Speeches

Mr President, in the proposal for the revision of the multiannual financial framework, in the own-initiative report that the European Parliament has already adopted in the Committee on Budgets, we propose the creation of a fund for sovereignty, for the strategic sovereignty of the European Union, an idea that President von der Leyen has already defended here in her State of the Union speech. Would you like to know how open the Commission is to support the establishment of this fund, which will necessarily be a key instrument for supporting investment in the European Union?

Mr President, Mr Vice-President of the Commission, Commissioner, I would like to point out that the European Commission's guidelines for the revision of the economic governance rules, from our point of view, go in the right direction. They take account of a significant part of the political principles adopted by this Parliament. But they need more ambition and we need to know the details. My question is this: with the NextGenerationEU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, we have reforms, investment and European funding to make these reforms and investment. In the future, once these instruments are over, how will funding be made for the investments needed for Europe’s strategic autonomy, the climate transition, the digital transition, without avoiding fragmentation of the internal market?

Mr President, Commissioner, yesterday we discussed the strategy for setting up NextGenerationEU. Today we are debating our own resources for the Union budget. Without new own resources or NextGenerationEU It won't be a success. They are key to ensuring the repayment of this common debt and the Union's ability to build new similar instruments in the future. There is a binding interinstitutional agreement. From the Commission, we await the solution to the digital levy and the proposal for the establishment of the financial transaction levy. the Council to approve them in the necessary timeframe, already approving the Emissions Trading System and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as new own resources for the EU budget. We will thus be strengthening the architecture of the European Union and ensuring that the new priorities and emergency actions of the European Union are not financed at any time, neither at the expense of current programmes, nor of European policies, nor of future generations.

Madam President, at the end of this debate I would like to remind you that we have 60 % women graduates, we have a majority of doctors who are women, and we only have 8 % board chairmen. Something doesn't work well. We have already realized that, in political participation, quotas were decisive and today there are far more women in politics than there were before the adoption of quotas. That is why this directive is necessary. That is why it is essential, after ten years, that we adopt this directive. And here is a word of appreciation to our colleagues Laura Wolters and Evelyn Regner. Mrs Evelyn, who has been fighting for this directive for ten years. But I would also like to remind you here of the role of Viviane Reding, then European Commissioner, who put forward this proposal for the first time, which unfortunately took ten years to vote on. But I hope that now, finally, it can come into force to restore equality.

Madam President, Colleague José Manuel Fernandes, Colleague Valérie Hayer, Commissioner, three, four years ago, no one could have imagined that we would be here today taking stock of the European Commission's strategy in issuing debt in order to gradually build up debt. And anyone who proposed to constitute debt was considered a utopian or a utopian. But I would like to congratulate the Commission on its success in successive emissions. Successful also in promoting Green Bonds. And this clearly shows the credibility of the European Union in the financial markets, which goes far beyond the sum of the credibility of the Member States. ratings of the 27 Member States. We must do everything to ensure that the NextGenerationEU – an ambitious, collective and democratic European response – be a success also so that you can have other flights in the future. For now, the European Commission is already proposing to use this mechanism for EU funding to Ukraine. The answer is possible because the instrument exists. But we need to move from solutions ad hoc for more structuring instruments: to provide the Union with a permanent instrument to enable it to react quickly and effectively to new challenges.

Madam President, Commissioner, the regulation is adopted in the Council without Orbán's vote. It has not given its support to the conditionality of the rule of law and is doing everything to block, postpone the implementation of this mechanism. Commissioner, the European Commission is the guardian of the Treaties. I am well aware of his longstanding commitment to respect and respect for the rule of law. I have heard it explained to us the steps the Commission is taking, the timetable, the 17 measures. The question is: Will they be effective? Commissioner, we must be consistent. We cannot be convinced by a different packaging of the same product.

Madam President, Commissioner, REPowerEU is a key instrument in the immediate future to mitigate the effect of the rampant increases in energy prices. We cannot ask citizens for additional efforts to pay for the costs of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. It is a tool to build the necessary strategic autonomy of the European Union. It is an instrument for accelerating the internal energy market, which will not happen without meeting ambitious interconnection targets. For example, investment in energy interconnections between Portugal and Spain and France is necessary. Definitely ending the Iberian island in terms of energy is urgent. REPowerEU is a tool, it has to be a tool, to accelerate the green transition and energy decarbonisation. It is an instrument to support renewable energy. Finally, the socially inclusive chapter we have achieved in REPowerEU will have a significant impact on the lives of citizens and businesses and on preventing and tackling energy poverty.

Mr President, the joint purchase of gas, the taxes on the extraordinary profits of companies during this phase are positive decisions of the European Council. But, as Iratxe Garcia Pérez said, it was the missed opportunity. We have to be prepared for the time of the decision, because it cannot be the citizens who pay the costs of this war and we cannot abandon the citizens. We know the timing of the decision, and so we need to have mechanisms, we need to be protected, without undermining the democratic decision-making system to act faster. That is why it is crucial to introduce, as soon as possible, a permanent mechanism in the EU budget that can be activated in times of crisis in order to speed up the decision. We all know that between the decision to create NextGenerationEU and the first time the Commission went to the markets about ten months passed.

Madam President, Commission, Council, we were pleased to hear President von der Leyen listing measures that will now lead to lightening the energy bills of Europeans and the progressive construction of the European Union's energy autonomy. Necessary but late and still unambitious measures. It implied that the Commission could further develop RepowerEU. Are we moving towards the necessary union for energy? This is a concept that Vice-President Šefčovič is well aware of. When is a SURE-type mechanism? Vice-President, Europeans' support for the European values that have mobilised them is essential in this war, but that cannot bring us brutal costs. The far right is lurking!

Mr President, Commissioner, the European Union has received millions of refugees fleeing the war caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A huge wave of solidarity that touched us all. Did everything go well? No, no. Students, particularly Africans, who attended universities in Ukraine had more difficulties. I know that the Commissioner is committed to speeding up these processes, but European solidarity has worked and is working. Refugees who fill this flow are rightly entitled to school, employment, health care, rapid temporary protection status. We rightly implemented a directive adopted in 2001 that we had not implemented at other times. Commissioner, what lessons have we learned from this migratory flow that can influence policy and, above all, the behaviour of the European Union and the Member States in the future?

Madam President, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, Commissioner, it has not been two years since we concluded the negotiation of the 2021-2027 MFF and its shortcomings are already many. We were faced with COVID. We have built a European response anchored in the European Union budget. We now have a new reality: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Now, if we want a European response to the impact of the war, rising energy prices, rising interest rates and food insecurity, mitigate the social impact, create a solidarity package for the winter, how? Create a SURE-type instrument? whether we want the capacity to react to the immediate consequences of the war, support for refugees, fair burden-sharing between Member States, support for neighbourhood countries; if we want to build a strategic autonomy of the European Union, from the outset energy autonomy; if we want science and innovation to contribute to these goals, to accelerate environmentally and socially sustainable investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and saving measures, sustainable technologies that support an industrial policy compatible with the Paris goals; whether we want to maintain the proper functioning of the European single market and prevent its fragmentation; whether we want to build on the proposals that President Von der Leyen presented to us in the State of the Union debate: without a revision of the MFF, we may want to, but we will not be able to respond. The debate on the 2023 budget is showing us the need and urgency for a comprehensive revision of the current MFF and the position expressed here by the Council at the beginning of this debate does not rest. There is still a long way to go in this negotiation of the 2023 Budget if we want coherence between political ambition and fiscal capacity.

Mr President, President, Commission, the Commission has finally done its job. Strengthening sustainable development in the European Union's trade agreements is an old ambition of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. Today, with this debate, we want to strongly encourage the Commission to generalise this principle in new agreements, but also in existing agreements. The European Union must have a flawless strategy in the fight against forced labour and child labour, in the defence of universal human rights, including gender equality, and social, labour and environmental rights. Implementation and enforcement, including now the possibility of granting trade sanctions for violations of the Paris Agreement or ILO conventions, are essential for the promotion of a fair international trade policy that is consistent with all European policies and values.

Mr President, about ten years ago I was in Iran. Our guide, a young woman, shared with us the terror in which the young women lived. It was enough that a lock of his hair escaped out of his veils. They were confronted day by day, leaving home, leaving university, with the so-called spontaneous groups of defense of morality. We have not forgotten the cost of the 1979 Revolution to Iranian women, when they had previously fought for freedom. Today we see a morality police that wants to force women to hide their bodies, that takes away their rights and freedoms, that kills them. High Representative, the European Union's concrete solidarity with these women is fundamental and urgent, as well as with those men, women and young people who, finally, with enormous courage, demand fundamental values. Not only values based on European culture. We are talking about universal values and rights.

Madam President, President, Minister, Commissioner, it should not be necessary to remember: European democracies are founded on fundamental values, including respect for the rule of law. But, yes, we have to! Some countries are out of the norm. They even try to convince us that they have a different concept. But we all know, the rule of law is: separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, fight against corruption and respect for fundamental rights, minorities, freedom of expression and press. We have a very strong base that leaves no doubt: the Treaties of the European Union. This regulation must be fully complied with. The Commission must be demanding and do everything it can to make sure that the European institutions, the European Parliament and the citizens can trust it. For example, it is not enough to say that Hungary will set up an independent authority. It must ensure that that authority is de facto independent in the establishment and functioning and independent of the judiciary. This is the key point.

Madam President, thank you, Madam President Von der Leyen, for your presentation on the State of the Union. In his presentation he listed a number of new initiatives: a European Hydrogen Bank, a European Sovereignty Fund, a new SME programme, a mental health programme, new energy initiatives and additional capacity for the Civil Protection Mechanism. My question is whether, in the proposal for a revision of the multiannual budget that the Commission is preparing, it will transpose all these initiatives into the budget. Question 2: it listed a set of principles for the revision of the budgetary rules, principles which are in line with the principles adopted by the European Parliament a year ago. My question is: when will legislative initiatives that effectively open the door to the revision of these rules?

Madam President, Commissioner, in recent months the European Union has been watching Ukraine and the economic and social impact of the war. It couldn't be any different, but that can't make you forget other priorities. The Mediterranean is a geopolitical imperative, a strategic partner, including in building the European Union’s energy autonomy, and RePowerEU is there to support new projects under this partnership. Migration and human rights, priorities set in 2021 in strengthening the Mediterranean partnership, are key, but new challenges come together, the post-COVID economic and social recovery, climate change, the digital transition and the energy transition. We have to deal with all these challenges, strengthen the social dimension, ensure rights and opportunities for women and young people. But is this strengthening of the partnership sufficient? Will the announced European funds be sufficient? We will only know this if the political institutions look at the Mediterranean as an effective priority.

Mr President, Commissioner, tomorrow the European Parliament will vote on the report on the European Commission's proposal to revise the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2021-2027). The Commission has rightly proposed the creation of the Social Climate Fund. This revision of the MFF is now objectively necessary and urgent, but, as we have already seen, stemming from the new political and economic context – the war against Ukraine and the social and economic consequences of the war in the European Union and on the lives of citizens and businesses – in the near future, as early as next year, we must go further. The European Union's budget is the most powerful instrument for meeting the European Union's political ambitions. And we already understand that you must have a permanent instrument that can be activated in times of crisis. We must use the lessons we have learned in recent times to make the European Union budget more flexible and more compatible with regular times, but also with times of disruption and uncertainty, always on the basis of solidarity and trust between institutions and Member States and protecting citizens. This fund is intended to support the most vulnerable in the transition to climate neutrality. A fund that aims to absorb the disproportionate social impact of the climate transition by supporting households, micro-enterprises and tackling mobility poverty. This fund is even more vital today than when it was proposed by the Commission. It could become a key instrument in combating inequalities in the process of building the European Union's energy autonomy. Commissioner, Parliament has taken the Commission's proposal as its starting point. But he did more! It created an automatic mechanism for adjusting carbon price fluctuation. This means that in the event of an increase in the carbon price, additional appropriations will be made available to the Fund, ensuring that the appropriations available in the Union budget increase in line with the carbon price. Member States will be able to programme this additional funding in priorities or measures they have already identified or in new priorities. In summary, the proposal for a revision of the MFF, which will be voted on tomorrow, preserves the principle of the unity of the Union budget; defends the Treaties by providing that the new programmes should be fully integrated into the Union budget, respecting the Community method; respects parliamentary democratic control; ensures predictability of funding and multiannual programming and safeguards transparency of budgetary decisions in the Union; consolidates the principle that new initiatives require new resources; It provides for annual reinforcements to be integrated into the MFF by adjusting carbon price fluctuation. Commissioner, one thing is clear: we will not accept new programmes on an intergovernmental basis to the detriment of the Community method. We will not accept financing from external sources. We will not accept the creation of new programmes at the expense of cuts in other key Union programmes or policies, or in the financial envelopes of the Member States. The citizens of the Union must now, more than ever, be guaranteed that the European Union protects them and the European Parliament defends them, demanding greater transparency, more democracy. Under no circumstances will the European Parliament allow its powers as budgetary authority to be weakened.

Madam President, Commissioner, the EIB plays an essential role as the public bank of the European Union: the Climate Bank. The Green Bank. I would like to congratulate the institution in the person of its President. The EIB has done well. I give examples: sustainable finance as an operational model, with 43% of climate-related loans; almost EUR 95 billion on climate change, social cohesion and digital transformation; supports more than 430 000 SMEs employing 4.5 million people; supports key research and innovation project; in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, an emergency solidarity package was approved. It is a financial institution that wants to be guided by the principles and common political priorities and objectives of the European Union. But the European Parliament wants more: wants it to play a role in post-war reconstruction efforts in Ukraine; wants greater investment in energy security and in strengthening the European Union’s strategic autonomy; It will help prevent and contain growing inequalities by pursuing policies of sustainable growth and job creation. Finally, the European Parliament remains committed to strengthening its scrutiny capacity of the EIB. It is a key element to ensure more transparency and more democratic accountability.

Madam President, Commissioner, the proof that multilateralism is not dead is evidenced by the last meeting of World Trade Organisation ministers three weeks ago in Geneva. Would we have liked to have gone further in the compromises? Yes, yes. But robust compromises have been reached. There was a political will, supported by 164 countries, to reform and modernise the WTO. The WTO is an essential multilateral organisation to regulate world trade and thus fairer globalisation. And the European Union must have clear positions on these reforms. We need more and not less multilateralism today, and this has been visible in the context of the pandemic, as it is now in the context of the action of Russia and Ukraine. We need to work to avoid fragmentation of the multilateral system. Finally, reform of the WTO within the multilateral system is a necessity if we are to continue working on rules-based, fair and sustainable trade.

Madam President, Commissioner, rapporteur, the relationship between the EU and the Indo-Pacific, whether geostrategic or commercial, has become even more important. This relationship must be based on universal values, respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Building on the multilateral international order, based on rules such as reciprocity and mutual benefit, with a modernised World Trade Organization. This partnership involves all relevant actors in the Indo-Pacific, with sub-regional dynamics and specificities, partnerships for common global challenges such as combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, digital transition for states, citizens and businesses. Finally, we need to mobilise all tools to promote a more social, inclusive, coherent and rules-based global order.

Mr President, Commissioner, Croatia's accession to the euro is a sign of unity and increasing integration into the European Union, a further enlargement of the monetary union and the strengthening of the euro as a global currency. The single currency continues to be seen as a solid project for the future and provides greater security and stability for Member States. Croatia has fulfilled all the accession criteria. The entry into the group of countries with the highest level of European integration is a historic step for the country. It is now up to Croatian citizens and institutions to fully reap the full benefits of being in a robust monetary union to make the economy and society more resilient, robust, competitive and even more European. Croatia’s accession to the single currency in 2023 is the first European integration process since Brexit. Finally, as chairman of the working group of the euro-candidate countries of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, I would like to welcome Croatia's progress and hope that others will join it.

Mr President, I would like to remind you that we have often or systematically been subject to vetoes or threats of vetoes by several Member States of the European Union. It happened with the signing of the Paris Agreement by Poland, so that the European Union could sign on behalf of the European Union, with the negotiation of the multiannual financial framework, with Poland's acceptance of this Global Tax and we are now faced with Hungary's position. I do not think the European Union can legislate on this basis. That is why, necessarily, the European Commission must have recourse to Article 116 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in order to actually get out of this blockage situation. We cannot continue to be systematically blackmailed by a Member State of the European Union. I would also like to remind you that there is one aspect here that we must not forget, which is the contribution of this rate to own resources, to the repayment of NextGenerationEU.

(start of intervention with microphone off) “...” I raise three points today. The first, the war in Ukraine, has not reduced, cannot reduce our post-COVID RRF ambitions in terms of climate and digital transition and more cohesive economies and regions. Second, the European Commission’s necessary proposal to create RepowerEU revolutionises the MFF and the RRF. I mentioned this in a previous debate. We have to draw the consequences and set the limits. Finally, calendar. It is clear today that a number of factors, some external to the Member States themselves, such as inflation or developments in commodity and energy prices, prevent compliance with the NextGenerationEU timetable for 2023-2026. I therefore call on the committee, Commissioner Gentiloni, to do everything necessary to ensure that this timetable is revised to ensure that we achieve the political, economic and social objectives of the RRF.

Mr President, Commissioner, forced labour is a serious abuse of human rights. Women, children, but also men, are victims of forced labour in many countries, on all continents, as you pointed out in your initial speech. It must be fought and finally eradicated. Without action and concrete action there will be no results. The European Union must use all the instruments at its disposal for this fight. First of all, trade policy. Banning products made with forced labour is a contribution. The creation of a new trade instrument, prohibiting the import and export of products manufactured or transported using forced labour, together with corporate sustainability due diligence rules, cannot be postponed. That is our request to the Commission. It is time to ban forced labour once and for all.

Mr President, convening this convention is the logical consequence of the Conference on the Future of Europe, the only way we have to respect our commitments to our citizens. But that requires more political ambition and that requires not doing more of the same. But I wanted to raise two points. Firstly, the need and possibility of further exploring the doors opened by the Treaty of Lisbon, in terms of moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting, for example in tax policy, or doing more in defence policy. A second point: the convention must not delay political decisions, such as the revision of the economic governance rules and the Stability and Growth Pact. These measures, these decisions, can be taken within the framework of the current treaties and must be taken as a matter of urgency.