Speeches

The minutes and texts adopted of yesterday’s sitting are available. Are there any comments? As that is not the case, the minutes are approved.

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on Young researchers by Cristian-Silviu Buşoi on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (O-000052/2023 – B9-0034/23).

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28) (2023/2636(RSP)).

Thank you, Madam rapporteur. I have received one motion for a resolution to wind up the debate.1 The joint debate is closed and the vote will be held tomorrow. _________________ 1 See minutes. Written statements (Rule 171)

The next item is the joint debate on: – the Commission statement on ‘Children first – strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption’ (2023/2811(RSP)); and – the report by Sandra Pereira, on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (2023/2066(INI)) (A9-0360/2023).

Mr President, dear colleagues, more than 14 million Europeans are employed by our automotive industry. That is 6.1% of the total employment in the European Union and 7% of our GDP. But this is also a vital industry undergoing transformation. They already have to heavily invest in European electric motors, European batteries and European innovations. This is why I am glad that our proposal is more realistic, and it will not put additional burdens during this transformation. For this, I want to thank our rapporteur, Mr Vondra. Mr President, a lot is at stake. The European automotive sector is at the top of the global competition today and it must remain there. That’s the reason why we must vote in favour of this proposal.

Mr President, Mr Commissioner, Mr Minister, 11 sanctions packages have been adopted. They have been adopted to punish the Russian regime for their war crimes and to stop the money behind it. But what is the reality? The reality is that trade that helps the regime to fund this war is still going on. You can see it in the images of banned goods still on sale in Moscow and beyond in Russia. It is no secret that countries like China, Kazakhstan or Türkiye are being used to bypass the sanctions. The European Union as a whole must step up its efforts in enforcement even further. We must seek a solution at European level. We must equally question our trading agreement with any country that knowingly allows itself to be a transit point for goods going to Russia. Such nations do not merit our good relations. Those that feed this regime should be shamed. Slava Ukraini!

It is not allowed to show images in the session, colleague, otherwise I will have to take away the floor. This is not allowed. This is not in accordance with the Rules.

The next item is the short presentation of the report by Pierre Karleskind, on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries, on the implications of Chinese fishing operations on EU fisheries and the way forward (2022/2148(INI)) (A9-0282/2023).

The debate is closed. I have received one motion for a resolution to wind up the debate1. The vote will be held today. _______________ 1 See minutes. Written statements (Rule 171)

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the next sitting. If there are no objections, I shall forward forthwith the resolutions adopted at today’s sitting to the persons and bodies named in the resolutions.