EP TODAY 

María Corina Machado and Edmundo González to receive Sakharov Prize Award

In a ceremony at 12.00, EP President Roberta Metsola will award the 2024 Sakharov Prize to María Corina Machado, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting to restore freedom and democracy. Ahead of the ceremony in the hemicycle, there will be a press seminar with the Sakharov winners and finalists, as well as several MEPs. A press conference with President Metsola, Mr González Urrutia and Ana Corina Sosa Machado, on behalf of her mother María Corina Machado, will take place at 11.35.

Elodie LABORIE

(+ 32) 477 99 06 70

EP_HumanRights

Syria: plenary to assess the consequences of the Assad regime’s collapse

Starting at 9.00, MEPs and High Representative Kaja Kallas will debate the latest events, geopolitical implications and potential outcomes of the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria. A resolution will be voted on by MEPs at a future plenary session.

Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

(+32) 470 96 08 19

EP_ForeignAff

Disinformation online and risks to the integrity of elections in Europe

From around 13.30, MEPs will discuss with Commission Executive Vice-President Virkkunen how growing misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media, in particular on TikTok, endangers the independence and fairness of elections in Europe.

Yasmina YAKIMOVA

(+32) 470 88 10 60

EP_SingleMarket

Election of the European Ombudsman

At 12.30, plenary will elect the new European Ombudsman from a six–candidates shortlist, in up to three rounds of secret votes. To be elected, a candidate must garner the support of a majority of the votes cast. The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU’s institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration.

Alessio INCORVAIA

(+32) 470 68 84 61

@EP_Petitions

In brief

Russian disinformation on Ukraine. From around 16.00, MEPs will debate Russia’s manipulation of history and use of false narratives to justify its war against Ukraine, with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas. A draft resolution will be put to a vote during the 20-23 January plenary session.

Unrest and crackdown of peaceful protests in Georgia. Starting at around 10.30, MEPs will assess with Commissioner Šuica the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections.

Final vote to postpone the application of rules to fight deforestation. At 12.30, Parliament is set to endorse the one-year delay to the application of the new EU legislation that will ban from the European market products such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper coming from deforested lands.

Situation in Mayotte after cyclone. In the late afternoon, MEPs and the Commission will debate the situation in Mayotte following the devastating cyclone Chido and the need for solidarity.

Votes

Plenary will also vote at 12.30 on, among other issues:

• changes to EU cohesion policy and rural development programmes to support recovery in countries affected by natural disasters since January 2024;
• the 2023 activity report of the European Ombudsman, and
• EU aid to support dismissed workers in Belgium.

Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter.

Find more information regarding plenary.