As of January 1st, 2024, Belgium will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union.&nbsp;The Kingdom of Belgium has announced that it will be working&nbsp;to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion;&nbsp;whilst acting as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States.

 

<center>Photo credit:© Fredex</center>

As of January 1st, 2024, Belgium will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Kingdom of Belgium has announced that it will be working to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion; whilst acting as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States.

Belgian Presidency

On 24 February 2022, Russian forces began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, the EU and its international partners are united in condemning Putin's aggression on Ukraine and providing support to those seeking shelter and fleeing war, providing financial and material aid to Ukraine and&nbsp;sanctioning those responsible for the war.

The European Union has provided Ukraine with €67 billion in economic, humanitarian and military support and the assistance to Kyiv will continue for the duration of the war. On the one year anniversary of the Russian aggression, the EU approved the 10th package of sanctions. The Council decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional&nbsp;87&nbsp;individuals and&nbsp;34&nbsp;entities.&nbsp;Altogether, EU restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to a total of 1473 individuals and 205 entities.

In a resolution marking one year of Russia’s war against Ukraine, MEPs strongly condemned Moscow’s aggression and reiterate their unwavering solidarity with the people and leadership of Ukraine. Thus, MEPs reiterated their support for the European Council’s decision to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and called on Ukraine, the Commission and the Council to work towards the start of accession negotiations this year, while stressing that EU accession also remains a merit-based process with respect for relevant procedures and conditional criteria.

The European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in Kyiv on 1 April 2022 to express the European Union´s support to the Ukrainian people and to condemn the unjustified Russian attack.&nbsp; On 9 February 2023, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the European Parliament during an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels.

Solidarity with Ukraine

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) takes part four times a year in a monetary dialogue with Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) to report on monetary policy and answer question from MEPs.&nbsp;Although guaranteed independence under the Treaty, the ECB is accountable for its actions towards the European Parliament, and more precisely the ECON Committee.

The European Central Bank is the central institution of the Economic and Monetary Union and has been responsible for conducting monetary policy for the euro area since 1 January 1999 The ECB and the national central banks of all EU Member States constitute the European System of Central Banks.

monetary dialogue with the ECB (T)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

LAGARDE, Christine (FR)

9th parliamentary term

Monetary dialogue

Parliament has condemned Hamas’&nbsp; attacks against Israel while expressing serious concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. In the resolution adopted in October&nbsp;with 500 votes in favour, 21 against and 24 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemn the brutal attacks, express their support to Israel and its people and underline the need to “eliminate the terrorist organisation Hamas” .

They also call for the immediate release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas and recognise Israel’s right to self-defence “as enshrined in and constrained by international law” . As such, any actions by Israel must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, the text states.

Parliament also stresses that both the attacks by Hamas and the Israeli response risk reinforcing a cycle of violence in the region. MEPs therefore call for a “humanitarian pause” of the fighting and stress that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, including UN workers, medical workers and journalists, is a serious violation of international law.

Following Hamas’ deadly attack against Israel on 7 October 2023, which claimed the lives of around 1 200 people and resulted in more than 200 people being taken hostage, Israel declared war against the terrorist group. It began striking the Gaza Strip from the air, later sending ground forces into the sealed-off coastal enclave. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 14&nbsp;000 Palestinians have so far been killed.

EP President Metsola visited&nbsp;Israel on Friday 13 October to express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership. The EP held&nbsp;a solemn ceremony on 11 October in solidarity with victims of the attacks.

EU - Israel (T)

Situation in the Middle East (T)

Situation in Israel and Gaza

Have a look at the 2021 and 2022&nbsp;stockshots 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.

Stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), pre-edited videos

Infoclips (T)

Infoclips - Illustrative footage

Following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament now shares the power to decide on the entire annual budget of the EU with the Council of the European Union and it has the final say.

Every year the European Commission proposes a budget for the EU for the following year. The final figures then have to be agreed by both the Parliament and the Council, which represents the member states, before the budget can be adopted. As the Council tends to propose figures below what the Parliament is asking for, the two institutions enter into negotiations in order to find an agreement. This takes place after the Parliament adopts its position at the end of October and is referred to as the conciliation process.

EU Budget 2018

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

" Europe is the natural context in which solutions for social and economic progress will find their true meaning and true value."

Born on 11 April 1920 in Potenza (Italy). 
• In 1946, aged 26, he was elected a Member of the Constituent Assembly that was responsible for drafting Italy's new post-war constitution. He was appointed secretary to the Agriculture Committee. 
• In 1948 he was elected a Member of the Italian Parliament, where he sat until 2003, when the President of Italy appointed him a senator for life. 
• Between 1950 and 1952 he was a minister in several Italian centre and centre-left governments. 
• From August 1970 to February 1972, he was President of the Italian Government's Council of Ministers. 
• In 1985 he became President of the European Union of Christian Democrats. 
• On 12 July 1990 he was appointed President of the Atlantic Committee. 
• Finally, from March 1993 to June 1995, he was President of Christian Democrat International.

◦ In 1976 Mr Colombo became a Member of the European Parliament, where he sat until 1992 in the Christian-Democratic Group which later became the Group of the European People's Party. 
◦ In March 1977 he was elected President of the European Parliament and led it towards the first elections by direct universal suffrage. 
◦ In May 1979 he received the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen, the third Italian politician to receive this honour after Alcide de Gasperi and Antonio Segni. 
◦ From February to May 1992 he was chairman of the temporary committee on the Delors II package (From the Single Act to Maastricht and beyond: the means to match our ambitions), which had a remit concerning achievement of the Maastricht Treaty objectives.

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Emilio Colombo

Portugal entered the European Economic Community on 1 January 1986, together with Spain. In the following years the economy of the Portugal progressed considerably as a result of the EU structural and cohesion funds.

On 1 December 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon, signed by European Member States on 13 December 2007 in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, entered into force. Portugal has 21 MEPs in the EP and has 12 votes in the European Council.

EU - Portugal

Malta joined the European Union 1st May 2004 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Malta is a single-chamber parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the president - whose role is largely ceremonial. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each has its own regional committee, which serves as the intermediary between local and national government.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Malta.

EU - Malta

Poland is a member of the EU since 1st of May 2004 and member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Poland is a parliamentary republic with a Head of government - the Prime Minister - and a Head of state - the President. The government structure is centred on the council of Ministers. The country is divided into 16 provinces, largely based on the country’s historic regions. Administrative authority at provincial level is shared between a government-appointed Governor, an elected regional Assembly and an executive elected by the regional Assembly.

There are 51 members of the European Parliament from Poland.

Highlights