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On 13 September 2023, Kim Jong-un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea), met with President Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome (spaceport) in the Amur region in Russia's far east. Although very little is known about what they discussed, many observers assume that one of the topics involved hammering out the details of a deal whereby North Korea would help Russia replenish its stocks of artillery shells and send a considerable number of workers to staff Russian ...

World leaders gathered for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, including an ongoing war of aggression, military conflicts, coup d'états in western Africa, accelerating climate change crisis, food insecurity, widening inequality and sustainable development concerns. Against the backdrop in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the theme chosen for this year's general debate, marking ...

As political relations between the EU and China have encountered increasing challenges, including in the context of China's ambiguous position on Russia's war on Ukraine, the trade deficit of the EU with China has risen substantially. The EU has reacted by taking measures to improve its own economic security and to ensure a level playing-field; the most recent measure, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 13 September, is the anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles ...

On 20 June 2023, the Commission made a proposal for a revision of the EU's long-term budget, to urgently address shortcomings and provide further financial support to Ukraine. Overall, the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) supports the revision in its interim report, pending the formal request from the Council, which has yet to agree its position, for consent to the revision. But BUDG says that an additional €10 billion, on top of the €65.8 billion proposed by the Commission, is needed to address the challenges ...

The European Commission has proposed changes to the existing EU legislation on the deployment of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in road transport. The proposal aims to adapt the scope of the rules to new developments and to accelerate the availability and enhance the interoperability of digital data that feed ITS services. It also aims to improve coordination and cooperation among stakeholders. Parliament is scheduled to vote during the October I session on the provisional agreement on the proposal ...

In an increasingly assertive geopolitical environment, the use of economic tools to advance foreign policy goals is on the rise. This can take the form of coercion, when a third country deploys restrictions on trade or investment to influence the sovereign choices of the EU or its Member States. On 8 December 2021, the Commission published a proposal for an anti-coercion instrument that would allow the EU to respond more effectively to such challenges on a global scale. In October, the European Parliament ...

On 28 September 2022, the European Commission proposed a revision of the 2009 Directive on the protection of workers from the risk of exposure to asbestos. Despite the total ban on the use of asbestos in the EU, exposure to this carcinogenic fibre, which is still present in many buildings, kills more than 70 000 people a year in Europe. Parliament is due to vote in October on the agreement reached in interinstitutional negotiations.

In September 2022, the European Commission proposed a regulation establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (the 'European Media Freedom Act'). During the October I plenary session, Parliament is scheduled to vote on the report from its Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). The report as voted would then form Parliament's position for interinstitutional negotiations with the Council, which agreed its position in June 2023.

During its October I plenary session, the European Parliament is expected to adopt its position on a European Commission proposal to revise a core piece of EU chemicals legislation, which requires proper classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances and mixtures to protect human health and the environment.

To support climate and environmental projects, the European Commission proposed a regulation on a European green bond standard in July 2021. This would establish an official EU standard for green bonds aligned with the EU taxonomy, based on a registration system and supervisory framework for external reviewers. A provisional political agreement reached between the Parliament and Council is scheduled for a vote during the October I plenary session.