EP Plenary session - Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges

EP Plenary session - Joint Debate - Situation in the Middle East

EP Plenary session -  The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression

AFET INTA - EU-UK Summit debriefing

AFET - Exchange of views with Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Press conference on the situation in Hungary and the rule of law

Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Thijs REUTEN in the EP in Strasbourg

Press conference on Did Hungary fulfil the necessary milestones to unfreeze EU funds?

Press conference - Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds

Press conference on short-stay visa freedom between the EU and Kosovo

FHRO event ' Beyond the Hirak - A New Vision for the Rif '

MEPs, Council and Commission discuss risk of further instability in the Middle East following the Israel-Iran military escalation and the launch of a review of the agreement that forms the basis of EU-Israel political and economic cooperation. Israel's compliance with human rights and democratic principles is an essential element of the country’s association agreement with EU, enshrined in article two of the agreement. Reacting to Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, EU foreign policy chief Kaja KALLAS announced the launch of a review of article two of the agreement on 20 May 2025. This is the first step in a procedure that could eventually lead to the suspension of the agreement.

Joint Debate - Situation in the Middle East: MEPs debate (part 3)

MEPs discuss the human cost of Russia’s war on Ukraine with representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the Commission. The plenary debate is expected to focus on the latest developments in Ukraine, amid international pressure on Russia to negotiate a peace deal, and Moscow’s relentless drone attacks and bombing of civilians in major Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. MEPs debate (part 1)

The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression: the situation of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war, and the continued bombing of civilians: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss with the Council and the Commission how the EU can contribute to achieving a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace deal for Ukraine. The debate focus on the EU’s political, financial and military support for Ukraine, and its role in efforts to secure a peace settlement that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is based on international law. MEPs underline the importance of long-term commitment to Ukraine and the need for international coordination in building a lasting peace.

EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs, together with Commission and Council representatives, debate the preparations for the first EU-UK summit on British soil since Brexit. EU and UK leaders will meet in London on 19 May for the first institutional bilateral gathering in Britain since the UK left the EU in 2020. Among other topics, they will discuss defence cooperation, opportunities for young people, and trade issues – the latter in the wake of the new US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on trade partners. In particular, this includes a potential EU-UK security pact that could see the UK participate in the EU’s joint arms procurement scheme.

Preparation of the EU-UK summit: debate

MEPs and the High Representative discuss the EU's common foreign, defence, and security policy objectives for 2025. MEPs demand more investment in defence, including more military and political support for Ukraine. They are also aiming for greater EU presence in the Middle East, closer ties with like-minded partners, and support for EU candidate countries. The two related reports – Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) – are put to a plenary vote on Wednesday. Second part of MEPs debate.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP): MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discuss the need to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian military and authorities have been accused of committing a multitude of war crimes in the occupied Ukrainian territories. There have been deliberate attacks against civilian targets, such as hospitals, medical facilities, and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and indiscriminate attacks on densely populated areas. Other atrocities include the abduction, torture and murder of civilians, forced deportations, including that of children, and the killing and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Following a statement by Ms Kallas, one speaker from each of Parliament’s political groups will take the floor.

Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: one round of political group speakers

Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: extracts from the statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and from the MEPs debate

MEPs call on the EU to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and accelerate the phase-out of Moscow’s energy. During the first debate with representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the European Commission MEPs are set to renew their calls to move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them and using them to support and rebuild war-torn Ukraine. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU, the U.S. and its allies froze over 300 billion U.S. dollars in Russian sovereign assets, with roughly 200 billion dollars held in the Belgium-based securities depository Euroclear. In July 2024, the EU made available the first €1.5 billion transfer of interest generated from immobilised Russian assets to support Kyiv, which was channelled through the European Peace Facility and to the Ukraine Facility to support Ukraine's military and reconstruction efforts.

REUTEN, Thijs (S&D, NL)

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