Plenary round-up – October II 2021

During the October II 2021 plenary session in Strasbourg, Parliament held a number of important debates, in particular on: the primacy of EU law, the rule of law crisis and de facto abortion ban in Poland; increased efforts to fight money laundering; regarding pushbacks at the EU's external border; the right to a healthy environment and on climate, energy and environmental State aid guidelines (CEEAG). Members debated the rise of right-wing extremism and racism in Europe, the humanitarian situation in Haiti and the proposal to build a 'single market for philanthropy'. Members debated a statement from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell, on the situation in Tunisia. Parliament also discussed matters in preparation for the European Council meeting of 21-22 October 2021, and debated the global tax agreements to be endorsed at the G20 Summit in Rome on 30-31 October 2021, as well as the outcome of the Western Balkans summit. Parliament announced that its 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded to Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, with the formal ceremony to be held on 20 December 2021.