Written by Clare Ferguson with Olga Dunderberg.
The agenda for the April plenary session is a sober reflection of the current context, with Members set to participate in debates on issues that are all, to a greater or lesser extent, influenced by the current geopolitical situation. Members will hear European Council and Commission statements on the conclusions of the meetings of EU leaders on 20 March, and a statement by the High on holding Russia to account for its war crimes in Ukraine. Much of the agenda reflects the need to boost and protect the EU’s economic and physical security in tough times.
Members are expected to start the week with a debate on the Parliament’s guidelines for the 2026 EU budget on Monday evening. The guidelines set Parliament’s goals for the Union’s budget before negotiations begin with the other EU institutions and ahead of the Commission formally presenting the draft budget. Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) adopted the draft guidelines in March, underlining Parliament’s ‘commitment to building a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for the EU’. The BUDG report underlines that uncertainty caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, climate change and geopolitical shifts means the 2026 EU budget should prioritise security and defence, innovation, small businesses, health, energy, and migration as well as border protection, the digital and green transitions and job creation. The committee regrets the lack of progress in the Council on much-needed new own resources to face the challenges ahead.
Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) highlights the already challenging global context in 2024 in its annual report on implementation of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP). On Tuesday, Members are expected to debate this year’s report, which calls for ambitious EU action on the world stage. It highlights progress on EU enlargement to the east and action on countering foreign interference. The report sets policy objectives for 2025, including addressing the consequences of Russian aggression and supporting peace in the Middle East, and reiterates the importance of the EU’s diplomatic presence including through parliamentary diplomacy. The report also underlines Parliament’s crucial role in the EU’s foreign and security policy, scrutinising spending and ensuring transparency and accountability. In the light of Russia’s continued aggression, Members are also set to debate and vote on Parliament’s 2024 annual report on implementation of the EU’s common security and defence policy (CSDP). The AFET committee’s report underlines the urgency for stronger EU defence and closer EU-NATO coordination, including pushing defence spending above the 2 % target. It reiterates the staunch EU support for Ukraine and calls for Russia to be held accountable for its invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. The crises, conflicts, social inequalities, and increasing pressure on international cooperation had also resulted in a worsening human rights environment in 2023, a situation confirmed by the HR/VP in the annual report on human rights and democracy in the world. As every year, Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) follows up on the HR/VP’s review with a report highlighting the EU’s responsibilities to uphold universal human rights in all its actions. Members are due to debate the AFET report, which calls for stronger EU human rights promotion, improved human rights dialogues and stronger sanctions.
Continuing on the theme of human rights, the Roma population’s situation in the EU remains a concern, according to EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) surveys, due to high levels of poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and discrimination in all areas of life. In advance of International Roma Day on 8 April and following Council and Commission statements, Members are set to discuss progress on implementing the EU Roma strategy on Wednesday. The Parliament has taken a strong position on Roma equality, but the Commission’s progress on improving the lives of Roma in Europe falls short of meeting the EU’s 2030 targets, especially on inclusion and fighting discrimination.
Energy-intensive industries account for 2 % of EU GDP and are therefore crucial to the EU economy. In a key debate on Wednesday, Members are set to debate action to bolster the sector. Significant in reducing dependencies and enhancing European resilience and competitiveness, the industry encompasses metal, mineral, pulp, paper and printing, and chemical industries, many of which are key to strategic value chains. Energy-intensive industries nevertheless face a number of challenges, including decarbonisation and tariffs. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) has put forward a motion for resolution outlining a roadmap to support them.
Following Council and Commission statements on the importance of trans-European transport infrastructure on Wednesday, Members are set to debate the need for a strong, connected transport network to tackle the current economic and security challenges. The current trans-European transport network, or TEN-T, legislation and the military mobility initiative seek to upgrade EU transport connections to benefit economic activity and prepare them for possible military use if needed.
Members will hear a short presentation on Monday evening, of three reports by the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) on Commission proposals aimed at speeding up chemical safety assessments. The reports on the ‘One substance, one assessment’ package propose several changes to the Commission texts, including stronger rules on dealing with divergences between EU agency opinions; ensuring the proposed common data platform on chemicals includes information on safer alternatives; and possibly providing further resources to deal with workload issues. If adopted, the reports will form Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council.
Pollution, climate change and overfishing threaten the health of the world’s seas and oceans. Following Council and Commission statements on Wednesday, Members are to debate the European oceans pact. The proposed initiative seeks to provide a more coherent framework for all relevant EU policy. The Commission aims to present the pact at the UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.
The EU’s fisheries agreement with Guinea-Bissau grants access rights for EU vessels to tuna fisheries in Guinea-Bissau’s waters and supports sustainable fishing in the country. Following a Committee on Fisheries (PECH) recommendation, Parliament is set to vote on giving its consent to the conclusion of a new protocol to the EU-Guinea-Bissau partnership agreement on Wednesday morning. New provisions entail a rise in the EU’s annual contribution to €17 million, in return for fishing opportunities for vessels from France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
FURTHER READING: