Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The great opportunity for an EU-wide road toll, which would be socially just and at the same time good for the environment, is frivolously squandered with this reform. The climate urgency is so great: Road transport still accounts for 72% of CO2 emissions. We still see diesel-powered rolling halls in Europe every day. Of course, the topic of truck tolls is not particularly sexy. But: In order to achieve our common goal – the Green Deal – this instrument would be so predestined. Although the reform tackles a lot, it is brimming with exceptions and loopholes. As Greens, we believe that road transport should no longer be privileged over rail in 2022. The key objective of the reform – i.e. why it came – to establish the polluter pays principle in road transport and also to reflect the true societal costs and thus set the course for a far-reaching transport transition is not met. The rail continues to be subject to a compulsory toll, a toll on the road will remain optional. There is no earmarking of the revenue of the truck toll for the expansion of the rail. A vignette, which is almost a flat rate – without steering effect – will still be possible. And serious external costs, such as noise, are hardly taken into account. Now a majority in this Parliament is behind this reform. We have to accept that. However, I would like to draw your attention to a few points: The collection of regional surcharges – as we heard from my colleague earlier – which would reduce significant traffic congestion in sensitive areas, such as the Alpine regions, is now subject to the approval of all the neighbouring countries. And to change that, we propose Amendments Nos 1 and 2 and others. I would ask you very much to accept these important suggestions for improvement. I am sure we can renegotiate with the Council. We deserve it in Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! As the daughter of a Frenchwoman and a German-Swiss who now lives in Spain, I live in southern Germany myself. And like you, ladies and gentlemen, we work in Belgium and France. And, of course, this is not only the case for us parliamentarians, but also for many people in the EU who live and work across borders. We have been going through a serious crisis in this pandemic for two years. And at this point once again my heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost a dear person or who have suffered very much or are still suffering. As Europeans, moving freely within our internal borders is and remains in our DNA. And even if it was sometimes not possible in the short term for sanitary reasons, the EU has so far done everything to make it possible. The single COVID certificate came quickly and made things easier. Today, however, the pandemic is of varying degrees of severity and, above all, national rules are becoming increasingly confused. Therefore, my questions to you: What can the Commission do in concrete terms to harmonise today's provisions and, above all, to provide clarity for citizens? How can the Commission ensure that the use of allowances remains proportionate and evidence-based? And my last question: Why, dear Commission, do you not propose a true impact assessment before? We could find the weak points of the chosen tool or assumptions. Or what mechanisms in the Member States would have helped to better coordinate the certificate?

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen! Over a million citizens have asked us to finally do more for animal welfare. That's why I'm here today. In the committee of inquiry, we have been impressively proven that the lack of clear transport rules and controls has catastrophic consequences for the animals. Today we have the chance to limit the transport time from our fellow creatures to eight hours on land and 24 hours at sea. To the Members of the House who do not support this request, I ask today: Who do you really want to protect? The mass consumption of cheap meat, the desperation of farmers caught in a cruel system of ‘more and more and faster’, the hauliers who exploit the drivers to the point of exhaustion, or those who put massive pressure on the authorities and veterinarians? I'm sure you don't want all that either. That is why I urge you to vote in favour of further limiting animal transport with us.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, In many important areas of the EU, we have already set ourselves clear goals: the end of the internal combustion engine in 2035, the end of harmful coal subsidies in 2025. Who would have believed it five years ago? Why can't we do that in agriculture? Why are we not working towards a concrete end to pesticides and their subsidies? Why don't we set a date on which we want to get out of synthetic fertilizers that are harmful? For another seven years, we will invest 50 billion euros a year in the promotion of large industrial corporations, which do not take this direction at all, but only own land. The money would be so necessary to support our farmers in the transition to truly sustainable food production. The money would be so necessary. Today we will have to vote against this proposal of missed opportunities. The Greens will not give up. We will continue to work for a common agricultural policy that serves the common good in a measurable way and protects our livelihoods.

Mr President! We've got to figure it out, we've been totally screwed up. Driven by cheap crude oil, we ship soy over the entire ocean, then transport it with trucks over high passes of the Alps, to finally feed it in hostile mass animal facilities. We destroy rainforests, deprive the indigenous population of their livelihoods and heat the world's climate every day. We Europeans are tired of it. We are tired of this madness! What can and must the EU do? Firstly, it must oblige companies to respect the environment and human rights through a clear binding supply chain law. Secondly, it must set minimum environmental and social standards for imports in trade agreements. That's the least. And thirdly, it must stop harmful subsidies in Europe. There are good alternatives, organic, solidarity agriculture, permaculture, urban farming, regional cycles.What are we waiting for?