Speeches

The request is rejected, so the agenda remains unchanged. For Wednesday, the ID Group has asked for a Commission statement on ‘The Union’s fiscal and monetary options to fight rising prices in the EU’ to be added as a second point in the evening. I give the floor to Nicolaus Fest to move the request on behalf of his Group.

Yes, I see your point now. Yes, it keeps glitching and it keeps breaking up. We’ll have to wait a little bit. It looks like it works now. So we’ll try again. Thanks a lot, and apologies. The ECR Group has asked for Council and Commission statements on the massacre of Christians in Nigeria to be added as the third point in the afternoon for Tuesday. I give the floor to Kosma Złotowski to move the request on behalf of his Group.

The ITRE and ECON 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 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, Tuesday 7 June by midnight, that the decisions to enter into negotiations be put to the vote. If no request for a vote on the decisions to enter into negotiations is made within this deadline, the committees may start negotiations.

The EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, ID and ECR groups and the non-attached Members have notified me of decisions relating to changes to appointments within committees and delegations. Those decisions will be set out of the minutes of today’s sitting and shall take effect on the date of this announcement.

Dear colleagues, on Friday last week, a train was derailed in Bavaria. Five passengers lost their lives and forty more were injured, and I know I speak for all the House when I say that our thoughts are with the injured and the relatives of the deceased passengers.

Can I ask The Left Group whether it agrees with the S&D proposal, with Ms Incir? You agree? Okay. Then I put the request with this title from Ms Incir to a vote by roll call. I close the vote. That is adopted. Therefore, a Commission statement on the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqla and the violent incidents at her funeral is added as a second item on Wednesday. The statement will be followed by a round of political group speakers. The agenda is adopted and the order of business is thus established.

We now come to the order of business. The final draft agenda as adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 4 May, pursuant to Rule 157, has been distributed. I would like to remind that I informed you all by email about the reception of two requests for urgent procedure from the ENVI and LIBE Committees, pursuant to Rule 163, on the following legislative files: – proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 as regards the extension of the empowerment of the Commission to adopt delegated acts; and – proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1727 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence relating to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes at Eurojust. The vote on these two requests will be taken today once the order of business is established and, if adopted, the vote will be held on Thursday. Next, with the agreement of the political groups, I wish to put to the House the following proposal for changes to the final draft agenda. We were informed that the Council cannot be attending this part—session in Brussels, and therefore the Council and Commission statements on the prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus, the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine and European solidarity and energy security in face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and recent cuts of gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria, are changed into Commission statements. Moreover, the title of the Commission statement, scheduled as the third item on Thursday morning, is changed into REPowerEU plan – European solidarity and energy security in face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including the recent cuts of gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria. Finally, the report by Ms Kalniete on temporary trade liberalisation supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products under the EU—Ukraine Association Agreement is added directly to the votes on Thursday. If there are no objections, these changes are approved. With regard to Wednesday, the ID Group has asked that a Commission statement on the persecution of Christians around the world, notably the case of Deborah Samuel, be added as the last item today, on Wednesday. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended until 11 p.m. I give the floor to Mr Jean—Paul Garraud to move the request on behalf of the ID Group.

The Legal Affairs Committee has proposed that Parliament confirm the validity of the mandates of 26 Members who joined Parliament as a consequence of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and 23 Members who joined Parliament as replacements for outgoing members. The list of these Members and the dates of entry into effect of their mandates will be published on Parliament’s website.

Following the election of Tanja Fajon as a member of the national parliament of Slovenia, Parliament takes note that, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, her seat is vacant as of 13 May 2022.

The minutes and the texts adopted of the sitting of the 5 May 2022 are available. I ask you, dear colleagues, whether there are any comments? This does not seem to be the case, and therefore they are approved.

Dear colleagues, we have the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, with us today. President, let me start by thanking you – as you have just witnessed – for accepting our invitation to address the European Parliament. We are really honoured to welcome you here today. I also want to thank you for your courage in the midst of Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion in Ukraine that has had such a profound impact on Moldova. Thank you for the efforts of your country and your personal commitment in sustaining a vision of a European future for your country against all odds. We know how deeply the combination of the COVID pandemic, the ‘weaponisation’ of energy supplies and the Kremlin’s full—scale war against Ukraine have affected your country. Moldova’s commitment to the European project is welcome. We are united in our commitment towards sustaining peace in Europe and to our shared values of democracy and the rule of law. This is why we want to forge a way forward where Moldova does not feel alone. I also want to praise your efforts, and those of the Moldovan people, in welcoming 450 000 Ukrainians that transited through Moldova, and for opening your homes and hearts to the 90 000 refugees who have sought shelter in your country. We have to – and we are ready to – show the same degree of solidarity with your country. As we have already, we must continue to support you politically, financially and with any in—kind assistance needed to fight the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine. President, we are also ready to support you as you start the process of applying for candidate status for EU membership. We know that Moldova is looking to us with a sense of purpose. Every country must follow its own path, its own timeline, but we must not be afraid to use the power of Europe to improve people’s lives, to change generations. This is why the European Union needs to send a clear and firm political signal that we recognise the European aspirations of Moldova and your effort in implementing key reforms that bring your country closer to us. Moldova belongs in the European family. Dear President, dear Maia, the floor is yours.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the social and economic consequences for the European Union of the Russian war in Ukraine – reinforcing the European Union’s capacity to act (2022/2653(RSP)).

I have one announcement. In relation to the decisions by the PECH, IMCO and LIBE Committees to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, pursuant to Rule 71(1), announced at the opening of the sitting on Monday, 2 May, I have requests for a vote in Parliament, pursuant to Rule 71(2), from the ID and ECR Groups, reaching at least the medium threshold, on the decisions of the LIBE Committee to enter into negotiations on the two proposals for regulations concerning the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The vote will be held tomorrow. Concerning the other decisions to enter into negotiations, I have received no requests for a vote in Parliament by Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold and therefore the committees may start the negotiations on the basis of these reports.

Thank you very much, Mr Sarvamaa. Now I put the request to the vote by roll call. (Parliament rejected the request) So the agenda in this regard remains unchanged. With this, we come to the end of all the requests and the agenda is therefore adopted. The order of business is established.

Mr Weber, would you like the floor? (Mr Weber indicated that he did not wish to speak) OK, thanks a lot, that’s clear. Let’s put the request to the vote. (Parliament approved the request) Therefore the debate on the follow—up to the Conference on the Future of Europe will be wound up with a resolution to be voted on Wednesday. I’ll give you the deadlines. Motions for resolutions: Monday, 2 May at 19.00; amendments to the motions for resolutions and joint motions for resolutions: Tuesday 3 May at noon; amendments to the joint motions for resolutions: Tuesday at 13.00; and split and separate votes: Tuesday at 19.00. Also on Wednesday, The Left Group has asked that Council and Commission statements are added on the resignation of the Frontex executive director in light of the OLAF inquiry into Frontex as the fourth item on Wednesday afternoon, after the Council and Commission statements on threats to stability, security and democracy in Western and Sahelian Africa. I give the floor to Cornelia Ernst to move the request on behalf of her Group.

Thank you, Ms García Pérez. Would any colleague like to speak against? Mr Verhofstadt, you want to speak in favour? I think you can get 30 seconds to speak in favour! You are in favour. (Mr Verhofstadt indicated that he was indeed in favour)

Thank you, Ms Loiseau. I’ll put the request to the vote by roll call, and give time for colleagues to enter their voting card. (Parliament rejected the request) The agenda in this regard remains unchanged. For Tuesday, the S&D Group has asked that the debate on the follow-up of the Conference on the Future of Europe taking place on Tuesday afternoon be wound up with a resolution to be voted on Wednesday. I give the floor to Ms García Pérez to move the request on behalf of the political group.

We now come to the order of business. The final draft agenda as adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 28 April pursuant to Rule 157 has been distributed. First of all, I would like to inform you that I have received one request for urgent procedure from the ENVI Committee pursuant to Rule 163 on the following legislative file: Transitional rules for the packaging and labelling of veterinary medicinal products. The vote on this request will be taken tomorrow. Next, with the agreement of the political groups, I wish to put to the House the following proposal for changes to the final draft agenda. Since the President of the European Council will not be present in Strasbourg, this item, scheduled as the first item in the afternoon of Tuesday, will not take place. Then on Wednesday, the vote on the report by Mr Hansen on distortive foreign subsidies is brought forward to Wednesday, and the debate on this report, scheduled for the afternoon, is removed from the agenda. The deadlines on this are: amendments or rejection, Tuesday, 3 May at noon; split and separate votes: Tuesday, 3 May at 19.00. We were also informed that the Council cannot be present for the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the state of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation taking place Thursday morning, and therefore the debate is changed into a Commission statement. If there are no objections, then this change is deemed approved. Also for Wednesday, the PPE Group has asked that a Commission statement on the call for the submission of a legislative proposal on a European lend-lease regulation be added as the second item on Wednesday afternoon. The debate is to be wound up with a resolution to be voted on Thursday. I give the floor to Sven Simon to move the request on behalf of the PPE Group.

Since the adjournment of Parliament’s session on 7 April, I have signed, together with the President of the Council, three 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.