The Foreign Affairs and Development Committees votes to shortlist three candidates for the European Parliament’s 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The prize has been awarded since 1988 and is the highest European award for commitment to and work on human rights

Sakharov Prize 2025: Vote on a shortlist of 3 candidates

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk comes to the EU Parliament for the first time in this legislature. In an exchange of views with AFET - DROI MEPs in committee meeting, they discuss news topics in the field of geopolitics and human rights, before the adoption of the annual report on Human rights by the EP in plenary session, tentatively in March 2025.

AFET/DROI- Debate with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

The Foreign Affairs and Development committees vote to shortlist three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McAllister, AFET Chair, Barry Andrews, DEVE Chair, and Mounir Satouri, DROI Chair, give statements after the announcement.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU's highest tribute to human rights work, recognizing those who contribute to protecting freedom of thought. The candidates include María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia from Venezuela, Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh from the “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun” movement in Israel/Palestine, Elon Musk from the United States, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu from Azerbaijan, and journalists in Palestine including Hamza and Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh, and Ain Media. The Conference of Presidents selects the winner on 24 October, and the award ceremony takes place on 18 December in Strasbourg.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024

DROI JURI extraordinary meeting - Exchange of views on the protection of lawyers worldwide, with a focus on the new Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer

AFET DROI DEVE - Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2025: Vote on a shortlist of 3 candidates

DROI - The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide

AFET DEVE DROI - Sakharov Prize 2025: Presentation of candidates

DROI - Public hearing on the human rights dimension of the EU Memoranda of Understanding in its South neighbourhood .

DROI DEVE public hearing on “advancing International, Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in Conflict Zones and Fragile Contexts to Protect then Most Vulnerable”

DROI - Strengthening the role of the EU at the UN and exchanges of best practices in the human rights field

DROI Committee - Exchange of views with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

AFET DEVE DROI  joint Committee meeting with Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 laureates

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 - Interviews with laureates

DROI Extraordinary committee meeting

DROI - Hearing on the Rights of the Child in the EU external policy

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024

DEVE AFET DROI - Presentation of candidates for the Sakharov Prize 2024

DROI Committee constitutive meeting

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2023 Candidates - Statements

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2023 Candidates

This news item shows footage exchange of views at the joint meeting between the EP Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), and from the meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Yulia NAVALNAYA, wife of murdered Sakharov Prize laureate Alexei Navalny. MEPs exchange views with prominent members of the Russian democratic opposition. In addition to Navalnaya, are present in person the journalist and former political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza and the opposition politician Ilya Yashin. The debate focuses on EU support to Russian pro-democratic forces in the new geopolitical context.

EU support to Russian pro-democratic forces in the new geopolitical context: extracts from the exchange of views, and from the meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Yulia NAVALNAYA

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk comes to the EU Parliament for the first time in this legislature. In an exchange of views with the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), they discuss news topics in the field of geopolitics and human rights, before the adoption of the annual report on Human rights by the EP in plenary session, tentatively in March 2025.

Exchange of views with Volker TÜRK, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: extracts from the meeting and statement by Volker TÜRK, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

&lt;p>From 4th to 12th November 2024, the European Parliament held the Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, in Brussels. For 3 hours, MEPs quizzed the candidates for the College of Commissioners on their priorities ahead of the new mandate given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This clip highlights the best pictures from the 26 confirmation hearings.&lt;/p>

Highlights of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate (2024)

The AFET (Foreign Affairs) Committee quizzes Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President-designate of the European Commission. INTA (International Trade), FEMM (Women's Rights and Gender Equality), DROI (Human Rights), DEVE (Development) and SEDE (Security and Defence) Committees and Subcommittees are invited to participate to the Confirmation Hearing of the former Estonian Prime Minister.

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission: atmosphere shots

Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Marta KOS gives a closing statement followed by David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Committee Chair. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: closing statements by Commissioner-designate and David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Committee Chair

Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Marta KOS answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: questions / answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order)

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: questions / answers (part 4 - Invited Committees)

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: questions / answers (part 3)

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: questions / answers (part 2)

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: questions / answers (part 1 - Political groups coordinators)

Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Marta KOS gives an opening speech and then answers questions by committee members. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: opening statement by Commissioner-designate

Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. Ambiance of the arrivals and opening statements by Committees Chairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: arrivals and opening statement by David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Committee Chair

Ambience shots of the Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement.

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement: ambience shots

Dubravka ŠUICA, Commissioner-designate for Mediterranean, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Dubravka ŠUICA makes a closing statement followed by the one from the Committee Chair. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, Commissioner-designate for Mediterranean: closing statement by Commissioner-designate and David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair

Dubravka ŠUICA, Commissioner-designate for Mediterranean, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Dubravka ŠUICA answers questions by committee members.

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