Preparations for the October European Council meeting
MEPs will begin the day at 9.00 by looking ahead to the 23 October EU summit, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre. Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East will feature in the wide-ranging debate, as will defence and security policy, competitiveness, single market completion, the housing crisis, migration and border protection.
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Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought: announcement of 2025 laureate
President Metsola will announce the winner of this year’s Sakharov Prize to plenary at around 12.00, following the decision by the EP Conference of Presidents. The three finalists are, in alphabetical order: imprisoned journalists Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia; journalists and humanitarian aid workers in Palestine and all conflict zones; and Serbian students. The award ceremony will take place on 16 December in Strasbourg.
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Belarus: address by opposition leaders, plenary debate and vote
Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will address plenary in a formal sitting starting at noon. The situation in Belarus five years on from the fraudulent presidential elections in 2020 will be the focus of a debate with Commissioner Dan Jørgensen from around 10.30, followed by a vote on a resolution at 12.30.
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Ending imports of Russian energy
Possible measures to end all energy imports from Russia and close loopholes through third countries will be discussed by MEPs in an evening debate with Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.
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In brief
Ukraine. The need for a united EU front to support Ukraine and its right to peace on its own terms, ahead of the Budapest summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is the subject of a debate from around 15.30, with Marie Bjerre for the Danish Presidency and Jessika Roswall for the Commission.
Hungarian espionage. Allegations that the Hungarian government has been spying on the EU institutions emerged on 9 October. MEPs will discuss the situation with Commissioner Piotr Serafin from around 18.00.
Bulgaria. The ongoing assault on democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria is the subject of this session’s topical debate, from around 13.30, with Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre.
COP30 in Belém. In the evening, Parliament will be discussing its priorities for the 30th United Nations climate conference in Brazil from 10 November, with Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra and Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre. A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday.
Votes
At noon, MEPs will also vote on:
- the EU’s general budget for 2026;
- whether to grant discharge for the EU’s 2023 general budget with respect to the European Council, the Council and the agencies;
- a report on the institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations;
- a resolution on polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy.
Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming site and on EbS+.
For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter and the detailed agenda.
Find more information regarding plenary.
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