Speeches

The next item is the report by Paul Tang, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Green Bonds (COM(2021)0391 - C9-0311/2021 - 2021/0191(COD) (A9-0156/2022).

The next item is the report by Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, on ensuring European transport that meets the needs of women (2022/2140(INI)) (A9-0239/2023).

The next item is the report by Rovana Plumb, on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2010/40/EU on the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport (COM(2021)0813 - C9-0471/2021 - 2021/0419(COD)) (A9-0265/2022).

The next item is the report by Bernd Lange, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the Union and its Member States from economic coercion by third countries (COM(2021)0775 - C9-0458/2021 - 2021/0406(COD) (A9-0246/2022).

I would also remind you, Mr Peter-Hansen, that it is forbidden to show writings, signs, etc. in the Chamber, so I invite you all to abide by the rules that we have set ourselves together.

Mr Aubry, you know or should know the rules that we have set ourselves together, which state that it is forbidden to show signs in this House. You do not have a special status, Mr Aubry, so, like everyone else, you are bound by the rules that we have established together. Thank you very much.

The next item is the debate on topical issues (Rule 162) – Taxing the rich. I would remind the honourable Members that there is no catch-the-eye procedure for this point and no blue card applications will be accepted.

The minutes and approved texts of yesterday's sitting have been distributed. Are there any comments? The minutes were approved. Let us now turn to the discussions.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the illusion of some governments that they can seal Europe's borders actually betrays the founding values of the European integration project. Europe must remain a safe haven for those fleeing war, violence and abuse, and in this spirit, in the same spirit, we have welcomed almost 5 million Ukrainian refugees. And with the same spirit we must look at the Mediterranean, because the gaze of those who look at Europe from Kiev is no different from that of those who look at us from a boat in the middle of the Mediterranean. They both ask for shelter, they ask for protection and they look at us as a safe haven. So against the deaths at sea, against the merciless choices of the right, we must work more and more for a search and rescue mission at sea, a Mare nostrum Europe, and to make saving lives the focus of our migration policies again.

The next item is the report by Mr Nica on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework of measures for strengthening the European semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act) (COM(2022)0046 – C9‐0039/2022 – 2022/0032(COD)) (A9-0014/2023).

The next item is the joint debate. – the report by Sandra Kalniete, on behalf of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation, and Strengthening Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in the European Parliament, on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (2022/2075(INI)) (A9-0187/2023), and – Oral question to the Commission on Electoral integrity and resilience in view of the 2024 European elections, by Raphaël Glucksmann, on behalf of the Special Committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation, and on strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability in the European Parliament (O-000018/2023 - B9-0019/2023) (2023/2625(RSP)).

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the vote that will finally allow the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by our European Union is certainly good news and is a result that we, all of us who are here in recent years, have sought with conviction and determination and that will finally be realized with tomorrow's vote. The Union will be better tomorrow, it will be a Union that finally recognizes as a social drama the violence that women suffer only because they were born women, only because they are themselves, because of their desire, because of our desire for emancipation, because of our desire for self-determination. We must recognize, however, that we have arrived too late in this ratification. Too many delays, too many cross vetoes have blocked a process whose sole purpose was to fight, to eradicate a disease that is very present in our societies and that is called "hatred towards women". And we are coming to eradicate, we will come to eradicate that disease, but we are doing it in small steps. Instead the steps that would be needed are very different, we would need to run, colleagues, we would need to jump and we would need to do much more, considering the numbers of this daily war that is being waged on women. However, I want to celebrate with you an important political achievement, which we have achieved thanks to the collective effort of this Parliament and that of the many women who have never thrown in the towel. So I would like to dedicate this symbolic, historic vote to all of them, to all of us, let me tell you, to the women who fight every day, to those who do not give up despite the many difficulties and who continue to fight, those who continue to fight in this Chamber but those who continue to fight above all outside this Chamber.