President Metsola opened the 5-8 October plenary session

Release of Sakharov Prize finalist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu in Azerbaijan

Sexualised deepfakes targeted at MEPs

“Violence against women, online or offline, is intolerable and deplorable. This House stands against it with every measure available” said Metsola in her opening statement.

Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu

Parliament’s president Roberta Metsola opened the session by welcoming the release of 2024 Sakharov Prize finalist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu on 24 September from three years’ captivity in Azerbaijan. Noting that Parliament had long advocated for his release, Metsola thanked all those involved in making it possible and reiterated Parliament’s unwavering solidarity with him and his family.

Sexualised deepfakes

Metsola went on to report that 60 MEPs from all political persuasions had been targeted by deepfake pornography websites that publish false and altered images of mainly female Members.

“Violence against women, online or offline, is intolerable and deplorable”, she said. She went on to state that disturbing as the images are, this is also an “attempt to target and prey upon elected politicians doing their duty.” She reassured young women watching who might be wondering about whether there was a place for them in politics, saying “You belong here. Your voice belongs here. And we will stand with you.”

The president also called on the Member States to prepare now to enforce the ban on nudifier apps that will come into force on 2 December.

Changes to the agenda

Monday

A Commission statement on escalating student riots in France: arson attacks on schools, assaults against firefighters, police officers and teachers, including in La Ciotat, and the role of far-left parties in inciting violence is added as the last item, before the one-minute speeches. As a consequence, the sitting will be extended until 21.00.

Requests by committees to start negotiations with Council and Commission

The ITRE and ECON committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations on the basis of the following reports:

ITRE: Establishment of European Business Wallets (2025/0358(COD));

ECON: Sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (SFDR) (2025/0361(COD));

Under Rule 72(2) of the Rules of Procedure, Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by Tuesday 6 October at midnight that the decisions be put to the vote.

If no request for a vote in Parliament on these decisions is made within the deadline, the committees may start the negotiations.

Outgoing MEPs

Pál Szekeres (PfE, HU) as of 18 September 2026

Sebastian Everding (The Left, DE) as of 18 September 2026

Incoming MEPs

Balázs Orbán (PfE, HU) as of 18 September 2026.

Robert Gabel (The Left, DE) as of 18 September 2026.