Speeches

The first vote is on 'Request for opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the proposed EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and Interim Trade Agreement (ITA)' (see minutes, item 7.1).

The next item is the joint debate on: – statements by the Council and Commission on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 18 December 2025 (2025/3002(RSP)); and. – statements by the Council and Commission on a stronger and more sovereign Europe amid rising geopolitical tensions and continuous threats to the rules-based order (2026/2575(RSP)).

In relation to the decision by several committees to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 72(1), announced at the opening of the session on Monday, 19 January, I have received no request for a vote in Parliament by Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold. The committees may therefore start negotiations.

The debate is closed. We will now go straight to the vote. Before that, there are a number of French senators in the gallery, so we welcome them to observe the next part of the session.

Thank you very much, Commissioner Tzitzikostas. Now, President Christodoulides, the floor is yours. As you can see, wide-ranging points of view, but very excited and looking forward to your presidency.

Thank you very, very much to all of you. That concludes the points of order. It was quite a, let's say, creative way of using rules this session.

We now come to the order of business. The final draft agenda, as adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 14 January pursuant to Rule 163, has been distributed. First, I would like to inform you that I have received a request for urgent procedure from the EPP, S&D and Renew groups, pursuant to Rule 170(6), on the following three proposals: 'Enhanced cooperation on the establishment of a Loan for Ukraine'; 'Regulation implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027'; 'Amending Regulation 2024/792 establishing the Ukraine Facility'. The vote on these requests will be taken tomorrow. For the first proposal on enhanced cooperation, if adopted, the vote will be held on Wednesday. For the other two proposals on regulations, if adopted, the vote will be held at a future part-session. With the agreement of the political groups, I wish to put to the House the following proposals for changes to the final draft agenda. The title of the debate on Council and Commission statements on 'Territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark' be changed to 'Territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark: the need for a united EU response to US blackmail attempts'. The vote on the report by Mr Michał Szczerba on EU-US political relations will be postponed to a future part session. There are no objections. These changes are approved. The agenda is now adopted and the order of business is thus established. Now we go to the points of order – there are quite a few.

Several committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, pursuant to Rule 72(1) of the Rules of Procedure. The reports, which constitute the mandates for the negotiations, are available on the plenary webpage and the titles will be published in the minutes of the sitting. Pursuant to Rule 72(2), Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by tomorrow, Tuesday 20 January, at midnight that the decisions be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made within the deadline, the committees may start negotiations.

The EPP Group has notified me of a decision relating to changes to appointments within committees. This decision will be set out in the minutes of today’s sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement.

May I also take the opportunity to thank the Danish Presidency for the cooperation we've had over the last six months, as we start to prepare for the Cypriot Presidency.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on preparation of the European Council meeting of 18-19 December 2025, in particular the need to support Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the EU's strategic autonomy (2025/2719(RSP)). I would like to remind you that we continue with the new-ish format for this debate. So there will be no speakers list, and after the first round of speakers, Members who received time by their political groups or non-attached secretariat will be called to speak. So please keep an eye on the screen and please make your way to the lectern when your name appears as the upcoming speaker. Normal rules for blue cards and catch-the-eye apply.

Good morning, dear colleagues, I have received separate requests for a vote in Parliament from The Left, S&D and Greens/EFA groups, reaching the medium threshold, on the decision of the LIBE Committee to enter into negotiations on the following files: – Application of the 'safe third country' concept; and. – Establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level. The vote will be held today and it will be preceded by one round of political group speakers. Concerning the other decisions by the LIBE and EMPL committees to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, pursuant to Rule 72(1), announced at the opening of the session on Monday 15 December, I have received no requests for a vote in Parliament by Members or political groups reaching the medium threshold. Therefore, the LIBE and EMPL committees may start negotiations.

The next vote is on the objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): genetically modified maize NK603 (see minutes, item 7.14). Just before the final vote, I would remind you that in the Agora, just after this vote, there is a commemoration of the victims of the terrorist attack of seven years ago.

We move to the vote on the report by Aura Salla on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers: application EGF/2025/003 SE/Northvolt – Sweden (see minutes, item 7.12).

The next vote is on the report by Jörgen Warborn on corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements (see minutes, item 7.11).