Press release
The Week Ahead 14-20 December 2009
Institutions - 11-12-2009 - 11:55
General
General
Plenary Session – Strasbourg
Sakharov Prize. Oleg Orlov, Sergei Kovalev and Lyudmila Alexeyeva will receive the 2009 European Parliament Prize for Freedom of Thought on behalf of MEMORIAL and all other human rights defenders in Russia. After the ceremony, they will join EP President Jerzy Buzek for a press conference (Wednesday).
Budget 2010. Parliament will debate the EU budget for 2010 (Tuesday), before the final vote (Thursday), after which President Buzek will join the Swedish Presidency in signing it into law.
Swedish Presidency/EU Summit. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will debate the outcome of his country’s EU Presidency – and the most recent EU summit – with MEPs and Commission President José Manuel Barroso (Wednesday).
Microfinance. MEPs will consider an EU law setting up a programme to boost microfinance facilities in Europe (debate Monday, vote Tuesday).
Question Time – Europe 2020. The third session of the now regular Question Time with Commission President Barroso will again feature questions on any topic from the group leaders, followed by questions from other MEPs on the issue how to follow on from the Lisbon Strategy on economic competitiveness for the ten years to come (Tuesday).
Middle East. The situation in the Middle East peace process and in particular the issue of East Jerusalem will be debated with Commission and Council (Tuesday).
Afghanistan/Pakistan. MEPs will discuss the new EU Action Plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Council and Commission (Wednesday).
Foreign Affairs. Other external relations issues on the agenda include Belarus, violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (both Wednesday, votes on resolutions Thursday) and the situation in Georgia (Tuesday).
COP 15. A delegation of MEPs will be in Copenhagen for the climate change summit (Monday-Friday). President Buzek will join them after the plenary session.
REF.: 20091211IPR66347