European Union

Bulgaria's excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics continues to fuel antimicrobial resistance, and it still lacks a coherent national plan

Belgian police arrested three suspects in Antwerp accused of planning drone attacks against politicians, including Prime Minister Bart De Wever

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 13 – 19 October 2025.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The Council today endorsed Germany’s maximum net expenditure path for the next five years. It also activated the national escape clause for Germany under the stability and growth pact to facilitate higher defence spending.

Today, the Council confirmed the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes without changes. The list consists of the same 11 jurisdictions as before.

Today, the Council approved conclusions on tax incentives that can help promote clean technologies and industry in the EU.

The press briefing ahead of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy) will take place on Monday, 13 October 2025 at 14.00.

Mit Valentin Vacherot sorgt ein absoluter Aussenseiter beim Shanghai Masters für eine Feel-Good-Story. Das Spezielle an der Geschichte: Neben dem Monegassen kämpft auch dessen Cousin um den Finaleinzug bei dem Turnier.

This week, a secretive race has begun to replace the EU’s top fraud-buster, while Germany and Italy team up to kill off the EU’s vehicle emissions law

Written by Enrico D’Ambrogio.

Japan’s culture of national resilience is one of the most advanced in the world. The UN-backed definition of preparedness was adopted in 2017 in Japan, a country highly exposed to natural hazards, under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Through national resilience, the country aims to prevent human loss by any means, avoid fatal damage to important functions for maintaining administration as well as social and economic systems, mitigate damage to private property and public facilities, and achieve swift recovery and reconstruction.

The COVID-19 pandemic made Japan an early mover in the implementation of economic security policies, including reducing the dependence of its supply chains on China. Japan appointed the world’s first minister for economic security and adopted legislation to protect the country from coercion by others through economic dependency. Japan’s initiatives also made it a leader in global green supply chains. The adoption of three main documents in December 2022 helped Japan reshape its approach to national security and defence and become better equipped to face the current complex geopolitical environment.

In March 2025, the European Commission launched the preparedness union strategy. The EU and Japan are increasing cooperation in several aspects related to preparedness and resilience, including in economic security, cybersecurity and foreign information manipulation.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Japan’s preparedness strategies: Lessons for the EU‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis hat seinen chinesischen Amtskollegen, Aussenminister Wang Yi, am Freitag in Bellinzona empfangen. Das Treffen fand anlässlich der 4. Runde des strategischen Dialogs zwischen der Schweiz und China statt.

US-Präsident Donald Trump poltert heftig gegen China. Auf Truth Social zeigt er sich erzürnt über das chinesische Vorgehen in der Handelspolitik. Zudem lässt er wohl ein Treffen mit Staatschef Xi platzen.

Germany’s Andrés Ritter, currently a deputy at the European Public Prosecutor's Office, is the favourite from a four-person shortlist

Spain remains the lowest spender of the 32-member alliance

Hoekstra says EU at crossroads on tobacco taxation reform

The problem, however, goes beyond the levy itself: It could jeopardise the entire Commission budget plan

The US is “happy to sell, but we won’t have enough to sell, ultimately”, said the US ambassador to NATO

The West African nation's foreign minister asks if the decision led to the US suspending issuing visas.

Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.

Parliament’s first October plenary session featured a formal address by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland. Members discussed the European Union’s relations with countries outside the Union in various debates, including on the EU’s role in supporting peace efforts for Gaza and a two-state solution; a united EU response to Russian violation of EU Member States’ airspace; an EU strategy to face Iran’s nuclear threat and on EU sanctions; the situation in Afghanistan; and the Second World Summit for Social Development. Members also considered and rejected two motions of censure of the Commission. A debate addressed rising antisemitism in Europe. Members also debated intergenerational fairness; completing the single market; and promoting EU digital rules. Finally, a debate marked World Mental Health Day (10 October), and Members debated the public health risks exacerbated by global warming.

This is Europe debate

The October I 2025 session featured the first ‘This is Europe‘ debate of the current term, with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden.

Visa suspension mechanism

Many non-EU nationals can visit the Schengen area for 90 days without having to apply for a visa. To protect the system from abuse, the visa suspension mechanism allows the EU to temporarily end the visa exemption for citizens of certain countries for security reasons. A proposal to strengthen the mechanism has been on the table since 2023. Members held a debate and adopted the text agreed between Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and the Council, which emphasises the links between the EU’s external relations and the need to revise the visa suspension mechanism to cover, for instance, cases of state-sponsored instrumentalisation of migrants, investor-citizenship schemes and human rights violations.

Common agricultural policy simplification

Following a debate on the common agricultural policy (CAP), Members approved a report on the European Commission proposal to amend the current rules on payments to farmers, aimed at cutting red tape, one of the farming community’s key demands. Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes the CAP simplification include more flexibility on environmental rules, easier access to crisis payments and increased support for small and medium-sized farms. The vote sets Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council.

European works councils

Members debated and adopted a provisional agreement reached by Parliament’s negotiators on a revision of the European Works Councils Directive. European works councils represent workers employed by multinationals operating in at least two EU countries. The revision of the legislation aims at strengthening the enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights, excluding trivial issues and including stronger provisions on gender balance. Parliament has succeeded in including rules to ensure penalties will be dissuasive, effective and proportionate.

Amending budget No 2/2025

Members adopted amending budget No 2/2025, updating the revenue side of the current year’s EU budget. The report from Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) endorsed the Council position on the Commission proposal to take revised revenue forecasts into account and notes the need for increased gross national income contributions from the Member States. The committee also reiterates that the EU must endeavour to find fresh funding streams for new EU policy priorities.

Inland waterway transport: River Information Services

Members adopted an agreed revision to the legislation ensuring safety and environmental protection on the EU’s inland waterways. Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) reached an agreement with the Council that the revision should establish a single digital information platform, ensure harmonised reporting, introduce a feedback mechanism and update privacy and security requirements. The committee would, however, prefer that the scope of the revision of harmonised river information services apply only to waterways and ports that are part of a cross-border network.

Extension of the derogation for heavy-duty vehicles with zero emissions

The EU aims at reducing CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 43 % by 2030, with higher targets to follow. However, as zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles remain expensive, EU law allows governments to encourage their use by granting reductions or exemptions to road charges for such vehicles. Members approved, under the urgent procedure, an extension of the derogation for heavy-duty vehicles with zero emissions to June 2031.

New strategic EU-India agenda

Members held a debate on Council and Commission statements on a joint communication, which lays out the path for negotiations on a new strategic EU-India agenda, set for adoption at a bilateral summit in 2026. The debate covered progress on a free trade agreement, financial supervision arrangements and security and defence ties.

EU-Côte d’Ivoire Fisheries Partnership Agreement

Following a recommendation from Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH), Members granted Parliament’s consent for the conclusion of a new protocol covering the EU’s fisheries agreement with Côte d’Ivoire. The protocol sets opportunities for EU vessels from Spain, France and Portugal to fish for tuna in Côte d’Ivoire’s waters, in exchange for a financial contribution to the country’s sustainable fisheries sector.

Opening of trilogue negotiations

Four decisions to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, from: the Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committees on the public interface connected to the Internal Market Information System for the declaration of posting of workers; from the EMPL committee on improving and enforcing working conditions of trainees and combating regular employment relationships disguised as traineeships (‘Traineeships Directive’); from the IMCO committee on market availability of measuring instruments: electric vehicle supply equipment, compressed gas dispensers, and electricity, gas and thermal energy meters; and from the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee on incentivising defence-related investments in the EU budget to implement the ReArm Europe Plan were approved without a vote.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – October I 2025‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.