Speeches

The JURI Committee has informed me of its conclusion that the request for the defence of the immunity of Clara Ponsatí Obiols announced in plenary on 29 March 2023 is inadmissible, and of its decision to close the procedure.

The minutes and the texts adopted of the sitting of 8 February 2024 are available. Are there any comments? If not, then the minutes are deemed approved.

Dear colleagues, last Saturday marked two years since Russia launched its war of aggression against independent and sovereign Ukraine: a war that no one wanted, that no one invited, that no one provoked, but one that Europe united to meet. I happened to be in Kyiv with President Zelenskyy, representing this House, when we learned that the city of Bucha had been liberated by Ukrainian forces. We saw the horror of what the Russian troops left behind: the destruction, the decay, the suffering, the slaughter of innocents, the brutal sexual violence on women and girls. This is a reality that the world has witnessed across Ukraine for the last 732 days. While the horror is as real today as it was then, the world also bore witness to the unshakeable courage of the people of Ukraine. They stood up, they defied the odds and they inspired the world. They continue to inspire us all. (Applause) And the worst of times in these last years have also brought out the best of Europe: a unity and sense of common purpose that culminated in Ukraine being granted EU candidate status; a common bond between our House and the Verkhovna Rada forged literally under fire. We have stood with Ukraine and we will remain by their side for as long as it takes to find peace – a real peace with justice, with accountability and with integrity. We are a continent built for peace. Our Union is the promise we made to a generation who only knew war and it is a promise that we must keep protecting. That is why we could not and did not hesitate to stand with Ukraine when it mattered the most; why our political, diplomatic, humanitarian, financial and military support did not waver as we welcomed millions of Ukrainian people – forced to flee from their homeland – into our homes and our hearts. So to everyone in Ukraine: we want you to know that you can continue to count on this House and our Members’ support. We know what is at stake, what the consequences of action – and inaction – are, why Europe needs to stand up for our values and our freedoms. Together we will win. Slava Ukraini! (Applause) Let us mark this moment now, dear colleagues, by watching the screen for a few moments. (A video was shown in the Chamber) Dear colleagues, this week also marks 100 days to the European elections, which will be held between 6 and 9 June. The more people that vote, the stronger European democracy becomes. I would like to remind Members of all the available resources that can help in raising awareness about the European elections. Notably, there is a special election website with a ‘remind-me-to-vote’ feature and a new version of the ‘What Europe Does for Me’ website. Together, I am confident that we can continue to show politics as a force for good and that Europe can deliver. In this spirit I also want to emphasise the importance of our legislative work. And here I want to thank you all for your steady commitment in closing off all our pending legislative work, because delivering on these files is where citizens can see the difference that Europe makes and the progress we can achieve when we work together. We need to show that this Parliament works until the last moment; I am confident that we will do that, and I am confident that people will return this House stronger. Now for a sad announcement. Dear colleagues, I regret to inform you that on 20 February our friend and colleague Erik Bergkvist sadly passed away. Erik will be remembered for his thirst for knowledge, his intellectual curiosity and profound sense of humanity. He was a man of steadfast integrity and was never one to shy away from believing and defending what he knew to be right. In this House, Erik’s commitment to our shared values marked him out. His work in helping cut down emissions and meeting our climate ambitions will serve as inspiration for legislatures to come. Erik’s spirit will live on in the lives that he touched and in the legacy that he leaves behind. Our thoughts are with his family, the Swedish delegation and the S&D Group in this House. May they find solace and peace as they navigate through this difficult time. Before I ask you to observe a moment of silence in honour of Erik Bergkvist’s memory, I will give the floor to Heléne Fritzon.

For Wednesday, the Greens/EFA Group has requested that a Commission statement on ‘Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of “Abbé Pierre’s appeal” on addressing homelessness in the context of persisting poverty and social exclusion’ be added as the last item in the evening. The statement would be followed by a round of political group speakers, and the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to David Cormand to move the request.

For Tuesday, The Left Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘Steps to be taken by the EU to reinforce the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ in the case of South Africa v. Israel’ be added before the debate on Council and Commission statements on further repression against the democratic forces in Venezuela. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Manu Pineda to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.

So, Ms Pereira, would you agree with the Greens’ title? Good. So we can just vote on the Greens’ request by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) We will have a debate, as proposed by Mr Eickhout. For Tuesday as well, the Greens/EFA Group has requested that the debate on the Commission statement on ‘State of play of the implementation of the Global Gateway and its governance two years after its launch’ be wound up with a resolution to be voted in the February II part-session. I give the floor to Mr Bütikofer to move the request.

I have received an alternative proposal from The Left Group to add Council and Commission statements on ‘The response to recurrent situations of drought and extreme drought’. Ms Pereira, please go ahead.

Now we go to other changes to the agenda. In accordance with Rule 9(9), the following reports are added to the final draft agenda for a vote on Tuesday: the report by Ilana Cicurel on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Eva Kaili; the report by Sergey Lagodinsky on the requests for the waiver of the immunity of Ioannis Lagos; and the report by Angel Dzhambazki on the requests for the waiver of the immunity of Georgios Kyrtsos. Now we move to changes requested by political groups. For Tuesday, the Greens Group has requested that a Commission statement on ‘Water crisis and droughts in the EU as a consequence of the global climate crisis and the need for a sustainable, resilient water strategy for Europe’ be added as the second item in the afternoon. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Bas Eickhout to move the request.

We looked at the article you mentioned. We see what the type of debate will be, but we have also seen that there is a Member from a political group who will speak and also one who represents the non-attached Members. Thank you for raising this point, I will see it.

I would like to inform you that, together with the President of the Council, I shall on Wednesday sign five acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure in accordance with Rule 79 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. The titles of the acts will be published in the minutes of this sitting.

Several committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 71(1) of the Rules of Procedure. The reports which constitute the mandates for the negotiations are available on the plenary webpage and their titles will be published in the minutes of the sitting. Pursuant to Rule 71(2), Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by tomorrow, Tuesday, 6 February at midnight that the decisions be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made before the deadline, the committees may start the negotiations.

On the proposal of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Parliament verifies the credentials of Witold Pahl and Włodzimierz Karpiński with effect from 16 November 2023, of Rafał Romanowski with effect from 29 November 2023, and of François Thiollet with effect from 30 November 2023.

. – The competent authorities of France have notified me of the election of Guy Lavocat to the European Parliament replacing Stéphane Séjourné with effect from 12 January 2024. The competent authorities of Germany have notified me of the election of Niels Geuking to the European Parliament replacing Helmut Geuking with effect from 5 February 2024. I wish to welcome both Mr Geuking and Mr Lavocat and recall they take their seats in Parliament and on its bodies in full enjoyment of their rights, pending the verification of their credentials.

Thank you, Irene. I would ask all colleagues to join me and stay standing for a minute of silence. (The House observed a minute’s silence) For the final part of the ceremony, I would invite Ms Sheva Tehoval and Mr Marcelo Nisinman to close our ceremony with ‘Kaddish’ by Maurice Ravel. (Ms Sheva Tehoval, soprano, and Mr Marcelo Nisinman, bandoneon, performed ‘Kaddish’ by Maurice Ravel) (Sustained applause)

The next item on the agenda is the joint debate on the European Council and Commission statements on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and preparation of the Special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 (2023/3006(RSP)), and on the Council and Commission statements on the Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds (2024/2512(RSP)).