At a glance: the European Parliament’s political groups are preparing for the last plenary session of this legislative term; the achievements of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender  Equality; and the European Youth Week.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 17/04/2024 – română

Getting involved in political life: standing for elected office, joining a political party, or following the news; is at the heart of what it means to live in a democracy. People with disabilities are active citizens, keen to participate given the right opportunities. However, they face legal, administrative, institutional and accessibility barriers to taking part. Several EU initiatives encourage people with disabilities to participate in politics. With the 2024 European elections on the horizon, the European Parliament is committed to helping them take part.

EPRS Policy Podcast - People with disabilities and the European elections

Women continue to be under-represented in EU countries at all levels of political decision-making as well as in political parties. The origins of this situation are complex, but one reason stands out: violence against women active in politics discourages many women from entering the political arena. Women politicians are exposed to two severe and intersecting forms of violence: political violence and gender-based violence. Violence against women in politics takes multiple forms, from physical attacks to psychological and symbolic abuse, including sexual and sexist comments, online hate speech and sexual harassment, etc.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Violence against women active in politics in the EU: A serious obstacle to political participation

In June 2024, around 400 million EU citizens go to the polls to elect the Members of the European Parliament's 10th legislature. As the only EU institution that represents EU citizens, elections to the European Parliament are a major democratic event, and the only one at EU level that resembles national democratic electoral consultation. European elections, however, differ from the national version, as they are part of a context of multi-tier government, sometimes perceived as 'second order elections'. The main difference is that the European elections are a rather fragmented exercise, since a great part of the electoral process, including the way in which the right to vote is exercised, remains subject to national rules.

EPRS Policy Podcast - European elections 2024: Rules of a pan-European democratic event

At a glance: the special European Council; the last Eurobarometer survey before the June European elections; and the European Youth Event.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 16/04/2024 – română

At a glance: Parliament wants to make the right to abortion an EU fundamental right; the ECB Annual Report for 2023; and European Youth Week 2024.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 15/04/2024 – română

At a glance: in Brussels, Parliament adopted ten legislative texts to reform European migration and asylum policy; King Philippe of the Belgians addressed MEPs; and Parliament adopted an EU certification framework for carbon removals.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 12/04/2024 – română

At a glance: the plenary session is ongoing in Brussels. MEPs have voted on revising the pharmaceutical legislation and adopted their position on new rules to improve the health of European soils and to increase CO2 emission reduction targets for trucks, buses and trailers.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 11/04/2024 – română

At a glance: in Brussels, the plenary session is ongoing; MEPs will vote on the reform of the EU electricity market; the agreement on the extension of temporary trade measures for Ukraine; and approximately EUR 5 million in EU aid for displaced workers in Germany and Denmark.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 10/04/2024 – română

E timpul să mergem la vot! Între șase și nouă iunie anul acesta, milioane de cetățeni vor vota la alegerile europene și vor decide cum va arăta viitorul Uniunii. Parlamentul European este singura instituție a Uniunii aleasă direct de cetățeni, iar alegerile europene sunt unul dintre cele mai mari evenimente democratice din lume. Ascultați acest podcast, în care vom analiza detaliat cum funcționează sistemul de vot. Nu ratați ocazia să aflați cât de mult contează votul dumneavoastră!

Alegerile europene pe înțelesul tuturor: cum funcționează sistemul de vot?

At a glance: the plenary session starts tomorrow in Brussels. MEPs will vote on the reform of the EU’s asylum and migration rules, a revision of the ‘breakfast directives’ and new rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 09/04/2024 – română

At a glance: the Committee on Development will take stock of the progress made on the UN Sustainable Development Goals; the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy will look at the main achievements during this legislative term; and the signing of the European Declaration on Cycling.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 08/04/2024 – română

At a glance: the political groups are preparing for the next plenary session, which will take place in Brussels on 10 and 11 April; proposed mandatory training for MEPs to prevent conflict and harassment in the European Parliament; and just 60 days to go until the European elections.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 05/04/2024 – română

At a glance: the political groups are preparing for the next plenary session, which will take place in Brussels on 10 and 11 April, and the Committee on Development is set to take stock of the progress made on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 04/04/2024 – română

At a glance: the meeting between European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection; the Committee on Constitutional Affairs is  proposing amendments to Parliament’s internal rules to strengthen its way of working; and EP President Metsola’s visit to Cyprus.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 03/04/2024 – română

At a glance: a plan has been developed to improve trainees’ working conditions, the European Chief Prosecutor will attend the next meetings of the committees on Budgetary Control and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and the European elections are just 65 days away.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 02/04/2024 – română

Former German chancellor and Honorary Citizen of EuropeHelmut Kohl, who passed away on 16 June, was honoured for his contribution to Europe with a ceremony hosted by Parliament in Strasbourg on 1 July 2017.

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The ceremony was be attended by the presidents of EU institutions, former and current heads of state and government and other dignitaries.

Helmut Kohl, born in 1930, served as German chancellor from 1982 to 1998 and led the country through its reunification in 1990 following the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Together with then French president François Mitterrand, Kohl played an instrumental role in the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which created the euro and transformed the existing European communities into the European Union. EU heads of state and government proclaimed Helmut Kohl as “Honorary citizen of Europe” in December 1998. “The creation of German unity and the consolidation of European unification, culminating in Economic and Monetary Union, are Dr Helmut Kohl's life's work. For that life's work, we offer him our sincere gratitude and our heartfelt appreciation,” said the conclusions of the European Council in Vienna. Only Jean Monnet (in 1976) and Jacques Delors (in 2015) have been awarded the same title.

“Helmut Kohl was a visionary and a statesman who championed reconciliation and unity among the peoples of Europe. He will be missed,” said Parliament President Antonio Tajani on the news of his death.

European ceremony of honour for Helmut KOHL

Since the Law and Justice party (PiS) won both the presidential and parliamentary elections in Poland in autumn 2015, the new government has undertaken a series of reforms that critics say restrict democracy.

Freedom and pluralism: President Schulz of Parliament, and Commission vice-president Timmermans have voiced concern for the freedom and pluralism of Poland’s public-service television and radio and for the status of the Constitutional Court. On 13 January the Commission decided to start the first stage of the "Framework for addressing systemic threats to the Rule of Law" in Poland.

Women’s rights in Poland: the current sexual and reproductive health law in Poland is among the most restrictive in the EU but it does reflect a political consensus reached by all the parties years ago. This consensus has recently been put at risk by the pro-life movements calling for a total ban on abortion. Their “Pro- Right to Life” proposal (“citizen initiative”) and the restrictive act on IVF have been passed on for further work in the Polish parliament while a “Save the Women” proposal (a rival bid to liberalise access to legal abortion and introduce a large package of sexual and reproductive health services”) has been rejected despite earlier assurances that citizens’ initiatives will not be rejected without consideration in committees.

Rule of law in Poland - 8th parliamentary term

Europe and Africa have close historical, cultural and geographical ties. EU-Africa relations are based on the 2000 Cotonou Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, which grew out of the 1975 Lomé Convention.

Africa-EU relations are framed by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) adopted by 80 African and European Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon Summit in 2007. This Strategy encompasses the Africa-EU Partnership, the political framework which defines bilateral relations. Its goal is a partnership between equals that will jointly tackle issues of mutual concern. It was reaffirmed with a positive spin at the 4th EU-Africa Summit held in April 2014 in Brussels.

EU - Africa (1994-2020)

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is usually announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in November/December at plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Sakharov Prize 2017

A ban on "roaming" surcharges for using mobile phones abroad in the EU, to take effect from June 2017, and clear rules on the right to internet access, will become law when Parliament takes its final vote on the new telecoms package.

Roaming fees for calling, sending text messages and using mobile internet abroad in the EU will be banned from 15 June 2017.

Roaming - 8th parliamentary term

The refugee and migrant crisis in Europe has exposed the need for reform of the Common European Asylum System, in general, and of the Dublin rules, in particular.

The Commission's proposal of 4 May 2016 to reform the Dublin system does not change the existing criteria for determining which Member State is responsible for examining an asylum application. 
Instead of a fundamental overhaul of the Dublin regime, as suggested by the Parliament, the Commission proposes to streamline and supplement the current rules with a corrective allocation mechanism. This mechanism would be triggered automatically were a Member State to be faced with disproportionate numbers of asylum-seekers. If a Member State decided not to accept the allocation of asylum-seekers from a Member State under pressure, a 'solidarity contribution'of €250 000 per applicant would have to be made instead.

Asylum - 8th parliamentary term

The Europeans want the EU to change. This is why the European Parliament is taking the leadership over a reform of the EU.

Parliament set out its vision for the future of Europe in three resolutions voted in plenary session on 16 February 2017. MEPs suggested, among other things:

<ul>
	<li>turning the Council of Ministers into a genuine second legislative chamber, and its configurations into preparatory bodies similar to Parliament’s committees,</li>
	<li>appointing an EU finance minister and giving the EU Commission the power to formulate and give effect to a common EU economic policy, backed up by a euro-area budget, and</li>
	<li>creating a fiscal capacity consisting of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and specific additional budgetary capacity for the euro area, funded by its members as a part of the EU budget.</li>
</ul>

Future of Europe - 8th parliamentary term

Clean energy is energy produced and consumed with a minimum of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

The transition to clean energy requires large investments in all areas of energy use: electricity generation, transport, heating and cooling, and also industrial activities. Reducing energy demand by means of energy efficiency measures also helps to lower the emissions associated with energy use.

Clean energy

Turkey has been candidate for EU membership since 1999. Accession negotiations started in 2005.

As a major emerging economy and a member of NATO and G20, Turkey is a key partner for the European Union. It is recognised as an active regional foreign policy player, with a strategic location, including for the EU's energy security. The EU is therefore committed to intensify further the political dialogue with Turkey in particular on foreign policy issues of mutual interest.

EU - Turkey - 8th Parliamentary term

Unlike the traditional linear economic model based on a 'take-make-consume-throw away' pattern, a circular economy is based on reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling, in an (almost) closed loop.

Although waste management in the European Union (EU) has improved considerably in the past decades, almost a third of municipal waste is still landfilled and less than half is recycled or composted, with wide variations between Member States. Improving waste management could deliver positive effects for the environment, climate, human health and the economy. As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Commission made four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

Circular economy - 8th parliamentary term

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed.

Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in the EU - 8th Parliamentary term

EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold for manufacturing consumer goods need to be certified by the EU to ensure that they do not fuel conflicts and human rights abuses in conflict areas.

Tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold are used in many consumer products in the EU, in particular by the automotive, electronics, aerospace, packaging, construction, lighting, industrial machinery and tooling industries, as well as in jewellery. The upcoming law potentially affects 880,000 EU manufacturers, most of which are small or medium-sized.

Conflict minerals

Greece entered the European Economic Community on 1 January 1981.

Greece is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 2001 and of the Schengen area since 1 January 2000. Greece is a parliamentary republic with a head of government&nbsp; who has the most political power, and the head of state whose duties are largely ceremonial.

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EU - Greece - 8th parliamentary term

On Friday 25 May the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force.

MEPs approved the regulation in 2016, in order to provide universal and high-level data protection rules across the EU. 
GDPR will ensure that everyone is able to control what kind of personal data they share with companies and for what purposes.

Data Protection - 8th parliamentary term

Belgium is a founding member of the European Union

Belgium is member of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995 and of the Eurozone since 1 January 1999.

The country's capital, Brussels, is together with Luxembourg City and Strasbourg, one of the three official seats of the European institutions. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

EU - Belgium

On 1 January 2007 Bulgaria joined the EU.

Bulgaria applied for membership of the European Union on 18th December 1995 and started its accession negociations in February 2000. The negociations were successfully concluded in December 2004 and the Accession Treaty was signed in April 2005.

EU - Bulgaria

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee votes on an update to EU rules on the safety of toys to better protect children and tackle the new challenges brought about by e-commerce and new technologies such as AI. The proposed regulation introduces new bans on the most harmful chemicals such as endocrine disruptors and a digital product passport to facilitate safety checks

IMCO vote on Toy safety

AGRI Committee MEPs debate with EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on the impact of trade in EU agriculture.

AGRI debate on the impact of trade in EU agriculture

AFET MEPs discuss on a joint debate with DEVE MEPs on the recent allegations against UNWRA staff and the impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

AFET debate on the recent allegations against UNWRA staff and the impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza

President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas and they jointly speak to the press. She then meets the President of the Parliament of Estonia, Lauri Hussar and delivers a keynote speech at the Parliament. She also meets the President of Estonia, Alar Karis and participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people.

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Estonia

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta

The Romanian President addresses MEPs on Wednesday at 11.00 to outline his vision on Europe’s challenges and future.

EP President Metsola and President Iohannis have a bilateral meeting before his speech in plenary. A short press point with both is scheduled for 10.50. 

This will be the thirteenth “This is Europe” plenary debate and the first in 2024. In 2023, MEPs heard from Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov (22 November), Cyprus’ President Christodoulides (13 June), Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz (9 May), Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (19 April) and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda (14 March). The EU leaders who participated in this debate series in 2022 were Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob.

Plenary debate - This is Europe - Debate with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis

MEPs review the demands of farmers and rural communities across Europe and discuss how to foster a sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture in a debate with Commission Executive Vice-President Šefčovič and Belgian Foreign Minister Lahbib

Plenary debate- The situation of farmers and the prices of agricultural products

Following almost two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, MEPs are set to reaffirm the need for the EU to stand firmly and united behind Kyiv. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Since then, the EU has provided unprecedented political, military, humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv, as well as imposing crippling sanctions against Moscow.

During the debate with the Council and Commission, MEPs assess the latest developments in the war and how the EU can continue to support Kyiv’s forces in fighting back against the Russian intruders. They also discuss the EU’s latest efforts to provide more financial support to Ukraine, particularly with additional U.S. aid currently being held up by congress

Council and Commission statements - The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

On Tuesday morning, MEPs discuss the results of the latest EU summits, particularly the Special European Council of 1 February, with Presidents Michel and von der Leyen. The special summit agreed on a €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine within the EU budget. As regards the mid-term review of the EU’s long-term 2021-2027 budget (multiannual financial framework, MFF), MEPs set out their position emphasizing the urgency of future-proofing the EU budget, on 3 October. Following the Commission’s proposal, Parliament endorsed an extra €10 billion for the years 2024-2027, in addition to the €65.8 billion proposed by the Commission.

Plenary debate - Special European Council of 1st of February

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, attends the Special European Council meeting held in Brussels on the 1st February 2024.  As a follow-up to the European Council meeting on 14 and 15 December 2023, EU leaders discuss the mid-term revision of the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027, including support to Ukraine.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates to the Special European Council

EP President Roberta Metsola, addresses the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the European Union, during a New Year's Reception

EP President Metsola addresses the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the European Union

EP President Roberta Metsola, meets with Leo Varadkar, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) in the European Parliament in Brussels

EP President meets with Leo Varadkar, Prime Minister of Ireland

EP President Metsola is in Denmark for an official visit, where she meets the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Søren Gade, and participates in a Town Hall discussion with young people

Official visit of EP President, Roberta Metsola to Denmark

EP President Metsola is in Rome, where she addresses the international summit “Italy – Africa. A bridge for common growth”.

International Summit “Italy – Africa. A bridge for common growth” with the participation of Roberta Metsola, EP President

Holocaust Remembrance Day/Plenary session. Holocaust survivor Irene Shasharaddresses Parliament during a plenary session in Brussels to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January). EP President Roberta Metsola opens the solemn ceremony with an introductory speech (Thursday at 11:30).

International Holocaust remembrance day/Plenary session

President Metsola is in Luxembourg, she meets the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg, Claude Wiseler, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden and holds a debate with young people.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Luxembourg

EP President Metsola have an audience with his Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, followed by a New Year’s Reception.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President attends the New Year's reception hosted by Philippe, King of the Belgians

President meets students at St Joseph School and pays tributeon Paulina Dembska's murder site in Sliema.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta

DEVE FEMM ENVI - Confirmation hearing of Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner-designate for Preparedness and Crisis Management Equality

ECON - Confirmation hearing of Maria Luís ALBUQUERQUE, European Commissioner-designate for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union

Committee on Foreign Affairs

AFET

Constitutive meeting of Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly

DLAT

Constitutive meeting of Delegations for relations with the United States

Constitutive meeting of Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly

Constitutive meeting of Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand

Constitutive meeting of Delegation for relations with Central Asia

DCAS

Constitutive meeting of Delegations for relations with South Africa

Committee on Budgetary Control

CONT

Constitutive meeting of Delegation to the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee

Joint committee on Foreign Affairs and committee on Budgets

BUDG

Constitutive meeting of Delegations for relations with Palestine

DPAL

Constitutive meeting of Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, including the EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee and the EU-Kosovo

DSEE

Subcommittee meeting on Public Health

SANT

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

IMCO

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

ITRE

Committee on Fisheries

PECH

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

ENVI - Confirmation hearing of Jessika ROSWALL, European Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy - Press point

EP Plenary session - Resumption of session and order of business

Last minute briefing

Pre-session briefing

Nikolaos ANADIOTIS in the EP in Strasbourg

Cesar LUENA in the EP in Brussels

Denis NESCI in the EP in Strasbourg

Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula Constitutive meeting

Freidrich PURNER in the EP in Strasbourg

Delegations for relations with Japan

Delegation to the EU-Türkiye Joint Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

Delegations for relations with the countries of South Asia Constitutive meeting

Silvia SARDONE in the EP in Strasbourg

Delegations for relations with Afghanistan Constitutive meeting

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Wolfgang SOBOTKA, President of the Austrian National Council

Geadis GEADI in the EP in Strasbourg

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Esther LYNCH, ETUC General Secretary

MEPs debate the situation of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Council of Europe, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed since February 2022 in the line of duty or because of their work, and at least forty have been injured.

Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: one round of political group speakers

Closing statement by Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke HOEKSTRA, after the plenary debate on the protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Council of Europe, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed since February 2022 in the line of duty or because of their work, and at least forty have been injured.

Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: closing statement by Wopke HOEKSTRA, on behalf of Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission

Statement by Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke HOEKSTRA, on behalf of Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission, ahead of the plenary debate on the Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Council of Europe, at least sixteen journalists and media workers have been killed since February 2022 in the line of duty or because of their work, and at least forty have been injured. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Protection of European journalists reporting on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: opening statement by Wopke HOEKSTRA, on behalf of Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Commission

Parliament approves the EU’s €35 billion contribution to the G7 plan to provide Ukraine with financial assistance of up to €45 billion. Parliament debates and votes on the new Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan, which seeks to support Ukraine with up to €35 billion in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression. The MFA loan is the EU’s contribution to the G7 initiative, agreed last June, to provide Ukraine with up to $50 billion (approximately €45 billion). The extraordinary revenues generated from immobilised Russian Central Bank assets, facilitated by the newly established Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, will ensure this exceptional MFA loan is repaid, as well as loans from other G7 countries.

Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine: extracts from the debate

MEPs call for an urgent ceasefire in Lebanon and for the UN mission in the country to be protected, after several recent attacks. The European Union has expressed its grave concern about the recent escalation along the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, particularly regarding attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which left several peacekeepers wounded. Israeli authorities accuse Hezbollah of using UN peacekeepers as “human shields” and consider that the UN’s refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into “hostages of Hezbollah”. UNIFIL was established in 1978 after the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon to monitor the situation there.

Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks: extracts from the debate

MEPs vote on the following topics: Siegfried Mureşan (BUDG A10-0005/2024) - Draft amending budget No 2/2024: entering the surplus of the financial year 2023; Siegfried Mureşan (BUDG A10-0007/2024) - Draft amending budget 4/2024: update of revenue (own resources) and adjustments to some decentralised agencies; Michalis Hadjipantela (BUDG A10/-) - Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch; Jonas Sjöstedt (CONT A10-0003/2024) - Discharge 2022: EU general budget – European Council and Council.

Voting session

The European Parliament votes on establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine during the voting session in Strasbourg followed by the statement of Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, on the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Vote on the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine, followed by a statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), and Manon AUBRY (The Left, FR), The Left Group Leaders, hold a press conference.This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), and Manon AUBRY (The Left, FR), The Left Group Leaders

Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), and Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Greens/EFA Group Leaders hold a press conference. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), and Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Greens/EFA Group Leaders

MEPs call for an urgent ceasefire in Lebanon and for the UN mission in the country to be protected, after several recent attacks. The European Union has expressed its grave concern about the recent escalation along the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, particularly regarding attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which left several peacekeepers wounded. Israeli authorities accuse Hezbollah of using UN peacekeepers as “human shields” and consider that the UN’s refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into “hostages of Hezbollah”. UNIFIL was established in 1978 after the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon to monitor the situation there. Closing statement by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks: closing statement by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks: MEPs debate (part 2)

Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs call for an urgent ceasefire in Lebanon and for the UN mission in the country to be protected, after several recent attacks. The European Union has expressed its grave concern about the recent escalation along the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, particularly regarding attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which left several peacekeepers wounded. Israeli authorities accuse Hezbollah of using UN peacekeepers as “human shields” and consider that the UN’s refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into “hostages of Hezbollah”. UNIFIL was established in 1978 after the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon to monitor the situation there. Opening statement by by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks: opening statement by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

Valérie HAYER (Renew, FR), Renew Europe Group Leader holds a press conference. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Valérie HAYER (Renew, FR), Renew Europe Group Leader

Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader holds a press conference. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press briefing by Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ, (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader

The Parliament discusses the EU plan to lend Ukraine up to €35 billion to support the country in its defence against Russia. The loan is part of a G7 financial assistance package to be repaid through frozen Russian Central bank assets.

Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine: MEPs debate

Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SE), Rapporteur, following up on the plenary debate on the EU plan to lend Ukraine up to €35 billion to support the country in its defence against Russia. The loan is part of a G7 financial assistance package to be repaid through frozen Russian Central bank assets.

Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine: Closing statements

Opening statements by Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SE), Rapporteur, Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL) Vice Chair of the Committee on Budget of the European Parliament, and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, ahead of the vote of the European Parliament on the EU’s €35 billion contribution to the G7 plan to provide Ukraine with up to €45 billion of financial assistance. Parliament debates and votes on the new Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan, which seeks to support Ukraine with up to €35 billion in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression. The MFA loan is the EU’s contribution to the G7 initiative, agreed last June, to provide Ukraine with up to $50 billion (approximately €45 billion). The extraordinary revenues generated from immobilised Russian Central Bank assets, facilitated by the newly established Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, will ensure this exceptional MFA loan is repaid, as well as loans from other G7 countries.

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