The priorities of the Belgian Presidency, the review of EU economic governance rules, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the rise of neo-fascism, the state of the rule of law and media freedom in the EU and Greece in particular, are some of the issues that will be discussed in the Plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, which starts on Monday.
The plenary session will open with a ceremony honouring the life and legacy of former Commission President Jacques Delors, who passed away on 27 December 2023.
On Tuesday morning, MEPs will discuss with the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, the key priorities of the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. The Belgian Presidency’s six key priorities are defending rule of law, democracy, and unity, strengthening competitiveness, pursuing a green and just transition, reinforcing the social and health agenda, protecting people and borders and promoting a global Europe.
Following that, in a debate on Tuesday mo
rning, MEPs are expected to call on the EU to live up to its commitments and deliver more military assistance to war-torn Ukraine.
On Tuesday afternoon, MEPs will debate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire, and the risks of escalation in the Middle East. A resolution on the matter will be put to a vote on Thursday.
MEPs will discuss on Tuesday evening with representatives of the Belgian Presidency and the Commission how to prevent neo-fascism from resurfacing in Europe. The debate is being held in the aftermath of a parade that took place in Acca Larentia street in Rome on 7 January, in which participants gave fascist salutes.
On Wednesday, the Plenary will begin with statements from the Council President, Charles Michel and the Commission President, Ursula von dery Leyen, on the December Summit, where heads of state or government agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia.
During the joint debate on the European Counc
il meetings, MEPs will also discuss the situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds. A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday.
On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss their priorities regarding the revamp of the EU’s economic governance rules. Parliament aims to prioritise investment and national ownership, and improve the system’s credibility.
Moreover, the Parliament is set to call on the Council to finally act to tackle hate speech and hate crime in the EU, in a debate on Wednesday and a vote on Thursday.
MEPs are also set to raise the alarm on media freedom, corruption, and police violence. A draft report on the state of fundamental rights in the EU highlights negative trends and proposes ways to tackle numerous problems present across member states. The discussion on Wednesday will be followed by a vote on Thursday on the subject.
In the same framework, on Wednesday, Parliament will consider the state of the rule of law and media freedom in Greece, in a debate with Council and Commission represe
ntatives. MEPs have expressed concerns about the respect for EU values in Greece on multiple occasions, including the use of spyware and allegations of political intervention in the investigations, and media freedom and the safety of journalists, especially in light of the lack of progress in the investigation into the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz in 2021. The debate is also likely to touch on border pushbacks and the treatment of migrants, the state of the anti-corruption framework and concerns about judicial independence and effectiveness, and other findings from the Commission’s annual rule of law report.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
ANKARA: Turkish airstrikes on Monday destroyed 23 terror targets near its southern border, in northern Iraq and Syria, with a great many terrorists “neutralized,” according to Trkiye’s National Defense Ministry.
The airstrikes were carried out against terrorist targets in the Metina, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil and Asos regions in northern Iraq and northern Syria, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the strikes took place at 10 pm Turkish local time (1900GMT).
The targets that the airstrikes hit included “caves, shelters, ammunition depots and storehouses,” according to the statement.
They were carried out to “eliminate terrorist attacks against Trkiye and its security forces from northern Iraq by neutralizing members of the PKK terror group and other terrorist elements and to ensure border security in line with (Trkiye’s) legitimate self-defense rights arising from Article 51 of the UN Charter,” the statement added.
“During this operation, every possible precaution was taken to safeguard innocent civi
lians, friendly elements, historical and cultural landmarks, and the environment from any harm,” said the statement.
Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
Following the killing of nine Turkish soldiers on Friday in a terror attack in northern Iraq, security forces began to crack down on PKK/YPG terrorists.
PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Trkiye. The group also has a Syrian branch, known as the YPG.
Trkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target the PKK terror organization’s hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.
It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding out in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Trkiye.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Trkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and EU – has
been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
Source: Anadolu Agency