Debate contributions by Sakis ARNAOUTOGLOU

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.