European Union

Written by Clare Ferguson.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Sergey Tihanovski– recently freed after five years of imprisonment for his political views and his defence of democracy in Belarus – are due to make a formal address to Parliament on Wednesday. The European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to individuals or organisations for their outstanding achievements in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Parliament has long supported Belarusians in their struggle against repression, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, and awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize to the Belarusian democratic opposition, led by Tsikhanouskaya following her husband’s imprisonment. Belarusian political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut is on the shortlist of nominees for the prize in 2025, together with Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, another imprisoned journalist fighting for freedom. Following statements from the Council and Commission on Wednesday, Members are set to debate the situation in Belarus, where human rights have deteriorated since the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections.

In its role of EU budgetary authority, Parliament is due on Wednesday to debate amending the Council’s position on the draft EU budget for 2026. The EU borrowed heavily to support European citizens and businesses recover from the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, and now needs to finance the repayments for the Next Generation EU instrument. At the same time, funding is urgently needed for the EU’s new competitiveness, research and defence priorities. The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) proposes to increase the 2026 budget for these priorities, rather than transferring expenditure for such flagship programmes to financing the loans. The vote on the file will set Parliament’s position for the next step in the procedure, which will be the convening of the Conciliation Committee.

In its role in ensuring the EU budget is spent according to the rules, Parliament postponed its decision on granting budget discharge to the European Council and the Council, criticising the Council’s continued refusal to cooperate. After reviewing the situation, Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) recommends Parliament again refuses to grant discharge for 2023, with the vote set for  Wednesday. Parliament has already granted discharge to all decentralised agencies, bodies and joint undertakings for 2023 – except for the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA). On Wednesday, Members are due to to reconsider granting discharge, based on a CONT proposal, and to vote on a resolution criticising delays and obstruction at the EUAA regarding financial and general management, as well as raising concern about accountability at the agency.

In advance of the COP30 climate change conference in Brazil, Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) has tabled a motion for a resolution on Wednesday. The committee urges the parties to reaffirm their commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C and a maximum of 2°C. To maintain this ambition, ENVI also recommends more frequent stocktakes and submissions on nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The committee highlights the need to tackle debt crises and simplify access to climate finance for climate-vulnerable countries. It also regrets that the Council failed to agree an EU NDC before the deadline set by the United Nations.

Parliament will also focus on measures to protect the environment nearer to home on Tuesday. Members are first expected to adopt Parliament’s position for interinstitutional negotiations on a proposed forest monitoring law and to renew the standing EU expert group on forests and forestry. Under the joint committee procedure, Parliament’s ENVI and Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) Committees voted to reject the proposed increased monitoring of forests and forestry activity, on the grounds that it duplicates existing systems and would increase red tape. However, the committees support the continuation of the expert group but would nevertheless clarify its role.

Healthy soils are the basis of most agricultural production, as well as providing carbon storage, yet EU soils are in poor condition. On Thursday, Members are scheduled to consider an agreement reached by the co-legislators on a proposed soil monitoring law that should ensure the good health of this essential element for life in the EU. The new law would allow EU countries to support those who work on the land, with flexibility to take account of local conditions. It also addresses contamination, notably pollutants such as pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and requests a public register of contaminated sites within 10 years.

Meanwhile, microplastic pollution has reached much of our environment, from the sea to our own bodies. On Thursday, Parliament is set to consider an agreement reached between the co-legislators on proposed action to halt the loss of plastic pellets that contribute to this pollution, especially at sea. The pellets are used to manufacture plastic products and are often released into the environment during transport or industrial processes. Parliament’s negotiators have succeeded in imposing pictograms and warning statements when handling plastic pellets, and the agreement sets penalties for endangering people’s health.

At present, if someone commits a serious driving offence in an EU country, only the country that issued their licence can disqualify them from driving. To reduce such impunity and reckless driving in the EU, Members are due on Tuesday to consider a provisional agreement on EU-wide enforcement of driving disqualifications. The text aims at disqualifying drivers across the EU for drink-driving, speeding, drug-impaired driving, and conduct causing death or serious injury, with the provisions to be integrated into the Driving Licences Directive. As this directive is due for revision, to bring it up to date with today’s goals and technology, Members are also scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a provisional agreement endorsed by the Transport and Tourism committee. The new law would enable digital driving licences and an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for young drivers. All professional drivers will have to undergo a medical check to obtain or renew a licence, but EU governments will decide for other drivers.

On Tuesday, Members are due to consider a provisional agreement reached with the Council on additional procedural rules for treating cross-border enforcement of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The text agreed by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) negotiators retains the proposed early-scoping exercise to speed consensus between supervisory authorities on cross-border GDPR cases, and new rules on hearing parties to the procedure. To settle issues quickly, an early resolution procedure and a simple cooperation procedure have also been introduced.

Turning to their own house on Tuesday, Members are due to debate a provisional agreement with the Council of the EU on revising the rules regarding the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations. Lengthy negotiations have resulted in a text, endorsed by Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) that reinforces safeguards against foreign interference and ensures financial stability, aimed at improving transparency and visibility.

Quick links to all our publications for this plenary session:

• The situation in Belarus five years after the fraudulent presidential elections
• Parliament’s reading of the 2026 EU budget
• Discharge for the 2023 budget: European Council and Council
• Discharge for 2023 budget: EU Asylum Agency
• COP30 climate change conference in Brazil
• European forests
• Soil monitoring and resilience
• Microplastic pollution from plastic pellet losses
• Union-wide effect of driving disqualifications
• Revision of the Driving Licences Directive
• New GDPR procedural rules for cross-border cases
• Recasting the rules applicable to European political parties and foundations

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Newsletter - 20-23 October 2025 - Strasbourg plenary session

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Draft legislation adopted on Thursday seeks to protect the Union’s interests from the weaponisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation.
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Draft legislation adopted on Thursday seeks to protect the Union’s interests from the weaponisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation.
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The award ceremony will take place at 18.00, on Tuesday 21 October 2025, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room).

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The award ceremony will take place at 18.00, on Tuesday 21 October 2025, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room).

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

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