What Roberta spoke about.

So we will put the proposal as just confirmed by Mr Pimenta Lopes to the vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the proposal) Therefore we will have Council and Commission statements as proposed and agreed with the Greens. The agenda is adopted and the order of business is thus established. (The sitting was suspended for a few moments)

Thank you, Mr Pimenta Lopes, for that proposal. I have received an alternative proposal from the Green Group to add Council and Commission statements on ‘The extradition and prosecution of Julian Assange and implications on freedom of the press’, followed by one round of political group speakers, to be added as the last item on Wednesday. First of all, I will ask whether any colleague would like to speak against having such a debate at all? I don’t see that to be the case. Therefore, Mr Pimenta Lopes, do you agree with the alternative proposal of the Green Group?

I give the floor to any colleague who would like to speak against. No one? So we put the request to a vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) For Wednesday, the EPP Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘The need for an urgent Council decision in favour of amending the protection status of wolves in the Bern Convention’ be added as the third item after the second voting session. The debate would be wound up with a resolution to be voted at the next part session, and as a consequence the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Mr Dorfmann to move the request on behalf of the EPP.

I give the floor to any colleague who would like to speak against. No one? So we put the request of the Green Group to a vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) The Left Group has requested for Wednesday that a Commission statement on ‘Preventing work-related deaths following the Florence tragedy’ be added as the first item after the second voting session in the afternoon. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Marina Mesure to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.

Thank you, Mr Wallace. The EPP has also requested that the title of the statement be changed to: ‘War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region’. So first I will ask whether any colleague would like to speak against having such a change in the title. As that is not the case, I will put to the vote first the request for a change of title, and then for the resolution. And I will ask you, Mr Wallace, do you agree with the proposal of the EPP Group?

OK, thank you, so this will be discussed at a later plenary session. For Tuesday, The Left Group has requested that the title of the High Representative’s statement on ‘War in the Gaza Strip, including recent developments related to the ICJ and UNWRA and in the region’ be changed to ‘War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments related to the ICJ and in the region’. The debate would be wound up with a resolution to be voted in March. I give the floor to Mr Wallace to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.

We now come to the order of business. The final draft agenda as adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 21 February pursuant to Rule 157 has been distributed. For Monday, The Left Group has requested that a debate on the report by Mr Luena on nature restoration – which was to be included directly in Tuesday’s votes – be added as the third item in the afternoon. As a consequence, today’s sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Mr Flanagan to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.

I would like to inform you that, together with the President of the Council, I shall on Wednesday sign four 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 27 February, at midnight, that the decisions be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made before the deadline expires, the committees may start the negotiations.

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.

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.