(AGENPARL) - Roma, 21 Gennaio 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Wed 21 January 2026 [1] scribo-webmail-logo [20]
Press service **
European Parliament **
21-01-2026
Plenary session
EP TODAY [2]
Wednesday 21 January
Outcome of December EU summit and need for a stronger Europe*
In a joint debate from 9.00, MEPs will debate the outcome of the European Council meeting of 18 December and the need for a stronger and more sovereign Europe amid rising geopolitical tensions and continuous threats to the rules-based order. They will be joined by European Council President Antonio Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The vote on a report on EU-US relations previously scheduled for today has been postponed until further notice. A press conference with the rapporteur, Michał Szczerba (EPP, PL), will take place at 14.00. A press conference on EU-US trade relations, with International Trade Committee chair Bernd Lange (S&D, DE), is scheduled for 16.00.
The legal basis for the Mercosur Agreements*
The EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement were signed in Paraguay on 17 January. MEPs will vote at noon on two requests for opinions from the European Court of Justice on the agreements’ compatibility with the Treaties.
Upholding air passengers’ rights*.
Following yesterday’s debate, MEPs will vote at noon on their second reading position on a legislative proposal on air passenger rights. In the face of national governments’ push to weaken these rights, Parliament is set to insist on preserving and enhancing the existing rights of air travellers. A press conference with the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs will take place at 14.30.
Celebrating 40 years of Spanish and Portuguese EU membership*
In a formal sitting at noon Felipe VI, King of Spain, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Portugal will address MEPs to mark the 40th anniversary of their countries’ accession to the EU. Spain and Portugal signed their accession treaties to join the European Communities on 12 June 1985 and their membership became effective on 1 January 1986.
In brief*
India*. Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will join MEPs at around 15.30 to discuss preparations for the EU-India summit due to take place on 27 January.
Migration*. This session’s topical debate, requested by the EPP, is on “Restoring control of migration: returns, visa policy and third-country cooperation”. It starts at 13.30. Henna Virkunnen will represent the European Commission.
Human rights violations*. From around 19.00, MEPs and Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu will be discussing the cases of: the presidential elections in Honduras, non-recognition of the outcome by the incumbent administration and attacks on opposition members of the National Assembly; Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic; and the conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. MEPs will vote on the related resolutions tomorrow.
Votes*
At noon, MEPs will also vote, among others, on:
– whether to give their consent to the enhanced cooperation of 24 member states to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan underwritten by EU borrowing;
– Parliament’s 2025 annual reports on implementation of the common foreign and security policy and common security and defence policy;
– the 2025 report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter;
– an own-initiative report on addressing impunity through EU sanctions, including the EU global human rights sanctions regime (the “EU Magnitsky Act”); and
– a recommendation to consent to the EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming site [13] and on EbS+ [14] .
For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter [15] .
Find more information regarding plenary [16] .
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