Members of the European Parliament will be in Strasbourg from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 November. This plenary session will be devoted in particular to the election of the ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission and the budget for 2025.
On this first subject, the re-elected President of the European Commission will present the future College of European Commissioners-designate to MEPs on Wednesday morning. This will be followed by a debate on the political priorities for the forthcoming legislative term. Beforehand, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament’s political groups (CoP) will have checked that the process of appointing the 26 executive vice-presidents and European Commissioners-designate has been finalised by Parliament, with the receipt of all the evaluation letters from the relevant parliamentary committees (see EUROPE 13529/7).
At midday, after the group chairs have spoken, MEPs will vote on the College as a whole by a simple majority. If confirmed, the ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission will take office in early December. Following the agreement reached on Wednesday (see EUROPE 13528/1), defections are expected from the French, Italian and German delegations in the S&D group and from the Spanish delegation in the EPP group. The Greens/EFA group, which voted in favour of Ms von der Leyen’s re-election, is now expected to oppose it, as it is not party to the EPP/S&D/Renew Europe agreement validating the appointment of the Italian conservative Raffaele Fitto to the post of vice-president. The majority of the ECR group is expected to support the future College.
The Chair of the EPP group, Germany’s Manfred Weber, believes that it is time for the European Parliament to shoulder its responsibilities: this College is “very balanced and unites Europe”, and its confirmation by the Parliament will send out the signal of a “strong Commission for the years to come”.
In 2019, the ‘von der Leyen I’ College received a large majority (see EUROPE 12378/1). In July, Ms von der Leyen was re-elected by an absolute majority of the Parliament (see EUROPE 13456/1).
Competitiveness and capital markets. Also on Wednesday, the Parliament will return to the ‘New European Competitiveness Deal’ that EU leaders called for in Budapest on 8 November (see EUROPE 13521/2). MEPs want to stress the urgent need to support the industrial and agricultural sectors.
In the afternoon, the Commission will speak about the promotion of a favourable framework for venture capital financing and safe foreign direct investments. Venture capital is an essential source of financing for innovative start-ups (see EUROPE 13393/3).
Economy and budget. On Tuesday, the European Commission will present its Autumn 2024 economic forecasts to MEPs, which envisage a gradual economic rebound (see EUROPE 13525/1). It will then unveil its analysis of the Member States’ multiannual budget programmes and its recommendations.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, MEPs will debate and vote on the EU budget for 2025, as approved by the Conciliation Committee in trilogue (see EUROPE 13526/15). MEPs will also have to vote on Draft Amending Budget No 5/2024, which concerns the adjustment of payment appropriations.
Cohesion. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the challenges in the implementation of cohesion policy 2021-2027. The budget is €392 billion over seven years and the reform of this policy promises to be arduous (see EUROPE 13529/8).
Foreign affairs. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate strengthening the EU's “unwavering support” to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. While more than 10,000 North Korean troops are believed to be in Russia (see EUROPE 13521/6), on Thursday 21 November Russia reportedly launched a missile at Dnipro (see EUROPE 13529/25). A resolution on the subject will be put to the vote on Thursday.
Later, the Commission will comment on the situation in Mozambique in the light of the persistent violence that has shaken the country since the presidential election on 9 October, which observers say was marred by “unjustified alterations to the results” (see EUROPE 13526/27).
On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the repression of women in Iran. They will also debate cases of violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong. They will then discuss the shrinking space for civil society in Cambodia. Resolutions on these three subjects will be voted on the following day.
On Thursday, following a debate on 13 November (see EUROPE 13524/4), MEPs will vote on a resolution on ‘Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud’.
Humanitarian aid. On Tuesday, the European Commission will express its views on the continuing escalation of violence in the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis affecting the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the essential role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the urgent need to free all hostages (see EUROPE 13514/3).
Critical infrastructure. On Tuesday, the Commission and elected representatives will debate hybrid threats, following the recent attacks on two undersea telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea, attributed at this stage to a Chinese vessel.
Schengen. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate with the Commission the full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the free movement area. MEPs will be calling for the last controls at internal land borders to be lifted as a matter of urgency. EU ministers could decide on full accession on 12 December (see other news).
Environment. The week will open with a presentation by the Commission of the outcome of COP16 on biodiversity (see EUROPE 13517/15) and close with a debate on an ambitious international agreement on plastic pollution (see EUROPE 13517/16). A debate and vote will be held on a revised Council recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments on Wednesday and Thursday.
Climate. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the outcome of COP29, which was officially due to end on 22 November. At the time of writing, international negotiators had still not agreed on a quantified target for climate finance for developing countries (see other news).
Energy. On the same day, the Commission will make a statement on the rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty, after which MEPs will debate the issue (see EUROPE 13521/2).
Gender equality. On Monday, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Parliament will debate the efforts to be made to eliminate gender-based violence in the EU (see EUROPE 13431/33).
On Tuesday, it will discuss the pay gap between women and men, which remains at an average of 13% in the EU, according to Eurostat. A directive on ‘pay transparency’ was adopted in April 2023 (see EUROPE 13153/13).
Justice and fundamental rights. On Tuesday, the European Commission will present a statement on prison conditions. European minimum standards are not legally binding.
On Wednesday, there will be a debate on stepping up the fight against the recruitment of minors for criminal acts. The Commission will be putting forward proposals for prevention. The MEPs will then discuss recent legislation targeting LGBTQI people in certain Member States.
Youth. On Thursday, to mark the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Parliament will debate ways to strengthen these rights in the EU. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani, with the editorial staff)