Speeches

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.

Dear Madam President, Dear House, Due to Brussels' misguided sanctions and energy policy, the competitiveness of the European economy is at a low point. Economic growth requires a new strategy and as many locally and cheaply available sources of energy as possible. Geothermal energy is like that. Geothermal energy is a predictable, affordable and green energy source. It is a mature technology that is independent of price movements in the energy market. The report under discussion rightly identifies its potential and the tasks to be solved. At the same time, good practices in Member States should be considered in the development of technology. For example, Hungary, where the EU's largest geothermal heating system was inaugurated last year, is already using geothermal energy in 12 cities. The Commission's failure today is the absence of a financial support framework for geothermal energy at European level. We need to change that, too. In June at the latest, we need green energy instead of green ideology.

Dear Madam President, The European economy is in a serious crisis. Industrial production fell 5 percent in a year. Competitiveness is in decline, forecasts predict stagnation or recession. Responsibility for this situation lies primarily with the European Commission. What we are seeing is the result of Brussels' industrial policy, which is based on sanctions, unrealistic green targets and increased bureaucracy. And the proposal we are discussing now, as if nothing had happened, proposes that we continue along this misguided path. This is unacceptable. Instead, initiatives to increase the bureaucratic burden on businesses should be suspended and harmful sanctions abolished. Furthermore, all Member States should have immediate access to the resources to which they are entitled. It seems, however, that this will require, first and foremost, a change in Brussels. Hopefully this will happen in June at the latest.

(the beginning of the speech is outside the microphone) ... for seventy years he has not been in such a weakened and vulnerable state as he is now. Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of unemployment. This is also due to the ill-considered policy in Brussels and the misguided sanctions. Unfortunately, the Commission's new package is not fit to address this situation. Increasing bureaucracy, different punishments and regulations do not help, but harm. They're chasing down state-of-the-art companies and strangling small businesses. It is a serious mistake that Brussels' proposals for industrial protection are aimed exclusively at future-oriented technologies, leaving millions of workers in traditional industries to their fate. The Commission should now focus on protecting jobs and improving competitiveness. Parliament should stop blocking free trade agreements and finally immediately disburse the funds due to Hungary and Poland, thus ensuring equal opportunities in the internal market.

Madam President, I'm sorry. European industry is now facing one of the most serious crises in its hundreds of years of existence: empty production lines, companies considering redundancy and exit, falling competitiveness. This is the sad result of misguided sanctions, an industrial policy that builds on unrealistic green targets and increased bureaucracy. Let's say: This policy has failed. The situation has now become untenable. Efforts to dismantle industry are putting the lives of some 30 million people across Europe at risk. This is unacceptable and requires responsible and swift action instead of new ideological air castles. The first step must be the immediate lifting of sanctions that harm our companies. In addition, Brussels must suspend its proposals to increase the bureaucratic burden on businesses and provide them with urgent financial support. Dear House, we must not let European industry collapse! Let us be courageous and take the right steps in this matter.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Europe is facing an unprecedented energy crisis. Every day, European citizens are forced to pay a penalty surcharge for energy. Therefore, we must now devote all our efforts to solving the energy crisis. In the current situation, support should be given to any initiative that increases the role of renewable energy and reduces bureaucracy. Accelerating authorisation procedures can achieve these two goals at the same time, and for this balanced report I would like to thank Mr Pieper, Member. However, it is important that significant improvements to the electricity grid are also needed to increase the weight of renewable energy. This in turn requires large investments, which can only be undertaken by a Union with a strong economy. Harmful sanctions should therefore be abolished, Member States should be given the resources they are entitled to, and businesses should be given all the help they can get. Only in this way can this crisis be addressed in a complex way.

Dear Mr President, Europe is in a serious crisis, with brutal utility bills, devastating industries and small businesses struggling for their existence. The reason is clear: the war and the misguided response to it, i.e. the poorly designed sanctions policy. Energy prices are unbearable today. The solution is to rethink sanctions, because energy supply is a physical and not an ideological issue. We cannot jeopardize Europe's energy security, we cannot jeopardize jobs. We need to have a policy that supports people. For example, the Hungarian national consultation on sanctions serves this purpose. It is only with broad support from the Member States and society that we can recover from the ever-increasing crisis. That is why it is unacceptable that, in this situation, Brussels is withholding EUR 600 billion in resources. All Member States should now immediately receive the resources they are entitled to, so that they reach citizens as soon as possible.

Madam President, I'm sorry. European industry is in a serious crisis. Collapsed factories, small businesses at risk, job losses. The reason is clear: the misguided response to the war, i.e. the energy prices escaping due to the Brussels sanctions. Sanctions-based policies are now at a dead end. Above all, therefore, sanctions must be lifted in order to avoid a disaster. In addition, Brussels must urgently provide financial and technical support to industrial companies. A pause in the continuous increase of the green targets should also be considered for the duration of the crisis. Finally, the ETS system, which taxes companies' CO2 emissions, should also be suspended. Dear House, our task is no less than to protect European industry from collapse. The report before us is a step in the right direction, so I propose that we support it.

Dear Mr President, Dear House, Europe is in an energy crisis, rising prices, unstable supply. And this proposal would only exacerbate the situation, so we have to say no to it. We have to say no, because nuclear energy and natural gas are sustainable energy sources and are essential for climate protection. This proposal would make it impossible to meet the climate targets by hindering investment. We must say no, because Europe must strive for energy independence, which will simply not be possible without new nuclear power plants and LNG terminals. By contrast, this proposal would increase the vulnerability of Europe's energy supply. Finally, we must say no, because only by using nuclear energy is it possible to maintain affordable overhead prices. This proposal would further increase energy prices. Dear House, We must protect European citizens from the energy crisis, which is why we must say no to this proposal!