Debate contributions by Sakis ARNAOUTOGLOU

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Europe cannot really talk about sanctions and at the same time tolerate loopholes. That's as far as I'm concerned. The end of any import of energy from Russia must be complete and non-negotiable. No more detours through third countries. Every euro paid for Russian energy fuels this war in Ukraine and turns against our own security. We need strict control mechanisms, a common legal line and zero tolerance for deceptive schemes. At the same time, we need to invest in a truly European energy independence project: renewables, storage – I emphasise this – and interconnections. The choice is clear: either a sovereign, secure and democratic Europe or a dependent and exposed Europe. We have no right to choose the latter.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, in Brazil it will be a global test of Europe's credibility. Unfortunately, some have already failed here in Europe. The far right and its allies do not believe, they say, in climate change. You don't believe in climate change, but you don't believe because you don't believe in science. You don't believe in the green transition. You believe in short-term political gain. But since you don't believe in climate change, let me accept that there is no climate change, as you always say. But do you no longer believe in the filth that we humans leave behind through industries, what we breathe into our lungs? Many of you are sure that your children no longer give water from the tap, you give them bottled water. So that means something. You are afraid to give your children water where you live near industrial zones. There is therefore no need to believe that there is climate change; He sees it around: All the dirt we leave and the forests that burn much faster than in the past. We must definitely do something, because you are the only ones who will step on it the most in the future.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, today, a year after the deadly floods, as has been said in Spain today, we remember the victims and consider our responsibility: to finally make Europe more ready, more resilient, more humane. DANA (the barometric low) showed us that delay in warning kills. If there had been an early warning system then, and I say this with pleasure, such as the new Civil Protection Centre of the Region of Thessaly in Greece, presented last week in Brussels by the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Dimitris Kouretas, with digital tools and real-time flood forecasting, we might not have mourned so many lives. Europe needs to invest in prevention, in common European early warning networks, in regional civil protection centres. I am in favour of having local meteorologists, not central meteorologists in capitals, who know exactly each location in each country and its peculiarities. We also need to invest in education, in informing citizens. Europe needs fewer words and more deeds. Moving from crisis management to prevention management.

Madam President, ten years ago Gui Minhai, a European citizen but also a Swedish publisher, was kidnapped in Thailand and illegally handed over to the Chinese authorities. He has since been arbitrarily detained, without transparent judicial process and without access to his family or independent doctors. His case, of course, is not isolated. It highlights a worrying pattern of restrictions on freedom of expression and arbitrary detentions of publishers and journalists. This is a serious violation of fundamental human rights and the principles of international law by a country with which the European Union has a strategic dialogue. We therefore call on the Chinese authorities to ensure his immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with their international obligations, and to guarantee fair treatment and judicial independence. The resumption of talks with Beijing cannot be – and is constantly – seen as a blank cheque. Protecting the rights of European citizens such as Gui Minhai must be at the heart of any relationship with China.

Mr President, after 25 years of continuous and long-term preoccupation with weather forecasting on public and private television in Greece, I have still not stopped being negatively surprised by the rise in temperatures in recent years. This summer was indeed the hottest in modern history, with millions of people across Europe facing temperatures that threaten their health and lives. In Greece we have seen farm workers and street distributors working under conditions that are not only harsh but also dangerous. The climate crisis requires a twofold response: reduction of emissions and immediate protection of citizens. It means investing in social and affordable housing and radical climate upgrading of the existing building stock, so that homes are energy efficient and safe for all. It also means clear working rules for extreme temperatures so that no one risks their health to earn their wages. Europe cannot remain a spectator all the time.

Mr President, China's decision, we have heard today too many times to impose high tariffs on European pork, is really unfair. But let's look at the other side. These tariffs didn't come out of nowhere. I would say that it is also the result of the choices made by the Commission and Mrs von der Leyen which have opened a vicious circle of trade conflicts without a plan and without a practical strategy. We strongly condemn the Chinese measures but clearly state that our farmers and stockbreeders will not pay for the mistakes of others. As socialists and democrats, we say "no" to a blank check in China and "no" to a tariff race that is destroying our countryside and our farmers. Our goal is for our producer to stand up, open up new markets and not be hostage to just one country. We call on the Commission, but also on China, to let go of the power games and invest in diplomacy. The way forward is dialogue, WTO and de-escalation. No more trade wars on the backs of our farmers who live in permanent uncertainty.

Madam President, Commissioner, every summer the flames return and with them the embarrassment, the inadequacy and the same cheap excuses. Europe is already counting burnt areas and we are close to the middle of summer. The Commission is talking about a Readiness Union, but what is this readiness when rescEU is left without a permanent fleet and with resources that are not even sufficient for the elementary ones? And the Greek government, instead of prevention, chooses only communication, without forest maps, without sufficient human resources, without civil protection and forestry cooperation. All at the mercy of fire, and when it comes, it's the general's fault. It is time for a true European prevention shield with direct European resources in local forest clean-up and protection plans. Establish a permanent European rapid response mechanism with specialised staff and equipment, ready to be mobilised before the crisis breaks out. Binding targets in all Member States for fire prevention and drought resilience. And the fire, Commissioner, does not wait because Europe is waiting. If we do not change now, the Europe of tomorrow will burn before not only the summer season begins, before spring begins.

Madam President, Commissioner, the sea may not have a voice, but for those who live it – like me from Northern Greece – it starts shouting and, indeed, very loudly. It shouts through the nets that come out empty, from the fishing boats that rot on land, from the coastal communities that depopulate. Fishermen are now leaving the sea, young people are leaving – most of them at least. They are not leaving because the sea has dried up, but because we have abandoned it. The human race has abandoned it, taking advantage of what it has generously given us to this day. I would like to congratulate you, Commissioner, on the really very serious, important and methodical work you have done so far. But you are the basis. From now on, we will all have to take the next step. It's our next step. The European Ocean Pact must become a tool for change with binding objectives, effective control and support for the people of the sea. The sea does not belong to us. We belong to her.

Mr President, Commissioner, agriculture cannot be a sector that simply survives. It must prosper, support local communities and guarantee Europe's food security. To achieve this, however, the big words we have heard in recent years are not enough. Fair prices, decent wages and a framework of fair competition are needed. Today our farmers – we all know this – are forced to sell below production costs, while large retail chains and intermediaries make the biggest profits. How is it possible to have a sustainable agriculture when the producer is the only one who cannot live off his job? When will the Commission put in place mechanisms to ensure that no farmer is forced to sell below the value of his labour? We are constantly talking about the need for generational renewal in the agricultural sector, but who will choose to become a farmer when access to land and funding is increasingly difficult? We therefore need an ambitious programme for the farmers' generation with clear funding and real incentives. If Europe wants agriculture with a future, it must invest in it today. Farmers don't live with wishes; Promises do not fill the silo, they do not water the fields, they do not keep young people on earth.

Mr President, our Earth, a source of life for centuries, is in danger of becoming a source of extinction. We must prevent the conversion of fertile areas into deserted landscapes. When the soil is destroyed, the future of humanity is at stake. Life cannot thrive on scorched earth. The European Union is called upon to take the lead by proclaiming the need for rational management of natural resources and an end to inaction at last. The continuation of the present course will lead to the harvesting of the consequences of our indifference and not of the fruits of the earth. I propose the conclusion of a Pact for Living Land, an agreement that provides for the compensation of any lost land by the regeneration of twice as much land through sustainable investments. Such an initiative could be a new global paradigm for the sustainable management of soils. This is not a utopian idea, but an imperative. Despite efforts to protect the planet, we observe the focus of some on exploring space destinations, ignoring the need for immediate action on Earth. It seems to favour the conquest of a remote red planet at the expense of preserving our green planet. In addition, there is a reinforcement of rhetoric questioning the criticality of the situation, reducing environmental challenges to political games. Nature makes an urgent appeal to us. Let us listen to her before her silence becomes more deafening than any voice. The time for action is now. And to those who seek refuge on other planets, let us remind them that there conditions are already desert and desertification will come to our planet, if that is what they seek.

Κύριε Πρόεδρε, ποτέ δεν κατάλαβα γιατί τα ακροδεξιά κόμματα δεν θα ήθελαν να ζήσουν σε ένα πιο καθαρό περιβάλλον. That's still a big question for me. The green transition is not a challenge. It is a great opportunity to create a fair, resilient and sustainable Europe. Its success depends on our commitment to support citizens at the heart of change. If we lose their trust, our efforts will be in vain. We already see it happening on the other side of the Atlantic, where policies that ignore people's needs lead to backsliding and distrust towards climate action. We cannot allow the same to happen in Europe. Perfect and dash. Europe must remain the global paradigm for responding responsibly and fairly to the climate crisis. When Mr. Trump undermines climate action, Europe must become the beacon of hope and solution. Mr. Trump, you're not building a great America on the ruins of a planet collapsing from the climate crisis. In a world that is impoverished and destroyed, there will be no winners. Not even America.

Madam President, the 16th Conference on Biodiversity in Colombia was a crucial milestone in protecting our natural world. Despite important agreements – such as the creation of the ‘Cali Fund’ – the failure to reach an agreement on crucial funding for nature protection remains worrying. Recently, the Hellenic Ornithological Society informed us about the disappearance of the riparian bird Leptomyta. This bird extinction – the first known worldwide in continental Europe, North Africa and western Asia – is a stark reminder that nature is really in crisis. Ecosystems are collapsing and species are rapidly disappearing. As a leading force, the European Union has a responsibility to step up its action to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. Nature is our common heritage. We don't have time for delays. Its protection requires cooperation, investment and political will. We cannot allow other species to suffer the same fate. Protecting biodiversity is the guarantee – you all know it very well – for our future.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, at a time when we need to be close to the citizens more than ever, ideas are being discussed which do the opposite, ignoring local and regional self-government, the people who know the problems and needs of the citizens more than anyone. The leak of the Commission document proposing to merge the largest financial programmes of the European Union, the Common Agricultural Policy and the regional and social funds raises serious questions. Transferring the management of resources to national level, as proposed, may lead to centralisation by removing the local dimension of needs and the possibility of flexibility. The regions have shown that they are able to manage the funds successfully by promoting local initiatives combining different funding. But do we want a Europe where the centre decides or a Europe where local communities have the first say in their development? I propose to maintain the joint management of funds in cooperation with the regions, strengthening decentralisation and local initiatives.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I too must repeat what has been said many times today. The fact that the right to decent, sustainable and affordable housing is a basic right for every European citizen. However, the housing crisis is worsening, particularly affecting young people, but of course also the most vulnerable groups. In Greece, I must tell you that the problem is huge, as the inability of young people to find affordable housing has reached a really critical point. Europe must therefore act immediately, following admittedly successful examples of some countries, such as Portugal and Spain, and so invest the countries, and especially Greece, in thousands of new homes through the Recovery Fund. These houses should be available for rent, of course with social criteria and low cost. Europe needs to encourage initiatives that ensure the construction of sustainable housing at low energy costs, while also protecting tenants’ rights and supporting households affected by rising prices. In addition, it should limit short-term leases. All this also has to do with the huge problem of low birth rates in Europe.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the devastating fires in Greece and Portugal are a stark reminder of the increasing intensity and frequency of climate disasters. Unfortunately, once again our countries found themselves unprepared. In Greece, the case of Corinth is a tragic example of the failure of government mechanisms. The absence of preventive measures, such as proper forest management, and the delay in immediate mobilization contributed to the dimension of this disaster with about 65,000 acres of burnt land and two lives lost. This situation can under no circumstances continue. The following is very basic: the fires in Greece and Portugal, with completely different forest management, show us that we need to invest more in forest management, that is, in fires, especially in mixed forest-residential zones, and improve early warning systems. This is a call for immediate and coordinated action. The cost of inaction is enormous and Europe must take the lead by committing to climate finance that supports the countries most affected, especially of course those in the South.

Mr President, I have generally listened to the speeches since this morning, and I have heard that the European Union and the European Parliament are creating panic when it comes to preventing extreme weather events. This is not a panic. In fact, I will emphasize the word "prevention." My 25-year experience in forecasting and presenting weather on Greek public television has shown that climate change has to do with obsessive behaviour in weather events – something we have not had before. It doesn't mean that it won't rain again, that it won't snow again, or that temperatures will be at 45 degrees all the time. We may have other extreme weather events, with frosts, with many dense snowfalls, which may last longer in some parts of the planet than in the past. What should the European Union do? He will have to move decisively. It is important to develop and improve early warning systems for extreme weather events. I would like to stress the following: early warning of these extreme weather events should be done by qualified forecasters – essentially meteorologists, not by anyone, and other good practices should be promoted... (The President took the floor from the speaker)

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you very much indeed for your work over the years. The spread of monkeypox reminds us that these crises know no borders and the well-being of our citizens is intertwined with our ability to respond in a timely and coordinated manner. In this context, I would like to highlight four main axes on which we should focus. Firstly, coordination and cooperation between Member States. Ensure a common European strategy to prevent and treat monkeypox. Sharing information – very important to me – but also resources and scientific data to avoid fragmentation of our efforts. Strengthen health systems as well as surveillance. We need to invest in equipment, medical staff and research programmes so that we are better prepared for future health challenges. It is also important to inform and raise awareness among citizens. They – and all of us – need to be properly informed about prevention measures and the nature of monkeypox. Dissemination of science-based information will help reduce panic and disinformation and increase public confidence in the health measures taken. Investment should be made in research and the adoption of strategies and also in preventing the spread of zoonoses in large geographical areas due to climate change. And, of course, cooperation with the World Health Organization and third countries is also important. I also want to highlight something very basic, which I always say: only united can we ensure a healthy future for Europe's citizens. Solidarity is our shield.

One is serious as you put it, but the other is that God has given us the mind – the God of any religion – so that we can deal with situations with our own minds, rather than letting things go like this and take turns that destroy man himself.

Mr President, first of all I would like to express my sincere condolences to those affected. Indeed, the time has come for which scientists have warned us since the 1970s and 1980s. We are no longer talking about the "floods and fires of the century", but about the "century of floods and fires". We experienced it in Greece last year and this year as well. The European Union cannot stand by in the face of such crises – it makes sense. The mechanisms at our disposal to deal with natural disasters need to be upgraded. We need a stronger civil protection mechanism that can be activated immediately and support local authorities when situations overwhelm them. We also need to focus on prevention and resilience. Our infrastructure needs to become more resilient to extreme weather events. We also need to invest in technologies to help our cities and villages withstand such challenges, while reducing the impact of climate change, which must be at the heart of all our policies.

Mr President, Commissioner, we are at a very critical juncture for Europe's agricultural sector. Our farmers and stockbreeders are literally on the edge of the cliff. The continued rise in raw material, energy and feed prices has created a stifling environment, while climate change is exacerbating the situation with extreme weather events that are destroying – we see – crops and threatening the sustainability of our agriculture almost every year and in every region of Europe. So we have to act now. Yesterday, it's better. We don't have the luxury of time. It is therefore imperative to directly support our farmers with essential measures, such as increasing funds for the Agricultural Reserve Fund and perhaps creating a strong European climate disaster insurance system, investing – of course – in green farming technologies and reducing energy costs for our farmers. The new CAP should place greater emphasis on financial support for small and medium-sized farmers and attracting young farmers, while the role of women will be important in the agricultural sector.