European Parliamentary Research Service

⏰ Starting today: the European Parliament's second plenary session of October. Stay up to date with our notes on: 🔹 The situation in Belarus five years after the fraudulent presidential elections 🔸 Parliament's reading of the 2026 EU budget - Section III – European Commission: rapporteur MEP Andrzej Halicki - Other sections: rapporteur MEP Matjaž Nemec 🔹 Discharge for the 2023 budget: European Council and Council Rapporteur: MEP Joachim Stanisław Brudziński 🔸 Discharge for 2023 budget: EU Asylum Agency Rapporteur: MEP Erik Marquardt 🔹 COP30 climate change conference in Brazil 🔸 European forests: - Forest monitoring law: co-rapporteurs MEP Emma Wiesner and MEP Eric Sargiacomo - Forest and forestry expert group: co-rapporteurs MEP Emma Wiesner and MEP Pekka Toveri 🔹 Soil monitoring and resilience Rapporteur: MEP Martin Hojsik 🔸 Microplastic pollution from plastic pellet losses Rapporteur: MEP César Luena 🔹 Union-wide effect of driving disqualifications Rapporteur: MEP Matteo Ricci 🔸 Revision of the Driving Licences Directive Rapporteur: MEP Jutta Paulus 🔹 New GDPR procedural rules for cross-border cases Rapporteur: MEP Markéta Gregorová 🔸 Recasting the rules applicable to European political parties and foundations Rapporteurs: MEP Loránt VINCZE and MEP Charles Goerens Find all our #EPlenary notes, available in six languages ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eR5NS28k

📊 On 20 October, let's celebrate World Statistics Day. Discover more about the European Parliament through our Facts and Figures interactive website. You can explore statistics about MEPs and Parliament across the years. This tool brings decades of parliamentary insight at your fingertips 👉 Start exploring: https://lnkd.in/eZWQsicm #WSD2025 #StatsDay #WorldStatisticsDay

📸 This week, our EPRS colleagues took part in the European Week of Regions and Cities. Around 6,500 participants came from all over Europe and beyond to join this event organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions. 📚 We have compiled our publications focusing on the three key themes of this edition: - Cohesion and growth for the future - The right to stay - Cities building tomorrow 🔗 Find them all in our topical digest: https://lnkd.in/ePfJ3wDW

🗓️ Coming up next week: the European Parliament's second plenary session of October. Prepare with our notes on: 🔹 The situation in Belarus five years after the fraudulent presidential elections 🔸 Parliament's reading of the 2026 EU budget 🔹 Discharge for the 2023 budget: European Council and Council 🔸 Discharge for 2023 budget: EU Asylum Agency 🔹 COP30 climate change conference in Brazil 🔸 European forests 🔹 Soil monitoring and resilience 🔸 Microplastic pollution from plastic pellet losses 🔹 Union-wide effect of driving disqualifications 🔸 Revision of the Driving Licences Directive 🔹 New GDPR procedural rules for cross-border cases 🔸 Recasting the rules applicable to European political parties and foundations 📬 Find all our #EPlenary notes in our article ⤵️ Notes are available in six languages.

🛡️ Security has become a top concern for Europeans. Yesterday, the European Commission published its defence readiness roadmap, setting out objectives to achieve defence readiness by 2030. With Ukrainians battling to protect their country against Russia’s aggression, and reports of drone and aerial incursions becoming almost a daily occurrence in several EU countries, the European Parliament is determined to ensure that the conditions are optimum for EU governments to step up their defence readiness. 📖 Read our article and explore our list of publications ↓

🌎 Next month, Brazil will host COP30. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, this COP will be a decisive moment to determine whether its targets remain within reach. By September, countries were expected to submit their 3rd round of national climate plans with new targets for 2035. These plans must be updated every five years to ensure progress. 📝 Ahead of #COP30, read our briefing on the national climate plans of major economies ↓ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ehJKG5MM

🌈 Last week, the European Commission adopted its LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026-2030. While the EU has made progress in addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, LGBTIQ+ people still face various forms of discrimination. 📚 Our topical digest gives an overview of relevant EPRS research publications on this topic, highlighting both the barriers to and progress towards equality ↓ 🔗https://lnkd.in/e39cnWDp

📣 The European Week of Regions and Cities starts today in Brussels (13-15 October).  This event, organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions, brings together thousands of participants to discuss the role of EU cohesion policy in driving sustainable growth and jobs. Come and meet us at the EPRS stand on 14-15 October! 📚 Explore our topical digest to stimulate discussions at the event ↓ https://lnkd.in/ePfJ3wDW ℹ️ Find more information about the #EURegionsWeek event: https://lnkd.in/edJp7NgW