Opening: murdered Kurdish activists, demand for foreign affairs debate

15-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The brutal murder of Kurdish activists Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez in Paris last week must not go unpunished, urged President Schulz in his opening address. Many MEPs called for an agenda change to enable them to debate Mali, Syria and Kosovo with foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday.

Mr Schulz conveyed Parliament’s deepest sympathy to the victims’ relatives, some of whom were present in Parliament, and backed the French authorities in their determination to bring those responsible to justice.

As Ms Ashton’s agenda did not allow her to attend on Wednesday, many MEPs favoured changing the agenda to hold debates with her on Tuesday instead, particularly on Mali, where EU citizens had lost their lives and member states were starting to deploy a force, but also on Syria and Kosovo.

Given this strength of feeling, the President undertook to investigate and put a proposal to the heads of political groups.

Incoming/outgoing

Francesca Barracciu (S&D, IT) replaces Rosario Crocetta, who was elected President of Sicily in October 2012.

Dan Dumitru Zamfirescu (RO, NA), replaces George Becali, who was appointed to a post incompatible with that of an MEP with effect from 19 December 2012.

Preslav Borissov (EPP BG) replaces Iliana Ivanova with effect from 01 January 2013.

Frieda Brepoels (Greens/EFA, BE) will resign with effect from 31 January 2013.

Proposed calendar of part sessions for 2013

The proposal, to be put to a vote on Wednesday, is as follows:

14-17 January

4-7 February

11-14 March

15-18 April

20-23 May

10-13 June

1-4 July

9-12 September

7-10 October

21-24 October

18-21 November

9-12 December