Speeches

OK, so we put the initial request of the Greens Group to a vote by roll call. We vote first on the debate. We’ll have two separate votes. The vote is whether we have a debate or not, as proposed by Ms Toussaint. (Parliament rejected the request) Now we ask whether the other groups want to maintain their proposals. Mr Torvalds, do you want to maintain your proposal?

Does anybody want to speak against this proposal? If not we go straight to voting on the request. (Parliament rejected the request) Therefore the agenda is unchanged. For Thursday, the Greens Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘the proposal to renew glyphosate and the urgent need to phase out’, followed by one round of political group speakers, be added as the first item in the morning, and therefore the sitting would start at 8.30. The statements would then be wound up with a resolution. I give the floor once again to Marie Toussaint to move the request.

So I will put this compromise proposal to the vote by roll call. (Parliament approved the request) Therefore we will have a statement as has been proposed by Ms Gualmini. For Wednesday, the Green Group has requested that a Commission statement on ‘addressing the lack of transparency of pesticide authorisation and the risks for the environment and people’s health’, followed by one round or political group speakers, be added as the last point in the afternoon. I give the floor to Marie Toussaint to move the request on behalf of the Green Group.

Thank you very much, Mr Solé. I have now received a request from the S&D Group, and please tell me, Ms Gualmini, who will present it, whether it has evolved into a compromise proposal supported by a majority of the political groups.

Thank you very much. I am guided on this, because of the consultations with all the political groups, by Rule 183(4), which says that where compromise amendments are put to the vote, they shall be given priority in voting. So let’s take a look at whether there is a compromise that emerges, and then we vote on that. We next move to an alternative proposal by the Green Group. I give the floor to Mr Solé.

We will debate this very soon. Next, with the agreement of the political groups, I wish to put to the House the following proposals for changes to the final draft agenda for today: a statement by the President on the urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism is added as the first point in the afternoon; a Commission statement on EU enlargement policy 2023 is added after the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 October 2023; and the report by Mr Fernandes and Ms Hayer on the system of own resources of the European Union is moved to tomorrow, Thursday, as the second item in the morning. As a consequence, the sitting is extended to 22.00. On Thursday, tomorrow, the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the European economic security strategy is postponed to the next part-session. The reports by Mr García del Blanco on the request for the defence of the privileges and immunities of Stefano Maullu, and by Mr Vázquez Lázara on the requests for the waiver of the immunity of Patryk Jaki, Beata Kempa, Beata Mazurek and Tomasz Piotr Poręba are added to the votes. The two reports by Ms Adamowicz on road vehicles and Mr Winkler on the EU-China Agreement are taken out of the votes. If there are no objections these changes are approved and we will move to the changes requested by the political groups. We have a list of requests on the same subject, also as just brought up by Ms Miranda, that will be taken together. We start first with The Left Group, which has requested that a statement by the Vice President / High Representative on ‘the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the need for an immediate ceasefire’ be added in a joint debate with the European Council and Commission statements on ‘the Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 October 2023’. This debate would be wound up with a resolution which would then be voted on in November II. I give the floor to Manon Aubry to move the request before moving to the other requests.

Several committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 71(1). 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 9 November 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.

The EPP, Renew Europe and ID 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 the resignation of Monika Beňová from the office of Quaestor. Parliament takes note of the vacancy of the office from 18 October 2023. Therefore, we will proceed, tomorrow at 11.00, with the election of a new Quaestor, to replace Ms Beňová. 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 on the seventh floor of the Spaak Building and include the candidate’s acceptance.

On the proposal of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Parliament verifies the credentials of Anja Haga with effect from 5 September 2023, of Ana Collado Jiménez and Laura Ballarín Cereza with effect from 6 September 2023, and of Laurence Sailliet and Lydie Massard with effect from 24 September 2023.

Following the election of Bartosz Arłukowicz, Krzysztof Hetman and Zbigniew Kuźmiuk to the Polish Sejm, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of their seats from 19 October 2023, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. Following the election of Christophe Hansen to the Chamber of Deputies in Luxembourg, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of his seat from 24 October 2023, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. And following the election of Michal Šimečka to the Slovak National Council, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of his seat from 25 October 2023. The competent authorities of Luxembourg have notified me of the election of Martine Kemp to the European Parliament replacing Christophe Hansen with effect from 24 October 2023. The competent authorities of Slovakia have notified me of the election of Jozef Mihál to the European Parliament replacing Michal Šimečka with effect from 26 October 2023. I wish to welcome our new colleagues and recall that they take their seats in Parliament and on its bodies in full enjoyment of their rights pending the verification of their credentials. Welcome.

Dear colleagues, every year for the past 15 years, the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation in Aachen have jointly awarded the European Charlemagne Youth Prize to youth-led projects supporting democracy and promoting cooperation in Europe. This year, the first prize went to AILEM from Belgium – a language app tailored for refugees and developed in consultation with them. Two projects took joint second place: the European Correspondent from the Netherlands and the Mobile Climate Museum from Lithuania. The European Correspondent brings together young European journalists in support of European journalism, while the Mobile Climate Museum encourages young people to adopt a more climate-friendly lifestyle. It is a pleasure to have the representatives of these initiatives with us in this Chamber. Congratulations and welcome to the European Parliament. (Applause)

Dear colleagues, please take your seats. We have with us this afternoon Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency Cate Blanchett. Welcome to the European Parliament. (Applause) Cate Blanchett has been a dedicated activist on humanitarian issues for years. We know her for her activism as well as for her work in film. We are delighted that you are able to be here with us today at a time when events around the world threaten more lives and force more people to flee. Almost eight years ago, you stated that ‘There has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity.’ Sadly, that statement could well be repeated today. Just last month at the European Parliament we marked 10 years since the Lampedusa shipwreck that claimed more than 360 lives. That tragedy of 2013 was far from being an isolated catastrophe. The cemetery of the Mediterranean has claimed the lives of thousands more women, children and men since. I am proud that this institution has led the debate on a European level to find a way forward that tackles this challenge of our generation, and I am hopeful that we will agree on a new Asylum and Migration Pact for Europe by the end of this legislature. This Parliament’s commitment to these challenges remains unwavering: for all those who lost their lives, for all the exploited victims of traffickers, for all those families never to be reunited. We remember them. And, Ms Blanchett, we are grateful to you for using your voice to draw greater attention to the plight of so many people across the world. The floor is yours. (Applause)

Colleagues, before we begin our voting session, on behalf of Parliament, I would like to welcome the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, who is present in the gallery with a group of French senators. Welcome! Cooperation between our national parliaments and the European Parliament is essential to our work in the European Union. We are glad that you can join us today. Welcome!

Dear colleagues, I am very proud to announce that the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to Jina Mahsa Amini and the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement in Iran. (Loud and sustained applause) The date 16 September 2022 is one which will live in infamy, and the brutal murder of the 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini marked a turning point. It has triggered a women-led movement that is making history. The world has heard the chants of ‘Women, Life, Liberty’ – three words that have become a rallying cry for all those standing up for equality, for dignity and for freedom in Iran. So let today’s prize serve as our tribute to the brave and defiant women, men and young people in Iran who, despite coming under increasing pressure, are leading the push for change. The European Parliament hears you, the world sees you and we are with you. ‘Zan, Zendegi, Azadi’!

The next item is the election of a Quaestor of the European Parliament to replace Mr Christophe Hansen (2023/2912(RSO)). Pursuant to Rule 18, the same procedure applies as that used for the election of the Vice-President. For the election to be held for a Quaestor to replace Mr Hansen, I have received the nomination of Ms Isabel Wiseler-Lima, nominated by the EPP Group. The candidate has confirmed to me her consent to her nomination. As the number of candidates does not exceed the number of seats to be filled, the candidates shall be elected also by acclamation, in accordance with Rule 15(1), unless the same threshold is requesting a secret ballot. Is there a request for a secret ballot? I do not see that to be the case, and therefore I declare Ms Wiseler-Lima elected as Quaestor of the European Parliament. Congratulations! The composition of the new bureau will be notified to the Presidents of the Institutions of the European Union.

The next item is the election of a vice-president of the European Parliament, to replace Michal Šimečka (2023/2911(RSO)). I would like to remind you that pursuant to Rule 20, the newly-elected Vice-President shall take the place of his or her predecessor in the order of precedence. For the election to be held for a Vice-President to replace Mr Šimečka, I have received the nomination of Mr Martin Hojsík, nominated by the Renew Europe Group. The candidate has confirmed to me his consent to his nomination. As the number of candidates does not exceed the number of seats to be filled, the candidate shall be elected by acclamation, in accordance with Rule 15(1), unless Members or a political group reaching at least the high threshold, which is one fifth of Parliament’s component members, request a secret ballot. Is there a request for a secret ballot? No. Therefore, I declare Mr Hojsík elected Vice-President. (Applause) Congratulations and welcome to the team!

Dear colleagues, good afternoon. Before we go to the votes, I wanted to inform you that in the gallery today we have representatives of families of the hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October. We are grateful to have you in Parliament today. (Sustained applause) As you can see, you can rest assured that we share your pain, and you can be reassured that this House will keep doing whatever it can to secure the release of your loved ones.

Good morning everyone. We meet here today to discuss Hamas’ terror attack in Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As EU leaders met yesterday in an extraordinary European Council meeting, the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza was bombed and hundreds of innocent lives were lost. The devastation of the hospital is horrific and unjustifiable, and we must ensure we continue to shed light on what happened. As the tragedy in the Middle East continues to unfold, it is once again the innocent who are forced to pay the price. We must remain clear that protecting civilian lives must keep being a priority. We cannot lose sight of the humanitarian consequences. This has always been our core message. So this House remembers the victims as we keep pushing for a way forward in the region. I will now give the floor to Minister Albares for the Council, after which I will give the floor to the High Representative and then the President of the Commission. Minister, the floor is yours.

Dear colleagues, today we have Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, with us. Prime Minister, dear Nikol, welcome to the European Parliament. We are in the context of the events of 19 September in Nagorno-Karabakh. In our last plenary, we voted on a resolution that deplored the attack on Nagorno-Karabakh and called for the respect of Armenians’ rights and security. Our focus now must be on honest and fair talks to resume. Prime Minister, since then, your country, your people, have welcomed, housed and fed over 100 000 refugees. It is a testament to your country’s commitment. Europe will continue to support Armenia’s efforts in dealing with the influx of people from Nagorno-Karabakh. Many Member States have also donated much-needed shelter, equipment, food and medical supplies to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Prime Minister, let me also assure you of our support to your country’s democratic reforms, the strengthening of our bilateral relations and stronger cooperation with the European Union, active participation of the international community, as well as international assurances for Armenians who continue to live in Nagorno-Karabakh, can help achieve peace and reconciliation. We remain committed to all efforts directed towards the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. Dear Prime Minister, dear Nikol, let me assure you that Armenia remains a vital partner for us in the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood. The EU stands ready to further support the democratically elected authorities of Armenia, the resilience, security and continuation of democratic reforms in the country. Prime Minister, the floor is yours.