The MEPs will be meeting in Strasbourg from Monday 16 to Thursday 19 December to prepare for the European Council. On Wednesday, they will focus their work on the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, crisis prevention and migration. With the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, they will take stock of the situation in Syria, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and the repression of pro-European demonstrations in Georgia and the sanctions to be taken by the EU.
At noon on Tuesday, the European Parliament will elect the new European Ombudsman after hearing the six official candidates at the beginning of December: Portugal’s Teresa Anjinho, Italy’s Emilio De Capitani (see EUROPE 13535/13) and Marino Fardelli, Latvia’s Julia Laffranque, Austria’s Claudia Mahler and the Netherlands’ Reinier van Zutphen. Several rounds may be necessary to elect the person who will replace Emily O'Reilly for a five-year mandate.
On Tuesday, MEPs will receive the 2024 winners of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, who represent the Venezuelan political opposition (see EUROPE 13511/7). Opponents of Nicólas Maduro’s regime had already received this award in 2017(see EUROPE 11925/8). In September, led by a majority of the EPP, ECR and PfE groups, the European Parliament recognised Mr González as the legitimate President of Venezuela following the controversial presidential elections of July (see EUROPE 13486/8).
Foreign affairs. On the morning of Tuesday 17, MEPs will debate the overthrow of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region. The fall of the Assad regime, welcomed by the Europeans, opens a period of uncertainty for the future of Syria, now in the hands of a radical terrorist group (see EUROPE 13541/18). The international community is insisting on an inclusive transition and respect for minorities (see EUROPE 13544/34).
MEPs will examine the situation in Georgia, in particular the crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in the country following the elections on 26 October and the government’s announcement of the suspension of EU accession negotiations (see EUROPE 13542/17).
On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss ‘Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine’.
On Wednesday 18 December, as part of the debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, MEPs will discuss the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation since 2014 and the deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Crimea, in particular the cases of human rights defenders Iryna Danylovych and Tofik Abdulhaziiev, and the journalist Amet Suleymanov. They will then discuss the continuing repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu (see EUROPE 13250/28), nominated for the 2024 Sakharov Prize, human rights defenders Anar Mammadli and Rufat Safarov, animal rights activist Kamran Mammadli and the media NGO Meydan TV. Resolutions on these subjects will be put to the vote on Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, MEPs will debate the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan, including the arrest and detention of Temirlan Sultanbekov, leader of the Social Democratic Party, and the exclusion of all Social Democrats from the ballot for the local elections held on 17 November 2024. Parliament will vote on a resolution the following day.
Africa. On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will debate the use of rape as a weapon of war, particularly in the current conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see EUROPE 13436/43) and Sudan (see EUROPE 13500/7).
Development/Trade. On Wednesday lunchtime, a recommendation on the draft EU Council Decision on the accession of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Pacific States will be put to the vote. Two other recommendations will be put to the vote on the accession of Niue and Tuvalu (see EUROPE 13537/37).
Digital. On Tuesday, after the votes, the Commission will discuss the problems of disinformation and interference linked to online social networks (particularly X and TikTok) in the light of events in Romania (see EUROPE 13540/17).
Social. On Wednesday, MEPs will debate with the Commission the promotion of social dialogue and collective bargaining in the EU, as well as respect for the right to strike. In 2025, the Commission will propose a new Pact for European Social Dialogue.
MEPs will also have a debate on Wednesday on the fight against abusive subcontracting and labour market intermediaries. Parliament will reportedly express its expectations regarding the future revision of the European Public Procurement Directive.
Anti-money laundering. On Wednesday, MEPs will vote on their choice for the presidency of the new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). The Italian, Bruna Szego, was chosen by the parliamentary committee in November (see EUROPE 13533/27).
Corruption. Also on Wednesday, the Commission will make a statement on the need to ensure swift and transparent action on allegations of corruption in order to protect democratic integrity.
Gender equality. At the end of the day on Monday, MEPs will examine the EU’s priorities for the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, scheduled for March 2025 in New York. This session will mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The recommendation adopted by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (see EUROPE 13539/24), on the initiative of Lina Gálvez (S&D, Spanish), prioritises the fight against female poverty, particularly in rural areas, and calls for the systematic integration of the gender dimension into European policies. Sexual and reproductive rights are among the most sensitive issues.
On Tuesday, the Commission will issue a statement on the situation of women politicians in the EU candidate and neighbouring countries, who are facing increasing forms of harassment and cyber-violence, a recurring problem in the fight against gender-based and sexual violence (see EUROPE 13544/19).
Fundamental Rights. On Thursday, the European Parliament will discuss the need to update the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Adopted in 2021, this strategy sets targets for 2030, but adjustments are deemed essential to meet new challenges, particularly in the areas of employment, digital accessibility and political participation (see EUROPE 13537/22).
Consumers. On Tuesday, MEPs will vote on the online dispute resolution platform and its discontinuation, as agreed by the EU Council and the Commission (see EUROPE 13523/24).
Environment. MEPs will also vote on Tuesday in favour of postponing the regulation on ‘imported deforestation’ by one year, following the agreement reached between the institutions (see EUROPE 13538/1).
On Thursday, MEPs will discuss the urgent need for the EU to take measures to preserve nature and protect biodiversity in order to prevent the extinction of species.
Green Deal. Wednesday’s thematic debate will focus on the need to restore the EU’s competitive edge, in particular by carrying out an impact assessment of the policies of the European Green Deal.
Finally, on Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on the constitution of the new parliamentary standing committees. The votes on the numerical composition of these committees will be finalised at the January 2025 plenary session (see other news). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur and the editorial staff)