What Roberta spoke about.

Dear colleagues, we are joined today by the President of Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili. President, welcome back to the European Parliament. When you last visited this House, we discussed your country's progress towards joining our European family. Today, this journey is under threat. The European Parliament condemns any repression of the opposition and the imprisonment of peaceful protesters. These actions roll back the successful steps we have taken together in recent years. In response to this situation, this House has called for decisive action and we reiterate that now. I know that there are many in Georgia who fear for their country's future. And I also know that I speak for this entire House when I say to all those Georgians who look to Europe for support and for their future that they are not alone. We see you, we hear you. We are with you. So this House stands strong with the people of Georgia and your journey towards Europe. And our door will always remain open. So I give the floor to you, dear President Salomé Zourabichvili. (Applause)

The first vote is to elect the European Ombudsman (see minutes, item 8.1). This will be held in accordance with Rule 237 of our Rules of Procedure. I remind you that, pursuant to this Rule, the Ombudsman shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate is elected after the first two ballots, only the two candidates obtaining the largest number of votes in the second ballot may continue to stand. I have received the following nominations: Teresa Anjinho, Emilio De Capitani, Marino Fardelli, Julia Laffranque, Claudia Mahler and Reinier van Zutphen. I'd like to remind you that the vote is taken by electronic secret ballot and that, in accordance with Rule 237(7) of the Rules of Procedure, in order to be elected a candidate must obtain a majority of the votes cast. Abstentions are not regarded as votes cast, and you can only vote for one candidate. As it is a secret ballot, you will only see a blue light on your terminal, regardless of the way you vote. Pursuant to Rule 237(8), we would need to ensure that at least half of Parliament's component Members are present. We can do this visually; no need to do it electronically. So we can proceed. The information – and this is important – concerning the electronic voting system has been sent to you by email and you also have it on your desk. Once the vote has been declared open, you will see on your screen, first of all, the subject of the vote; secondly, the list of candidates. Position the cursor on the name of the candidate of your choice by activating the blue keys located on the bottom right-hand side of the screen, and cast your vote by pressing the plus button, the left-hand button. The blue voting light will come on, and an asterisk will appear against the name. To safeguard voting confidentiality, move the cursor to make the asterisk disappear from the screen. If you wish to indicate your presence in the ballot without voting for a candidate, just press the zero button, in other words, the central button. You can change your choice until the vote has been declared closed by repositioning the cursor on the name of the candidate and pressing the plus button again to cancel your vote. Then position the cursor on the name of another candidate and press the plus button. We have 653 members voting: 105 blank; 548 votes cast. The absolute majority is 275. I will now read out in the order of the votes the results: Teresa Anjinho, 225; Reinier van Zutphen, 122; Julia Laffranque, 81; Marino Fardelli, 52; Emilio De Capitani, 42; Claudia Mahler, 26. Since no candidate has obtained a majority of the votes cast, a second ballot must be held. We will pause now. You will be given a few minutes. Please don't leave the room until you tell me, via your political group leaders, that we are ready to proceed. So we hold the second ballot. I will check whether anyone has withdrawn. No candidate has withdrawn. And therefore same candidates as before: Teresa Anjinho, Emilio De Capitani, Marino Fardelli, Julia Laffranque, Claudia Mahler and Reinier van Zutphen. So I'll read it out as I did before. We have 654 members voting: 51 blank; 603 votes cast. The absolute majority is 302. Teresa Anjinho has received 344 votes and therefore is elected. (Applause) Reinier van Zutphen, 177; Julia Laffranque, 47; Claudia Mahler, 15; Marino Fardelli, 14; Emilio De Capitani, 6. Therefore, Teresa Anjinho has obtained a majority of the votes cast, and I declare her elected European Ombudsman. I congratulate her on her election. Congratulations! (Applause)

Dear colleagues, I'll start by saying that, in agreement with the political groups and in accordance with Rule 164(2), I wish to put to the House the following additions to the agenda. Tomorrow's sitting will now start at 08:30 in the morning with a formal sitting with Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia.

The LIBE and ENVI committees have transmitted a corrigendum to a text adopted by the Parliament. Pursuant to Rule 251, this corrigendum will be deemed approved unless, no later than 24 hours after its announcement, a request is made by a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold that it be put to the vote. The corrigendum is available on the plenary webpage. Its title will be published in the minutes of this sitting.

I have received a request from the INTA Committee pursuant to Rule 151(2) to consult the European Economic and Social Committee on trade‑related aspects of the Draghi report. This request for consultation will be deemed to have been approved unless, within 24 hours, a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold request that it be put to the vote.

Several committees have decided to enter interinstitutional negotiations ahead of the Council's first reading, pursuant to Rule 73 of the Rules of Procedure. The positions adopted by Parliament at first reading which constitute the mandate for these negotiations are available on the plenary webpage, and their titles will be published in the minutes of the sitting.

The EMPL and ECON committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 72(1). The reports which constitute the mandate for the negotiations are available on the plenary webpage and their titles will be published in the minutes of the sitting. Pursuant to Rule 72(2), Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by tomorrow, 17 December, at midnight, that the decisions be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made before the deadline expires, the committees may start the negotiations.

I would like to announce that, pursuant to Rule 47(2) of the Rules of Procedure, I have declared admissible a proposal for a Union act repealing the directive on the energy performance of buildings. This proposal is referred to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

Following the appointments of Christophe Hansen, Andrius Kubilius, Roxana Mînzatu and Henna Virkkunen as Members of the European Commission, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of their seats from 1 December 2024 in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. The competent authorities of Finland have notified me of the election of Sirpa Pietikäinen to the European Parliament with effect from 1 December 2024. The competent authorities of Romania have notified me of the election of Andi Cristea to the European Parliament with effect from 2 December 2024. The competent authorities of Luxembourg have notified me of the election of Martine Kemp with effect from 3 December 2024. The competent authorities of Lithuania have notified me of the election of Liudas Mažylis to the European Parliament with effect from 5 December 2024. I wish to welcome our new colleagues and recall that you take your seats in Parliament in full enjoyment of your rights pending the verification of your credentials.

I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on 28 November 2024. Dear colleagues, can I ask you to take your seats? Let's start this last part-session of 2024. We have some important decisions to take and some important things to say.

We move to the report by Siegfried Mureşan on the Council position on Draft amending budget No 5/2024 of the European Union for the financial year 2024 - adjustment in payment appropriations, update of revenues and other technical updates (see minutes, item 5.5).