Speeches

I will now give the floor to the political group leaders for two minutes each, starting with the EPP Group. I give the floor to Jerzy Buzek – a former President of the European Parliament and a current Member.

Yes, we are informed that, in fact, the opinion should be received on time. So let’s put the request for a change of title to a vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) Therefore, the agenda is adopted and the order of business is thus established. Have a good last plenary week, everyone. (The sitting was suspended for a few moments)

Does anybody want to speak against? No? Therefore, we put the request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) Therefore, the agenda is changed accordingly. The Renew Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian Parliament, with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles’ be added in the evening, after the Rule 144 reports. I give the floor to Mr Kauch to move the request on behalf of the Renew Group.

– Does anybody want to speak against this proposal? I don’t see that to be the case so we put the request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) For Wednesday, the S&D Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘Recent attempts to deny dictatorships and the risk of Europe returning to totalitarianism’ be added in the evening, after the Council and Commission statements on ‘Forging a sustainable future together’. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Mr Luena to move the request on behalf of the S&D Group.

We put the request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) We move to Wednesday. The Left Group has requested that the title of the HR/VP statement on ‘Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response’ be changed to ‘Israel’s attack on Iran’s diplomatic premises, Iran’s unprecedented retaliation against Israel, and the need for de-escalation and an EU response’. I give the floor to Mr Wallace to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.

So unless anybody wants to speak against, I will put your request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) For Tuesday, the Greens/EFA Group has requested that a Commission statement on ‘The responsibilities of fossil fuel companies in the cost of living crisis’ be added as the last item in the evening. Therefore, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. The debate would be wound up with a resolution. I give the floor to Alviina Alametsä to move the request on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group.

We put the request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) For Tuesday, The Left Group has requested that a HR/VP statement on ‘Diplomatic tensions between Ecuador and Mexico’ be added in the afternoon, after the HR/VP statement on ‘The situation in Haiti’. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Mr Scholz to move the request on behalf of The Left.

So now we put the request for a resolution to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) For tomorrow, the Greens/EFA Group has requested that a debate on ‘The simplification of certain CAP rules’, currently scheduled for vote only on Thursday, be added as the fifth item in the afternoon, after the statement on ‘The situation in Haiti’. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Mr Eickhout to move the request on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group.

I see that Ms Incir wants the floor, but do you want to speak against? OK, if you don’t want to speak against, first we will need to vote on the request to change the title. So we put the request to change the title, as proposed by Mr Wallace, to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) Therefore, the title remains the same. Now, Ms Incir, you wanted the floor. Go ahead.

Does anybody wish to speak against? That does not seem to be the case. Therefore, I will put the request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) We move to Tuesday. The Left Group has requested that the title of the HR/VP statement on ‘The EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip’ be changed to ‘The EU’s response to the ICJ provisional measures, the UN Security Council Resolution 2728 calling for a ceasefire, and the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip’. The Left and S&D groups have also requested that the debate be wound up with a resolution. So we will first talk about the title and then the request for a resolution. To talk about the title, I give the floor to Mr Wallace, on behalf of The Left Group.

The IMCO and LIBE committees, in joint committee procedure, and the ECON Committee, have transmitted one corrigendum each to texts adopted by Parliament. Pursuant to Rule 241(4), these corrigenda will be deemed approved unless, no later than 24 hours after their announcement, a request is made by a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold that they be put to the vote. The corrigenda are available on the Plenary webpage. Their titles will be published in the minutes of this sitting.

In relation to the recommendations for decisions tabled by the AGRI Committee to raise no objections to two delegated acts, which were announced on Wednesday, 10 April, objections to the recommendation on the rules on the ratio for the good agricultural and environmental condition standard 1 have been raised by the Greens and The Left groups, and some individual members. Pursuant to Rule 111(6) of the Rules of Procedure, this recommendation will therefore be added to tomorrow’s voting session. As regards the recommendation on some provisions following the EU-New Zealand free trade agreement and the deletion of obsolete provisions as regards the export tariff quota for milk powder, no objections were raised within the 24-hour deadline. Pursuant to Rule 111(6), this recommendation was therefore deemed approved. It is published with the adopted texts.

Following the appointment of Petri Sarvamaa as a member of the European Court of Auditors, the competent authorities of Finland have communicated to me the end of his mandate with effect from 1 June 2024. He will be replaced by Eija-Riitta Korhola as of the same date.

The minutes and the texts adopted of the sittings of 10 and 11 April are available. Are there any comments? No? Therefore, the minutes are approved.

Dear colleagues, can I ask you to take your seats and then we can start this last plenary before the elections. My first announcement is about Swedish nationals in Iran. Last week, we marked two years since Swedish national and EU official Johan Floderus was illegally detained in Iran. This week Professor Ahmadreza Djalali, also a Swedish national, will have been jailed for eight years – making him the EU national held longest in Iran. On these sad anniversaries, the European Parliament once again condemns their arrest by the Iranian regime, in the strongest possible terms. Last week, I joined Commissioner Johansson at a vigil we held with Johan Floderus’ loved ones, as I reiterated this Parliament’s support. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure the release of our friends Johan, Ahmadreza and all others held on trumped-up charges. Also, dear colleagues, as this is the last plenary session before the European Parliament elections in June, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your tireless work over the past five years. It has been challenging, but this Parliament has delivered. Over the last years, we have navigated our way out of COVID restrictions. We have led the European debate that has made people’s lives a little bit easier, a little bit safer and little bit more secure. We have passed ground-breaking legislation on artificial intelligence, on migration, on asylum, on climate, on creating jobs and safeguarding European industry and agriculture, on new tech, and on digital services and digital markets. We have passed huge files on equality – there are still some left this week – and reinforced the social pillar. We have doubled down on making this Union a superpower of rights everywhere. We have faced the invasion of Ukraine, de-coupled from Russia and created new energy and health priorities. We have stood up for humanity in the Middle East and around the world. We have given new life into our mandate to promote parliamentary diplomacy and freedom. We have listened, we have learned, and we have burst through the Brussels and Strasbourg bubbles to engage with, and reach out to, people across Member States. We have worked hard to ensure that this House is more efficient, more effective and fit for purpose. We have made it more open and more independent. We have negotiated and balanced budgets. We have ensured that this is a place of work that people feel proud of and feel safe at. We have done all of this together. We have debated, we have acted and we have delivered for people. And for that I want to thank all of you, all your staff and all of Parliament’s services. I am so proud to be here, I am so proud of the work we have done, and I hope you feel I have repaid your trust and faith in me. I also want to pay tribute to the legacy of my predecessor, David Sassoli. He gave so much for this Parliament and for Europe, and I hope he would be proud of us, too. (Applause) Now, colleagues, our work does not end here. In just over six weeks’ time, EU citizens in all Member States will be called upon to elect the 720 Members of the European Parliament that will make up the 10th legislative term. Now is the moment to speak up for Europe: to call upon people – especially young people – to vote, to invite them to shape the future they want to see. Because every voice, every vote, every choice matters. Dear colleagues, together I am confident we can do just that. (Applause)

Dear colleagues, we will have a quick round of speakers relating to International Roma Day, which is celebrated today. International Roma Day is a day to celebrate Romani culture, history and language and pay tribute to Europe’s largest ethnic minority. Romani people can be proud Europeans – proud of their contribution to the rich mosaic of our European societies. They form an integral part of our communities. But even if so, the reality is that too many Romani women and men in Europe still live in the margins of society. It is unacceptable that discrimination and racism continue to plague our communities. For far too long, Romani people have suffered under unfounded bias and prejudice. Restricted access to education, difficulties in entering the labour market and insufficient healthcare represent just a few of the injustices Roma people face. In our Europe, we cherish our differences, our unique traditions, our cultures and our diversity. We know that this is where our true strength lies. That means that Roma people living within our Union’s borders must enjoy the same rights, the same treatment, but also the same opportunities, the same chances as any other European citizen. Romani children should have every reason to expect the promise of Europe to deliver for them too. In the European Parliament we will continue playing our part in driving positive change. This remains an ongoing effort, but together I am confident that we will manage to achieve a better, more equal, more just future for us all. (Applause)