At a glance: the landmark Artificial Intelligence Act; MEPs call for tougher rules to reduce textile and food waste in the EU; and the fourteenth debate in the ‘This is Europe’ series with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

News in Brief – 15/03/2024 - English

Today: the European Parliamentary Week 2024, MEPs of the Committee on Foreign Affairs meet with the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the role of cultural diplomacy in EU foreign policy.

News in Brief – 12/02/2024 – English

On 30 June 2022, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and then New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive EU-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA). The agreement was signed on 9 July 2023. Although the 2014-2019 Commission had initially aimed to finalise negotiations before the end of its mandate, both sides raised several sensitive issues during negotiations, not least because New Zealand is a major and competitive producer and exporter of agricultural goods.

EPRS Policy Podcast - EU-New Zealand free trade agreement

On the 9th of May 2022 we celebrate the 72th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. At the end of the 1940s, the European continent and its people were deeply scarred by the Second World War. Robert Schuman was French Foreign Minister and well aware that what Europe needed was reconstruction and reconciliation. And he had a plan.

Who is Robert Schuman?

In this podcast, you will hear the inauguration with speeches by David-Maria Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, Dr. Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, and director of EUNIC Gitte Zschoch. The event was recorded on the 14th of July 2021 by Europarl Audio. We now leave the floor to our moderator Julio Baquero-Cruz. Enjoy your podcast!

Open a book for a better future! - EuropeReadr Opening Ceremony

In her first State of the Union speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the use of qualified majority voting (QMV) in areas such as sanctions and human rights. The crises and security challenges accumulating in and around the European Union have added to the urgency of having a more effective and rapid decision-making process in areas pertaining to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

EPRS policy podcast - Qualified majority voting in foreign and security policy: Pros and Cons

&lt;p>On the 9th of May 2020 we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. At the end of the 1940s, the European continent and its people were deeply scarred by the Second World War. Robert Schuman was French Foreign Minister and well aware that what Europe needed was reconstruction and reconciliation. And he had a plan.&lt;/p>

70th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration

France is a semi-presidential republic with a head of government - the prime minister - appointed by the president who is the directly elected head of state.

France has been a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and part of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995

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EU  - France

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

Belgium is a founding member of the European Union

Belgium is member of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995 and of the Eurozone since 1 January 1999.

The country's capital, Brussels, is together with Luxembourg City and Strasbourg, one of the three official seats of the European institutions. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

EU - Belgium

Malta joined the European Union 1st May 2004 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Malta is a single-chamber parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the president - whose role is largely ceremonial. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each has its own regional committee, which serves as the intermediary between local and national government.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Malta.

EU - Malta

Poland is a member of the EU since 1st of May 2004 and member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Poland is a parliamentary republic with a Head of government - the Prime Minister - and a Head of state - the President. The government structure is centred on the council of Ministers. The country is divided into 16 provinces, largely based on the country’s historic regions. Administrative authority at provincial level is shared between a government-appointed Governor, an elected regional Assembly and an executive elected by the regional Assembly.

There are 51 members of the European Parliament from Poland.

EU - Poland

Lithuania is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - and a head of state - the President - who appoints the Prime Minister.

The Parliament is a single-chamber legislative body. The country is divided into 60 municipalities, with directly-elected mayors.

There are 11 members of the European Parliament from Lithuania.

Lithuania joined the EU on 1 May 2004 - and the euro area on 1 January 2015.

EU - Lithuania

Latvia joined the European Union on 1 May&nbsp;2004 and has been a member of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007. It became a member of the Euro area on 1 January 2014.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who chooses the council of ministers and a head of state - the President - who has a largely ceremonial role and nominates the Prime Minister.

The government is subject to Parliament's approval throughout each term.

The country is subdivided into 110 one-level municipalities and 9 cities. These each have their own city councils and municipal administrations.

There are 8 Members of the European Parliament from Latvia.

EU - Latvia

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

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

EU - Italy

Denmark has been an EU member country since 1st January 1973.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. It has a representative parliamentary system with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch - who officially retains executive power, although duties are strictly representative and ceremonial. The kingdom also comprises 2 autonomous constituent countries in the Atlantic, neither of which are EU members: the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

EU - Denmark

The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union.
The Netherlands is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995.

The Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch. There are 26 members of the European Parliament from the Netherlands.

EU - Netherlands

Czechia is holding&nbsp;the Presidency of the EU Council from July to December 2022, following the French Presidency and preceding the Swedish Presidency. The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month.

On 6 Juy, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala presented before the EP the programme and main goals of the Czech Council Presidency’s semester.

The preparation of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine as well as joint European projects, such as REPowerEU, aimed at freeing the EU from its dependence on Russia, will be important tasks for the Czech Presidency. The Presidency will also seek to improve member states’ defence capacities, shortening supply chains, deepening free trade, ensuring food security and strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions.

Czech Presidency

Recent scandals, from LuxLeaks (2014) to Panama Papers (2016), have demonstrated how important whistle-blowers’ revelations are to detect and prevent breaches of EU law harmful to the public interest and the welfare of society. Lack of effective whistle-blower protection at EU level can also negatively impact the functioning of EU policies in a member state, but can also spill over to other countries and the EU as a whole.

On 11 March 2019 the European Parliament and the Member States reached a provisional agreement that covers a wide reach of areas of EU law, including anti-money laundering and corporate taxation, data protection, protection of the Union's financial interests, food and product safety and environmental protection and nuclear safety. Further, Member States are encouraged o establish comprehensive legal framework to protect whistleblowers (whistle-blowers) in other areas. The new rules, approved by EU ministers on 25 September 2019, have been signed by the EP on 23 October 2019 and published in the Official Journal on 26 November 2019. Member states will then have two years to comply with such rules.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/protection-of-whistleblowers-8th-parliamentary-term_9901_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Protection of whistleblowers

European leaders agreed on a €50&nbsp;billion Ukraine aid package.&nbsp;The 27 European Union Member States unanimously agreed to commit 17 billion euros in grants and 33 billion euros in loans to help Ukraine for the next four years.

Leaders met on a&nbsp;special European Council&nbsp;in Brussels on 1 February 2024. The decision had been postponed from last European Council meeting on December because of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's opposition.

The aid package is set to be included in a revised EU budget, which means that it required&nbsp;unanimous approval from the 27 leaders.

Special European Council, 1 February 2024

From 1 January to 30 June 2023, Sweden is holding&nbsp;the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Swedish presidency, led by Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON and Minister for EU Affairs Jessika ROSWALL, has announced its political direction will be geared towards achieving the following objectives: speeding up the green transition, safeguarding the EU's fundamental values, boosting and future-proofing the competitiveness of the EU's job market, providing security for EU citizens and strengthening the EU’s role in the world, and fighting organized crime.

Swedish Presidency

On 29 March 2017, Theresa MAY, British Prime Minister, triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The right of a Member State to withdraw from the European Union was introduced for the first time with the Lisbon Treaty; the possibility of withdrawal was highly controversial before that. The Article 50 provides for the negotiation of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the withdrawing state, defining in particular the latter's future relationship with the Union. If no agreement is concluded within two years, that state's membership ends automatically, unless the European Council and the Member State concerned decide jointly to extend this period.

Brexit - 8th Parliamentary term

The Europeans want the EU to change. This is why the European Parliament is taking the leadership over a reform of the EU.

Parliament set out its vision for the future of Europe in three resolutions voted in plenary session on 16 February 2017. MEPs suggested, among other things:

<ul>
	<li>turning the Council of Ministers into a genuine second legislative chamber, and its configurations into preparatory bodies similar to Parliament’s committees,</li>
	<li>appointing an EU finance minister and giving the EU Commission the power to formulate and give effect to a common EU economic policy, backed up by a euro-area budget, and</li>
	<li>creating a fiscal capacity consisting of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and specific additional budgetary capacity for the euro area, funded by its members as a part of the EU budget.</li>
</ul>

Future of Europe - 8th parliamentary term

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

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

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

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

EP President participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people, at the Romanian National Opera. She meets with H.E. Mr. Nicolae Ciuca, President of the Senate of Romania, with H.E. Mr. Alfred Simonis, Acting President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, with H.E. Mr. Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania and with H.E. Mr. Marcel Ciolacu, Prime Minister of Romania.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Romania

EP President Metsola meets the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Jussi Halla-aho, the leaders of parliamentary group,  the Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo and they speak to the press. She also meets Finnish Members of the European Parliament and participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people.

Official visit of of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Finland

EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) exchange views on the inhuman detention and death of Alexei NAVALNY, 2021 Sakharov Price Laureate.

MEPs also discuss the state of Russia’s democratic opposition movement ahead of the country’s presidential elections scheduled for 15-17 March 2024, as well as the situation of all those Russian opposition voices currently behind bars.

The following guests give testimonies to MEPs: Leonid Volkov, Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Anti-Corruption Foundation: Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation, wife of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza: Vladimir Milov, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia

AFET/DROI debate on Alexei Navalny´s death

EP President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze

EP President Roberta Metsola, meets with Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic and they speak to the press. She meets with Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the Hellenic Republic and Mr Constantine Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Parliament. She delivers the keynote speech "The EU ahead of the European Elections" at the Hellenic Parliament and holds a Town Hall Discussion with young people, at the Athens Conservatory.

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Athens (Greece)

EP President Roberta Metsola visits the Warsaw Rising Museum,meets the Prime Minister of Poland and jointly speak to the press. She also meets the Marshal of the Senate of Poland, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska,  addresses the Senate of Poland,  meets the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland, Szymon Hołownia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski and participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people.The President also inaugurates the Europe Experience in Warsaw and delivers the Keynote Address of the Academic Year at the College of Europe in Natolin.

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Poland (Warsaw)

President Metsola meets the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová and they jointly speak to the press. She then meets the President of the Senate of Czech Republic, Miloš Vystrčil, the President of Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala and they hold a press point. She also participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Czech Republic

President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas and they jointly speak to the press. She then meets the President of the Parliament of Estonia, Lauri Hussar and delivers a keynote speech at the Parliament. She also meets the President of Estonia, Alar Karis and participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people.

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Estonia

The Romanian President addresses MEPs on Wednesday at 11.00 to outline his vision on Europe’s challenges and future.

EP President Metsola and President Iohannis have a bilateral meeting before his speech in plenary. A short press point with both is scheduled for 10.50. 

This will be the thirteenth “This is Europe” plenary debate and the first in 2024. In 2023, MEPs heard from Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov (22 November), Cyprus’ President Christodoulides (13 June), Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz (9 May), Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (19 April) and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda (14 March). The EU leaders who participated in this debate series in 2022 were Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob.

Plenary debate - This is Europe - Debate with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis

MEPs review the demands of farmers and rural communities across Europe and discuss how to foster a sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture in a debate with Commission Executive Vice-President Šefčovič and Belgian Foreign Minister Lahbib

Plenary debate- The situation of farmers and the prices of agricultural products

EP President Roberta Metsola, meets with Leo Varadkar, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) in the European Parliament in Brussels

EP President meets with Leo Varadkar, Prime Minister of Ireland

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Portugal - Meeting with Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister

AFET - Exchange of views with Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Simon HARRIS, Irish Prime Minister

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Antonio TAJANI, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs

EMPL - Exchange of views with Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova and Marina Morozova, Member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Meeting with Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Portuguese Prime Minister designate, Luís MONTENEGRO

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Denys SHMYHAL, Prime Minister of Ukraine

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister

Othmar KARAS meets with Mihai POPSOI, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Austria - Meeting with Caroline EDTSTADLER, Federal Minister for EU and Constitution

AFET - Exchange of views with Foreign Affairs Ministers of Member States on the EU enlargement policy ahead of the March 2024 European Council

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Stockholm (Sweden) - Meeting with Ulf KRISTERSSON, Swedish Prime Minister

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the Council

EP Plenary session - This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Petteri ORPO, Prime Minister of Finland - Press Point

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Petteri ORPO, Prime Minister of Finland

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Bucharest (Romania) - Meeting with Marcel CIOLACU, Prime Minister of Romania

Proposals for Union acts

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

Resumption of the sitting

Formal sitting – 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement

Voting time

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The attack on climate and nature: far right and conservative attempts to destroy the Green Deal and prevent investment in our future (topical debate)

Amending Directive 2013/36/EU as regards supervisory powers, sanctions, third-country branches, and environmental, social and governance risks - Amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards requirements for credit risk, credit valuation adjustment risk, operational risk, market risk and the output floor (joint debate - Banking Union)

The sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive - Anti-Money Laundering Regulation - Establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (joint debate - Anti-money laundering)

The European Parliament's right of inquiry (debate)

Voting time (continuation)

La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe (debate)

Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe (debate)

Recent attempts to deny dictatorships and the risk of Europe returning to totalitarianism (debate)

Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz Guliyev

The proposed repeal of the law banning female genital mutilation in The Gambia

The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles (debate)

Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime (joint debate - Advance passenger information)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

20240424-0900-PLENARY

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Official visit to Lisbon (Portugal) - Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission following the votes on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact

Official visit to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister

Official visit to Stockholm (Sweden) - Joint Press Point with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ulf KRISTERSSON, Swedish Prime Minister

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Petteri ORPO, Finnish Prime Minister

Opening of the sitting

Welcome

Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia (debate)

Creation of a European initiative for an annual designation of European capitals for children (debate)

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo (debate)

20240313-0900-PLENARY

Guidelines for the 2025 Budget - Section III (debate)

Type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7) (debate)

Financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast) (debate)

Cohesion policy 2014-2020 – implementation and outcomes in the Member States (debate)

The immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

The repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women

The case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela

Rising anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and violence: recent attacks in Thessaloniki (debate)

The time the European Commission takes to deal with requests for public access to documents (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Official visit to Helsinki (Finland) - Joint Press statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Petteri ORPO, Finnish Prime Minister

Official visit to Athens (Greece) - Joint Press statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS, Greek Prime Minister

Official visit to Warsaw (Poland) - Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Donald TUSK, Polish Prime Minister

Official visit to Prague (Czechia) - Press point by Roberta METSOLA EP President and Petr FIALA, Czech Prime Minister

Official visit to Tallinn (Estonia) - Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Kaja KALLAS, Estonian Prime Minister

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexander De CROO, Belgian Prime Minister on the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union

Official visit to Vilnius (Lithuania) - Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ingrida ŠIMONYTĖ, Lithuanian Prime Minister

Official visit to Riga (Latvia) - Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Evika SILIŅA, Latvian Prime Minister

Press conference by Sabine VERHEYEN, lead Rapporteur and Ramona STRUGARIU, opinion Rapporteur, Ernest URTASUN, Spanish Minister for Culture and Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency on the European Media Freedom Act and the outcome of the inter-institutional negotiations

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Luc FRIEDEN, Luxembourgish Prime Minister

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister on the upcoming Belgian Presidency

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Portugal - Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister

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. Three young guests ask questions Georgios IACOVOU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Antanas VALIONIS, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Pavel TELIČKA, former Chief Negotiator for the Czech Republic's EU accession negotiations.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Young guests ask questions Georgios IACOVOU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Antanas VALIONIS, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Pavel TELIČKA, former Czech Chief Negotiator

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. Four young guests ask questions to Leszek MILLER, former Prime Minister of Poland, Anton ROP, former Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mikuláš DZURINDA, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia and Christina OJULAND, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Guests ask questions to Leszek MILLER, former Polish PM, Anton ROP, former Slovenian PM, Mikuláš DZURINDA, Slovak Former PM and Christina OJULAND, former Estonian Minister

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. Three young guests ask questions to Vaira VĪĶE-FREIBERGA, former President of Latvia, Péter MEDGYESSY, former Prime Minister of Hungary and Lawrence GONZI, former Prime Minister of Malta.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Three young guests ask questions to Vaira VĪĶE-FREIBERGA, former President of Latvia, Péter MEDGYESSY, former Prime Minister of Hungary and Lawrence GONZI, former Prime Minister of Malta

President of the European Parliament Roberta METSOLA and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís MONTENEGRO hold a press conference after their meeting in Lisbon. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís MONTENEGRO. This news items shows her arrival, their meeting and extracts from the press conference.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Lisbon (Portugal) - Meeting with Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister: arrival, meeting and extracts from the press conference

Twelve COD LEX texts are scheduled to be signed on Thursday, 11 April 2024, by President Metsola and Ms Hadja LAHBIB, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions, with the exception of two files which will be signed by Ms Valérie DE BUE , Minister for the Civil Service, Tourism, Heritage and Road Safety (Government of Federation Wallonia-Brussels), and Mr Benjamin DALLE, Minister for Brussels, Youth, Media and Poverty Reduction (Flemish Government), on behalf of the Belgian Presidency.

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

EP president Roberta METSOLA meets with Irish Prime Minister Simon HARRIS. This news item shows their arrival, meeting and roundtable.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Simon HARRIS, Irish Prime Minister: arrival, meeting and roundtable

EP President Roberta METSOLA, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO and EC President Ursula VON DER LEYEN speak to the press following the votes on the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission following the votes on the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules

Following her visit official visit to Slovenia and after meeting with the Prime Minister, EP President Roberta METSOLA holds a press point together with Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister. The press point concentrates on the situation of the farming industry in the EU, the developing situation in the Middle East, the ongoing enlargements talks and the start of the negotiations for the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the upcoming 2024 European Elections. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister

As part of her official visit to Ljubljana (Slovenia), EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert GOLOB. This news item shows the arrival and press conference. The topics of discussion covered are the ongoing enlargements talks and the start of the negotiations for the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the upcoming 2024 European Elections.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Meeting with Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister: arrival and extracts from the press conference

EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Portuguese Prime Minister designate Luís MONTENEGRO in Brussels. This news item shows his arrival and their photo opportunity.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister designate: arrival and photo opportunity

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Denys SHMYHAL, Ukrainian Prime Minister, in the European Parliament in Brussels. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Prime Minister Shmyhal, welcome by President Metsola, family photo and bilateral.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Denys SHMYHAL, Ukrainian Prime Minister

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, in the European Parliament in Brussels. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Prime Minister Costa, welcome by President Roberta Metsola, family photo, signature of the Guests Honour Book and meeting.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister: arrival and meeting

EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Austrian Federal Minister for the European Union and Constitution Karoline EDTSTADLER in Vienna. This news items shows extracts from the arrival, family photo, and meeting.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vienna (Austria): arrival and meeting with Karoline EDTSTADLER, Austrian Federal Minister for the European Union and Constitution

EP President Roberta METSOLA and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON speak to the press after their meeting in Stockholm. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Pleas check against delivery.

Joint Press Point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ulf KRISTERSSON, Swedish Prime Minister

During her official visit to Sweden ahead of the European elections of 6-9 June 2024 Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Ulf KRISTERSSON, Swedish Prime Minister. This news item shows extracts from her arrival and meeting, as well as highlights from the press point.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Stockholm (Sweden): arrival, meeting with Ulf KRISTERSSON, Swedish Prime Minister and extracts from the press point

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Hadja LAHBIB, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency, sign some legislative acts.

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Hadja LAHBIB, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency

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. Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

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