Debate contributions by András GYÜRK

Mr. President, please. The use of electricity is growing exponentially, so competitiveness will depend to a large extent on who has cheap electricity and is able to reliably transport it. Because of Brussels' misguided energy policy, we are at a great disadvantage here. European networks are obsolete and electricity prices for our companies are two to three times higher than those of global competitors. The central role of electricity grids has now finally been recognised by the Commission. Proposals to help digitalise networks and accelerate the implementation of electricity storage projects are to be welcomed. However, it is worrying that the Commission would take on new powers to the detriment of national authorities and network operators. We know from experience that this has a heavy price. In the areas directly managed by the Commission, the bureaucratic burden increases and efficiency decreases. Finally, it is unacceptable that, especially during the summer season, electricity prices in Central and Eastern Europe significantly exceed those in Western Europe. We therefore need more cross-border pipelines and the elimination of bottlenecks, especially at the Hungarian-Austrian border. It is important that these investments receive all necessary support. Dear House, breaking down energy prices is our common cause! This proposal, if modified in the right direction, can contribute to this, so we patriots are ready to work.

Dear Mr President, The European automotive industry is in trouble. Since Ursula von der Leyen took office, the global market share of European car manufacturing has been steadily declining. The stakes are huge. Europe's major industry accounts for 7% of GDP and a third of EU R&D investment. The livelihoods of 14 million families in Europe and 160,000 in Hungary depend on the performance of the European automotive industry. Therefore, action must be taken immediately. We need to break down the energy prices. Today, a European automotive company pays four to five times more for energy than its global competitors. This is unacceptable. We need to cut red tape immediately. The automotive industry calls for more flexible emission targets and less administrative burden. And he's right. In addition, regulatory and financial incentives are needed to give the automotive industry a future. Above all, however, new and credible leadership is needed. Von der Leyen and her bureaucrats must go. That's the Patriots' offer.

Dear Mr President, Wide internet access is an essential prerequisite for economic competitiveness and for raising living standards. However, as the role of the internet increases, the scope of regulatory issues is also constantly expanding, and a global dialogue is needed to discuss them. This is what the UN Internet Governance Forum seeks to do, providing space for discussion and identification of industry best practices. Some challenges need to be kept in mind in this process. The dialogue on global internet governance should maintain a model based on mutual respect and the involvement of all stakeholders. Furthermore, freedom of expression on the internet should not be subject to restrictions for political purposes. It is therefore necessary to discourage the operation of systems called fact-checking, which in fact often act as censorship. All this in order to ensure the benefits of the internet for all citizens. The competent international bodies should serve this purpose.

Dear Mr President, A major challenge in the coming years will be to adapt to the increase in the use of electricity and the massive emergence of weather-dependent renewable capacities. Therefore, the competitive operation of the European economy requires a thoughtful and efficient development of electricity networks. However, the report in front of this House would instead transform our energy systems unilaterally, along the lines of the well-known Brussels green ideology. Firstly, the document aims to adapt electricity grid developments to renewable energy sources only. However, in practice, such thoughts have led to chaos, darkness and significant economic damage in several European countries. Secondly, the report would give new powers to various EU bodies in power grid planning, weakening national authorities. However, we know from experience that this has a serious cost. The countries hit by the Iberian blackout have followed the Brussels recommendations in all respects, but the trouble has come. Thirdly, the report completely ignores the indispensable role of conventional power plants and their thousands of employees in stabilising the power grid. It's still a fact: without nuclear and coal power plants, there is not enough continuously available cord current, and without gas power plants, there is no flexibility in supply. Dear House, We Patriots have recognised the shortcomings of the report and as a single group we have tabled a comprehensive package of amendments. It's not too late to support it.

Mr. President, please. The European economy is in crisis, one of the main causes of which is the dramatic increase in energy prices. Today, our companies pay about four times more for gas and three times more for electricity than their global competitors. However, the Commission's draft would further deepen the problem rather than solve it. The proposed forced energy import restrictions would lead to further significant price increases. This would cause serious difficulties for European economies and further weaken the competitiveness of European industry. For example, the implementation of the proposal in Hungary would mean an immediate two- or three-fold increase in overhead costs. Brussels' plan would also pose a serious threat to security of supply. The draft would make it impossible to operate the Danube Refinery economically and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant safely in Hungary. Thousands of jobs are being lost, there is a shortage of fuel supply, half of electricity production, and this is the Brussels offer to Hungary. We say 'yes' to cheap and safe energy, so in this form we say 'no' to the Commission's proposal.

Mr. President, please. Natural gas stored in storage facilities is one of the guarantees of European security of supply, and it is therefore opportune to renegotiate and extend the Gas Storage Regulation, which expires at the end of this year. Overall, the proposal before this House is a step in the right direction, but it still contains risky elements. The draft regulation finally recognises the changed gas market situation. This year, about 25 billion cubic metres more natural gas will have to be stored in Europe than in previous years. This would entail billions of euros in additional costs, with the Commission's inflexible mandatory targets to encourage speculation. I am therefore pleased that Parliament is proposing more flexible targets and action against speculation. The success of the Patriot faction is that these facilitations would extend to countries with large storage capacities, including Hungary. Honourable House, the responsibility for filling gas storage facilities lies solely with the Member States, and it is therefore positive that the proposal before this House is in favour of cutting red tape overall and reducing the Commission's scope for intervention. Finally, energy supply, including the filling of gas storage facilities, is a physical and not a political issue. It is therefore dangerous for some political forces to smuggle sanctions clauses on Russian gas into the proposal. These ideas would make it impossible to fill storage facilities in Central Europe, including Hungary, and would raise utility prices. This is unacceptable, we Patriots, we are also fighting against this.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The Iberian electricity grid shook for less than a minute, leaving tens of millions of European citizens without electricity for half a day. It is up to the national authorities to carry out the investigations, but preliminary lessons can already be drawn. First, the unilateral transformation of the energy system has proven to be a dead end. The development of renewable energy sources must go hand in hand with investment in conventional power plants and the electricity grid. Instead of common sense, an energy policy based on an activist green ideology leads to chaos and literally darkness. Secondly, this case is clear evidence that energy supply is a physical and not an ideological issue. Reality slammed the door on us. Instead of new sanctions and climate targets, we need to focus on the stability of our existing energy supply and networks. Finally, it was also clear that there was a serious price to pay for complying with Brussels. The countries affected by the blackout have followed the Commission's recommendations in all respects, but the problem has come to an end.

Dear Madam President, Energy-intensive industries, such as chemicals, metals and cement, have been a European success story in recent decades. However, these sectors are currently in a serious crisis due to the catastrophic sanctions policy of Brussels and the unfounded green policy. It is therefore opportune for the European Parliament to address this issue. Unfortunately, however, the draft decision before us does not help European industry. The document believes in climate goals that will bind the sector, and instead of lifting sanctions that drive up energy prices, it calls for more expensive and impracticable greening. Finally, the draft does not clearly stand up for the industries affected by the crisis or for the seven million citizens who work in them. Dear House, This is the dead end we need to get out of as soon as possible. We patriots are on the side of European industry, we are on the side of businesses, and we will also protect the jobs of people working in this sector.

Mr. President, please. High energy prices have become a painful part of the daily lives of EU citizens. On average, one in four families in Europe experienced difficulties in paying their overhead bills on time last year. This is the result of a misguided energy policy in Brussels. Faced with reality, the Commission now recognises that the current energy price level is unsustainable. However, this document is not a real solution to the problem. Firstly, it does not review the policy of sanctions that drives up energy prices. Secondly, it does not undertake to modify the climate targets, which have a price-increasing effect. Thirdly, Brussels is once again calling for the immediate introduction of European electricity market regulation. This would make it impossible to apply the official prices protecting the population, such as the Hungarian utility bill reduction, which is unacceptable. Honourable House, in order to bring down energy prices, it is not, unfortunately, ineffective Commission action plans like this, but courageous measures, if you will, that are needed at the cost of common sense rebellion, which is what we Patriots represent.

Dear Mr President, The European economy is in a serious situation. The Budapest Declaration thus set out a clear plan of action for Brussels. Unfortunately, the Competitiveness Compass does not point in this direction. First, instead of a simplification revolution, we see forced centralisation, which could lead to dozens of new laws. This is wrong. We do not need a planned economy in Brussels, we need strong Member States to be competitive. Secondly, instead of lowering energy prices, Brussels is proposing new climate targets. Since December, gas prices have risen by more than 30%. The industry is suffering because of this, but the Commission is not doing anything. Thirdly, small businesses need to cut red tape, but the proposals would only reduce a fraction of the burden. Dear House, That's insufficient. The Commission must return to the Budapest Declaration and work in the interest of citizens. That's what we patriots want to know.

Dear Madam President, Despite Brussels' promises, energy prices are once again on the rise. Since February, the price of natural gas has doubled. Our businesses are facing another difficult winter. With the onset of cold weather, one in ten European families have trouble heating their homes. The situation is serious and immediate action is needed. Firstly, we cannot free up market energy prices for the population. A good practice for this is the reduction of Hungarian overheads, which means that the overhead bills of Hungarian families are the lowest in Europe today. Secondly, we need real energy solidarity. Brussels must finally stand up for the security of energy supply of the Member States. We must say no to sanctions and restrictions on energy imports. Finally, decisions must be taken as soon as possible to bring down energy prices on the European market. There is an urgent need to start reviewing the price formulae that have been misconceived by bureaucrats. This is the only way to create a more competitive Europe for citizens. That's what we patriots fight for.

Dear Mr President, Since its foundation, the European Union has been a community built on the promise of security and prosperity. Affordable housing, including affordable energy, is the basis for prosperity. However, we are now at a point where the Commission's energy policy has resulted in record levels of energy poverty, which is constantly increasing housing problems. One in ten European families now have problems heating their homes to a sufficient degree. Ensuring affordable housing would therefore also require a family-friendly energy policy, which could be supported by good practices in the Member States. For example, in Hungary the reduction of overheads has been in force for 11 years. This measure protects Hungarian families from market price swings through regulated residential energy prices. From July this year, a home renovation program was also launched, during which the energy renovation of 20,000 family houses will take place. Dear House, To improve affordable housing, Brussels should also change its energy policy.

Dear Madam President, The European automotive industry is in crisis. There are reports of declining sales and downsizing on a daily basis. This is the devastating result of the five-year work of the von der Leyen Commission. The time for empty debates is over. Action is now needed. First of all: we need to create a regulatory framework that helps the automotive industry. The automotive industry, the heart and soul of the European economy, is why we need to hear the proposals of industry organisations. Perhaps it is not too late to review and streamline the climate targets. Second, We must do everything we can to maintain the global competitiveness of the automotive industry, so the steps taken so far in Brussels have already seriously damaged this European competitiveness. Meanwhile, the electric transition also poses significant challenges for manufacturers and European countries. It is therefore unacceptable that bureaucrats would further undermine the industry's chances by introducing punitive tariffs. Thirdly: We need to preserve jobs in the automotive industry. This requires, in particular, the reduction of bureaucratic burdens, the development of infrastructure and targeted public and industrial support programmes. The package of proposals prepared by the Hungarian Presidency should be considered for their full implementation. Dear House, Today, 13 million citizens in Europe and 500,000 in Hungary alone work in jobs related to the automotive industry. We patriots fight for them.

Oh, Mr. President. For the ninth time, we are discussing the state of play of European energy policy, and the Commission is, as usual, optimistic. We have heard the Commissioner's victory report, the Energy Union is stronger than ever. Reality, on the other hand, can be summed up in three items: energy prices are skyrocketing, energy solidarity has ceased and energy poverty has become part of the daily lives of Europeans due to bad decisions in Brussels. Let's look at it point by point: Firstly, it is now undeniable that high energy prices are the main factor undermining the competitiveness of European economies. Our companies pay five times more for natural gas and three times more for electricity than their US competitors. This is largely the responsibility of this Commission, which has contributed to the price surge through poor policy choices. Secondly, ensuring energy solidarity is one of the founding principles of the Energy Union. However, no action was taken by the Commission when the oil supply of Hungary and Slovakia was seriously threatened this summer. Leaving the two Member States to their fate is a clear message from Brussels. There is no such thing as energy solidarity, and European countries can only count on themselves when it comes to energy supply. Thirdly and lastly, the Energy Union should also help to provide affordable supplies. In contrast, Brussels' policy has led to record levels of energy poverty. One in ten European families now have problems heating their homes to a sufficient degree. Despite this, the Commission would unleash market energy prices on the population and continues to call for an end to the Hungarian utility price cuts. It is clear that this situation has become untenable. European citizens deserve a better, more rational energy policy. That's what we patriots fight for.