European Union

The self-admitted failure of ASEAN’s “Five-Point Consensus” demands an escalatory response. 

With the celebration expected to be toned down under possible threat of Ukrainian drone strikes, fewer foreign dignitaries are expected.

Written by Anna Flynn.

The EU immediately strongly condemned Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and has done so repeatedly since. By 31 March 2026, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine had reached 58 930, according to the United Nations. Since the beginning of the war , the EU has provided €200.6 billion in support for Ukraine, representing the Union’s largest civil protection operation to date.

The European Parliament labelled Russia’s war ‘the most outrageous act of aggression conducted by the political leadership of a given country in Europe since 1945′. The EU’s response has been structured along three axes: political, economic and military support for Ukraine; isolation and containment of Russia; and enhancement of EU and EU neighbours’ resilience.

Parliament’s extraordinary meeting of 1 March 2022, during which it adopted a resolution unequivocally condemning Russia’s aggression and setting the direction for EU action, was one of the first international gatherings to which Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke. Parliament’s President, Roberta Metsola, was the first EU leader to visit Kyiv after the Russian invasion, on 1 April 2022. In September 2025, Metsola officially opened a permanent European Parliament liaison office in Kyiv. 

Since the start of the war, Parliament has dealt with multiple legislative files of paramount importance for Ukraine, and adopted numerous non-legislative resolutions on aspects of EU support for the country; including several rounds of macro-financial assistance, the Act in support of ammunition production (ASAP); and the Ukraine Facility, which earmarks €50 billion for Ukraine’s reconstruction from 2024 to 2027.

On 18 December 2025, the European Council agreed a €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027. Without this, Ukraine was expected to run out of funds in early 2026. Instead of using Russian assets, this loan is financed through EU borrowing secured on the ‘headroom’ in the EU’s budget and should cover two thirds of Ukraine’s financing needs for 2026 and 2027.

To implement the European Council’s decision, the Commission presented three legislative proposals on 14 January 2026:

• A regulation implementing the establishment of the Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027. This loan is based on enhanced cooperation, and therefore implies no financial obligations for Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia ;
• A regulation amending the Ukraine Facility in its current form so that it can be used for the Ukraine Support Loan;
• A regulation amending the EU’s 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) to allow this to guarantee the loan and finance the interest.

On 20 January 2026, Parliament agreed that these three proposals should be treated under the urgent procedure, meaning that it can vote on the regulations without a parliamentary report. A day later, Parliament gave its consent to use the enhanced cooperation procedure for the Ukraine Support Loan, and Parliament’s plenary adopted its position on the three proposals on 11 February 2026.

However, on 23 February 2026, Hungary blocked the third regulation (amending the MFF) in the Council of the EU, which required a unanimous vote amongst the 27 Member States. The other two proposals were signed by the Council and Parliament on 24 February 2026. On 6 May 2026, Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) held a public hearing on financing Ukraine’s reconstruction through the MFF.

Moreover, Parliament has unwaveringly supported Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations, advocating successfully in June 2022 for Ukraine to be granted candidate country status, and in December 2023 for Member States to start accession negotiations. Screening meetings concluded in September 2025, meaning that Ukraine is ready to start negotiations on all policy ‘clusters’. Related to these negotiations, Ukraine has a list of reform targets to meet in 2026. However, accession negotiations have not properly started due to lack of the required unanimity in the Council.

On 12 December 2025, the Council adopted a regulation indefinitely prohibiting the transfer back to Russia of Russian assets (of the Central Bank of Russia) immobilised in the EU. This money has been frozen since the war began. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for the assets (amounting to around €300 billion) to be used to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction. However, it is a divisive issue due to potential economic, legal, and reputational consequences, and for the moment the European Council has not decided to do so.

Parliament also supports the EU’s sanctions against Russia. On 23 April 2026, the EU adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia, introducing 120 additional listings. In 2025, Russia represented 1.1 % of EU world trade in goods, shifting from the EU’s fourth largest trading partner in 2007 to 19th place in 2025.

Parliament continues to employ its budgetary, agenda-setting, external action and law-making powers to mobilise solid EU support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s aggression, and to ensure that the EU honours its pledges.

Links

• EU Support for Ukraine for 2026-2027
• Ten Issues to Watch in 2026
• Russia under Vladamir Putin
• State of play: EU support to Ukraine
• Financing Ukraine in 2026 and 2027
• Act in support of ammunition production

Other links

• EU solidarity with Ukraine
• Number of civilian casualties in Ukraine during Russia’s invasion verified by OHCHR from February 24, 2022 to March 31, 2026
• EU adopts 20th package of sanctions against Russia
• European Parliament resolution of 1 March 2022 on the Russian aggression against Ukraine 

Ukraine and its partners are holding their breath to see what’s next for Patriot air defense missile deliveries.

The West ignores the warning signs in the Sahel at its own peril.  

Length of video : 75'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The so-called Tower fiasco took place in a very different Washington to today.

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Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In an attempt to further control religious expression, Uzbekistan has updated its blacklist of extremist sites and drafted a law to expand the list of related crimes. 

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Takakchi and Lee have the two U.S. allies on track to finally put their differences aside.

Written by Clare Fergurson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

Members also debated how to ensure accountability and justice in response to Russia’s continued attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine; and the danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events. Members also discussed how to support democratic resilience in Armenia; the situation on the implementation of a ceasefire in Lebanon, peace efforts and humanitarian access; as well as Sudan’s ‘abandoned’ humanitarian crisis. Further debates covered the presentation of the Better Regulation and Enforcement Communication from the European Commission; the need for targeted criminal provisions and platforms’ responsibility to effectively address cyberbullying and online harassment; the need to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish life in Europe, following the recent attacks against the Jewish community in the Netherlands and Belgium; and Roma inclusion, equality and fundamental rights.

2028-2034 EU budget: Parliament’s position

Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate for the EU’s 2028-2034 budget following a debate on the interim report on the multiannual financial framework (MFF). The report of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) defends a budget set at 1.27 % of the EU’s gross national income (GNI), excluding Next Generation EU (NGEU) repayment. This is a 10 % increase compared with the Commission proposal. BUDG also calls for a budget of €385.12 billion to be ringfenced for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF, with a €274.34 billion budget for cohesion policy. In terms of governance and rule of law, Members are concerned that the proposed budget weakens transparency, and stress that the Commission must apply the necessary legal provisions in cases where the EU’s financial interests are threatened.

Guidelines for the 2027 budget

Members adopted guidelines for the 2027 budget, following the debate held during the March session. The 2027 annual EU budget will be the last one under the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), which covers 2021 to 2027. The European Parliament’s set of guidelines contribute to the preparation of next year’s budget, with the Commission expected to adopt the draft 2027 budget in early summer.

Discharge 2024

Members granted discharge for the 2024 financial year to the various institutions and bodies of the EU, except for the Council and European Council. The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) had recommended granting discharge to the Commission and all six executive agencies, but raised concerns about the rule of law and corruption, calling on the Commission to ensure the EU budget is protected. Likewise, CONT recommended granting discharge to seven of the eight other institutions, but yet again recommended postponing discharge for the European Council and the Council of the EU. The Council refuses to acknowledge Parliament’s oversight role, and Parliament has therefore not granted discharge since 2009. The CONT committee also recommended granting discharge for all 33 EU decentralised agencies, but raised concerns about financial risks including rising EU debt and structural weaknesses in financial management, staffing and procurement.

Omnibus VI – chemicals

Rising energy costs and a decline in demand are affecting Europe’s chemicals industry. Parliament supports simplification of certain requirements but prioritises consumer protection and clear labelling. In April 2026, Members of the Committees on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) opposed the Commission’s proposals to extend the time before bans are applied on the use of carcinogenic substances in cosmetic products as well as the removal of certain text requirements to ensure labels remain legible for consumers. Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate for the ‘Omnibus VI proposal’, which aims at simplifying rules for chemicals, cosmetics and fertiliser manufacturing.

Emissions accounting in transport services

Transport is responsible for about a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Nevertheless, EU countries have to rely on emissions calculation tools with limited reliability in their efforts to cut emissions. Parliament adopted a proposed common framework to calculate GHG emissions from both freight and passenger transport. This follows a trilogue agreement reached by negotiators from the Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Transport and Tourism (TRAN). The agreed text, which Parliament considered at second reading, backs the Commission proposal for a single EU methodology and calls for a free public calculation tool to make data widely available. This universal methodology means a reduction in the administrative burden and allow for greater transparency and fairer comparison between services.

Generalised scheme of preferences

Reform of EU trade with less developed countries is on the horizon, and Members adopted a provisional agreement on revision of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation. Following negotiations between Parliament and the Council in December 2025, the agreed text includes the addition of new human rights and environmental treaties, which participating countries must ratify to benefit from trade preferences, as well as stricter criteria that must be met before GSP countries can see their preferential tariffs withdrawn for non-cooperation in the readmission of migrants illegally present in the EU. As adopted, the legislation would apply from 1 January 2027.

Consent-based definition of rape

As combating sexual violence and violence against women remains an urgent issue globally, Parliament continues to support a strong and survivor-centred legal framework. Members debated and adopted a joint own-initiative report from Parliament’s Committees on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), which calls on the Commission to propose EU legislation to define rape based on consent, in line with the Istanbul Convention. The report reiterates Parliament’s previous call to make gender-based violence a specific area of EU crime, stresses that legislation should also apply to virtual acts of sexual assault, and should consider circumstances in which giving consent is precluded. This marks a renewed legislative effort on reform after provisions on a consent-based definition of rape were not included in the EU directive adopted in 2024.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Five decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations – one from the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) on registration documents for vehicles and vehicle registration data recorded in national vehicle registers; one from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) on Directive 2004/37/EC as regards the addition of substances and setting limit values; two from the Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee on economic and budgetary surveillance of Member States in the euro area experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability, and on alignment with the EU economic governance framework and further simplification of that framework; as well as from Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Fisheries (PECH) committees on empowering France to accede to the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles – were approved.

This ‘at a glance’ note is intended to review some of the highlights of the plenary part-session, and notably to follow up on key dossiers identified by EPRS. It does not aim to be exhaustive. For more detailed information on specific files, please see other EPRS products, notably our ‘EU legislation in progress’ briefings, and the plenary minutes.

Read this ‘at a glance note’ on ‘Plenary round-up – April 2026‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The removal of three Tajik banks from the EU sanctions list highlights diverging compliance trajectories across Central Asia.

Am 4. Mai gab das Europäische Parlament den Startschuss für Bewerbungen um den in diesem Jahr zum sechsten Mal verliehenen Daphne-Caruana-Galizia-Preis für Journalismus

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

On 4 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the sixth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 4 May, the European Parliament officially launched the call for submissions for entries to the sixth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP