President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the European Council summit on 18–19 December 2025 in Brussels. She is scheduled to address EU heads of state and government at 10:00, followed by a press conference.
The summit agenda includes discussions on support for Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, the EU’s long-term budget, economic competitiveness, enlargement strategy, and migration management.
On 17 December, the European Parliament approved an agreement with the Council to ban imports of Russian natural gas. The ban will apply to spot-market liquefied natural gas from early 2026 and pipeline gas from September 2027. MEPs also secured a commitment from the European Commission to propose legislation banning all Russian oil imports by late-2027.
Parliament adopted a resolution calling for improved military mobility across Europe. This includes removing internal borders for troop movement and upgrading transport infrastructure. MEPs recommend establishing a “military Schengen area” and creating a task force and coordinator for implementation.
A fast-track legislative process was backed for an EU reparations loan to Ukraine. If adopted, this would allow borrowing against profits from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine’s financial needs, including its defence industry.
MEPs approved increased funding for defence-related investment by amending several existing EU programmes. On 15 December, new proposals were endorsed to accelerate defence investment and simplify procurement processes under the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiative.
In response to Belarusian hybrid attacks on Lithuania—including UAV incursions and cyberattacks—MEPs debated further action against coordinated hostile activities linked to Russia.
The Foreign Affairs Committee stressed that while transatlantic partnership remains central, the EU should strengthen its strategic autonomy amid changes in US foreign policy. Parliament has urged continued cooperation with partners like the US but criticised ambivalence toward Ukraine.
A law establishing the first-ever European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) was adopted on 25 November. The €1.5 billion programme aims to boost joint procurement and manufacturing capacity while supporting Ukraine through dedicated funds.
On economic matters, MEPs approved new rules requiring sustainability reporting only from large companies with more than 1,000 employees or significant turnover within the EU. Due diligence obligations are limited to very large firms exceeding higher thresholds.
To protect agriculture from potential harm due to Mercosur imports, MEPs agreed on safeguard measures allowing temporary suspension of tariff preferences if sensitive sectors are threatened.
New deforestation regulations were postponed by one year for all businesses after Parliament’s approval of targeted adjustments intended to ease implementation challenges.
MEPs adopted rules granting farmers greater flexibility under common agricultural policy requirements and reduced inspection burdens as part of efforts to simplify administrative procedures across sectors—a move intended by lawmakers and Commission officials alike “to boost competitiveness and investment capacity.”
An agreement was reached updating screening rules for foreign investments in sensitive sectors such as defence or artificial intelligence; these investments will now be subject to mandatory national review processes aimed at identifying security risks.
Recommendations were made for harmonising company law frameworks tailored specifically toward innovative SMEs—including startups—to encourage cross-border activity within Europe.
The InvestEU programme’s financial guarantee was increased by €2.9 billion following approval of simplification measures designed both to expand its capacity and streamline reporting requirements; this supports projects in areas like housing or clean energy technology.
On migration policy, MEPs agreed with Council negotiators on criteria under which non-EU countries can be designated as safe third countries when processing asylum applications—allowing member states more flexibility in declaring applications inadmissible based on certain connections or agreements with third countries. A mandate was also approved supporting an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin that includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia; candidate countries are considered safe unless specific risks exist due to conflict or violence.
Regarding long-term financing plans post-2027 (the multiannual financial framework), Parliament called for significantly increased funding levels compared with current ceilings—arguing that global instability requires greater ambition in meeting citizens’ expectations across policy areas such as security or social development.
In relation to recent events in Palestine and Lebanon discussed during plenary debates held throughout autumn 2025—with ongoing violence highlighted alongside prospects for peace—Parliament reiterated calls for a two-state solution while condemning Israel’s aid blockade on Gaza: “the creation of a Palestinian state is key,” according to resolutions passed earlier this year urging diplomatic steps towards regional normalisation alongside investigations into violations committed during hostilities.
Finally, Parliament has emphasised that Russia’s war against Ukraine underscores urgency around accelerating enlargement negotiations; it advocates reforms addressing unanimity voting problems within Council decision-making so bilateral disputes do not delay progress toward accession.
