One-minute speeches

MEPs held a series of one-minute speeches on topical issues during the plenary session on 19 November 2012.

Subjects covered included:

• the impact of EU bailouts

• a proposed referendum on the issue of statelessness in Latvia

• the use of prize money given to the EU after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

• the use of the European Arrest Warrant in dealing with Basque politicians

• anti-homosexual laws in Uganda and future aid to the country

• the situation in Gaza

• levels of colo-rectal cancer in Europe

• the legality of Basque political parties

• Ukip and the Conservative party in the UK

• the acquittal of Croatian generals at the ICTY court in The Hague

• the Polish Peasants' Party

• comments by Godfrey Bloom MEP on Bulgarians and Romanians

• minority rights in Romania

• religious sensitivities in the EU

• elections in Romania

• long term unemployment in Ireland

• the situation in Gibraltar

The one-minute speeches allow topics to be raised without an MEP having to give prior notice of the subject.

A maximum of 30 MEPs are allowed to participate in the session.

Useful links:

Democracy Live's guide to how the plenary sessions work.

A disclaimer on the use of simultaneous interpretations, on the European Parliament's website.