Yesterday, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) closed the last plenary session of 2012 in Strasbourg. The capital of Alsace beautifully decorated for Christmas presented a "gift" for the MEPs - yesterday, the European Court of Justice upheld the case brought in by France against the European Parliament which decided once in a year to organise two plenary sessions in one October week in Strasbourg and this way to reduce the cost of 180 million Euros yearly for holding 12 sessions in Strasbourg. (Read more...)

Today, in the last this year`s plenary session in Strasbourg with 482 votes in favour, 48 against and 83 abstentions, the European Parliament has adopted the Annual report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2011 and the European Union`s policy on the matter prepared by Leonidas Donskis, the Lithuanian MEP, member of the political group the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and human rights coordinator of this group. (Read more...)

What is the current situation of human rights in the world? Will the crisis-shaken European Union manage to keep human rights on the international political agenda? Does the economic downturn threaten human rights as fundamental principles of democracy? What is the future of human rights in Lithuania? (Read more...)

Yesterday, Leonidas Donskis welcomed a high-level EU official in his office - EU Special Representative for Human Rights S. Lambrinidis. During the meeting, L. Donskis and S. Lambrinidis discussed the EP Annual Report and Democracy in the World 2011 and the European Union’s policy on the matter prepared by L. Donkis and exchanged views on the most pressing current problems on human rights and democracy and possible ways for the EU to contribute to their solution.
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Yesterday, the Member of the European Parliament Leonidas Donskis met the Representative of the Head of the Tibetan government in exile His Holiness Dalai Lama XIV for EU, Western Europe and Maghreb Ngodup Dorjee. The envoy of Dalai Lama has thanked L. Donskis for his efforts to draw attention to the situation in Tibet in various EP`s documents and discussions. (Read more...)

This week a monthly European Parliament plenary session has taken place in Strasbourg. Among other issues it featured debates on the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework and the 2013 EU budget on which the EU Council and the European Parliament have failed to agree and therefore the EU Commission has to come up with a new proposal; and other trade, transport and foreign affairs questions. (Read more...)