Speeches

Mr President, across Europe, the rise in energy prices has been dramatically rapid and it is not even winter yet. We see that countries that already have low emissions in the energy sector and diversified zero-emission electricity production have survived even now with the lowest price swings. The price fluctuates because the price of natural gas has even increased tenfold and the price of coal has doubled. Water reservoirs are also at a lower level than average, and at least in Finland the price of electricity transmission has increased. However, in this situation, where the price of emission allowances has also risen higher than in the past, we cannot change direction, because it is this price of electricity emissions trading that guides us away from dependencies. I am sorry for those Europeans whose homes are still supplied with heating or electricity from fossil fuels and who are dependent on price spikes. We must seek immediate action this winter to help consumers and small businesses. We look forward to the Commission's action plans for next week. We must maintain a determined direction so that we can get to a better situation, if not next winter, then the following winter and the coming winters. We can also use technology to promote energy efficiency. Intelligent control systems can easily cut 20 per cent of your energy needs. RRF funding has now also been allocated to the RRP. It should also be used wisely to eradicate energy poverty.

Mr President, with the challenges of today, it is so crucial that we work together with other democracies. It gives us more strength to defend our values and our safety. Climate change, technological transformation and international trade tensions are just few of the policy areas where we cannot afford to have disputes, but seek full cooperation across the Atlantic. After some rough years, the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), held last week in Pittsburgh, is an extremely promising step towards deepening trans-Atlantic resolve on these important issues. If the TTC succeeds in finding a way to fight together for human—centric AI, like emerging disruptive technologies, to find good common standards, to set and speed up markets for green technology to cut emissions and to solve the climate crisis, we will not only have the Brussels effect, but we can have, even better, a trans-Atlantic effect for climate, for democracy, for human rights and for decent work. I also welcome Mr Biden’s decisions to take the USA back to international organisations. That is very much needed. As the vice-chair for the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue (TLD), I welcome here what is written in the report: to call for the establishment of a subcommittee on tech and trade within the TLD to complement the executive part of the TTC and to exercise democratic oversight in the European Parliament. We are ready to do that.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is indeed an important part of the digital and climate transition. We need fast digital connections, rails that move goods and Europeans across the continent and an energy network that is ready for the uptake of renewables. As the S&D shadow rapporteur, I’m happy that Parliament was able to strengthen the climate perspective. Now, 60% of the CEF is targeted to contributing to the climate objectives. We have 15% earmarked to be spent for cross-border renewable energy, and also biodiversity and the gender perspective are included. During the negotiations, we were able to improve the fast mobile connections that should be supporting also the European transport networks, but also important social economic hubs such as schools, universities, hospitals, industrial parks, and so on. As the CEF has a central role for this twin transition, it’s important that this instrument will be in action as soon as possible. And like the Greens say, the climate doesn’t wait, and rail investments are urgent.