Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.
The European Parliament’s September 2024 plenary session took place as floods devastated many areas in central European Member States, leading Members to debate and adopt a resolution on the EU’s preparedness to act to tackle disasters exacerbated by climate change. The flooding also led to the postponement of the planned statement on the priorities of the Hungarian Council Presidency.
During the session, Members debated a number of European Commission statements: on financial and military support to Ukraine; addressing migration and effective return; strengthening the role of the Digital Services Act in regulating social media platforms and protecting democracy online; as well as persistent antisemitism, hate speech and hate crime in Europe; and the EU response to the Mpox outbreak. Members further debated the outcome of the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, the state of the energy union, and the danger of criminalisation of environmental defenders.
Members held debates on European Commission statements on external relations issues, including: on the war in the Gaza Strip and the situation in the Middle East, the situation in Venezuela, and the outcome of the G20 ministerial meeting in Brazil. Two debates followed Council and Commission statements: on the Hungarian ‘National Card’ scheme and its consequences for the Schengen area, and the Court of Justice of the EU ruling on the Apple State aid case.
EU competitiveness
Parliament invited Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank and former prime minister of Italy, to present his report on the Future of European competitiveness to Members. A debate on the future of European competitiveness followed, under the new Rule 167 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which enables Parliament to debate and adopt a statement on a specific matter of interest to the EU without responding to a statement from another institution.
2025 EU Budget
The Council presented its position on all sections of the draft general budget of the EU for the 2025 financial year. Members are already working within their respective committees on their positions on the draft 2025 general EU budget (Parliament adopted its guidelines in March). Parliament wishes to see a budget that boosts EU competitiveness, tailors investment to improving people’s lives, and delivers on strategic priorities already set, whilst also adapting to a changing geopolitical situation.
Numerical strength and nomination to interparliamentary delegations
Members voted on the numerical strength of the Parliament’s interparliamentary delegations, and the nominations to delegations were then announced. As stated in Rule 229 of the Rules of Procedure, political groups and non-attached Members appoint delegation members, with a view to striking a balance between nationality, gender and political views. Delegation members serve for the whole parliamentary term.
Corrigenda
Following committee approval of corrigenda on some 20 legislative files voted in plenary before the end of last term, these were announced and approved by the plenary, under Rule 251 of the Rules of Procedure.
Opening of negotiation ahead of Council’s first reading
One decision to enter into negotiations ahead of Council’s first reading, from the IMCO committee, on a proposal for a regulation on the safety of toys was announced. The position adopted by Parliament at first reading last term constitutes the mandate for the negotiations.
Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – September 2024‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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