Speeches

So we will first vote on the request by the S&D, Renew, Greens and The Left Group to have a debate. (Parliament approved the request) So the debate is in. But now we will check whether we will wind up the debate with a resolution at the next part-session. Do you still have that request, to the Greens Group? OK, so we vote on whether to have a resolution on this next part-session. (Parliament approved the request) Colleagues, the agenda is adopted and the order of business is thus established. Have a good week. (The sitting was suspended for a few moments)

President. – I understand there is a compromise title that would be supported by the EPP, S&D, Renew and the Greens Group, which I will read out: ‘Council and Commission statements on improving the socio-economic situation of farmers and rural areas, ensuring fair incomes, food security, as well as a just transition’. So I will put this compromise proposal to a vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the compromise proposal) Everybody wants that debate and agrees, except one person. For Wednesday, The Left and Renew groups have requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘the rule of law and media freedom in Greece’ be wound up with a resolution to be voted in the February part-session. I give the floor to Ms in ‘t Veld to move the request.

It’s just not to have it this week – so then we will take it when we prepare for the next session. For Wednesday, The Left Group has requested that a Commission statement on ‘Norway’s recent decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic’ be added as the second item in the afternoon, after the topical debate. The debate would be wound up with a resolution and the session would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Silvia Modig 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 10 January pursuant to Rule 157 has been distributed. I’d like to inform you that I have received one request for urgent procedure from the Council pursuant to Rule 163 on the following legislative file: ‘targets for fixing fishing opportunities’. The vote on this request will be taken tomorrow, and if adopted, the vote will be held on Thursday. We now move to changes requested by political groups. With the agreement of the political groups, I wish to put to the House the following proposal for changes to the final draft agenda: the objection pursuant to Rule 112(2), (3) and Rule 112(4)(c): ‘Maximum residue levels for thiacloprid’, is added to the Wednesday votes. For Monday, today, the EPP Group has requested that a Commission statement on ‘the need for an EU and international response to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea’ be added as the third point in the afternoon, after the joint debate on markets in financial instruments regulations. I give the floor first to Michael Gahler to move the request.

The ECON and EMPL committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 71(1) of our Rules. The reports, which constitute the mandate for the negotiations, are available on the plenary web page, 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, 16 January at midnight, that the decisions be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made within the deadline, the committee may start the negotiations.

The EPP, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups have notified me of decisions relating to changes to appointments within committees and delegations. These decisions will be set out in the minutes of today’s sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement.

I have received a request from the competent authorities in Hungary for the parliamentary immunity of Anna Júlia Donáth to be waived. This request is referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs.

Following the appointment of Nicola Beer to the European Investment Bank, we will also proceed tomorrow to the election of a new Vice-President of the European Parliament. I remind you that the deadline for submitting nominations is today at 19.00. The nominations should be handed in to the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General in the open-space area of the Plenary Services, and include the candidate’s acceptance. The election will take place tomorrow at noon.

Following the appointment of Nicola Beer to the European Investment Bank, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of her seat from 1 January 2024, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. Following the appointment of Stéphane Séjourné to the French Government, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of his seat from 12 January 2024. The competent authorities of Spain have notified me of the election of Esther Sanz Selva to the European Parliament, replacing Sira Rego with effect from 21 December 2023. The competent authorities of Germany have notified me of the election of Michael Kauch to the European Parliament, replacing Nicola Beer with effect from 1 January 2024. The competent authorities of Poland have notified me of the election of Krzysztof Brejza to the European Parliament, replacing Radosław Sikorski with effect from 3 January 2024. I wish to welcome all these new colleagues and recall that you take your seats in Parliament and its bodies in full enjoyment of your rights pending the verification of your credentials.

First of all, dear colleagues, it is with a deep sense of pride and honour that I inform you that on Saturday I was in Vilnius to receive on behalf of all MEPs and the European Parliament, the Freedom Prize from the Republic of Lithuania. It was a moving and emotional moment and I was glad to be there in your name to witness it. This prize is for all of you and your work in support of peace, democracy, human rights and freedom. It is in recognition of what our Parliament does. May it serve to continue to inspire our actions. (Applause) Dear colleagues, in the spirit of defending freedom, I need to refer again to what is happening in Belarus, still controlled by Europe’s last dictator. Activists, innocent people are still being detained arbitrarily. The number of political prisoners continues to grow. We cannot allow it to fall off the top of our agenda. That is why I have met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya last week and promised to do what we can to support political prisoners and urge their release. For that reason I have agreed to join their campaign and became a so-called ‘godparent’ of Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk, a mother, an activist, sentenced in 2021 and then in 2022 by Lukashenko’s regime to four years in prison on trumped‑up charges. Palina has been beaten, placed in a punishment cell, and refused medicines and access to her family or a lawyer. My appeal to all of you who have not yet done so is to join the campaign and consider adding your voice too. Dear colleagues, last year, you will recall, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement. However, a few days before they were scheduled to receive their award, the Iranian regime placed Ms Mahsa Amini’s family under a travel ban – a stark example of the type of treatment that the people of Iran are faced with every day. On 12 December, this House welcomed Mr Saleh Nikbakht, the Amini family lawyer, to receive the Sakharov Prize on their behalf. Shortly after his return to Iran, Mr Saleh Nikbakht was arrested and the award was confiscated. According to our information, Mr Saleh Nikbakht has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment for allegedly engaging in ‘propaganda against the system’. It is a false charge. It is unacceptable. It is inexcusable, and this House condemns it. I want to recognise that bravery and commitment by Mr Saleh Nikbakht. He spoke eloquently and courageously. On behalf of the European Parliament, I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Saleh Nikbakht. I will also take this opportunity to reiterate our unwavering support to Mahsa Amini’s family and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in their ceaseless fight for liberty, justice and human rights. You are not alone. Dear colleagues, on 21 December 2023 we witnessed a horrific – the worst – mass shooting in Czechia when a gunman in Prague shot dead 14 people at the Charles University and injured many more. It pains us to think of the many families that were forced to mourn their loved ones at a time of peace and togetherness. My thoughts are with them and with the victims of these brutal attacks, who are still recovering. Evropa stojí při Česku. *** Before we move to the approval of the minutes of the previous sitting, is there a point of order?

Colleagues, we are gathered here today to honour the life and extraordinary legacy of a great European. The President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, passed away on 27 December 2023 at the age of 98. As an introduction to this commemoration, I invite you all to watch a short video about President Jacques Delors, the father of European integration.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements: Review of the Spanish Presidency of the Council (2023/3001(RSP)) Dear colleagues, we have with us the President of the Government of Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with us today. Dear Prime Minister, welcome to the European Parliament and thank you for being with us. In times of geo-political change, we have a joint responsibility to promote social justice, democracy and the rule of law. Citizens look to us to defend European values. Dear Pedro, let me thank your country for its support to Ukraine and to Spain’s team for the achievements of the Spanish Presidency of the European Council. With the Artificial Intelligence Act, together we have delivered the world’s first set of legislation to manage AI and promote innovation. With the Critical Raw Materials Act we will secure EU supplies and European sovereignty. With a political deal on an anti-SLAPP directive we will protect journalists. We are nearing the end of the year, but there is still work to do, as we have just had the opportunity to talk about. Our focus remains on trying to find a way forward on remaining files, particularly on migration. People expect us to deliver and we must. Prime Minister, the floor is yours.

Mr Złotowski, do you agree with the alternative proposal? I see that you don’t. (Parliament rejected the ECR Group’s request) So therefore, Mr Auštrevičius, do you want to keep your proposal? I see that you do. (Parliament approved the Renew Group’s request) (The order of business was thus established) * * *

Mr Urbán Crespo, do you agree with the alternative proposal, or do you want to keep your own? I’m not surprised – I see you want to keep your own. (Parliament approved The Left Group’s request) So we will have Council and Commission statements to be added as the second item in the afternoon. For Thursday, the ECR Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘The impact of the EU-Ukraine agreement on the carriage of freight by road, on the balance of the EU transport services market and the situation of hauliers from the Member States’ be added as the second item in the morning. I give the floor to Kosma Złotowski to move the request on behalf of the ECR.

I have received an alternative proposal from the ID Group which I give the floor to Jean-Paul Garraud to present for a Council and Commission statements on “Integrity of the EU institutions”, without resolution.

I give the floor to anybody who would want to speak against. No? I put the request to the vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) Also for Tuesday, the ECR Group has requested that a statement by the High Representative on ‘Unilateral actions by Venezuela’s Maduro regime against Guyana’ be added as the fifth item in the afternoon after the debate on ‘The environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability’. The debate would be wound up with a resolution, to be voted on Thursday. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23.00. I give the floor to Anna Fotyga to move the request.