Debriefing of the January 2025 Plenary Session
20-23 January 2025
Table of Contents
- Protecting EU-citizens on online platforms
- Stop the oppression and fake elections in Belarus
- Europe should prepare for a new Trump era
- It’s time to rebuild peace in Gaza
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1. Protecting EU-citizens on online platforms
On Tuesday, MEPs debated the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms. In light of the recent democratic backsliding on platforms, the Greens/EFA Group is gravely concerned about the possible effects of the recently announced changes to content moderation policies by “Meta”. Following the worrying development of Elon Musk and 'X' giving the German right-wing party AfD a platform to spread disinformation, we also urged Commissioner Henna Virkkunen to finalize investigations into 'X' and decisively stand up and monitor the recent developments.
Greens/EFA MEP Kim Van Sparrentak commented,
“The best recipe for freedom of speech is a free and safe internet. The push for deregulation in tech led by Trump and his friends will no longer bring us freedom and democracy, but further plummet us into a tech oligarchy."
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2. Stop the oppression and fake elections in Belarus
On Wednesday, MEPs voted on a resolution on the continued oppression and the fake elections in Belarus. The Greens/EFA Group stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus, reiterates its non-recognition of the election of Aleksandr Lukashenka as president, denounces the continuing repression of democratic forces, free media and civil society and calls on the Lukashenka regime to fully comply with the OSCE international standards of elections.
Greens/EFA MEP Mārtiņš Staķis commented,
“Every day, 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus—teachers, students, journalists, parents—wake up in cells. Not for crimes, but for daring to dream of freedom. Among them is Dzmitry Kuchuk, leader of the dissolved Belarusian Green Party, who has been sentenced to six years in prison simply for standing up for his beliefs.”
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3. Europe should prepare for a new Trump era
On Monday, 20 January, President-elect Donald Trump moved back into the White House. On Tuesday afternoon, the European Parliament held a debate on the geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration.
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4. It’s time to rebuild peace in Gaza
On Monday, MEPs debated the urgent need to ensure the ceasefire in Israel-Gaza holds. This includes the release of hostages and prisoners, an end to the violence, and a steady flow of aid to halt the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Bas Eickhout, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group, commented,
“This ceasefire is very welcome, but unless the root causes of the violence are addressed then this risks being remembered as little more than a respite from a much longer war. The EU must play its part in ensuring that the peace holds, and that the dead may be laid to rest and communities can rebuild.”
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5. Greens/EFA motions for resolutions
- Resolution on the case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria
- Resolution on the need for actions to address the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus
- Resolution on the Case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Resolution on the systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages
- Resolution on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine
- Resolution on the situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025
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