State of the Union: what were the main news stories in European politics this week?
The final EU summit of the year took place this week in Brussels, as leaders unblocked a host of issues, two of which had been stalled for some time now.
An €18 billion financial aid package for Ukraine has been approved by member states after Poland dropped its 11 a.m. opposition, along with the green light for a global minimum corporate tax that was stuck since last year.
There was more too. A ninth set of sanctions was endorsed by EU countries, increasing pressure on Putin and his regime.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also had its candidate status for bloc membership approved, following in the footsteps of Ukraine and Moldova earlier in the summer.
It was a successful week for the European Council, after weeks of deadlock.
Qatargate fallout continues
But for the members of the European Parliament, the same cannot be said.
In many ways it was one hell of a week, like the news fell late last friday that an MEP and a former member had been bribed by a Gulf state, allegedly Qatar, to influence political decisions in its favour.
The scandal caused shock waves throughout Brussels, with Eva Kaili from Greeceone of the 14 deputy speakers of parliament – considered a rising star among his socialist colleagues – being the most prominent member involved.
The extent of the corruption is still unclear, but the damage has already been done, as Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said on Monday.
“Make no mistake, the European Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, is under attack. European democracy is under attack. And our path to open and free democratic societies is under attack,” she told MEPs in Strasbourg.
“There will be no sweeping under the rug. We will launch an internal investigation to examine all facts related to parliament and see how our systems can become even more watertight.”
Metsola also promised far-reaching reforms to be ready in the new year to tackle corruption among MEPs, saying they would include stronger whistleblower protections, a ban on unofficial ‘friendship groups’ , a revision of the code of conduct for MEPs, and an “in-depth examination” of interactions with third countries.
Ukraine wins human rights award
In more positive news from the European Parliament, the Ukrainian people received the EU’s first human rights award on Wednesday.
A handful of politicians and members of civil society from the country were present in Strasbourg to receive the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined by video conference to lead the hemicycle to a minute of silence in memory of all Ukrainians who lost their lives in war.
MEPs awarded the prize to the Ukrainian people in October, paying tribute to their daily struggle to protect the independence and territorial integrity of their country.
“We must act now, without waiting for the end of the war, to bring to justice all those who started it and prevent any repetition of the aggression. This will be the most effective protection of freedom, the rights of the man, the rule of law and other common values, which are notably embodied by this prize from the European Parliament”, he also told MEPs.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hailed “the inspiring resistance of ordinary citizens making the ultimate sacrifice to hold off a column of tanks, old people standing up to Russian troops with nothing but pride as weapons, brave women forced to give birth in underground subway stations”. “
“For these people, the message from Europe has been clear: we stand with Ukraine, we will not look the other way.”
Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol who made the trip to Strasbourg, told Euronews that Russian efforts to influence the Ukrainian people have failed.
“Russia tried to put Russian propaganda in the heads of the citizens of the occupied territories and said: Russia is here forever. The EU and all European institutions have forgotten about you. You will never be freed,” he said. said Fedorov.
“And a prize like the Sakharov Prize, such attention that the European Union is now giving to our citizens step by step, it shows our citizens that no one has forgotten the Ukrainians.”