Speeches

The next item on the agenda is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the human rights situation in Haiti, in particular as regards gang violence (2022/2856(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the fight against anti-European and anti-Ukrainian propaganda launched by Putin's European friends (2022/2862(RSP)). I would like to draw the attention of all Members to the fact that there are no spontaneous interventions in this debate and that blue cards are not accepted.

The minutes of yesterday's meeting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any objections to this Protocol? That is not the case, and the minutes are therefore approved.

We now come to the vote. We have a longer vote and I therefore ask you to support me by sending me clear signals. Then we can do it as quickly and quickly as possible. (Vote results and other details of the vote: see Minutes.)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Determination, unity, solidarity, security and support are all in demand in these minutes. I had the opportunity last week to be in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for our Parliament and to hold many talks. My working visit coincided with the very day when Putin announced the annexation of other Ukrainian territories. With this unacceptable historical injustice and his irresponsible, troubling decisions, the illegal sham referenda, the nuclear weapons threat and the mobilization, Putin continues to turn on the escalation screw. Ladies and gentlemen, I was very impressed by the common will, determination and perseverance of Ukrainians. That is why I support the tightening of sanctions. I support the package of measures presented by the Commission and I support the measures presented today by the President of the Commission to reorganise the energy market and launch a new pricing mechanism.

Dear colleagues! It is very difficult in this debate to cancel the speakers directly after a minute or a minute thirty, because they have very personal, very emotional and very correct closing remarks. I must therefore, because I want to be flexible here in the speech, firstly, close the list of speakers for the spontaneous interventions and, secondly, tell you that depending on the timetable, I can take a maximum of two to three people in the spontaneous interventions. There are currently eight or nine reported. I ask for your understanding and adherence to the speaking time, as far as the content of the speech allows.

Mr Garraud! I must tell you that what you have done here in your intervention is not compatible with the Rules of Procedure. I would ask you to abide by the Rules of Procedure during your speech. (Applause)

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the death of Mahsa Amini and the repression of women's rights protesters in Iran.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The thing is clear: It is right, important and long overdue that the rule of law mechanism against Hungary has been set in motion and that severe financial sanctions have been proposed. And the draft conditionality regulation is proof of that. It just needs to be implemented. For the baptism of fire has not yet passed. It is also a question of our credibility and our ability to act that we impose sanctions both internally and externally and defend our rights and our values if they are violated. We do not interfere in this, but we protect the taxpayers, all citizens, the legal community and the community of values. The catalogue of defects is long. There is a risk of misuse of EU funds. Therefore, it is necessary to act, and it is necessary to withhold the money until further notice.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the Commission proposal for measures under the Conditionality Regulation in the case of Hungary (2022/2853(RSP)).

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Inflation – the explosion in energy and food prices – is putting the population and the economy at risk and jeopardising social cohesion. What is needed is honesty, unity, determination, solidarity, a swift, coordinated EU-wide response and a package of immediate measures – now. Firstly: a revenue ceiling as a basis for collecting the windfall profits of individual energy producers. Secondly: Solidarity with the fossil fuel industry. We must use both for future investments on the one hand and for the relief of the population and the economy on the other. And thirdly: Smart energy saving. Because the most environmentally friendly, cheapest and safest energy is the one we don't consume. At the same time, we need to drive the Energy Union forward, rethink the energy market, massively expand renewables and infrastructure, and accelerate joint energy procurement.

– The next item on the agenda is the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the situation in the Taiwan Strait (2022/2822(RSP)).

I would like to thank the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and you, ladies and gentlemen, for your support. We have extended Question Time by 20 minutes so that, on the one hand, I can take account of the majority in the House and, on the other hand, at least one question could be asked by each group. That was the goal of the overdraft of time. In addition, I think it was a very exciting and very informative question time. The format has proven itself, and I will end today's Question Time with it.

The next item on the agenda is Question Time, and I welcome the Vice-President of the Commission, Mr Borrell. The topic of this Question Time is the current state of the war in Ukraine. The question time will take about 60 minutes. The speaking times are: One minute to ask a question, two minutes for the answer, 30 seconds for a supplementary question and two minutes for the answer. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that a possible supplementary question is admissible only if it is closely linked to the main question and does not contain a new question. If you would like to ask a question, I would ask you to register your request now by using the function of your voting device for spontaneous interventions after inserting your voting card. During Question Time, interventions will be made from your seat and I ask all speakers to respect the speaking time allocated to them. Members may need a few moments to register their request to ask a question via their voting device. I therefore ask you again to submit your request now, and we begin with the first question.

The minutes of yesterday's meeting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any objections to this? That is not the case. The minutes have thus been approved.

The next item on the agenda is the joint debate on – the report by Isabel Carvalhais, on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/833 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (COM(2022)0051 – C9-0046/2022 – 2022/0035(COD)) (A9-0198/2022), and – the report by Isabel Carvalhais, on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down conservation and management measures applicable in the area covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Agreement and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 (COM(2021)0198 – C9-0153/2021 – 2021/0103(COD)) (A9-0009/2022).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Niels Fuglsang, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, on the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency (recast) (COM(2021)0558 – C9-0330/2021 – 2021/0203(COD)) (A9-0221/2022).