Speeches

Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to be calm. I realise that this is a very sensitive resolution on a very important issue, but I call on the House to respect calm because otherwise, if there is confusion, it becomes difficult. So we have just tabled an oral amendment, I ask who opposes this oral amendment? Do you have the lyrics? Mr Vautmans, colleagues asked to repeat the text of your oral amendment.

Then they were counted by the services, of course by the officials who are here next to me, and there were more than 38 of them. The exact number has not been communicated to me, we ask, but they have counted more than 38, I can certainly reiterate this. – Before the vote on amendment 37

The EPP Group informed the President of some amending decisions regarding committee appointments. These decisions will be included in the minutes of today's sitting and will enter into force with effect from this announcement.

The next item is the report by Emma Wiesner, on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, on a European protein strategy (2023/2015(INI)) (A9-0281/2023).

Thank you, colleague. I would invite you to stay on the subject of our debate, you spoke about Croatia and not about the subject of our debate, so I would invite you to respect our agenda.

The next item is the debate on topical issues (Rule 162) concerning a true geopolitical Europe now. I would remind the honourable Members that there is no catch-the-eye procedure for this debate and no blue card will be accepted.

The minutes of yesterday's sitting have been distributed. Are there any comments? I declare the Minutes of yesterday's sitting approved. I would ask colleagues, before moving on to the debates, to leave the Chamber immediately if they wish to do so or to remain silent if they wish to take part in our debate instead.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, horror and ferocity seem to be the figure of our time. From Kiev to Bucha, to the kibbutz of Kfar Aza, to the terrorist attacks in the heart of our cities: These two years have been marked by an attempt to weaken and even destroy our democracies. Different conflicts, in different places, agitated with distant claims, which are, however, marked by the same hatred, by the same nature. The controversies of these days, the disinformation and the excessive polarisation of our debate seem to take us away from the heart of the problem, from the question with which the Council and all the European institutions are called to confront, namely: Is it still worth believing and investing in our democracy, our democracies? We obviously believe so, but we know that it takes courage and initiative, because we are under attack, it is Europe because it is Ukraine, it is Europe because it is Israel, it is Europe because it is the women of Tehran, and not realizing this terrible progression is the most unforgivable mistake that the Council and all of us cannot make.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, for a year and a half the citizens of Ukraine have not known what it means to live in normal conditions. They do not know what everyday life means, because the Russian terrorist attacks impose a heavy price on those citizens. In addition to war, bombs and mines, the brutality of this conflict destroys schools, destroys roads, destroys hospitals, prevents access to primary services and denies the possibility of even being able to look with confidence to the future. And so it is up to us to help Ukraine rise again, working together for a future of trust and better. TheUkraine Facility was born to ensure solid, modern reforms, was born to give a truly European future to Kiev, was born to ensure lasting support, including through the use of confiscated Russian assets. Because there is no peace without justice. A free, solid and democratic Ukraine also means a prosperous, stable and peaceful Europe.

Mr Vice-President Angel, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, Zarema Musaeva was brutally kidnapped by Kadyrov's perpetrators because she was guilty of having children fighting for fundamental rights in Chechnya, arrested because she taught them the importance of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, condemned because she did not bow her head. This is Kadyrov's Chechnya, a government that violently stifles the voices of dissidents, journalists and human rights defenders. A leadership that brutally represses political opponents and activists. A state conniving with torture, kidnapping and murder. We know, for example, that being journalists in Chechnya is not just a job, but a real civil and social vocation, very often made up of bloodshed, broken lives and continuous intimidation of them and also of their families. Attacks, violence, murders and campaigns of public discredit are the risks that every day, every day, journalists suffer, paying a very high price, which we cannot accept. Then this resolution is also necessary in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine to give a strong and unequivocal response to the despicable actions of Kadyrov, a man who likes to call himself, let us not forget, a Putin infantry soldier. We therefore call not only for the unconditional, unconditional release of Zarema, but also for increased assistance to his family, journalists, political prisoners, dissidents, women, the LGBTQI community and all those who oppose the brutal Chechen regime. Then the whole of Europe has a duty to condemn and take drastic measures against this regime which, as Anna Politkovskaya has reminded us so many times and written so many times before being brutally murdered, is essentially an extension of putinism. So tonight from this House we want to send a clear message: Zarema and her family have all the support of this House and we look forward to seeing her free and safe.

Colleagues tell us that an evacuation exercise is underway. The session is then suspended for the duration of the exercise. You must leave the Chamber and as soon as the exercise is over, the sitting can be resumed. The bell will ring again and you will be asked to return to the Chamber. (The sitting was adjourned at 5.32 p.m. for an evacuation exercise.)

Thank you, Mr Cavazzini, for your point of order. Of course, we will now take steps to report on your request and keep you updated. In the meantime, however, I think it is appropriate to make the debate work.