European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened the body’s Oct. 5-8 plenary session by welcoming the release of an imprisoned Azerbaijani academic and condemning a wave of sexualized deepfakes targeting lawmakers.
Metsola welcomed the Sept. 24 release of Gubad Ibadoghlu, a finalist for Parliament’s 2024 Sakharov Prize, after three years in captivity in Azerbaijan. She said Parliament had long advocated for his release, thanked all those who helped make it possible and reiterated “unwavering solidarity” with him and his family.
Metsola also said 60 members of the European Parliament, from across the political spectrum, had been targeted by deepfake pornography websites that publish false and altered images, mainly of female lawmakers.
“Violence against women, online or offline, is intolerable and deplorable,” she said. She called the images disturbing and said they were also an “attempt to target and prey upon elected politicians doing their duty.”
Addressing young women who may wonder whether politics has a place for them, Metsola said: “You belong here. Your voice belongs here. And we will stand with you.”
She urged EU member states to prepare now to enforce a ban on so-called nudifier apps that takes effect Dec. 2.
Agenda change
Parliament added a Commission statement to Monday’s agenda on escalating student riots in France. The item cites arson attacks on schools and assaults against firefighters, police officers and teachers, including in La Ciotat, and the role of far-left parties in inciting violence. It will be the last item before the one-minute speeches, and the sitting will be extended until 9 p.m.
Negotiation requests
Two parliamentary committees have decided to open negotiations with the Council and the European Commission. The Industry, Research and Energy Committee, known as ITRE, is seeking talks on the establishment of European Business Wallets. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, known as ECON, is seeking talks on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector.
Under Rule 72(2) of Parliament’s rules, members or political groups that reach at least the medium threshold may request in writing, by midnight Tuesday, that the decisions be put to a vote. If no request is made by the deadline, the committees may begin negotiations.
Long-term budget
On Wednesday, Parliament will discuss developments in negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget since lawmakers set out their demands in April.
In its position on the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework, Parliament called for an increase of about 10% over the Commission’s July 2025 proposal. It said the money would support priorities including defense and security, competitiveness, and the treaty-based policies of cohesion and agriculture.
Lawmakers also proposed new revenue sources to ease pressure on national contributions. They include a digital services levy, an online gambling levy, an extension of the carbon border adjustment mechanism and a levy on cryptocurrency capital gains.
The Cyprus presidency’s draft Council negotiating position proposed a 2% cut from the Commission’s proposal. The Irish presidency is expected to unveil its “negotiating box” early this month.
Parliament’s co-rapporteurs on the framework, Siegfried Mureșan of the European People’s Party in Romania and Carla Tavares of the Socialists and Democrats in Portugal, said a smaller EU budget would force member states to tackle more challenges separately, likely at higher cost. They also argued that an ambitious EU budget does not automatically mean higher contributions from member countries. After accounting for inflation and economic growth, they said, the budget would broadly maintain or even reduce member states’ real contributions, especially if new genuine own resources are agreed, as Parliament is demanding.
An absolute majority of lawmakers must consent for the budget framework to be adopted.
