Strasbourg opening: Eurozone, climate change, new MEPs

The outcomes of the Eurozone crisis summit and the Durban climate change conference were highlighted by Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek in his opening address at the 12-15 December plenary session in Strasbourg. Mr Buzek welcomed 17 new MEPs, and also noted the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Convention on refugees and the 30th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by Poland's communist regime.

Eurozone summit

Mr Buzek stressed the importance for Europe of the Eurozone crisis measures agreed at the 8-9 December European Council. He announced that its President Herman Van Rompuy would brief MEPs on the outcome on Tuesday morning, followed by a 3-hour priority debate

Climate change conference

The climate change conference deal reached in Durban (South Africa) on 11 December was not entirely satisfactory, inasmuch as it lacked detailed implementing arrangements, said Mr Buzek, adding that he was nonetheless pleased that the EU delegation there had "spoken with one voice".

Geneva convention on refugees

The Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, signed 60 years ago this year, was the foundation of all EU asylum legislation, and also defined the international law concept of "refugee", noted Mr Buzek.

He added that Parliament had taken part in negotiating the Common European Asylum System and called for it to be implemented in full by the end of 2012.

Mr Buzek also highlighted the plight of 3,800 Libyan refugees in Tunisia, who are unable to return home. The USA had agreed to take 800, and the EU 150, he said.

Martial law in Poland

It was 30 years since the Polish authorities had imposed martial law, in an effort to suppress the Solidarity movement, noted Mr Buzek, pointing out that many people standing up for the right to free speech had paid with their lives.

The democracy and human rights that central and eastern Europe enjoy today could not have been achieved without the help of western Europe, and the EU should now be helping north Africa in the same way, he added.

17 new MEPs

Next, Mr Buzek welcomed 17 new MEPs, further to a June 2010 European Council decision allowing for an additional 18 MEPs. The remaining (Dutch) Member will be announced later.

Name	Member State	Political group
ANDERSDOTTER Amelia	SE	Greens/EFA
BRATKOWSKI Arkadiusz Tomasz	PL	EPP
COCHET Yves	FR	Greens/EFA
CUSCHIERI Joseph	MT	S&D
GARCÉS RAMÓN Vicente Miguel	ES	S&D
GARCÍA-HIERRO CARABALLO Dolores	ES	S&D
McINTYRE Anthea	UK	ECR
MALINOV Svetoslav Hristov	BG	EPP
MAZEJ KUKOVIČ Zofija	SI	EPP
NILSSON Jens	SE	S&D
ORTIZ VILELLA Eva	ES	EPP
ROATTA Jean	FR	EPP
ŠADURSKIS Kārlis	LV	EPP
SEDÓ i ALABART Salvador	ES	EPP
STADLER Ewald	AT	NA
TREMATERRA Gino	IT	EPP
WEIDENHOLZER Josef	AT	S&D

Agenda changes

Tuesday - the EU neighbourhood policy debate was moved to the end of the afternoon, after Syria.

Wednesday - an oral question to the Commission on the free movement of workers was added to the end of the Wednesday session (with resolution).