Plenary highlights: terrorism, the EU budget and the Lux prize

Refugees should not be equated with terrorists, many MEPs said during a debate on the terrorist attacks in Paris during the November plenary session. They also approved the EU's budget for next year, securing additional funding for tackling the refugee crisis and boosting economic growth. Meanwhile the Lux Prize, Parliament's annual film award, was given to Mustang, a film directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven about five Turkish girls breaking with tradition.

Politicians confounding refugees with terrorists will only whip up ill will and increase the disillusionment that motivates those who join terrorist groups, MEPs said during Wednesday's plenary debate on the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November. MEPs also urged EU countries to strengthen security and step up intelligence cooperation.

 

On the same day EP approved a non-binding resolution proposing a comprehensive strategy to tackle radicalisation through education and social inclusion, especially in prisons and online.


MEPs adopted on Wednesday the EU's budget for 2016, which was then signed into law by EP President Martin Schulz. In negotiations with the Council, Parliament managed to obtain additional funding for refugees, small and medium-sized companies, students and the EU's research programme Horizon 2020.


Multinational companies should pay their taxes where they make their profits, according to the special committee on tax rulings' final report, which was adopted by MEPs The report includes recommendations for how to reform corporate taxation.


MEPs adopted on Tuesday a resolution urging EU countries to boost their efforts to combat child poverty and social inequalities. Our map shows the latest statistics on child poverty for all EU countries.


On Wednesday, Italian President Sergio Mattarella addressed MEPs in plenary, speaking about the future of the EU and especially about how member states should respond to terrorism and the influx of refugees.


"I wanted to say with quite a sense of urgency what it was to be a woman, something which was even more acute and urgent in the case of Turkey," said director Deniz Gamze Ergüven after her film Mustang was awarded the Parliament's Lux Film Prize in Strasbourg on Tuesday.


MEPs debated with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Wednesday the outcome of the EU-Africa summit in Valletta and the G20 in Antalya. Building a partnership with Africa is key to tackling terrorism and the refugee crisis, they said.

Anti-dumping measures anti-dumping measures and sustainable initiatives to support the European base metals industry, including steel, were debated on Tuesday.


The two winners of our guest photographer contest came to the Parliament in Strasbourg to do a photo reportage. This year's contest was inspired by 2015 being the European Year for Development.


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