Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner Simson, dear colleagues, we are here today to make another step towards a more sustainable and energy efficient way for living. What we aim to do today is to provide to citizens in the Member States a complete toolbox to achieve a zero emission and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. How this is going to be a realistic framework? First, by the facilitation of more targeted financing of investments in the building sector and second, by complementing other EU instruments, supporting, in that sense, vulnerable consumers and fighting energy poverty. This piece of legislation is at the nexus of the ‘Fit for 55’ package. We have to admit that coming to a consensus was not an easy task for this proposal and I would like to congratulate all colleagues involved in this file, since we are very much aware about the fact that this is about an exercise which requires a framework for building renovation, where cost effectiveness, local circumstances and also the diversity of our buildings need to be considered. However, allow me to mention that by defining net—zero buildings, phasing out fossil fuel heating system in buildings by 2035 and if not feasible by 2040 at the latest, by ensuring also access to finance at favourable conditions, facilitating the deployment of financial instruments and innovative schemes, such as the European Renovation Loan or a European guarantee fund for building renovation, by finding a common ground on minimum energy performance standards, and by enhancing infrastructure for sustainable mobility, we finally achieved a compromise. Commissioner Simson, dear colleagues, we have set a solid basis for the accelerating efforts under the renovation wave to at least double the annual renovation rate by 2030, while shifting towards decarbonised buildings in the next few decades.

Madam President, Commissioner, you are all aware that the increase in variable production costs has reached 90 % for nitrogen fertilisers. This, as you all know, results in an increase in the price of products for our farmers in the European Union, to have a 149 % increase last September, September 2022, compared to September 2021. And all this because, among other things, natural gas, which accounts for 80% of the production costs of nitrogen fertilizers, has skyrocketed. It is therefore common ground in this Chamber that it is more necessary than ever to take measures to maintain sustainable European fertiliser production, to optimise use and to reduce dependence on mineral fertilisers. The Commission's instructions, Commissioner, are in the right direction. We need more organic fertilizers. We need to replace mineral fertilizers. We need a transition to green fertilisers and, for this, we need to support investments in clean hydrogen and biomethane for the production of ammonia. At the same time, however, we must recognize reality. Farmers, because of the cost, have greatly reduced the yield of their land. Και χαμηλότερες γεωργικές αποδόσεις σημαίνουν λιγότερα τρόφιμα, για αυτό και είναι πολύ μεγάλη ανάγκη, πρώτον, τα κράτη μέλη να αναθεωρήσουν τα εθνικά στρατηγικά σχέδια για την Κοινή Γεωργική Πολιτική και να καλύψουν κενά, να δώσουν κίνητρα για την αντικατάσταση και τη συμπλήρωση των ορυκτών λιπασμάτων με θρεπτικά συστατικά από οργανικές πηγές και να επιταχύνουν κατάλληλα μέτρα λίπανσης προκειμένου να αυξηθεί η γονιμότητα του εδάφους. However, it is also necessary for the Commission to investigate the possibility of using the agricultural reserve for the financial year 2023 to provide direct assistance to farmers due to the exponential increase in fertilisers.

Madam President, Commissioner McGuinness, dear minister, the EU is now well equipped to step up and seize the net-zero opportunity. Critical raw materials is one of the most important tools to serve this purpose, as without secure and sustainable access to the necessary raw materials, the ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent is at risk. In light of the announcement of the industrial plan for the net-zero age, as the Commissioner has already mentioned and Ursula von der Leyen has done, we face a unique opportunity to work the challenge of safeguarding critical raw materials as a package. It is critical to understand that the manufacturing of EU net-zero technologies is only possible if access to relevant critical raw materials is ensured, including by diversifying sources and by recycling raw materials to lower the EU dependence on highly concentrated supplies from third countries, and boost quality jobs and growth in the circular economy. And it is also important to say that we cannot proceed with ensuring the next-age sufficient amounts of raw materials to the EU if we do not serve the environmental goals intact. In order to achieve it, we shall preserve the level playing field on an equal basis, particularly with the treatment of strategic storage capacities, with the promotion of the secondary raw materials market. Since the safe and secure extraction is safeguarded, we need to proceed further with getting advantage through the InvestEU programme. Countries like my home country, Greece, need financial instruments for catalysing private investments in EU priority areas. The establishment of critical Raw Materials Club is a key scope to deliver a secure and affordable global supply of raw materials with a competitive and diversified international base, and could pave the next day for the critical raw materials presence.

Madam President, no picture, no number can describe the pain. He cannot describe the tragedy in Syria. We are neighbors and we arrived from the first, our own rescue teams, our own medical teams, 1,500 people at the beginning, 90 tons of humanitarian aid. Is that enough? Maybe it's not enough. The Donors' Conference, at the initiative of the European Union, must proceed with binding conclusions and quickly draw up the roadmap of direct support for the citizens of Syria and Turkey, without compromising with the Assad regime, without compromising with the Erdogan regime. We owe it to the lost children, to the men and women buried in the ruins and ruins. Turkey is a candidate country, the repeated violation of international law, the circumvention of the rule of law, the violation of Greece's airspace, the invasion and occupation of part of Cyprus do not in any way lead it to the European path. But Turkey is not Erdogan. The European Union is the entity that gives the hand to get Turkey up, to live again. And we have to follow step by step, moment by moment, the next steps and the next moves of the Turkish leadership.

Madam President, Vice-President Šefčovič, today we welcome the Commission’s proposal to accelerate and facilitate investments for the clean—tech sector. It is of paramount importance to implement, to deliver our Green Deal industrial plan. However, in the meantime, there are two issues, according to my opinion, on which we need to take immediate action. The first one is the urgent facilitation to our industry, in particular to our SMEs, to transform themselves into green and digital entities overall sustainable under the new competition circumstances. Second, it is the fast and effective adoption of our Green Deal industrial plan by the Member States, too slow permitting, additional red tape, which are still here, creating additional barriers to the investors. Vice-President Šefčovič, it is now time to have more focus, more focus on creating jobs, jobs and jobs.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Commissioner Sinkevičius, today we discuss an updated legal framework which could be a game changer in terms of a global challenge. The waste shipment regulation intends to protect the environment and public health from the impacts of unsound transboundary shipments of waste, since the non—appropriately controlled shipments of waste across borders may generate risks for both the environment and human health. This regulation is also enhancing EU strategic autonomy in terms of raw materials. Raw materials is a strategic priority for this House and the main key to delivering on the EU’s green and digital transition. We should keep in mind that these wastes, particularly as raw materials, could benefit the economy by reducing the dependence on primary materials leading to a more secure and sustainable economy. Therefore, it is important to understand that a solid circular economy depends heavily on sufficient recycling capacity and appropriate technology to feed secondary raw materials into the production of new goods. The EU should not embrace measures that will cut off facilities, that are making sustainable progress, from the recycling markets. I would like to make a call to all of you to support the collective agreement that our rapporteur Pernille Weiss has already concluded with our co—rapporteurs in order to have a concrete text without any additional amendments. The EU can be a global leader in the green transition, using its influence and incentives to promote transformational change, not only in our continent, but also in third countries in terms of waste management. And now is the time.

Madam President, Executive Vice-President, dear Colleagues, we are living very sad days and we have to clean our houses as soon as possible. And at the same time we have to continue to serve our mandate. As part of the REpowerEU package, this House makes today another step forwards towards Europe’s energy independence from fossil fuel. A large bundle of measures are intended to lower dependence on Russian fossil fuels, reduce CO2 emissions and accelerate the expansion of renewables. Today we sent another clear message to all third parties who consider that Europe is being blackmailed. We are now having a close eye to the end-consumers: trying to avoid the imposition of extra burdens, charges and red tape. What matters at this very stage is that Member States shall bear the responsibility to implement as fast as possible the acceleration schemes of legislation that we are voting. The overall target of increasing the renewable energy sources’ sale to 45% by 2030 stands as the sole opportunity to accelerate even further the efforts for further rapid deployment of renewables, but with significant improvements on the appropriate infrastructure and development of the grid. At the same time, the identification and promotion of go-to areas for renewable energy infrastructure and the recognition of renewable energy as an overriding public interest stands as a unique opportunity but it needs to be seized. It is important to underline that permitting granting process shall not exceed the six months in renewable go-to areas, the Executive Vice-President has already mentioned. Finally, importantly, is that in order to facilitate the development of roof-top solar. Member States must remove all administrative burdens, improving significantly the conditions for photovoltaic systems up to 50 kilowatts in size. Member States need to take up fast implementation decisions in this direction. Dear colleagues, we need to act with fast and efficient steps. But, last and not least, the Council needs to proceed with a realistic compromise on the correction mechanism and to come all together to political agreement. It is an essential instrument to our societies in this difficult window.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Simson, a full single common energy market is now an urgent precondition for the European Union to continue to have cohesive societies. Social cohesion is under threat and Member States' measures are not sufficient. In my country, Greece, more than €5 billion has already been allocated to citizens and businesses – in total more than 3.6% of GDP – in support measures and they are not sufficient. The announcement of the European Union's intention to set a price cap on liquefied natural gas has brought down prices on the markets, but the very publication of the correction mechanism, just yesterday, raises many doubts about its effectiveness and implementation. You must, Commissioner, provide specific clarifications so that the message is clear: the mechanism will be implemented in the interest of European citizens. Our citizens need infrastructure interconnection projects combining public and private investment. The Greece-Bulgaria pipeline, the FSRU in Alexandroupolis, the electricity interconnection of Greece with Egypt are first priority projects, as is the installation of renewable energy sources, immediately and drastically reducing barriers. The European Union must stand in direct solidarity with our citizens before the European crisis becomes a bomb on the foundations of our societies.

Madam President, Commissioner Reynders, ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time that the conditionality mechanism has been applied to judge the performance of a government, in this case the Orbán government, in applying the rules of the rule of law. And this is the first time that the European Union has actually considered linking funding to the application of our fundamental principles and values. Let me make a personal reference: all of us who signed the request for the oral question in June 2020 can now feel vindicated. The Orbán government, Hungary's own prime minister, believes it can blackmail the Union, go beyond the principles and rules that define European identity, use its vote in the Council as a weapon of blackmail, threaten European unity in supporting Hungary, annul our principles. The answer in this case is one: The European Union is not being blackmailed. No compromise on principle. Orbán and his government are depriving Hungarians of basic requirements of the European way of life, are violating the principles of the rule of law and, if they do not apply to the core what unites us in principle, they will also be depriving Hungary of funds for its economic recovery.

Madam President, welcome – Vice-President Šefčovič – the Commission’s complementary initiatives, including the additional indicative indicator for liquefied natural gas and the temporary ceiling price in the single market. But, you know, you're late. You are late because these proposals have been on the table since last March, on the initiative of the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. You're late because wasted time costs money. You are late because even the common platform that the leaders have decided on since last June has not been operational and we are at the end of October. Lost time costs; it costs households dearly, it costs businesses dearly and it raises huge doubts about the functioning of the single market – especially after Chancellor Scholz’s initiative to put Germany first and Europe after it. We need leadership and the European Council must take the lead in the coming days. We need Europe to do whatever it takes to support its citizens, to support households, to support businesses to survive.

Mr President, Commissioner Vălean, dear colleagues, today we make an important step forward for a quick and efficient facilitation for the decarbonisation in the shipping sector. And according to my opinion, I strongly believe that we have managed to propose a piece of legislation that focuses on reducing shipping’s climate impact while encouraging and accelerating investments in that direction. What is of utmost importance is that the report now recognises the structural role of the commercial operators in the shipping sector. Needless to say that we focused on this aspect during our internal negotiation, and I would like to thank once again my colleague Warborn for his excellent collaboration. The commercial operator, which can be the ship-owner, which can be the charterer or any other entity, is the entity responsible for making the choice on the compliant fuels used by this ship. The current approach now fully reflects the ‘polluter pays’ principle, which was established under the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, constitutes the fundamental stone of our EU environmental legislation. Therefore, the application of the polluter pays principle shall not be subject of contractual negotiations, but an unquestionable EU environmental principle that must be respected by all relevant stakeholders. We also aim to achieve consistency between this regulation in line with ETS and the MRV legislation. This report also reflects to the shared responsibility between the commercial operator and the fuel supplier to a very satisfying degree. An obligation on fuel suppliers is provided to compensate shipping companies for the payment of penalties if they fail to deliver compliant fuels pursuant to a contractual arrangement. It is a balanced approach. It has been secure and I believe that this report should also work as a solid base for the trilogue discussion with the Commission and the Council. Once again, thank you very much all co-rapporteurs and the rapporteur.

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, I would like to bring to your attention some details on the aspect that Commissioner Johansson has already included in her introduction. It was the morning of 14 October when the Greek border police found two groups, in total 92 irregular immigrants including 6 children, naked next to the River Evros, which constitutes the border between Greece and Turkey, between the EU and Turkey. According to their testimonies, they had been robbed, they had been subject to personal injuries, as well as assaults on their dignity, by the Turkish authorities, who obliged them through threats and violence to cross the river, to cross the EU-Turkish border. Needless to say that it is obvious that Turkey is failing to implement all the relevant obligations and actions based on the EU-Turkish Joint Statement. I would like to assure this House that the Greek authorities will continue to protect our external borders, our EU borders. The Greek authorities, supported by Frontex, are operating in a very complex, very volatile environment in which Turkey – we can all agree – is weaponising desperate people. And we have to face the truth and to condemn Turkey in this regard.

Madam President, Vice-President Vestager, in politics progress can be reflected in crucial changes in the lives of our citizens, and today the introduction of the single charger for mobile, computers, gaming machines, including Apple devices from 2024, is an important step towards producing sustainable products as a norm rather than as interesting exceptions. It took more than a decade to have today's significant success. But you all understand here in the Chamber, and certainly the consumers who see us, the citizens who see us, that we no longer have time in either environmental or economic terms. The Sustainable Products Regulation, which I have the honour to propose on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, creates the scope for producing and selling mainly sustainable products that will be repaired, reused and recycled. Today's single charger decision addresses all 11,000 tons of e-waste generated by different chargers. The future is sustainable, as long as we don't need another 15 years to get there.

Madam President, Mrs Kyriakides, Commissioner, the Health Union Regulation, which we are voting on tomorrow, is an important step in creating the legislative framework, which will be immediately applicable to the Member States, so that in principle they can cooperate in the exchange of data safely and interoperability and directly shift their focus to the prevention of diseases and epidemics. The pandemic period has taught us that no Member State, no matter how strong it is, no matter how strong an economy it has, no matter how modern and staffed a health system it has at its disposal, can cope without European cooperation and solidarity, without joint action, with large-scale crises. Cancer prevention and ongoing care for patients, as outlined in the European plan we developed in cooperation with the Commission, must first of all be reverently implemented by Member States and guide the way forward. At the same time, cross-border access to innovative medicines and high-tech medical care is an obligation of our governments. We must give Europeans equal opportunities in prevention and care, whether they live in Kastelorizo and Nevrokopi or in the centre of Brussels and Paris.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to ask you the following: Are you satisfied with the way in which the President of the Commission has described the change of the new model of decoupling the price of gas from the price of electricity? Do you not think that the Commission needs to go into detail in order to stabilise the market and thus enable us to attract investment? You know, tomorrow I'm going to my city, Thessaloniki, and I have to explain to the citizens what solidarity means in practice this difficult winter. All the measures proposed by the European Commission today have already been adopted by Greece. What's the next step? How fast he'll be here.

–Madam President, Commissioner Simson, more renewables and energy efficiency is the way to go, and I fully agree with you. However, in the meanwhile we are facing a state of emergency and, as Esther de Lange has already underlined, we have to fight this war by all means. People are suffering. Industry is asking for immediate relief. And I would like to table two very brief questions. The first one is when the Commission will be ready with an impact assessment on a scenario to put a cap price for all gas imported in the EU and a replacing of the ETF. And the second question is what kind of additional further measures could the Member States adopt this winter – this hard winter – provided that there are Member States like my home country, Greece, which has already adopted a lot of the measures that the Commission includes in this basket.

Mr President, Commissioner Vălean, today we take another step towards Europe’s energy independence from fossil fuels. Today, we give another lesson to all third parties, starting with Putin, who consider that Europe is being blackmailed. And today we confirm that all together managed to bring affordability as a key element that guide all our efforts to increase the renewable energy sources share up to 45% by 2030. This stands a great opportunity for my home country, Greece, to accelerate even further the efforts for deployment of RES, combining this effort with the appropriate infrastructures and development of the grid. We managed to give more flexibility to the Member States on forest biomass. And in this point I would like to stress to the people in Greece and especially in the north, in Xanthi, Rodopi and Evros, not to be concerned about activities related to deforestation and forest products. There is an urgency to act fast and in unity tackling the energy crisis with all available means, and tomorrow’s vote – I insist that this piece of legislation... (The President cut off the speaker)

Mr President, Commissioner, the climate crisis has not been put on hold because Putin invaded Ukraine. Nor has climate change stopped because Putin uses energy as a weapon and in fact creates an artificial shortage in the European market, putting pressure on our households and businesses. Today's debate demonstrates that we need to accelerate especially with regard to the energy efficiency of buildings, and this is something that needs to be done as a matter of urgency. And it is very important that we have binding targets, especially for public buildings. Public buildings are an energy-wasting sector and Member States are now urged to move faster; and they have to move on. Greece already has EUR 640 million in this direction; 6% of the Recovery and Resilience Fund towards the upgrading of buildings. Circular materials, more energy in the direction of built-in energy than buildings and – most importantly – what matters: spaces, such as data management centres, that can return this action to citizens.

Mr President, the case of the surveillance of Mr Androulakis' mobile phone is very important, as is the attempt to install illegal spyware. This is why the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, immediately removed the objectively and politically responsible, strengthened the parliamentary and judicial control of the National Intelligence Service, which had been monitoring in the past – during the SYRIZA-Independent Greeks government, and the case is now in the Judiciary and the Parliament. I would advise colleagues, like Mrs Sophie in 't Veld, who has drawn arbitrary conclusions, to wait a little longer for the results. But today we are here to unite our voices so that illegal spyware has no place in Europe, Commissioner. Take legislative initiative so that they can neither be bought nor rented, and used only for national security purposes. It is necessary – I agree with Hannah Neumann, it is necessary to protect at the highest possible level the human rights and freedoms of our citizens.

Mr President, Commissioner Sinkevičius, you have visited the areas affected by the fires in my home country, Greece, and you know that one of the species affected by these fires is pollinators, namely bees. Since you have this in mind, I would like to know whether the Commission intends, especially for areas affected by natural disasters due to climate change, to take measures to support farmers' efforts there, and because of the urgent need for people to stay at home.

Mr President, Commissioner, because of climate change, human negligence and some major accidents, the fires have already broken out in the Mediterranean and especially in my country, Greece, which has been facing a serious problem in recent days. My first question is whether you intend, also in view of COP15, to ask the Commission to proceed with the establishment of specific measures relating to the restoration of biodiversity in burnt areas, and through the exchange of know-how through a dedicated platform, and beyond the design by Member States of specific programmes for the restoration of such biodiversity.

Mr President, Executive Vice-President Timmermans, ladies and gentlemen, the platform for voluntary joint gas orders from Member States, the introduction of 80% occupancy on 1 November 2022 and solidarity with Member States that do not have sufficient storage space allow us today to talk about an important European step ahead of next winter. However, prices are not falling significantly. The Commission has already been mandated to study the change in the electricity pricing model and the possibility of disconnecting it from gas. As I am sure you believe, dear Executive Vice President, we cannot continue to price electricity on the basis of the most expensive fossil fuel in the world. At the same time, the European Council must act immediately and impose a cap on the wholesale price of natural gas, as the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has proposed for months now. Every day that passes, dear colleagues, dear Executive Vice-President, burdens households, makes life difficult for citizens and undermines the credibility of the European institutions. Let's not give Putin, speculators and populists any more time.

Mr President, Commissioner Gentiloni, in a recent White Paper, the UN explicitly emphasised the crucial role of companies in accomplishing development goals, wealth distribution and sustainable economic growth. No matter how large or small and regardless of their industry, all companies can contribute to the SDGs. Multinational enterprises can contribute to the SDGs by conducting responsible research and innovation with the maturity of innovation ecosystem. On the other hand, SMEs seem to struggle to understand the role they could play in the SDG framework. They encounter several barriers to implementing the SDGs’ principles and initiatives, making their engagement with entities challenging and problematic. All in all, there is a need for a decentralised approach to sustainable development. In that direction, the EU could also encourage interactions across different power levels and SMEs could actively participate in local processes of sustainable development implementations.

Mr President, Vice-President Šefčovič, in the framework of the preparation of the European Council meeting, it is important to send a clear message to a candidate country, to Turkey. It is important to remind all of you here in this House that President Erdoğan once again is demonstrating his revisionist approach to the Treaties and he’s ready to violate international law. Turkey is a candidate country and it’s also threatening stability in the Mediterranean and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greece, a Member State, and also occupying illegally the north part of Cyprus. In this regard, we have to act and we have to send a clear message.