Ready before standard European debate's beginning (8)
I believe the answer is:
prepared
'ready' is the definition.
('prepared' can be similar in meaning to 'ready')
'before standard european debate's beginning' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'pre' (**).
'standard' becomes 'par' (I've seen this before).
'beginning' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'european debates' is 'ed'.
'pre'+'par'+'ed'='PREPARED'
(Other definitions for prepared that I've seen before include "Waiting" , "Made or got ready" , "Ready for action" , "All set" , "edited" .)