Commemoration ceremony for Jacques Delors
Parliament held a commemoration to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Jacques Delors, during which they observed a minute of silence. President Metsola said that Europe had lost a political giant, a visionary and a pioneer, who saw an opportunity to unite Europe in democracy and solidarity at a time of instability. You can watch the ceremony here.
Lithuanian Freedom Prize
On 13 January, President Metsola received the Freedom Prize of the Republic of Lithuania on behalf of the European Parliament for its work in support of peace, democracy, human rights and freedom. “May it serve to continue to inspire our actions”, said President Metsola.
Political prisoners in Belarus
In Belarus, activists are still being detained arbitrarily and the number of political prisoners continues to grow, said President Metsola. She met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya last week and promised to support political prisoners and urge for their release. For those reasons, the President became a so-called ‘godparent’ to Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, a mother and activist sentenced in 2021 to four years in prison on trumped-up charges. The President urged MEPs to add their voice in support of the campaign.
2023 Sakharov Prize laureates
The 2023 Sakharov Prize was awarded to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. A few days before the laureates were scheduled to receive the award in December, the Iranian regime placed Jina Mahsa Amini’s family under a travel ban. The family’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, who attended the ceremony on 12 December in Strasbourg, was arrested shortly after his return to Iran and the award confiscated. He has been imprisoned for engaging in propaganda against the regime. These false charges are unacceptable, said President Metsola, and the Parliament condemns them, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
Mass shooting in Czechia
Speaking of the horrific mass shooting in Prague on 21 December 2023 in which a gunman shot dead 14 people at the Charles University and injured many more, President Metsola said Parliament’s thoughts are with the families forced to mourn loved ones, and with the victims of these brutal attacks who are still recovering.
Changes to the agenda
Monday
The Commission statement on The need for an EU and international response to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and for continued support to the Yemeni peace process is added as the third point in the afternoon after the joint debate on Markets in financial instruments regulations. As a consequence, the sitting is extended to 23:00.
Wednesday
The objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3), and (4)(c) on Maximum residue levels for thiacloprid is added to the votes.
The Commission statement on Norway’s recent decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic is added as the second point in the afternoon, after the topical debate. The debate will be wound up with a resolution to be voted on at the February I part-session. As a consequence, the sitting is extended to 23:00.
The Council and Commission statements on Improving the socio-economic situation of farmers and rural areas, ensuring fair incomes, food security as well as a just transition is added as the third point in the afternoon (without resolution).
Council and Commission statements on the Situation in Serbia following elections is added as the seventh point in the afternoon after the debate on Rule of Law and Media Freedom in Greece. The debate will be wound up with a resolution to be voted on at the February I part-session.
The debate on Rule of Law and media freedom in Greece will also be wound up with a resolution to be voted on at the February I part-session.
Requests by several committees to start negotiations with Council and Commission
Decisions by committees to enter into inter-institutional negotiations (Rule 71) are published on the plenary website.
If no request for a vote in Parliament on the decision to enter into negotiations is made by Tuesday 12.00 midnight, the committees may start negotiations.
Information concerning the distribution of votes is available under the section “Priority information”.
Outgoing MEPs
Stephane Séjourné (Renew, France) as of 11 January 2024
Nicola Beer (Renew, Germany) as of 31 December 2023
Radosław Sikorski (EPP, Poland) as of 12 December 2023
Incoming MEPs
Krzysztof Brejza (EPP, Poland) as of 3 January 2024
Michael Kauch (Renew, Germany) as of 1 January 2024
Esther Sanz Selva (The Left, Spain) as of 21 December 2023
