We are in Strasbourg this week where we'll be following up on the European Council summit and the UK election results that all but guarantee Brexit at the end of January. Parlaiment will also be awarding the 2019 Sakharov Prize to Ilham Tohti, a renowned advocate of the rights of China's Uyghur minority. We will also be joined the Restorers, the anti-FGM campaigners who we nominated for this year's award. Read on for more details.

European Council

Groups leaders will debate the outcome of the December European Council meeting where heads of state were discussing the next long term EU budget and climate change, following the Commission’s publication of its ‘Green Deal’. The Council also discussed the results of the UK election and Brexit, which is also likely to feature in the MEPs’ debate.

Debate: Wednesday @ 9:00

Sakharov Prize

Ilham Tohti will be awarded the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Wednesday. A renowned advocate of the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, Tohti is currently serving a life sentence for his activism against the treatment of his community, which has seen over 1 million Uyghurs arbitrarily detained since 2017. Parliament will also debate and adopt a resolution next week on the situation with the Uyghur minority in China.

Sakharov Prize awarded: Wednesday @ 12:00

Situation of the Uyghur in China: Debate, Wednesday @ 15:00; vote, Thursday @ 12:00

Ending FGM around the world

The Restorers, five Kenyan teenagers who developed a mobile app to combat female genital mutilation (FGM), were the ECR Group’s nomination for this year’s Sakharov Prize and were eventually shortlisted for the final award. Hosted by our Flemish member Assita Kanko, they will also be visiting the Parliament in Strasbourg and meeting with MEPs. At the ECR’s request, on Wednesday afternoon the Council and Commission will also give statements and debate with MEPs on an EU strategy to end FGM around the world.

Debate: Wednesday @ 15:00

Press conference: Wednesday @ 11:05

Election of the European Ombudsman

MEPs will this week elect the European Ombudsman for the
next five years. Reporting regularly to Parliament, the Ombudsman is
responsible for conducting inquiries into cases of maladministration by EU
institutions and agencies.

Vote: Wednesday @ 12:00