European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the summit, where she will address the heads of state or government at 10.00 and hold a press conference afterwards.
When: Press conference at around 11.30 on 23 October
Where: European Council press room and via Parliament’s webstreaming or EbS.
At their meeting in Brussels, the heads of state or government will discuss how the EU can continue supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression, as well as the EU’s response to recent peace agreement in the Middle East, where the release of the remaining hostages and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza followed the first phase of a peace agreement between Hamas and Israel. EU leaders will also focus on strengthening Europe’s economic competitiveness through increased public investment and wide-ranging economic reforms, and address Europe’s housing crisis, defence and security policy, and ways to manage migration flows and ensure border protection.
Parliament debated its priorities for the summit on 22 October in a debate with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs. Watch the full debate here.
Russia’s war against Ukraine
On 21 October, Parliament debated a “reparations loan” to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and defence, unlocking €185 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets. Announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in September 2025 during her state of the union speech as a “reparations loan”, the assets themselves would not be touched and Ukraine would only reimburse the loan once Russia pays reparations. On 22 October, MEPs, Council and Commission debated the need for a united support to Ukraine and for a just and durable peace concluded on Ukraine’s terms, with Europeans and without surrendering to Vladimir Putin’s conditions ahead of the foreseen Budapest summit.
Watch the debates on stepping up funding for Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets and on a just and durable peace concluded on Ukraine’s terms.
On 22 October, plenary approved the mandate to start talks with Council on a gradual ban of pipeline and liquefied natural gas as well as on oil and petroleum imports from Russia from 2026.Under the proposed rules, energy operators will be able to invoke “force majeure” to terminate Russian gas import contracts, since the legally-binding prohibition on further imports is explicitly defined as a sovereign act beyond their control. MEPs propose to prohibit the temporary storage of Russian-origin natural gas in EU facilities as of 1 January 2026. From the same date, MEPs want to prohibit all imports of Russian oil, including petroleum products originating from Russian crude oil, while requiring prior customs authorisation and verification of the country of production for such imports.
In a resolution adopted on 9 October, Parliament strongly condemns Russian violations of EU airspace and calls for a united EU response to Russian hybrid threats, including enhanced cooperation with Ukraine on drone technology and countermeasures. Encouraging any initiative which enables the EU and its member states to take “coordinated, united and proportionate action against all violations of their airspace, including shooting down airborne threats”, MEPs welcome the concept of an EU drone wall and the Eastern Flank Watch initiatives while underlining the need to ensure comprehensive coverage of all member states facing direct security challenges along the EU’s southern flank.
On 17 September, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Ukraine for the fourth time since the start of Russia’s illegal war, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, the EU’s continued support, more targeted sanctions on Russia and using profits from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s defence, recovery and reconstruction. Watch the recording of the joint statement to the press. Metsola also opened the Parliament’s antenna office in Kyiv.
Further reading
Russian gas and oil import ban: MEPs ready to negotiate with Council
MEPs demand a unified EU response to Russian violations and hybrid warfare threats
President Metsola in Kyiv reaffirms European Parliament’s continued support to Ukraine
Parliament inaugurates permanent presence in Kyiv
Ukraine: prioritise EU reforms and open negotiation clusters say MEPs
Parliament condemns Russia’s brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilians
Middle East
In a debate on 21 October, MEPs and Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica discussed the recent Middle East peace agreement and the role of the EU. You can watch the debate here. On 13 October, EP President Roberta Metsola welcomed the peace deal for Gaza and said the EU stands ready to help ensure its implementation.
On 11 September 2025, MEPs adopted a resolution saying the creation of a Palestinian state is key to peace, Israel’s security, and regional normalisation. MEPs strongly condemned Israel’s blockade of aid and urged all EU institutions and member states to take diplomatic steps to ensure commitment to a two-state solution. Parliament also called for Gaza’s total demilitarisation, the release of all hostages, Hamas’s exclusion from governance, and full investigations into all war crimes and violations of international law.
Further reading
Parliament pushes for Gaza aid, the hostages’ release and justice
European defence and security
On 16 October, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a deal on the European defence industry programme. The agreed draft law is designed to strengthen the EU’s defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp-up defence manufacturing, and increase support for Ukraine. During negotiations, MEPs successfully pushed for an increase in the programme’s budget, by providing for additional financial contributions such as through the channelling of additional contributions negotiated under the SAFE instrument. MEPs also secured a “buy European” principle by ensuring that eligible entities obtain the design authority of the product. The new law will also set up a Ukraine Support Instrument (USI) to help modernise the Ukrainian defence industry and ease its integration with the European defence industry. EU funding of up to €300 million should scale up direct investment in Ukraine’s defence industry, facilitate partnerships between EU and Ukrainian defence actors and increase EU procurement of defence capacities produced in Ukraine, including for Ukraine itself.
On 23 September, the Industry, Research and Energy committee adopted legislation to boost major EU funding programmes for defence-related investment, including the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), Horizon Europe, the European Defence Fund (EDF), the Digital Europe programme (DEP) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). As part of the ReArm Europe Plan, the measures aim to strengthen Europe’s defence technological and industrial base by channelling EU funding to defence and security. MEPs also call for more support to small companies and dual-use projects like military mobility and fuel infrastructure, reduced dependency on third countries and closer integration of Ukraine’s defence industry into relevant EU programmes.
Further reading
MEPs demand a unified EU response to Russian violations and hybrid warfare threats
MEPs back measures to boost EU support for security and defence investments
“Greenland is not for sale – we’ll stand-by you”, SEDE MEPs tell their Greenlandic partners
107th Rose-Roth Seminar: spotlight on security and defence challenges
Joint statement: 80th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter
Defense and taxation: MEPs investigate tax implications on rolling out the European Defense Union
Competitiveness
MEPs have repeatedly urged a revision of EU rules to simplify and reduce administrative requirements for businesses. The Commission’s “omnibus” package, tabled in February 2025, aims to boost competitiveness and investment capacity for businesses. As a matter of urgency, Parliament has already adopted several proposals and is making swift progress to finalise the remaining ones. President Metsola also stressed Parliament’s commitment to the simplification agenda when addressing the informal leaders’ meeting in Copenhagen on 1 October, adding that this “will mean more jobs, more stability and ultimately, more security”.
On 22 October, Parliament decided to vote on its position on simpler sustainability reporting and simplify due diligence requirements ahead of talks with EU governments at the next plenary session in Brussels on 13 November. Following the delayed application of the sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations, the new proposal seeks to simplify them and ease the administrative burden on companies. This is part of the Omnibus I simplification package proposed by the European Commission on 26 February 2025.
Watch the press conference by EP President Roberta Metsola and lead MEP Jörgen Warborn.
On October 8, MEPs adopted their position on simplification of the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP), and strengthening the position of farmers position in the food supply chain. They call for greater flexibility for farmers to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental state, compulsory crisis payments for those affected by natural disasters, and higher support maximums for small farmers. MEPs also propose that 2026 updates to national strategic plans take effect before Commission approval to speed up implementation.
As part of the “Omnibus I” simplification package, Parliament approved changes to the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on 10 September. The reform introduces a new threshold exempting 90% of importers from CBAM rules while simplifying procedures for imports covered, including authorisation, emissions calculation, verification and financial liability. The measure maintains the mechanism’s climate ambition, with 99% of CO2 emissions from imports of iron, steel, aluminium, cement and fertiliser imports remaining under CBAM coverage.
Further reading
MEPs to vote on simplified sustainability and due diligence rules in November
Metsola to EU leaders: Simplification means more jobs, more stability, more security
Sustainability reporting and due diligence: simpler rules for fewer companies
Parliament ready to start talks about simplifying EU agriculture laws
CBAM: Parliament adopts simplifications to the EU carbon leakage instrument
Housing
With the European Union facing a deepening housing crisis, the European Parliament established a Special Committee on the Housing Crisis on 30 January 2025 to propose solutions for decent, sustainable, and affordable housing across the EU. The Committee monitors housing needs, reviews national policies, and contributes to the Commission’s upcoming European affordable housing plan.
To gather information and input for their draft report, MEPs visited Vienna, Paris, and Italy to assess housing stock, innovative and social housing models, the effectiveness of EU and national measures, and the impact on local communities. Earlier, MEPs held a public hearing on the financialisation of housing and met with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to discuss its new action plan on affordable and sustainable housing.
Further reading
MEPs conclude visit to Italy to assess housing challenges and solutions
MEPs travel to Paris to assess housing policies and initiatives
Housing Special Committee to discuss public housing policies in Vienna
Public hearing on the financialisation of the EU housing market
Migration
On October 7, MEPs approved a reform of the EU visa suspension mechanism, allowing visa-free travel to be withdrawn from countries posing security risks or breaching human rights. The mechanism concerns 61 visa-exempt countries (see list of countries in Annex II here) and enables the Commission to suspend or revoke visa-free access, first temporarily, and then permanently if the issues are not resolved. The grounds include internal security threats (including a rise in serious crimes committed by nationals from the country concerned), and substantial increases in unsuccessful asylum applications, entry refusals or numbers of people overstaying their visas. The Council must still formally adopt the legislation, before it can enter into force.
On 25 September, Parliament and Council reached a deal to expand Europol’s mandate and resources to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking. They informally agreed to establish a permanent European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS) within Europol, foster coordination between Europol, Eurojust and Frontex staff, and support member states to conduct joint criminal investigations.
Parliament also approved a law enforcement cooperation agreement between Europol and the Federal Police in Brazil on 9 September, allowing the exchange of personal and non-personal data to combat serious crime and terrorism.
Earlier, on 8 July, MEPs gave final approval to the Entry-Exit-System (EES), which registers non-EU nationals’ border crossings at the EU’s external borders. Replacing physical passport stamps, the EES is one of the EU’s interoperable databases for border management and security, aimed to improve security and speed up border checks. The system will be rolled out gradually over 180 days, giving member states time to adapt.
Further reading
More flexible visa suspension mechanism
Reinforced Europol mandate for fight against migrant smuggling
Parliament gives consent to EU-Brazil law enforcement cooperation agreement
Parliament approves gradual roll-out of Entry-Exit System at EU external borders
Discussion about this post