Exhibition
The EU and its partners have faced many challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to conflicts around the world – including on the EU’s borders with the war in Ukraine.
In response to the needs of this legislative term, Parliament developed a safe and efficient remote voting system for Members. MEPs could also participate in plenary debates from Parliament’s liaison offices across the EU.
29 January 2020: Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony
I cannot hide my deep emotion at entering this European Parliament after having seen the flags at the entrance, the coloured flags of so many states that are united in the European Parliament ... It wasn’t always this way.
Liliana Segre, 29 January 2020
29 January 2020: Departure of British Members from the European Parliament
In a ceremony on 29 January 2020, Members bid farewell to their UK colleagues, singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
2021 Sakharov Prize: Alexei Navalny
At a ceremony on 15 December, former Parliament President David Sassoli presented the 2021 Sakharov Prize to Alexei Navalny’s daughter Daria Navalnaya on behalf of her imprisoned father.
23 March 2022: Justin Trudeau
On 23 March 2022 Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, addressed the plenary session on the political challenges brought by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine and reaffirmed the friendship between the EU and Canada.
2022 Sakharov Prize: The brave people of Ukraine
Parliament’s 2022 Sakharov Prize was awarded to the brave people of Ukraine at a ceremony on 14 December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke via video call.
26 January 2023: Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony
On 26 January 2023, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Parliament held a formal sitting to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog addressed the plenary.
As we stand here today in the beating heart of the European Union, we understand very well the mission of memory that we all share ... We need to teach and educate about the lessons of the historic catastrophe that was the Holocaust, and we need to prevent any repetition of these ghastly crimes.
Isaac Herzog, 26 January 2023
Chen Halevi (clarinet) and Jenő Lisztes (cimbalom) played ‘Kaddish’ by Maurice Ravel.
15 March 2023: International Women's Day
In a ceremony to mark International Women’s Day in March 2023, Samantha Cristoforetti, an astronaut at the European Space Agency and commander of the International Space Station, and Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian activist and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, gave speeches.
L-R: Shirin Ebadi, President Roberta Metsola, Samantha Cristoforetti
I have seen how the ability of sending humans into space acts as a confidence-builder in a society. It builds the confidence that a nation or a community of nations like ours can tackle the really difficult, ambitious challenges. If we can send humans into space, there’s nothing we cannot do, right? Let us have that ambition in Europe.
Samantha Cristoforetti, 15 March 2023
13 September 2023: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian opposition
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian opposition, addressed Parliament on 13 September 2023.
Their goal is clear ... keep an open wound at the heart of the European continent, so that Europe, too, cannot become whole and free and at peace. But they will fail.
20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement
On 24 April 2024, the European Parliament celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement.
Pictured: Jerzy Buzek, Parliament President from 2009-2012
The great enlargement 20 years ago was a de facto European reunification. Countries in our part of the continent that had been cut off from Europe against their will became a full part of Europe again. When I was young, this seemed unreal, and it has become a fact. So the conclusion is that you should dream and stick to your dream.
Jerzy Buzek, 24 April 2024
The final session of the ninth legislature
After a busy five years in office, the European Parliament’s ninth legislative term came to a close on 25 April 2024.