What Roberta spoke about.

Dear colleagues, in an increasingly complex geopolitical context, the European and African continents share mutual challenges and concerns. As a like-minded partner and key strategic ally on the African continent, it is my pleasure to welcome President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya to the European Parliament. President Ruto, this House has closely followed your commitment towards our shared values and democratic principles; your active engagement in strengthening multilateral institutions; your pivotal role in upholding the rules-based international order in times of war, contributing to international burden-sharing – whether by hosting refugees or by backing peace-building and police missions across the world. We have also seen Kenya’s influential role in amplifying Africa’s concerns on climate change. The summit organised recently in Nairobi – the first Africa Climate Summit – underlined our shared vision on international climate diplomacy and decarbonisation. The European Union is committed to the transition towards renewable energy sources and I am convinced that we will share the needed leadership when implementing the Global Gateway projects on Green Hydrogen. Kenyans can be proud of their democracy, of their vibrant civil society, of their pluralistic and free media. And because you are here amongst allies and friends, allow me a moment to emphasise the crucial link between democracy and human rights in building inclusive societies. This means embracing diversity, including on sexual orientation, protecting minorities and addressing inequalities. One last word on trade: let me commend you on the conclusion of the negotiations to establish an EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, which is due to be signed next month. This House stands ready to play a positive and constructive continued role in strengthening our cooperation. Dear President Ruto, the floor is yours.

Would any colleague like to speak against? I see that is not the case. So we vote on this by show of hands. (Parliament approved the request) The order of business is thus established. (The sitting was suspended for a few moments.)

For Thursday, the S&D Group has requested that the vote on the report by Mr Ruiz Devesa and Mr Simon on ‘The European Elections 2024’ be postponed to the next part-session. I give the floor to Mr Ruiz Devesa to move the request on behalf of the S&D Group.

OK. So we will put the initial request by the ECR Group to the vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the ECR Group’s request) We will now vote on the alternative proposal by the S&D Group, if you would like to keep the item on the agenda, Mr Heinäluoma? I see you would, so we will put the alternative proposal of the S&D Group to a vote. (Parliament approved the S&D Group’s proposal) Therefore we will have the sitting extended until 23.00 tomorrow. For Wednesday, The Left Group has requested that the debate on the Council and Commission statements on ‘The humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need for the release of hostages and for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire and the prospects for peace and security in the Middle East’ be wound up with a resolution. I give the floor to Manon Aubry to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.

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 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, 21 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.

In relation to the decisions by several committees to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 71(1) announced at the opening of the session on Wednesday 8 November, I have received no requests for a vote in Parliament by Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold. The committees may therefore start the negotiations.

The competent authorities of Poland have notified me of the election of Witold Pahl and Włodzimierz Witold Karpiński to the European Parliament, replacing Bartosz Arłukowicz and Krzysztof Hetman respectively with effect from 16 November 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.

First of all, dear colleagues, this House is shocked to hear that former Member and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, was shot in Spain in what can only be described as a brutal and cowardly act of violence. We trust that the Spanish authorities are doing everything within their power to bring the perpetrators to justice. Our full solidarity goes out to Mr Vidal-Quadras and we wish him a full and speedy recovery. (Applause) Dear colleagues, 9 days ago, 22-year-old biomedical engineering student Giulia Cecchettin was reported missing. Last Saturday, her lifeless body was found butchered near Lake Barcis in the north-east of Italy. Giulia Cecchettin, Ashling Murphy, Bernice Cassar, Paulina Dembska and many, many more: these are some of the many examples of abuse and murder of women in Europe simply for being women. It is appalling, it is terrible and it is completely unacceptable. So let us reiterate: we need proper protection frameworks. We need more convictions of those who prey on females. We need to end the remaining institutional blindness to this epidemic upon women. There are no more excuses. It is already too late. No words of comfort can ever bring a mother, a daughter or a sister back. But justice and accountability is a small step for those they leave behind. We must do more for women, so on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, let us recommit ourselves to do everything possible to prevent violence against women and girls in Europe and beyond. And the European Parliament will discuss what it can do to address this issue in this Chamber on Thursday. (Applause) Dear colleagues, today also marks International Children’s Day. For too many children, the world is a darker place than it should be. Too many children have been forced to grow up too quickly. Too many children know what it is like to go to sleep hungry. Too few children remember what the inside of a classroom looks like. Too many children have been torn away from their families and their childhoods. Too many children have become victims who will never grow up at all. The European Parliament has always stood for humanity, and I want to use this platform today to give them and all those fighting on their behalf – many of whom are in this Chamber and whom I thank – home and hope in a better tomorrow, in a world where light is shone even in the darkest of places, a world where children are allowed simply to be children. That is why we will continue to use every tool available to us to help bring back the many thousands of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly removed by Russia from their homes. This is why we will use every tool we can to advocate their return, why it is important to them and to their loved ones to know that they are not forgotten. In conflict, in war, in aggression or acts of terror it is too often innocent children who are forced to pay the ultimate price. On behalf of the European Parliament I visited the horrors of Kfar Azza in Israel, where children were mutilated, tortured and taken. I met with parents and families of those kidnapped. Forty-four days later, there are still too many children in the clutches of Hamas, hidden in Gaza’s tunnels. We must help to bring them home – all of them. And I am hopeful that we will soon see more progress on this front. (Applause) As the mother of one of the children taken said, ‘In a competition of pain there is no winner’. Children should be with their families. Children should be able to have a chance at a childhood without fear, without terror. When I met – and a lot of you met them too – 11-year-old Fatima and Mohammed, Palestinians who lost countless relatives and family members in Gaza, I told them that even in the fog of war, children and the innocent must be protected. Too many have died. Too many families have been torn apart. The horror of parents writing the names of their children on their limbs in case they are killed is indescribable. Where schools and homes once stood, we now have rubble. When there was hope, there is now pain. How will all these children grow up? Will they even have a chance at that? Will we be able to convince them of the value of hope over extremism? But our hearts must be big enough to care for all these children, all these innocent victims, and our minds must become big enough to give them hope of a real chance of a life of peace. In the immediate term, we must do more to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Vital aid must be able to get in. Innocent lives must be saved. Humanity must come first. And we have a role to play – Europe has a role to play. We must be able to end this. We can do that. Dear colleagues, it is also my sad duty to inform you of the death of Karel Schwarzenberg: a great European and a brilliant Czech statesman. Karl Schwarzenberg needs no introduction: as twice foreign minister of a post-Cold-War Czech Republic and one of former President Vaclav Havel’s closest advisers, he dedicated his life to public service and to bridging political divides. His work was central in building a new democratic foundation for the modern day Czech Republic. His legacy is one of endless struggle for peace, the construction of Europe and the democratic values that underpin our way of life. And for that he will always be remembered. (Applause)

We will vote now on Ms Hazekamp’s proposal on the debate. (Parliament rejected the proposal) Therefore the agenda remains unchanged. We have two final proposals for tomorrow, Thursday. The ECR Group has requested that Council and Commission statements on ‘the killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen, by Russia’s occupying forces in Georgia’ be added in the morning. The statements would be wound up with a resolution to be voted at the next part-session. I give the floor to Anna Fotyga to move the request on behalf of the ECR.

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.