Strasbourg, 2 April 2025 – The European Parliament convenes today for a busy plenary session, addressing critical issues ranging from the future of the EU’s steel industry to threats to fundamental rights in Hungary, alongside votes on the bloc’s 2026 budget priorities. With debates spanning energy-intensive industries, security, and human rights, MEPs engaged with key EU figures, including Commission Executive Vice-Presidents and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Adam Szłapka, who represented the rotating EU Council presidency.
Steel and Energy-Intensive Industries Take Center Stage
The day kicked off at 9:00 with a debate on a new action plan aimed at ensuring a competitive and decarbonized steel and metals industry in Europe. MEPs, joined by Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and Minister Szłapka, discussed strategies to bolster the sector amid global competition and the EU’s ambitious climate goals. Baptiste Chatain, spokesperson for the EP’s Industry Committee, emphasized the importance of balancing economic viability with sustainability, noting that a resolution on the plan will be voted on Thursday.
From 10:30, the focus shifted to the broader landscape of energy-intensive industries. Vice-President Séjourné outlined the Commission’s approach to supporting these sectors, which are pivotal to the EU’s economic backbone but face mounting pressure to adapt to green policies. The discussions underscored the delicate interplay between industrial competitiveness and the bloc’s net-zero ambitions.
Hungary’s Fundamental Rights Under Scrutiny
At around 15:00, attention turned to Hungary, where recent legislative changes have raised alarm bells over their impact on fundamental rights. MEPs debated the issue with Commissioner Conor McGrath and Minister Szłapka, focusing on concerns about democratic backsliding, media freedom, and judicial independence. Kyriakos Klosidis, spokesperson for the EP’s Institutional Affairs team, highlighted the session as a critical moment to assess Hungary’s compliance with EU values, with outcomes likely to influence future relations between Budapest and Brussels.
Budget Priorities for 2026: Security and Sustainability
At noon, MEPs voted on their priorities for the 2026 EU budget, a draft text that emphasizes strengthening security and defense capabilities, economic resilience, and climate action. The resolution also calls for reinforcing the single market to boost competitiveness. Rapporteur Eszter Zalán, who will address the press at 14:00, stressed the need for a budget that reflects the EU’s evolving challenges, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions and environmental imperatives.
Security, Social Europe, and Cyprus
The afternoon featured a debate at 16:00 on military mobility, with MEPs assessing the role of cross-border transport infrastructure in bolstering Europe’s security. Commissioner Margaritis Tzitzikostas and Minister Szłapka joined the discussion, framed by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, which has heightened the urgency of such investments.
Earlier, at 13:00, a debate on the cost-of-living crisis saw MEPs, Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, and Szłapka explore ways to safeguard jobs, wages, and healthcare amid economic strain. Meanwhile, at 11:50, EP President Roberta Metsola delivered a statement on UN-led efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, followed by remarks from political group leaders, signaling continued EU support for a negotiated settlement.
Roma Rights and Global Human Rights
From 18:00, MEPs and Commissioner Hadja Lahbib tackled discrimination against Roma communities, discussing strategies to protect their rights and integrate them into the EU’s social fabric. Later, the evening session shifted to urgent human rights concerns, with debates on the prosecution of journalists in Cameroon, Iran’s execution spree, and repression under Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenka. Resolutions on these issues will be voted on Thursday.
Additional Votes and Closing Notes
The midday voting session also covered the EU’s foreign and security policies for 2024, human rights globally, and a fisheries agreement with Guinea-Bissau, among other topics. Live coverage of the plenary is available on Parliament’s webstreaming platform and EbS+, offering a window into the EU’s legislative pulse.
As the session unfolds, the European Parliament continues to navigate a complex landscape of industrial transformation, democratic integrity, and global responsibility, setting the stage for pivotal decisions in the days ahead. For more details, the EP’s newsletter and plenary resources provide comprehensive insights into this dynamic agenda.
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