Plenary Flash 17-20 January 2022
Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary session
COMMEMORATION FOR PRESIDENT DAVID MARIA SASSOLI
On Monday evening from 18:00 to 20:00, MEPs and EU leaders will commemorate the life of President David Maria Sassoli, following his tragic passing this week. Greens/EFA President Ska Keller MEP will speak on behalf of the Group.
ALICE BAH KUHNKE, GREENS/EFA CANDIDATE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT
The Greens/EFA Group have nominated our MEP, Alice Bah Kuhnke, to run for the President of the European Parliament in next week’s vote. Alice Bah Kuhnke is running a campaign to build a more feminist, sustainable and democratic European Parliament. Alice Bah Kuhnke is a former Minister in the Swedish Government and a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. She is a Vice President of the Greens/EFA Group, as well as a Member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committees.
During next week’s plenary, the European Parliament is scheduled to elect its 33rd President. The elected president will hold office for the second half of the current term. MEPs will also elect Vice Presidents and Quaestors of the European Parliament next week.
Greens/EFA MEP: Alice Bah Kuhnke MEP
Dates: Presentation of the candidates and election, Tuesday
DIGITAL SERVICES ACT
On Wednesday afternoon, the European Parliament will vote on the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Greens/EFA Group have long campaigned for a fairer internet with less power in the hands of a few tech giants. The DSA is the EU’s answer to the fact that a few large online platforms (such as Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft) increasingly control the digital ecosystem. The DSA will become the new framework for online services for the EU. It is expected to set a global standard for dealing with hate and hate speech, disinformation, platform oversight, reporting procedures and surveillance-based advertising.
For the first time, scientists and NGOs will have the legal right to gain insight into data from major platforms such as Google, Facebook and YouTube, whose algorithms and systems influence public opinion and promote extremist content and conspiracy theories. Users will have clearly defined rights against arbitrary take-downs and account suspensions.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Alexandra Geese, Patrick Breyer, Kim Van Sparrentak, Marcel Kolaja
Debate: Wednesday
Final vote: Thursday
ANIMAL TRANSPORT: FINAL VOTE ON SPECIAL INQUIRY COMMITTEE INTO ANIMAL TRANSPORT (ANIT) RECOMMENDATIONS
The Greens/EFA Group have long been campaigning to stop the suffering of animals during long-distance transport. On Thursday, MEPs will vote on the recommendations of the Special Inquiry Committee for Animal Transport (ANIT), which was launched on the initiative of the Greens/EFA Group. Greens/EFA MEPs have added an amendment to the report to limit the transport duration of live animals to a maximum of eight hours. Our group is calling for a ban on transporting unweaned animals younger than five weeks, as well as reducing the maximum transport time for unweaned animals older than five weeks to two hours. Live animal exports to countries that do not respect EU animal welfare standards should be completely banned.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Tilly Metz (Co-Chair), Ska Keller, Thomas Waitz, Eleonora Evi, Caroline Roose, Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, Francisco Guerreiro, Pär Holmgren
Debate and vote: Thursday, 20 January
More: Animal transport in the EU should ensure highest possible welfare standards
THE SITUATION IN KAZAKHSTAN
Next week, on the initiative of the Greens/EFA Group, the Parliament will have a debate and resolution on the alarming crackdown against protests in Kazakhstan. The Greens/EFA Group are calling for an end to violence, for the government to release all those detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, international scrutiny, and the complete withdrawal of foreign troops. The European Parliament must stress the need for an independent and transparent investigation into all cases of the use of force by the authorities, as well as all other reported human rights violations. Those responsible for repression and human rights abuses must be held accountable and victims should receive compensation and rehabilitation. MEPs must also urge Kazakhstan to ensure freedom of speech and the right to assembly and to restore unrestricted access to the internet and stop hindering the access to information.
Greens/EFA MEPs: Viola von Cramon
Date: debate Wednesday, vote Thursday
More: Greens/EFA call for EU Defence Ministers to end arms exports to autocracies and stand up for Human Rights in Kazakhstan
PRESENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES OF THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY
COUNCIL AND COMMISSION STATEMENTS
France took over the EU Council Presidency from Slovenia on 1 January. President Macron will take the floor to illustrate the priorities of the Presidency. The French Presidency must put the European Union back on track with regard to the rule of law. In view of the ecological and social crises, the French Presidency must match words with actions and ensure that the European Union enters a new political era with the Green Deal. The Greens/EFA Group will scrutinise the work of the Presidency to ensure that the climate, the environment and fundamental rights are strengthened in the next six months.
Greens/EFA MEP Yannick Jadot will take the floor following President Macron’s speech to defend the Green vision of the EU.
Greens/EFA MEP: Yannick Jadot
Debate: Wednesday, 19 January
MORE
On the Greens/EFA initiative: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
MEPs: Reinhard Bütikofer
Date: Debate Wednesday
More:European Parliament calls for political boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Empowering European Youth: post-pandemic employment and social recovery debate, (vote in February)
MEPs: Kim van Sparrentak
Date: Thursday 15:00
Debate: Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights in the European Union
Date: Thursday 09:00
PRESS MOMENTS
Plenary session Press Briefing
MEPs: Alice Bah Kuhnke, Ska Keller, Philippe Lamberts
Date: Tuesday January 18, 10:30AM
Location: Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room, Weiss N-1/201
Press Conference on the French Presidency
MEPs: Michèle Rivasi, David Cormand, Karima Delli
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 09:30 AM
Location: Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room, Weiss N-1/201
Public meeting with Yannick Jadot - Forum of Possibilities for Europe
MEPs: Yannick Jadot, Philippe Lamberts, Ska Keller
Date: Wednesday January 19, 7:30 PM
More: Jeanne Barghesian, Mayor of Strasbourg, and Ministers Leonore Gewessler (AT), Zakia Khattabi (BE) and Claude Turmes (LUX) will be present. Find out more here.
GREENS/EFA PRESS CONTACTS
- Simon McKeagney (Head of Communication) Simon.mckeagney@europarl.europa.eu
- Alex Johnson (EN press officer) Alex.Johnson@europarl.europa.eu
- Pia Kohorst (DE press officer) pia.kohorst@europarl.europa.eu
- Guendalina De Sario (FR press officer) guendalina.desario@europarl.europa.eu
- Helena Hellström Gefwert (EN press assistant) helena.hellstrom@europarl.europa.eu
- Mia Müller (DE press assistant) Mirjam.Muller@europarl.europa.eu
- Valentina Chiarini (FR press assistant)valentina.chiarini@europarl.europa.eu
