EP Plenary session - Links between organised crime and smuggling of migrants in light of the recent UN reports

EP Plenary session - Presentation of the programme of activities of the Polish Presidency

EP Plenary session - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents in the presence of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

EP Plenary session - Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize

EP Plenary session - Voting session - Election of the College of Commissioners

EP Plenary session - Presentation by the Commission President elect of the College of Commissioners and its programme

Extraordinary plenary session - 1000 days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Resumption of session and order of business

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

Meeting of the Conference of Presidents

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

Constituent meeting of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries

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.

The Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return. After a stabbing attack in Solingen, Germany, MEPs are discussing how to manage unauthorised movements of third-country nationals within the EU. This follows Germany’s decision to reintroduce border controls on all land borders for six months to improve detection of illegal entries. MEPs are raising concerns about the impact of these checks on Schengen free movement and reviewing preparations for the upcoming Pact on Migration and Asylum, set for 2026. The Pact focuses on strengthening security checks and accelerating asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to protection.

Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate after the speech by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029. She presented her political priorities and outlined her vision and plans as Commission President.

Statement by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029: MEPs debate (part 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 debate on the state of the rule of law and media freedom in Greece with Council and Commission representatives during the plenary session in Strasbourg. MEPs have expressed concerns about the respect for EU values in Greece on multiple occasions, including the use of spyware and allegations of political intervention in the investigations, and media freedom and the safety of journalists, especially in light of the lack of progress in the investigation into the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz in 2021. MEPs debate.

Rule of Law and Media freedom in Greece: MEPs debate

Following harassment and threats, Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered in a car bomb explosion on 16 October 2017. The outcry over the authorities’ handling of her murder investigation ultimately prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Critical of failings in the investigation, in December 2019, MEPs called on the European Commission to take action. Parliament takes stock of the state of the rule of law in Malta and speaks up for the safety and independence of journalists. First part of the MEPs debate.

Rule of Law in Malta, 6 years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the need to protect journalists: 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 1)

The need for a speedy adoption of the asylum and migration package: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs ask the Commission about allegations that Member States are issuing visas in return for bribes in the Schengen area. In a debate with the European Commission, MEPs discuss recent allegations that Polish overseas consulates are accepting bribes in return for issuing Schengen visas, and their impact on the EU’s common visa policy and the Schengen free-travel area. First part of the debate.

Commission statement - Corrupt large scale sale of Schengen visas: MEP's debate (part 1)

The Parlamentarians discuss the strengthening of EU cooperation with Tunisia on migration. Following an increase in arrivals of migrants by boat from Tunisia via the Central Mediterranean route, MEPs will with the Spanish Council Presidency and the Commission the recent memorandum of understanding between the EU and Tunisia. MEPs are expected to raise questions about the scope of the cooperation and its legal status. They are also interested in the measures to fight smuggling and to improve cooperation on search and rescue at sea.

EU-Tunisia Agreement - aspects related to external migration policy: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs are set to adopt recommendations to tackle and prevent spyware abuse in Europe, based on the inquiry into illicit use of Pegasus and other spyware. The recommendations set out a range of proposals, including investigations into suspected abuse; EU standards for the deploy of spyware; legal remedies for people who have been targeted; strict enforcement of the EU’s export control rules; an EU Tech Lab to conduct technical investigations; and co-ordination with third countries. First part of the debate.

Pegasus spyware: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs adopt recommendations based on the inquiry into illicit use of Pegasus and other spyware and its impact on democracy, civil society and the media. In a debate on Wednesday and recommendations put to the vote on Thursday, Parliament will present its proposals for tackling spyware abuse in Europe. In its final report adopted in May, the Committee of Inquiry investigating Pegasus and other spyware raised concerns about the impact of spyware abuse on democracy, civil society and the media in several EU member states. Extracts from the debate and from the vote.

Pegasus spyware: extracts from the joint debate

MEPs discuss Poland’s revision of its electoral law, as well as the new administrative body that threatens civil rights, and the ECJ’s judgment on the Disciplinary Chamber. The revision of Poland’s electoral rules finalised in March 2023 foresees changes to polling stations and free transport for elderly and disabled people on voting day. MEPs discuss Poland’s revision of its electoral law, as well as the new administrative body that threatens civil rights, and the ECJ’s judgment on the Disciplinary Chamber. The revision of Poland’s electoral rules finalised in March 2023 foresees changes to polling stations and free transport for elderly and disabled people on voting day. Extracts from the debate.

The Electoral Law and the Rule of Law in Poland: extracts from the debate

During its year-long mandate, the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) commissioned studies, held hearings with experts and people targeted with spyware, and organised several fact-finding visits. Pegasus is a hacking tool designed to secretly turn mobile phonesinto 24-hour surveillance devices, as it grants complete and unrestricted access to all sensors and information of the targeted device. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL) chair of the PEGA Committee and Sophie IN 'T VELD (RE, NL), rapporteur on the adoption of the PEGA Inquiry conclusions

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