What Andrea spoke about.

Dear Mrs Wiesner, thank you very much for the question you have already addressed in your speech. Yes, we have a unified electricity bidding zone in Germany, and yes, we are working to better connect these zones of generation and use of energy with electricity infrastructure expansion. But if you have read the ACER report closely, the effect, the price effect, of different power bidding zones is s

Dear Mr President, dear Commissioner! Energy security is not an abstract concept. You can feel it when electricity, heating and grids suddenly fail in Berlin. And you can feel it when prices at petrol stations rise dramatically as a result of the Iran shock. And our companies feel it every day when they ask themselves whether there is reliable and affordable energy in Europe. And t

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, Europe is discussing billions in investments in grids, hydrogen and renewable energy. But the real bottleneck is quite banal: sometimes a fence lizard, sometimes a stone crab and a lot of bureaucracy. Europe is building too slowly. Today, an electricity grid project takes up to ten years – and more than half of it is for permits alone. R

(Start of contribution when microphone is switched off) … in the CDU and in the EPP, across the borders of European and national policies, to ensure that both the issue of renewable energies and classical security and capacity markets are designed in a reasonable framework. That is why it is now time to make an energy policy in Germany that also balances the costs of grid expansion, the costs of t

Mr President, Commissioner! For many people in Europe, energy policy starts with the energy bill at the end of the month and with the question ‘Can I still heat my home?’ ‘Can my business still bear the electricity costs and can I afford the next winter?’ Around 42 million Europeans still cannot heat their home sufficiently in winter. For these people, energy policy is not an abstract debate. It i

First of all, the EPP is also a party that does not only European politics, but also national politics. The whole issue of childcare, of structural challenges, is to a large extent also located in the Member States. And we are putting a very, very big focus on municipal childcare, on the all-day school, on the development of childcare structures in order to relieve children and women – and men – t

(Start of speech when microphone is switched off) …, and not only for me, but also for my EPP ‑ group, that we clearly stand for equality between men and women and the closing of the wage gap, and quickly – but not through bureaucracy.

Thank you for the question, Mrs Demirel. First of all, I have made it very clear what I mean by tackling structural disadvantages, and that is the issue of fighting for more education, fighting for more entrepreneurship, fighting for more care places – the structural issues that we have. Let me also be very clear on the subject of the Pay Transparency Directive. Transparency helps to create transp

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, This week we celebrated International Women's Day, and it reminds us that equality has always been linked to economic independence. In doing so, Europe has produced wonderful role models. In my native Baden-‑Württemberg, Bertha Benz wrote history of technology with the first long-distance journey in automotive history. She has

Mr President, dear Mrs Gedin! We are not in a fantasy world here, but unlike you, we are writing history here. Just as in Europe peace was once forged out of coal and steel, so today we forge our energy security and our freedom out of wind, sun and reason. The end of Russian energy imports is more than energy policy. It is a bloodletting for a war economy that breathes longer with every kilowatt h

Madam President, Commissioner Zaharieva, Mrs Stürgkh, Anna, ladies and gentlemen! Europe's electricity grids are the backbone of our strategic energy future. Recent projections show: Global electricity demand will almost double by 2040. Without stable, high-performance networks, however, any electrification strategy remains an empty promise. What we see, however, is that regional demand and infras

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Today, in the context of gas storage, we are debating important issues – issues that concern not only the reality of life of our European citizens, but also the competitiveness of our industry. On the issue of the extension of the EU gas storage regulation, we decide on energy security and the reduction of gas prices in Europe. In 2022, the adoptio

Mr President, Commissioner Jørgensen! Russia's war against Ukraine has shown us very painfully that Europe's energy dependence on autocratic regimes was a strategic mistake. And the European Union has responded – and successfully has done so – and will continue to do so; Thank you very much for that too. But let me make one thing clear: The crucial question is not only the phase-out Russian fossil

Madam President, Commissioner Séjourné! We live in a time of profound geopolitical upheaval, and the post-war order, which has brought us stability and security for so long, but also prosperity, is also a thing of the past. In a world full of uncertainty, one thing is clear: Europe must be united in security and peace, but also in economic strength, because without a strong economy, Europe cannot

Madam President, Commissioner Micallef! We in this House represent the people of the European Union, and they want and demand a stronger role for the EU in energy policy. People expect European solutions for their energy poverty, for rising energy prices, for Europe's energy independence and for climate-neutral energy. And energy must not become a social issue, so we are called now. And we Europea

Madam President, Commissioner Simson! First of all, I would like to thank you very much for your work for the citizens of Europe over the last five years – thank you very much! With all the successes we can celebrate, one thing remains very clear: Energy prices in Europe have long since passed a critical point, and Europe is characterised by energy poverty. Massive imbalances are weighing on our c

Dear Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen! Last night I sat down with many young people from the textile industry, who are the bearers of hope in this industry. But I also sat down with many entrepreneurs who want to put this industry in the hands of the next generation with confidence. The discussion revolved around the question: “How can we, young and old, stand together in Europe to shape Europe’

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! We are facing a historic moment that could decide the future of peace and stability in Europe. In a few days, the people of Moldova will vote in a referendum on whether Moldova wants to become part of the European Union. In recent years, the people of Moldova have stood up for freedom, democracy and the rule of law in a way that impresses us all. B