Speeches

Madam President, dear colleagues, while the US Congress adopted the Inflation Reduction Act months ago, we are still discussing how to answer this challenge. In the meantime, Europe is losing business opportunities and potential jobs. Volkswagen just postponed plans to build a mega factory in the Czech Republic while signing up for a new plant in the US. This is just one story. There are other companies in other countries that are moving their businesses from Europe also. The reason? The Inflation Reduction Act provides companies with better conditions. We need to see concrete results from the talks between President Biden and President von der Leyen. We need to come up with new European incentives as a way to strengthen our competitiveness. And we need a quick solution. But, more importantly, we need a united European solution.

The next item is the Joint debate on the European Semester – the report by Irene Tinagli on the European Semester for economic policy coordination 2023 [2022/2150(INI)] (A9-0044/2023) and the report by Estrella Durá Ferrandis on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and social priorities for 2023 [2022/2151(INI)] (A9-0051/2023). Mrs Tinagli, the floor is yours.

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the part-session to be held on 1 and 2 February 2023. If there are no objections I shall forward the resolutions adopted at today’s sitting to the persons and bodies named in the resolutions.

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on investment practices of sustainable investment funds by Jonás Fernández and Paul Tang, on behalf of the S&D Group (O-000052/2022 – B9-0007/23) (2023/2516(RSP)).

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

Madam President, Mr Commissioner, Europe is facing a turning point. After years of growth success based on free trade, we are seeing two of the world’s largest economies setting out a vision based on subsidies by national acts. So which way do we go? Do we follow or do we stick to the status quo? Clearly we need to find a third way, European way. We need a united European solution which protects the single market while supporting critical sectors and European supply chains. Europe cannot afford a national subsidies race both outside but also within Europe itself. We must act together to protect our businesses and to protect European jobs, and we must do so quickly. This is why Europe will act. The key, however, is that we must act in a way that supports both an open Europe based on open trade with like—minded nations, and that supports our businesses in these times of crisis and transformation. Temporarily, this might include European financial support. However, we must do even more. We want items made in Europe, but we want them to be made here because the business environment, our educated workers and our regulations make businesses want to grow here. We do not want business to take subsidies and once subsidies end to leave. Therefore Renew Europe believes we need European support for critical European sectors which support our companies in all Member States equally, which prevents the fragmentation of the single market. But any new European strategy must go beyond money alone. Europe will and must act to defend growth and jobs in Europe. But let’s get this right: millions of Europeans are counting on us.

The next item is the joint debate on: – the report by David McAllister, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022 (2022/2048(INI)) (A9-0292/2022); and – the report by Tom Vandenkendelaere, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2022 (2022/2050(INI)) (A9-0296/2022).

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on new developments in allegations of corruption and foreign interference, including those related to Morocco, and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the European institutions (2023/2527(RSP)).

Mr President, Mr Commissioner, video games are not new, video games are not evil, as some in the nineties would have us think. Video games are just as much part of our culture as our music and films. It is part of being European and our identities. We have a strong gaming industry in Europe and this is something we should treasure. At the same time, we must recognise that video games have moved past the single-player adventure games of the past. These are new worlds with new financial models, where players interact with ever-changing games and an infinite number of other users. We must take care that this new reality still respects basic values and honesty was users and their families. If we give our children unlimited candy, they will eat themselves until they are sick. If you let an adult gamble with someone else’s money, they will gamble until it is gone. Video games can be true pieces of art; I only hope that we can keep them that way.

Mr President, Madam Executive Vice-President, the single market is the hidden gift that keeps giving. Our lives are better because of the single market, with safer products, more choices and lower prices. It is the single market that keeps our supermarket shelves full and that makes it so Europeans can feel safer shopping anywhere in Europe. The single market is the secret to a richer and safer Europe. The single market is always work in progress. Every year we must continue to work to make the single market better for our citizens. After 30 years, however, the four freedoms are still not complete. It is time to renew our commitment to removing barriers and, especially, preventing new ones. Today, we find Member States looking inwards, seeking national solutions to European problems. I am here to say clearly that national measures that fragment the single market are Member States shooting themselves in the foot, just as the British did by leaving it altogether. Uncoordinated national subsidies, national regulations, national requirements are the death of the single market by a thousand cuts. Let us not kill the golden goose which keeps our Union united. Instead, let us invest in it and strengthen it.

Let me wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and on behalf of all of us, I would like to thank the staff in the European Parliament – the interpreters, Secretariat, administration, drivers, ushers, everybody who makes our life easier. Thank you so much and have nice holidays. (The sitting closed at 15.50)

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

I am sorry, Mr Dzhambazki, according to our Rules you cannot hold anything in your hands. Please put it aside and then you can continue. Thank you very much.