At a glance:  Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development votes on new rules to better protect EU farmers; NATO and EU lawmakers are in Brussels for a seminar on tackling hybrid threats; MEPs debate future EU anti-racism strategy in key civil liberties meeting.

News in Brief – 14/07/2025 - English

At a glance: Parliament’s July plenary session is under way. MEPs will debate and vote on distributing EUR 280 million of flood relief to Austria, Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova; controlling the influx of parcels from outside the EU; and stepping up preparations for the wildfire season.

News in Brief – 08/07/2025 - English

Being a Member of the European Parliament is much more than just voting and taking part in plenary debates. Some MEPs will be involved in putting together reports about Parliament’s opinions on proposals and all sorts of other subjects: welcome to the work of the rapporteurs.

The role of the rapporteur

At a glance: in Strasbourg, MEPs vote to extend EU post-pandemic recovery funding beyond 2026; a resolution on the Clean Industrial Deal; and the EU’s first-ever rules on the welfare of cats and dogs.

News in Brief – 20/06/2025 - English

At a glance: the vote on the first-ever Soil Monitoring Law; The Hungarian Forum Europaeum wins the 2025 European Charlemagne Youth Prize; an exchange of views on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

News in Brief – 02/06/2025 - English

At a glance: the European Court of Auditors will present its report on labour market reforms in the EU’s national recovery plans; the Committee on Public Health will review the EU’s crisis response and hold key exchanges; and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs will vote on a new EU body for ethical standards.

News in Brief – 13/05/2025 - English

At a glance: during the plenary session, Parliament will debate the EU response to US tariffs; Türkiye’s bid to join the EU is under scrutiny in Parliament; MEPs will vote on a 9 million euro support package for 2 400 workers in Belgium.

News in Brief – 05/05/2025 - English

At a glance: Parliament’s Committee on Budgets will vote on a report on the EU’s next long-term budget; a public hearing will be held on InvestEU, a programme that supports sustainable investment, innovation and job creation in Europe; the Commission will brief the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety on international climate negotiations ahead of COP30.

News in Brief – 22/04/2025 - English

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

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

In September 2018, the Article 7(1) TEU procedure was triggered. In this case, the European Parliament voted a resolution calling the Council to determine the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values in relation to Hungary. This resolution was preceded by numerous others adopted by the Parliament between March 2011 and May 2017, and it made reference to concerns related mainly to judicial independence, freedom of expression, corruption, rights of minorities, and the situation of migrants and refugees in Hungary.

Under Article 2 TEU, the EU is founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights (DRF). Article 7 TEU establishes two mechanisms (preventive and sanctions) to enforce EU values in cases of systemic violations and to sanction Member States departing from them.

See also the previous <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/rule-of-law-in-hungary-8th-parliamentary-term_5702_pk">package</a> on the rule of law in Hungary.

Rule of law in Hungary (2019-2020)

On Tuesday, MEPs adopt their opinion on Bulgaria’s bid to become the newest member of the euro area from 1 January 2026.

The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee adopted a favourable opinion on 24 June, with 46 votes in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions. This opinion has now been tabled for a vote in plenary.

With Bulgaria joining the euro area, 21 of the EU’s 27 member countries will have the euro as their currency.

A press conference with the rapporteur Eva Maydell (EPP, Bulgaria) is held at 14:00 CET on Tuesday in the European Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room in Strasbourg.

Vote on the adoption by Bulgaria of the euro on 1st January 2025

EU-China relations

In a debate with Council and Commission, MEPs outline their expectations for the upcoming EU-China summit, set to take place in China in July and which will mark 50 years of bilateral diplomatic relations. They will also discuss how to tackle China’s critical raw materials export restrictions. Plenary will vote on a resolution on the latter on Thursday.

Plenary debate on the expectations for the upcoming EU-China summit

Following the tabling of a motion of censure against the European Commission, plenary holds a debate and the subsequent vote on Thursday. 

According to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a motion of censure in respect of the Commission may be submitted to the President by one 10th of the component Members of Parliament, i.e. 72 MEPs.

President Metsola announced on Wednesday to the Conference of Presidents (a meeting of the European Parliament President and political group leaders) that an admissible motion had been filed, and asked group leaders to inform their members. The plenary debate - one round of political group speakers - is scheduled for Monday, and the vote, by roll call, will take place on Thursday. To be adopted, a motion must secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component Members of Parliament.

Plenary debate on a motion of censure against the Commission

The EP’s Press Service holds a press briefing with Parliament’s political group spokespersons 

Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 7 - 10 July plenary session, where MEPs will review the June European Council and look ahead at the upcoming EU-China summit. They will debate the priorities of the Danish Council Presidency which starts on 1 July with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. MEPs will also discuss the situation in the Middle East, in particular developments in Iran, the security of energy supply in the EU, as well as the EU’s preparedness in light of the upcoming wildfire season. They will debate and vote on the EU accession progress of Georgia, Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina and North Macedonia. There will also be votes on Bulgaria’s adoption of the Euro on 1 January 2026, and on the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression.

Pre-session briefing on July Plenary session

LIBE - Votes on the Visa Suspension Mechanism and the Agreement between Europol and Brazil

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

Committee on International Trade Extraordinary meeting Vote outcome trilogue MFA Egypt

INTA

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Ordinary meeting votes

FEMM

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO) and Carla TAVARES (S&D, PT), co-rapporteurs on the next EU long-term budget (MFF): outcome of the vote on Parliament's priorities

Committee on International Trade Extraordinary meeting Vote on a draft opinion

Committee on Legal Affairs - Vote

JURI

Resumption of the sitting

Cryptocurrencies - need for global standards

Composition of committees and delegations

Voting time

 Resumption of the sitting

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Major interpellation (Rule 145)

Explanations of votes

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

Dates of forthcoming sittings

Closure of the sitting

Adjournment of the session

Plenary session

EP Plenary session - Voting session

TRAN vote on two legislations that seek to reinforce passenger rights

AFET Committee - Votes

With 175 votes in favour, 360 against, and 18 abstentions, the European Parliament rejected a motion of censure against the European Commission. The vote on the motion took place by roll call. To be adopted, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of component Members of Parliament, would have been needed.

Voting Session: motion of censure on the European Commission

MEPs vote on the following items: the case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai; the arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic; the urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus; Decaro (A10-0134/2025) - Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 as regards obligations of economic operators concerning battery due diligence policies; Bentele (A10-0123/2025) - Future of the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector: leveraging research, boosting innovation and enhancing competitiveness, and Tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions.

Voting Session

Parliament vote on a proposal to allocate €280 million of EU aid for European countries affected by devastating floods in 2024. The European Commission has proposed using money from the EU Solidarity Fund to support Austria, Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Moldova, and Poland to address damage caused by floods in September and October 2024. The Parliament’s Budgets Committee already endorsed the measure on 24 June. The proposed distribution of aid would be: • Austria: €42.8 million • Czechia: €114 million • Poland: €76 million • Slovakia: €2.1 million • Bosnia and Herzegovina: €45.7 million • Moldova: €195,200 This will finance a wide range of recovery initiatives, including infrastructure repair, improvements to disaster-prevention mechanisms, temporary accommodation, the protection of cultural heritage sites, and clean-up operations.

Eva MAYDELL (EPP, BG), rapporteur for the report, holds a press conference on the adoption by Bulgaria of the euro on 1st January 2026. On 8 July 2025, the European Parliament, by 531 votes in favour, 69 against and 79 abstentions, adopted a report confirming Bulgaria fulfills the criteria for adopting the euro on 1st January 2026. After confirmation by EU member states, Bulgaria will become the 21st member of the Euro area.This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Eva MAYDELL (EPP, BG), rapporteur for the report on the adoption by Bulgaria of the euro on 1st January 2026

3. Borys Budka (ITRE A10-0079/2025) - The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season (Vote: 08/05/2025) 4. Assita Kanko (LIBE A10-0082/2025) - Temporary derogation from certain provisions of Regulations (EU) 2017/2226 and (EU) 2016/399 5. Ľudovít Ódor (ECON A10-0119/2025) - VAT: taxable persons, special scheme and special arrangements for declaration and payment, relating to distance sales of imported goods (Vote: 22/11/2023) 6. Emma Fourreau (PECH A10-0099/2025) - EU-Greenland and Denmark Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement: Implementing Protocol 2025-2030 7. Emma Fourreau - EU-Greenland and Denmark Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement: Implementing Protocol 2025-2030 (Resolution) 8. Beata Szydło - Security of energy supply in the EU

Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader, holds a press conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France). She addresses the journalists by explaining the reasons behind the position of her group on the vote of censure against the Commission, and by highlighting the political priorities for the months to come (including the position on the upcoming Multi-annual Financial Framework negotiations and on the Green Claims directive). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Socialists and Democrats (S&D) press briefing by Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader

Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group President, holds a press conference covering several topics, including: the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the EU, the vote on a motion of censure against the European Commission, US tariffs, defense, competitiveness, climate. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

European People Party (EPP) press briefing by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group President

1. Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 170) European Climate Law The European Climate Law sets a legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 2. Maydell (A10-0113/2025) - Bulgaria's adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026 On Tuesday, MEPs adopt their opinion on Bulgaria’s bid to become the newest member of the euro area from 1 January 2026. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee adopted a favourable opinion on 24 June, with 46 votes in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions. This opinion has now been tabled for a vote in plenary. With Bulgaria joining the euro area, 21 of the EU’s 27 member countries will have the euro as their currency. A press conference with the rapporteur Eva Maydell (EPP, Bulgaria) is held at 14:00 CET on Tuesday in the European Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room in Strasbourg.

Voting Session: Bulgaria's adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026

MEPs hold a debate on the motion of censure against the European Commission. According to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a motion of censure in respect of the Commission is submitted to the President by one 10th of the component Members of Parliament, i.e. 72 MEPs. To be adopted, a motion must secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component Members of Parliament. One round of political group speakers

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