MEPs held a minute's silence for the victims of the terrorist attacks in India and Ignacio Uría Mendizabal, a 70-year old business man killed by ETA in Azpeita, Spain, when the Brussels plenary session opened Wednesday. Later, MEPs outlined their expectations from the next European Council and discussed the EU's strategy on Roma.

 

 

European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering condemned the attacks, expressing his sympathy to the victims' families and the solidarity of the EP with India. "Today in our hearts we all are Indians," he said. Amid the great sadness, Mr Pöttering expressed relief that all the members of a Parliament delegation in Mumbai at the time of the attacks "arrived back home safe and sound".

 

Mr Pöttering drew attention to World AIDS Day on 1 December. He called for better information and early treatment and underlined the importance of people having the infection not being stigmatised by society.

 

 

Ahead of the European Council on 11-12 December, MEPs debated the Lisbon Treaty, the EU's response to the economic and financial crisis and the fight against climate change. Most of the group speakers called for rapid action on the climate change package and fast measures to tackle the economic crisis. To read more about the debates click on the link below.

 

 

Most of the MEPs disagreed with statements from the Council and Commission that progress had been made in terms of social inclusion and protection of fundamental rights of Roma. MEPs said Roma communities still suffer clear discrimination and more has to be done, particularly in the fields of education, employment and healthcare. There are 10 million of Roma currently living in the EU.

 

MEPs said the integration of Roma people has to be assured at European level, while the Commission and Council said EU countries have to be more active. Parliament has adopted 2 resolutions on the Roma this year.

 

 

In the concluding half of the Brussels plenary, MEPs gathered to listen to the thoughts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Addressing the House as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, His Holiness spoke of the plight of Tibet and the need for continued non-violent opposition. Earlier in the day the Parliament continued its debate of the European climate change and energy package.

 

 

MEPs adopted a new sense of urgency over the proposed European climate and energy package, with most members pushing for a deal by mid-December. Initial reports from the Temporary Climate Change Committee have suggested as much as an 80% cut in greenhouse gases by 2050.

 

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas echoed these sentiments by saying: "the climate change and energy package is one of the most significant pieces of work the EU has carried out over recent years."

 

 

MEPs shared the belief that change and decisive action were needed. Graham Watson of the Liberal group ALDE was pleased that "we might be days away from a historic agreement." Socialist MEP Martin Schulz speaking for the PES group described climate change as "one of the central challenges of our time", and Joseph Daul of the centre right EPP-ED group stated: "The energy and climate change package is a huge challenge even before the financial crisis but we cannot afford to fail."

 

While the MEPs voice their support to the climate agreement in Brussels, over 11,000 delegates are gathered in Poznań, Poland for the UN Climate Conference, the outcome of which will be concluded in Copenhagen at the end of the next year.

 

 

Addressing the House as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Dalai Lama gave a jovial speech underpinned by moments of heartfelt sobriety.

 

Speaking of Tibet, His Holiness questioned Chinese leadership claiming his tolerance towards the regime was becoming "thinner and thinner".  However he stressed: "My faith in the Chinese people remains unshaken and I want to thank my brave Chinese brothers and sisters for their solidarity."

 

His Holiness continued: "My maxim has always been to hope for the best and to prepare for the worst. We Tibetans also need to face the reality that our exile may last for a longer time. I would therefore be grateful to the European Union for assistance in our educational and cultural endeavours. I also thank the European Parliament for the consistent display of concern and support for the just and non-violent Tibetan struggle."

 

Read a full report of the Dalai Lama's speech at the link below.