The Commission unveils its internal security strategy at the plenary, and discuss with MEPs its latest proposals to enhance crisis preparedness in the EU.

In response to the current global threat landscape, the EU wants to improve intelligence-gathering to build a comprehensive threat picture, improve preparedness against hybrid threats, building on already-announced measures on protecting undersea cable infrastructure, and enhance measures against serious and organised crime. These may include new actions against drug and firearms trafficking, a deepening of the European Ports Alliance, and a new counter-terrorism agenda.

Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner presented an outline of the strategy to the Civil Liberties Committee on 19 March 2025.

In a separate debate on the same day, MEPs will react to the EU’s Preparedness Union strategy, presented by the Commission on 26 March. It contains a wide range of proposals to step up EU preparedness throughout society, including better crisis response coordination, protecting essential services, stockpiling critical materials, and improved civil-military cooperation.

EP Plenary debate on plans to improve the EU’s safety and preparedness

Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 10 - 13 February plenary session in which MEPs will debate the EU’s continued support for Ukraine after three years of Russia’s war of aggression, providing support to EU regions that border Russia, as well as the continued repression of the democratic opposition in Russia one year after the murder of Alexei Navalny. Plenary will also vote on a resolution on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia, debate the Commission work programme for 2025, the recent proposals to boost the EU’s competitiveness, the consequences of the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and from the World Health Organisation, as well as the threats that strategic reliance on third countries in communication infrastructure pose to EU sovereignty.

Pre-session briefing

Commissioner and Rapporteur Nicola BEER (Renew, DE), Rapporteur, Anna-Michelle ASIMAKOPOULOU (on behalf of INTA Committee), Jessica POLFJÄRD (on behalf of ENVI Committee), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Miriam LEXMANN (on behalf of AFET Committee) and Franc BOGOVIČ (on behalf of REGI Committee) deliver opening statements and consequent MEPS  debate on the Framework for Ensuring a Secure and Sustainable Supply of Critical Raw Materials in a plenary session in Strasbourg. 

Electric cars, solar panels and smartphones - all of them contain critical raw materials. They are pivotal for the EU’s green and digital transitions, and securing their supply is crucial for the European Union's economic resilience, technological leadership, and strategic autonomy. Since the Russian war against Ukraine and an increasingly aggressive Chinese trade and industrial policy, cobalt, lithium and other raw materials have also become a geopolitical factor.

The Critical Raw Materials Act, informally agreed with Council in November, should make the EU more competitive and sovereign by cutting red tape, promoting innovation along the entire value chain, and supporting SMEs. It also aims to boost research and the development of alternative materials and more environmentally-friendly mining and production methods.The legislation will set up economic incentives and a more stable and secure business framework for mining and recycling projects, with faster and simpler authorisation procedures.

Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials

EP Plenary session - EU Preparedness Union Strategy

EP Plenary session - Presentation of the New European Internal Security Strategy

EP Plenary session - Need to ensure democratic pluralism, strengthen integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies in the EU

EP Plenary session - Threats to EU sovereignty through strategic dependencies in communication infrastructure

EP Plenary session - Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea

EP Plenary session - Foreign interference and espionage by third country actors in European universities

EP Plenary session - Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea

EP Plenary session - Foreign interference and hybrid attacks: the need to strengthen EU resilience and internal security

EP Plenary session - Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials

The Commission presents its internal security strategy in plenary, followed by a debate with MEPs. In response to global threats, the EU wants to improve intelligence gathering, strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats, and enhance measures against organised crime. In a second debate, MEPs and the Commission will discuss the “Preparedness Union” strategy, unveiled on 26 March, focused on better crisis response coordination, protecting essential services, stockpiling critical materials, and improved civil-military cooperation.

EU Preparedness Union Strategy: MEPs debate

The Commission presents its internal security strategy in plenary, followed by a debate with MEPs. In response to global threats, the EU wants to improve intelligence gathering, strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats, and enhance measures against organised crime. In a second debate, MEPs and the Commission will discuss the “Preparedness Union” strategy, unveiled on 26 March, focused on better crisis response coordination, protecting essential services, stockpiling critical materials, and improved civil-military cooperation. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU Preparedness Union Strategy: closing statements

MEPs and the European Commission discuss the “Preparedness Union” strategy, unveiled on 26 March, focused on better crisis response coordination, protecting essential services, stockpiling critical materials, and improved civil-military cooperation.

EU Preparedness Union Strategy: extracts from the debate

Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, presents its internal security strategy in plenary, followed by a debate with MEPs. In response to global threats, the EU wants to improve intelligence gathering, strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats, and enhance measures against organised crime. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU Preparedness Union Strategy: opening statements

Closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality on Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea: Closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

Opening statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality on Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea: Opening statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

Commission statement on Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea.

Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea: MEPs debate

Commissioner and Rapporteur Nicola BEER (Renew, DE) deliver closing statements on the Framework for Ensuring a Secure and Sustainable Supply of Critical Raw Materials in a plenary session in Strasbourg. Closing statements by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Nicola BEER (Renew, DE), Rapporteur.

Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials: closing statements by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Nicola BEER (Renew, DE), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on the Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials in a plenary debate in Strasbourg.

Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials: MEPs debate part 1

Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials: MEPs debate part 2

In the context of the digital and ecological transition, space services such as satellite communication are becoming a strategic asset. The Russian war of invasion also shows how important it is for defence and civilian purposes. With that in mind, the EU has the ambition to deploy its own constellation of up to 170 satellites to provide secure, uninterrupted and fast communications. The programme promises major advances to our economy and society. But to be successful, it must address challenges like space congestion. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - IRIS²: the EU Secure Connectivity Programme

EPRS identifies and frames some of the top key issues that might feature prominently in public debate and on the political agenda of the European Union this year. In times of crises and war, what are the challenges we must face and choices we have to make? Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - EU recovery instrument

EPRS - Cyber resilience in the EU

Question Time to Commission - Protection of critical infrastructure from China's interference. Questions and answers with Margrethe VESTAGER, Vice-President of the European Commission (part 2).

Question Time to Commission - Protection of critical infrastructure from China's interference: questions and answers with Margrethe VESTAGER, Vice-President of the European Commission (part 2)

Question Time to Commission - Protection of critical infrastructure from China's interference. Questions and answers (part 1) with Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

Question Time to Commission - Protection of critical infrastructure from China's interference: questions and answers with Margrethe VESTAGER, Vice-President of the European Commission (part 1)

The Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) has endorsed a trilogue agreement on new rules to better protect the EU’s essential infrastructure. The new rules would establish harmonised minimum rules to ensure that different member states classify the same providers as essential, and risk assessments for essential infrastructure to boost its resilience in the face of disruptions and hazards. The scope would be expanded to eleven sectors in total, including energy, transport, banking, financial market infrastructures, health, drinking water, waste water, food, digital infrastructure and space. This topic come into the news recently with the Nord Stream gas pipelines sabotage in the Baltic Sea.

3 results