Romanian President Traian Băsescu
Climate change, the death penalty and a rise in obesity across the EU were on the agenda of the 2-day Plenary in Brussels. MEPs also heard speeches from the Presidents of the EU's newest members, Romania and Bulgaria. Members adopted reports calling for an international moratorium on executions, less salt and fat in food and measures to help young women in education. EP President Hans-Gert Poettering led a minute's silence in honour of recently assassinated Turkish journalist Hrant Dink.
Brussels Wednesday Plenary: Romania's President, climate change
MEPs began the two day session with an address by Romanian President Traian Băsescu, just weeks after his country joined the EU. This was followed by a debate on climate change between MEPs, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers. Later, MEPs voted to endorse the membership list of Parliament's committees, allowing them to elect chairmen and vice-chairs.
In his opening remarks Parliament's President welcomed Romania into the EU. He noted that "it has taken 60 years for Romania to return to the bosom of Europe" and that the EU is "politically and culturally strengthened" by Bucharest's membership.
"Romania...a breath of fresh air"
"We're back in Europe" was the upbeat message from Romanian President Traian Băsescu. He said that since the fall of Communism his countrymen "could speak freely".
Mr Băsescu made a plea for greater solidarity and understanding between citizens of Western and Eastern Europe. He said that while the Parliament had bridged east and west "certain people still have misgivings about accepting Eastern European citizens as equals". He said Europe must overcome these "nationalist tendencies" and called for restrictions on Romanian workers travelling abroad to be lifted. "Romania can be a breath of fresh air" to the Union he told MEPs.
Tribute to Hrant Dink
Later, Mr Poettering paid tribute to Hrant Dink - a recently murdered prominent Turkish journalist of Armenian descent. Mr Dink had written about aspects of Turkey's history that had infuriated nationalists.
"The message from science is clear: climate change is happening"
On climate change, Stavros Dimas the European Commissioner for the Environment said "the message from science is clear: climate change is happening". He cited the warm winter being experienced by Europe as one indicator. He told MEPs that now was the time to put Europe on to a "more secure low carbon future".
Mr Dimas said the Commission's January Communication on Climate Change would achieve the EU's objective of limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. He also said it would allow international negotiations to move
On behalf of the EU Presidency, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel raised the issue of how to improve the lives of the 2 billion people in the world who do not have access to electricity whilst protecting the climate. He said that high technology areas like Europe would have to take the lead.
"What is the role of Europe?"
Peter Liese of the German European People's Party said that "energy and access to energy and protection of the climate are the two main challenges that mankind faces in the 21st century" while Italian Socialist Guido Sacconi said the EU must be "coherent on legislation, emmissions trading, aviation, reduction of CO2 for automobiles and all the other things we are considering".
Concluding the debate Mr Gabriel posed a rhetorical question to MEPs: "what is the role of Europe if China is the workbench of the world, India the service provider, Russian the petrol pump and Brazil the farmer?" The answer: Europeans have to be the technicians and engineers
