At a glance: Bulgaria will adopt the euro from 1 January 2026; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen outlined Denmark’s priorities for its six-month EU Council presidency; and Parliament approved a new law to secure gas supplies and tackle speculation.

L-Aħbarijiet fil-Qosor – 10/07/2025 - Malti

At a glance: Parliament’s July plenary session is under way. We will look at the debate on EU-China relations; the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide; and new rules for a more sustainable automotive sector.

L-Aħbarijiet fil-Qosor – 09/07/2025 - Malti

Il-Parlament Ewropew u l-parlamenti nazzjonali flimkien jiddefinixxu l-organizzazzjoni u l-promozzjoni ta’ kooperazzjoni interparlamentari effettiva u regolari fi ħdan l-Unjoni. Din il-kooperazzjoni tieħu ħafna forom. Ejjew nagħtu ħarsa ġenerali qasira lejha f’dan il-podcast.

Ir-relazzjonijiet bejn il-Parlament Ewropew u l-parlamenti nazzjonali

At a glance: Parliament’s July plenary session is under way. MEPs will debate and vote on distributing EUR 280 million of flood relief to Austria, Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova; controlling the influx of parcels from outside the EU; and stepping up preparations for the wildfire season.

L-Aħbarijiet fil-Qosor – 08/07/2025 - Malti

Id-delegazzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew huma gruppi uffiċjali ta’ Membri tal-PE li għandhom l-għan li jiżviluppaw relazzjonijiet mal-parlamenti ta’ pajjiżi terzi kif ukoll ma’ reġjuni jew organizzazzjonijiet terzi. Dawn id-delegazzjonijiet iżommu l-kuntatti internazzjonali tal-Parlament, jiżviluppawhom u jikkontribwixxu għat-tisħiħ tar-rwol tal-Unjoni Ewropea u l-viżibbiltà tagħha madwar id-dinja.

Ir-rwol tad-delegazzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew

Minbarra li jattendu għas-sessjonijiet plenarji tal-Parlament Ewropew, il-Membri tal-PE jagħmlu parti mill-kumitati parlamentari. Dawn il-kumitati huma numerużi u kull wieħed minnhom huwa speċjalizzat f’suġġett. Imma kif jaħdmu?

Ir-rwol tal-kumitati parlamentari

Li tkun Membru tal-Parlament Ewropew ma jfissirx biss li tivvota u tieħu sehem fid-dibattiti waqt is-sessjoni plenarja. Il-Membri tal-Parlament Ewropew jistgħu jkunu responsabbli għat-tfassil ta’ rapport li jirrappreżenta l-opinjoni tal-Parlament dwar proposta jew dwar kwalunkwe suġġett ieħor: dan huwa r-rwol tar-rapporteur.

Ir-rwol tar-rapporteur

Fl-1989, Jozef Mad'ar u l-crew televiżiv tiegħu mill-Jugoslavja ntbagħtu biex jiġbdu filmati tal-protesti ċivili għal-libertà u d-demokrazija fl-eks Ċekoslovakkja. Ejjew nisimgħu t-tifkiriet tiegħu aħna u nimxu miegħu fit-toroq ta' Bratislava.

Iċ-ċwievet għal-libertà - tifkiriet ta' cameraman mir-Rivoluzzjoni tal-Bellus fiċ-Ċekoslovakkja

Hungary officially joined the EU on 1 March 2004 and the Schengen Area in December 2007.

The Hungarian EU accession negotiations started on 31 March 1998. Hungary had successfully concluded negotiations on its accession at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002. Hungary has 22 MEPs, 12 votes in the Council and has chaired the Council of the European Union from January to June 2011.

EU - Hungary

In September 2018, the Article 7(1) TEU procedure was triggered. In this case, the European Parliament voted a resolution calling the Council to determine the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values in relation to Hungary. This resolution was preceded by numerous others adopted by the Parliament between March 2011 and May 2017, and it made reference to concerns related mainly to judicial independence, freedom of expression, corruption, rights of minorities, and the situation of migrants and refugees in Hungary.

Under Article 2 TEU, the EU is founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights (DRF). Article 7 TEU establishes two mechanisms (preventive and sanctions) to enforce EU values in cases of systemic violations and to sanction Member States departing from them.

See also the previous <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/rule-of-law-in-hungary-8th-parliamentary-term_5702_pk">package</a> on the rule of law in Hungary.

Rule of law in Hungary (2019-2020)

On 24 February Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Shortly before&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized&nbsp;two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine&nbsp; as independent.&nbsp;The Conference of Presidents of the EP condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. "Ukraine is an independent and sovereign nation and its territorial integrity is non-negotiable. The invasion is unjustified and illegal. It is a threat to European and regional stability, as well as to the rules-based world order. The attack targets our model of democratic society. It cannot go unanswered, " says declaration of the COP.

"The Russian invasion into Ukraine is part of President Putin’s destabilisation agenda. It is a path that will bring the Kremlin in direct confrontation with Europe and the rule-based world-order. It is a path that pits authoritarianism against democracy. It is a path that we cannot allow him to walk unchallenged," said EP President Roberta Metsola.

European Union leaders met for a special European Council in Brussels on 24 February&nbsp;and adopted a set of sanctions related to the the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors,dual-use goods, exports, Russian individuals etc.&nbsp;

Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union (EU). The EU supports Ukraine in ensuring a stable, prosperous and democratic future for its citizens and is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Association Agreement (AA), including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) signed in 2014, is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together. Since 2014, the EU and the Financial Institutions have mobilised more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support the reform process in the country, with strong conditionality on continued progress.

As a result of the cooperation with Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada in the field of democracy support, European Parliament launched on 11 March the website “<a href="https://ukraine.europarl.europa.eu/en/home.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">The EU stands with Ukraine</a>” (in English and Ukrainian) provides the latest news, videos and podcasts, relevant legislation and resolutions to show how the EU is helping Ukraine. Content from the Ukrainian Parliament could also be shared on the site. Actively supporting EU efforts to promote democracy and human rights in the world is one of Parliament's core responsibilities.

EU - Ukraine

Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

Rule of law

In two debates on Wednesday morning, MEPs assess the outcome of June’s EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen. On Tuesday morning, they will  and look ahead to the EU-China summit.

At their meeting in Brussels, EU heads of state or government focussed on ways to bolster EU competitiveness. They also discussed how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the escalation in the Middle East. Leaders also discussed migration and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Plenary debate on the outcome of June’s EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen

MEPs assess the latest developments in the Middle East, in particular in Iran, and what the EU can do to help restore peace.

Parliament reviews the latest events in the region, including the US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities at the end of June 2025, and Israel’s earlier attacks on Iranian targets, which led to Iran launching missiles at Israeli cities. In a plenary debate on 16 June, the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, said that Iran, as the main source of regional instability, must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. She also defended diplomacy as the best way to address Iran's nuclear programme in the long run.

MEPs are also expected to repeat their calls for an end to the deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza, for a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and for a hostage release agreement.

Plenary debate on the situation in Middle East

Confeence of Presidents: 

Exchange of views with Ms VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework

Conference of Presidents: Exchange of views with Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework

On Tuesday, MEPs adopt their opinion on Bulgaria’s bid to become the newest member of the euro area from 1 January 2026.

The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee adopted a favourable opinion on 24 June, with 46 votes in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions. This opinion has now been tabled for a vote in plenary.

With Bulgaria joining the euro area, 21 of the EU’s 27 member countries will have the euro as their currency.

A press conference with the rapporteur Eva Maydell (EPP, Bulgaria) is held at 14:00 CET on Tuesday in the European Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room in Strasbourg.

Vote on the adoption by Bulgaria of the euro on 1st January 2025

EP Plenary session - European Citizens' Initiative 'Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures'

As every year, two annual procedures are central to the budgetary work of the European Parliament and the other institutions – agreeing on the 2026 budget, and granting discharge for the implementation of the 2024 budget. In addition, in 2025, the process of agreeing the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the years from 2028 will also get under way. This timeline sets out the main steps in the three procedures up to end 2025.

Timeline for the three key EU budgetary procedures up to end 2025

The widespread use of military drones spans reconnaissance, strikes, logistics and naval operations, with both state and non-state players increasingly relying on unmanned systems. The European Union (EU) has prioritised drone development and countermeasures, funding and coordinating research and capability development through the European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation. The EU is also fostering synergies between the civilian and the defence sectors, addressing strategic dependencies and collaborating with NATO. Meanwhile, drone regulation remains fragmented: civilian drones are subject to comprehensive EU rules, while military drone use falls under international law. The European Parliament has called for transparency, adherence to international law and a ban on LAWS, while supporting defence innovation and proposing an EU drone package to stimulate joint procurement and industry participation.

Most common drone uses

Enforcement of the Digital Markets Act is under way. The European Commission has launched formal proceedings against three major providers of core platform services. The Commission's preliminary findings suggest breaches of EU rules. To date, two of these preliminary findings have been confirmed, resulting in non-compliance decisions and fines for the companies in April 2025.

Digital Markets Act enforcement: Gatekeeper designation

Pollination is a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems and ultimately, of our planet. Nearly 90 % of the world's wild flowering plant species depend on pollination, along with more than 75 % of the world's food crops and 35 % of global agricultural land. Without pollination, many interconnected species and processes functioning within the ecosystem would collapse.

Bees and pollinators

EU competence does not extend to recognition of marital or family status. In this area, national regulations vary, with some Member States offering same-sex couples the right to marry, some allowing alternative forms of registration, and others not providing any legal status for same-sex couples. Same-sex couples may or may not have the right to adopt children and to access assisted reproduction. Combating discrimination has become part of EU internal and external policies, and is the subject of numerous resolutions of the European Parliament.

Same sex unions and adoption rights

Russia's war on Ukraine has been a wake-up call for many EU Member States' defence budgets. Rising from €218 billion in 2021 to €326 billion in 2024, a further increase of at least €100 billion is projected by 2027. Despite these significant increases, most experts note that current geopolitical developments will require much more.

EU Member State defence expenditure

For the European Union to compete globally while continuing to ensure progress in environmental, social and fundamental rights, more strategic and collective action is imperative. EU businesses could harness the full potential of the single market and economic and monetary union and challenge competitors in fast-growing and future-oriented economic activities such as digital and clean energy production. This study finds that, compared to a situation where Member States act alone, a coordinated approach at EU level could bring an additional 0.9 % of GDP in 2035. A more ambitious integrated approach could be even more positive, with a benefit estimated at 2.6 % of additional GDP in 2035.

Cost of non-Europe in strategic innovation

Poverty has many dimensions. Following recent crises, not least the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, some of poverty's known dimensions have evolved while new forms have emerged. Addressing poverty remains mainly the responsibility of EU countries' governments acting in complex national social settings. The EU meanwhile seeks to coordinate Member States' efforts and offers support in the form of funding and data. The new European Commission is stepping up efforts to meet the EU's poverty reduction targets.

EU action against poverty

Rare diseases, though seldom recognised and frequently misdiagnosed, affect approximately 36 million people in the EU. Despite their significant collective prevalence, patients with rare diseases are often overlooked by healthcare systems, facing challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and access to advances in research. Researchers are increasingly using networks to share their findings and make better progress, giving new hope to patients.

Rare Diseases: Advances in research give patients new hope

Euroscola

Committee on Regional Development Extraordinary meeting Committee on Regional Development

REGI

D-UA Constitutive Meeting

EP Plenary session - Post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy

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

EP Plenary session - 51 years after the Turkish invasion of the Republic of Cyprus

EP Plenary session - Outcome of the conference on the Financing for development in Seville

EP Plenary session - Democratic Republic of the Congo-Rwanda peace deal agreement

EP Plenary session - Alleged misuse of EU funds by Members of the far-right and measures to ensure institutional integrity

EP Plenary session - Presentation of the Stockpiling Strategies - strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape

MEPs debate on stockpiling strategies and strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape during the plenary session. Opening statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Commission statement - Presentation of the Stockpiling Strategies - strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape: Opening statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management

MEPs debate on stockpiling strategies and strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape during the plenary session. Closing statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management.

Commission statement - Presentation of the Stockpiling Strategies - strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape: Closing statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management

MEPs debate on stockpiling strategies and strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape during the plenary session. MEPs debate.

Commission statement - Presentation of the Stockpiling Strategies - strengthening response capacities for a changing risk and threat landscape: MEPs debate

First part of the MEPs debate on the EU Preparedness Union in light of the upcoming wildfire and droughts season.

EU Preparedness Union in light of the upcoming wildfire and droughts season: MEPs debate part 1

MEPs, with Commission and Council representatives, debate the EU’s preparations for Europe’s upcoming wildfire and drought season. In the recently launched EU preparedness union strategy, the Commission set out its intention to build on the success of the EU’s rescEU strategic reserve for disaster response, so that it can maintain and possibly scale up its existing capabilities, including aerial firefighting. Drought already affected large parts of Europe this spring, with the situation expected to worsen with rising temperatures. MEPs are likely to ask for details on specific planned EU measures to prevent and prepare for this summer’s wildfires and droughts, as well as on the status of EU climate resilience and preparedness policies

Council and Commission statements - EU Preparedness Union in light of the upcoming wildfire and droughts season: Statements Marie BJERRE, Danish Minister for European Affairs and Hadja LAHBIB, Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Mana

Council and Commission statements - EU Preparedness Union in light of the upcoming wildfire and droughts season: MEPs debate part 2

Council and Commission statements - EU Preparedness Union in light of the upcoming wildfire and droughts season: Closing statements by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management

MEPs assess the latest developments in EU-US trade relations with Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Danish Minister Marie Bjerre for the Council during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Council and Commission are seeking a negotiated solution with the US to restore stability and predictability in transatlantic trade relations, but has also prepared for potential countermeasures if no agreement is reached. They are also pursuing trade diversification by negotiating new agreements with other partners like Mercosur, Mexico, and others. Closing statement by Marie BJERRE, Danish Minister for European Affairs.

Council and Commission statements - EU-US trade negotiations: Closing statement by Marie BJERRE, Danish Minister for European Affairs

MEPs assess the latest developments in EU-US trade relations with Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Danish Minister Marie Bjerre for the Council during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Council and Commission are seeking a negotiated solution with the US to restore stability and predictability in transatlantic trade relations, but has also prepared for potential countermeasures if no agreement is reached. They are also pursuing trade diversification by negotiating new agreements with other partners like Mercosur, Mexico, and others. Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency.

Council and Commission statements - EU-US trade negotiations: Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

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