Plenary round-up – February I 2024

A highlight of the February I 2024 plenary session was the debate on the conclusions of the special European Council meeting on 1 February, at which leaders reached agreement on EU funding, in particular for Ukraine. That was followed by a debate with the Council and Commission on the need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Members also debated empowering farmers and rural communities and ensuring sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture. Further debates took place on the Commission's new communication on the EU2040 climate target, the state of EU solar industry in the light of unfair competition, and water crisis and droughts in the EU and the need for a sustainable, resilient water strategy for Europe. Members discussed the Dentsu tracking case and the Commission's lack of transparency with regard to the tobacco industry. They discussed the situation of prisoners in Hungarian jails, allegations of Russian interference in EU democratic processes and the need to fight rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Debates took place on quality traineeships in the EU and the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Abbé Pierre's appeal to address homelessness. Other debates took place on international issues: the situation in Haiti on the eve of the deployment of the United Nations Multinational Security Support Mission, further repression against democracy in Venezuela, the state of play of the implementation of the Global Gateway, and multilateral negotiations in view of the World Trade Organization's 13th Ministerial Conference, in Abu Dhabi. Finally, a 'This is Europe' debate was held with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis.