Sittings

EC-Pacific States Interim Partnership Agreement: accession of Tonga

✦ AI The European Parliament voted on the accession of Tonga to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the EU and Pacific States. Parliament gave its consent, meaning Tonga can join the agreement, which facilitates its economic growth through regional and global trade integration. The decision will be forwarded to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of member states and Tonga.

Foreign affairsTrade & customs

Consent · report by Dariusz Joński · consent procedure · voted 12:20 · A-10-2024-0023 · 2024/0048

EC-Pacific States Interim Partnership Agreement: accession of Niue

✦ AI The draft decision concerns Niue's accession to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Pacific States, which sets out trade arrangements. Parliament gave its consent to this accession, meaning it approved the agreement as a whole without amendments. The accession will allow Niue to benefit from full duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, replacing its current standard GSP arrangement. Parliament's position will be forwarded to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the member states and Niue.

Foreign affairsTrade & customs

Consent · report by Dariusz Joński · consent procedure · voted 12:21 · A-10-2024-0024 · 2024/0010

Conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration

✦ AI Parliament gave its consent to the EU concluding the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration. The Convention increases public access to documents and hearings in investor-state disputes and lets civil society participate. It applies transparency rules to investment treaties signed before 1 April 2014, covering about 1,200 agreements involving EU member states. Ratification is a first step towards broader reform of investment dispute settlement, including a possible Multilateral Investment Court.

Economy & single marketForeign affairsTrade & customs

Consent · report by Anna Cavazzini · consent procedure · voted 12:21 · A-10-2024-0021 · 2015/0012

EC-Pacific States Interim Partnership Agreement: accession of Tuvalu

✦ AI The European Parliament voted on the accession of Tuvalu to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Pacific States. Parliament gave its consent to Tuvalu's accession, which means the agreement can proceed. Tuvalu is expected to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2024, and this accession helps maintain its duty-free access to the EU market.

Foreign affairsTrade & customs

Consent · report by Dariusz Joński · consent procedure · voted 12:22 · A-10-2024-0025 · 2023/0456

Amendment of Annex VI – Powers and responsibilities of the standing committees

✦ AI Parliament decided to set up a standing committee on Security and Defence and a standing committee on Public Health, replacing the existing subcommittees on those topics. The Security and Defence committee will handle EU security and defence integration, including CSDP, the European Defence Agency, and defence industry matters, while the Public Health committee will cover pharmaceuticals, health crisis preparedness, and related agencies. The committees on Foreign Affairs and on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will have their responsibilities adjusted accordingly, and the decision takes effect at the next part-session.

EU institutions & ParliamentDefence & securityHealth

Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 17 ballots · voted 12:11 · B-10-2024-0215 · 2024/2115

Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application

Climate & environmentAgriculture, food & fisheries

New laws · 1st reading · 2 ballots · voted 12:56

Forest reproductive material of the ‘tested’ category

✦ AI The law updates EU rules on importing forest reproductive material, adding the 'tested' category to the existing equivalence regime for third countries. Parliament adopted its position, extending the regime to cover 'tested' material and updating labelling and authority names. The rules apply from 1 January 2025, with the Commission to be informed if its proposal is substantially amended.

Agriculture, food & fisheriesClimate & environmentEconomy & single market

New laws · report by Veronika Vrecionová · 1st reading · 3 ballots · voted 12:58 · A-10-2024-0022 · 2024/0214

Recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments

✦ AI Parliament rejected a resolution supporting the Council's recommendation to extend smoke- and aerosol-free environments to outdoor areas and new products like e-cigarettes. The rejection means Parliament did not endorse the proposed measures, which aimed to protect people from second-hand smoke and aerosols. The resolution had called on member states to ban smoking in key outdoor spaces and include heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

Health

Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 50 ballots · voted 12:28 · B-10-2024-0173 · 2024/2911

Amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 as regards Vanuatu

✦ AI The proposal amends Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 to remove Vanuatu from the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa requirement for short stays in the EU. Parliament adopted its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal, which means the visa exemption for Vanuatu will be cancelled. Parliament calls on the Commission to refer the matter back if it substantially amends its proposal, and instructs its President to forward the position to the Council, the Commission, and national parliaments.

Migration & asylumForeign affairs

New laws · report by Paulo Cunha · 1st reading · voted 12:26 · A-10-2024-0015 · 2024/0128

Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application

Climate & environmentAgriculture, food & fisheries

New laws · 1st reading · 17 ballots · voted 11:10

UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)

✦ AI Parliament adopted a resolution setting out its position for the UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29). The text calls for ambitious global climate action, including on finance, adaptation, and loss and damage. It urges all parties to align their national climate plans with the Paris Agreement goals.

Climate & environment

Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 32 ballots · voted 11:29 · B-10-2024-0156 · 2024/2718

Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application

Climate & environmentAgriculture, food & fisheries

New laws · 1st reading

Urgent need to revise the Medical Devices Regulation

✦ AI Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to propose a revision of the Medical Devices Regulation and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation. The revision should address implementation challenges, consider stakeholders' views, and focus on timely availability of medical technologies, a more predictable system, and less administrative burden for manufacturers. It should also boost sector competitiveness while ensuring high patient safety. Parliament asks that the resolution be forwarded to the Council, the Commission, and member states' governments and parliaments.

Economy & single marketHealth

Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 17 ballots · voted 13:52 · B-10-2024-0127 · 2024/2849

The devastating floods in central and eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change

✦ AI Parliament adopted a resolution on the devastating floods in central and eastern Europe and the EU's preparedness for such disasters exacerbated by climate change. The text expresses sympathy with victims and commends emergency services, while calling for non-repayable aid for affected regions. It urges the Commission to provide additional financial assistance and to establish a separate EU instrument for agricultural compensation. Parliament also calls for stronger EU investments in disaster resilience and better coordination of civil protection mechanisms.

Climate & environmentHealthEU budget & funds

Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 29 ballots · voted 13:36 · B-10-2024-0060 · 2024/2817