40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster
The president opened the session with some words to mark the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, the worst nuclear accident in history. Remembering the millions who lost their health, their homes, and in many cases their lives, the president noted that the environmental, political and human shockwaves of the disaster and were still being felt. “To the communities that lost everything, and to the generations still living with the consequences: Europe remembers, and Europe stands with you” she said.
Narges Mohammadi and Nasrin Sotoudeh
The president then went on to speak about the detention in Iran of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate Narges Mohammadi and Sakharov Prize laureate and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, “two women of extraordinary courage, who have given everything in pursuit of justice and human dignity, and who represent the will and defiance of so many in Iran”. Calling for their immediate and unconditional release, “this Parliament will always be a voice for those who have been silenced, and a stage for those who stand up. And we will not look away”, said the president.
Changes to the agenda
Tuesday
The President announced a request to fast track the following file under Rule 170(6): Council decision on the conclusion of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The vote on this request will take place tomorrow at noon. If it passes, MEPs will vote on the substance on Thursday.
President Metsola also announced that the following reports are added to the votes on Tuesday:
- Vázquez Lázara on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Patryk Jaki;
- Pascale Piera on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Daniel Obajtek;
- David Cormand on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Tomasz Buczek;
- Dominik Tarczyński on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă;
- Vázquez Lázara on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Grzegorz Braun; and
- Mario Furore on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Alvise Pérez.
Parliamentary immunity
The authorities of Greece, Hungary and Poland have asked for the parliamentary immunity of Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE, EL), Tamás Deutsch (PfE, HU) and Mariusz Kamiński (ECR, PL) respectively to be waived. These requests have been referred to the Legal Affairs Committee.
Interinstitutional negotiations
The Committees on Transport and Tourism, on Employment and Social Affairs, and on Economic and Monetary Affairs and jointly the Committees on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety and on Fisheries have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, pursuant to Rule 72, paragraph 1 of the Rules of procedure, on the basis of the reports listed on the plenary website.
Pursuant to Rule 72, paragraph 2, Members or political group(s) reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by Tuesday 28 April at 24:00 that the decisions to enter into negotiations be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament on these decisions is made within the aforementioned deadline, the committees may start the negotiations.
The president also announced that following a request from Parliament’s delegation to the Conciliation Committee under Rule 76 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, the six-week time limit for reaching an agreement on the third reading of the air passenger rights regulation has been extended by two weeks.
Outgoing MEPs
Daniel Caspary (DE / PPE) as of 1 March
Anders Vistisen (PfE, DA) as of 14 April
Incoming MEPs
Willemien Koning (EPP,NL) as of 3 March
Marie-Sophie Lanig (EPP, DE) as of 27 March
Majbritt Birkholm (PfE, DA) as of 16 April