European Parliament To Adopt New Budget At Strasbourg Plenary Session

Among the highlights during the last sitting of the year will be the adoption of the EU’s budget for next year, a debate on Sweden’s six months at the helm of the Union and a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The session also sees the awarding of Parliament’s annual human rights Sakharov prize to Memorial, a Russia human rights organisation. This feature will be updated during the week with the latest news.

The week is also likely to see MEPs back a plan to create a European micro-financier imitative to help people start their own business. A debate on the Middle East and the statue of East Jerusalem are also on the agenda.

What’s on – day by day

Strasbourg Plenary session 14-17 December:

Russian human rights defenders to receive Sakharov Prize

This year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded in Strasbourg to Oleg Orlov, Sergei Kovalev and Lyudmila Alexeyeva on behalf of the organisation Memorial and all other human rights defenders in Russia.  The ceremony takes place on Wednesday 16 December.

Adoption of 2010 budget

On Thursday Parliament will adopt the EU budget for 2010. The main challenge for this year’s budget was to find the funding for the already agreed but not yet financed economic recovery plan, which will cost the EU €2.4 billion next year.

Easier access to credit to help the unemployed start up a business

Parliament is set to back a plan to create a micro-finance instrument to help people at risk of losing their jobs to start up their own businesses.

Review of the Swedish Presidency

MEPs will give their verdict on the Swedish EU Presidency and the outcome of the December European Council.  Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will introduce both topics to the plenary.

The EU’s role in Afghanistan and Pakistan

On Wednesday Parliament will debate the EU’s new action plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the recent agreement by NATO allies to send 6800 troops to reinforce the international presence in the country.

The Middle East and East Jerusalem

MEPs will look at the current situation in the Middle East and East Jerusalem in a debate with the Commission and Council. The Council statement of 8 December calls for negotiations to take place over the core issues of the conflict, emphasising that a way must be found to make Jerusalem the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state.

MEPs to quiz President Barroso on EU 2020 Strategy

The second half of the new Question Hour with the Commission President on Tuesday afternoon will be devoted to the EU 2020 Strategy, which is intended to build on the current Lisbon Strategy and make the EU a greener social market.  During the first part of question hour the political group leaders can ask questions on any topic they wish.

Public access to documents: Parliament to reopen the debate

The Lisbon Treaty is supposed to bring greater transparency and easier access to EU documents.  This issue is dear to the hearts of MEPs, who next week in Strasbourg will press the Commission and Council to move forward in the revision of existing legislation on access to documents.  There will be a debate, with a resolution on Wednesday.

With the Lisbon Treaty, in force as of 1 December 2009, the European Parliament has important new lawmaking powers. Virtually all EU legislation is now decided by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers together – including agriculture, immigration, energy and the EU budget. As the only directly elected EU institution, Parliament’s position in making sure the EU is accountable to its citizens is also strengthened, for example by MEPs having a bigger say in appointments to many of the EU’s top jobs.