Press conference on the Liberation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and peace talks

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and MEP meet with Ruslan STEFANCHUK, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

10th year of detention for Uyghur human rights activist Professor Ilham Tohti

EP - European Union Institute High-level conference ' Enlarging and Deepening the Union: What’s at stake for the EU and EU citizens in the next parliamentary term? '

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Petras AUSTREVICIUS in the EP in Strasbourg

Planting of a Kalyna guelder-rose

DROI D-AF joint meeting - Exchange of views on the deterioration of women’s rights and safety in Afghanistan under Taliban rule

SEDE Committee - Public Hearing: the European defence industry and the urgent need to replenish defence stockpiles within the EU

SEDE Committee - Exchange of views with Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence of Spain, on  Spanish Presidency of the Council programme

15th EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee

Action of the Yellow Ribbon civil resistance movement, a recipient of the 2023 Sakharov Prize on behalf of the brave people of Ukraine

Press confrence on political prisoners ordered to die: Kara-Murza, Gorinov and Saakashvili

Photo action in solidarity and memory of Ukrainian prisoner of war Timofey Shadura

Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Chisinau, Moldova

Press conference on the sad anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Civil society organisations meet with the 2022 Sakharov Prize laureate

Animal Welfare Intergroup meeting - The case for a fur free Europe

TRAN SEDE - Public Hearing on Military mobility

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

EP Plenary session - EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

Valérie HAYER (RE, FR), Renew Group Leader, and Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (RE, LT) give a joint press conference on the Liberation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and peace talks. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Valérie HAYER (RE, FR), Renew Group Leader, and Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (RE, LT) on the Liberation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and peace talks

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.

Russian frozen assets: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs and representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the European Commission discuss the upcoming white paper on the future of European defence, set to be unveiled by the Commission and the European External Action Service in mid-March 2025. The white paper addresses defence sector capability issues, industrial competitiveness and investment needs. It should also frame the overall approach to EU defence integration, and outline how best the EU can respond to security threats. MEPs debate (part 2).

White paper on the future of European defence: MEPs debate (part 2)

From 10 March to 13 March, the third edition of the project #EPStandsBYyou will take place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It is an inter-party initiative of Members of the European Parliament. The initiative is about bringing attention to the human rights situation in Belarus, in particular the situation of political prisoners that are being kept by Lukashenka’s regime unlawfully in prisons, under constant terror and in unhuman conditions. MEPs are invited to sign and send an individual postcard to one of Belarus’ 1,300 political prisoners, offering them messages of hope and support from the EU.

#EPStandsByYou : International day of solidarity with Belarus

The European Parliament debates the need for targeted support for EU regions bordering Russia with representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the European Commission. MEPs bring up Russian efforts to damage infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, and the need to detect and counter these acts of sabotage.

Need for targeted support to EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine: MEPs debate

MEPs assess the impact of three years of Russia’s war against Ukraine and its repression of dissent following Alexei Navalny’s murder. In a debate with representatives of the European Commission, MEPs mark three years since Moscow launched its brutal military invasion of Ukraine. In a resolution adopted in January 2025, Parliament reiterated its firm support for Kyiv, called on Russia to immediately terminate all military activities, and withdraw from Ukraine. MEPs also called on the EU to expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation and information manipulation campaigns justifying the Kremlin’s war of aggression.

Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression: extracts from the debate

Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. In recent months, there has been an increase in in instances of ships damaging undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The latest incident occurred in late December 2024 with the severing of an electricity cable running between Finland and Estonia. Shortly after, the Finnish Coast Guard boarded the oil tanker Eagle S and steered it to a Finnish port. Although officially sailing under a Cook Islands flag, there are suspicions the vessel is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”. Following these incidents, NATO has launched a new mission to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the mission dubbed “Baltic Sentry” would involve more patrol aircraft, warships and drones. First part of MEPs debate.

Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine and criticise the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea in the war against Ukraine. A statement issued by Parliament’s leaders on 19 November 2024 called on the EU to “step up support for Ukraine in every way, including politically, financially, militarily and with humanitarian aid” and reiterated that “we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory”. First part of MEPs debate.

Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia: MEPs debate (part 1)

This news item shows extracts of MEPs reaffirming their strong support for Ukraine and criticise the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. When addressing the European Parliament on Tuesday 19 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “Putin has brought 11,000 North Korean troops to Ukraine’s border” and that “the contingent may grow to 100,0000”. Many of these troops have recently been reported as having been deployed as part of Russia’s airborne units and marines in the Kursk region. A statement issued by Parliament’s leaders recently called on the EU to “step up support for Ukraine in every way, including politically, financially, militarily and with humanitarian aid” and reiterated that the Parliament "stands with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory.”

Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia: extracts from the debate

Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Development (DEVE), Committee on International Trade (INTA), Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Kaja KALLAS answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission: questions / answers (part 3)

Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Marta KOS answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: questions / answers (part 3)

MEPs debate on Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war

Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war: one round of political groups speakers

MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, ahead of a vote on a related resolution. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized.

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia: MEPs debate

MEPs discuss during a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, on the deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”. Opening statements by Isabel WISELER-LIMA (EPP, LU), Alessandra MORETTI (S&D, IT), Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT), Hannah NEUMANN (Greens/EFA, DE), Isabel SERRA SÁNCHEZ (The Left, ES), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ), authors. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”: opening statements

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