European Union

Under Viktor Orbán, despite EU and Nato membership Hungary's position was pro-Russian and anti-Ukraine. After his election victory Péter Magyar has made it clear that: "Ukraine is the victim in this war." And if Putin calls, he will tell him to "stop the killing after four years". The media discuss what the new Hungarian stance on the two warring parties could mean.

After the initial failure of peace talks with Iran, the US has begun its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US millitary, six merchant ships arriving from Iran have been forced to turn back within the first 24 hours. President Trump has said that a key reason for the blockade is to prevent transit tolls from falling into the hands of the regime in Tehran. What consequences could this provoke?

US President Donald Trump has hit back at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she described his tirade against Pope Leo XIV as "unacceptable". Trump replied saying: "She is the one who is unacceptable, because she doesn't care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy up in two minutes if it had the chance!"

For the first time in history, a US president has verbally attacked the Pope. In a lengthy social media post Donald Trump said the Pontiff was "terrible for foreign policy" and was damaging the Catholic Church. Leo XIV has repeatedly criticised Trump's policies, from migration policy to the war in Iran, albeit indirectly. In response to Trump's tirade, the pope said he was proclaiming the message of the Gospel.

Les séparatistes affirment que leur décision témoigne de responsabilité, de retenue et de respect de la dignité humaine.

An extraordinary SEDE meeting will be held on Wednesday, 15 April 2026 from 13.30 - 15.00 in Brussels (room SPINELLI 3E2).

The next meeting of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 6 May 2026 from 9.00-12.30 and 14.30 - 18.30 and on Thursday, 7 May 2026 from 9.00-12.30 in Brussels (room SPAAK 1A2).

Further information about the SEDE meetings can be found here._______________________
SEDE missions 2026:

• Taiwan - 30 March - 2 April 2026
• Poland and Czechia - 16-18 February 2026
• Ukraine - 5-6 February 2026

SEDE missions 2025:

• Djibouti - 27-29 October 2025
  
• Greenland - 15-19 September 2025
  
• Norway - 27-30 May 2025
• Moldova and Ukraine - 14-17 April 2025
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - 24-27 February 2025
• Israel and Palestine - 5-8 February 2025

SEDE missions 2024:

• United Kingdom - 28-30 October 2024
• Ukraine - 25-26 October 2024

SEDE Committee meetings' calendar 2026
SEDE Committee meetings' calendar 2025
EP calendar 2026
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP