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

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.

AFET - Committee on Foreign Affairs

On Wednesday 10 July, the Committe on Development (DEVE) met for the first time in its new composition and elected as its Chair Swedish MEP Tomas TOBÉ (EPP). The Committee also elected four Vice Chairs: Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA (Greens/EFA), Norbert NEUSER (S&amp;D), Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU (Renew Europe), Erik MARQUARDT (Greens/EFA). The next meeting of the Committee will take place in the morning of 24 July and is set to discuss the state of play of development cooperation, the 2020 budget and the future partnership with ACP countries. The Finish EU Council Presidency will set out its priorities, in particular in humanitarian aid.

DEVE - Committee on Development

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.

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Chair: Ms Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew Europe, FR)

1st Vice-Chair: Mr Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&amp;D, EL)

2nd Vice-Chair: Ms Kinga GÁL (EPP, HU)

3rd Vice-Chair: Ms Özlem DEMIREL (GUE/NGL, DE)

4th Vice-Chair: Mr Lukas MANDL (EPP, AT)

SEDE Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Marie Arena will serve as Chair of Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) for the coming two and a half years. She was elected by acclamation by Subcommittee members on Wednesday. “I would like to express my thanks to all of you for your trust in electing me as Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights”, Ms Arena said after the vote.

MEPs also elected the four Vice-Chairs that will form, together with Marie Arena, the Subcommittee's bureau:

Ms <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197625/IRINA_VON+WIESE/home" target="_blank">Irina Von Wiese</a> (Renew Europe, UK) will be first Vice-Chair,

Ms <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197464/HANNAH_NEUMANN/home" target="_blank">Hannah Neumann</a> (Greens/EFA, DE) will be second Vice-Chair,

Ms <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197643/KAROLINE_EDTSTADLER/home" target="_blank">Karoline Edtstadler</a> (EPP, AT) will be third Vice-Chair, and

Mr <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197694/RAPHAEL_GLUCKSMANN/home" target="_blank">Raphaël Glucksmann</a> (S&amp;D, FR) will be fourth Vice-Chair.

DROI Subcommittee on Human Rights

Nicole Fontaine (born 16 January 1942 in Grainville-Ymauville, Seine-Maritime) was a French politician. Member of the EPP, she was the President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2001.

Nicole Fontaine

On May 25, 2014 a debate was organised at EP in Brussels between the five candidates to EC Presidency: Jean-Claude JUNCKER (EPP), Martin SCHULZ (PES), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE), Ska KELLER (Green Party) and Alexis TSIPRAS (Party of the European Left). The debate was moderated by Monica MAGGIONI.

2014 Eurovision debate between candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission

On 20 April, European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi will present the results of the first seven months of the EPPO’s operations to the Budget Control and Civil Liberties committees.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is the new independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

These include several types of fraud, VAT fraud with damages above 10 million euro, money laundering, corruption, etc. The EPPO undertakes investigations, carries out acts of prosecution and exercises the function of prosecutor in the competent courts of the participating Member States, until the case has been settled.

Before only national authorities could investigated and prosecuted these crimes, but their powers stopped at the borders of their country. Organisations like Eurojust, OLAF and Europol do not have the necessary powers to carry out such criminal investigations and prosecutions.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is composed of two levels: the central level and the decentralised (national) level. The central level, with its headquarters in Luxembourg, consists of: the European Chief Prosecutor; 22 European Prosecutors (one per participating EU country), two of whom function as Deputies for the European Chief Prosecutor; and the Administrative Director. The decentralised level consists of the European Delegated Prosecutors (EDPs) in the 22 participating EU Member States.

The central level supervises the investigations and prosecutions carried out by the EDPs at the national level, which operate with complete independence from their national authorities. The EPPO officially started its operational activities on 1 June 2021

European Public Prosecutor's Office - EPPO

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at the plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

The nominations for the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought are:

The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the Coordination Council, initiative of brave women and political and civil society figures, nominated by EPP, S&amp;D, Renew Europe 
Mgr Najeeb Moussa Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq nominated by ID 
Guapinol activists and Berta Caceres in Honduras, nominated by Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL 
The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by Sviatlana Tsikhanouska, nominated by ECR 
Polish LGBTI activists Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak, Paweł Preneta and Kamil Maczuga, founders of the website Atlas of Hate, nominated by Malin Björk, Terry Reintke, Marc Angel, Rasmus Andresen and 39 other MEPs.

The democratic opposition in Belarus has been awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Democratic Opposition in Belarus, Sakharov Prize 2020

The European People’s Party (EPP) elected Manfred Weber (CSU, Germany) as its lead candidate for the European elections on 8 November 2018, at the Helsinki party congress.

Manfred WEBER, 46, started his political career in the regional Parliament (Bayerischer Landtag) in 2002 and was elected to the European Parliament in 2004. Since 2014, he has served as the chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP) - EPP group. The candidate obtained his degree in physical engineering at Munich University of Applied Sciences.

#EUelections2019 - Manfred WEBER, lead candidate for the EPP

The Special Committee on Terrorism (TERR) was set up in July 2017 and started its work in September 2017 to evaluate how to better fight terrorism. The two co-rapporteurs Ms Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE) and Ms Helga STEVENS (ECR, BE) together with the other TERR Members presented a final report to address the practical and legislative deficiencies in the fight against terrorism. Their recommendations show a way to overcome these deficiencies and to improve the fight against terrorism in the European Union. Meanwhile, the DALTON report asks Internet companies to remove terrorist content within one hour after receiving an order from the authorities to combat radicalisation and contribute to public security.

#EUelections2019 - Fight against terrorism

EP Plenary- Voting session

President Metsola meets the President of the Assembleia da República of Portugal, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco? the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro and they hold a press conference. President Metsola also meets the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Portugal

The special European Council is expected to discuss the new European competitiveness deal and relations with Türkiye.

Special European Council, 17-18 April 2024

MEPs discuss the EU’s role in protecting the Roma language and culture, following a statement by President Roberta Metsola.

Statement of EP President on International Roma Day

EP  President Metsola meets the President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová

His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, addresses  MEPs in a formal sitting.

This will be first time King Philippe will have addressed the European Parliament. One of his predecessors, King Baudouin, appeared before MEPs in 1987, during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Philippe

EP President Metsola meets the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb

Press conference by Sophie IN ’T VELD, Fabienne KELLER, Matjaž NEMEC and Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA rapporteurs on Migration Pact files (First part)
Press conference by Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE) and Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE) rapporteurs on Migration Pact files (Second part)

Press conference on Asylum and migration pact files

EP President Metsola meets the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia, Urška Klakočar Zupančič and she addresses the National Assembly of Slovenia. President Metsola and President Klakočar Zupančič speak to the press. She also meets the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar and the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob. The EP President and Prime Minister Golob speak to the press.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Slovenia

EP President Roberta Metsola, participates in the European Council, followed by a press conference

EP President Roberta METSOLA, at the European Council

President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyha

Official meeting of President Metsola and Ukranian Prime Minister Denys  Shmyhal

President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa. in Brussels

Official meeting of President Metsola and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa

EP President Roberta Metsola meets the Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution of Austria, Karoline Edtstadler and the President of the National Council of the Austrian Parliament, Wolfgang Sobotka. She also meets the Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer and they speak to the press.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Austria

EP  President Metsola participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people. She meets the Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden, Andres Norlén and representatives of the political groups in the Parliament. She also meets the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson and they jointly speak to the press

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Sweden

Press conference by Marion WALSMANN (EPP, DE), rapporteur for safety of toys

Press conference on Toys' safety

Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo speaks to MEPs to outline his vision on Europe’s challenges and future.

Before the debate, EP President Roberta Metsola holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Orpo, followed by a press point at 10.20 (still to be confirmed).

Thirteen EU heads of state or government have discussed the future of the EU in the plenary in “This is Europe” debates.

Plenary Debate - This is Europe debate with the Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo

Press conference by Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), rapporteur on European Media Freedom Act

Press conference on European Media Freedom Act

Signing of the Grand Est agreement in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act)

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144)

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Anti Money Laundering

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State for Digitalisation, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Banking Union

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Arrivals and family photo

Press briefing EPP

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Plant and forest reproductive material

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - EU-Egypt strategic and comprehensive partnership and agreements with key third countries

Inauguration ceremony of the Welcome Pavilion

INTA Committee family photo

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Economic governance

BUDG Committee

Meeting of the European Parliament's Bureau

EP Plenary session - Resumption of session and order of business

Briefing EPP by Manfred WEBER, President

Press conference by Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE) and Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE) rapporteurs on Migration Pact files (Second part)

Press point by Manfred WEBER, Chair of EPP and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

Briefing EPP by Manfred WEBER, President and Dolors MONTSERRAT, Vice-president

Press conference by Manfred WEBER, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Norbert LINS, Herbert DORFMANN on EPP vision for agriculture in Europe

Press conference by Manfred WEBER, President on EPP position on Nature Restoration Law

Press conference by Manfred WEBER, President and Esther de LANGE on EPP position on Nature Restoration Law

Briefing EPP by Manfred WEBER , President

Pres conference by Christian EHLER (EPP, DE), Marcos ROS SEMPERE (S&D, ES), Mariya GABRIEL Commissioner for  Culture, Education and Youth and Elisa FERREIRA, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms on n

Press conference by Christian EHLER, Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Mariya GABRIEL Commissioner for  Culture, Education and Youth and Elisa FERREIRA, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms on n

Open Days at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Euroscola

EP President Roberta METSOLA and President of the French Republic Emmanuel MACRON sign the 15th three-year contract 2024-2026 on the European Parliament seat in Strasbourg.

Signing of the 15th three-year contract 2024-2026 on the European Parliament seat in Strasbourg, with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives an opening remark on the last voting session of this legislature before elections. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Opening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the Portuguese Carnation Revolution 50th anniversary and on the conclusion of the 9th legislative term

The Body would develop and interpret common minimum standards of ethical conduct, as well as publish reports on how these have been applied in internal rules. Parliament decides on Thursday whether to approve the agreement to establish an Interinstitutional Body for Ethical Standards, which aims to set up a framework for cooperation for the EU’s institutions and bodies. Even though Parliament’s negotiators managed to improve the Commission’s proposal significantly, which was described as “unsatisfactory” by MEPs in July 2023, MEPs are set to raise issues related to the scope and powers of the envisioned body (including Council’s limited participation) in the debate preceding the vote. MEPs debate.

EP Plenary session - Interinstitutional Body for Ethical Standards: MEPs debate

MEPs vote on the following topics: Amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards requirements for credit risk, credit valuation adjustment risk, operational risk, market risk and the output floor; Mechanisms to be put in place by the Member States for the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing and repealing Directive (EU) 2015/849; Prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing; Establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and amending Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) 1094/2010, (EU) 1095/2010; Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications; Simplification of certain CAP rules; Approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery circulating on public; and other topics.

Voting session: Simplification of certain CAP rules; Establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism; and Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budget

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State for Digitalisation, in charge of Administrative Simplification, Privacy and the Buildings Agency, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency. Signature of eleven COD

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State for Digitalisation, in charge of Administrative Simplification, Privacy and the Buildings Agency, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the ten member states, who are invited to attend the sitting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

European Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement On Wednesday morning, MEPs, EU and member state representatives, and young people born in May 2004, will mark the ten countries joining the EU 20 years ago. On this occasion, EP President Roberta Metsola welcomes Leszek MILLER, Pat COX, Günter VERHEUGEN, Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA, Peter MEDGYESSY, Lawrence GONZI, Anton ROP, Mikulas DZURINDA, Kristiina OJULAND, Giorgios IACOVOU, Antanas VALIONIS, Pavel TELIČKA,

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the arrivals

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the ceremony

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and clip Born European - 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Clip "Born European - 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement"

MEPs discuss Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response and vote on a resolution on Thursday. EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East. Second part of the debate.

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response and vote on a resolution on Thursday. EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East. First part of the debate.

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss with Josep Borrell Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and the urgent need for an EU response. They will vote on a resolution on Thursday. EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April, the as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East. MEPs will assess the situation in a key debate on Wednesday morning, followed by a resolution on which they will vote on Thursday.

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response: extracts from the debate

MEPs discuss the EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza. In March, Parliament adopted a resolution warning about the desperate food insecurity and impending starvation in Gaza. Second part of MEPs debate.

EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss the EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza. In March, Parliament adopted a resolution warning about the desperate food insecurity and impending starvation in Gaza. First part of MEPs debate.

EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip: MEPs debate (part 1)

In the presence of Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, MEPs debate on the EU’s response to the continuous killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip. High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy addresses the EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians in Gaza. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction during the plenary session. MEPs debate

The use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction: MEPs debate

MEPs adopt the first EU-wide Disability Card and Parking Card for persons with disabilities during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The new rules, already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, establishes an EU-wide disability card to make sure that, when travelling for a short period, people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking. Opening statements by Lucia ĎURIŠ NICHOLSONOVÁ (Renew, SK), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Alice KUHNKE (Greens/EFA, SE), Rapporteurs, Linus GLANZELIUS (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), FEMM Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint Debate - Disability cards: Opening statements by Rapporteurs, Linus GLANZELIUS (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES), FEMM Committee

MEPs adopt the first EU-wide Disability Card and Parking Card for persons with disabilities during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The new rules, already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, establishes an EU-wide disability card to make sure that, when travelling for a short period, people with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking. MEPs debate

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