<p>Virginijus Sinkevičius, born on 4 November 1990 in Vilnius, is a Lithuanian politician. Commissioner-designate for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.</p>

<p>After the hearing by the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate.</p>

Hearing of Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, Commissioner-designate

TRAN - Presentation of the study on the Aviation Sector Strategic Action Plan

TRAN - TTF meeting - Regional and island tourism: addressing structural disadvantages, connectivity gaps and seasonality imbalances

TRAN - Presentation of the accompanying study on Roadworthiness

Press conference on Air Passenger Rights

EP delegation to the Conciliation Committee meeting on Air passenger rights

Conciliation Committee - Trilogue on Air passenger rights

Leaders of the Green Group meet with Annalena BAERBOCK, President of the UN General Assembly

Political group speakers take the floor and Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, replies. On 3 June, the European Commission presented its strategy for European tech sovereignty, including an EU open-source strategy. This aims to develop and scale critical technologies, infrastructure, and data to strengthen the EU’s economy, security, and society. The strategy also seeks to reduce reliance on non-EU countries by diversifying supply chains and mitigating foreign interference. On the same day, MEPs debated digital sovereignty and resilience with Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen. While welcoming the proposal, they raised concerns about the EU-US data transfer agreement and called for demand-side measures and greater use of European cybersecurity and open-source software by national administrations.

Achieving digital sovereignty and resilience for Europe, in light of recent developments affecting access to advanced AI technologies: one round of political group speakers and reply by Henna VIRKKUNEN

This News item shows extracts from the debate on achieving digital sovereignty and resilience for Europe. On 3 June, the European Commission presented its strategy for European tech sovereignty, including an EU open-source strategy. This aims to develop and scale critical technologies, infrastructure, and data to strengthen the EU’s economy, security, and society. The strategy also seeks to reduce reliance on non-EU countries by diversifying supply chains and mitigating foreign interference. On the same day, MEPs debated digital sovereignty and resilience with Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen. While welcoming the proposal, they raised concerns about the EU-US data transfer agreement and called for demand-side measures and greater use of European cybersecurity and open-source software by national administrations.

Achieving digital sovereignty and resilience for Europe: extracts from the debate

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Alexis VAFEADAS, Cyprus's Minister of Transport, Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Greens/EFA, LT), vice-chair of TRAN Committee, hold a press conference on Air passenger rights. In January 2026, Parliament adopted its position on revising EU air passenger rights, aiming to maintain reimbursement, re-routing, and compensation for delays, cancellations, or denied boarding. However, EU ministers rejected these proposals in March 2026, prompting the Conciliation Committee to negotiate a compromise over eight weeks. On the 15th of June evening, a provisional agreement on a review of air passenger rights rules reached by Parliament and Council negotiators secured unanimous backing from the EP delegation to the so-called Conciliation Committee. The rules had not been updated since 2004.

Press conference: Air passenger rights by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Alexis VAFEADAS, Cyprus's Minister of Transport, Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner, Andrey NOVAKOV, rapporteur and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, vice-chair TRAN Committee

This video shows extracts from the signing ceremony concerning Air passenger rights. Following the vote of the EP delegation, EP President Roberta METSOLA and Cyprus Minister of Transport VAFEADES, on behalf of the Cyprus Presidency co-sign two letters approving the joint text concerning the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights and Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air (Air Passenger Rights) (2013/0072(COD)).

Air passenger rights: signing ceremony in the presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexis VAFEADES, Cyprus Minister of Transport

MEPs debate the urgent actions required to boost EU competitiveness, deepen the single market, and reduce the cost of living. MEPs outline their priorities for transforming the recommendations in the 2024 Draghi report into reality. They also assess the work already undertaken on the recommendations. In September 2023 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked Mario Draghi to prepare a report on the future of European competitiveness. The report was completed in September 2024. It looks at the challenges faced by industry and companies and outlines how Europe will no longer be able to rely on many of the factors that have supported growth in the past. It lays out a diagnosis and provides recommendations to put Europe on a different trajectory. Second part of MEPs debate.

Urgent actions to revive EU competitiveness, deepen the EU Single Market and reduce the cost of living - from the Draghi report to reality: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the European response to the attacks on the Ukrainian energy system causing a humanitarian crisis. Russia is deliberately and systematically attacking Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure in an attempt to break the resilience of the Ukrainian people. The European Union has mobilized unprecedented support to stabilize, repair, and integrate Ukraine's energy system, providing over 3 billion euros in energy aid since the start of the war.

European response to the attacks on the Ukrainian energy system causing a humanitarian crisis: MEPs debate

Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur, Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Greens/EFA, LT), vice-chair of TRAN Committee and the shadow rapporteurs Matteo RICCI (S&D, IT), Kosma ZŁOTOWSKI (ECR, PL), Vicent MARZÀ IBÁÑEZ (Greens/EFA, ES) and Arash SAEIDI (The Left, FR), hold a press conference on Air passenger rights. MEPs discussed the Council’s proposed changes to existing air passenger rights rules and on an update to the rights of air travelers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur, Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Greens/EFA, LT) , vice-chair of TRAN Committee and the shadow rapporteurs on Air passenger rights

MEPs debate on Air Passenger Rights. They discuss the Council’s proposed changes to existing air passenger rights rules. Parliament’s draft text offers a comprehensive list of extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters, weather conditions or unforeseen labour disputes, that would release airlines of their responsibility to pay compensation. Council favours an open-ended list. Plenary also defends the right to carry on board, at no additional cost, one personal item, such as a handbag, backpack or laptop, plus one small piece of hand luggage with maximum dimensions of 100 cm (combined length, width and height) and weighing no more than 7 kg.

SINKEVIČIUS, Virginijus (Greens/EFA, LT)

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