Representing the European Parliament at the summit, President Roberta Metsola will address heads of state or government on 19 March at 10.00. This will be followed by a press conference.
When: press conference at around 11.00 on 19 March
Where: European Council press room and EBS
At their meeting in Brussels, the heads of state or government are expected to focus on the military escalation in the Middle East and Europe’s response to the geopolitical and economic fall-out. Leaders will also discuss Europe’s ongoing efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine with President Zelenskyy. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will join the summit for the discussion on the situation in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. The summit will also focus on the next EU long-term budget (multiannual financial framework), security and defence, the single market and its implications for EU competitiveness, as well as migration.
On 11 March, Parliament discussed its priorities for the summit in a debate with Marilena Raouna, Cypriot Deputy Minister for European Affairs, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Watch the full debate here.
Middle East
On 11 March, MEPs also debated the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, its consequences, and the need to support Iranians. On the day the first US-Israeli strikes were launched on 28 February, Roberta Metsola said that the “events unfolding in Iran must not lead to a spiral of escalation that could threaten the Middle East, Europe and beyond”.
At the opening of Parliament’s plenary session on 9 March, Metsola reminded MEPs in a statement of the 47 years of brutal repression the Iranian people have suffered, and of Parliament’s proud history of standing with those people. Condemning Iran’s indiscriminate and desperate attacks on the Gulf States, she said the House would “continue to push for people in Iran to live in liberty and to choose their own destiny”.
On 28 February, the chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee, David McAllister, issued a statement addressing the situation in Iran. He stressed that the committee has been calling out Iran’s regime over the past years for their oppression against their own people. He stressed his solidarity with Israel, Jordan and the Gulf countries that have been targeted by Iranian strikes and ballistic missiles in retaliation for US strikes on Tehran and other parts of the country. He also said that a regional war in the Middle East must be avoided at all costs.
On 12 February, MEPs adopted a resolution condemning the Iranian regime’s violence against its own people, in particular its targeting of civil society actors, protesters, women, minorities and certain communities. MEPs reaffirmed their solidarity with the Iranian people, underlining that they are the sole legitimate source of sovereignty in Iran. They called on the Council and the Commission to expand targeted sanctions. The resolution is available here.
In a statement issued on 29 January, leading Foreign Affairs committee MEPs welcomed the Council’s confirmation of the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. Parliament had been calling for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation for a long time. The IRGC is now treated in the same way as other EU-listed terrorist organisations.
In a resolution adopted on 21 January, Parliament strongly condemned the Iranian regime’s violent repression of protesters, demanding an immediate end to executions, the release of detainees, and accountability for the regime’s crimes. The resolution called for enhanced EU restrictive measures, including asset freezes and visa bans, and emphasised the need for support against censorship. Parliament also demanded unhindered access for UN fact-finding missions to investigate serious human rights violations and stressed that normalisation of relations with Iran hinged on the release of political prisoners and progress toward democracy.
Further reading
Debate on the situation in the Middle East
David McAllister’s statement on avoiding war in the Middle East
Resolution on the human rights situations in Iran, Türkiye and Uganda
Leading MEPs welcome EU terror listing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps
Parliament condemns Iran’s brutal repression of protesters
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
On 24 February, Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed MEPs during the session. Opening the sitting, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security, Ukraine’s freedom is Europe’s freedom, and Ukraine’s future is in Europe.”
In a video message from Kyiv, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the European Parliament’s continued support for Ukraine, also pointing out the need for further support from the European Union. He stressed the need for credible security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent Russia from advancing its aggression in Europe. He called for strong sanctions, an end to Europe’s reliance on Russian energy, the shutting out of Russian banks from Europe, a clamp-down on sanctions evasion and Moscow’s shadow fleet, and refused entry to Europe for Russian war criminals.
Also on 24 February, the presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission issued a joint statement on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. They reiterated that the European Union stands firmly with Ukraine and its citizens and stressed that the EU will continue to provide comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for Ukraine and its people. The three presidents also highlighted that “the future of a secure and prosperous Ukraine lies in the European Union. Ukraine can count on our full support on its EU accession and on its post-war reconstruction.”
On 12 February, a delegation from Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence visited Poland and the Czech Republic to assess the state of EU defence readiness on the EU’s Eastern Flank ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Video of the conference in Warsaw.
On 11 February, MEPs approved a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine to address urgent financing needs amid the ongoing war with Russia. Of the loan, €30 billion will be made available for macro-financial assistance or budget support, delivered through the EU’s Ukraine Facility. €60 billion will be allocated to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities and support the procurement of military equipment, ensuring timely access to critical defence products. The loan is currently pending adoption by the Council.
Further reading
Fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Parliaments stands firm with Ukraine
Parliament approves support loan package
European defence and security
On 11 and 12 March, Parliament adopted its proposals to build a genuine EU single market for defence and to close critical EU defence capability gaps. MEPs advocated for a “buy European” approach to enhance the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB). They also argued for increased EU funding, streamlined regulations, and cross-border integration to reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers. MEPs highlighted the importance of reforming defence procurement rules and simplifying intra-EU transfers, while ensuring fair competition and protecting smaller enterprises. Additionally, the report identified critical defence capability gaps and called for swift initiation of flagship European defence projects under the 2030 Defence Readiness Roadmap to enhance coordination and readiness.
At the informal European Council meeting on defence on 3 February, President Metsola outlined her vision on how Europe can and must strengthen its own security and defence. She stressed that the European Union needs ‘’more action, more financing and more cooperation’’. Furthermore, she pointed out that Europe must be responsible for its own security. This would happen by implementing the single market in defence and improving the coordination of weapon systems.
Further reading
Measures to tackle barriers in the EU defence market
MEPs call for common defence market and action on flagship EU defence projects
“Europe must be responsible for its own security”, Metsola tells EU leaders
Competitiveness and single market
During the 9-12 March plenary session, MEPs held three debates on tackling single market barriers, reducing bureaucracy, removing obstacles and unleashing the single market’s full potential, including for financial services.
The debate on “how to move from an incomplete single market to one market for one Europe” on 10 March focused on easing the administrative burden and simplifying the operating environment for European businesses, looking at the “terrible 10” barriers complicating the environment for businesses, as defined by the European Commission in its European single market strategy. The discussion built on the 2026 single market and competitiveness report, published in January, as well as the Draghi Report.
In a debate on 11 March, MEPs discussed a package of measures to create a single market for financial services, simplifying access to capital markets, reducing costs, fostering innovation and streamlining supervision. The market integration package is a key pillar of the EU’s savings and investments union strategy, aimed at giving citizens better opportunities to grow their wealth while improving business access to funding.
In another debate on 10 March, MEPs discussed the need for simplification and reduced bureaucracy to encourage a competitive and clean energy transition, with a special focus on speeding up and simplifying permitting processes.
On 10 March, Parliament adopted its recommendations and demands to protect the creative sector in the EU. MEPs say the use of copyrighted work by artificial intelligence requires transparency and fair remuneration. They insist that use of copyrighted material by genAI must be fairly remunerated to protect the EU’s creative sector, which generates 6.9% of the EU’s gross domestic product. They also want the Commission to examine how remuneration for past use can be ensured, but not through a global licence for providers to train their genAI systems in exchange for a flat-rate payment. MEPs also urge the Commission to protect the press and news media sector whose work is regularly exploited by AI systems. News media outlets whose traffic and revenues are diverted by AI systems should be fully compensated and they should also have the right to refuse use of their content to train AI systems.
On 25 February 2026, Parliament’s committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, and on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs endorsed the Omnibus IV simplification package, introducing a new category of small mid-cap companies to support firms that grow beyond small and medium-sized enterprise status. The proposal extends selected exemptions currently available to small and medium-sized enterprises, including lighter obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation and easier access to growth markets under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. The measures aim to reduce administrative burdens, improve access to capital markets, and strengthen the competitiveness of growing European companies.
Further reading
Parliament backs EU signature of Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence
Debate on single market and competitiveness
Simplified rules for small “mid-cap” companies
Protecting copyrighted work and the EU’s creative sector in the age of AI
Migration
On 9 March, Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee adopted its position on reforms to the EU return policy for non-EU nationals staying illegally in the EU. The draft law introduces a European return order, requiring all member states to recognise and enforce return decisions issued by other EU countries by July 2027.
The reform sets out clear rules for cooperation, voluntary return, and, where necessary, detention of returnees for up to 24 months, with safeguards for families and unaccompanied minors. Non-EU nationals subject to a return decision would be required to cooperate with the authorities and may be offered the possibility for voluntary return. To prepare their effective and timely return, third country nationals can be detained, for example if they are not cooperating, present a risk of absconding, pose a security risk, or for any other relevant factor impeding timely removal.
If a third-country national has not complied with a return decision within the set time for voluntary return, or is subject to removal, or poses a security risk, they must be issued with an EU entry ban. The duration of the ban depends on the individual circumstances of a particular case and can be permanent in instances where a person is considered to pose a security risk.
Parliament will vote on its negotiation mandate for talks with Council on 26 March.
On 10 February, Parliament endorsed the creation of an EU list of safe countries of origin and approved the deal on the regulation on application of the safe third country concept. Applicants from the listed countries – Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia – must prove that this provision should not apply in their case because of a well-founded fear of persecution or the risk of serious harm if sent back to their country. The Commission will monitor the situation in the countries on the list and in the candidate countries and react if circumstances change.
EU countries will be able to apply the safe third country concept with respect to an asylum applicant who is not a national of a certain country – and therefore declare their application inadmissible – where one of three conditions is met: the existence of a connection between the applicant and the third country, such as the presence of members of their family in the country, the previous presence in the country of the applicant, or if there are linguistic, cultural or similar links; the applicant has transited through the third country on the way to the EU and they could have requested effective protection there; an agreement or arrangement exists with the third country at bilateral, multilateral or EU level for the admission of asylum seekers, with the exception of unaccompanied minors.
Further reading
Migration: the Civil Liberties Committee adopts a reform of EU return rules
Asylum: new rules for safe third countries and EU safe countries of origin list
Multiannual financial framework
On 19 January, MEPs and commissioners held a meeting to launch the parliamentary work on the proposal for a national and regional partnership plans regulation. The Budgets, Regional Development and Agriculture committees discussed the Commission proposal to combine regional, agricultural and other funds into national “envelopes” (also referred to as national and regional partnership plans) in the 2028-2034 EU budget (MFF) with Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto (Cohesion and Reforms), and Commissioners Piotr Serafin (Budget) and Christophe Hansen (Agriculture). You can re-watch the debate here.
On 11 December, Parliament’s Budgets committee presented its draft interim report for the 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF). The report sets out Parliament’s position for upcoming talks with member states, including proposed funding levels for each EU policy and programme. Parliament calls for a significantly strengthened MFF. The co-rapporteurs Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, RO) and Carla Tavares (S&D, PT) claim this will address the EU’s intensifying geopolitical, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Parliament is expected to vote on the report in plenary in May 2026.
Further reading
National and Regional Partnership Plans: statements by lead MEPs