The final four Commissioner-designate hearings will be held in Strasbourg. Antonio Tajani (industry and entrepreneurship) and Maroš Šefčovič (inter-institutional relations and administration) will be heard on Monday evening, and Cecilia Malmström (home affairs) and Maria Damanaki (maritime affairs and fisheries) on Tuesday morning.

 

The Council will make a statement on Spain's EU Presidency programme to Parliament on Wednesday morning. Spain's key priorities will be implementing the Lisbon Treaty, economic recovery, external relations and a Europe of rights and freedoms.

 

MEPs will debate on Thursday the situation in Haiti following the earthquake that has devastated the country. President Buzek, who has already appealed for EU emergency aid to be deployed as soon as possible, will make a statement at the opening of the session (Monday 18 January, 17.00).

 

The current security, political and economic situation in this nation at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia will be debated Tuesday afternoon with a declaration from the EU's High Representative. Yemen has recently been identified as a potential training centre for Al-Qaida militants.

 

MEPs will elect the new European Ombudsman, whose mandate runs until the end of the current parliamentary term (2014). In a secret plenary vote, MEPs will choose among three candidates: Vittorio Bottoli (IT), Nikiforos Diamandouros and Pierre-Yves Monette (BE). The European Ombudsman investigates citizens' complaints of maladministration by EU institutions.

 

MEPs will debate the Turkish democratisation process with the EU High Representative following the recent banning of the pro-Kurdish political party Democratic Society Party (DTP) by the Turkish Constitutional Court in December. The DTP was banned due to alleged links with the PKK.

 

Developments in Iran, including protests following its controversial June 2009 presidential election and the progress of its uranium enrichment programme, will be debated on Tuesday. MEPs are also likely to put to the EU High Representative their concerns about the cancellation of their visit to Tehran, which was to have taken place early in January.

 

MEPs will debate the outcome of the December Copenhagen climate change summit with the Council and Commission. Parliament's delegation saw the agreement reached there as weak, and a huge disappointment. It says the negotiating procedure and outcome point to an urgent need to reform UN working methods.

 

Ahead of Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections of March, MEPs will debate on Tuesday the country's overall situation and the European Union's role in Iraq as well as the state of play of negotiations on the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with a declaration from the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a charged and emotive debate on Iran the regime's nuclear programme and the crackdown on political dissent drew criticism from all sides. Opening the debate the EU's new foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, told the House in Strasbourg that Iran's nuclear programme was in breach of its international obligations. Many Members made the crucial distinction between the regime of President Ahmedinejad and the people of Iran.

 

Tehran's continued defiance of the world community over its nuclear programme was a major topic in the debate on Tuesday 19 January in Strasbourg.

 

 

"Iran does not respect its international obligations" was the clear statement to the House on the regime's nuclear ambitions by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton. She told the House that she regretted Iran had not agreed to engage in meaningful talks to broker a settlement either with the European Union or the wider international community.

 

For the Parliament's largest bloc, the centre right European People's Party MEP José Ignacio Salafranca told the House that Iran "was still producing enriched uranium". He asked how long Europe "could keep patience with such behaviour?" and whether the time had come for extra punitive measures against the Iranian regime.

 

 

Socialist MEP Roberto Gualtieri, speaking for the second largest group, said that he believed Tehran had the right to a peaceful civilian nuclear programme but that enriching uranium (with thus the possibility of weaponisation), demanded a response from the international community. The Italian favoured sanctions alongside dialogue with the regime.

 

British MEP, Charles Tannock, of the European Conservatives and Reformists group launched a scathing attacking on what he called "the ruthless nuclear ambitions of Ahmedinejad". This was backed up by Dutchman Bas Belder of the European Freedom and Democracy bloc who warned: "Iran's nuclear programme poses very serious security threats and the international community should act accordingly".

 

 

Turning to the turmoil and political protest in Iran since last year's disputed elections, MEPs from all sides paid tribute to the courage and vibrancy of the protestors and condemned the regime's repression of protest and dissent.

 

For the Liberal group, the third largest group, Dutch MEP Marietje Schaake said that "I won my elections by criticising the government of my country" but that "young women doing the same in Iran would be arrested, beaten and raped". She called on Europe to take a tougher leading role.

 

Catherine Ashton paid tribute to the "vibrant and active" youth of Iran and said its women were highly educated and there was a "capacity for public debate". 

 

However, she said that many viewed the Presidential election last year as fraudulent and that the regime must respect civil and political rights. She went on to say that "the use of violence against demonstrators exercising their right of expression and arbitrary arrests are not acceptable".

 

 

For the Greens/EFA Barbara Lochbihler, the head of Parliament's delegation to Iran (which was recently blocked from visiting),  pointed out that many European countries were supplying technology that allowed the censorship of protests in Tehran. She also said that the question had to be asked "whether sanctions will lead to a change in government or only harm society?"

 

Charles Tannock called on the House to support "the brave young opposition" and said that "Iran's regime and the Iranian people are not the same thing".

 

The European Parliament will vote a resolution on Iran in February.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gloomy inquest rather than angry recriminations marked the mood when the European Parliament debated the Copenhagen climate conference Wednesday (20 January). There were a few rays of optimism with Jo Leinen MEP, the head of the EP delegation to Copenhagen saying the EU needed to find "strategic partners" in the run up to the next climate conference in November. Others welcomed progress on financing as developed countries committed $30 billion to help developing states adapt.

 

The word "disappointing" cropped up repeatedly during the afternoon's debate although many said the EU should continue to move forward and not become dependent on the commitments of others. Dutch EPP Member Corien Wortmann-Kool, who attended the conference, said that the EU's "30% must still stand". She went on to appeal for people not to lose hope: "We have to review our strategy but we still have to cling to our ambition."

 

French ALDE Member Corinne Lepage said, Europe had "to maintain our position as world leaders". She called for "a robust and ambitious strategy to move the economy in a more energy efficient direction."

 

At the conference there was movement on climate as all developed countries (including the US) agreed to work within the same international framework. The Copenhagen Accord, which is not legally binding, also includes a "method for verifying" developing nations' emission reductions. In addition developed countries committed themselves to pay $30 billion between 2010 and 2012 in climate support to developing countries.

 

However, the conference failed to come up with any legally binding targets.

 

Speaking in the plenary Finnish Green Satu Hassi (Greens/EFA) said for the first time in a UN document there is a reference to 2 degree limit. However, she also said "it is quite clear that there are some who wanted to sabotage the agreement" and called for a reform to the UN decision making system.

 

The EP is voting on the resolution of the results on COP15 in February's plenary. The next UN summit on climate change takes place in Mexico 29 November - 10 December 2010. The end of 2012 is the deadline for the ratification of a new global climate deal. 

 

 

The last of the first round of hearings of Commissioners-designate and the withdrawal of Bulgaria's candidate provided a buzz at the start of the first plenary session of 2010 in Strasbourg. Other debates included the earthquake in Haiti, Spain's EU Presidency priorities, Iran and re-election of Greek Nikiforos Diamandouros as EU Ombudsman. Here is the Strasbourg week in 10 points.

 

Earthquake in Haiti:  President Buzek opened the January session by expressing sorrow and sympathy for the people of Haiti. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Commissioner-designate Catherine Ashton briefed MEPs on the situation in Haiti and EU commitments for aid. MEPs pleaded for fast aid delivery and long-term reconstruction in one of the world's poorest countries.

 

Commissioner hearings:  Four hearings of commissioners-designate took place in Strasbourg. News of Bulgarian candidate, Rumiana Jeleva's decision to drop out of the running came on Tuesday. "The democratic process is working," Jerzy Buzek said. An hearing for the new Bulgarian candidate is scheduled for 3 February.

 

Spanish Presidency: "The EU needs to bet on itself," Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero told MEPs. The economic crisis, energy common market and combating climate change were among the main priorities he mentioned for the Spanish presidency of the Council during the first half of 2010. 

 

Situation in Iran: On Tuesday MEPs discussed the situation in Iran. The EU's new foreign affairs chief Lady Ashton said Iran's nuclear programme is in breach of its international obligations. MEPs were concerned about the effect of sanctions for its people and their discontentment about Iran's "use of violence against demonstrators and arbitrary arrests". MEPs also discussed Iraq ahead of  parliamentary elections in March, the worrying news on Yemen being a potential training centre for Al-Qaida militants and the human rights situation in Tunisia following the landslide victory of President Ben Ali for a fifth consecutive term.

 

Copenhagen climate summit: MEPs expressed huge disappointment about the failure of the December Copenhagen climate change summit to reach an ambitious binding deal.

 

Human trafficking: "Slavery was abolished over 200 years ago in Europe but thousands of people are being sold today," Anna Hedh told us. She said the Swedish model of criminalising the purchase of sexual services could be an EU-wide solution. It's a sensitive issue, but Sweden has fewer problems with trafficking than the rest of the EU, the MEP added.

 

Ombudsman re-election: Parliament re-elected Greece's Nikiforos Diamandouros as the EU Ombudsman until 2014.

 

SWIFT: "Irritation," "a kamikaze action," "unacceptable" - how MEPs described the secretive process leading to an interim EU-US agreement on the transfer of SWIFT banking data to combat terrorism.

 

President Jerzy Buzek: To give you a peep behind the scenes in the EP, our photographer focused on the work of Mr Buzek this week, from the opening of the session with a speech on the dramatic situation Haiti and a meeting with Spanish PM Zapatero.

 

Twitter-Parliament: 140 characters are more than enough to get a feel for the hearings as political groups and MEPs tweeted their reactions. Also getting in on the action is Mr Buzek who launches his own twitter feed Thursday afternoon.

 

 

In modern Europe there exists a new type of slavery that involves the trafficking of people for sexual and labour slavery. Europol have said the problem did not decrease last year and that 80% of its victims are women. This Tuesday (19 January), Swedish Socialist MEP Anna Hedh and Conservative MEP Edit Bauer from Slovakia will raise the issue in Parliament. They will ask questions to the Council of Ministers and the European Commission to try and get anti-trafficking high on Europe's agenda.

 

 

Trafficking is constantly increasing. Slavery was abolished over 200 years ago in Europe but thousands of people are being sold today. Trafficking includes sexual and labour exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and other forms of exploitation including the removal of organs. It is considered to be one of the most serious crimes worldwide. More than 80% of the victims are women.

 

Last year the Commission suggested a framework for legislation against trafficking in human beings. But since the Lisbon Treaty was ratified, Parliament now has an equal say with ministers over this issue and we want the Commission to use a different legal framework. And this is why we are asking a question and handing in a resolution.

 

 

The Commission likes to talk about a different penalty rate but we also need a holistic approach in all policy making. For example, it involves migration. There must be harsh penalties. But we also need prevention and to get all EU members to deal with the question of demand. If there was no demand there would be no problem.

 

I would like to sell the Swedish model on the purchase of sexual services (under which the purchaser gets punished). It is sensitive but Sweden has fewer problems with trafficking than the rest of the EU.

 

 

There must be harsh penalties in order for it to work. The Commission has suggested three different levels and I think that the highest level they propose (12 years) should be the lowest. I think there must be a penalty of at least 10 years in prison. We are talking about a person who has bought and sold a human being.

 

 

Yes, and this makes me happy. I hope that they will succeed with the discussions in the council because previously there have been different views, amongst other things about the levels of penalties. I hope the Spanish presidency will unite the council so that we get good legislation.

 

 

Yes. This is a big problem and it is very important to make sure that this is legislation that will allow us to put pressure on the member states.

 

We also need to educate the police and court personnel across the EU. In addition, victims must know that they are entitled to support when they have been exploited, so that they ask for help from the national authorities. Legal texts are often difficult to read and therefore it is important that the member states produce information campaigns to disseminate information for all citizens and victims.