European Union

An 18-year-old high school student killed the deputy headmistress and a classmate and injured other people in a knife attack in the Slovakian village of Spišská Stará Ves on Thursday. The perpetrator has been arrested, but his motives remain unclear. Should this attack be seen in a wider context?

Written by Clare Ferguson.

A new year means a new start at the European Parliament, with the January session agenda seeing Members welcoming a new EU Council presidency and considering a number of current and foreign affairs issues, including issuing a statement welcoming the ceasefire in Gaza. Members are expected to hear Council and European Commission statements on the implications for transatlantic relations of the new Trump administration, Russian sabotage in the Baltic, on the political situation in Venezuela and in Georgia, and on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Looking ahead, a key debate scheduled for Wednesday morning focuses on the Polish EU Council Presidency‘s programme of activities for the coming six months. The programme covers seven linked aspects of security: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food and health, in line with its ‘Security, Europe’ motto and its priority to boost EU defence readiness in a deteriorating geopolitical situation. This follows a key debate on the conclusions of the December European Council meeting (the first chaired by its new President, António Costa), which followed an EU-Western Balkans Summit on 18 December.

As the human rights situation worsens in Belarus, with a continued climate of oppression in the country, the European Parliament has long criticised President Lukashenka’s regime and expressed concern about the human rights situation. It has called for the release of political prisoners and accountability for human rights issues, highlighting the cases of prisoners such as Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski. The Parliament’s engagement with Belarusian democratic forces includes a cooperation agreement signed by President Roberta Metsola. In advance of presidential ‘elections’ due to take place on 26 January and following a statement from the Commission, Members are due to hold a debate on the need for EU action on the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus, on Tuesday afternoon.

Online platforms have become an important space for public debate worldwide. Protecting this freedom of expression from foreign interference and bias has become a hot topic in recent months. Following Council and Commission statements on the need to enforce the Digital Services Act, Members are due to participate in a debate on Tuesday morning on protecting democracy online.

As the EU’s population ages, increasing mismatch between workers and jobs is beginning to stretch public budgets. Demographic change also has consequences for EU competitiveness, environmental and technological progress, and communities. Parliament has urged the simplification of cohesion policy instruments and enhancing coordination of EU funds to address these challenges. Members are set to debate the EU’s demographic challenge following a Commission statement on addressing demographic issues, scheduled on Wednesday afternoon.

Over 90 % of irregular migrants to the EU pay for the assistance of migrant smugglers. The migrant smuggling business brings considerable profits to the violent criminal groups involved – at great risk to the lives of those who use them to reach the EU. Parliament has consistently called for more cooperation and data sharing to combat this challenge. Following a Commission update on Wednesday, Members are due to debate criminal networks’ facilitation of irregular migration.

Finally, on Thursday morning, Members are due to hear a Commission statement on combating desertification, which follows the conclusion of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention. While COP16 agreed financial support for land restoration and drought resilience initiatives, no legally binding framework was established to tackle drought.

• Outcome of the EU leaders’ meetings of 18-19 December 2024
• Priority dossiers under the Polish EU Council Presidency
• The Polish Parliament and EU affairs
• Belarus: Continued oppression and fake elections
• Information integrity online and the European democracy shield
• Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox
• Facilitation of irregular migration by criminal networks
• COP 16 desertification conference: Outcomes

Israel should reconsider its approach to UNRWA, Lahbib said.

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The complainants claim that Vučić previously encouraged motorists to drive through crowds of protesting students.

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Cyber-attacks, hybrid attacks, fires, floods, pandemics, terrorism, and disinformation are just some of the threats Europe faces.

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