At a glance: Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomes ceasefire in Gaza as a turning point; the EU moves towards a greener future with circular economy measures; and the European capitals of excellence for 2025.

News in Brief – 17/01/2025 - English

At a glance: Commissioner Marta Kos discusses EU enlargement with MEPs; Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee reviews Europol report on terrorism threats; applications are open for 2025 Charlemagne Youth Prize.

News in Brief – 16/01/2025 - English

At a glance: MEPs prepare for plenary debate on Polish presidency of the Council of the EU and Middle East Strategy; in Strasbourg, Parliament will also focus on migrant smuggling and Russia’s disinformation; the Committee on International Trade will discuss EU-Mercosur deal with Commissioner Šefčovič.

News in Brief – 15/01/2025 - English

At a glance: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU leaders unite to tackle security challenges; President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola met the Austrian Chancellor and the NATO Secretary General; the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development discussed the 2026 budget, wine policy and forest monitoring.

News in Brief – 14/01/2025 - English

At a glance: the latest Eurobarometer survey shows growing support for the EU’s common agricultural policy; a public hearing explores how tax policies affect gender equality; the new Commissioner for Enlargement is set to address MEPs.

News in Brief – 13/01/2025 - English

At a glance: NATO chief Mark Rutte meets Parliament committees to discuss NATO-EU cooperation, Ukraine and global security threats; Parliament President Metsola in Egypt for regional dialogue; EU aims for climate neutrality by 2050.

News in Brief – 10/01/2025 - English

At a glance: Poland takes over EU Council Presidency; Germany’s Chemnitz and Slovenia’s Nova Gorica celebrate European cultural heritage and diversity as Capitals of Culture; 30 years of EU membership for Austria, Finland and Sweden.

News in Brief – 09/01/2025 - English

At a glance: MEPs visit India to boost digital and consumer ties; tax policies and gender equality under scrutiny; and improving the enforcement of EU laws to benefit citizens.

News in Brief – 08/01/2025 - English

At a glance: Poland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union; MEPs visit India to boost digital and consumer ties; Parliament calls for leadership on women’s rights.

News in Brief – 07/01/2024 - English

At a glance: President Metsola at the EU-Western Balkans summit: ‘It is time to grow’; Parliament sets up new committees on defence, health, democracy and housing; on 1 January, Poland will take over the EU Council presidency from Hungary.

News in Brief – 20/12/2024 - English

At a glance: Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili warns MEPs of high stakes for EU if Georgia falls under Russian influence; Parliament approves faster disaster recovery funding; MEPs elect Teresa Anjinho from Portugal as European Ombudsman.

News in Brief – 19/12/2024 - English

At a glance: Romania and Bulgaria will officially join the Schengen free-movement area on 1 January 2025; the geopolitical implications of the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria; the European Parliament awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia from Venezuela.

News in Brief – 18/12/2024 - English

At a glance: in Strasbourg tomorrow, MEPs will outline their priorities for the upcoming EU summit on Ukraine, the Middle East and migration and will debate collective bargaining and abusive subcontracting practices; Parliament is also set to establish new committees on defence, health, democracy and housing.

News in Brief – 17/12/2024 - English

Using railways, trains and carriages as a metaphor, the Legislative Train Schedule website enables users, namely MEPs, Parliament staff and the wider public, to follow the progress of legislative files moving through the European Parliament.

What is the Legislative Train?

At a glance: Sakharov Prize to honour Venezuelan democracy leaders; MEPs to debate the impact of the Assad regime’s collapse in Syria; Parliament to elect the next European Ombudsman.

News in Brief – 16/12/2024 - English

In recent years an increasing number of attacks and threats against journalists have been documented and reported in Europe. Physical attacks against journalists as well as online threats and harassment in reprisal for journalists' work are on the rise in several EU countries. Around the world, the number of dead and wounded journalists is still too high, as is the number of journalists who are detained, imprisoned and mistreated. The most recent Council of Europe assessment of press freedom in Europe reports that war remains a threat to press freedom and the safety of media workers. Reporters without Borders confirms that the situation is particularly dangerous for journalists, who are sometimes deliberately targeted by military fire despite displaying 'Press' identification.

EPRS policy podcast - Protection of journalists in the European Union

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 2022-2024

In July 2024&nbsp; MEPs re-elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) as President of the European Parliament until 2027, with 562 votes in the first round. Roberta Metsola won the election in the first round of voting, where she received an absolute majority of 562 votes cast out of 699 by secret paper ballot, among two candidates. She will continue to lead Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.

Born in Malta in 1979, Roberta Metsola has been an MEP since 2013.&nbsp;She was elected First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022. On 18 January 2022,&nbsp;she was elected President&nbsp;for the second half of the 9th legislative term. She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after&nbsp;Simone Veil&nbsp;(1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002).

Addressing the House after she was elected, President Metsola said: “Together, we must stand up for the politics of hope, for the dream that is Europe. I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our project. A belief to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just and more equal. A belief that together we are stronger and we are better. A belief that ours is a Europe for all.”

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2024-2027

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995.

Luxembourg City, together with Brussels and Strasbourg, is one of the three official seats of the European institutions. There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Luxembourg.

EU - Luxembourg

The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) have two main goals: to create a safer digital space in which the fundamental rights of all users of digital services are protected and to establish a level playing field to foster innovation, growth, and competitiveness, both in the European Single Market and globally.

The&nbsp;Digital Services Act (DSA)&nbsp;aims to create a safer digital space in which users rights are protected, including rules to tackle illegal content online, enhance the accountability and transparency of algorithms, and dealing with content moderation and targeted advertising.

Digital Markets Act&nbsp; (DMA) sets rules on what big online platforms will be allowed to do and not do in the EU. It&nbsp;blacklists certain practices of large platforms acting as “gatekeepers” and enables the Commission to carry out market investigations and sanction non-compliant behaviour.

Digital Services and Digital Markets Act

The Delegation for relations with Palestine is concerned with developments in the Middle East Peace Process and the European Union's policy and actions concerning the establishment of the two state-solution. The European Parliament has repeatedly expressed its strong support for the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, sovereign, free, contiguous and viable Palestinian State with living side-by-side in peace. Delegation Members assess the situation in Palestine regularly, meeting with Palestinian authorities, Palestinian Legislative Council counterparts, and political and community leaders as well as NGOs.

EU - Palestine

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

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.

INTA - Committee on International Trade

Montenegro is one of the Western Balkan countries.

In 2008, Montenegro applied for EU membership, and accession negotiations began in 2012. Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiation chapters, three of which have been provisionally closed. Public opinion surveys show that 75 % of the population support the country’s accession to the European Union.

EU - Montenegro

EMPL - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) is a committee of the European Parliament which is responsible for the regulation of financial services, the free movement of capital and payments, taxation and competition policies, oversight of the European Central Bank, and the international financial system. It is currently chaired by Irene Tinagli.

ECON - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

<center>Image: ©Clara</center>

 

International Women’s Day is held every year on 8 March. Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union.

Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treates have helped shore up this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.

On this occassion, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo from the Spanish women’s national football team, which won the 2023 World Cup addressed the EP Plenary in Strasbourg on 12 March 2024.

President Metsola said International Women’s Day is not only a moment to recognise the achievements of women and girls across the world. It should also be a call to action to strengthen gender equality across all spheres of our society. Seeing it as an invitation for societies to do better, President Metsola said: “The time is now for the European Union to lead by example - to set standards in criminalising violence against women, to improve access to justice, and to ratify the Istanbul Convention before the end of this term.

International Women’s Day

Have a look at stockshots (from 2021 onwards) with illustrative pre-edited broadcast quality video footage. These editable stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), produced to illustrate priority EU dossiers and parliamentary work. They are intended to help audiovisual media produce their own programs, for example, editing of news reports or documentaries.

Infoclips - Illustrative footage

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;

MEPs have voted during May 2023 plenary to approve the European Union’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, concluding Parliament’s role in the process. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention - it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of a few member states, despite&nbsp;Parliament’s multiple calls to this end.

However, the EU&nbsp;Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021&nbsp;confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention without having the agreement of all member states. The Court found that the appropriate scope for the EU’s accession is asylum, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and obligations of the EU institutions and public administration.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention does not exempt member states from ratifying it themselves, MEPs have repeatedly said, urging the remaining six countries - Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - to ratify the Convention without delay, so that it can protect women to the full extent of the Convention’s intended scope

Violence against women

Exposing and eradicating discrimination on the grounds of gender and sex remains a priority for the European Parliament. Through the&nbsp;FEMM Committee and plenary debates, MEPs frequently discuss&nbsp;the impact on women of social and economic changes.

The European Parliament aims to address and denounce events and policy that breach or threaten the rights of women,&nbsp;both within the EU and abroad.

During the last week of October 2023, the European Parliament holds its fourth European Gender Equality Week,&nbsp;at the initiative of the Women’s Rights Committee. Several committees will hold debates with a gender perspective to discuss policy shortcomings and achievements, and how to advance women's rights in all EU policy areas.

Women's rights

Animal, Dahomey, Flow, Intercepted, and Julie Keeps Quiet have been shortlisted for the 2025 Lux European Audience Film Award. The five shortlisted films were announced on Wednesday by the European Parliament first vice-president&nbsp;Sabine Verheyen&nbsp;(EPP, DE), and the chair of the Committee on Culture and Education&nbsp;Nela Riehl&nbsp;(Greens, EFA, DE).

The announcement event took place for the first time at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Following the announcement, vice-president of the EP Sabine Verheyen said: "European cinema reflects the challenges and hopes of our society. This year's finalists, each in their distinct form, showcase the rich variety of the film world. They offer powerful perspectives on pressing issues such as women's rights, climate change, our history and the war in Ukraine. They pen up important conversations and inviting us to see the world through diverse lenses."

The LUX Audience Film Award is presented every year by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas. A symbol of the European Parliament’s commitment to culture, the Lux award continues to build cultural bridges across Europe, by putting the spotlight on films that go to the heart of the European public debate. The award aims to strengthen ties between politics and citizens, by inviting European audiences to become active protagonists and cast their vote for their favourite films.

Lux Audience Award 2025

Hungary officially joined the EU on 1 March 2004 and the Schengen Area in December 2007.

The Hungarian EU accession negotiations started on 31 March 1998. Hungary had successfully concluded negotiations on its accession at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002. Hungary has 22 MEPs, 12 votes in the Council and has chaired the Council of the European Union from January to June 2011.

EU - Hungary

The EP’s Press Service holds a press briefing with the Parliament’s political group spokespersons at 11.00 on Friday

Pre-session briefing

EP President Roberta Metsola, meets the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa

EP President meets with Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa

The Committee on International Trade meets with Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič to discuss the trade aspects of the EU-Mercosur deal on which a political agreement was reached on 6 December 2024.

INTA- Debate with Maros SEFCOVIC, Commissioner for EU-Mercorsur Agreement

MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee meet Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The discussion is expected to focus on the state of play and the progress made by the ten enlargement countries.

AFET debate with Marta KOS, Commissioner  for Enlargement

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Delegation for Relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for the first time. In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the incoming US administration, the topics to be discussed will likely include efforts to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence as well as the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine. MEPs are also set to inquire about other regional and global security threats that require close cooperation between the EU and NATO.

AFET/SEDE- Debate with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of NATO

President meets with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of NATO

EP President meets with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of NATO

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, meets with the Chancellor of Austria, Alexander SCHALLENBERG.

EP President, meets with Alexander SCHALLENBERG, Austrian Chancellor

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as well as with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

Discussions are likely to focus on the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive partnership, EU macro-financial assistance, human rights and the geopolitical situation in the region, including the need to reinvigorate the Middle East Peace Process and the situation in Gaza, as well as recent developments in Syria.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President Official visit to Cairo (Egypt)

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Egypt Hanafy El Gebaly and the President of the Senate of Egypt Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razeq.

The visit takes place against the background of strengthening relations between the European Union and Egypt, ongoing discussions on EU macro-financial assistance and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the neighbouring region.

The meetings provides an opportunity to discuss interparliamentary relations, including the organisation of the next EU-Egypt Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) in Cairo, the EU's macro-financial assistance to Egypt, currently under discussion in the European Parliament, migration flows and asylum.

EP President participates at European Council

EP President meets with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković

MEPS debate on the EU-Western Balkans summit of 18 December 2024

Debate on EU-Western Balkans summit

MEPs outline their demands of European leaders ahead of the December EU summit (19-20 December) , which is set to focus on Ukraine and the Middle East, crisis prevention, migration.

Debate on December European Council

MEPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas debate Russia’s manipulation of history and use of false narratives to justify its war in Ukraine.

The debate is likely to focus on Russian historical disinformation narratives to discredit and undermine international support for Ukraine, efforts which are intended to hurt Ukrainian independence and sovereignty.

Debate on Russian disinformation on Ukraine

MEPs discuss misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media, and the dangers they pose to free and fair elections in Europe.

Debate on disinformation on social media

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Press conference with EP President Metsola and the laureates takes place after the ceremony, Ahead of the ceremony.

Award of the 2024 Sakharov prize

MEPs debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and take stock of the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections.

Debate ongoing protests in Georgia

Debate on the latest developments in Syria

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

EPRS Policy roundtable - Ten issues to watch in 2025

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.


The number of MEPs elected varies between countries: bigger countries get more seats than smaller ones. Due to changes in the size of the population, some EU countries will get extra seats in the upcoming elections compared to the outgoing Parliament. In total 15 seats will be added.


There are also differences in other aspects of voting, for example regarding the minimum voting age or the rules about voting from abroad.

EU Elections 2024

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.

Map European elections 2024

Online shopping, take-away food, coffee to go... Packaging waste is growing. Find out how much is being produced and how the EU wants to reverse the trend

How to reduce packaging waste in the EU

With war having returned to the European continent, measuring the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world – as the 'Normandy Index' does – is more important than ever. The annual Index was presented for the first time at the Normandy Peace Forum in June 2019, as a result of a partnership between the European Parliament and the Region of Normandy. The Index has been designed and prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), in conjunction with and on the basis of data provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This paper sets out the findings of the 2023 exercise, which draws on data compiled in 2022, and explains how the Index can be used to compare peace – defined on the basis of a given country's performance against a range of predetermined threats – across countries and regions. It is complemented by 61 individual country case studies, derived from the Index. The paper forms part of the EPRS contribution to the 2023 Normandy World Peace Foru

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Discover key figures about the repatriation of migrants and proposed changes to EU law.
The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum includes new rules and the revision of existing legislation, such as the Return Directive.
In a draft resolution on the Return Directive adopted in December 2020, MEPs stressed the importance of protecting individual fundamental rights as well as respect for procedural safeguards.

Repatriation: how many migrants in the EU are sent back?

Over the past 30 years the single market has brought unity and opportunities to Europeans.

30 years of EU single market: benefits and challenges

Find out about the top cyber threats in 2022, the most affected sectors and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The digital transformation has inevitably led to new cybersecurity threats. During the coronavirus pandemic, companies had to adapt to remote working and this created more possibilities for cybercriminals. The war in Ukraine has also affected cybersecurity.

In response to the evolution of cybersecurity threats, Parliament adopted a new EU directive introducing harmonised measures across the EU, including on the protection of essential sectors.

Cybersecurity: main and emerging threats

With fast fashion, the quantity of clothes produced and thrown away has boomed. Find out more about the environmental impact and what the EU is doing about it.

Fast fashion is the constant provision of new styles at very low prices.

To tackle the impact on the environment, the EU wants to reduce textile waste and increase the life cycle and recycling of textiles. This is part of the plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Find out about the economic inequalities that continue to persist between women and men in the EU.

It has been more than 25 years since the adoption of the UN’s Beijing Declaration, which aims to promote equality between men and women. The same goal lies behind the creation of UN Women - dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women - and the inclusion of gender equality in the Sustainable Development Goals.
s
So where do we stand? Progress has been made, but inequality between men and women persists, including on the labour market. On average, women in the EU are paid less than men.

Gender pay gap in Europe: facts and figures

Every year 2.2 billion tonnes of waste are generated in the EU. More than a quarter of it (27%) is municipal waste: everyday waste collected and treated by municipalities, which is mainly generated by households. Data shows that the amount of waste and the way it is managed varies a lot across EU countries, but there has been a shift to more recycling and less landfilling.

To reduce waste and its impact on the environment, the EU has adopted ambitious targets on recycling and landfill and is working on packaging waste. The goal is to promote the shift towards a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

Waste management in the EU: infographic with facts and figures

Euroscola

Delegations for relations with the United States

Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

Panel for the Future of Science and Technology panel STOA Panel meeting

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI

Plenary session

Delegation for relations with Palestine

DPAL

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Mohammad MUSTAFA, Palestinian Prime Minister

New Year reception at the Belgian Royal Palace for European Authorities

EMPL - Social dimension of the 'Much more than a market' report - Exchange of views with Enrico Letta

INTA - Exchange of views with Maroš ŠEFCOVIC, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, on the trade aspects of the EU-Mercosur Agreement

ECON - Public Hearing on The future of the Capital Markets Union (CMU)

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents in the presence of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Election of the Vice Chairs of the EU-Montenegro delegation

Visit of the Carol Singers  MMXXV

Minority Intergroup Constitutive Meeting

LUX European Audience Film Award 2025 - Meeting between Greek MEPs and director of nominated film Animal

LUX European Audience Film Award 2025 - Screening of nominated film Animal

AFET - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

FISC Subcommittee - Public hearing on “The Impact of Taxation on Gender Equality in the EU”

AFET SEDE - Exchange of views with Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO

Roberta METSOLA, EP President President meets with Mark RUTTE, NATO Secretary General

ENVI AGRI joint committees - Public Hearing - Forest Monitoring for resilient European Forests

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

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, holds a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to discuss recent developments in the Gaza conflict and the potential for a ceasefire in the region. This news item highlights key moments, including the arrival of Prime Minister Mustafa, his welcome by President Metsola, a family photo, a handshake, and a bilateral discussion between the two leaders.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Mohammad MUSTAFA, Palestinian Prime Minister: arrival, meeting and roundtable

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

The EP Conference of Presidents meets with Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents in the presence of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: arrivals and roundtable

The video showcases general views of Cairo at day and night, capturing the city's architecture, bustling streets full of traffic, and vibrant atmosphere at local shops. It also includes shots of the Giza pyramid complex, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the Baron Empain Palace and the Talaat Harb street.

Infoclip: General views of Cairo (Egypt)

The Committees on Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence and the Delegation for Relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meet Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for the first time. In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the incoming US administration, the topics discussed include efforts to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence as well as the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine. MEPs also inquire about other regional and global security threats that require close cooperation between the EU and NATO.

Exchange of views with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO): extracts - AFET Committee, SEDE Subcommittee and Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Context is everything, and disinformation spreaders know it. Sometimes they try to lure us into their lies by presenting real facts, photos or parts of speeches in a misleading context. 
 
We show you how this works and how you can avoid falling into this trap.

How disinformation works | Episode 5: Presenting things out of context 

How disinformation works | Episode 5: Presenting things out of context  - 9:16

The Committees on Foreign Affairs and Security (AFET) and Defence (SEDE) and the Delegation for Relations with the National Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for the first time. In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the incoming US administration, the topics discussed include efforts to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence as well as the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine. MEPs also inquire about other regional and global security threats that require close cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

Exchange of views with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the NATO: Opening statements by David McALLISTER, AFET Chair, Marie-Agnes STRACK-ZIMMERMANN, SEDE Chair, Mark RUTTE, NATO Secretary General, and by Salvatore DE MEO, DNAT Chair

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), in Brussels. Arrival, meeting and roundtable

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of NATO: arrival

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Alexander SCHALLENBERG, Austrian Federal Chancellor, in Brussels. This news item shows extracts from the arrival, meeting and roundtable at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Alexander SCHALLENBERG, Austrian Federal Chancellor: arrival, meeting and roundtable

Finding information that seems to confirm what we already believe in might be comforting. However, it could also be our blind spot. 
  
Disinformation spreaders might use content aligned with the beliefs and values we already hold to manipulate us. 
  
This video will help you to identify this widely-used manipulation technique and protect yourself against it.

How disinformation works | Episode 4: Confirming existing beliefs  9:16

How disinformation works | Episode 4: Confirming existing beliefs

EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Badr Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Cairo (Egypt): Badr Ahmed Mohamed ABDELATTY, Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola travels to Egypt on 8-9 January 2025, the visit takes place against the background of strengthening relations between the European Union and Egypt, ongoing discussions on EU macro-financial assistance and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the neighbouring region. This video shows the meeting between Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament and Abdel Fattah AL-SISSI, President of Egypt

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Cairo (Egypt): meeting with Abdel Fattah AL-SISSI, President of Egypt

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets with the President of the Senate, Mr Abdel-Whab Abdel-Razeq in Cairo. The visit takes place against the background of strengthening relations between the European Union and Egypt, ongoing discussions on EU macro-financial assistance and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the neighbouring region.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Cairo (Egypt): meeting with Abdel-Wahab ABDEL-RAZEG, President of the Senate

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, travels to Egypt and meets with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hanafy El Gebaly. The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss interparliamentary relations, including the organisation of the next EU-Egypt Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) in Cairo, the EU's macro-financial assistance to Egypt, currently under discussion in the European Parliament, migration flows and asylum.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Cairo (Egypt): meeting with Hanafy EL GEBALY, Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a key EU law aimed to create a safer and trusted online environment. The European Parliament is now debating on the enforcement of this regulation. According to this legislation, online platforms and search engines must take measures to protect their users from harmful and illegal content, goods and services. Online platforms must be more transparent and more accountable, and put in place special measures to ensure users' safety. They should also neither influence users' behaviour nor allow foreign interference.This infoclip gives an overview of tech giants such as Amazon, Meta, Google,TikTok, LinkedIn and X. In 2025 Meta announced the end of its third party fact-checking program. In 2024 the Commission opened proceedings against TikTok for not having assessed risks linked to election integrity during the recent Romanian presidential elections. The Commission also proceeded against X and preliminary findings confirmed its breach of the DSA.

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