EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency

Delegations for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Constitutive meeting

EP Plenary session - The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Global measures towards social media platforms - Strengthening the role of DSA and protecting the democracy and freedom in the online sphere

Belgian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package

EP Plenary session - European Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency

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 lobal measures towards social media platforms - Strengthening the role of DSA and protecting the democracy and freedom in the online sphere. MEPs are discussing global social media platform regulations, focusing on the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its role in protecting democracy and online freedom. The DSA, in effect since February 2024, applies to all platforms, and MEPs question the Commission on its enforcement measures, including ongoing investigations into potential violations by TikTok, Meta, X, and AliExpress. There may also be calls for stricter scrutiny of Telegram following recent developments. Since the DSA's adoption, countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US are considering similar laws to hold platforms accountable for user safety.

Global measures towards social media platforms - Strengthening the role of DSA and protecting the democracy and freedom in the online sphere: MEPs debate (1)

Parliament gives its final green light to the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules. The new rules ensure responsibility sharing among Member States in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. First part of MEPs debate.

Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss the outcome of the Special European Council of 1 February, with Charles Michel, President of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. The special summit was about finding an agreement on the mid-term review of the EU’s long-term 2021-2027 budget (multiannual financial framework, MFF) and a €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine. First part of the debate.

Conclusions of the special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024: MEPs debate (part 1)

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. MEPs debate

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: MEPs debate

The Plenary discusses the need for a speedy adoption of a comprehensive European pact on asylum and migration as well as challenges in member states. In the context of continued arrivals of refugees and migrants to the EU by sea, MEPs will debate with the Spanish Council Presidency and the Commission the state of play of negotiations on the new European rules on migration and asylum. The situation in some countries, such as Italy –and particularly on the island of Lampedusa- could feature prominently. MEPs debate (part 2)

The need for a speedy adoption of the asylum and migration package: MEPs debate (part 2)

In the context of the high human toll of migrant casualties at sea and the recent tragic shipwreck off the Greek coast, MEPs discuss the EU’s capabilities for search and rescue operations of migrants at sea and prospect of more EU action to support rescue naval operations on the Mediterranean migration routes. They also debate the role of NGO sea rescue boats, disembarkations in designated places of safety, alleged pushbacks by Member States, the implementation of an action plan announced by Commissioner Johansson in November 2022, and cooperation with third countries like Tunisia and Libya. First part of MEPs debate.

The need for EU action on search and rescue in the Mediterranean: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs take stock of solidarity and responsibility sharing in Europe as regards migration and asylum policy. The debate focuses on how to advance on the reform of the common EU migration and asylum rules, following the November 2022 action plan by the Commission for the Central Mediterranean route and the February extraordinary European Council. First part of the debate.

VANDENDRIESSCHE, Tom (PfE, BE)

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