European Parliament
European Parliament
12/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/16/2024 07:07
EP TODAY
Monday, 16 December
Last-minute press briefing at 16.30
The Parliament's Spokesperson and the Press Service will hold a press briefing on this week's plenary session at 16.30. Follow the last-minute briefing live.
Journalists wishing to actively participate and ask questions, please connect via Interactio.
Recovering from natural disasters with the help of EU funds
From around 18.30, MEPs will debate a change to EU cohesion policy, the so-called RESTORE proposal, in response to floods and wildfires in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe that occurred after 1 January 2024. National authorities will benefit from a more flexible use of funds for recovery projects, which could be funded entirely from EU money without the need for member state contributions. The vote will take place on Tuesday, the same day plenary is set to approve a proposal to spend unused money from rural developments programmes to compensate losses in the farming sector and forestry and restore agriculture after natural disasters. These interventions would also be 100% covered by EU funds.
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Debate on the work of the outgoing Ombudsman
After the opening of the session at 17.00, MEPs will evaluate the work of the outgoing EU Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, in 2023. Ms O'Reilly's term ends in February 2025. On Tuesday, Parliament will elect the new European Ombudsman, with six candidates vying for the position. The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU's institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration.
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Sakahrov Prize 2024: Venezuelan opposition leaders meet with MEPs
From 19.00, MEPs of the Committees on Development and Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Human Rights will meet the 2024 Sakharov Prize Laureates: María Corina Machado, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, and President-elect
Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting to restore freedom and democracy.
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In brief
European Innovation Act. In the evening, plenary will debate with the Commission the need for a European Innovation Act, as announced by Commission President von der Leyen, in order to lower the cost of innovation in Europe.
Clean drinking water. MEPs and the Commission will debate, in the early evening, the right to clean drinking water in the EU.
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.
Contacts:
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Press room
Contact data:- Phone number: (+33) 3 881 74 005 (STR)