Gaza, the EU budget, and the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism are some of the highlights of the European Parliament plenary meeting in Stasbourg this week.
In a key debate on Tuesday morning, MEPs and Commission representatives will discuss the recent Middle East peace agreement and the role of the EU. No resolution will be voted on.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote about its position on next year’s annual budget before talks with EU governments begin. The debate will take place on Tuesday. The Budgets Committee has voted to restore the pound 1.3 billion for key programmes cut by EU governments compared with the Commission’s draft budget.
MEPs are also expected to confirm new EU driving licence rules, introducing provisions on novice drivers, vulnerable road users and driving disqualification.
In a debate on Wednesday, MEPs will discuss possible additional measures to end all energy imports from Russia and close loopholes through third countries. In a separate debate, they will discuss a ‘reparations loan’ to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and defence.
The winner of the annual Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism – awarded by the European Parliament around the anniversary of her death – will be revealed on Tuesday evening.
MEPs will debate on Wednesday and vote on Thursday on the Parliament’s demands for the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference COP30.
European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, will announce the laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at around noon in plenary on Wednesday.