Speeches

I support the European Commission in demanding a declaration from the Hungarian government. We stand for a Europe of freedom and tolerance. All Member States must respect these values. There can be no place in the EU for discrimination and laws against people's fundamental freedoms. Our fundamental rights are non-negotiable. The new Hungarian law, which prohibits the “representation and promotion of homosexuality” and places homosexuality in a context of child pornography, discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation. And we can't let that happen.

Mr President, Commissioner! The agreement at COP 16 is an important signal, especially in times of global uncertainty. Two points are particularly important to me. Firstly: International cooperation works. Rome has shown this, even if the world situation is characterized by conflicts and tensions. And we can only solve the challenges in environmental policy together. And that is why we should do everything we can to take as many states as possible along our way. And I wish, yes, I call in particular on the United States to return to the negotiating table. Secondly: Implementation must not come at the expense of our competitiveness. Especially in geopolitically difficult times, Europe needs an environmental policy that protects biodiversity and at the same time maintains our economic strength. We must not leave those affected by this policy behind on the way, otherwise they will turn away from the whole goal. And what would happen if we no longer fought for ambitious climate protection on the international stage? That's why sometimes it's better to take a step slower and reach the goal than to start rushed and fail in the end. Europe can be a key pillar for achieving our global climate and biodiversity goals and thus also a role model for others. But only if we actively involve international partners and motivate them to cooperate. And in the end, this will only succeed if we maintain our economic strength along the way.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Desertification is a global challenge and Europe is increasingly affected. Our food security, which we took for granted for a long time, is under threat. A solution can only be found with and not against our farmers. What happens when we decide over their heads has been shown in recent years. In the meantime, peasant protests have become everyday life in front of this house. Hence my urgent appeal: Involve the profession from the outset, especially in the announced Water resilience strategy. I would like to highlight three aspects: First of all, we need intelligent water management. Let's use artificial intelligence to efficiently distribute water resources. Let's focus on the reuse of grey water and wastewater, and expand water-saving infrastructure. In this way, we can use water sustainably between regions and sectors. Secondly: drought-resistant seeds. It is essential to ensure yields even under extreme climatic conditions. To this end, we need new breeding technologies and the blockade in the Council must be ended. Thirdly: Innovative irrigation solutions, droplet and precision irrigation use sensor data, use water in a targeted manner and thus avoid losses. We need to promote these technologies more strongly in order to make our agriculture even more efficient and sustainable. In a nutshell: If we want food security, we need new technologies and innovative solutions in close cooperation with our international partners, with our farmers, but also with us consumers.

Mr President! Commissioner! The costs increase, but the revenues do not. Instead of balanced reporting, we only talk about pollution and destruction of nature. It rains, and the field is not passable, the harvest: there. Your child is bullied and hostile as a farmer's child at school. Unfortunately, this is often the reality of farmers, for many years. It is therefore no wonder that the suicide rate of farmers in the Member States is 20% higher than the national average. Agriculture is also one of the four sectors with the highest rate of fatal accidents in the European Union. In 2022, 389 EU farmers died at work. In order to avert further personal suffering, we must finally be honest with the burden and pressure on the people in agriculture. We must take responsibility towards the profession and inform about the risks and take protective measures at an early stage. Mental health needs to get out of the taboo zone, and more counselling and therapy services need to be created, especially in rural areas. We need an honest dialogue to enable farmers to live a good and healthy life.

Mr President! Ladies and Gentlemen, The Green Deal is a decisive step for the future of the European Union. Our goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 must not be called into question. This is our promise to the next generation: a climate-neutral Europe that ensures prosperity and competitiveness. At the same time, it is right to carefully examine the forward-looking path we want to take towards success. A central role is played by legal impact assessments, which must take into account not only environmental but also economic effects and competitiveness. This is the only way to determine whether the measures actually contribute to the achievement of the objectives and what burdens, such as costs and documentation obligations, are placed on companies. Unfortunately, in the past, impact assessments were often inadequate and the influence of green NGOs was too great. That has to change in this legislature. Too much bureaucracy jeopardizes the implementation of the Green Deal. Excessive reporting and documentation obligations overwhelm our companies, which means they lack the time and energy to innovate and grow sustainably. We need to strike the right balance between protecting the environment and a strong economy. Because it can only be done together.

Mr President! Rules are meant to provide guidance, but too many rules only create a jungle to get lost in, and a fitting example of unnecessary requirements is the law on deforestation-free supply chains. The aim of the law is to combat illegal deforestation, but with a jungle of regulations and documentation, it completely overshoots the target and puts jobs at risk. I choose this example consciously because we are currently discussing this law. Because those who need to implement it share the goal of advancing forest protection and strengthening forest protection, but they despair of implementing it; These are, for example, the coffee farmers in our developing countries, but it is also the baker and furniture retailer around the corner. And they don't because they don't want to protect our environment or clear forests. No, on the contrary, the protection of nature and forests is very, very important to them. But they do it because the jungle of regulations and reporting requirements is pushing their operations to the brink of resilience, and many are risking access to the European market because they cannot meet the requirements. Do you see in this example what causes too much bureaucracy? A law with the right objectives is losing acceptance and, in the end, everyone – businesses, jobs, but also the environment – is losing out. And that's what we need to do better in the future. Let's create an environment in which we promote innovation, secure jobs and at the same time enable the protection of nature!

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen. Almost exactly one year ago, farmers stood here in front of the European Parliament for the first time. They have clearly given us the message that they want to be heard, that they want to have a discussion when it comes to decisions that affect them, that they want people to talk to them and no longer talk about them. It is therefore good that there is now a report on the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture; It is in the nature of things that they are interpreted differently. But what is important is that the report concludes that our farmers need a better position in the food value chain and that we also need to properly shape generational renewal. Because we consumers, we decide with our purchase decision what the agriculture of the future looks like. It is not our job as politicians to tell consumers how to feed themselves. Our task is to provide appropriate nutrition education so that they can make an independent and responsible decision. That is why we must take a close look at the decisions we will make in the future in the field of consumers, but also in agriculture, the future of agriculture.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Geographical indications – they are a success story. They have been protecting our traditional specialities in Europe for over 30 years – and that's a good thing! But unfortunately, the Commission and some regular parliamentarians threatened to exaggerate the report massively. They wanted to introduce mandatory indications of origin for ingredients that did not come from the production area. This would have created a bureaucratic monster. Then we would probably need a leaflet in the future, for example for our Nuremberg gingerbread. Because almonds, which is a main ingredient of gingerbread, do not grow in Nuremberg. In the end, however, we were able to prevent the leaflet and instead find compromises that are practical. But it shows what catastrophic effects supposedly well-intentioned laws can have. We have to stop losing ourselves in the small. This is the only way to protect our unique products and their producers in our home regions in the future.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, While we are discussing here in the hemicycle, farmers are standing outside the parliament and protesting. I can understand them very well, because political goals are always set, but these goals are to be implemented exclusively through prohibitions and conditions. We rarely focus on innovation and technology in the discussions, but it is precisely with this bill that we are trying to close the technology gap, we are trying to give farmers hand tools to achieve the goals. And honestly – new breeding technologies: It's nothing else that breeds have been doing for hundreds of years in the classical sense. And it is also nothing else that happens uncontrollably in parts in the great outdoors. We want to increase yields, but we also want to protect resources, which means reducing the use of plant protection products and fertilisers. At the same time, we take into account the concerns of organic farms by labelling the seeds. We have the right solutions for the challenges of the future with innovation and not with fear-mongering as you operate it.

Mr President, Commissioner! For me, the discussion about glyphosate today is a perfect example of what is wrong with us, partly in society, but also here in the political house. Almost every discussion when it comes to plant protection products is conducted emotionally. Facts play less and less a role, but instead some doomsday scenarios spread here again, should the approval of glyphosate be extended. That is why I would like to briefly recapitulate what this is about. Glyphosate is a plant protection product that allows our farmers to ensure food security. The use of glyphosate is already subject to strict regulations. In protected areas, glyphosate must not be applied at all. We've never had better data than we do now. And our independent scientists from EFSA even recommend an extended authorisation. Without the use of glyphosate, drastic crop losses are looming, especially now that food affordability is becoming a growing problem for many people. That is why I ask all those involved: Stop this fear-mongering and let's return to a fact-based discussion. Of course, we have to work on working alternatives. But it is only when these are available that we can discuss further steps. Therefore, we should advocate for an extended restricted approval of glyphosate.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Prostitution is not a profession like any other – exit is the goal. I can only subscribe to this quote from our Commission President. As political leaders, but also as a society as a whole, we must not turn a blind eye to the suffering that people experience through prostitution. That is why we must give a voice to all those affected, especially girls and women. They need our protection. And that's why I support the Nordic model. It decriminalises prostitutes and holds accountable those who make prostitution possible through their actions and thus actively support sexual exploitation, human trafficking and organised crime. My goal as shadow rapporteur in the EPP Group is that we do everything we can to reduce demand and provide real exit aid and concrete alternatives for prostitutes. I hope that the Member States will do everything they can to get prostitutes out of their inhuman situation. We must not abandon the women who have resigned and the many children who are forced into prostitution. We have heard many reports from survivors, and they must be a reminder to us that we must not let go of this issue. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our rapporteur, Maria Noichl. She did not have easy negotiations on an issue that affects us all very much. Thank you very much for the work and the collegial cooperation.

If it is falsely claimed, I would like to make it clear again here: We as the EPP stand by the objectives of the Green Deal, and yes, we want the Montreal Agreement to be implemented worldwide. We agree on the goal, but not on the path. There are completely different ideas and the Commission's proposal is heading in exactly the wrong direction. The protection of biodiversity can only work hand in hand with the population, not by unilaterally blaming farmers, foresters and fishermen for the loss of species, not by taking more and more land out of production and thus endangering food security and affordability, not by pitting nature conservation and sustainable management against each other. To date, the Commission has not provided reliable, sustainable, complete data, even though we have been promised it for a year. The financing of the measures and the impact on the Member States are also unclear, and it is completely unclear how the Nature Restoration Regulation will be aligned with the already existing 23 EU regulations that already protect our nature. One could get the impression that the Commission has strayed along the way. By stubbornly sticking to a badly made proposal, the Commission has wasted unnecessarily valuable time and support is not gained by putting pressure on individual MEPs. As a result, Vice-President Timmermans has divided Parliament. Three committees have already rejected the Commission's draft, and tomorrow there will still be a fight vote here in Parliament. Let me therefore conclude by stressing once again: We as the EPP Group stand by the Green Deal. But the law is badly done, and it is up to us, as Members of Parliament, to name it. In the end, that also means voting against it. Our demand remains unchanged: Make a new, better proposal. Again, take such a path that there is a broad majority here.

Mr President, Commissioner! We agree on the goal: We want strong agriculture and forestry, yes, and we want resilient agriculture. We want long-term food security, but yes, we also want short-term food security, because if we only focus on long-term food security, our farms will no longer be here. And those who are no longer here cannot ensure the food security of the future. This is the first difference. We want to meet the objectives of the Green Deal. Agriculture wants to reduce 50% of pesticides, and yes, we want to preserve biodiversity. We agree on the goal, but not on the path. Agriculture – it is part of the solution. I say it very clearly, Commissioner McGuinness: If you had written the proposals, I think we would have a good basis for discussion. But the Commission's proposals on the nature conservation package divide this Parliament because they do not provide answers to our questions on how to proceed with the expansion of renewable energies. That's the problem. The problem is in the Commission's proposal.

Madam President, On behalf of the EPP Group, I would like to change the proposed title of the ECR for the debate. As an EPP Group, we request the following title: . We as the EPP Group do not support individual actions against certain Member States. A one-sided focus on a particular Member State, as in the case of the Netherlands, is disproportionate and ineffective. Nature conservation policy must ensure that food safety and the development of renewable energies and energy security are maintained in all Member States. And this is precisely what the Commission is currently putting at risk through its proposals in the EU Nature Conservation Package with the Nature Restoration Act and the Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products. We request that the vote be taken by roll call.

Madam Vice-President, Commissioner! Almost one in four women in the European Union is affected by poverty. Poverty means more than material deprivation. Poverty also means social exclusion and social isolation. We must effectively tackle the root causes of poverty and social exclusion. We must finally overcome the structural gap between men and women in the economy, in the gender pay and pension gap. And we need to create synergies between social policies in the Member States to promote gender equality, employment and education. Unfortunately, there is no solution according to the motto One size fits all. The problem is far too complex for this. The work of women must be rewarded, even if it is not done in a traditional employment relationship or in the informal economy. We need to encourage women to balance family life and their careers. Most female graduates in the EU are women, but they are under-represented in the labour market. And despite their higher qualifications, women are more likely to work part-time, especially for women with children. We need to promote the opportunities of education and training, including the digital revolution and the promotion of STEM professions among girls and women. This includes female entrepreneurship. Finally, I would like to thank the rapporteur for her work and for the truly fair and constructive exchange.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, No one thinks directly of women in the common agricultural policy, but women play a crucial role. This role is often ignored, let alone honored. Women make a very, very important contribution. I would even go so far as to say: Women are the backbone of our family-run farms in rural areas. It is our rural women who have been fighting for many years for our agricultural products to be valued more. We need to recognise better their work in the field of nutrition education, the education of our children, village coexistence and even further education. That is why it is important that we continue to strengthen and perpetuate farmer support. But we should also focus on the female junior staff. We need them for our farms, we need them for food security and for securing the future of our rural areas. In doing so, women will make a decisive contribution to leading our agriculture into a successful future.

Madam President, Commissioner! Over the last few months, in the Committee on the Environment and Agriculture, we have taken a close look at the proposal for the Farm to Fork Strategy and put together a compromise package that paints a picture of how we envisage the European food supply in the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs for their work. I can say: Yes, we are facing a Herculean task in achieving the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy. We only achieve these goals together with consumers. Ultimately, they play a key role, because with our purchasing and consumption behaviour, we shape our food production in Europe. However, we can only live up to this responsibility if we know how to eat a healthy, balanced and sustainable diet. That's why we need consumer education and education, starting at daycare. They are essential for a healthy lifestyle. But we also need good information so that we can assess whether we are eating a healthy and safe diet. This includes a set of mandatory information. I have also proposed the introduction of a QR code, which allows us to receive additional voluntary information. The Farm to Fork Strategy provides incentives and is not a banning strategy. We send a clear message to our consumers. Ultimately, they decide on the change in sustainability. It also offers a great opportunity for our agriculture. However, legal impact assessments are essential for this. They are a necessary confidence-building measure. Commissioner, Vice-President Timmermans has lost all confidence in this. With the withholding and non-publishing of the study, all the confidence of farmers, but also of many of us here in Parliament, has been destroyed. We need the information, and the reluctance was a failure and destroyed much, much here in Parliament.