Speeches

Dear Chairman, the war we have witnessed in the last thirteen days has only confirmed what we already knew. Someone else is managing our strategic interests and yes, that makes us very vulnerable. And it is clear as a day that without energy sovereignty and without stable energy prices, there is neither development nor progress. For this we need a completely new approach to energy policy and for this we need a sixth speed. We need to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, diversify supply sources, better manage strategic stocks and invest in building Europe's energy infrastructure and interconnections. For this we need clear goals and even clearer deadlines. I would say, no more business as usual. Madam Commissioner, can you tell citizens today from this lectern that Europe has a solution to this energy crisis and has a vision of how to protect citizens and provide them with affordable energy?

The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Véronique, Commissioners, colleagues, we have tolerated too many inequalities between Member States in cancer treatment in Europe for too long. The European Plan is a generational opportunity to reduce these inequalities and improve access to oncological care for all EU citizens, regardless of their country of origin. This report is progressive, ambitious, science-based and gives us the opportunity to turn a new page in the fight against cancer. We can reverse bad trends and reduce the alarming increase in the number of cancer patients. But we must be persistent in this, especially when it comes to cigarettes, heated tobacco products, alcohol or the polluted environment, and that is why when voting, each of us should ask ourselves what is more important to us: the health of our citizens or meeting the interests of the lobbies? Today I am filled with the hope that we are on the right track, and although he is both long and full of unknowns, with this report we are making a great leap forward today. Let's continue to walk boldly and together!

Dear Mr. Chairman, colleagues, if we compare our successes in the fight against climate change today with those of ten years ago, we see progress. But we all agree that the efforts made are far from sufficient. There are many demands ahead, such as abolishing all fossil fuel subsidies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing investment in renewable energy sources. According to the International Energy Agency, we need to triple investment in clean technologies over the next decade to prevent a temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees by 2050. Therefore, the UN Conference is an opportunity for world leaders to embrace more ambitious commitments, and perhaps one that refers to the transformation of the current neoliberal economic model into a model based on criteria such as social fairness and people's satisfaction. Let's not miss that opportunity! Today we need to call on all governments to increase their national contributions and understand the situation as alarming.

Dear Chairman, the debate on the rise in energy prices is urgent because it is a matter that directly affects many families. Energy prices have increased by more than 100% this year, and citizens feel the price shock on a daily basis when going to gas stations, when performing construction works in the house or when going to the procurement where the basic foods have increased by up to 30%. We need to adopt urgent targeted measures to protect socially vulnerable groups and the economy, without compromising the ambitions of the European Union to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050. To ensure affordable energy use for citizens and to ensure the competitiveness of our companies, we need to reduce import dependency and increase energy efficiency, and use national recovery plans to invest more in renewables. Finally, in order to be successful, the energy transition must be both socially sensitive and just. We're taking care of that.