Swedish nationals in Iran
Last week marked two years since Swedish national and EU Official Johan Floderus was illegally detained in Iran, said President Metsola. This week Professor Ahmadreza Djalali, also a Swedish national, will have been jailed for eight years, making him the longest held EU-national in Iran. Parliament once again condemns their arrest by the Iranian regime in the strongest possible terms, and will continue to work to secure the release of all those held on trumped up-charges.
Last plenary before the European elections
Speaking of Parliament’s achievements over the last few years, President Metsola highlighted ground-breaking legislation passed during this term on artificial intelligence, migration, asylum, climate, on creating jobs and safeguarding European industry and agriculture, on new tech, on digital services and digital markets. “We have faced the invasion of Ukraine, de-coupled from Russia and created new Energy and Health priorities. We have stood up for humanity in the Middle East and around the world”, she said. Parliament has passed huge files on equality, and strengthened the social pillar, the President added. “We have led the European debate that has made people’s lives a little bit easier, a little bit safer and little bit more secure”.
She paid tribute to her predecessor David Sassoli, who died in 2022, and called particularly on young people to vote in the European elections in six weeks’ time and to shape their future, as “every voice, every vote, every choice matters”.
Changes to the agenda
The Environment Committee has sent one request for urgent procedure, pursuant to Rule 163, for the following legislative file: Gradual roll-out of Eudamed, information obligation in case of interruption of supply and transitional provisions for certain in vitro diagnostic medical devices. The vote on the request will be taken on Tuesday.
Wednesday
The following objections are added to the first voting session:
- Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3) on Calculation, verification and reporting of data on recycled plastic content in single-use plastic beverage bottles;
- Objection pursuant to Rule 111(3) on Novel foods – the definition of ‘engineered nanomaterials’.
Council and Commission statements on Recent attempts to deny dictatorships and the risk of Europe returning to totalitarianism are added in the evening, after the Council and Commission statements on Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe. As a consequence, the sitting is extended to 23:00.
Council and Commission statements on The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles are added after the reports under Rule 144.
The vote on Simplification of certain CAP rules will take place during the second voting session on Wednesday afternoon.
Information concerning the distribution of votes is available under the section “Priority information”.
