EU Parliament’s Packed Agenda

The European Parliament is set to host a comprehensive plenary session today, October 21, 2025, tackling a range of critical issues from the Middle East peace efforts to EU’s internal security and legislative updates on driving licenses.

One of the key discussions will focus on the Middle East peace process, where MEPs and Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, will deliberate on pivotal components such as the disarmament of Hamas, Israeli military withdrawal, and the governance prospects for Gaza. This discussion is set to commence at 9.00 AM.

Additionally, the session will address several legislative proposals including two new EU driving license regulations which are expected to introduce digital licensing, modify test requirements, and set lower age limits for truck and bus licenses. Another significant proposal involves the imposition of EU-wide disqualifications for reckless drivers, ensuring that a suspension in one member state will be effective throughout the EU.

Later in the day, the parliament will debate the utilization of frozen Russian assets to potentially fund Ukraine’s reconstruction through a “reparations loan.” This discussion, involving Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, is part of the broader EU response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and will precede an EU summit on the matter scheduled for October 23.

In addition to these key issues, the session will also see debates on the EU’s 2026 budget, the internal security strategy, and the protection of journalists, including a specific case on the criminal intimidation faced by investigative reporters. The plenary will conclude with voting sessions on various legislative updates and procedural matters.

Live coverage and detailed information on today’s session are accessible via the European Parliament’s webstreaming service and dedicated newsletters.