The European Parliament’s plenary session on Thursday, December 18, 2025, will feature a critical debate on the role of online platforms in safeguarding democracy. MEPs are set to present an oral question to Democracy Commissioner Michael McGrath concerning the potential threat posed by the ‘recommender systems’ of major online platforms to democratic processes and their compliance with EU digital regulations. Recent elections have highlighted concerns over how these systems might amplify disinformation and foreign propaganda, thereby distorting public discourse and impacting electoral results. The session aims to address these issues directly, with discussions scheduled to start at 10:00 AM. Additionally, the Parliament will revisit the rule of law conditionality mechanism which has been in effect for nearly five years. This mechanism is crucial for ensuring that violations of the rule of law do not compromise the EU budget. Following a debate held yesterday, MEPs are expected to vote on a draft report at noon, which proposes making it simpler to activate the mechanism and calls for increased transparency and better protection for beneficiaries of EU funds. The day’s agenda also includes marking the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, addressing the rise in violent attacks against humanitarian workers and journalists, and voting on various resolutions concerning international issues and EU internal policies like the decarbonization of fisheries and the appointment of a member to the Anti-Money Laundering Authority’s Executive Board. Live coverage of these discussions is available on the Parliament’s webstreaming site and on EbS+. For further details on the session’s agenda and other parliamentary activities, interested parties are encouraged to consult the European Parliament’s newsletter and website. Post navigation EU Revamps Asylum Safe Country Rules