Tuesday 21 October

Middle East peace agreement

A debate on the EU's role in supporting the fledgling peace in the Middle East is first on the agenda. Starting at 9.00, MEPs and Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica will discuss key aspects of the peace plan, such as the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israel's army and the future governance of Gaza.

Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

(+32) 470 96 08 19

@EP_ForeignAff

EU rules on driving licences and their withdrawal for reckless driving

Two new pieces of EU driving licence legislation are set to be confirmed at noon. The first one brings in new driving test requirements, a digital licence and lower minimum ages for obtaining truck and bus driving licences. The other will ensure that decisions to disqualify reckless drivers in one EU country apply in all the others. The draft legislation has already been confirmed by Council.

Gediminas VILKAS

(+32) 470 89 29 21

@EP_Transport

Using Russia's frozen assets

A possible "reparations loan", to fund Ukraine's reconstruction and defence with the interest accruing on frozen Russian assets, will be the subject of a debate with Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis from about 16.00. EU leaders will be discussing this initiative at their summit on 23 October. Approximately EUR 260 billion of Russian assets are currently "immobilised" worldwide, about EUR 210 billion of which in the EU.

Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

(+32) 470 96 08 19

@EP_ForeignAff

2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize and plenary debate

The winner of the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be revealed at a ceremony in the Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room in Strasbourg starting at 18.00. The rule of law situation in Malta, eight years since Caruana Galizia's assassination, is the subject of an early afternoon plenary debate with Commissioner Michael McGrath. From 14.00, Parliament's press service is organising a seminar on "The Silencing of journalists' voices around the world"

John SCHRANZ

(+32) 498 98 14 02

presse-MT@europarl.europa.eu

In brief

European Commission 2026 work programme. The Commission's freshly announced policy and legislative plans for 2026 will be examined in a debate with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, starting at 15.00. MEPs will also outline their own priorities for next year.

2026 budget. MEPs will discuss next year's annual budget and - Parliament's position on it - in an evening debate with Commissioner Piotr Serafin and Danish Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen, ahead of talks with EU governments. A vote is scheduled for Wednesday.

Serbia. One year after the Novi Sad train station tragedy, MEPs will discuss the crisis in Serbia with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos from about 17.00. They will vote on a resolution on Wednesday.

EU's internal security. In the morning from around 10.30, MEPs will debate with Commissioner Magnus Brunner the changing security landscape and the role of police at the heart of the EU's internal security strategy.

Attacks against journalists. In the afternoon, MEPs will debate criminal intimidation of investigative journalists in the EU and the bomb attack on Sigfrido Ranucci, with Council and Commission representatives.

Votes

At noon, MEPs will also vote, among others, on:

- whether to fast track a proposal to postpone to 1 January the application of new rules on chemical classification, labelling, and packaging;

- a package of three proposals to streamline chemical safety assessments;

- two forestry laws on harmonising the collection of data on forests and on the remit of the standing forest and forestry expert group;

- new rules on the statute and funding of European political parties and foundations;

- Parliament's 2027 calendar;

- procedural rules relating to the General Data Protection Regulation;

- recommendations to update the new legislative framework for products.

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.

Find more information regarding plenary.