Speeches

Mr President, thank you Mr Vice-President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, the cost of living crisis is indeed affecting everyone and especially low income households. But I would like to focus on one group in particular, and that is young people. Because for too many young people in too many Member States, even obtaining their own housing has now become an almost impossible problem, an impossible challenge. In 2020, the share of young people living with their parents was over 67% in the EU, and that was before the war. That was before the pandemic and before this crisis. As rents and property and property prices grow, housing as such basically becomes inaccessible to millions of young Europeans, regardless of their social status. And now, of course, we must think about how to tackle inflation and energy prices, but I would really like to see a long-term solution for affordable housing to ensure that nobody is left behind and that young people have the opportunity that older generations, including my generation, have taken for granted.

The debate is over. The vote will take place on Tuesday 05. 07. 2022. In a few moments, we will proceed with a debate, a debate with the Greek Prime Minister. Written declarations (Rule 171)

The next item is the debate on the report by Maria Walsh, on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on the proposal on mental health in the digital world of work (2021/2098(INI)) (A9-0184-2022).

The first item is the debate on the report by Milan Brglez, on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, and Sirpa Pietikäinen, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, on the draft report towards common European action on care (2021/2253(INI)) (A9-0189/2022).

The next item is the debate on the report by Lina Gálvez Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, on women’s poverty in Europe (2021/2170INI) (A9-0194/2022). The rapporteur, Lina Gálvez Muñoz, will be the first to speak.

The next item is the debate on the report by Siegfried Mureşan, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption by Croatia of the euro on 1 January 2023 (COM(2022)0282 - 2022/0179(NLE) (A9-0187/2022). The rapporteur, Mr Siegfried Mureşan, will be the first to speak.

The next item on the agenda is the statement by the Council and the Commission on the “Veto of Member States jeopardising the global tax deal” (2022/2734(RSP)).

The sitting is hereby opened and the first item on the agenda is the report by Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, on "Gas storage" (COM(2022)0135 - C9-0126/2022 - 2022/0090(COD).

First of all good morning everyone. I sincerely apologise for the delay due to the transport situation. I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.

Madam President, unfortunately, every crisis in society also entails a crisis in the protection of human rights. Including women's rights to decide on their own bodies. Years of epidemics, now Putin's war, but also the subversion of the rule of law have reinforced those illiberal tendencies in order for these politicians to try again to deprive women of their rights. While in the United States today, after fifty years, there is a real risk that the concept of women's right to abortion will fall apart, in European countries, specifically in Poland, this is already a reality. And this is happening against the backdrop of the deterioration of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. And that's no coincidence. But even in my country, Slovakia, perhaps not a month will pass when lawmakers will not try to propose a further tightening of abortions. I therefore also want to express my support for all women here and apologise to them for these humiliating attempts. Every woman has the right to decide freely and in the Union, in an area of freedom and democracy, this right should be guaranteed.

The next item is the report by Younous Omarjee, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on EU islands and cohesion policy: current situation and future challenges (2021/2079(INI)) (A9-0144/2022).

The next item is the report by David McAllister, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the EU and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific (2021/2232(INI)) (A9-0085/2022).

The next item is the report by Thomas Waitz, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the EEAS Climate Change and Defence Roadmap (2021/2102(INI)) (A9-0084/2022).

The next item is the Commission statement on the prosecution of the opposition and the detention of trade union leaders in Belarus (2022/2664(RSP)). Commissioner Didier Reynders will be the first to speak on behalf of the European Commission.

The next item is the report by Isabel Santos, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the 2021 Commission report on Albania (2021/2244(INI)) (A9-0131/2022) And the rapporteur, Ms Isabel Santos, will be the first to speak in the debate for 4 minutes.

The next item is the debate on the report by Ilhan Kyuchyuk, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the 2021 Commission Report on North Macedonia (2021/2248(INI)) (A9-0133/2022). The rapporteur Ilhan Kyuchyuk will be the first to speak for 4 minutes.