Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The last ones will be the first: The EU structural funds could make this biblical bonmot come true, but EU funding really needs to be used strategically. Let us remember how we are finally leaving behind the fossil age of greasy gas, stinky chimneys, how we are becoming more digital and inclusive, and also that migration could be a win for our shrinking societies if the EU ended its policy of foreclosure and disintegration. Unfortunately, however, we continue to fight for EU structural funds here in this House as well; they are increasingly becoming an emergency fund for various EU projects. But that's how all strategic planning goes down the drain. And finally, I say with complete clarity: Boosting armaments production with EU structural funds may create one job or another, but armaments production does nothing for the ecological transformation and does not bring security in the long term. Fully civilised EU structural funds are not only the order of the day, but also the compass for the sustainable economy. So: Hands off the Structural Funds!

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, People are ashamed of my colleague's historically forgotten contribution. Yes, it is true that we find that there is a lack of money and structures to successfully lead the fight against anti-Semitism – and not only since 7 October. This struggle is not only the task of others; We ourselves are also addressed here. Nine years ago, a study was presented in the Cultural Committee, which revealed a rapid decline in knowledge about the Holocaust among young people across Europe. Shortly after the terrorist attacks in the Paris music club Bataclan, we adopted a report on intercultural dialogue. At that time, the majority of this House decided to reject my amendments – clearly spelling out the fight against anti-Semitism – because this was unnecessary, and this already covered the fight against racism. And four years later, we remain silent in paragraph 7 of the European Parliament's September 2019 historical resolution on anti-Semitism at the beginning of World War II. So let's start with us, ladies and gentlemen, to finally put the fight against anti-Semitism and also anti-Muslim racism clearly on our own parliamentary agenda!

Mr President, Mr Borrell! Yes, this war must stop. What began with indescribable massacres by Hamas on October 7 now leads to a brutal military revenge campaign by the Netanyahu government. This does not help the victims of terrorism, nor the hostages still held captive, nor their families. But those who, like the Netanyahu government, only operate and think militarily, do not contribute to deradicalization. We call for a serious commitment to a lasting peace solution for an internationally secured transition process. The EU is also obliged to do so. But one-sided solidarity is wrong here. Our solidarity is with the people of Israel and Palestine. Two peoples live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, and both have the right to live there in safety and equality. We must make strong those who, on this basis, are fighting together for a peaceful solution.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I admit, this speech is very difficult for me. I am not speaking here today expressly on behalf of my group, but stand before you as the German left. I say unequivocally: It is incomprehensible to me how to relativize or justify the Hamas terrorist massacre. 60 Jewish and Arab Israelis, peace and human rights activists see de-solidarisation with the victims of the Hamas attacks by parts of the European left. I say openly: Yes, quite rightly so. The history of October 7 includes the fact that Hamas' terror has also been damaging the self-determination of the Palestinians for years. Israel has a right of self-defense. It is precisely for this reason, however, that the EU must stop the escalation by the run-down Netanyahu government, in particular through a possible ground offensive, and urge the observance of international humanitarian law. Anti-Semitism, on the one hand, and refusal of dialogue with Palestinians, on the other, are creeping out of all holes again in the middle of Europe. In this dark hour, let us face the responsibility of guaranteeing Israel's right to exist and finally advancing peace in the Middle East for all sides. Thank you, Mr Borrell, for your clear position.

Madam President, First of all, thank you for this very important report. The outbreaks of violence in recent days are calling for action. He is also rightly concerned with Israeli policy, because Israel's current ultra-nationalist government is accelerating the illegal expansion of settlements, taking steps to further advance the annexation of the West Bank. This again undermines the rights of the Palestinians and further marginalizes the Palestinian Authority. Yes, and it is related: Inwardly, Israel's government wants to undermine the independence of the judiciary and undermine democracy. On the other hand, the report rightly calls for the Palestinian Authority to respect human rights and finally hold free elections after 16 years. We uphold the Palestinians' right to a state of their own and therefore strongly support this report.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Reformed EU aid is on the table. Yes, they will be able to promote environmentally friendly technologies. We can now increase investment in further training, because in many places there is hardly anyone who can install the new environmental technology. And last but not least, it is important for us that we can now also regulate energy prices with the exemption from subsidies. However, if we consider that the absolute lion's share of state aid flows to Germany and France, the good deed quickly turns into the opposite and can promote economic and social inequality. This is counterproductive and requires that aid, as well as EU structural support, increasingly reach weaker regions and municipalities. Where emigration and deindustrialization rule, settlement strategies are crucial. Wo der Markt fern ist, muss das Beihilfeverbot für sozialwirtschaftliche Unternehmen fallen.

Mr President, Mr Borrell, ladies and gentlemen! Israel's ruling coalition with far-right parties is tearing down the country's democratic constitution. This is not just about the justice reform package, which even President Herzog describes as oppressive and harmful to democracy and against which thousands have been taking to the streets for weeks. It is also about the introduction of the death penalty, the transfer of responsibilities for the occupied territories to the new office for settlement activities in the occupied West Bank. It is about a now unbridled settlement policy and the acceleration of annexation tendencies. These are not internal matters. This policy is also not an excuse for terrorist attacks, but it will not help break the spiral of hatred and violence. Mr Borrell, Israel and the EU have a lot in common, especially the common values of democracy and human rights. We must finally be clear about supporting the forces in Israeli society that defend these values and ways, if necessary against their own government.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen! Yes, we agree that we condemn Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. But as early as 2020, analysts and the Red Cross found that the ceasefire - from the unresolved prisoner exchange to the Azerbaijani-Turkish victory celebrations in Baku - hardly initiated a conflict resolution. Yes, Russian troops do not secure the Lachin Corridor. The freezing and starving people in Nagorno-Karabakh are hoping for an air bridge, whether from Russia or the EU. The EU should urgently address inappropriate bothsidingRemove double standards and self-deception from their diplomatic arsenal. Because everyone knows: The gas from Azerbaijan has Russian shareholders. Everyone knows that Azerbaijan has not only been involved in this conflict since the 12th century. December is escalating. So if our Commission President and Josep Borrell want to look in the mirror in the evening, this humanitarian catastrophe must be brought to an immediate end together with the OSCE and the UN. European restraint over possible gas supplies from Azerbaijan would be embarrassing.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Why do we combine supporting Ukrainian culture with supporting the cultural landscape across Europe? It is a pity that the ID colleague is no longer in the room with her anti-European stance. It is precisely this question that is at stake. The answer is simple: It is about solidarity with Ukraine, its heritage, its artists in the country and in exile, which does not end at a time when European culture is still suffering severely from the consequences of the pandemic. And in the same way as Mrs Kammerevert, I also and explicitly stand for a dialogue with the Russian and Belarusian opposition, which must not be forgotten. Despite all regional identity foundations, progressive culture always has a multi-layered dimension of history and dialogue, across all borders. I would have liked to have given this to my colleague from the AfD. And that is why I finally call on the Commission not only to examine the establishment of a European emergency and restoration mechanism for cultural producers, but also to launch this overdue mechanism immediately.

Madam President, Commissioner Ferreira, ladies and gentlemen! Yes, it is true, we have done a lot of things right together in recent years and have demonstrated a sense of crisis in solidarity with European regional policy. But where, for example, was the radical intervention in the energy market today in our Commission President's typical announcement speech? In order to prevent energy poverty, energy networks and supply must go into public hands in order to finally be able to control them democratically. The sacred social market economy is doing nothing here at the moment. Not even an excess profit tax of the crisis profiteers can be achieved. Where should the resources for an energy price cap come from? A temporary solidarity contribution is not a substitute. In the end, my colleagues, cohesion policy cannot compensate, which blocks debt brakes on public investment for climate protection and in the energy crisis. We can promote renewable energy projects and make the rule of law a funding criterion. That's right. But how unreliable is that if we currently have to buy dirty, expensive fracking gas all over the world and are better at keeping quiet about the rule of law? If one reads the REGI report, one has in mind a socially balanced energy transition. But reality is far from that. Putin's criminal war is also developing into a deep blow for sustainable climate and energy policy if we do not consistently counteract this with an EU budget for social, economic and environmental cohesion instead of boosting procurement in the military sector.

Mr President! Let's remember: The Parliament actually came to the New European Bauhaus project like the Virgin to the Child. But if the Commission is already proclaiming cultural movements, it must also answer the following question: Why do we treat the promotion of functional, sustainable and inclusive forms of living and living as a decorative element of our political priorities? Parliament reacted boldly in the spirit of Walter Gropius's words: ‘The mind is like a parachute: It can only work if it is open." Now we have a rich report. In it, we call for unclear funding from 2023 onwards and call for a long-term independent budget in the multi-annual financial plan from 2027 onwards. From the perspective of the Regional Committee, we strengthened public space, affordable housing, the communal reuse and repair of our built heritage and the voice of the municipalities. In doing so, we have taken the democratic ideas and aesthetic solutions of the historic Bauhaus really seriously. I ask everyone to agree with this report.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Even at my home in Berlin-Brandenburg, devastating forest fires are raging. But these are not unexpected natural disasters, but direct and serious consequences of man-made climate change. It is also true: A minority of speculators continue to profit from the fossil energy crisis and the overexploitation of nature and its resources. At the latest now the question is: Do we want to continue to watch or become courageous actors? The role backwards, which a majority of the European Parliament decided yesterday to declare nuclear power and gas eligible and green, is, in my view, a fatal mistake. Instead, profiteers must finally be taxed sensibly. Policy on climate change and climate protection is not a luxury, but a simple necessity. In particular, regions and municipalities need effective support for this. This must be part of a rapid EU social crisis package and part of a long-term EU support policy.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Yes, the willingness of many volunteers, many municipalities, to provide protection to people from Ukraine is unbroken. Also in my hometown, in Berlin, thousands of people arrive every day. Some first use their 90-day tourist visa because they haven't given up hope that the war that threw their entire lives off the rails will soon be stopped. Yes, the application of the EU Mass Influx Directive was a historic step, because the EU has finally decided to end the sell-off of its fundamental values. But it must also be said at this point: Human rights are indivisible. This rapid action would also have been possible for people from the wars in Syria or Afghanistan. That it took the shock of war in our neighborhood for us to move faster, we should not forgive ourselves so quickly. The compass of Europeans has finally returned to solidarity. Now, many are once again experiencing what counts when people flee bombs, repression and persecution. It is about shelter, housing, jobs, immediate access to social benefits, linguistic support and integration, psychological services and medical care – starting with vaccinations, because the pandemic has not disappeared. And last, but not least: Childcare and learning at school bring back a piece of peaceful everyday life, especially for children and young people. But in metropolitan areas, housing is often lacking, while in rural areas, the Internet is used for learning. Energy and food prices are currently rising. In order to stabilize an infrastructure for housing and supply, CARE+, which we decide today, is the best aid package. It simplifies procedures and frees up resources. We moved in a hurry. And I wish we didn't see this kind of policy as a mode of crisis, because there is no meaningful reason for the EU's austerity policy, which has been following us since 2008. Instead of constantly holding up the mirror of political incapacity, we should invest permanently in solidarity. A migration-friendly infrastructure is the backbone of our democracy. CARE+ is an instructive contribution to this.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, After the ceasefire and the unbearable victory cry from Baku in November 2020, the South Caucasus remains as fragile as before, including hostilities. The destruction of stone-turned history and its subsequent falsification by Azerbaijan are unacceptable. Ethnic homogeneity is a fiction of racists. It does not explain the borders of nation states anywhere in the world. The cultural identities of the peoples are a mix of positive migration history, a careful handling of reminders, war and expulsion. Pictures, songs and places of encounter capture what reconciliation and peace look like in everyday life. Today's resolution calls for the access of experts under the umbrella of UNESCO and the protection of civil society organisations. They should be able to map and secure the cultural heritage of the regions around Nagorno-Karabakh and Nakhchivan in particular. To achieve this, the Minsk Group and the OSCE must also mediate in order to ensure lasting stability in the region. The destruction of cultural goods is a symbol of supremacy that is systematically used in wars. And that's why it's all our business. And everywhere.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Yes, Commissioner Ferreira, it is absolutely right to support, also through regional policy, the municipalities and regions that are helping refugees from the war in Ukraine. Yes, we have had good experiences in the coronavirus crisis with the CRII+ and REACT-EU programmes, which we can now use. Help on the ground to strengthen municipalities is just part of an active peace policy. This is the right way to live and communicate our common values of humanity and democracy. But at the same time, we must not neglect our long-term cohesion policy. That was the original reason for this debate. The main conclusion of the 8th Cohesion Report is that cohesion policy remains in urgent need: On the one hand, the consequences of the corona crisis have still not been overcome. Reconstruction must not exacerbate the inequalities that still exist. On the other hand, the visible reduction of structural inequalities and fair socio-ecological transformation are crucial for cohesion and resilience in the EU. This also includes the rapid independence from fossil fuels, a topic which, I believe, is currently gaining in importance.

Mr President, dear Mrs Ferreira, Mr Kuhs! The question is who has to pull the rope here. I think Parliament sees it differently than you do. I would like to return the words of thanks from Mr Arimont and Mrs Ferreira. It was a really wonderful collaboration. Brexit, yes, has fundamentally changed the relationship between the UK and the EU. Especially in Ireland, but also in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, people in private life, at work, in SMEs, in fisheries and agriculture are affected by major changes. Cross-border trade and mobility are as limited as cultural and educational cooperation. Only half as many EU citizens as before can or want to afford to study in the UK. Political controversy over customs controls and the rattling of the Northern Ireland Protocol do not contribute to greater confidence. Neither in politics, nor in the economy, nor in people. Our new small Brexit assistance fund is certainly an important concrete help for those most directly affected by Brexit in the EU. I don't think it will be enough to compensate for all the loss of income and additional expenses. It is clear that in addressing climate change in the coronavirus crisis, we will also need our EU structural funds for long-term transitions.

Mr President, Commissioner Ferreira! After that, you're always smarter. Yes, the EU Solidarity Fund needs to be increased again, a climate adaptation fund will be needed. Yes, EU-wide coordination of disaster relief needs to improve across borders. And, of course, we should have spent more money on preparation. But, which is also true, there were serious shortcomings in crisis management on the ground in the Member States. In Germany, for example, the early warning system has completely failed. Even the sirens didn't work properly. I'm not talking about people's digital alerts. Flood protection, climate protection and civil protection were also saved in Germany. Yes, you'll always be smarter afterwards. That is why, as the Commissioner is absolutely right, we must act better on three levels at the same time: more emergency aid, more prevention, more climate protection. This must be the principle from now on, because in view of the devastating natural disasters this summer, no one can doubt that climate change has also arrived in Europe.