Union européenne

Islamic State survivors and Iraqi Yazidi activists Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar received today Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The two women were honoured by Parliament for standing up for the persecuted Yazidi minority and the victims of sexual violence by Islamic State. "More than 3,500 children and women are still held hostage as slaves under Daesh. Every day they die a thousand times," Aji Bashar said in her acceptance speech.

Press statement
Press Conference with President Schulz, Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar
Video Sakharov Prize 1988 - 2016
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Le Fonds social européen a concerné un travailleur européen sur deux et aidé 10 millions d'Européens à trouver un emploi. Contrairement à une idée reçue, la situation sociale des Européens s'améliore.

"On 10 December 2016 the world celebrates the 66th International Human Rights Day, commemorating the day when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." For the full statement see link below.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Trois commissions parlementaires questionneront Günther Oettinger à propos de son nouveau poste de commissaire en charge du budget et des ressources humaines, que le président de la Commission Jean-Claude Juncker lui a demandé d’occuper suite au départ de la commissaire Kristalina Georgieva.
Commission des budgets

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Shocked at arrest of leading Ethiopian opposition figure Prof. Merera Gudina after his recent meeting with MEPs, the Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), Elena Valenciano (S&D, ES), made the following statement:

"On 30 November Ethiopian security forces detained the chairman of the Ethiopian opposition party 'Oromo Federalist Congress' (OFC), Professor Merera Gudina, shortly after his arrival in Addis Ababa." For full statement see link below

Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Elena Valenciano, Chair of DROI denounces the consequences of Russia's and China's veto on UN Security Council Resolution on Aleppo ceasefire

"A Security Council resolution mandating a ceasefire in Aleppo would have benefitted the citizens of both east and west Aleppo. It would have allowed for urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach people in east Aleppo and stopped rebel fire on west Aleppo. Instead, the decision of Russia and China to veto such a mandate will have tremendous humanitarian consequences for thousands of people and puts, once again, military gains before helping and protecting Aleppo's citizens, which should be the international community's obligation." For full statement see link below.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

"The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established to ensure that perpetrators of crimes such as war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity are brought to justice. The ICC thus offers solace to victims of such heinous crimes around the world and at the same time makes the perpetrators of those crimes know that they cannot count on impunity. These objectives, which inspired the creation of the ICC, are still valid today, maybe even more than ever before." For full press statement see below.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Après la démission surprise d’Ivan Rogers, Tim Barrow lui succède au poste d'ambassadeur du Royaume-Uni auprès de l’Union européenne. Directeur politique au ministère des Affaires étrangères, il a été ambassadeur à Moscou et diplomate à Bruxelles à deux reprises. Tim Barrow n'a jamais publiquement pris position sur le « Brexit », mais il y serait plus favorable que son prédécesseur. Ce diplomate proche de Theresa May aurait été choisi pour son expérience et pour calmer la grogne des hauts fonctionnaires. Le remplacement d'Ivan Rogers s'est donc fait de manière pour le moins rapide.

Chaque semaine, l'agenda européen liste les principaux événements politiques à venir. A suivre du 9 au 15 janvier : le programme de mobilité Erasmus fête ses 30 ans en France, Günther Oettinger est auditionné par les députés européens, les 5+1 se réunissent à Vienne à la demande de l'Iran, les candidats à la primaire de gauche confrontent leurs programmes sur le petit écran, et le Proche-Orient est le sujet d'une nouvelle conférence internationale à Paris.

L'auteur présumé de l'attentat de Berlin, Anis Amri, a blessé un policier à Milan avec la même arme que celle qui a tué le chauffeur polonais du camion utilisé pour l'attaque du marché de Noël, a révélé, mercredi 4 janvier, la police italienne. Il aurait aussi envisagé de se rendre à Rome. Son parcours à travers l'Europe du 21 au 23 décembre est désormais mieux connu.

L'ex-Premier ministre kosovar Ramush Haradinaj, âgé de 48 ans, a été interpellé à l’aéroport de Bâle-Mulhouse en France. L’arrestation s'était faite en vertu d'un mandat d'arrêt international émis par la Serbie. Celle-ci accuse Ramush Haradinaj de « crimes de guerre » commis lors du conflit de 1998-99. La justice française doit désormais examiner la demande serbe.

A une semaine du premier débat de la primaire de la gauche, les candidats cherchent à faire entendre leurs différences. L'Union européenne est l'un des sujets sur lesquels les prétendants à la candidature socialiste se distinguent. Parmi les quatre candidats mieux placés pour l'emporter, deux camps semblent émerger : Manuel Valls et Vincent Peillon optent pour la conciliation avec les partenaires européens, insistant notamment sur l'importance du couple franco-allemand, quand Arnaud Montebourg et Benoît Hamon se disent prêts à engager un rapport de force pour mettre définitivement fin à l'austérité.

Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The European Parliament condemns the demolition of the Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist Academy, the imprisonment of scholar Ilham Tohti by Chinese authorities and the persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, while urging the protection of mass graves in Iraq, in three resolutions voted on Thursday 15 December 2016.
The cases of the Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist Academy and of Ilham Tohti
The situation of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar
Mass graves in Iraq
Press release
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Situation in Syria
Situation in Belarus
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The European Parliament strongly condemns the violence committed against the Guarani-Kaiowá people in the Mato Grosso do Sul region of Brazil, the disappearance of publisher Mr Minhai Gui in China and the detention and torture of Mr Ildar Dadin in Russia, in three resolutions voted on Thursday 24 December.
The case of Gui Minhai, jailed publisher in China
Situation of the Guarani-Kaiowá in the Brazilian State of Mato Grosso do Sul
The case of Ildar Dadin, prisoner of conscience in Russia
Press release
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The European Parliament condemns the demolition of the Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist Academy, the imprisonment of scholar Ilham Tohti by Chinese authorities and the persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, while urging the protection of mass graves in Iraq, in three resolutions voted on Thursday 15 December in Strasbourg.
Further information
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

On 13 December 2016, Islamic State survivors and Iraqi Yazidi activists Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar received the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
The two women were honoured by Parliament for standing up for the persecuted Yazidi minority and the victims of sexual violence by Islamic State. "There remain more than 3,500 child and women held hostage as slaves under Daesh. Every day they die a thousand times", Aji Bashar said in her acceptance speech.
Further information
Full press statement available here
Press conference by EP President Martin Schulz, Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar
Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 1988-2016 (video)
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will take place on Wednesday 25 January 2017 from 9.00 - 12.30 and from 15.00 - 18.30 in room ASP 1G3.

Representatives of NGOs as well as other organisations are requested to accede to the EU Transparency Register and follow the procedures therein for access to the European Parliament.
Further information
Watch the meeting live
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Press Statements
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP