The session opened with president Pottering warmly welcoming Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian presidential candidate and French national who was invited to address the Parliament.

 

Ms Betancourt spent 6 years as a hostage n the Colombian jungle after having been taken prisoner by the FARC rebel movement. Her case had repeatedly been raised by MEPs over the last years and she told the House that "just three months ago I was watching you act from the depths of the jungle and my biggest hope was that people could speak for us as prisoners at the madness of others. It is a miracle that I can share this" she said.

 

In an emotional speech she rammed home the importance of words and the impact they can have saying "the only weapon we can believe in, is the force of words, there is nothing stronger than words."

 

Ms Betancourt also called for continued recognition for those both in Colombia and elsewhere who are held in captivity. Her full speech is available below.

 

 

Next Wednesday Europe's leaders will meet in Brussels for a European Council. Ahead of the meeting - in which the present crisis is expected to dominate - MEPs debated the options open to Europe.

 

The debate saw profound ideological differences emerging around the Chamber, as members sought to interpret recent events in the financial world and draw conclusions for the EU as a whole. Despite their differences on the wider meaning of the crisis however, most speakers agreed that the EU must take initiative and act collectively to introduce new measures and rules in order to ensure the stability of the economy.

 

 

In the evening, MEPs debated on a report on water scarcity and droughts in the EU. In particular the problems have been identified as inefficient water consumption, a lack of knowledge about the need to conserve water and a lack of coordination between people and water companies.

 

The report - drafted by Austrian MEP Richard Seeber's (EPP-ED) - calls for the creation of a water saving culture in Europe. The Austrian MEP said that "in the future up to three billion people will be facing water scarcity and that already in 2007 one third of the Europeans lived in regions facing this problem". He underlined that "water scarcity and droughts should be considered as a global phenomenon" and that "when it comes to fighting against water scarcity and droughts the member states should work together united".

 

MEPs on Parliament's Environment committee also want a greater realisation that deforestation and urban development are contributing to growing water scarcity.

 

Another topic discussed on Wednesday was the situation in Belarus after the parliamentary elections, which failed to respect the international standards for democratic government.

 

 

Thursday saw MEPs vote 503 to 96 to keep the EU flag and anthem. Despite being left out of the reform treaty as official emblems of the Union, Members reaffirmed their commitment to the symbols of European unity. Thursday also saw a debate on a forthcoming health action plan for the whole European Union. It highlights the need to deal with rising medicine costs and the importance of prevention rather than cure.

 

 

MEPs to keep the blue flag with the 12 stars, Beethoven's "Ode to joy" anthem and the motto "united in diversity". This means that at meetings held in the European Parliament the flag will be prominently displayed. The anthem will also be played at formal sittings and other occasions.

 

These symbols had been dropped from the reform treaty after objections from some EU countries that having the flag and stars would be too "federalist".

 

Spanish Socialist MEP Carlos Carnero González who was in charge of assessing parliament's reaction to the dropping of the symbols said "it is very clear: the symbols of the Union are very much alive in the Institution that represents, more directly than any other, the 500 million inhabitants of our 27 Member States".

 

 

Better prevention and closing the disparities between countries in terms of healthcare are just issues raised in a health action plan debated on Thursday. Slovenian MEP and cancer survivor Alojz Peterle (EPP-ED) drafted parliament's response to the proposed Commission action plan over the next five years.

 

The report highlights adverse health trends, especially "lifestyle diseases"; the rising cost of medicines and variations in life expectancy (9 years women/ 13 years men).

 

It also says that prevention-only treatment amounts to 3% of health spending in the EU and that 40% of diseases are linked to lifestyle.

 

Speaking in the debate Alojz Peterle said that the European Union must make "a strategic shift towards disease prevention". Swedish Socilaist Åsa Westlund highlighted the "inequalities within member states". This point was taken up by Cypriot Liberal Member Marios Matsakis who spoke of the "shameful differences between richer and poorer countries".