European Parliament Plenary Session to Discuss Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

The agenda of the European Parliament's plenary session on January 18 includes an urgent debate entitled 'Humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh.' In the planned discussion with the European Union's executive bodies, members of the European Parliament will deliver speeches and vote on the adoption of an urgent resolution that will be developed beforehand on the same topic.

Since the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan on December 12, various members of the European Parliament have already responded regarding the ensuing humanitarian crisis, including letters and parliamentary questions directed at the EU’s executive bodies. These responses are clear and based on direct calls to Azerbaijan.

In particular, an urgent letter on December 14 addressed by six parliamentarians from four different groups (the letter and the list of signatories are available here) was initiated by Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, France), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense, and joined by an additional 28 parliamentarians. A number of remarks have been made by Viola von Cramon (Greens/EFA, Germany), co-rapporteur on Armenia's issues, as well as by Asita Kanko (ECR, Belgium) who posed a parliamentary question, and Lukas Furlias (EPP, Cyprus) who also raised a parliamentary inquiry. Additional comments were provided by Peter van Dalen (EPP, Netherlands) and François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, France).

The issue was also addressed by Marina Kaljurand (S&D, Estonia), co-chair of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee, who made a statement on December 15.