At a glance: during the plenary session, Polish Prime Minister Tusk will present the ‘Security, Europe!’ programme as Parliament debates the priorities of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union; MEPs will assess the outcomes of the meeting of the European Council in December, focusing on Ukraine, the Middle East and the EU’s strategic response; Parliament will address the global plastic pollution crisis following the collapse of UN treaty negotiations.

News in Brief – 21/01/2025 - English

At a glance: enforcing digital rules to protect democracy; MEPs debate Donald Trump’s second term and EU-US ties; and Bruno Gencarelli selected as top candidate for European Data Protection Supervisor role.

News in Brief – 20/01/2025 - English

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

Following the presidential election in the US, MEPs discuss&nbsp;the future of EU-US relations under the new administration.

The day after Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, MEPs&nbsp;discuss the implications of his second term for transatlantic relations, with representatives from the Polish Council Presidency and the Commission.

EU - USA

The problem of disinformation is globally recognised as disruptive to the normal functioning of democratic societies, economies and political systems. In recent years, ‘fake news’ and coordinated disinformation campaigns have an instrument of geopolitical influence.

They have afflicted elections in both established and new democracies, and undermined social and political solidarity in response to global challenges. It is with these and other instances in mind that the European Union (EU) identified ‘the exposure of citizens to large scale disinformation’ as ‘a major challenge for Europe’ in 2018, undertaking an increasingly ambitious programme of action to counter this evolving threat since. The outbreak of the coronavirus has led to disinformation that hampers efforts to contain the pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said false claims “are spreading faster than the virus” and has already termed it an “infodemic of planetary proportions”. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is also a source of many disinformation.&nbsp;

Special Committee for foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation (INGE) was created in the European Parliament to tackle these challenges

Fight against disinformation

In March 2012 Serbia was granted EU candidate status.

On 19 April 2013, after ten rounds of often grueling talks in the EU-facilitated Dialogue in Brussels, the intervenants reached a landmark agreement aimed at normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Concrete results in the implementation of this agreement will bring about a brighter future and lasting stability to the region. In line with the decision of the European Council in June 2013 to open accession negotiations with Serbia, the Council adopted in December 2013 the negotiating framework and agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia in January 2014. On 21 January 2014, the 1st Intergovernmental Conference took place, signaling the formal start of Serbia’s accession negotiations.

EU - Serbia

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 European Parliament commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the victims and reflect on the lessons of the past. Established in 1995, this annual event coincides with the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January 1945.

This year, the Parliament highlights the story of Hungarian-born cellist Pál Hermann, who was murdered in the Holocaust. His Gagliano cello, saved from the Nazis and rediscovered decades later, symbolizes resilience and the enduring power of art. The ceremony includes a speech by Hermann’s daughter, Corrie Hermann, and a performance of his music by cellist Sam Lucas.

Through remembrance and education, the European Parliament reaffirms its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism, promoting tolerance, and ensuring such atrocities are never repeated.

Solemn Ceremony on the International Holocaust Commemoration Day 2025

MEPs discuss the programme of Poland’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The Polish government has stated that its second EU Presidency comes “at a time of uncertainty and concern” with regard to the consequences of Russia’s three-year-long war against Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions, migration pressure and declining European competitiveness. The presidency’s slogan "Security, Europe!" expresses Poland’s objective to strengthen European security in all dimensions: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food and health.

Debate on the priorities of the Polish Presidency

EP President Roberta Metsola meets with Polish PM,  Donald Tusk at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

EP President Roberta Metsola meets with Polish Prime Minister,  Donald Tusk

MEPs assess the results of the 19 December EU summit with European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In their gathering in Brussels, EU Heads of State or Government reviewed the latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s support to Kyiv, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The European Council also assessed the situation in the Middle East, including Lebanon, Gaza and Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime.

In her address to the European Council, EP President Roberta Metsola called on leaders to step up their efforts to assert Europe’s place on the world stage, stressing that Europe has a role to play in Ukraine, in our European neighbourhood, in the Middle East, in Latin America and around the world.

Other topics on the agenda of the leaders included the EU’s geopolitical role, crisis prevention and response, and migration management. The December European Council was the first chaired by President António Costa. The debate on Wednesday will be his first with MEPs since he took office.

Debate on the conclusions of December European Council

EP Plenary session - Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration

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

Euroscola

EP Plenary session - Voting session

Press briefing The Left

Press  briefing Greens/EFA

Press briefing Renew Europe

Press briefing S&D Group

Press briefing EPP

EP Plenary session - The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms against foreign interference and biased algorithms

EP Plenary session - Powering Europe’s future - advancing the fusion industry for energy independence and innovation

The day after Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, MEPs discuss the implications of his second term for transatlantic relations, with representatives from the Polish Council Presidency and the Commission. The debate focus on support for Ukraine, relations with Russia, China, the Middle East, climate change, and trade. MEPs bring up security issues, in light of Donald Trump’s repeated demands that Europe spend more on defence. Speaking in the Committee on Foreign Affairs recently, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned MEPs that “NATO’s current two percent defence spending target is not nearly enough (...) to stay safe.”Opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs, and Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency<

Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration: Opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs, and Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner

The day after Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, MEPs discuss the implications of his second term for transatlantic relations, with representatives from the Polish Council Presidency and the Commission. The debate focus on support for Ukraine, relations with Russia, China, the Middle East, climate change, and trade. MEPs bring up security issues, in light of Donald Trump’s repeated demands that Europe spend more on defence. Speaking in the Committee on Foreign Affairs recently, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned MEPs that “NATO’s current two percent defence spending target is not nearly enough (...) to stay safe.”

Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration: MEPs debate (part 1)

Karlo Ressler (LIBE A10-0027/2024) - EU/Republic of Serbia agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia

EU/Republic of Serbia agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia: Voting session

Manon AUBRY (The Left, FR) and Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE),The Left Group Co-Leaders, hold a press conference in the framework of the EP plenary session.

Press briefing The Left by Manon AUBRY (The Left, FR) and Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE),The Left Group Co-Leaders

Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), and Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA,DE), Greens/EFA Group Co-Leaders, hold a press conference in the framework of the EP plenary session.

Press briefing by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), and Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA,DE), Greens/EFA Group Co-Leaders

Valerie HAYER (Renew, FR), Renew Europe Group Leader, holds a press conference in the framework of the EP plenary session. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Valerie HAYER (Renew, FR), Renew Europe Group Leader

Iratxe GARCIA PEREZ (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader, holds a press conference in the framework of the EP plenary session. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Iratxe GARCIA PEREZ (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader

Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader, holds a press conference in the framework of the EP plenary session. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation.

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 2)

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