Developments in Gaza, EU support to Ukraine, the EU's response to the monkeypox outbreak, the 2025 budget, the impact of droughts and extreme weather events on agriculture, and the state of the Energy Union, are some of the issues the European Parliament will discuss this week in its plenary session in Strasbourg. In the wake of a stabbing attack in Solingen, Germany, on Monday MEPs will discuss how to address the unauthorised movements of third country nationals within the EU. Challenges and policy recommendations identified by the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture are to be discussed by MEPs also on Monday, while, in a separate debate on Thursday morning, they will also discuss how droughts and extreme weather events threaten local communities and EU agriculture. It is noted that the debate is an initiative of Cypriot MEP Giorgos Georgiou, who requested through his group in the EP, the Left, that a request be made to the Plenary for a debate concerning "the acute problem of water scarcit y" and its impact mainly on the peoples of Southern Europe, farmers and other groups of the population. On Tuesday Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank and Prime Minister of Italy, who was tasked by the Commission President with presenting ideas on the future of European competitiveness, will outline his competitiveness blueprint to MEPs who will debate the findings after his address. On Tuesday morning, the plenary will hold a debate with the Commission on Ukraine, ahead of Thursday's vote on a resolution urging EU countries to continue to provide military and financial support for Kyiv. The Parliament is set to debate later on the same day the latest developments in Gaza and Middle East. On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will hear from the Commission on the state of the energy market and the energy outlook ahead of winter. On September 11, the European Commission published its State of the Energy Union 2024 report, reviewing Europe's energy landscape in the context of the war in Ukraine and the clean energy transition. On Wednesday morning MEPs will discuss with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the programme for Hungary's six-month Council Presidency that started on 1 July 2024. In a debate on the same day - on the Council's position on next year's EU budget - MEPs are expected to criticise planned cuts to EU funding in 2025. On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will debate with the Commission the EU's response to the mpox outbreak and the need for continuous action. On Thursday, MEPs will discuss the Commission's statement on the possible extradition of Paul Watson and the danger of criminalisation of environmental defenders and whistle-blowers, and the need for their protection in the EU. In the framework of the Plenary session, the nominations for the 2025 LUX Audience Award will be announced on Wednesday afternoon. Source: Cyprus News Agency