European Parliament Plenary Session – November I 2024

Moving swiftly from a packed schedule of confirmation hearings for the members of the new European Commission, Members address some of the thorniest issues facing the European Union in plenary this week. Defence issues, the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, and EU relations with the United States are all likely to top Parliament's agenda.

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö is due to make a formal address on Thursday morning to present his report, 'Safer Together: Strengthening Europe's Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness'. Parliament has already called on Member States and EU institutions to work on ensuring EU society is prepared to face the range of current military and non-military threats, including natural disasters. The report underlines the need for comprehensive preparedness to face traditional and new challenges that threaten EU food security, public health, the economy and infrastructure. It contains a number of proposals for the EU to consider: legislation, coordination mechanisms, programmes to involve citizens themselves; and discusses how investment in preparedness/crisis resilience could best boost preparedness for defence. Parliament will then debate a statement on measures to bolster Europe's civilian and defence preparedness and readiness in practice. Defence certainly looks set to be a top priority during the current legislature, with a white paper on the future of European defence already in preparation.

One way the Parliament exercises its power of scrutiny over other EU institutions is by voting on resolutions following questions posed to the Council and European Commission. On Wednesday evening, Members are expected to hear a response from the Commission and Council to two oral questions posed by Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) regarding the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29). With COP29 largely focused on financing climate action, the committee has asked the Commission to clarify how it will guarantee progress on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance. To raise ambition for the next round of nationally determined contributions, the Committee wishes to see the EU lead by example – and questions the measures to ensure that COP29 significantly advances the agenda in terms of mitigation, adaptation, finance, and loss and damage. Members are therefore set to vote on a resolution tabled by ENVI, and likely to underline the need for climate action aligned with the outcome of the global stocktake and to boost financial assistance for climate measures.

Another Commission statement is expected on Wednesday, on the possible listing of Russia as a high-risk country for money laundering and terrorist financing. Although the EU follows the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) listings, the Commission can independently identify high-risk third countries and list them through a delegated act. Neither the FATF nor the EU currently list Russia as a high-risk third country. The EU list aims to protect the internal market by requiring banks and financial institutions to apply 'enhanced due diligence measures' when dealing with a country such as Russia – where risks related to corruption and state-embedded organised crime, as well as the country's war on Ukraine, are very high.

On Thursday morning, Members are also due to vote on a resolution on EU action to counter Russia's efforts to evade sanctions against its oil industry by establishing a 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers to evade these restrictions. While EU countries and their allies are cooperating to disrupt these moves, with targeted sanctions on specific vessels, a debate in Parliament in October saw Members call for more maritime surveillance, tighter shipping controls, and expanded sanctions to address the environmental and safety threats posed by these vessels.

EU civilian and defence preparedness

COP29 climate change conference in Baku

Listing Russia as a high-risk third country for money laundering and terrorist financing

Russia's 'shadow fleet': Bringing the threat to light

White paper on the future of European Defence