The EU is committed to helping those in need, and has agreed on a range of measures to ensure protection and adequate reception conditions that respect human rights.

This is what Europe does to protect refugees that have fled war or political oppression in their own countries

MEPs discuss and vote on Wednesday on ten new bills updating the EU asylum and migration rules, emphasising cooperation and mandatory but flexible solidarity. 

Plenary wraps up this term’s legislative work in the field of migration and asylum with a debate with the Belgian Council Presidency and the Commission on the outcome of negotiations over the Migration and Asylum Pact. The already agreed texts aim to improve cooperation among European states and enhance the EU’s response in case of crises. 

The Pact encompasses a new framework for a comprehensive asylum and migration policy based on solidarity, fair responsibility sharing, and updated rules on criteria and mechanisms to determine the member state responsible for examining an application for international protection (formerly known as the Dublin rules). Member states will be able to choose between relocating asylum applicants to their territory, making financial contributions or providing operational and technical support to member states under migratory pressure. 

There will be specific rules for crisis situations, and the rules on reception standards for asylum applicants will be updated. The amended qualification rules will set uniform standards across the EU to recognise people applying for international protection, as well as their rights. There will be a faster common procedure –including provisions on inadmissible claims and more expedited returns- across the EU to grant and to withdraw international protection, following an initial pre-entry screening and registration of fingerprints and facial images in a common database (Eurodac). Finally, a new EU framework for resettlement will regulate the opportunities for refugees in third countries to come to the EU, based on member states’ voluntary participation

Plenary debate - EU migration and asylum rules

EP President Roberta Metsola, addresses the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the European Union, during a New Year's Reception

EP President Metsola addresses the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the European Union

EP President Metsola have an audience with his Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, followed by a New Year’s Reception.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President attends the New Year's reception hosted by Philippe, King of the Belgians

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Italy - Keynote speech 'l'Europa è nelle mani degli Europei' at the Collegio Europeo di Parma and Reception of the Piccolo della Mirandola Prize

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates in the FEDIL 2025 New Year Reception (Luxembourg)

Statement by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Composition of committees and delegations

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

Order of business

Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 163)

Voting time

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković (debate)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022, including the meeting with Western Balkan leaders on 23 June - Candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia (debate)

Implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (debate)

Implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (debate)

Inclusion measures within Erasmus+ 2014-2020 (debate)

2021 Report on Montenegro (debate)

Future of EU-Africa trade relations (debate)

Future of EU international investment policy (short presentation)

Draft amending budget No 3/2022: financing reception costs of people fleeing Ukraine (short presentation)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting 

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) - Application for international protection lodged in a Member State by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast version) - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints - Granting and withdrawing international protection (recast) (debate)

Laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) - Application for international protection lodged in a Member State by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast version) - Establishment of 'Eur...

European Refugee Fund for the period 2008-2013 (amendment of Decision No 573/2007/EC) - Minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers (recast) - Application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by third-country nationals or stateless persons (recast) - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints (recast) - Establishment of a European Asylum Support Office (debate)

European Refugee Fund for the period 2008-2013 (amendment of Decision No 573/2007/EC) - Minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers (recast) - Application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by third-country nati...

New Year reception at the Belgian Royal Palace for European Authorities

Reception on the occasion of the European Gender Equality Week

Partnership Agreement Reception

EP New Year Reception

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to New York (United States) - Speech at the Reception hosted by the World Jewish Congress

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Tokyo (Japan) - G7 Speakers’ meeting Welcome reception

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to the FEDIL 2025 New Year Reception in LuxExpo. Founded in 1918, FEDIL is a multisectoral business federation, giving a voice to industrialists and entrepreneurs and fostering economic activity in Luxembourg . Representing more than 700 members, FEDIL is today a driving force in the Luxembourg ecosystem. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to the FEDIL 2025 New Year Reception: Address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

At Brussels' Royal Palace, EP President METSOLA and António COSTA, President of the European Council meet with Philippe, King of the Belgians.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and António COSTA, President of the European Council meet with Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians: extracts from the audience and the New Year’s Reception

MEPs vote on the following topics: Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure implementing the parliamentary reform “Parliament 2024”; Common procedure for international protection in the Union; Addressing situations of crisis in the field of migration and asylum; Asylum and migration management; Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148; Screening of third country nationals at the external borders; European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals; Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013; Union Resettlement Framework; Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection; and Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection.

Voting Session: Migration and Asylum package

Sophie IN ’T VELD (RE, NL), rapporteur for the Reception conditions directive, Fabienne KELLER (RE, FR), rapporteur for the Asylum procedure regulation, Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI), rapporteur for the Qualification regulation, and Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ECR, ES), rapporteur for Eurodac speak to the press on Migration Pact files. On Wednesday, Parliament is set to give its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules will ensure responsibility sharing among member states in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs will review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Sophie IN ’T VELD (RE, NL), Fabienne KELLER (RE, FR), Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI) and Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA (ECR, ES) rapporteurs on Migration Pact files

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, and participates in a reception hosted by Him in the Royal Palace. This news item shows extracts from the bilateral meeting and reception attended by President Metsola.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President attends the New Year's reception hosted by Philippe, King of the Belgians with EP Vice-Presidents and Questors

During her official visit to New York (United States of America), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, visits the Columbia University. She addresses the World Leader Forum and exchanges with participants. She also participates at a reception hosted by the World Jewish Congress at the Neue Galerie.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to New York (USA): extracts from the the visit at the Columbia University and the reception by the World Jewish Congress

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates in a reception hosted by His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians for the 70th Anniversary of the European Parliament. The Bureau of the EP and the Chairs of the Committees are also invited. Extracts from the reception and from the speeches by King Philippe and Roberta Metsola.

Reception hosted by His Majesty the King of the Belgians on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the European Parliament: arrivals and extracts from the address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

After Brussels, a Civil Liberties Committee delegation go to Calais (France) to look into irregular crossings to the UK and the implications for reception facilities. MEPs meet with municipal representatives in Calais as well as judicial and police authorities in charge of security aspects related to the migratory situation and borders, with a focus on the fight against smuggling. The delegation visits a reception centre and meets with local associations involved in humanitarian support to migrants. The visit also include the joint UK-France Coordination and Information Centre.

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