The European Parliament will hold a debate in Strasbourg on Wednesday 22 October on how the European Union can continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, and on the European response to recent developments in the Middle East, following the completion of the first phase of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Among the other subjects on the agenda for the plenary session from 20 to 23 October, Parliament, together with the Council of the EU and the Commission, will discuss the allegations of espionage made against the Hungarian government within the European institutions (see EUROPE 13729/27). This debate has been requested by the Greens/EFA Group, which wants a committee of enquiry to be set up to shed light on the problem (see other news).
Foreign affairs. On Tuesday morning, MEPs and the European Commission will discuss the recent peace agreement in the Middle East and the role of the EU. The EU intends to support a reformed Palestinian Authority and the reconstruction of Gaza. The two EU missions, EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS, could also help in the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace agreement (see EUROPE 13720/9).
On Wednesday, MEPs will examine the situation in Belarus, five years after the fraudulent presidential elections, before voting on a resolution on the subject. At midday, during a formal sitting, the former political prisoner Sergey Tihanovski and his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, also leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, will address Parliament.
On the same day, Parliament President Roberta Metsola will announce the winner of the 2025 Sakharov Prize from among the three finalists: - the imprisoned journalists Andrzej Poczobut, from Belarus, and Mzia Amaglobeli, from Georgia; - journalists and humanitarian workers in Palestine and in all the conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Journalists’ Union, the Red Crescent and UNRWA; - students in Serbia.
Enlargement. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate the institutional consequences of enlargement, and on Wednesday they will adopt the report by Sandro Gozi (Renew Europe, Italian). The Commission will discuss recent events in Serbia (see EUROPE 13703/19).
On Tuesday evening, the Commission will address MEPs on the renewal of the EU-Africa partnership and on the common priorities to be defined ahead of the Summit of European and African Heads of State or Government in Luanda (Angola) on 24 and 25 November (see EUROPE 13711/22). A Parliament resolution will be put to the vote on Thursday.
Russian assets. On Tuesday, MEPs will debate how to mobilise Bank of Russia assets frozen in the EU since February 2022 in order to set up new macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine worth up to €140 billion over at least four years (see EUROPE 13720/4). The next European Council will be asked to provide guidance with a view to a formal proposal from the Commission in November.
Budget. The budget lines (see EUROPE 13725/26) and the resolution (see EUROPE 13729/21) on the 2026 budget will be put to the vote on Wednesday. Negotiations with the EU Council will begin at the start of November, if Parliament manages to adopt its position. MEPs will decide whether or not to grant discharge to the Council of the EU for the implementation of the 2023 budget.
Energy. A debate will be held on Wednesday on the abandonment of all Russian energy imports into the EU and on how to remedy the “loopholes” with imports from third countries. The debate comes after the Parliament’s Committee on Industry adopted its position on the ‘REPowerEU’ Regulation to end Russian gas contracts (see EUROPE 13732/6) on Thursday 16 October.
Environment. MEPs will vote to approve the political agreement on the ‘One substance, one assessment’ legislative package (see EUROPE 13659/5) on Tuesday, after debating it the previous day. On Thursday, they will vote on the formal adoption of the Regulation to prevent losses of plastic granules (see EUROPE 13714/31) and the Directive on soil monitoring (see EUROPE 13719/28).
The draft resolution (see EUROPE 13725/16) ahead of the next United Nations global meeting on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will be debated on Wednesday, before being voted on the following day.
Climate. In an oral question on Wednesday, MEPs will debate COP30 in Belém (Brazil) following a resolution adopted by the Parliament’s Committee on Environment (see EUROPE 13725/18). This resolution will be voted on Thursday.
Forests. Parliament will vote on the position of Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture rejecting the European Commission’s proposal on the forest monitoring framework. It will also vote on the proposal to set up a Standing Forestry Committee (see EUROPE 13715/2).
Digital. MEPs will vote on the own-initiative report by David Cormand (Greens/EFA, French) on the revision of the legislative framework for products to support the digital and sustainable transition (see EUROPE 13717/1). On Monday, MEPs will examine the Commission’s recent announcement to fine Google for abusive practices (see EUROPE 13703/11).
Transport. On Tuesday, Parliament will vote on the agreements with the Council of the EU on driving licence revisions and driving disqualifications (see EUROPE 13730/38, 13716/42).
Institutional. On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will question the Commission on its 2026 work programme (see EUROPE 13731/14).
They will debate, on Tuesday, and endorse, on Wednesday, the ‘Gozi’ report, which puts forward proposals for internal reform of the EU to make it ready to welcome new member countries (see EUROPE 13715/26, 13714/22). MEPs advocate an increase in the EU budget and greater use of qualified majority voting by Member States in the EU Council, particularly in enlargement negotiations.
On Tuesday, Parliament will also approve the agreement reached with the Council of the EU on the revision of European political parties and their foundations (see EUROPE 13661/29).
Social. On Monday 20 October, the Commission and MEPs will debate poverty in the EU to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The fight against poverty is one of the three major social objectives set in Porto in 2021, with the aim of lifting 15 million people out of poverty by 2030.
JHA. On Tuesday morning Parliament will discuss with the Commission the changing security landscape and the role of the police in the internal security strategy for the EU (see EUROPE 13612/13).
Rule of Law. MEPs will hold a debate (requested by the Renew Europe Group) on Wednesday on the continuing attack on democratic institutions and the Rule of law in Bulgaria.
In addition, eight years after the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, MEPs will examine developments in the situation and the decline of the Rule of law in Malta.
Women’s rights. On Thursday, representatives of the Council of the EU and the Commission will make statements on combating violence against women and girls (exploitation of maternity). In a resolution adopted on 9 October, Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to women’s rights and gender equality (see EUROPE 13727/4), welcomed the ‘roadmap’ for women’s rights (see EUROPE 13595/1) and approved the declaration of principles for a gender-equal society.
See the agenda: https://aeur.eu/f/j19 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur and the editorial staff)