cooperation with third countries, including on the readmission of their own nationals, as well innovative measures such as the establishment of return hubs in third countries. MEPs debate (part 1).

Presentation of the proposal on a new common approach on returns: MEPs debate (part 1)

Following his inauguration on 20 January 2025, President Trump signed a large number of executive orders setting the priorities of the new US administration, including the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation. Alongside Commission representatives, MEPs discuss the impact of these decisions internationally and on the EU’s future involvement in these global initiatives.

US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organisation and the suspension of US development and humanitarian aid: MEPs debate (part 1)

In summer 2024, while presenting her political programme to Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen said that active EU engagement with the Middle East would be one of her priorities if re-elected as Commission President. In President von der Leyen’s mission letter to Kaja Kallas, published in autumn 2024, she tasked the new EU foreign policy chief with presenting a comprehensive EU Middle East strategy, “with a view to the day after the war in Gaza”. The focus of the strategy should, she said, be the promotion “of all the steps needed for the two-state solution and strengthening partnerships with key regional stakeholders”. MEPs debate (Part 1)

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy: MEPs debate (Part 1)

The day after Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, MEPs discuss the implications of his second term for transatlantic relations, with representatives from the Polish Council Presidency and the Commission. The debate focus on support for Ukraine, relations with Russia, China, the Middle East, climate change, and trade. MEPs bring up security issues, in light of Donald Trump’s repeated demands that Europe spend more on defence. Speaking in the Committee on Foreign Affairs recently, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned MEPs that “NATO’s current two percent defence spending target is not nearly enough (...) to stay safe.”

TÂNGER CORRÊA, António (PfE, PT)

Videos

Photos

Photosets

Media published for this person

24

Videos

2

Photosets

82

Photos