Written by Clare Ferguson and Katarzyna Sochacka.
Parliament’s first session of November 2024 opened with Members observing a minute of silence for the victims of the recent devastating floods in Spain. Members discussed the urgent need to support the victims, to improve preparedness and to continue to tackle the climate crisis. Parliament agreed a resolution calling for more targeted EU sanctions against Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, which by transporting oil ultimately finances Russia’s war on Ukraine. Members heard and debated European Commission statements regarding EU-US relations in light of the outcome of the US presidential elections, and on Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent elections. Members also condemned recent unacceptable attacks against Israeli football fans in the Netherlands.
EU civilian and defence preparedness
Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö presented his recent report, ‘Safer Together: Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness’. Parliament has already called on Member States and EU institutions to ensure EU society is prepared to face military and non-military threats, including natural disasters. The Niinistö report underlines the need for comprehensive preparedness to face traditional and new challenges to EU food security, public health, the economy and infrastructure. Proposals for the EU to consider include new legislation, coordination mechanisms, and involving citizens. The report discusses how investment in preparedness/crisis resilience could boost preparedness for defence. Afterwards, Members debated measures to bolster Europe’s civilian and defence preparedness and readiness in practice.
United Nations Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)
The European Commission and the Council responded to oral questions posed by Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) regarding the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Baku. With COP29 largely focused on financing climate action, the Commission was asked to clarify how it will guarantee progress on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance. Following a debate, Members approved a resolution calling for all high-emission countries to commit to provide socially fair financial support for climate action.
EU listing of Russia as a high-risk third country
A debate followed a Commission statement on the possible listing of Russia as a high-risk country for money laundering and terrorist financing. Although the EU follows the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) listings, the Commission can act independently and list third countries with a delegated act. Russia is not currently listed as a high-risk third country. Placing countries on the EU list can help protect the internal market by requiring banks and financial institutions to apply ‘enhanced due diligence measures’ when dealing with such a country. In Russia’s case, corruption and state-embedded organised crime, as well as its war on Ukraine, make the risks very high.
Corrigenda
Following committee approval of corrigenda on two further legislative files voted in plenary before the end of last term, these were announced in the plenary, under Rule 251 of the Rules of Procedure. As no request to vote on them was received within 24 hours, these are now deemed approved.
Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘Plenary round-up – November I 2024‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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