On 1 July 2026, the S&D Group tabled six amendments to the European Parliament's draft report on Ukraine, seeking to deepen the analysis of EU accession challenges, reinforce counter-disinformation efforts, and intensify sanctions against Russia. The amendments, authored by MEPs Kathleen Van Brempt, Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, and Thijs Reuten, propose new recitals and paragraphs that would expand the scope of the report, which is being drafted by rapporteur Michael Gahler. The amendments are still to be examined and voted in committee and plenary.
one acknowledging Member State non-papers on reinforcing future accession treaties, and another highlighting a joint EEAS-Ukraine analysis identifying Russian foreign information manipulation aimed at undermining public support for Ukraine's EU accession. The S&D Group also proposes broadening the counter-disinformation mandate to explicitly include Ukraine's EU accession process, alongside the existing focus on the war. A new paragraph welcomes the June 2026 G7 Leaders' statement, including support for extending licences to increase Ukraine's military production and increasing pressure on the Russian war economy.
On sanctions, the amendments strengthen the language by adding targeted individual sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights and Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act) as a specific tool. Additionally, the S&D Group calls on Member States to engage actively and constructively in discussions on proposals to reform EU decision-making processes, supplementing the original call for maximum innovative thinking on accession discussions. The amendments reflect the S&D Group's push for a more assertive EU stance on Ukraine, balancing support for accession with measures to counter Russian influence and internal EU reforms.
The proposed changes would impact several stakeholders. For Ukraine, the amendments signal stronger EU political backing for its accession path and counter-disinformation efforts, but also highlight potential obstacles. EU Member States would face pressure to engage in decision-making reforms and implement G7 commitments, potentially straining consensus. EU institutions, particularly the EEAS and the Commission, would see an expanded mandate for joint analysis and counter-disinformation activities. Russian interests would be directly targeted through broader sanctions and military production restrictions. The amendments are expected to be debated in the European Parliament's committees before a plenary vote, where the final text will be adopted as Parliament's position.