**EU Parliament Observes Moment of Silence for Spanish Flood Victims**
On November 13, 2024, during the opening of the European Parliament’s plenary session in Brussels, President Roberta Metsola led a minute of silence to honour the victims of the catastrophic floods in Spain.
### Remembering the Tragedy in Spain
The floods, which devastated towns in Valencia and other regions just two weeks earlier, claimed the lives of at least 223 people. President Metsola expressed her deepest sympathies, stating that all of Europe is grieving. She emphasized the EU’s readiness to aid in the recovery and reconstruction process, including the provision of financial support with increased flexibility.
### Adjustments to the Parliamentary Agenda
Several changes were made to the agenda for the week:
#### **Wednesday, November 13**:
1. **Removed Item**: The European Council and Commission statements on the conclusions of the October and November 2024 European Council meetings were removed. This change was due to the absence of European Council President Charles Michel.
2. **Added Item**: A Commission statement on the devastating floods in Spain, highlighting the urgent need to support the victims, improve disaster preparedness, and tackle the ongoing climate crisis, was added as the first discussion of the day.
3. **Modified Item**: The European Council and Commission statements on EU-US relations, focusing on the outcome of the 2024 US presidential elections, were altered to a statement solely from the Commission.
4. **New Item**: A Commission statement addressing Georgia’s deepening democratic crisis following its recent parliamentary elections and allegations of electoral fraud was added. MEPs agreed to conclude the debate with a resolution during the next session.
5. **New Item**: A Commission statement regarding the recent escalation of violence surrounding a football match in the Netherlands and the attacks on Israeli football fans was added as the fifth agenda item.
#### **Thursday, November 14**:
1. **New Legislative Files**: Two requests for urgent procedure were approved, under [Rule 170 (5)](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RULES-10-2024-07-16-RULE-170_EN.html), for the following:
– Regional Emergency Support: RESTORE
– Specific measures under the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) for Member States affected by natural disasters.
2. **Extended Sitting**: The session was extended until 22:00 to accommodate these urgent discussions and votes.
### Corrigenda
In line with [Rule 251(4)](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RULES-10-2024-07-16-RULE-251_EN.html) of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, two corrigenda will be considered approved unless a political group or a sufficient number of MEPs request a vote. The relevant list of corrigenda is available on the [plenary website](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/home.html).
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This moment of reflection, along with the focus on immediate legislative responses, highlights the EU’s commitment to addressing both urgent humanitarian needs and long-term solutions for affected Member States.
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