Speeches

The next item on the agenda is the oral questions to the Council and the Commission on the creation of the European Education Area by 2025 – micro-credentials, individual learning accounts and learning for a sustainable environment (O-000012/2022 - B9-0014/22) (O-000011/2022 - B9-0013/22) (2022/2568(RSP)). I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. After inserting your voting cards into the voting machine, you can use your voting machine to request spontaneous interventions and blue cards. Please always carry your voting card with you. Instructions are available in the Chamber. If you would like to speak spontaneously, I would ask you to do so from now on and not to wait until the end of the debate. I would also like to point out that blue cards can also be held up for a short speech and that a follow-up question is allowed thereafter. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that interventions in the Chamber will continue to take place from the central lectern, with the exception of spontaneous interventions, blue cards and remarks on the application of the Rules of Procedure. I would therefore ask you to keep an eye on the list of speakers and to go to the lectern shortly before the start of your speaking time.

As far as the explanation of vote on Mr Lega's report is concerned. Any further explanations of vote may be submitted in writing or may be dealt with tomorrow evening after the debates. The meeting closed and will resume tomorrow, Wednesday 4 May 2022, at 8.30 a.m. with a key debate on the Council and Commission statements on the impact of the Russian war in Ukraine on society and the economy in the EU and on strengthening the EU’s capacity to act (2022/2653(RSP)). The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website. We are at the end of today's agenda. I thank everyone for their cooperation and wish everyone a blessed night's sleep. The session is closed.

The next item on the agenda is the explanations of vote. We have asked for a statement of vote on some of the votes that have taken place today. We begin with the report by Mr Domènec Ruiz Devesa of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on the proposal for a Council regulation on the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage and repealing Council Decision (76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom) and the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage annexed to that decision (2020/2220(INL) (A9-0083/2022). Mrs Stegrud started for one minute, as did all the speakers.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Javier Zarzalejos, 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 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794 as regards Europol’s cooperation with private parties, Europol’s processing of personal data in support of criminal investigations and Europol’s role in research and innovation (COM(2020)0796 – C9-0401/2020 – 2020/0349(COD)) (A9-0290/2021).

The minutes of this meeting will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the beginning of the next meeting. If there are no objections, I will forward the resolutions adopted at today's sitting to the persons and bodies referred to in those resolutions.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on mental health (2022/2619(RSP)). I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. After inserting your voting card into the voting device, you can then use your voting device to request spontaneous interventions and blue cards. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that interventions in the Chamber will continue to take place from the central lectern, with the exception of spontaneous interventions, blue cards and comments on the application of the Rules of Procedure.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on six motions for resolutions on increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexei Navalny (2022/2622(RSP))*. _______________ * See Minutes.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the rule of law and human rights situation in the Republic of Guatemala (2022/2621(RSP))*. _______________ * See Minutes.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the human rights situation in North Korea, including the persecution of religious minorities (2022/2620(RSP))*. I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. After inserting your voting card into the voting device, you can then use your voting device to request spontaneous interventions and blue cards. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that interventions in the Chamber will continue to take place from the central lectern, with the exception of spontaneous interventions, blue cards and comments on the application of the Rules of Procedure. _______________ * See Minutes.

The next item on the agenda is an announcement: The Greens/EFA Group has forwarded to the President a decision to change appointments to a committee. This decision will be published in the minutes of today's meeting and will enter into force on the day of this announcement.

I can tell you again, because we haven't voted in large rounds and in presence for so long: Please leave the card in the machine until I close the vote, otherwise your vote will be neutralized. Please do not withdraw the card until the vote is closed. This closes the voting session. Ladies and gentlemen, we have spent the last four months thinking a lot about how to make the plenary more attractive. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Question Time will be held with the President of the Commission at 3 p.m. Question time is actually a very noble right of Parliament, so I would be happy if as many of you as possible were present. (The meeting adjourned at 2.30 p.m.)

Ladies and gentlemen, I would ask you to sit down. It's perfectly okay for you to be happy, also for you to give applause to colleagues. I would just like to point out two things: I did not want to spoil the mood today, especially in an obviously contested dossier, but I would like to point out that I will talk to the President about the process today, that two speakers have spoken, although the Rules of Procedure are very clear. And I think we have to stick to rules, the rules that you obviously want to achieve with your legislation. You also want them to be respected. We have to follow the rules or we have to change the rules. But not everyone can do what they want, and this is not a stadium. After this vote, the committees may enter into interinstitutional negotiations. The report will then reappear on the agenda here in plenary.

Thank you very much, Mr Buşoi. I don't see anyone who wants to oppose the motion. (Parliament decided on the urgency.)* The vote will take place on Thursday 7 April 2022 at 12 noon. Amendments can be tabled until today, 5 April 2022, 7 p.m. The deadline for requesting split and separate votes is tomorrow 6 April 2022 at 4 p.m. ______________ * More details: see Minutes.