On Monday 8 September, MEPs return to Strasbourg for a back-to-school plenary session highlighted by Wednesday morning’s State of the Union address by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, which could be the most eagerly awaited speech since her arrival at the Berlaymont in 2019. This will be her first speech since her re-election.
Several groups have already announced that they will be tabling a motion of censure against the Commission President, notably The Left, which still needs to collect 26 signatures in addition to those of its members to table its motion, but which says it is well on the way to doing so (see EUROPE 13701/27).
Patriots for Europe also has such a project. “We already announced it before the summer”, said the group spokesman Alonso de Mendoza Asensi on Friday 5 September. If formally tabled, these two motions will not be debated until October.
Other major issues include transatlantic relations and the EU-US trade agreement, which many MEPs consider to be a bad deal, as well as a new debate on the situation in Gaza and, in particular, the famine.
On Tuesday at noon, during a formal sitting, Moldovan President Maia Sandu will also address the European Parliament on her country’s future in the EU, just a few days before parliamentary elections are to be held.
Ursula von der Leyen is eagerly awaited. “We want a real U-turn” in EU policy, said the S&D group on 5 September, which earlier in the week had sent its demands to the President of the Commission (see EUROPE 13702/17). The EU must defend peace, democracy and solidarity in the global context - silence and inaction are no longer “acceptable”, added the group, referring to Gaza, Ukraine and climate change. The Green Deal “cannot be abandoned”, say the S&D and Greens/EFA groups.
For the EPP, which is delighted that the second ‘von der Leyen’ Commission has already kept some of its promises, from simplifying legislation to new initiatives on the return of migrants, the State of the Union address will be an opportunity to go even further in terms of defence, competitiveness and the fight against illegal immigration. The EPP is waiting for the announcement of new projects. It also wants “quantum leaps” in world trade, while admitting that “nobody in the EU can like” the agreement reached with the United States, said spokesman Daniel Köster on 5 September.
Renew Europe also expects the President to lead the EU out of its passivity and a very bad summer marked by a bad deal with the United States and inaction on Ukraine and Gaza. This group is waiting for the President to relaunch the actions recommended in the ‘Draghi’ report. For the ECR, the President will have to commit to further deregulation in the EU, promote the adoption of Mercosur and take further action against irregular migration.
Trade. The European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, will defend the agreement on tariffs reached with the United States on Wednesday afternoon (see EUROPE 13689/1). MEPs have already voiced their dissatisfaction (see EUROPE 13701/4).
Also on Wednesday, the European Parliament is expected to approve the provisional agreement reached with the EU Council in June on simplifying the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) (see EUROPE 13662/22).
Ukraine and Gaza. On Tuesday morning, the MEPs will debate with the High Representative of the Union the security guarantees that the EU can provide to Ukraine (see EUROPE 13702/12). The discussion should also provide an opportunity to review the diplomatic efforts made over the summer, as well as to take stock of Ukraine’s progress in its reforms on the road to EU membership. The Ukraine progress report for 2023 and 2024 by Michael Gahler (EPP, German) will also be put to the vote on Tuesday lunchtime.
That morning, they will discuss the fight against famine in Gaza, the need to free Israeli hostages and progress towards a two-state solution. Member States are incapable of taking action against Israel (see EUROPE 13701/5). A resolution will be adopted on Thursday.
Migration. On Wednesday afternoon, Parliament, at the request of the PfE group, will discuss “mass immigration in the EU” with a debate entitled ‘After 10 years, time to end mass migration now - protect our women and children’ - in reference to the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015. Other groups could try to change this title at the beginning of the week.
GAFAM taxation. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the taxation of major digital platforms in the light of international developments. In August, US President Donald Trump said he was prepared to impose substantial additional tariffs on countries who want to tax US digital giants (see EUROPE 13701/4). He has also called into question the OECD agreement on the minimum taxation of multinationals.
Rule of law. The management of European funds in Slovakia will be discussed on Wednesday by MEPs, the Commission and the Council of the EU, without resolution.
Internal reform of the EU. On Thursday, Parliament will adopt the draft report by Ľubica Karvašová (Renew Europe, Slovak), which takes stock of the European elections in June 2024 and recommends amending the EU Electoral Law to make these elections more democratic and European (see EUROPE 13293/24).
Agriculture. On Wednesday, the European Parliament will formulate its recommendations (own-initiative report) on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) when it adopts the report by Carmen Crespo (EPP, Spanish) on this policy’s future (see EUROPE 13676/12).
Environment. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on two environmental texts, one on the revision of the framework directive on food and textile waste, and the other on the ‘end-of-life vehicles’ regulation. This should make it possible to define Parliament’s position with a view to the trilogue.
Record temperatures. After a scorching summer and record wildfires, on Thursday morning the European Parliament will be discussing the implementation of appropriate housing and health policies to address the situation.
Public procurement. On Monday, MEPs will debate and on Tuesday vote on Piotr Müller's (ECR, Polish) draft own-initiative report on the European rules governing public procurement, which are due to be revised in 2026. The report sets out a number of objectives, including simplification, maintaining high social and environmental standards and supporting innovation.
Transport. On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote to extend the exemption of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles from road tolls and user charges until 30 June 2031 (see EUROPE 13682/15).
Jamming of GPS on the President’s plane. On Wednesday afternoon, the Commission will make a statement on the serious threats to air and sea transport posed by interference with the global satellite navigation system. This follows the recent reported jamming of the GPS signal of Ursula von der Leyen’s plane (see EUROPE 13699/11).
Cohesion. On Tuesday evening, the European Parliament will debate the compromise reached with the EU Council on the Cohesion Policy mid-term review (see EUROPE 13682/10), with a vote scheduled for the following day. A joint debate, also on Tuesday, will focus on three reports relating to cohesion policy, which will be put to the vote on Wednesday: support for the just transition, the response to the current housing crisis and ways of simplifying cohesion funds.
Finances. On Monday, MEPs will debate the ‘Lalucq’ report on facilitating investment finance and reforms to boost European competitiveness and the creation of a Capital Markets Union (see EUROPE 13666/37). A vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, they are expected to ratify the political agreement on shortening the time limit for securities transactions in the EU (see EUROPE 13662/42).
Insolvency. On Thursday, MEPs will vote on the report by Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew Europe, Bulgarian) amending the regulation on insolvency proceedings (see EUROPE 13653/18).
Tourism/Consumers. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate the revision of the European Package Travel Directive (see EUROPE 13668/14), which will be put to the vote the following day.
Justice. MEPs will vote, on Wednesday, on the report by Javier Zarzalejos (EPP, Spanish) extending the deadline for setting up the Eurojust agency’s case management system.
Education. On Thursday, after debating the subject in the morning, Parliament will vote on the report on a new vision for European University Alliances (see EUROPE 13666/28).
Foreign affairs.
Colombia. On Tuesday evening, MEPs will discuss the political situation in Colombia, where Senator Miguel Uribe of the conservative Democratic Centre party, a declared candidate in the 2026 presidential election, died in August in an assassination attempt.
Moldova. Following President Sandu’s speech, the MEPs will debate on Wednesday afternoon how to strengthen Moldova’s resilience in the face of Russian hybrid threats and malicious interference, and will vote on a resolution on the subject on Wednesday.
Cyprus. On Thursday, the European Parliament will discuss the detention of European citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus. In July, five Greek Cypriots were arrested in the village of Trikomo and charged with illegal entry, espionage and disturbing the peace.
Serbia. MEPs will debate the situation in Serbia on Thursday, following protests against corruption and arrests since last November, without any resolution.
Africa. On Wednesday evening, Parliament will address the arrest of Rwandan political opponent Victoire Ingabire, as well as the detention in Togo of Irish activist Abdoul Aziz Goma of Togolese origin. Resolutions will be put to the vote on Thursday.
Asia. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the recommendation and report by Nacho Sánchez Amor (S&D, Spanish) on the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Kyrgyzstan, which was signed in June 2024.
On Wednesday, the plenary will vote on the recommendation on the draft EU Council Decision concerning the accession of Vanuatu to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Pacific States, followed by the vote on the recommendation on the draft EU Council Decision concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and India. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and the editorial staff)