Speeches

Mr Dzhambazki, if you have a point of order, you cannot react to the content that has been mentioned by Mr Polčák. No, you cannot react, as it’s a ‘catch-the-eye’. No, yours is not a point of order.

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on Segregation and discrimination of Roma children in education by Peter Pollák on behalf of the PPE Group (O-000039/2023 (B9-0026/2023)).

The EPP Group has notified the President 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.

The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar (2023/2833(RSP))*. _______________ * See minutes.

The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, imprisoned in Azerbaijan (2023/2832(RSP))*. _______________ * See minutes.

The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Guatemala: the situation after the elections, the rule of law and judicial independence (2023/2831(RSP))*. _______________ * See minutes.

Madam President, since the start of this mandate, we have been fighting a crisis – first COVID and now the war. These have had a direct negative impact on our citizens and European competitiveness. From energy prices to inflation, Europe is struggling to maintain our place in regard to the US, China and the rest of the world. Without a renewed focus on competitiveness, we will end up in the world where we are merely consumers of products and services from elsewhere. Madam President, our answer to this problem cannot be solved solely with unlimited state aid or subsidising our industries. Instead, Europe needs to invest in new industries, new sectors and new technologies. Focus on fewer and better regulations, because overregulation holds innovation back. Let China keep the factories of the 20th century. Europe should create a new business environment of the 21st century.

Madam President, Commissioner, first of all I would like to thank you for this proposal. The single market is a tool for fighting crisis, and I agree with it. But I fear that some colleagues view it the other way around: ‘We are in a crisis, so we need to change the single market.’ This is something that I disagree with. This instrument must support the single market and support our businesses and citizens to exercise their rights during a crisis. We must never go back to the lockdowns of COVID-19. Closed borders within the European Union is never the answer. This framework, which will enable a quick EU reaction and response in crisis times must be part of our lessons learned. But more importantly, we must do so in full respect of individual freedoms without endangering our economy. This instrument is a tool for exceptional circumstances. It must never be used for what some call ‘systemic crises’. But when there is an exceptional circumstance, this will be an important step in making sure that our single market keeps working. For my political group, Renew Europe, the overarching goal must be a practical crisis instrument for the single market. We should not agree to an instrument which might actually weaken the market during a crisis. I hope this is the message that is clear both to the Council and the Commission.

Thank you very much. There was an exchange already yesterday. We take note. I will inform the President of Parliament and she will then decide on the next steps.

Mr President, the hype over Chat GPT during the last few months is extremely interesting and amazing, but what is more interesting is that this algorithm, based on its massive data, is creating false answers with false footnotes to match and doing so well that people are believing it is true, simply because the computer says so. The false answers are not the problem. It is that we don’t double—check them. They used to say, ‘don’t believe everything you read in books’. Then they said, ‘don’t believe everything you see on television’. I am here to add to that list: ‘don’t believe everything Chat GPT tells you’. But does this mean we should ban Chat GPT? No. If we don’t try things, we can never make them better. We can never fix the bugs in the system. If we don’t take a risk—based approach to technology, we will never advance because no product is without risk. Electricity is inherently dangerous. But what would life be like if we banned it before we learned how to tame it? The AI Act can help build trust in AI, encourage its adoption by users and support innovation. However, it is crucial that we base our actions on facts and not emotions.

Madam President, the disqualification of María Corina Machado is a serious attack on freedom, clear evidence that Maduro has no intention of allowing a true democratic transition. Only free elections will lead to democracy and freedom for the Venezuelan people. But the regime has done and will continue to do everything it can to stay in power, including crimes against humanity. From Europe we must support the victims of crimes against humanity, help the opposition on its way to the primary elections this autumn, support the denunciation at the International Criminal Court and expand targeted sanctions. Because condemning the abuses of the regime with words does not work. If we want to help Venezuelans, now is the time to act. It's now or never.

Mr President, middle class is an important victim of current economic crisis. The data from the national banks, including the Czech National Bank, speak clearly. Wealthy stay wealthy, but the middle class, the motor of our economy has been getting poorer due to extreme inflation and high prices. Last year, the incomes of the Czech middle class households dropped of 7.5% and the costs between 2020 and 2023 rose to extremes: 33%; commodities like food, water, heat or clothes even to 40%. Although recently the prices have stabilised, the effect mainly on Czech middle class – the employees, small entrepreneurs – has not appeared. Therefore, I ask our governments to refocus: refocus on economic policies that support the small and medium-sized businesses, the individual, to limit the red tape, make sure that government supports those in the middle. This is where our government funds and resources must work. Without a focus on building the middle class, we might lose it all together.

I have received three motions for resolutions to wind up the debate*. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow. ______________ * See minutes. Written statements (Rule 171)

Colleagues, let me on behalf of all of us warmly welcome to the distinguished visitors’ gallery a delegation of parliamentarians from Japan who are here for the 41st EU-Japan interparliamentary meeting. (Applause)

Colleagues, I registered a blue card, but the speaker is on the speaking list, so you will have a possibility to speak when it’s your turn. So we continue with the list of speakers.

Mr President, just now NATO is discussing how and when to welcome Ukraine as a new member. We all highly appreciate this effort, but at the same time we need to focus on the current realities of the war, like the stealing of Ukrainian children, Ukrainian children being brutally kidnapped, illegally held in camps like prisoners. Released children speak about the horrors they experienced. As a mother, I can only imagine how terrified these kids must be on losing their parents and being taken away by armed men. We must do much more to get these children back to their country. President von der Leyen announced an initiative to help. We also heard about a planned conference regarding this topic, but that was months ago and nothing has happened so far. The EU must present a concrete plan on how we will help stop the genocide of the Ukrainian nation. The plan must come now.

The next item is the joint debate on: – the report by Stefan Berger, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2022 (2022/2062(INI)) (A9-0210/2023); and – the report by Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on the control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2022 (2023/2046(INI)) (A9-0212/2023).