Speeches

The next vote is on the report by Céline Imart on providing macro-financial assistance to Jordan (see minutes, item 7.9). I give the floor first to Commissioner Tzitzikostas.

The next vote is on the report by Rihards Kols on incentivising defence-related investments in the EU budget to implement the ReArm Europe Plan (see minutes, item 7.7).

We move to the vote on the report by Adrián Vázquez Lázara on the compulsory licensing of patents in crisis situations (see minutes, item 7.6).

The next vote is on the report by Marcin Sypniewski on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Alessandra Moretti (see minutes, item 7.4).

The next vote is on the request by the EPP, the S&D and the Renew Europe groups for an urgent decision on establishing the Reparations Loan to Ukraine and amending Regulation (EU) 2024/792 of 29 February 2024 establishing the Ukraine Facility (see minutes, item 7.2). I give the floor first to Thijs Reuten to speak in favour of the urgent decision.

The first vote is on the report by Gabriel Mato on the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement for agricultural products (see minutes, item 7.1). We will have a round of group speakers, starting with Gabriel Mato for the EPP Group. One minute each.

It is truly a privilege to welcome you all, dear colleagues, to this award ceremony. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought celebrates those remarkable people and organisations who stand up for freedom and democracy around the world; who blazed a trail and inspire others; who continue to fight for what they know is right – no matter how great the challenge or how large the sacrifice. Its laureates form a roll call of champions of democracy stretching back over three decades. Today, we welcome two more extraordinary people to that prestigious list: journalists Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia. Andrzej and Mzia cannot be with us today to recognise their achievements and their courage. They are imprisoned simply for doing their jobs, speaking out against injustice and persecution. Therefore, to accept this award on Andrzej Poczobut's behalf, we welcome his daughter, Jana Poczobut. And on Mzia Amaglobeli's behalf, journalist Irma Dimitradze. (Applause) Dear Jana and Irma, thank you so much for being here today. As we do every year, I also want to welcome the Sakharov Prize finalists: Serbian students, the Red Crescent, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, who are up there with us. (Applause) This House thanks you all for being with us here today. So now I invite you all to watch a short video on Andrzrej and Mzia's path to becoming Sakharov laureates. (A video was played in the Chamber) Dear colleagues, today, as we've just seen, we honour Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli, the 2025 laureates of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, awarded in recognition of their brave fight for democracy for the people of Belarus and Georgia. Our European democracy is built on freedom of thought and expression. We know how much these values are worth and we will never surrender them. Free and independent media are a key part of putting these values into practice. That is why it is so fitting that this year's prize goes to two journalists who are risking everything to expose threats to democracy in their two countries. Andrzej Poczobut has spent years reporting on the oppressive regime in Belarus and advocating for the Polish minority in that country. He was arrested in 2021. Since then, he has been locked in solitary confinement in a concrete cage and denied any contact with the outside world. In court, one witness said, his face was full of suffering, but in his eyes was determination, resilience and bravery. Mzia has worked for decades exposing corruption and human rights abuses in Georgia. She was arrested in January this year during democratic protests. On her 50th birthday, Mzia's friends tried to signal to her in prison from a nearby hillside with posters and balloons. She was unable to see them from her cell. But democracy cannot be silenced and, although they cannot be with us today, Andrzej and Mzia's urgent calls for democracy ring clear in this Chamber and across our continent. This House stands in solidarity with Andrzej and Mzia in their struggle. We call for their immediate release, along with every person wrongfully imprisoned. Our determination will match the courage of those wrongly jailed and those still suffering behind bars. We will keep up the pressure until everyone is free. We will not forget them. We will never abandon them – until the age of dictators is finally over; until Belarus is finally free. This Parliament sees what is happening in Belarus and in Georgia, and we are stepping up our efforts to aid those who seek to build a democratic future. So, dear Jana, dear Irma, you can rely on this House to continue speaking up for Andrzej, for Mzia, and for all those who long for freedom – not just when the spotlight is on us, like today, but every day. Because democracy takes work; it takes dedication; it takes the courage to act, even when the cost is unimaginably high. This is what this year's laureates teach us, and that is the spirit that this House must carry forward in everything we do. So it is now my privilege to hand over to Jana Poczobut, daughter and representative of the 2025 Sakharov laureate, Andrzej Poczobut.

I have also received a proposal from the Renew Group for a Commission statement on 'Supporting French and European farmers following animal disease outbreaks: implications for the EU approach on sanitary policy and on animal health to avoid the spread of diseases'. Does any Member wish to speak against having this debate at all? OK, that's not the case. So I first put the request of the PfE Group to a vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) It is added to the agenda. For Tuesday, the ESN Group has requested that a Commission statement on 'Islamist attack targeting Hanukkah celebrations in Australia and the prevention of an Islamist attack on a Christmas market in Bavaria, Germany' be added on Tuesday afternoon before the Council and Commission statements on recent developments in Palestine and Lebanon. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23:00. I give the floor to Christine Anderson to move the request on behalf of her group.

The LIBE and EMPL committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, pursuant to Rule 72(1) of the Rules of Procedure. The reports, which constitute the mandates for the negotiations, are available on the plenary webpage and the 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, Tuesday 16 December, at midnight that the decisions be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made within the deadline, the committees may start the negotiations.

The S&D, PfE, Renew and The Left groups have notified me of decisions relating to changes to appointments within committees and delegations. These decisions will be set out in the minutes of today’s sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement.

The minutes and the texts adopted of the sitting of 27 November 2025 are available. Are there any comments? No? Then the minutes are approved.

Dear colleagues, welcome back to Strasbourg for this last part-session of 2025. I have a few announcements, starting with Amine Kessaci. Ladies and gentlemen, last month we paid tribute to Mehdi Kessaci, who was murdered by drug traffickers in Marseille. Today, we are honoured to welcome her brother Amine Kessaci – he is here – to our gallery. (Applause) Dear Amine, thank you for being with us today and thank you for the courage you show every day in your commitment against organised crime and drug trafficking. This Parliament is by your side, is by France's side in this struggle. Organized crime is a poison that destroys lives and weakens our societies. Fighting it is a responsibility for the whole of Europe. Dear colleagues, this Parliament welcomes the release over the weekend of political prisoners in Belarus, including Sakharov Prize laureates Maria Kolesnikova and Ales Bialiatski. This is, of course, very good news. But our work is not 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. To those behind bars still, our message is very clear: You are not alone, and Belarus will be free. Last week announced the anniversary of the terrorist attack of 11 December 2018 at the Christmas market in Strasbourg during a plenary session, when we were here. A lot of you remember that night that affects us all too well. Five people lost their lives; 11 others were injured. Tomorrow at 13:30, outside in the Agora Geremek, immediately after the votes, we will come together to pay tribute to them, including the young journalists Antonio Megalizzi from Italy and Bartosz Orent-Niedzielski from Poland. We will remember them and their commitment to Europe. I invite you all to join us tomorrow and I count on your presence. dear colleagues, all of us are profoundly shaken by the horrific terror attack that took place yesterday at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney. What should have been a moment of light, of gathering and of shared celebration for the Jewish community became a scene of brutal and mindless murder and violence. At least 15 innocent lives were taken away: 10-year-old Matilda and 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex were among the victims hunted down by the gunmen as they were on the beach. Many others are still in hospital – some in critical condition. They are all in our thoughts. I also want to recognise that we would be talking about more victims today if it were not for the bravery of 43-year-old shop owner Ahmed, who, unarmed, ran into the gunfire and disarmed one of the terrorists. He was shot and is recovering in hospital. He was really the light on that dark day. This Parliament stands with the Jewish community of Australia and beyond. Antisemitism, religious hatred, violent extremism and terror have no place in our society, and we must do everything in our power to eradicate it. While we mourn, the story of Hanukkah tells us that no terror can ever extinguish the flickering light in these days of hope. So I invite you to join me in observing a moment of silence for all those lost. (The House rose and observed a minute’s silence)

The final vote is on the objection pursuant to Rule 114(3): amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429 as regards origin labelling for fruit and vegetables originating in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara (see minutes, item 5.11).

The next vote is on the objection pursuant to Rule 114(3): amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 as regards the definition of prohibited weapons (see minutes, item 5.10).

The next vote is on protecting EU consumers against the practices of certain e-commerce platforms: the case of child-like sex dolls, weapons and other illegal products and material (see minutes, item 5.9).