French anti-drugs activist Amine Kessaci
Ahead of the first debate of the session, on the murder of Mehdi Kessaci and the urgent need for ambitious European action against drug trafficking, President Metsola began the session by greeting Kessaci’s brother, Amine, and welcoming him to the hemicycle. A prominent French anti-drugs activist, Amine Kessaci has lost two brothers to murder by drugs traffickers, and yet has vowed to stand up to intimidation. President Metsola saluted Amine’s courage. Organised crime is a poison that destroys lives and weakens society. Fighting it is the responsibility of the whole of Europe, she said.
Release of political prisoners in Belarus
President Metsola welcomed the release, over the weekend, of political prisoners in Belarus, including Sakharov Prize laureates Maria Kolesnikova and Ales Bialiatski. She went on to say that there was still work to be done. “We will keep pushing until every political prisoner is free – including journalist Andrzej Poczobut, whom we will honour with the Sakharov Prize tomorrow together with Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia”, she said. “To those behind bars still … you are not alone and Belarus will be free” she concluded.
Seventh anniversary of the 11 December terror attack in Strasbourg
Remembering the five people who were shot dead and the eleven who were wounded during the Christmas market terror attack in Strasbourg on 11 December 2018, President Metsola invited MEPs to join her tomorrow at 13.30 in the Agora Geremek, immediately after the votes, to pay tribute to them, including the young journalists Antonio Megalizzi from Italy and Bartosz Orent-Niedzielski from Poland.
Bondi Beach antisemitic terror attack
President Metsola spoke about Sunday’s horrific events at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where 15 people were killed in a terrorist attack on Jewish Australians celebrating the start of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. She paid tribute to Ahmed al Ahmed for his bravery in disarming one of the terrorists. “Antisemitism, religious hatred, violent extremism and terror have no place in our society. And we must do everything in our power to eradicate it” she said. “While we mourn, the story of Hannukah tells us that no terror can ever extinguish the flickering light in these days of hope.”
The President went on to lead MEPs in a moment of silence to remember those lost.
Changes to the agenda
Monday
A Commission statement on Breeders’ protests following a lumpy-skin-disease outbreak in France: implications of the EU approach on sanitary and on animal health is added as the fourth item, after the report by Mr. Rodrigues. As a result, the sitting is extended to 23.00.
Tuesday
The procedural vote on the request to fast-track the Commission proposal Establishing the Reparations Loan to Ukraine is included in the votes.
Parliament’s statements on Condemnation of the terrorist attack against the Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney and solidarity with the victims and their families is added in the afternoon before the Council and Commission statements on Recent developments in Palestine and Lebanon. As a result, the sitting is extended to 23.00.
Wednesday
A Commission statement on Preventing sexual harassment in public institutions: latest revelations and resignations in Spain and institutional responses is added as the third item in the afternoon, after the debate on the Implementation of the rule of law conditionality regime.
Parliamentary immunity
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has asked for the parliamentary immunity of Ilhan Kyuchuyuk (Renew, BG) to be waived, and referred the matter to the Legal Affairs Committee.
Requests by committees to start negotiations with the Council and the Commission
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations on the basis of the following reports:
- Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept (2025/0132(COD));
- Application for the electronic submission of travel data (“EU Digital Travel application”); use of digital travel credentials (2024/0670(COD)); and
- Establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level (2025/0101(COD)).
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations on the basis of the following report:
- European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF): support to workers affected by imminent job displacement in enterprises undergoing restructuring (2025/0073(COD)).
In accordance with Rule 72(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, members or political group(s) reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by Tuesday 16 December at midnight that a decision to enter into negotiations be put to a vote. If no request for a vote is made within the deadline, the committees may start negotiations.
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