EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025

AFCO Symposium - The Quest for the Rule of Law

EP Plenary session - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 October 2025

EP Plenary session - Commission Work Programme 2026

EP Plenary session - Changing security landscape and the role of police at the heart of the EU’s internal security strategy

EP Plenary session - Resumption of session and order of business

Conference of Presidents

EP Plenary session - Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children

EP Plenary session  - Announcement of the winner of 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Meeting of the Conference of Presidents with Ursula von der Leyen

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Kerkrade (Netherlands) -  Meeting with young people

LIBE Coordinators meeting group photo

Press conference on the adoption of the PEGA Inquiry conclusions

Press conference on Commission's discharge for the financial year 2021, including the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)

Pressconference of the PEGA committee on the adoption of its report and recommendations in committee

EP Plenary session - Lack of actions taken by the Commission in the context of the duty of sincere and loyal cooperation

Event ' In Defense of Our Defenders - Violence Against Europe’s Police '

PEGA Mission to Hungary

PEGA Committee -  Discussion on reports of spyware use in Spain

PEGA Committee - The impact of Spyware on Fundamental Rights

Press briefing EPP group

PEGA - Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware - Constitutive meeting

Lex signing ceremony with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Clement BEAUNE, French Minister of EU affairs

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Jeroen LENAERS

Trilogue on ETIAS consequential amendments

This news item presents excerpts from the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 23 October 2025. Members of the European Parliament assess the results of the October European Council meeting in a debate with President Von der Leyen, focusing on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration. President Von der Leyen stressed the need to accelerate the transition to clean energy while boosting growth and competitiveness, as well as unwavering support for Ukraine, especially now that President Putin is using winter as a weapon against that country. MEPs expressed their concerns about the energy transition, defence and economic competitiveness.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: extracts from the debate

MEPs quiz the Commission on its priorities for next year, to be unveiled the same day, and outline their own. Plenary makes a first assessment of the policy and legislative initiatives the Commission aims to take in the year ahead, focusing on support for Ukraine, completion of the single market, competitiveness and simplification, enhanced investment - not least in security and defence, support for businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises, and research and innovation. Next year will also be pivotal for the finalisation of the EU’s 2028-2034 long-term budget. MEPs debate (part 1).

Commission Work Programme 2026: MEPs debate (part 1)

The SOTEU serves as an essential tool for the Commission's accountability to Parliament, aimed at making the EU-level priorities more transparent while also communicating these priorities to the public. The practice of European Commission Presidents delivering a State of the Union address each year in September, during a plenary session of the European Parliament, began in 2010. The political group speakers (in reverse order) speak after the answers given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission.

State of the European Union - #SOTEU2025: statements by political group speakers (in reverse order)

MEPs vote on several reports and amendments: outermost regions affected by severe natural disasters and in the context of cyclone Chido devastating Mayotte; amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the declaration of input; electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in European Parliament elections; agreement between the EU and Ukraine; termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the EU and Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance; and financing for development – ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville.

Votes

MEPs debate on updating EU-wide legislation on child sexual abuse crimes to account for technological advances and to improve victim support. The legislation would revise the definitions of crimes to take account of new technological realities, raise certain maximum punishments, and provide better support to victims. The draft law criminalises child sexual abuse instruction manuals and artificially-created deepfake imagery, among other things. Closing statements

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material : Closing statements by Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration and Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on updating EU-wide legislation on child sexual abuse crimes to account for technological advances and to improve victim support. The legislation would revise the definitions of crimes to take account of new technological realities, raise certain maximum punishments, and provide better support to victims. The draft law criminalises child sexual abuse instruction manuals and artificially-created deepfake imagery, among other things. Opening statements. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material : Opening statements by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Rapporteur, Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner and Heléne FRITZON (S&D, SE), FEMM Committee

Atmosphere from the hemicycle at the opening of the plenary session in Brussels. Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia, will address the plenary in a formal sitting.

Formal sitting: address by Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia - Atmosphere in the hemicycle

The EP Conference of Presidents meets with Antonio COSTA, President of the European Council

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents in the presence of Antonio COSTA, President of the European Council: arrivals and roundtable

MEPs and the Commission debate changes to EU rules on the returns of people who have no legal right to remain in Europe. The proposal for a new legal framework on so-called “returns”, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in July 2024, is formally unveiled by the European Commission. During the plenary debate, MEPs scrutinise the proposal, which is intended to increase the return rate of third-country nationals not entitled to stay in the EU. Parliament emphasises the importance of cooperation with third countries, including on the readmission of their own nationals, as well innovative measures such as the establishment of return hubs in third countries. MEPs debate (part 2).

Presentation of the proposal on a new common approach on returns: MEPs debate (part 2)

In a joint debate on European security, MEPs assess the results of the 6 March special European Council convened by President António Costa and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine and the need to bolster Europe’s security. At a critical time for Ukraine and European security, as President Donald Trump’s new US administration has paused support for Kyiv and raised questions about future US defence engagement in Europe, MEPs will hear from Ursula von der Leyen, EC President on how the EU plans to strengthen its defence capabilities. MEPs also outline their expectations for the 20 -21 March EU summit, which is expected to focus - besides Ukraine - on the Middle East, Europe’s competitiveness, trade policy, and migration management. MEPs debate (part 2)

European Council meetings and European Security: MEPs debate (part 2)

Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency presents the Commission’s 2025 work programme, outlining its key policy actions and legislative initiatives planned for this year. The work programme sets out in detail how the Commission intends to implement the political guidelines presented by Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament in July 2024. They focused on sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, defence and security, strengthening the EU’s social model, quality of life, protecting democracy and upholding EU values, a global Europe, and future-proofing the EU.

Commission Work Programme 2025: extracts from the debate

Ursula von der Leyen will present the Commission’s 2025 work programme, outlining its key policy actions and legislative initiatives planned for this year. The work programme sets out in detail how the Commission intends to implement the political guidelines presented by Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament in July 2024. They focused on sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, defence and security, strengthening the EU’s social model, quality of life, protecting democracy and upholding EU values, a global Europe, and future-proofing the EU.

Commission Work Programme 2025: MEPs debate part 1

MEPs review the outcome of the 19 December European Council meeting with Presidents António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen. The latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East are among the expected topics of discussion. One round of political group speakers.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024: One round of political group speakers

This news item shows extracts from the debate in which MEPs assess with European Commission and Council presidents the results of the 19 December EU summit. In particular, they take stock of the latest events in Ukraine and the Middle East, economic competitiveness, bilateral relations with the United States, and migration policies.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024: extracts from the debate

Leaders of the political group make a statement before the vote on the election of the College of Commissioners in Strasbourg.

Vote on the election of the College of Commissioners: one round of political group leaders in reverse order

MEPs discuss with the European Commission potential changes to EU legislation on the return of third-country nationals with no legal right to stay in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a common approach to returns and stresses the importance of cooperation with third countries on readmitting their nationals. As the EU prepares to implement the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, the debate focuses on securing external borders, strengthening screening processes, and improving return procedures. Poland’s proposal to temporarily suspend asylum requests and Italy’s plan to process asylum seekers in Albania are also discussed.

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss with Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister, the programme for Hungary’s six-month Council Presidency that started on 1 July 2024. The Hungarian government has announced the following priorities for its six month Presidency: a new European competitiveness deal; boosting European defence policy; a consistent and merit-based enlargement policy; stemming illegal migration; shaping the future of cohesion policy; a farmer-oriented EU agricultural policy; and addressing demographic challenges. MEPs debate (part 2)

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice. MEPs review the Hungarian National Card residence permit scheme and its effects on the Schengen area with the Commission and Council. In July, Hungary expanded its National Card residence permit scheme to include nationals from Russia and Belarus. MEPs have expressed concerns that this could lower screening requirements for these individuals, potentially increasing security risks for the Schengen free-travel zone. On 4 September, Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed to Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs that the Commission is requesting further details from the Hungarian government about this expansion.

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