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Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to this last minute briefing for the plenary session that will resume at 5:00 p.m.

this afternoon.

The traditional State of the European Union debate will be the highlight this week on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m.

in the Chamber.

Please take note that Roberto Vélez, the President,

will be giving a doorstep interview prior to that session at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

For the State of the Union debate,

the Commissioner will be presenting the projects to come and taking stock of the year that's gone by.

A meeting with the Conference of Presidents Wednesday last week looked at different political group priorities, the impact of heat waves,

defense, competitiveness, simplification, energy policy, online security,

challenges and opportunities that AI can bring migration, support to Ukraine.

All of these topics are expected to be discussed on Wednesday morning in the debate.

It is an opportunity to evaluate the work of the European Commission,

and so the MEPs will be taking stock of the work that has been done and exercising parliamentary scrutiny on the European executive.

A number of different topics will be discussed in the debate,

and those will be discussed in a press seminar with different MEPs who have roles as rapporteurs or committee chairmanships.

They will be coming in at about 3:15 p.m.

and we will be discussing the European MFF Multiannual Financial Framework, but other topics as well.

There will be further Briefing at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow on the State of the Union debate as well.

You'll get all this information in the press room.

There's another highlight for this session, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney of Canada will be visiting the Parliament this week and will be addressing the plenary on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

for a formal sitting, and he will be a guest of honor during the Wednesday morning debate as well.

I invite everyone to check the resolution that was adopted in March of last year calling for reinforced cooperation between the European Union and Canada.

The two sides already enjoy very strong trade relations and relations in general,

and this agreement dates back to 2017,

so both sides, of course, defend multilateralism.

Next week or this week, in fact, Europe's security is high on the agenda this week,

with a debate on Tuesday afternoon as of 5:15 on defense readiness with Commissioner Koubbelius.

It's part of the Omnibus 5 simplification measures,

three pieces of legislation designed to accelerate defense investment and improve the EU's responsiveness. They will be voted on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the same day, same afternoon, but as of 4 o'clock, just before the debate on defense,

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas Kallas will join the members to debate the escalation of Russia's hybrid attack against Member states and how to protect the EU's territorial integrity and critical security and defense infrastructure.

A resolution calling for greater EU efforts to combat hybrid warfare will be voted on on Wednesday.

Again, touching also the question of the hybrid attacks, on Tuesday at 1 o'clock,

Members will discuss with Commissioner Brunner the recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta.

The debate with the Irish Presidency, also present,

will focus on the humanitarian and security situation in Ceta following this large scale arrival of migrants in July.

Note that a resolution is being prepared and will be put to a vote on Thursday too.

Staying on the subject of threats and focusing here maybe on the protection of our democracies more directly,

I give the floor to our colleague Yasmin. Delphine for the introduction.

Indeed, at the end of 2024,

the European Parliament set up a special committee on the European Democracy Shield to look into the growing intensity and sophistication of hostile activities targeting the Union.

Foreign information manipulation, interference, hybrid attacks and coordinated disinformation campaigns have grown in scale and impact.

Their aim is to exploit societal vulnerabilities and undermine citizens' confidence in public institutions and democratic processes.

The committee's analysis has shown that the current fragmented national response is no longer sufficient and that the European Union needs a coherent and coordinated approach that moves away from defense posture to an active deterrence strategy.

The report identifies Russia as the primary external threat to Europe's democratic integrity, with Belarus,

China, Iran and North Korea also actively engaged in hybrid warfare and disinformation.

MEPs call for a sanctioning targeted enablers of Russian disinformation.

It also supports, when it comes to the democratic shield that was presented by the Commission, the communication and the initiative.

In that line, it supports the creation of an independent center of excellence, the European Center for Democratic Resilience.

For it to be effective, it needs a concrete mandate, a dedicated budget, and a real operational capacity.

Members also support mandatory participation of all Member States in the center.

The report also calls for stepping up enforcement of existing digital legislation, such as the Digital Services Act,

the Digital Markets Act and the AI Act, in order to tackle risks related to online interference.

Holding online platforms accountable is essential in order to hold them.

Accountable for breaches of these laws and also to make sure that Parliament is also taking control of its own market instead of having pressure from the outside world.

In addition, MEPs also recommend funding EU tech startups and investing in local critical hardware.

The protection of electoral integrity is also at the heart of the Democracy Shield.

Electoral infrastructure must be classified as critical, according to members, in order to protect elections and democratic processes.

MEPs also want to take action against malicious deep fakes and fraudulent ads when it comes to elections.

Finally, promoting and supporting free,

credible and independent media is also a central objective of the Democracy Shield and vital for countering hybrid threats.

Preparedness is seen as a collective responsibility involving governments, business,

academia and citizens, and vital to build social resilience against manipulation.

The report also calls for the reforms to strengthen this preparedness to allow societies to function under exceptional and disruptive circumstances.

I urge you to read the report in detail for all the recommendations and actions that MEPs put forward.

The debate is happening on Tuesday at 10:30, and most importantly, join us for the press conference here in the room with EP President Roberta Metsola,

the rapporteur, Tomas Tobé, and the Chair, Nathalie Loiseau at 1:30 tomorrow. Thank you. Thank you, Yasmin.

I think there are topics that are linked also even further to this topic, Neil. Indeed, thanks Delphine.

On Thursday, Members of the European Parliament will vote on a report urging social media platforms to ban their most harmful addictive practices,

particularly those affecting young people.

This topic is also expected to be addressed during the State of the Union debate.

And the press conference will also take place as Yasmin said,

on this topic, tomorrow at 3 o'clock with the rapporteur, Mr. Romolo.

You may also have noticed that it was rather hot this summer.

MEPs will be debating with Minister Byrne from the Irish Presidency and Commissioner Lahbib at 9 o'clock tomorrow regarding the actions the union could take to prevent as well as prepare for and respond to increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

It's worth noting that by the end of August nearly 700,000 hectares had burned.

Across the EU, major waterways had reached historically low levels and excess mortality was recorded in several member states,

and the EU civil protection mechanism was deployed on numerous occasions, demonstrating European solidarity. Further afield, firstly in our European neighborhood.

Ukraine, as you know, is heading towards another harsh winter of Russian attacks against its cities and critical infrastructure.

And is chronically short of vital air defenses.

There'll be a debate in Parliament on Wednesday at 4:30 with High Representative Guy Kallas,

where MEPs are expected to call for greater support for Kiev.

Tomorrow evening MEPs will also be joined by Kaja Kallas for a debate on the latest flare-up in the violence across the Middle East with the discussion focusing primarily on the latest developments in the war between the US and Iran and the rising oil prices.

Before we come to questions, I wanted to give more practical information.

So the President and the groups have agreed on the new organizational features for the plenary session.

You might remember that there were different tests carried in June, July,

but now they have come to a final agreements, and new final arrangements will apply as of this session.

Of course, the objective remains clearly to enhance the accessibility of debates,

to have more flexibility, more opportunities for Members to raise important issues in plenary.

So that's the reason you have a so called slotted agenda, meaning you have the start and end date for each debate. It ensures better predictability.

I think it's also appreciated for you in your journalistic work.

The sittings will end at 8 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and there will be additional possibilities for the Commissioners,

for the Council representatives to react during debates, not only start with their statement or end,

so I think to make those discussions more interactive or more. Debate.

Of course we continue to encourage the so-called blue cards and to catch the eye in the Parliament,

the possibility for more interactive features,

and the scrutiny session of the Commission will remain on until Tuesdays at 3.

It's always after the decisions of the College.

And this time this week it's dedicated to fair labor mobility package expected tomorrow.

I think Neil you have a lighter note, right?

Sorry, finally, just 3 light well not off agenda issues.

One committee, if you're interested,

the Internal Market Committee is meeting this evening to vote on a review of the customs code ahead of the final approval in plenary later this week.

And a debate on protecting and empowering minors in the digital world,

a report by the Special Panel on Child Safety online.

For those of you who are regular visitors to Strasbourg,

the political group chairs will be holding their regular press conferences in this room tomorrow morning if you wish to ask them questions about their priorities for Sarteo or other items on the agenda.

And on the lighter note that Delphine referred to, for those of you who are accredited media.

You will have received or be receiving an invitation to a media reception tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock on the occasion of the State of the Union debate,

where we expect the President also to be present. That's all for me. Yes.

Are there any questions on the agenda for this session? Yes, Max. Hi Max Guirrena for Politico.

I wanted to ask about whether, you know,

it's usual or not for the Commission president to stay seated in the Parliament inside the hemicycle when leaders address the chamber.

What's the precedent about that since the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not be there when Carney speaks on Thursday. Thank you.

I think it's for the Commission to say the College is always represented at those important moments,

but they see what is feasible regarding their agenda. There will be an important representative. Mr.

Šefčovič will be present on Thursday for the address of Prime Minister Carney, but I invite you to discuss this with Paula further.

But the Commission will be present on Thursday morning for the address.

And there's generally speaking a commissioner present, but not always the president of the Commission. Thank you, David Carreio Radicale.

Question on the, on the, State of the Union debate.

How will be the interaction with the President because in the past edition, editions.

Sometimes President von der Leyen left the room, she didn't reply.

Well, she replied to the political group leaders but not to the plenary, or the reply was very brief.

So I'm wondering if you have a sort of agreement with with with the Commission to to to to have a more lively answer. From the President of the Commission.

I think again it's more a question for the Commission, but in the Parliament the structure that is expected is the same as last year,

meaning there will be first an address by the President of the Commission, of course introduced by President Möttölä, and then.

After the political groups react in order of don't rule the sides, I would say starting with the largest group,

then the president of the Commission has the possibility to react to the leaders' interventions,

and again it's a choice of the president of the Commission.

And then of course we will start hearing the different viewpoints of the groups and the different members.

The Commission is also expected to intervene at the end,

and the whole will be finalized by a round of group leaders, group speakers, but in reverse order.

Starting with the largest group and ending with the largest group,

so this is the structure exactly as last year on whether the Commission will use this possibility to intervene after the group leaders.

I think it will be to be seen on Wednesday.

Any other questions in the room or online?

Online, sorry, Vincenzo, I had not seen you, Vincenzo. Good afternoon, Vincenzo Genovese from Euronews.

Also on, on Carney, can you please clarify if, because the Commission says that,

that Carney is the guest of the State of the Union speech.

Can you clarify if he was invited by the Parliament or by the Commission to this plenary session? Thank you very much.

I can tell you that President Matola invited Prime Minister Carney in the margins of the EPC in Yerevan in May.

Of course it was agreed that he would address the plenary,

and we are very happy that he does so on Thursday morning, so as a solemn, in a solemn session.

Of course it's very convenient that it happens this week and there was an understanding.

It's very nice because you can also attend of course this major milestone in the year which is the State of the Union debate,

probably they're more organized by the Commission, but we work hand in hand.

So again it's a session where it allows to have Prime Minister Carney as important as the guest and the first time that The Prime Minister attends the State of the Union debate and of course a major milestone is of course addressing the Parliament on Thursday. So that's what I can comment.

I think he was invited by the Parliament to address the Parliament, and it's done. It will be done on Thursday. Yes.

Thank you, on Karani, how unusual it is to have a foreign non EU member, a leader of a non EU country,

to address the plenary, and when was the last occasion that this happened? Thank you. It happens on a regular basis.

We had the King of Jordan or we had also Prime Minister Trudeau addressing the Parliament in 2017 or 2022.

We had other dignitaries, prime ministers or presidents.

I can give you a list if you need, so it happens on a regular basis on the solemn session.

Of course here the particularity is that in addition, it falls in a session where we have the State of the Union.

Debate and it allows us to have for the first time a leader of a country present for the State of the Union debate at the same time,

but we have regular solemn sessions in the European Parliament with important partners of the European Union. Yes, Max. Thank you.

Just to follow up, so the invitation in EPC was bilateral invitation from President Metsola to Karney.

It was not, you know, an invitation by the Commission and Parliament to Kearney. It was from Metsola to Carney. That's it.

I, I can only say what was done in last.

May by President Metsola and of course then what happened and how it was combined.

I think it happens in the past, but the discussion happened more than 6 months ago in May to have the Prime Minister in the European Parliament.

Now it falls at a very nice time because of course it allows to meet this invitation and at the same time be present during the State of the Union debate. Any, yes.

Hi, hello, a little bit far away, Jaredcatch for the Catalan News Agency.

Regarding CETA's resolution, there is a debate on Tuesday and then there is a vote on Thursday.

Are there any other, related, events, any debates or any press conferences throughout the, the week? Thank you.

Not that I'm aware of at the moment, but of course you know that the political group leaders will give their different political briefings tomorrow,

so it's to be seen with them if you want to ask them a specific question in this regard, or if they want to touch on this question.

The resolution in itself is being prepared as we speak by the different political groups,

and then they will meet to see if there are convergences ahead of the vote on Thursday.

If there are no other questions, I think we will gradually move to the plenary session that is about to start in 10 minutes.

Thank you very much,

and don't hesitate to use all the press material in the press newsroom and contact the press offices if you need more details or more information and join for briefings later.

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