Speeches

The minutes and approved texts of the sittings of 5, 6, 7 and 8 July were distributed. Are there any comments? There were no comments and the minutes were approved.

President. – I greet the colleagues who are in person and connected by the EPLOs. I hope it has been a good summer and a good holiday for all, although many events have involved all the Members with issues that, as we know, heavily affect this time.

The next item is the debate on the statements by the European Council and the Commission on the European Council conclusions of 24 and 25 June 2021 (2021/2729(RSP)). I would point out that there is no catch-the-eye procedure for all the debates at this part-session and no blue card applications will be accepted. In addition, as in the last part-sessions, remote interventions are foreseen by the European Parliament Liaison Offices in the Member States.

Thank you on. in 't Veld for this communication. Of course there is the proximity of the European Parliament and we will follow the developments.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Presidency (2021/2728(RSP)).

The final draft agenda, adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 1 July 2021 under Rule 157, has been circulated. I would like to inform you that the votes are distributed over several voting sessions, taking into account the number of amendments tabled and the number of requests for separate or split votes. Please note that this distribution may of course be subject to change. Relevant information on the distribution of votes can be found on Parliament’s website under ‘Priority information and documents’. The agenda shall be deemed to have been adopted.

Signature of acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure: I would like to inform the House that following the interruption of Parliament's session on 24 June, I signed with the President of the Council an act adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure in accordance with Rule 79 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure. I would also like to inform the House that on Wednesday I will sign together with the President of the Council 11 acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure. The titles of these acts will be published in the minutes of this sitting.

Following the AGRI Committee’s decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations under Rule 71(1) announced on Wednesday 23 June, I have not received any request for a vote. The committee has therefore already been able to start negotiations.

The TRAN Committee decided to open interinstitutional negotiations under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure. The report constituting the mandate for these negotiations is available on the Plenary website. Its title will be published in the minutes of the sitting. A number of Members or one or more political groups reaching at least the average threshold may request in writing by midnight on Tuesday 6 July to put the decision on the opening of negotiations to the vote. If no request for a vote in plenary is submitted within this deadline, the committee may start negotiations.

The ECR and ID Groups have informed me of some decisions to amend committee appointments. These decisions will be included in the minutes of today's sitting and will enter into force as of this announcement.

The competent authorities of Portugal have informed me of the election of Mr João Pimenta Lopes as Member of the European Parliament in place of Mr João Ferreira with effect from 6 July. I welcome the new colleague and recall that he sits with full rights in Parliament and its bodies under the conditions laid down in our Rules of Procedure.

The competent authorities of Germany have sent me a request for the waiver of Mr Jörg Meuthen's parliamentary immunity, so that the Prosecutor General in Berlin can initiate an investigation procedure against him. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, such a request shall be forwarded to Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs responsible for the matter.

The minutes and texts adopted at the sitting of 23 and 24 June were distributed. Are there any comments? There were no comments and therefore the minutes were approved.

Dear colleagues, I would like to begin today's session by expressing our solidarity with the people of Cyprus and the victims of the devastating fire that led to the deaths of four people and caused so much destruction and suffering. It is with relief that we learn from the Cypriot authorities that the fire is now under control. The EU quickly deployed rescEU capacities, showing once again that when we act together we are stronger. The time for solidarity is not over. We, dear friends of Cyprus, will always be at your side.