Today: the European Parliamentary Week 2024, MEPs of the Committee on Foreign Affairs meet with the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the role of cultural diplomacy in EU foreign policy.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 12/02/2024 – română

Today: the thirteenth ‘This is Europe’ plenary debate with Romanian president Iohannis;  new rules to ensure that euro money transfers arrive within ten seconds; and Parliament’s concerns about very serious threats to EU values in Greece.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 09/02/2024 – română

Today: the situation of farmers and the price of agricultural products take centre stage in the debate in Strasbourg. Parliament and Council negotiators agree on a long-term solution for Ukraine’s funding needs. Negotiators also reach a deal on rules to combat gender-based violence.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 08/02/2024 – română

Today: In Strasbourg, the plenary session is under way. In the debating chamber, MEPs assessed the outcomes of the most recent EU summits. The global climate crisis  and Russian attempts to interfere in the EU’s democratic processes were also on the agenda.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 07/02/2024 – română

Today: the plenary session is under way in Strasbourg with MEPs due to discuss the demands of farmers and rural communities across Europe; a resolution on threats to the rule of law and media freedom in Greece and the thirteenth ‘This is Europe’ plenary debate with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 06/02/2024 – română

The world is not on track to keep the global temperature rise below 2°C. Even under the most optimistic scenarios, the temperature rise is expected to overshoot 1.5°C for a while, before falling back below 1.5°C thanks to large-scale carbon removals. While action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and scale up carbon dioxide removal remains crucial, there is an urgent need to reinforce efforts to adapt to climate change, in order to avoid losses and build resilience.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Climate overshoot and adaptation: Issues to watch in 2024

Next Generation EU (NGEU) and its centrepiece for investment, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), are the main EU funding instruments for green and digital measures. Against the backdrop of huge investment needs in these strategic policy areas, 2024 marks a crucial phase in NGEU implementation.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Delivery on the green and digital transition: Issues to watch in 2024

European elections represent a crucial moment: they give EU citizens a say in the political direction of the European Union. After declining ever since the first European direct elections in 1979, electoral turn out increased in the 2019 elections to reach 50.6 % largely due to youth participation (according to a post-election Eurobarometer survey). Echoing the 2019 motto 'This time I'm voting', the 2024 one might be: 'I did it again!' The 2024 European elections could be a turning point for youth engagement for several reasons

EPRS Policy Podcast - Young Europeans go to the polls: Issues to watch in 2024

Cancerul este a doua cauză de deces în țările Uniunii Europene, după bolile cardiovasculare. În fiecare an, aproape 3 milioane de oameni sunt diagnosticați cu această boală, iar 1,2 milioane își pierd viața din cauza ei. Deși responsabilitatea pentru politicile în domeniul sănătății le revine în primul rând țărilor membre, combaterea cancerului este una dintre prioritățile Uniunii Europene.

Planul european de combatere a cancerului

Today: a new plenary session is getting under way in Strasbourg. Topics on the agenda include the results of the latest EU summit and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Last week, Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on a stronger right to repair for consumers.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 05/02/2024 – română

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

Today: the deal on the ‘breakfast directives’; the bids to host the headquarters of the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority; and the 2024 Charlemagne Youth Prize.

Scurt Buletin de Știri – 01/02/2024 – română

Uniunea Europeană este o uniune politică și economică formată din 27 de state membre, în care și alte țări au cerut să fie incluse. În prezent există nouă țări candidate. Însă procesul care trebuie parcurs pentru a deveni stat membru al Uniunii este lung și complex.

Cum funcționează în practică extinderea Uniunii Europene

Europaparlamentet och dess folkvalda ledamöter är medborgarnas röst i EU. Därför vill vi göra parlamentet tillgängligt för alla. Nyheter i korthet ger dig en snabb överblick över dagens viktigaste händelser på alla officiella EU-språk. Sändningen kommer till dig från Europaparlamentet. Du hittar fler program här:

Nyheter i korthet – 31/01/2024 – svenska

Європарламент та його депутати є голосом громадян Європейського Союзу. Саме тому ми хочемо, щоб Європарламент став доступним для всіх. Короткі новини - це огляд головних новин дня на всіх офіційних мовах ЄС. Ця трансляція надається Європарламентом. Більше доступних програм тут:

Короткі новини – 31/01/2024 – укрaïнською

Evropski parlament in izvoljeni poslanci so glas državljanov Evropske unije. Zato želimo, da bi bil Parlament ljudem res blizu. V kratkih novicah vam v vseh uradnih jezikih Unije na kratko predstavljamo najpomembnejše dnevne teme. Oddajo pripravlja Evropski parlament. Več prispevkov in vsebin najdete na naslednjih spletnih mestih:

Kratka poročila – 31/01/2024 – slovenščina

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. They are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially modified in order to give it a new property. For example, this could be to make it easier for a plant to resist a disease, insects or drought, or to increase crop productivity.

The EU's GMO legislation stems from 1990 when the first two directives concerning GMOs came into force. Both original directives have since been updated, but the definition of a GMO has remained unchanged. This is causing problems for new techniques developed since then. New plant genetic modification techniques, referred to as 'gene editing' or 'genome editing', have evolved rapidly in recent years, allowing much faster and more precise results than conventional plant-breeding techniques. They are seen as a promising, innovative field for the agri-food industry, offering great technical potential.There is, however, considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated, and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/genetically-modified-organism-8th-parliamentary-term_6504_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Genetically modified organism

On Wednesday 18 January 2023, in a secret vote, Marc ANGEL (S&amp;D, LU) received an absolute majority of votes cast and was elected to the office of European Parliament Vice-President.

Election of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament

During this legislation period 2019-2024 the European Parliament has delivered on many legislative files and priorities.

The EP, as the only directly elected EU institution,&nbsp;is the&nbsp;representative of EU citizens. It&nbsp;embodies European democracy by nature and process,&nbsp;protects and enhances democratic rights and values in the EU and the world and&nbsp;takes up citizens´ demands in the EU decision making process.&nbsp;

Through the very nature of its functions, it embodies European parliamentary democracy and lends democratic legitimacy to the European Union. As an&nbsp;inclusive decision-maker, the Parliament listens to citizens' concerns,&nbsp;and takes action based on these concerns. It&nbsp;&nbsp;stands up for peace, democracy, freedom and prosperity for all citizens.&nbsp;Besides,&nbsp;Parliament&nbsp;fights for&nbsp;democracy and accountability through its political and legislative work, including the budget.&nbsp;And finally,&nbsp;it offers&nbsp;the opportunity to take action&nbsp;(voting, getting in touch with local MEPs, COFOE).

Highlights of the legislative term

EU leaders met&nbsp;in Brussels on 27th and 28th of June for the European Council.

They discussed&nbsp;the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, the next institutional cycle, Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, and other items.

Following the European Parliament elections, EU leaders met informally in Brussels on 17/6 to discuss the next high-profile EU-level roles in the upcoming institutional cycle.

The European Council is central in designating the next high-profile EU-level roles, namely:

-electing the President of the European Council 
-nominating the President of the European Commission 
-appointing the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

All these procedures are laid out in the Treaty on European Union (TEU), one of the EU’s primary treaties.

Any decision by the European Council needs to reflect the diversity of the EU in terms of geography, country size, gender and political affiliation.

European Council, 27-28 June 2024 & Informal leaders' meeting, 17 June 2024

On 29 March 2017, Theresa MAY, British Prime Minister, triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The right of a Member State to withdraw from the European Union was introduced for the first time with the Lisbon Treaty; the possibility of withdrawal was highly controversial before that. The Article 50 provides for the negotiation of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the withdrawing state, defining in particular the latter's future relationship with the Union. If no agreement is concluded within two years, that state's membership ends automatically, unless the European Council and the Member State concerned decide jointly to extend this period.

See also our previous package on <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/brexit-8th-parliamentary-term_1603_pk">Brexit</a>.

Brexit

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore in December 2019 the Commission presented a communication on a European Green Deal that sets out a detailed vision to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, safeguard biodiversity, establish a circular economy and eliminate pollution, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 28 November 2019.&nbsp; The European Climate Law writes&nbsp;into law the goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and attain the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).&nbsp;After 2050 the EU will aim for negative emissions. In July&nbsp;2021 the European Commission presented its “Fit for 55 in 2030” package-the legislative tool to deliver on the targets agreed in the European Climate law.

The EP adopted the new Nature restoration law during its February plenary. The new law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The EU nature restoration law, agreed with member states, will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives and enhance food security.

To reach the overall EU targets, member states must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from a poor to a good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to&nbsp;Natura 2000 areas&nbsp;until 2030. Once in a good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. Member states will also have to adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these targets.

European Green Deal

Since the beginning of the pandemic COVID-19, the EU has developed a wide range of health policy responses, exemplified by the common approach to vaccines through the EU Vaccines Strategy and initiatives across a range of other policies.

A common approach to assessing infection rates in different regions made testing and quarantining much more consistent. EU Digital COVID Certificates were agreed on and implemented in record time, paving the way for the safe resumption of tourism and travel during summer, and beyond.

At the same time, the EU took decisive action to tackle the economic fallout of the pandemic with funds and special economic aid for&nbsp;Member states, entreprises and citizens.

The EU Health Union is underway with&nbsp;reinforcing the mandates of the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, addressing cross-border threats to health and creating a future-proof EU pharmaceutical policy. MEPs obtained better support for the EU4Health programme in the 2022 EU budget, with an additional €51 million to build up a strong Health Union and to make national health systems more resilient.

Effective coordination of national measures as well as solidarity among member states together with the importance of&nbsp;making national health systems more sustainable and resilient are the main challenges of the EU, learned from&nbsp;the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic.

EU's response to COVID-19

The European Parliament supports human rights through the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, established in 1988.

The prize is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe, drawing attention to human rights violations as well as supporting the laureates and their cause.

The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in November/December at the plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Oleg Sentsov is the 2018 laureate of Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize 2018

In 2004 Slovakia joined the European Union as a Member State. It is a member of&nbsp;the Schengen area&nbsp;since 21 December 2007.&nbsp;It is a member of the&nbsp;Eurozone, when the Euro was introduced to replace the Slovak Crown as the national currency.

There are more than 5.4 million people in Slovakia. The country has 14 Members of European Parliament (MEPs). Slovakia has presided the EU between July and December 2016. Slovakia is a parliamentary democratic republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who holds the most executive power and a head of state - the President - who is the formal head of the executive, but with&nbsp;limited powers. The country is subdivided into 8 regions, each named after its principal city.&nbsp;

The country was in the centre of attention nad underwent huge political turbulences in&nbsp;2018 when the investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée were murdered.&nbsp;

EU - Slovakia

MEPs elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) on January 2022 as President of the European Parliament until 2024. Roberta Metsola won the election in the first voting round, where she received an absolute majority of 458 votes out of 690 cast in the remote secret vote, among three candidates.&nbsp;

President Metsola is leading the Parliament in the second half of the current legislative term, until a new Parliament is constituted following the 2024 European Elections. Born in Malta in 1979,&nbsp; Roberta Metsola who has been an MEP since 2013, is the youngest EP President ever elected.

She became First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022. She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999- 2002).

Election of the President of the European Parliament

Lithuania is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - and a head of state - the President - who appoints the Prime Minister.

The Parliament is a single-chamber legislative body. The country is divided into 60 municipalities, with directly-elected mayors.

There are 11 members of the European Parliament from Lithuania.

Lithuania joined the EU on 1 May 2004 - and the euro area on 1 January 2015.

EU - Lithuania

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When the Treaty of Rome established the common market in 1958, State intervention was a major feature of agriculture in the six founding Member States. The foundations of the common agricultural policy (CAP) have remained unchanged since then, with the exception of rules relating to the decision-making procedure.

The Lisbon Treaty recognised codecision as the ‘ordinary legislative procedure’ for the CAP, in place of the consultation procedure. 
If the principle of the free movement of goods was to apply to agricultural produce, ongoing State intervention notwithstanding, national intervention mechanisms which were incompatible with the common market had to be transferred to Community level: this is the basic rationale behind the establishment of the CAP.
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Common Agricultural Policy - 8th parliamentary term

Latvia joined the European Union on 1 May&nbsp;2004 and has been a member of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007. It became a member of the Euro area on 1 January 2014.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who chooses the council of ministers and a head of state - the President - who has a largely ceremonial role and nominates the Prime Minister.

The government is subject to Parliament's approval throughout each term.

The country is subdivided into 110 one-level municipalities and 9 cities. These each have their own city councils and municipal administrations.

There are 8 Members of the European Parliament from Latvia.

EU - Latvia

A Digital Single Market (DSM) is one in which the free movement of persons, services and capital is ensured and where the individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and engage in online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence.

Digital single market

The Presidential Debate - EU Elections 2019 takes place on 15 May at 21.00 CET. It is an opportunity to discover where the lead candidates stand on a range of issues.

Political parties put forward candidates for the post of president of the European Commission ahead of the European elections. The lead candidate nominated by the Council, and able to command a majority in Parliament, will be elected President of the European Commission by a vote of Parliament.

The lead candidates are sometimes referred to by the German term spitzenkandidaten. This system was first used in 2014 to select current Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Presidency of the European Commission/Eurovision Debate - EU elections 2019

The European elections of 22-25 May 2014 gave voters the chance to influence the future political course of the European Union when they elected the 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to represent their interests for the next five years.

One major new development introduced by the Treaty was that, when the EU Member States have nominated the next president of the European Commission in autumn 2014, they had for the first time - have to take account of the European election results. The new Parliament endorses this candidate: it 'elects' the Commission president, in the words of the Treaty. This means voters now have a clear say in who takes over at the helm of EU government.

European elections 2014

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

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

Committee on Transport and Tourism

TRAN

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

EMPL

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Committee on Culture and Education

CULT

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

AFCO

Committee on Development

DEVE

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

ITRE

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ENVI

Committee on Foreign Affairs

AFET

Committee on Fisheries

PECH

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

ECON

Official visit to Poland - Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, at "The Future of Poland 2024" event, at the University of Warmia and Mazury

Committee on Budgets

BUDG

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

Delegations for relations with South Africa Constitutive meeting

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

Delegations for relations with Palestine Constitutive meeting

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

INTA - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine

Delegations for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil Constitutive meeting

Delegations for relations with Israel Constitutive meeting

ECON - Monetary Dialogue with Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank

Delegation to the Caribbean-EU Parliamentary Assembly Constitutive meeting

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

Multilingualism Day 2024

DEVE - Presentation of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency - Exchange of views with Tristan AZBEJ State Secretary

DEVE AFET DROI - Presentation of candidates for the Sakharov Prize 2024

Protecting farmer workers and citizens in rural areas against pesticides

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to New York (United States) - United Nations General Assembly - Participation to the Clinton Global Initiatives Spotlight Session

10th year of detention for Uyghur human rights activist Professor Ilham Tohti

ENVI Committee - Exchange of views with Dr Péter Takács, Secretary of State for Health, Ministry of the Interior, Hungarian Council Presidency

ECON - Public Hearing with Dominique Laboureix, Chair of the Single Resolution Board

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and János BÓKA, Minister for European Affairs, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency sign 3 legislative acts on "Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act (IMERA)" and "IMERA Directives Omnibus" in presence of the Chair Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA) and the Rapporteur Andreas SCHWAB (EPP).

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and János BÓKA, Minister for European Affairs, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency

MEPs discuss with the Commission ways to encourage public and private investment in decent and affordable housing in Europe. Ahead of her confirmation as Commission President, Ursula VON DER LEYEN said in a statement before Parliament on 18 July that Europe faces a housing crisis and announced she would appoint a Commissioner to be directly responsible for this issue. Former Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan JØRGENSEN is the Commissioner-designate for Housing and Energy. Third part of MEPs debate

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes: MEPs debate (part 3)

MEPs discuss with the Commission ways to encourage public and private investment in decent and affordable housing in Europe. Ahead of her confirmation as Commission President, Ursula VON DER LEYEN said in a statement before Parliament on 18 July that Europe faces a housing crisis and announced she would appoint a Commissioner to be directly responsible for this issue. Former Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan JØRGENSEN is the Commissioner-designate for Housing and Energy. Second part of MEPs debate

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss with the Commission ways to encourage public and private investment in decent and affordable housing in Europe. Ahead of her confirmation as Commission President, Ursula VON DER LEYEN said in a statement before Parliament on 18 July that Europe faces a housing crisis and announced she would appoint a Commissioner to be directly responsible for this issue. Former Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan JØRGENSEN is the Commissioner-designate for Housing and Energy. First part of MEPs debate.

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes: MEPs debate (part 1)

Following up on the statement of Margaritis SCHINAS, European Commission's Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, MEPs discuss ways to encourage public and private investment in decent and affordable housing in Europe. Ahead of her confirmation as Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen has announced she would appoint a Commissioner to be directly responsible for this issue. Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen is the Commissioner-designate for Housing and Energy. As part of its Renovation Wave Strategy, in 2023 the Commission launched an Affordable Housing Initiative. Before that, in January 2021, Parliament called on the EU to recognise access to decent and affordable housing as an enforceable human right.

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe: extracts from the debate

MEPs discuss with the Commission ways to encourage public and private investment in decent and affordable housing in Europe. Ahead of her confirmation as Commission President, Ursula VON DER LEYEN said in a statement before Parliament on 18 July that Europe faces a housing crisis and announced she would appoint a Commissioner to be directly responsible for this issue. Former Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan JØRGENSEN is the Commissioner-designate for Housing and Energy.

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes: Opening statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

This news item shows the extracts of the debate between MEPs, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor ORBÁN, and the European Commission President Ursula VON DER LEYEN on 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.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: extracts from the debate

MEPs vote on strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration; and on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia.

Votes incl. Moldova's resilience against Russian interference and democratic backsliding in Georgia

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. Closing statements by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight and by Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: closing statements by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight and by Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister

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 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 1)

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: 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. Answer by Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: answer by Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister

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. One round of political group leaders. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: one round of political group leaders

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. Opening statements by Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister and by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: opening statements by Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister and by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC

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. Ambiance shots and opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency: ambiance shots and opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Arrival of Viktor ORBAN, Hungarian Prime Minister, and welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Viktor ORBAN, Hungarian Prime Minister: arrival and welcome

Opening statements. MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, ahead of a vote on a related resolution. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia: Opening statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

Closing statements. MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, ahead of a vote on a related resolution. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized.

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia: Closing statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

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