María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia are the 2024 winners of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. 
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024

When we think of the European Parliament, we usually imagine MEPs voting in the debating chamber. In reality, though, voting only takes place once a month, during plenary part-sessions. But what actually are these part-sessions, and how do they work?

What are plenary sessions?

Out of the jargon jungle. The role of the European Parliament President?

The role of the European Parliament President?

On 19 March 1958, the European Parliamentary Assembly hold a first meeting in Strasbourg. Luciano GRANZOTTO BASSO, Oldest member of the Assembly leads the election. The representatives elect Robert Schuman as President. He is the single candidate at the function.

Constitutive session of the European Parliamentary Assembly: election of Robert SCHUMAN, as President of the Assembly

A formal sitting is&nbsp;held to mark an official visit to the European Parliament, made at the President’s invitation after consulting with the Conference of Presidents.

The official guest is seated to the right of the President on the podium. After the welcoming remarks by the President, the official guest addresses the&nbsp; Parliament from the central rostrum in the Chamber.

The address for a formal sitting of Parliament&nbsp;usually lasts 30 minutes and generally takes place before the voting session.

Formal Sittings

On certain occasions, David SASSOLI, President of the European Parliament, gives a speech during plenary sessions highlighting the news, a special event or pays tribute to a personality and asks for a minute of silence.

Statements of David SASSOLI, EP President in Plenary

EP Plenary session  - Protecting our oceans: persistent threats to marine protected areas in the EU and benefits for coastal communities

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session  - Announcement of the winner of 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

EP Plenary session  - The abuse of new technologies to manipulate and radicalise young people through hate speech and antidemocratic discourse

EP Plenary session  - Closing the EU skills gap: supporting people in the digital and green transitions to ensure inclusive growth and competitiveness in line with the Draghi report

EP Plenary session - EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia

EP Plenary session - Need to strengthen rail travel and the railway sector in Europe

EP Plenary session - Foreign interference and hybrid attacks: the need to strengthen EU resilience and internal security

This news item shows ambience shots of the confirmation hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, such as the arrival of the Commissioner-designate Wopke HOEKSTRA, questions by MEPs, media and journalists. The European Parliament invites Commissioner-designate Wopke HOEKSTRA to public hearing to establish if he is suitable for the portfolio on Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth. Costas KADIS, European Commissioner-designate, replies to written questions ahead of the meeting, makes a short introduction at the start of the hearing and after that, answers oral questions from MEPs.

Confirmation hearing of Wopke Bastiaan HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth: atmosphere shots

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, announces the Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate: María Corina Machado, as leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting to restore freedom and democracy. The other two finalists were, in alphabetical order: Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, academic and anti-corruption activist in Azerbaijan and "Women Wage Peace" and "Women of the Sun", Israel/Palestine. Named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, who agreed to his name being used, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the EU’s highest human rights award. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

Roberta Metsola, EP announces the winner of this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in the hemicycle shortly after the decision by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group leaders). The winner of the 2024 Prize are María Corina Machado as the leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans fighting for the reinstitution of freedom and democracy from both inside and outside the country. Metsola also highlighted that the European Parliamnt stands behind the other finalists, Women Wage Peace & Women of the Sun from Israel/Palestine, and Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu from Azerbaijan.

María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia awarded 2024 Sakharov Prize: roundtable at the Conference of Presidents and extracts from the announcement of the laureate

'Lost in Europe' project wins the 2024 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism for its investigation into the disappearance of over 50.000 unaccompanied child migrants. Every year, the Prize endorsed by the European Parliament rewards, (on the anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia) outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights. The investigation, run by media from Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the UK revealed that at least 51.433 unaccompanied child migrants disappeared after arriving in European countries between 2021 and 2023. This news item shows extracts from the 2024 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize ceremony and the statement by Geesje VAN HAREN, representative of the winning project 'Lost in Europe'.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism 2024: extracts from the ceremony and statement by the laureate

Seven years after the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the European Parliament discusses the state of the rule of law in Malta. Closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. MEPs assess the country's recent developments in upholding European values, focusing on media freedom and anti-corruption efforts. Daphne Caruana Galizia, who exposed corruption, money laundering, and organized crime in Malta, was murdered in a car bomb attack in 2017. Her assassination sparked widespread outrage, leading to political upheaval and the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. In the same session on Wednesday, the winner of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be announced, honoring her legacy in the fight for transparency and justice. The debate underscores the EU's broader commitment to promoting democracy and the rule of law, not only within its borders but also in candidate countries as part of the 2024 Rule of Law Report.

Seven years from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia: lack of progress in restoring the rule of law in Malta: Closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Seven years after the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the European Parliament discusses the state of the rule of law in Malta. MEPs assess the country's recent developments in upholding European values, focusing on media freedom and anti-corruption efforts. Daphne Caruana Galizia, who exposed corruption, money laundering, and organized crime in Malta, was murdered in a car bomb attack in 2017. Her assassination sparked widespread outrage, leading to political upheaval and the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. In the same session on Wednesday, the winner of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be announced, honoring her legacy in the fight for transparency and justice. The debate underscores the EU's broader commitment to promoting democracy and the rule of law, not only within its borders but also in candidate countries as part of the 2024 Rule of Law Report.

Seven years from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia: lack of progress in restoring the rule of law in Malta: MEPs debate

Seven years after the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the European Parliament discusses the state of the rule of law in Malta. Opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery. MEPs assess the country's recent developments in upholding European values, focusing on media freedom and anti-corruption efforts. Daphne Caruana Galizia, who exposed corruption, money laundering, and organized crime in Malta, was murdered in a car bomb attack in 2017. Her assassination sparked widespread outrage, leading to political upheaval and the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. In the same session on Wednesday, the winner of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism will be announced, honoring her legacy in the fight for transparency and justice.

Seven years from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia: lack of progress in restoring the rule of law in Malta: opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

MEPs debate on Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war. Closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

Continued war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, notably killing Ukrainian prisoners of war: closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

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