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Plenary round-up – April 2025
The European Union's relations with the world topped the agenda for the April 2025 plenary session, with several debates on statements by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Kaja Kallas. These covered Russia's war crimes in Ukraine; safeguarding access to democratic media; the crackdown on democracy in Türkiye; the dramatic situation in Gaza; and targeted attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Members held ...
Plenary round-up – March 2025
The future of European Union defence unsurprisingly topped the March 2025 plenary session agenda. Members held a debate on Europe's security architecture and the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine, in the presence of the Presidents of the European Council, and European Commission. Debates also took place on the conclusions of the 6 March special European Council meeting and preparation of the regular meeting on 20 21 March 2025. Members marked International Women's Day with addresses from guests ...
Plenary round-up – February 2025
The highlight of the February 2025 plenary session was the presentation of the European Commission's long-awaited 2025 work programme and the subsequent debate. The session also saw a debate on Council and Commission statements on continued EU support for Ukraine, followed by an address by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. Members took part in several debates linked to preparing the EU for a new trade era: on multilateral cooperation on tariffs, the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, and ...
Plenary round-up – January 2025
The first plenary session of 2025 featured a debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024, with António Costa participating for the first time in his new capacity of President of the European Council. A debate on the programme of the Polish Council Presidency followed, with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, who underlined the Presidency's focus on prioritising EU security and defence. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾'s President and political group leaders adopted a statement ...
Plenary round-up – December 2024
The European Union's external relations topped the agenda for the December 2024 plenary session, with several debates on statements by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, attending the plenary for the first time in her new capacity. These included the toppling of the Syrian regime and its consequences; Russia's disinformation activities and fraudulent justification of its war against Ukraine; the use of rape ...
Plenary round-up – November III 2024
The highlight of the November III 2024 plenary session was the election of the European Commission, following the Commission President-elect's presentation of the College of Commissioners and a debate in the chamber. Members held debates on Commission statements on the outcomes of the G20 Leaders' Summit and the COP29 climate change conference. Members also debated Commission and Council statements on reinforcing the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine; continued escalation in the Middle East; and ...
Plenary round-up – November I 2024
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾'s first session of November 2024 opened with Members observing a minute of silence for the victims of the recent devastating floods in Spain. Members discussed the urgent need to support the victims, to improve preparedness and to continue to tackle the climate crisis. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ agreed a resolution calling for more targeted EU sanctions against Russia's 'shadow fleet', which by transporting oil ultimately finances Russia's war on Ukraine. Members heard and debated European Commission ...
Plenary round-up – October II 2024
A key moment during the October II session was the debate on managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns, based on a Commission statement following up the previous week's European Council conclusions. International topics also took up much of the agenda, with Members debating Commission statements on war crimes committed by Russia, EU action against Russian shadow fleets and ensuring full enforcement of sanctions, and protection of European journalists reporting ...
Plenary round-up – October I 2024
The first plenary session of October 2024 saw Members mark one year since the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack, as well as holding a debate on a statement by the High Representative/Vice President of the Commission, Josep Borrell, on the escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon. Members also held a debate with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, current holder of the Council Presidency. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ adopted resolutions on Georgia's increasingly authoritarian trajectory ...
Plenary round-up – September 2024
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾'s September 2024 plenary session took place as floods devastated many areas in central European Member States, leading Members to debate and adopt a resolution on the EU's preparedness to act to tackle disasters exacerbated by climate change. The flooding also led to the postponement of the planned statement on the priorities of the Hungarian Council Presidency. During the session, Members debated a number of European Commission statements: on financial and military support ...