Plenary round-up – April 2025

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

The European Union’s relations with the world topped the agenda for the April 2025 plenary session, with several debates on statements by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Kaja Kallas. These covered Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine; safeguarding access to democratic media; the crackdown on democracy in Türkiye; the dramatic situation in Gaza; and targeted attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Members held a debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025, and other debates on Council and Commission statements covered: the savings and investment union, recent legislative changes in Hungary, a European steel and metals action plan, and the new European internal security and preparedness union strategies. Members also heard statements on academic freedom; the European cultural compass; democratic pluralism and strengthened integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies; the outcome of the recent COP16 biodiversity negotiations; post 2027 cohesion policy; an action plan on rare diseases; and health tourism.

2026 EU budget

Members debated and adopted the Parliament’s guidelines for the 2026 EU budget. 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. The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) report emphasises Parliament’s ‘commitment to building a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for the EU’. It 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 new own resources to face the challenges.

Foreign affairs – Annual reports 2024

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). Members debated and adopted this year’s report, which calls for ambitious EU action on the world stage. The report sets policy objectives for 2025, including addressing the consequences of Russian aggression and supporting peace in the Middle East. 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 also debated and adopted 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 of 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, inequalities, and increasing pressure on international cooperation resulted in a worsening human rights environment in 2023, a situation confirmed by the HR/VP’s 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 held a debate and adopted the AFET report, which calls for stronger EU human rights promotion, improved human rights dialogues and stronger sanctions.

‘One substance, one assessment’ package

Members heard short presentations 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. Members adopted the three reports, approving the referral of the files back to the committee for interinstitutional negotiations.

Energy-intensive industries

Energy-intensive industries account for 2 % of EU GDP and are therefore crucial to the EU economy. Significant in reducing dependencies and enhancing European resilience and competitiveness, these industries encompass 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. Members debated action to bolster the sector, and voted a resolution put forward by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) outlining a roadmap for sectoral support.

Trans-European transport infrastructure

Following Council and Commission statements on the importance of trans-European transport infrastructure in driving economic growth and enhancing security, Members debated the need for a strong, connected transport network. The current trans-European transport network (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.

EU Roma strategy and the fight against discrimination in the EU

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 held a debate on implementing the EU Roma strategy. Parliament has taken a strong position on Roma equality, but the Commission’s progress on improving Roma’s lives falls short of meeting the EU’s 2030 targets, especially on inclusion and fighting discrimination.

European oceans pact

Pollution, climate change and overfishing threaten the health of the world’s seas and oceans. Following Council and Commission statements, Members debated 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.

EU fisheries agreement with Guinea-Bissau

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 gave its consent to the conclusion of a new protocol to the EU-Guinea-Bissau partnership agreement. New provisions entail an increase in the EU’s annual contribution to €17 million, in return for fishing opportunities for vessels from France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Two decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on establishing an EU talent pool, and from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) on granting equivalence with EU requirements to Moldova and Ukraine as regards field inspections and production of seed, were approved after votes. Two other decisions, from the LIBE committee on the revision of the Visa Suspension Mechanism, and from the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) on inland waterway transport: river information services (RIS), were approved without vote.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – April 2025‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.