EP Plenary session - The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region and the need to release all hostages

EMPL CULT -  Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, European Commissioner-designate forPeople, Skills and Preparedness

LIBE - Confirmation hearing of Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner-designate for Internal Affairs and Migration

EP Plenary session - Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns

EP Plenary session - Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support No resolution

EP Plenary session - Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon

Delegations for relations with the People’s Republic of China Constitutive meeting

Bulgarian MEPs official portraits - 10th Parliamentary term.

EP Plenary session - Key Debate - Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response

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

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

EP Plenary session - European Media Freedom Act

EP Plenary session - Debate - HRVP statement - War in the Gaza Strip

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred

Speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at Asylum Contact Group

SEDE - Exchange of views with Jiří Šedivý, Chief Executive, European Defence Agency: update on the Capability Development Plan and the Annual Coordinated Review of Defence

Conference ' Holocaust education - Remembering the past, teaching the future! '

D-IL Delegation meeting - Exchange of views on EU - Israel cooperation on water management and climate action in the context of the EU’s Green Deal

Delegation for relations with Israel - Exchange of views on the EU cooperation with Israel in the field of agriculture

Meeting of the Delegation for relations with Israel - Exchange of views on the Open Skies Agreement between the European Union and Israel as a Facilitator for Tourism and People-to-People Exchanges

Meeting of the Delegation for relations with Israel - Exchange of views with Haim Regev, Ambassador of Israel to the EU and NATO

Elena YONCHEVA meets with Ylva JOHANSSON, Commissioner for Home Affairs

Mission to SLOVAKIA - Meeting with Maros Zilinka, Prosecutor General and Daniel Lipsic, Special Prosecutor

SEDE Subcommittee - Gender and disarmament: Engaging women in disarmament and arms control.Exchange of views with Izumi NAKAMITSU, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

SEDE Subcommittee - Hearing : Security in the Eastern Partnership area: the impact of Russian military doctrine, force posture and capability development

EP Plenary session - European Union Agency for Asylum

DrFMG - LIBE delegation in Slovakia - meeting with Slovak media, meeting with NGO’s and meeting with parents of Jan Kuciak.

Press Conference 'Political agreement reached EU Asylum Agency'

SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence - Exchange of views on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

Constituent meeting of the Delegation for relations with Israel

Magnus BRUNNER, Commissioner-designate for Internal Affairs and Migration, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament. During the confirmation hearing, Magnus BRUNNER gives an opening speech and then answer questions by committee members. Committee on Development (DEVE) participates as joint committee. During the confirmation hearing, Magnus BRUNNER answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Magnus BRUNNER, Commissioner-designate for Internal Affairs and Migration: questions / answers (part 2)

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 2)

MEPs delve into the management of Europe’s external borders and the role of the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. This debate takes place against the backdrop of the EU and its member states continuing to prepare for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and, in particular the screening regulation, to improve security checks for persons arriving in the EU irregularly and speed up asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to international protection.

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders - need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response and vote on a resolution on Thursday. EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East. Second part of the debate.

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response: MEPs debate (part 2)

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. Second part of MEPs debate.

Joint Debate - Migration and Asylum package: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs are set to give their final green light on Wednesday to new legislation to protect EU journalists and media from political or economic interference. Plenary will discuss the draft European Media Freedom Act, agreed provisionally with the EU ministers in December 2023, on Tuesday afternoon. The new law will oblige member states to protect media independence from governmental, political, economic or private interference. It will ban all forms of interventions in editorial decisions and prevent the external pressuring of journalists to force them to disclose their sources or by targeting them with spyware. To increase media ownership transparency, all outlets regardless of their size will have to publish information about their owners and report on their receipt of state funding. MEPs debate.

EP Plenary session - European Media Freedom Act: MEPs debate

Plenary discusses the latest ruling by the International Court of Justice regarding Israel and the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the 7 October attacks The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take a series of measures to prevent any acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, after South Africa filed an application against Israel at the court in December 2023. It also ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure aid can reach people in Gaza. During the debate with the Council and the European Commission on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs also discuss the allegations that 12 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA ) were involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel. While several donor countries have suspended their UNRWA funding, the EU said it will take a decision in light of the outcome of the investigation announced by the UN and its subsequent actions.

Debate - War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region: MEPs debate part 3

MEPs discuss the worrying reports on the increase in hate-driven incidents online and offline across the EU. First part of MEPs debate.

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred debate: MEPs debate (part 1)

MPES debate on the "This is Europe" debate after th address of Nikolay DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister.

"This is Europe" debate with Nikolay DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister: MEPs debate

Following Hamas’ deadly attack against Israel on 7 October 2023, which claimed the lives of around 1,200 people and resulted in more than 200 people being taken hostage, Israel declared war against the terrorist group. It began striking the Gaza Strip from the air, later sending ground forces into the sealed-off coastal enclave. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 11,000 Palestinians, including a large number of civilians, have so far been killed. MEPs take stock of the latest developments, and discuss the regional and global implications of the renewed hostilities as well as the prospects for peace and security in the Middle East.

Key debate - Humanitarian situation in Gaza: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the conclusions adopted by the European Council meeting of 26-27 October 2023 and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause. During their meeting, EU heads of state or government assessed the situation in Israel and Gaza, following Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October and the subsequent Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the EU’s continued support for the country, the revision of the EU’s 2024-2027 long-term budget and the economic situation in the EU were also discussed by leaders. The progress in negotiations between Council and Parliament on the reform of the asylum and migration system was also on the table. Third part of the debate.

Joint debate - Conclusions of the European Council and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause: MEPs debate (part 3)

In response to growing threats to editorial independence and the industry’s viability, MEPs adopt their position on a draft law to strengthen the independence of EU media. Parliament wants the European Media Freedom Act, on which MEPs debate a to oblige Member States to ensure media plurality and protect media independence from governmental, political, economic, or private interference. Second part of MEPs debate

European Media Freedom Act: MEPs debate (part 2)

Following Russia’s unilateral decision in July to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed agricultural products to be exported from Ukrainian ports, transit through the Solidarity Lanes established in states bordering Ukraine is expected to increase significantly (from three to five million tonnes of commodities per month). Almost all of the exported commodities via these corridors remain on the EU market due to the high transport costs for re-export. MEPs debate with the Commission the impact of Ukrainian grain exports on EU farmers after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia's exit from the Black Sea Grain: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on new rules to incentivise EU countries to jointly procure defence products and support the EU’s defence industry. The new regulation, already agreed with member states, establishes a short-term instrument to boost the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) through to 2025. The tool should help member states address their most urgent and critical defence needs, especially those which have been exacerbated by the transfer of defence products to Ukraine, in a voluntary and collaborative way.

European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA): MEPs debate

MEPs outline their demands and expectations for the EU-Ukraine summit in a debate with the Commission and Council. They expect to reiterate their call that the EU should continue to support the country, for a special tribunal to punish Russian crimes and support to immediately deploy modern weapons and a next-generation air defence system to Ukraine. Second part of the debate.

Preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate the decision by the Council to not extend the travel-free Schengen area to Romania and Bulgaria. Extracts from the debate in plenary.

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate with the Commission and the Concil The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession for Romania and Bulgaria.

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: MEPs debate

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144). MEPs debate the Human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the deterioration of women´s rights and attacks against educational institutions.

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