From Teheran to Brussels

A plenary session focused on human rights (awarding the Sakharov Prize and approval of two reports on the topic), budget issues (ratified in 2012 and 2013) and preparation for the European Council meeting. The European Parliament meetings held in Strasbourg from December 10 to 13, also paved the way to the single patent and financial transaction taxes backed by 11 Member States, awaiting for the green light. The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded on December 10 in Oslo, was also symbolically handed over to all the EU citizens during the Strasbourg plenary session. Oppressive regime. "Our political system oppresses people and does not respect human rights and dignity": Shirin Ebadi, Iranian lawyer human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 2003, winner, arrived in Strasbourg to represent her colleague Nasrin Sotoudeh, who alongside the Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi, won the 2012 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Sotoudeh is detained in her country in very poor physical conditions, also due to a hunger strike she began to protest against the regime’s restrictions imposed on her 12-year-old daughter. "Nasir’s and Jafar’s empty seats – Ebadi said – are evidence of what is happening in Iran". Then she read out a message written by the winner in the Evin prison. "Respect for human rights should be the commitment and obligation of all states, instead this is does not happen in our country". "Governments" added Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has defended in court many oppressed women and children, "should know that in order to maintain their existence, they have no choice but to observe the rights of every individual. And Iran will have to acknowledge this sooner or later". The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, presented the winners saying: "The situation in Iran is very critical. People are oppressed by a fanatical judiciary system. Lawyers, journalists, and students are sentenced to prison and silenced. This recognition goes to all those who are fighting for freedom and human rights in Iran and and elsewhere in the world".Reduced to silence. "As a film-maker, I have always drawn inspiration from the society I live in, recounting everyday life. Yet the regime prevented me from doing the only thing I am capable of doing: making movies. This is like a death sentence to me": also film director Jafar Panahi could not participate to the ceremony in Strasbourg: the Teheran regime sentenced him to six years in prison (he is still awaiting his arrest and cannot leave the country) and twenty years of "silence" during which he will not be allowed to perform his usual activity nor have any contacts with communications means". From his house, Panahi ( the author, among other things of "The white balloon" that won the Camera d’Or award at the Cannes Festival) sent a message to the European Parliament through film director Costa-Gavras, who read it during the award ceremony: "Why do governments become more intolerant every day? Why do they repress freedom? I would like to dedicate this prize to all those people who, anonymously and incessantly, are fighting for human rights and democracy in Iran and elsewhere in the world". President Schulz said: "By awarding the Sakharov prize to Nasrin Sotoudeh and Jafar Panahi, the European Parliament acknowledges their outstanding efforts in their incessant struggle for human dignity, fundamental rights freedoms and political change in Iran".Summit on EMU. The European Parliament had a very lively debate in preparing the European Council Meeting of December 13-14, especially focused on the economic and monetary union and bank system. Commission President José Manuel Barroso, explained: "We must find a lasting balance between responsibility and solidarity" in economy and public budgets creating the foundations for a complete and consistent economic and monetary union plan". Barroso warned: "The economic situation has improved, but it is still fragile and urgent action is needed", for example for a single supervisory mechanisms for banks. "The Council must sent a clear message: guarantee that the European Monetary Union is irreversible", strengthening the euro and guaranteeing mechanisms for the single currency and banking system starting from the Eurozone (17 States) and " open to all the other member states". Barroso himself is convinced that "this summit will not put an end to this issue". The Commission presented at the end of October a EMU project, as well as a road map drawn by European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy: however debate on the proposals is still weak and concrete results are hardly expected from this weekend’s summit. And this is exactly what many MEPs are complaining about.