Address by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili
At 8.30, the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili will address the European Parliament. Georgia has recently witnessed massive protests as a result of the government’s decision to pause the country’s EU accession process following the disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024, which according to Ms Zourabichvili were fraudulent and effectively stolen. In a resolution adopted on 28 November, MEPs rejected the outcome of the elections and called for them to be re-run within a year.
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MEPs to outline priorities for the EU summit
In a debate with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Barna Zsigmond, Hungary’s Deputy-Minister for European Union Affairs, starting at 9.00, MEPs will outline their expectations for the European Council meeting taking place on Thursday 19 December, focusing on the situation in the Middle East, the EU’s support to Ukraine in its war against Russia, and crisis prevention and migration management. In a separate debate immediately afterwards, plenary will discuss EU relations with Western Balkans countries, ahead of today’s summit.
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New standing committees on Defence and Health, special ones on Housing and Democracy
At noon, MEPs are set to endorse the creation of two new standing committees on Security and Defence, and Health, and two special temporary ones, dedicated to housing and the European Democracy Shield. Based on a proposal by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents, plenary must confirm the size and tasks of each committee. The list of members, to be decided by the political groups, will be announced during the 20-23 January plenary session.
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Human rights in occupied Crimea, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. In the evening, MEPs will discuss with Commissioner Roswall the situation in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, with a focus on the cases of Iryna Danylovych, Tofik Abdulhaziiev and Amet Suleymanov. in Kyrgyzstan, in particular the case of Temirlan Sultanbekov, and in Azerbaijan, looking to the cases of Sakharov Prize 2024 finalist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov, and Meydan TV. Three resolutions will be put to a vote on Thursday.
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In brief
The need to ensure swift action and transparency on corruption allegations. From around 17.00, plenary and Commissioner McGrath will debate addressing corruption allegations across the EU more effectively, to protect democratic integrity.
Social dialogue, the right to strike and abusive subcontracting. From around 14.00, plenary will hold two debates with Commission Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on promoting social dialogue, collective bargaining, and the right to strike in the EU; and on tackling abusive subcontracting and labour market intermediaries.
Preventing the extinction of threatened species. In an evening debate with Commissioner Roswall, from around 21.00, plenary will assess the urgent need for EU action to preserve nature and protect biodiversity to avoid the extinction of endangered species.
The EU’s competitive edge and the Green Deal. In this session’s topical debate, MEPs will discuss with Commissioner Ribera and Barna Zsigmond, Hungary’s Deputy-Minister for European Union Affairs, the need for an impact assessment on the Green Deal policies to prevent them from undermining the EU’s competitiveness.
Votes
At noon, plenary will vote on, among other issues, the appointment of the Chair of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). Find here the full list of dossiers up for plenary vote.
Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.
For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter.
Find more information regarding plenary.