Debate contributions by Alexandra MEHNERT

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Democracy needs citizen participation, and politics needs a direct line to the people. This is exactly what the Committee on Petitions does. In January, a father reported how his autistic son was left alone in the French education system. The Committee on Petitions then turned to the national government, which must now address the issue. Such and diverse examples exist in all Member States. They show that the Committee on Petitions allows difficulties to be identified. In 2024, 1,518 petitions were sent to the European Parliament, and the trend is increasing. The work of the Committee on Petitions will be more, not less. And that is a good thing, because it proves that citizens are seeking contact with the European Parliament. This is also reflected in the report, and it is really worth reading. I would like to thank my colleague Fredis Beleris for the good work on the report, but also the petitioners for their concerns and trust in the European Parliament.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Judaism belongs to Europe. Two years after the brutal raid on 7 October 2023, we are drawing a dark conclusion: Hatred of Jews is open. Anti-Semitism, often masked as criticism of the State of Israel, has increased sharply. Every day, Jews across Europe face insults, threats and discrimination. Recent examples from Manchester, Ghent, but also the cancellation of a concert at the Haus der Kulturen in Berlin show what the Jewish population repeatedly says: You don't feel safe anymore. And we can't accept that. As an EPP, we stand firmly by the side of the Jewish community in Europe. Judaism belongs to Europe. We must ensure that Europe remains a home for Jews.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Tomorrow, Tuesday, we will vote on the position of the European Parliament on the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation. As draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Transport, I was involved in this process and I am convinced that: The result sets exactly the right priorities. It was not an easy task to balance the different interests. The aim was to promote innovation in the recycling industry without unduly burdening the automotive industry. At the same time, we needed to align industry’s legitimate concerns with the EU’s overarching strategic objectives – less reliance on raw materials from China, building a functioning circular economy that holds valuable resources in Europe, and meaningful and workable sustainability standards. I believe that we have succeeded in achieving this balance here. I therefore recommend that all Members accept the positioning. My special thanks go to the rapporteurs and esteemed colleagues Jens Gieseke and Paulius Saudargas. It is a balanced and sustainable text with which the European Parliament is well prepared for the upcoming negotiations with the Council.

Madam President, Cohesion policy is an important tool to support regions with their different cultures and diversity in Europe. It thus also makes a decisive contribution to the legitimacy of the European Union. Cohesion policy also promotes and strengthens rural areas. Particularly with regard to the challenges, especially in rural areas, such as demographic change or skills and labour shortages, it is important to assist the affected areas. This applies in particular to regions with transformation experience – such as my constituency, the state of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, and also border regions. They must be particularly supported and encouraged. It is safe to say: The distribution of financial resources must continue to be decided in the regions themselves. Only on the ground do we have the insight and experience of how and where the funds are most needed. Therefore: Let us continue to stand up for a policy of the regions. Europe thrives on its culturally diverse regions. The regional decision on cohesion policy must not be curtailed in order to preserve acceptance for Europe in the hearts of the people.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, The European Commission has put forward a good action plan to strengthen the competitiveness of the European automotive industry. The action plan is also important for my homeland of Saxony-Anhalt – on the one hand from the perspective of motorists, because the car is indispensable especially in rural areas, but on the other hand also from the perspective of the automotive industry, which creates good jobs with its proximity to Wolfsburg, also in Saxony-Anhalt. This action plan offers opportunities for job creation and investment in sustainable technologies, but also preserves existing structures. We particularly support the promotion of battery production within the EU, which will also create jobs in rural areas. Equally important is support for the development of skilled workers. Especially in rural areas, we need to exploit the existing potential and successfully shape a competitive and sustainable economy through targeted reskilling and upskilling programmes. The CDU is committed to ensuring that this action plan maintains the balance between ecological transformation and social responsibility. The aim is to ensure the competitiveness of our industry and at the same time to offer prospects to people in rural areas. This is the only way to achieve a fair and sustainable future for the whole of Europe.

Madam President, honourable Members! What makes a good ombudsman, a good ombudsman? The report presented today on the 2023 annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman provides some answers to this question. The Ombudsman is the voice for citizens; This is about trust and visibility. Unfortunately, the office is not so well known among citizens so far. This means not only access to documents and transparency, but direct contact with people. The report we are adopting today sets out very well the importance of contact with the Member States – through multipliers, civil society and the media. I would even say that contact with the Member States is the most important task of the European Ombudsman. Tomorrow we will re-electe the office in the European Parliament. I am very pleased that we have several highly qualified and really well-suited candidates. We can learn from the experience of the past years what makes a good ombudsman: Increased direct contact with citizens in the future.