Speeches

The next item is a short presentation of the motion for a resolution tabled pursuant to Rule 227(2) by Dolors Montserrat, on behalf of the Committee on Petitions, on accession to the Schengen area (2023/2668(RSP)) (B9—0309/2023).

Thank you very much, President Hoyer. Please allow me to join the many colleagues in congratulating you for your great leadership during your two terms at the head of the European Investment Bank. Good luck for your next challenges.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the 2023 Annual Rule of Law Report (2023/2785(RSP)). I welcome in our midst the Secretary of State for European Affairs, representing the Council, Mr Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, and Commissioner Didier Reynders.

The President has asked me to make a short statement, before we vote, on the tragedy that unfolded yesterday in international waters off the coast of Greece. 79 people are reported to have lost their lives. Around 100 have thankfully been rescued so far, and rescue operations by the Greek Coastguard are ongoing. Details are still being established. However, there are suggestions that over 750 people were crammed on to a small fishing boat, with children in the hold. None of the people on board were wearing life jackets. The European Parliament pays its respects to the victims and praises the ongoing rescue efforts.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, a girl unable to get education in Myanmar, a family suffering from hunger in South Sudan, a father unable to find decent work in Europe – for all these people the Sustainable Development Goals provide a promise for a better life on a healthier planet. However, as the UN Secretary General remarks in his upcoming report, in view of the SDG summit in September, this promise is in peril. Implementation throughout the world, Europe included, is dangerously behind schedule. We have a responsibility towards all these people to deliver, and the European Union should lead these efforts. We should lead by example here at home. And in this regard, the S&D Group reiterates its call to the Commission to present a comprehensive strategy for achieving the 2030 Agenda. The European Union should also be in the driver’s seat when it comes to championing and promoting international cooperation and partnerships as espoused by SDG 17. With Africa, we must develop a mutually beneficial partnership and support them in reaching their objectives. Equally, the ACP—EU partnership is crucial to fostering sustainable development in ACP countries and building stronger alliances to tackle global challenge. Latin America has become even more crucial partner for our union, and we must strengthen our mutual cooperation. Finally, there can be no sustainable development without peace, justice and strong institutions. We can witness this from up close with Russia’s thuggish war in Ukraine. Dear colleagues, we owe it especially to those already left behind, to be ambitious and we must take bold action.

Thank you very much, Minister Roswall. Let me, as a Vice—President, also thank you for commitment, over the last six months, to this Parliament, for your constant presence and for listening to, and also for answering and reacting to our colleagues’ questions and comments. This has contributed to the lively debates. So thank you very much to you, and to your colleagues at the Swedish Foreign Ministry. The debate is closed. Written statements (Rule 171)

The next item on the agenda is the Council and Commission statements on the electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland(2023/2747(RSP)). I should like to inform Members that there will be only one round of political group speakers, and therefore there is no catch—the—eye procedure and no blue—cards will be accepted.

The next item is the joint debate on: – the report by Birgit Sippel, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on the appointment of legal representatives for the purpose of gathering evidence in criminal proceedings (COM(2018)0226 – C8-0154/2018 – 2018/0107(COD)) (A9—0257/2020); – the report by Birgit Sippel, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Production and Preservation Orders for electronic evidence in criminal matters (COM(2018)0225 – C8-0155/2018 – 2018/0108(COD)) (A9-0256/2020).

The next item is the Commission statement on marking the World Day against Child Labour (2023/2745(RSP)). This is an important day, and we really must enable children to have a fulfilling childhood of education and play, and not work. And therefore I think we owe it to the thousands of children in the world who are still in forced labour.

The next sitting will be tomorrow, Thursday 1 June starting at 9.00. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament website.

Thank you very much. I would like to thank all the interpreters for their great work today, the team assisting me here tonight and our ushers. That concludes this item.

That concludes the debate. I have received one motion for a resolution1 to wind up this debate. The vote will be held tomorrow. Written statements (Rule 171) _______________ 1 See minutes.

The next item is the debate on the oral questions to the Council and the Commission on strengthening social dialogue in the European Union, tabled by Dragoş Pîslaru, Agnes Jongerius, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Abir Al-Sahlani, Rosa D'Amato, Elżbieta Rafalska, Eugenia Rodríguez Palop, on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (O-000019/2023 - B9-0020/23) (O-000020/2023 - B9-0021/23) (2023/2536(RSP)).

Mr President, the European Pillar of Social Rights, a real shield to avoid the reversal of social progress, will not become a reality with a declaration of principle. Therefore, it’s good that we have the action plan of Commissioner Schmit, which is being implemented. But we also need a social progress protocol integrated in our EU Treaties, as requested by Europeans during the Conference on the Future of Europe. It is time to deliver more. The Pillar of Social Rights will not be implemented properly without sufficient social investment. Social investments need to be excluded from the excessive deficit calculations. Skills also need a more solid foundation. Workers cannot benefit from skilling opportunities if they do not have a decent minimum income that allows them to live in dignity while upskilling and reskilling. Poverty will not magically disappear. We cannot only blame the geopolitical situation, inflation and the increase of the interest rates. My political choice as a member of the Group of Socialists and Democrats is to make social progress a reality for all, and not only with the aim to leave no one behind, but to ensure that we first focus on those who have already been left behind. And for all these reasons, the Porto Social Forum needs to make a difference for millions of Europeans facing poverty on a daily basis.