By Martin Banks

A senior EU political leader has spoken out again “intolerable” violence against women.

Speaking on Monday, Roberta Metsola condemned this, whether it is “online or offline” as “intolerable and deplorable.”

“This House stands against it with every measure available” said Metsola in her opening statement at the start of this week’s parliamentary plenary in Strasbourg.

Metsola, a centre right MEP, opened the session by welcoming the release of 2024 Sakharov Prize finalist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu on 24 September from three years’ captivity in Azerbaijan.

Noting that Parliament had long advocated for his release, Metsola, from Malta, thanked all those involved in making it possible and reiterated Parliament’s “unwavering solidarity with him and his family.”

Metsola went on to also reveal that 60 MEPs from all political persuasions had been targeted by deepfake pornography websites that publish false and altered images of mainly female members.

“Violence against women, online or offline, is intolerable and deplorable”, she said.

She went on to state that disturbing as the images are, this is also an “attempt to target and prey upon elected politicians doing their duty.”

She reassured young women watching who might be wondering about whether there was a place for them in politics, saying “You belong here. Your voice belongs here. And we will stand with you.”

The president also called on the Member States to prepare now to enforce the ban on nudifier apps that will come into force on 2 December.

Elsewhere, the EU Commission issued a statement on escalating student riots in France, including arson attacks on schools, assaults against firefighters, police officers and teachers.

MEPs face a packed agenda in France.

On Tuesday, they will debate the Affordable Housing Act.

The Green/EFA say the text recently proposed by the Commission “fails to match the scale and urgency of the housing crisis and mostly focuses on the functioning of the market rather than people’s access to affordable housing.”

The Greens/EFA will this week for a “stronger Affordable Housing Act that recognises speculation and financialisation as well as significant and growing investment gap in social and affordable housing as key elements of the housing crisis.”

The Greens/EFA has selected this week’s topical debate, which will focus on the urgent need to tax the profits of polluters.

It says, “In times of war, insecurity and rising energy prices, it is completely unacceptable that mega polluters such as oil and gas and energy suppliers are raking in huge profits at the expense of consumers.”

Also later on Tuesday, MEPs will debate the priorities for the next European Council on 15-16 October.

The ECR Group says Europe needs to focus on the areas where concrete results are most urgently needed.

“That means,” it says, “restoring competitiveness, lowering energy costs, cutting unnecessary regulation, improving access to critical raw materials and creating better conditions for industry and investment in Europe.”