STRASBOURG - The European Union's security and defence policy is one of the main topics of today's plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The debate will be attended by prominent EU figures - EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
MEPs will discuss, among other things, the strengthening of EU defence capabilities, investment in the arms industry and continued military and political support for Ukraine. They will also return to the outcome of the 20 March summit in a debate with Costa and von der Leyen. This focused on strengthening the EU economy, increasing competitiveness and reducing bureaucratic burdens or energy prices. EU leaders also agreed on the need to boost private investment.
MEPs will also decide today to waive the immunity of two of their colleagues - Czech MEP Jana Nagyová, accused in connection with the Čapí hní hzdo subsidy case, and German MEP Petr Bystron, of Czech origin, who faces charges of promoting extremist and terrorist movements.
One of the other items on the agenda is the situation surrounding Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is based in Prague. Its existence is under threat as a result of US President Donald Trump's efforts to stop its funding. The Czech Republic has been campaigning to keep the station open and has received the support of several other EU Member States in this regard.
The situation in Turkey is also on today's agenda. Mass protests against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been taking place there for almost two weeks. The unrest was sparked by the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is a prominent member of the Turkish opposition and a long-standing critic of the President.
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