FDC European Parliament 04-2025 - EU DEFENSE AND SECURITY UNION, UKRAINE WAR (PE818)

Main themes from the 31 March to 3rd April 2025 Plenary Session in Strasbourg (France).

EU foreign, defence and security policies for 2025. On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss the EU's common foreign, defence and security policy objectives for 2025 with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. They are set to call on the EU to invest more in its defence sector, which also means increasing military and political support for Ukraine. MEPs may also advocate expanding the EU’s presence in the Middle East and doing more to support EU enlargement countries. The vote will take place on Wednesday, followed by a press conference.

Improving the EU’s safety and preparedness. On Tuesday, the Commission will present its internal security strategy, followed by a debate with MEPs, aiming at strenghtening intelligence gathering, preparedness against hybrid threats, and the fight against organised crime. In a second debate, MEPs and the Commission will discuss the “Preparedness Union” strategy for better crisis response coordination, protecting essential services, stockpiling critical materials, and improved civil-military cooperation.

Steel and metals action plan/energy intensive industries. On Wednesday morning, MEPs and the Commission will debate its new action plan for a competitive and decarbonised steel and metals industry in Europe. In a separate debate on Wednesday, followed by a vote, they will assess the Commission’s approach to other EU energy intensive industries.

(Source : europarl.europa.eu/news)

A philatelic envelope, designed by Historiaphil© (Philately Kiosk of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France) commemorates the highlights of the Strasbourg plenary session of the European Parliament. It was produced as a continuation of the collection of philatelic envelopes bearing witness since 1949 to the history of Europe and its institutions. Its edition is limited to 200 numbered copies.