EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,update

 

Press release 10-09-2025 Plenary session State of the EU: Security, Ukraine, Gaza, Competitiveness, EU-US trade

In the annual State of the European Union debate, MEPs quizzed President von der Leyen on the Commission’s work since the beginning of its new mandate and its upcoming plans. Opening the debate, EP President Roberta Metsola said: “In these unprecedented times, we need clarity and we need resolve to steer Europe. We need a Europe that takes responsibility for its own security, makes it easier for businesses, and protects jobs. A Europe which is fairer and one that stands up for our democratic values. When the world feels too often like it is on fire, with Russian aggression against Ukraine and the horrific situation in Gaza, this Parliament is eager for Europe to step up with new and bold ideas.” “This must be Europe’s independence moment”, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Europe must be able to take care of its own defence and security, control the technologies and energies that will fuel its economies, decide what kind of society and democracy we want to live in and be open to the world. On Ukraine, von der Leyen announced plans to turn up the pressure on Russia with a 19th package of sanctions and a faster phase-out of Russian fossil fuels. The Commission will also propose a “Qualitative Military Edge” programme to support investment in the Ukrainian armed forces, and an “Eastern Flank Watch” initiative to provide Europe with independent strategic capabilities. “Europe stands in full solidarity with Poland", she said with regard to the “reckless and unprecedented” violation of Poland’s and Europe's airspace by Russian drones. Speaking about the war in Gaza, von der Leyen said that “man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity – this must stop.” She announced the Commission’s intention to “put our bilateral support to Israel on hold”, propose sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers, and impose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters. Europe’s goal must be “real security for Israel and a safe present and future for all Palestinians. And that means that the hostages must be released”, she stressed. On competitiveness and the single market, President von der Leyen stressed that a digital euro and the savings and investments union will make it easier for companies and consumers alike. She announced a multi-billion euro “Scaleup Europe Fund” to make major investments in young, fast-growing companies in critical tech areas, a “Battery Booster” package to boost production in Europe, a “Quality Jobs Act” and a European anti-poverty strategy to help eradicate poverty by 2050. Regarding the trade agreement with the United States, she said: “We have the best agreement, without any doubt”, providing crucial stability and preventing a full-fledged trade war. Political group speakers Manfred Weber (EPP, DE) thanked the Commission for delivering on many fronts, from cutting red tape to strengthening EU defence and reducing illegal migration. He promised to continue supporting the Commission’s work by backing the EU-US and Mercosur trade deals, when the alternative would be a trade war. On the green deal, he argued the EU’s climate approach needs to be realistic and support technological neutrality. He also urged fellow MEPs to accelerate work on a range of EU files and to avoid ideological fights. “Where is Europe?” asked Iratxe García (S&D, ES), adding that urgency and unity cannot supersede Europe's ambition and the advancement of its own interests. García criticised the “unfair and unacceptable” trade deal with the US and announced her determination to amend it. “And where is Europe when Gaza is dying?” she added, saying the proposed suspension of cooperation with Israel comes too late. Jordan Bardella (PfE, FR) condemned President von der Leyen’s support for the Mercosur free trade deal. He criticised the EU’s proposal to lower tariffs on Chinese vehicles, as well as energy market rules that disregard France’s low-cost nuclear advantage. Bardella criticised the trade agreement with the U.S., which he said sacrifices key French industries—defence, wine, luxury goods, and pharmaceuticals—while smaller nations secure better deals. ECR Group Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini (IT) said that Europe “must strengthen our values, our economy and our allies”, adding that his group supports the tariff agreement with the US “because it is better than a trade war between allies who need each other”. He stated the Green Deal “is today too high an obstacle for European competitiveness” and applauded recent proposals on migration policy, calling for returns to be made an effective practice. Valerie Hayer (Renew, FR) warned that the EU is losing Europeans' trust because it has become too weak to defend them. She called for a more integrated, sovereign and federal EU. She warned that the EU faced an existential culture war, threatening the European way of life, its peoples' freedoms and their independence. She called for more practical action on the Democracy Shield and competitiveness, and on combating the belligerence of Russia and Israel. She concluded by calling for a convention to reform the EU. Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, NL) called for Europe to “stop thinking as a market and start thinking as a power”. It should show confidence, he added, demanding immediate action to address the situation in Gaza. Security also means acting on climate change, according to Eickhout, who called for investment, in European renewables and other industries to fight autocrats, but also in the European workforce, education, infrastructure and green innovation, to improve European competitiveness. Martin Schirdewan (The Left, DE) called the trade deal with the US a “total capitulation. He linked free trade policies to rising poverty, job losses, and rising costs, with billions invested in militarisation alongside “brutal cuts” in pensions and welfare. He denounced the EU’s silence on the humanitarian crisis and war crimes committed by the Israeli military in Gaza, accusing it of double standards in foreign policy and of failing to play a meaningful role in forging peace. René Aust (ESN, DE) said that, while markets are growing everywhere in the world, Europe is falling behind due to a lack of entrepreneurial freedom. He also blamed migration policy for increased violence, criminal gangs, drugs, and issues with the safety of women in Europe. You can watch the full debate here.

Further information  Doorstep by EP President Roberta Metsola  EP Think Tank: The policy priorities of the von der Leyen II Commission: State of play ahead of the 2025 State of the Union address  EP Think Tank: 2025 State of the Union address: Purpose, historical significance and overview of addresses since 2010  Commission webpage  Free photos, video and audio material  MEPs debated the State of the European Union with Commission President von der Leyen © European Union 2025 – EP

Press release 10-09-2025 Plenary session   AGRI Parliament adopts its position on the future of EU agriculture policy

• Larger, standalone budget for the common agricultural policy (CAP) • Reinforced direct payments and reduced administrative burden for farmers • Removing barriers to becoming a farmer   MEPs want a bigger stand-alone post-2027 agriculture budget, with less red tape for farmers and incentives to achieve environmental and social objectives. Parliament says the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must not be integrated with other funding areas or become part of a wider financial envelope used by member states for purposes other than agriculture. Direct income support should be paid to all active, professional farmers following an area-based model. Rural development must be supported independently of cohesion policies, MEPs add. Simplification of the CAP Reducing the administrative burden for farmers must be one of the CAP’s guiding principles. MEPs want an incentive-based system to encourage farmers to achieve environmental and social objectives. Eco-schemes should remain voluntary and be accompanied by remuneration. MEPs want existing farming practices to be taken into account when farmers are required to comply with requirements to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). Digitalisation of agriculture All farmers must have access to innovative and digital solutions that support sustainable agriculture, boost their income, and reduce their administrative workload. To minimise stressful farm inspection procedures, MEPs say the monitoring of the use of CAP funds should be based on satellite imagery and self-certification, in a centralised, electronic reporting system. Water management and circular economy in agriculture To ensure sufficient and good-quality food production, Parliament wants investments in the modernisation and development of water retention, distribution, and storage infrastructure as well as in waste-water purification and treatment. Farmers should be also offered incentives for the recovery of biomass, agricultural waste and co-products. Generational renewal on farms Generational renewal is essential for the future of EU agriculture, but almost 58% of farmers in the EU are over 55 and only 6% under 35. MEPs want to increase financing from the CAP and raise the number of tax and loan incentives, so as to remove barriers to becoming a farmer. The report was adopted by 393 votes to 145 and 123 abstentions. Quote Rapporteur Carmen Crespo Díaz (EPP, ES) said: “We are fighting for the fair future Europe’s agricultural sector deserves. That means a truly common CAP that strengthens the food supply chain, supports vibrant rural communities, and empowers farmers through innovation, generational renewal, and fair market conditions. We cannot support any cuts, nor any attempts to nationalise the CAP or merge its funding with other EU instruments. Above all, we must safeguard and guarantee direct payments to farmers; these are the backbone of their income and the most effective tool to ensure food security and territorial balance across Europe.”

Further information  The adopted text will be available here (10.09.2025)  Procedure file  EP rapporteur: Carmen Crespo Díaz (EPP, ES)  Press conference with the rapporteur following a committee vote (08.07.2025)  Statement by the rapporteur on the Commission CAP post-2027 proposal (16.07.2025)  EP Research Service: Future of agriculture and the post-2027 CAP  Free photos, video and audio material (common agricultural policy)  CAP 2028-2034 must not be integrated with other funding areas, demands Parliament © eldarnurkovic / Adobe Stockg

Press release 10-09-2025 Plenary session   REGI MEPs approve cohesion funding reform to deal with new challenges

• Funding can be channelled to new priorities such as defence industrial capacity, military mobility, affordable housing, and water resilience • Dual-use investments suitable for civilian and military use to be prioritised • Decarbonisation, strategic technologies, and energy interconnectors also included • Rule of law conditionality for funding not affected   On Wednesday, Parliament has given its final green light to changes in EU cohesion and social funding in response to new challenges and EU priorities. To mobilise funding to address new challenges amid geopolitical instability, the reform offers member states and regions the opportunity to channel funds into new objectives. These are defence industrial capabilities and military mobility, water resilience (including access to water), affordable and sustainable housing (where MEPs recently adopted a report calling for extra investment), decarbonisation, energy infrastructure (e.g. transmission and storage capabilities), and civil preparedness. On defence industry and military mobility funding, dual-use infrastructure (suitable for both civilian and military use) will be prioritised. Social funds may be used to support skills relating to civil preparedness, defence, cybersecurity, and decarbonisation. To inject liquidity quickly into new priorities, spending (and investment in strategic technologies under the EU’s “STEP” platform) will be boosted by an additional 20% one-off pre-financing for amounts re-allocated in 2026 and by co-financing rates 10 percentage points higher than before (not exceeding 100%). Extra support for Eastern border regions When managing authorities reallocate at least 10% of programme resources to these new priorities, they can benefit from extra pre-financing of 1.5% of total cohesion fund support. This extra support rises to 9.5% for EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, highlighting their unique security challenges and geopolitical significance. To ensure cohesion policy maintains its focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and less favoured regions, the technology, defence and decarbonisation investments of large companies can only be supported in EU areas with lower-than-average gross domestic product per capita, and the focus of investments will remain on small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, so-called “Important Project of Common European Interest” can receive funding without regional income limitations. The regulation also makes clear that funds frozen under the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation cannot be reallocated to new priorities. The mid-term update to the EU’s current cycle of cohesion policy funding involving the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the Just Transition Fund was adopted with 440 votes in favour, 168 against and 52 abstentions. MEPs also backed the review of European Social Fund+ with 453 votes to 149 and 59 abstentions. Quote After the vote, rapporteur and REGI Committee Chair Dragoș Benea (S&D, Romania) said: “Cohesion policy is the foundational pillar of European solidarity. We are adjusting it to respond to current events and ensure flexibility, while maintaining its core values. Parliament has accepted defence as a new priority and are ensuring that Europe prioritises dual-use defence industry or military mobility investments. We also secured funding for civil preparedness, extended the scope of water resilience investment, and positioned affordable housing as a priority and made sure its scope also covers middle income families, and we limited support going to large companies. We will continue to promote fair and balanced development across all EU regions.” EMPL rapporteur Marit Maj (S&D, Netherlands) added: "We stand for a Europe that defends its external safety and leaves no one behind. We have managed to safeguard the main mission of the ESF+, supporting the most vulnerable people and children, and helping smaller beneficiaries in civil society. We also made sure money allocated for the defence industry will be used for skills development in dual-use technologies and making sure people possess the skills they need to have a place in our society.” Next steps Once also adopted by the Council, the regulations will be published in the EU Official Journal and enter into force on the day after publication.

Further information  Procedure file (REGI)  Procedure file (EMPL)  EPRS briefing “Cohesion policy: Mid-term review”  Letter from Commission EVP Raffaele Fitto on the rule of law conditionality and assessing programme amendments  Committee on Employment and Social Affairs  Committee on Regional Development

Press release 10-09-2025 Plenary session   ENVI CBAM: Parliament adopts simplifications to the EU carbon leakage instrument

• New threshold will exempt 90% of importers from EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) rules • Climate ambition maintained as 99% of CO2 emissions from iron, steel, aluminium and cement imports will still be covered • Procedures for imports covered by CBAM rules will also be simplified   The changes to the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) are part of simplification efforts to reduce the administrative burden for SMEs and occasional importers. On Wednesday, Parliament gave its final green light to changes to the CBAM with 617 votes to 18 and 19 abstentions. These changes are part of the “Omnibus I” simplification package presented on 26 February 2025, which aims to simplify existing legislation in the fields of sustainability and investment. The amended law sets a new de minimis mass threshold whereby imports up to 50 tonnes per importer per year will not be subject to CBAM rules. It replaces the current threshold exempting goods of negligible value. The new threshold exempts the vast majority (90%) of importers − mainly small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals − who import only small quantities of CBAM goods. The climate ambition behind the mechanism remains unchanged, as 99% of total CO2 emissions from imports of iron, steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers will still be covered by the CBAM. The amendments will also bring safeguards to ensure this figure and anti-abuse provisions will be strengthening to prevent circumvention of the rules. The rules on imports still covered by the CBAM are also simplified, regarding for instance: the authorisation process, the calculation of emissions, verification rules and the financial liability of authorised CBAM declarants. Quote After the vote, rapporteur Antonio Decaro (S&D, IT) said: “The CBAM is designed to prevent carbon leakage and protect Europe’s cement, iron, steel, aluminium, fertiliser, electricity, and hydrogen industries. We have answered calls from companies to simplify and streamline the process and exempted 90% of importers of CBAM goods to facilitate competitiveness and growth for our businesses. As the CBAM will still cover 99% of total CO2 emissions, we have maintained the EU’s environmental ambitions and remain fully committed to a just transition and to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.” Next steps The text still has to be officially endorsed by Council. It will enter into force three days after publication in the EU Official Journal. Background The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism is the EU's tool to equalise the price of carbon paid for EU products operating under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) with that of imported goods, and to encourage greater climate ambition in non-EU countries. In early 2026, the Commission will assess whether to extend the scope of the CBAM to other ETS sectors and how to help exporters of CBAM products at risk of carbon leakage.

Further information  Adopted text (10.9.2025)  Procedure file  EP research: Simplifying and strengthening CBAM  EP Multimedia Centre: free photos, videos and audio material  Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Press release 10-09-2025 Plenary session Parliament condemns Russia’s attempts to destabilise Moldova

In a resolution, MEPs slam Russia’s intensifying hybrid operations and interference attempts ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary elections on 28 September. The text, adopted on Wednesday 490 votes in favour, 65 against with 86 abstentions, underlines that Moscow’s repeated attempts at interference in the Republic of Moldova’s democratic processes clearly aim to destabilise the country and reverse its democratic course and sovereign decisions, in particular in relation to the country’s future EU membership. MEPs commend Moldova’s exemplary commitment to, and steady progress on, EU accession-related reforms despite significant internal and external challenges – including Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine and targeted Kremlin hybrid threats. They reaffirm their unwavering support for Moldova’s EU membership prospects and urge the Council to swiftly open EU accession negotiations on Cluster 1 (fundamentals) topics in recognition of Moldova’s substantial progress in advancing crucial reforms. Step up strategic communication to combat false narratives With Parliament noting that the upcoming parliamentary elections are set to determine Moldova’s democratic consolidation and progress towards EU accession, MEPs want the EU to continue to support the Republic of Moldova in ensuring a free, fair and transparent vote. Parliament urges Moldovan authorities and civil society and the EU to enhance their strategic communication, to counter false narratives promoted by Russia. In addition, MEPs note the important contribution of civil society organisations in countering disinformation and the malign influence of anti-reform political actors and Russian proxies. The resolution says comprehensive legal reform and the fight against corruption are crucial, both for Moldova’s resilience against foreign interference and hybrid threats and for the success of democratic and EU accession-related reforms. It also recognises Moldova’s sustained efforts to build an independent, impartial, accountable and professional judicial system. For more details, the resolution will be available in full here (10.11.2025)

Further information  Watch a video recording of the plenary debate (10.11.2025)  EP Multimedia Centre: free photos, video and audio material   This message was sent to v.ch.maria@gmail.com