Speeches

The next item is the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the war in the Gaza Strip and the need for a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (2024/2572(RSP)). I give the floor to Commissioner Janez Lenarčič, representing the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative, who is absent due to illness.

The minutes of yesterday's sitting and the texts adopted have already been distributed. Is there any observation? Failing that, the minutes shall be deemed to have been approved.

Mr President, Madam Lagarde, 2023 was marked by the ECB’s restrictive monetary policy, even though inflation peaked in October 2022. It took the ECB five months to recognise that this peak had already happened and, throughout the year, it was surprised by a faster-than-expected decline in inflation. This shows the ECB’s difficulty in understanding the nature of this inflation. In just three months, between September and December 2023, the ECB had to revise downwards its inflation forecast for this year from 3.2% to 2.7%, which will probably not be enough to make the step right with reality, as in January inflation was only 2.8%. But despite its pessimistic forecasts, the ECB now estimates inflation at 2.1% for 2025 and only 1.9% for 2026, in line with its mandate target. It seems clear, therefore, that the time has come for a change of course. The ECB says, of course, that it needs to be comfortable with the sustainability of falling inflation, but there is nothing more uncomfortable for the state, for businesses, for households, than a monetary policy that harms the economy more than necessary. Mrs Lagarde, we expect good news from the ECB sooner rather than later.

Minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the next part-session. If there are no objections, I will immediately submit the resolutions adopted at today's sitting to the persons and bodies referred to in those resolutions.

The minutes of yesterday's sitting and the texts adopted have already been distributed. Is there any observation? Failing that, the minutes shall be deemed to have been approved.

Madam President, the multiplication, all over the world, but also in Europe, of serious incidents where we can see speeches and even hate crimes, especially against the Jewish and Muslim communities, is very worrying. The crisis in the Middle East may help explain these incidents, but it does not make them more tolerable. All forms of hatred and intolerance against entire communities run counter to European values and due respect for human rights, whoever they come from. The European Commission has done well by presenting a communication to combat all forms of hatred in the European Union. And more needs to be done by launching a major educational campaign against hatred and in favour of European values. But European parties also have a great responsibility. The alliances that liberal and center-right parties have made with far-right populist parties, the same ones that fuel nationalist, racist and xenophobic discourses, are a betrayal of European values. We must stop this drift before it is too late.

Mr President, I am not surprised that the far right is coming to this debate to try to deny the evidence, but the truth is that social networks are becoming an outlaw world, where fake pages and profiles are multiplying, disinformation campaigns are circulating and intolerable messages, hate speech, racist and xenophobic are spreading. And yes, many of these actions are concerted by groups linked to far-right populist movements, which deceive public opinion, fuel social tensions and attack democratic institutions. We must certainly respond with information campaigns and with pedagogy among the citizens. But that's not enough. The European Commission and the Member States need to oblige digital platforms to comply with the recently adopted Digital Services Act, removing information that violates fundamental rights and undermines our democracy. Digital services cannot continue an outlawed world.

The next item on the agenda is the Commission statement - The EU water and drought crisis as a consequence of the global climate crisis and the need for a sustainable and resilient strategy for Europe (2024/2561(RSP)). I give the floor to the European Commission in the person of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.

Mr President, the resurgence of fascism in Europe is not a ghost invented by the left to sow fear against the right. It's a scary reality that just doesn't see who doesn't want to. The shameful parade of Rome is just another sign of this dangerous political movement, which has been developing, wearing lamb's clothing, hidden in the far right, under multiple disguises and sound nationalist, illiberal and xenophobic proclamations, always made in the name of the people against their alleged enemies. This was until the nail polish cracked, as it did now in Rome, where it revealed its true face. This Europe has suffered too much from the tragedy of fascism to forget its own history and not to react with absolute firmness. And to react means, first of all, denouncing fascism and treating it by its name. It then means fighting it on the ground of ideas, on the ground of political combat and recalling the lessons of history. And it means, finally, refusing to give it more strength, with alliances like those that the centre-right and liberals are making with the far-right across Europe. It must be reported before it is too late.

Mr President, today we are debating two reports which are important for the proper implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon and for the proper functioning of European democracy. One on the involvement of national parliaments in the European project, the other on European citizenship rights. And the message of this Parliament is clear: Either in one case or another, we can and should do more and better. The role of national parliaments in their primary role of scrutinising governments sitting at the Council's table, but also in European political dynamics itself, needs to be further enhanced. And we also need to do better in recognising and strengthening citizenship rights, disseminating these rights, removing obstacles to their exercise and promoting a more participatory European democracy. In the year of European elections, we must remember that the most important political right of European citizens is the right to vote. And in order to combat abstention, we need to do the pedagogy of the importance of the European elections, inform mobile citizens about their right to vote and make it easier for everyone to exercise their right to vote. But European democracy does not end on election day. Only a more participatory democracy will be worthy of the name and deliver on the commitments made at the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Now I’ve got good news: we’ve come to the end of our agenda today. The next session will take place tomorrow at 9.00. The agenda for tomorrow is published and available.

The next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance. I would like to remind you that these interventions of one minute will take place from your seats.

This debate is now closed. One motion for a resolution was received1. The vote will take place tomorrow. _____________ 1 See minutes. (The sitting was suspended at 11.16)

The next item is the debate on the question for oral answer to the Commission on EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations, by Seán Kelly, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade (O-000046/2023 - B9-0037/23) (2023/2829(RSP)).