Press release - EP TODAY

EP TODAY
Wednesday 8 July
Outcome of June European Council
From 9.00, MEPs and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will debate the outcome of the 18-19 June European Council. At the meeting in Brussels, leaders met with President Zelenskyy to discuss the situation in Ukraine. They also focused on the situation in the Middle East, the 2028-2034 EU long-term budget, security and defence, migration management, and enlargement.
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Response to heatwaves and wildfires
EU action to prepare for the extreme heat events, droughts and wildfires that are now commonplace across the continent is the subject of a key debate starting at 10.00. MEPS will be joined by Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne and Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib. MEPs are likely to quiz Lahbib on the Commission’s emergency response preparations for this year’s wildfire season as well as efforts to boost resilience under the EU civil protection mechanism.
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EU accession progress: Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia
Parliament votes at noon on its 2025 reports on the progress of Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia towards EU accession. A press conference with standing rapporteur for Serbia Tonino Picula (S&D, HR) is scheduled at 15.00.
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EU-Mexico partnership
Two agreements paving the way for closer political ties and expanded trade between the EU and Mexico will be put to a vote at noon. The EU-Mexico modernised global agreement (MGA) will replace the current agreement, in place since 2000. The interim trade agreement (iTA) will allow for the updated trade arrangements to apply earlier and will expire once the MGA enters fully into force. A press conference with Foreign Affairs Committee rapporteur Javi López (S&D, ES) and International Trade Committee rapporteur Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP, ES) is scheduled at 14.00.
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In brief
Russian democratic forces. From 15.30, one representative per political group will give their views on how the EU can continue to support civil society, anti-war actors and independent media in Russia.
Reconstruction of Gaza. This month’s topical debate, requested by the S&D group, focuses on the EU’s role in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and Israel’s accountability under international law. The debate, with Thomas Byrne for the Council and Dubravka Šuica for the Commission, starts at 13.00.
Ebola. With a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, MEPs will discuss EU global health solidarity and preparedness with Commissioner Hadija Lahbib from 15.45.
Fight against narco-trafficking. From 14.15, MEPs and Commissioner Costas Kadis will discuss how to tackle narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters, while protecting borders and supporting law enforcement officers. A resolution will be put to vote during the September plenary session.
Debates on breaches of human rights. From 17.30, MEPs and Šuica will hold urgent debates on: the human rights situation in El-Obeid, Sudan; the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz in Pakistan. The votes on the respective resolutions will take place tomorrow at noon.
Votes
At noon, MEPs will also vote, among others, on:
- a report on using criminal law to protect the environment;
- two agreements between the EU and Morocco, the first on the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement and the second on scientific and technological cooperation; and
- a motion for a resolution on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on Cypriot women and girls.
Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming site and on EbS+.
Find more information regarding plenary.
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