Speeches

The session resumed. The next item is the continuation of the joint debate on the 2021 discharge on the following reports: - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section III – Commission and executive agencies [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0227/2022- 2022/2081(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteurs: Jeroen Lenaers and Monika Hohlmeier (A9-0101/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section I – European Parliament [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0228/2022- 2022/2082(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Isabel García Muñoz (A9-0086/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section II – European Council and Council [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0229/2022- 2022/2083(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0085/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section IV – Court of Justice of the European Union (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0230/2022- 2022/2084(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0073/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section V – Court of Auditors [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0231/2022- 2022/2085(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0081/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0232/2022- 2022/2086(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0074/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section VII – Committee of the Regions [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0233/2022- 2022/2087(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0080/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section VIII – European Ombudsman [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0234/2022- 2022/2088(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0067/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0235/2022- 2022/2089(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0070/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021, Section X – European External Action Service [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0236/2022- 2022/2090(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0088/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0237/2022 - 2022/2091(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mikuláš Peksa (A9-0079/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0241/2022- 2022/2095(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0125/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0265/2022- 2022/2119(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0109/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0269/2022- 2022/2123(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0141/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0256/2022- 2022/2110(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0107/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0248/2022- 2022/2102(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0143/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0264/2022- 2022/2118(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Alin Mituța (A9-0132/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0240/2022- 2022/2094(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0104/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0255/2022- 2022/2109(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0106/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0266/2022- 2022/2120(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0122/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0262/2022- 2022/2116(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Alin Mituța (A9-0135/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0257/2022- 2022/2111(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ilana Cicurel (A9-0113/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0243/2022- 2022/2097(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0098/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0250/2022- 2022/2104(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0131/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0246/2022- 2022/2100(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0146/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0258/2022- 2022/2112(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0115/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0259/2022- 2022/2113(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0100/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0242/2022- 2022/2096(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0102/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0270/2022- 2022/2124(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0142/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (before 12 May 2021: European GNSS Agency) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0268/2022- 2022/2122(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0116/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0249/2022- 2022/2103(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ilana Cicurel (A9-0112/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0247/2022- 2022/2101(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0133/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0260/2022- 2022/2114(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0126/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0267/2022- 2022/2121(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0138/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0251/2022- 2022/2105(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0121/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0245/2022- 2022/2099(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Alin Mituța (A9-0110/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0252/2022- 2022/2106(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Gilles Boyer (A9-0103/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0261/2022- 2022/2115(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Gilles Boyer (A9-0137/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0238/2022- 2022/2092(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0111/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0239/2022- 2022/2093(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0129/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0253/2022- 2022/2107(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Katalin Cseh (A9-0130/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office (now the European Union Agency for Asylum) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0244/2022- 2022/2098(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0123/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0263/2022- 2022/2117(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ramona Strugariu (A9-0105/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0275/2022- 2022/2129(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0092/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Single European Sky ATM Research 3 Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021: SESAR Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0278/2022- 2022/2132(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0118/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021: Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0272/2022- 2022/2126(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński (A9-0078/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021: Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0271/2022- 2022/2125(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński (A9-0093/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021: Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0277/2022- 2022/2131(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0069/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021 the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0276/2022- 2022/2130(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0083/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Rail Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021: Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0279/2022- 2022/2133(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0090/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking (before 30.11.2021 ECSEL Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2021 [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0273/2022- 2022/2127(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0082/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0274/2022- 2022/2128(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Ryszard Czarnecki (A9-0089/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0321 - C9-0281/2022- 2022/2135(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: José Manuel Fernandes (A9-0114/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2021: performance, financial management and control [COM(2022)0323 - C9-0280/2022- 2022/2134(DEC)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Olivier Chastel (A9-0144/2023) - Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Labour Authority for the financial year 2021 (COM(2022)0323 - C9-0254/2022- 2022/2108(DEC)) - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Alin Mituța (A9-0117/2023)

Unfortunately, I have to announce a quick suspension in the Chamber because there is a technical problem related to a difficulty in translating some languages, so I ask you for patience to wait for a few minutes just to solve this technical problem. (The sitting adjourned at 13.18 for technical reasons)

The next item is the debate on topical issues (Rule 162) - Keeping people healthy, drinking water and livable soil: Eliminate eternal pollutants and strengthen EU chemicals legislation now (2023/2664(RSP)).

Ladies and gentlemen, let us continue with the agenda. The Greens/EFA Group informed the President of a decision to change appointments within a delegation. This decision 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 debate on the Council and Commission statements on Protecting labour mobility and social rights of striking third-country drivers (2023/2652(RSP)). I would remind the honourable Members that there will be a round of speeches by speakers from the political groups for this debate, so there is no catch-the-eye procedure and no 'blue card' speeches will be accepted.

The next item is the joint debate on: - the report by Bas Eickhout, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (COM(2022)0150 - C9-0142/2022 - 2022/0099(COD)) (A9-0048/2023), and - the report by Jessica Polfjärd, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 (COM(2022)0151 - C9-0143/2022 - 2022/0100(COD)) (A9-0050/2023).

Thank you, Mr Cañas. You said it yourself, this was not the situation and the right time to discuss this topic, but you did. Let us now continue, as far as possible, with our discussion.

Thank you, Mr Ponsatí. You know that we need to stick to the subject of the debate. He had already had the opportunity to intervene at the beginning. I also let her speak in view of the fact that she spoke at the beginning of this sitting. Let us proceed with our discussion.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the last European Council addressed crucial issues for our Union, demonstrating once again that Europe is our community of destiny and is the only possible answer to every national problem. Among other things, the commitments on migration policies, still partial commitments, President von der Leyen and President Michel, were reiterated. We need more courage, we need more courage on redistribution and we need more courage especially on search and rescue, because we do not want to cry any more in this House and outside this House of the dead because of the tragedies that are taking place in the Mediterranean. On redistribution, the co-legislators were also invited to complete the work for the approval of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. So I want to say that I found it really incomprehensible - I cannot say otherwise - the attitude of the sovereignist forces, Lega and Fratelli d'Italia, who voted yesterday in the LIBE committee against that Pact, which Giorgia Meloni herself had supported. And their vote shows, once again, that the sovereignist forces understood Europe only as a sounding board of their propaganda, made today on the issue of migration and previously on many other issues. But Europe, and I conclude President, remains the only political place where solutions can be found to the opportunities and even the tragedies of our time.

The next item is the report by Pilar del Castillo Vera, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act) (COM(2022)0068 - C9-0051/2022 - 2022/0047(COD)) (A9-0031/2023).

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (2023/2559(RSP)).

Thank you to High Representative Borrell and of course to all the speakers in the debate. I have received six motions for resolutions pursuant to Rule 132(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The debate is closed. The vote will take place on Thursday 16 February 2023. Written declarations (Rule 171)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Madam President von der Leyen, Mr Borrell, one year after Putin's criminal invasion, Russia has failed to break the resistance of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine struggles, struggles for independence and for the same values of democracy and freedom. And yet our aid has failed to stop the aggression and we have a duty, colleagues, to increase our support for Kiev. And so it is worth asking ourselves here today how much our indecisions, for example on military aid, are costing the Ukrainian people? How much did it cost our international credibility? How much do inappropriate words like those we heard yesterday, shameful, from Silvio Berlusconi, against Zelensky cost? I, I think, a lot. And so, alongside the great resources mobilised, our choices must be accompanied by courageous political choices to punish Putin's criminal acts against the people and to support by all means the defence of Ukraine's territorial integrity and guarantee it a future within our Union.