The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. It expressed its full and resolute support to the people of Ukraine as they face particularly brutal attacks by Russia,&nbsp;and reaffirmed&nbsp;its continued&nbsp;support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

Following the presentation of an updated draft Negotiating Box by the Irish Presidency, leaders discussed also the key elements needed for a balanced compromise on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.&nbsp;The European Council invited&nbsp;&nbsp;its President to take the negotiations forward with a view to a timely agreement. An agreement before the end of 2026 would allow for the adoption of legislative acts in 2027, which is necessary to ensure that EU funding reaches beneficiaries without interruption in January 2028.

EP President Metsola called for a long-term EU budget that matches Europe's ambitions, faster progress on competitiveness, and continued momentum for enlargement.

Addressing EU leaders in Brussels, President Metsola warned that the Irish Presidency's revised proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) risks undermining the balance achieved by Parliament between traditional policies and new priorities. She spoke on the need to engage with Parliament throughout the entire process and reaffirmed the Institution’s readiness to work constructively to find a way forward and deliver a budget that is fit for purpose.

President Metsola also reaffirmed Parliament's strong support for Ukraine as the country faces another winter at war and a worsening humanitarian situation.

European Council, 15-16 October 2026

Parliament gave its final green light to updated EU rules to improve the protection and information passengers receive if their travel is disrupted.&nbsp;The regulation, which will strengthen the protection of passenger rights across all modes of transport, was adopted with 652 votes in favour, two against and eight abstentions.

The adopted text clarifies the rules on reimbursement in the case of cancellations when flights are booked via an intermediary, such as travel agents or online booking platforms. Passengers are entitled to receive full reimbursement, including of any intermediation fee, within 14 days.

Passengers will be able to submit claims using standardised forms for reimbursement and compensation, or any equivalent form provided by the carrier.

The new rules also strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility by allowing an accompanying person to travel with them on a flight free of charge if their presence is necessary, as is already the case for travel by bus, train or ship.

passenger rights (T)

air transport package (T)

consumers' protection (T)

railway package (T)

9th parliamentary term

2021 European Year of Rail (T)

Passenger rights

The 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is collectively awarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials. Every year, the European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.&nbsp;

Announcing the 2026 laureate in the hemicycle, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola declared: “The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions. With the award of the Sakharov prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials, the European Parliament recognises the Court’s important work in upholding international law and justice.” 
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.The award highlights the ICC's work, including investigations, prosecutions, trials and the issuance or authorisation of arrest warrants.

The award ceremony for the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will take place in December in Strasbourg, during Parliament’s plenary session.

Among the finalists this year were also&nbsp;Tundu LISSU, politically persecuted Lawyer, Political Leader, Human Rights Defender, Tanzania and&nbsp;-Taraneh and Romina RAHIMI, on behalf of all those persecuted by the Iranian Islamic regime, Iran.

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2026

The 2026 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for journalism was awarded to an investigation into the migration deal between Italy and Albania. The&nbsp;<a data-analytics-event-attached="true" href="https://decorrespondent.nl/16676/cuffed-caged-cast-away-this-is-europe-s-innovative-solution-for-unwanted-migrants/b95797c4-51ef-01f2-32b2-b396f61323d6" rel="noopener" target="_blank">winning story</a>, by journalists Giacomo Zandonini, from Italy, and Maite Vermeulen, from the Netherlands, and published on the Dutch journalism platform&nbsp;<a data-analytics-event-attached="true" href="https://decorrespondent.nl/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">De Correspondent</a>, focuses on a deal under which Italy built a detention facility and asylum processing centre on Albanian territory. 
 
The Prize was awarded at a ceremony in the European Parliament by a representative of an independent European-wide Jury composed of journalists from all EU member states. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Pina Picierno, Vice-President responsible for the Prize, participated in the event held in the European Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room in Strasbourg.

Between 4 May and 31 July 2026, a record of 344 stories from the 27 EU countries was submitted&nbsp;for consideration and the jury of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism has shortlisted <a href="https://daphnejournalismprize.eu/edition-2026-finalists/">10 investigations</a>.

Launched in 2020, the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism is open to professional journalists and teams of professional journalists of any nationality, who can submit in-depth pieces that have been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries. An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, as well as representatives of the main European journalists’ associations, will choose the winning entry.

Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist who reported extensively on corruption, money laundering, organised crime, sale of citizenship and the Maltese government’s links to the Panama Papers. Following harassment and threats, she was murdered in a car bomb explosion on 16 October 2017.

freedom of press and media (T)

protection of whistleblowers (T)

EU - Malta (T)

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

The EU is ramping up its defence readiness and investing more in defence to deal with immediate and future challenges and threats. Steps are being taken, including in the context of the existential challenge posed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In 2024, member states' defence expenditure reached €343 billion, with €106 billion spent on investments. In 2025, it will reach an estimated €381 billion.

The EU has no standing army. It relies on the assets provided by EU member states to deploy&nbsp;civilian and military missions and operations&nbsp;across the world, in the framework of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Military missions and operations benefit from&nbsp;financing under the&nbsp;European Peace Facility, an instrument that also supports the armed forces of non-EU countries through assistance measures.

Partnerships in security and defence are an indispensable pillar of the EU’s efforts to promote peace around the world. The EU cooperates closely with the UN on&nbsp;peace operations&nbsp;and crisis management while NATO remains essential for Euro-Atlantic security and stability.

European security and defence

Have a look at stockshots (from 2021 onwards) with illustrative pre-edited broadcast quality video footage. These editable stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), produced to illustrate priority EU dossiers and parliamentary work. They are intended to help audiovisual media produce their own programs, for example, editing of news reports or documentaries.

Stockshots are clean (raw), with natural sound (no voice-over), pre-edited videos

Infoclips (T)

Infoclips - Illustrative footage

The Euroscola programme in Strasbourg brings together pupils aged 14 and over from the 27 EU Member States, candidate countries and former Member States to simulate the work of the European Parliament by debating, taking sides, negotiating, amending and voting on real European issues. Pupils get an opportunity to exchange views with Members of the European Parliament and experts from this institution, to familiarise themselves with the workings of the European Union, to discuss democracy, fundamental rights, European values and to express their personal opinions on the decisions taken at the European Union level.

Euroscola

Launched in 1962, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers. It aims to: support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food; safeguard European Union farmers to make a reasonable living; help tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources; maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU; keep the rural economy alive by promoting jobs in farming, agri-food industries and associated sectors.

The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget. CAP 2023-27 To consolidate the role of European agriculture for the future, the CAP has evolved over the years to meet changing economic circumstances and citizens’ requirements and needs.

The CAP 2023-27 entered into force on 1 January 2023.&nbsp;Support for farmers and rural stakeholders across the 27 EU countries is based on the CAP 2023-27 legal framework and the choices detailed in the&nbsp;CAP Strategic Plans, approved by the Commission. The approved Plans are designed to make a significant contribution to the ambitions of the&nbsp;European Green Deal,&nbsp;Farm to Fork Strategy&nbsp;and&nbsp;Biodiversity Strategy.

Common agricultural policy (CAP)

MEPs elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) on January 2022 as President of the European Parliament until 2024.

Roberta Metsola won the election in the first voting round, where she received an absolute majority of 458 votes out of 690 cast in the remote secret vote, among three candidates.&nbsp;

President Metsola is leading the Parliament in the second half of the current legislative term, until a new Parliament is constituted following the 2024 European Elections.

Born in Malta in 1979,&nbsp; Roberta Metsola who has been an MEP since 2013, is the youngest EP President ever elected. She became First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022.

She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999- 2002).

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2022-2024

In July 2024&nbsp; MEPs re-elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) as President of the European Parliament until 2027, with 562 votes in the first round. Roberta Metsola won the election in the first round of voting, where she received an absolute majority of 562 votes cast out of 699 by secret paper ballot, among two candidates. She will continue to lead Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.

Born in Malta in 1979, Roberta Metsola has been an MEP since 2013.&nbsp;She was elected First Vice-President in November 2020, and was Parliament’s acting President after President Sassoli passed away on 11 January 2022. On 18 January 2022,&nbsp;she was elected President&nbsp;for the second half of the 9th legislative term. She is the third female President of the European Parliament, after&nbsp;Simone Veil&nbsp;(1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002).

Addressing the House after she was elected, President Metsola said: “Together, we must stand up for the politics of hope, for the dream that is Europe. I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our project. A belief to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just and more equal. A belief that together we are stronger and we are better. A belief that ours is a Europe for all.”

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 2024-2027

The policies of the EU on climate and energy are described, as well as the challenges that must be faced in order to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping the increase in global temperature well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to achieve 1.5°C.

The EU faces major challenges from the increased threats of climate change, with serious consequences in the energy sector, where urgent issues are arising concerning the national production mix of each Member State. The renewable energy share needs to be increased, and energy efficiency needs to be improved.

Climate change (2019-2020)

Climate change was again in&nbsp;the centre of attention during summer 2026 with heatwaves causing huge wildfires across the continent.

Climate change remains a key challenge. The EU and the European Parliament are working to ensure a more sustainable society and economy through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners. It is already on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020, and has put forward a plan to further cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

By 2050, Europe aims to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Alongside reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the EU is also taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change. By 2050, Europe aims to be a climate-resilient society. Climate action is at the heart of the European Green Deal – an ambitious package of measures ranging from drastically cutting greenhouse gas emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment.

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