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: the first Monetary Dialogue of the 10th parliamentary term with ECB President Christine Lagarde; the Reform Agendas of the Western Balkans countries seeking EU membership; and breast cancer awareness month.

News in Brief – 30/09/2024 - English

In November 2023, the European Commission presented its annual enlargement reports. Its strategic orientations and recommendations include accelerating the accession process with the Western Balkan countries, opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and granting candidate status to Georgia. According to the European Parliament's 2022 recommendation on the new EU strategy, enlargement policy is 'the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and one of the Union's most successful policies'.

EPRS Policy Podcast: Enlargement policy - Reforms and challenges ahead

The seventh meeting of the European Political Community&nbsp;took&nbsp;place on 2nd&nbsp;October 2025&nbsp; and brought&nbsp;together&nbsp;leaders from across the continent&nbsp;in Copenhagen, Denmark.&nbsp;Leaders &nbsp;focused on how to&nbsp;strengthen Ukraine, the general&nbsp;security&nbsp;situation in Europe and how to make our&nbsp;Europe stronger&nbsp;and more secure in the geopolitical situation we face.

The European Political Community (EPC) is a new platform for political coordination. Initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and supported by EU institutions, the inaugural meeting of the EPC was held in Prague on 6 October. The 'EU+ summit' was hosted by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU and&nbsp;43 national delegations from the EU-27, Western Balkans and other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Turkey attended.

European Political Community

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina - along with other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in June 2003.

Since then, a number of agreements between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina have entered into force - visa facilitation and readmission agreements (2008), Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related issues (2008). The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) has been ratified and entered into force on 1 June 2015.

Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in February 2016.&nbsp;The European Council granted the&nbsp;candidate status to the country on December 2022.

EU - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans (2019-2020)

On Tuesday, EP President Metsola attends an engagement hosted by the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, on the Occasion of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. While on Wednesday, she addresses the Friends of the Western Balkans Meeting and gives a speech at the meeting on Export and Trade in New York.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, official visit to New York

In two debates on Wednesday morning, MEPs assess the outcome of June’s EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen. On Tuesday morning, they will  and look ahead to the EU-China summit.

At their meeting in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Plenary debate on the outcome of June’s EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen

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

Debate on EU-Western Balkans summit

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, participates to the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Before her address to the Council, she speaks to the press. One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles.

EU-Western Balkans Summit

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to New York (United States) - Participation at the Friends of the Western Balkans Meeting

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Dayton Dialogue

Resumption of the sitting

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 72) (action taken)

Signature of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 81)

Preparation of the European Council of 19-20 December 2024

Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Composition of political groups

Voting time

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Topical debate (Rule 169) - Restoring the EU’s competitive edge - the need for an impact assessment on the Green Deal policies

Promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining and the right to strike in the EU

Tackling abusive subcontracting and labour market intermediaries

Challenges facing EU farmers and agricultural workers: improving working conditions, including their mental well-being

Composition of committees and delegations

Need to ensure swift action and transparency on corruption allegations in the public sector to protect democratic integrity

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150)

Urgent need for EU action to preserve nature and protect biodiversity to avoid the extinction of species

Explications de vote

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Plenary session

Opening of the sitting

Conclusions of the recent European Council meetings, in particular on a new European Competitiveness deal and the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029 (debate)

Effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral budgetary surveillance - Speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure – amending Regulation - Requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States – amending Directive

Combating violence against women and domestic violence (debate)

European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities - European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities for third country nationals legally residing in a Member State (joint debate - Disability cards)

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

The use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction (debate)

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6)) (action taken)

Corrigenda (Rule 241)(action taken)

Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society (debate)

Situation in Haiti (debate)

Withdrawal of the Union from the Energy Charter Treaty (debate)

EU-Egypt strategic and comprehensive partnership and agreements with key third countries (debate)

Production and marketing of plant reproductive material - Production and marketing of forest reproductive material (joint debate - Plant and forest reproductive material)

Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans (debate)

Explanations of vote

Amendment of the agenda

CO2 emission standards for cars and vans (debate)

Address by Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia

Tribute

Request for waiver of immunity

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession (debate)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession (continuation of debate)

The EU priorities for the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (debate) (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body (debate)

Response to the situation in Tunisia (debate)

Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (debate)

Amendments to the European Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIFs) Regulation (debate)

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken): see Minutes

Address by Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic

Whitewashing of the anti-European extreme right in the EU (topical debate)

Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report 2021 (debate)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (debate)

Sakharov Prize 2022 (announcement of the winner)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (continuation of debate)

Fighting sexualised violence - The importance of the Istanbul Convention and a comprehensive proposal for a directive against gender-based violence (debate)

Political situation in Tunisia (debate)

Lukashenka regime's active role in the war against Ukraine (debate)

Outcome of the first meeting of the European Political Community (debate)

Global food security as follow-up to the G20 Agriculture Ministers meeting (debate)

Closure of the sitting

Statement by the President

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)

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

Agenda of the next sitting 

ECR Western Balkans Summit Streams

AFET Working group on Western Balkans  - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement on the state of play of the enlargement process with regard to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia

EU-Western Balkan Summit

EP Plenary session - Parliament’s statements - Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit

EP Plenary session - Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans

Trilogue on Western Balkans Facility

SEDE - Exchange of views with Mircea GEOANA, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, on security in the Black Sea, on the Eastern Flank and in the Western Balkans

Western Balkans Leaders Meeting - Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

MEPs assess the outcome of the 26 June European Council meeting with António COSTA, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. At their summit in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans. Closing statements by António COSTA, President of the European Council.

Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: Closing statements by António COSTA, President of the European Council

MEPs assess the outcome of the 26 June European Council meeting with António COSTA, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. At their summit in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans. Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency.

Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations

MEPs assess the outcome of the 26 June European Council meeting with António COSTA, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. At their summit in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans. MEPs debate.

Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: MEPs debate

MEPs assess the outcome of the 26 June European Council meeting with António COSTA, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. At their summit in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans. One round of political group.

Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: One round of political group

MEPs assess the outcome of the 26 June European Council meeting with António COSTA, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. At their summit in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans. Opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

MEPs assess the outcome of June’s EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen. At their meeting in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focused on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: extracts from the debate

MEPs assess the outcome of the 26 June European Council meeting with António COSTA, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. At their summit in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans. Opening statement by António COSTA, President of the European Council. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 June 2025: Opening statement by António COSTA, President of the European Council

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, is participating in the 2025 Dayton Dialogue Forum, where U.S. and European representatives are reflecting on thirty years of peace in the Western Balkans and discussing NATO’s value. Held alongside the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session in Dayton, Ohio (May 22–25), the forum also explores future transatlantic strategy and shared security challenges.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Dayton Dialogue: extracts from the keynote speech

During the 2025 Dayton Dialogue Forum, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola engaged in a discussion with Frederick Kempe, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council. This high-level forum brought together U.S. and European officials to commemorate 30 years of peace in the Western Balkans and to underscore NATO’s continued relevance to the American public. Held alongside the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session in Dayton, Ohio (May 22–25), the event focused on shaping future transatlantic strategy and tackling today’s most pressing security challenges.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at Dayton Dialogues: Q&A, moderated by Frederick KEMPE, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council

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