Speeches

Mr Brudziński, I would avoid insulting people who belong to a religion, because speaking generically about Muslims is not correct. I would therefore ask you to speak correctly about the issues we are debating.

I too would like to thank the colleagues who took part in the debate. The debate is closed. The vote will take place on Thursday 9 June 2022.

The next item is the report by Daniel Caspary, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the access of third-country goods and services to the European Union internal market in public procurement and procedures supporting negotiations on access of European Union goods and services to third-country public procurement markets on the International Procurement Instrument (COM(2016(0034) - C8-0018/2016 - 2012/0060(COD)) (A9-0337/2021).

It was not really a question, so I do not know if Mr Cozzolino wants to add anything, but I think he agrees with what my colleague said. We can therefore continue with the debate.

The next item is the debate on violations of media freedom and the safety of journalists in Georgia. (2022/2702(RSP))*. _______________ * see Minutes

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the issue we are discussing today, namely how our continent can and should attract talent and skills, is too serious - let me say this - to be subject to political exploitation. And there are colleagues in this House who have just argued - I could not believe my ears - that obviously talents and skills can only be found in one part of the world, theirs evidently. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that's not the case. I am sorry to disappoint you, but the world is full of talents, skills, women, men who have been trained, yes often even at the cost of enormous sacrifices, but who can help us to make our Europe better. Then I want to thank the Commission, because this proposal will certainly bear fruit, it will enrich us and the countries of North Africa by creating important synergies. But let me tell you, Commissioner, we must also bear in mind that most of the people who arrive, who want to reach our countries, do so because they run away from serious situations, from wars, from famines. And of this we cannot forget, we cannot turn to the other side. Then it is necessary to approach the issue of immigration with a holistic approach, with the complexity that deserves such a serious issue as the one we are talking about today.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the massacre in Bucha, the war rapes, the bombed hospitals, the deportation of children: These are the horrors we have witnessed over the past few months and we cannot but demand justice for these atrocities that go beyond every possible and conceivable act of war. A war that, as we have been repeating for months, is totally unjustified, intolerable. And then it is time to demand justice and to indict those who have committed, ordained these crimes against humanity. A few hours ago the news of the arrival of 42 investigators and forensic experts to investigate possible war crimes against humanity. It is the largest team ever sent to the field in the history of the International Criminal Court, and this, dear colleagues, is absolutely a good start. There will be no peace and we will not have peace until all the horrible war crimes we are still witnessing in these hours are punished. This is our commitment and, together, our responsibility.

The next item is the joint debate. - the report by Olivier Chastel, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section III – Commission and executive agencies (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0258/2021 - 2021/2106(DEC)) (A9-0127/2022), - the report by Daniel Freund, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section I – European Parliament (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0259/2021 - 2021/2107(DEC)) (A9-0044/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section II – European Council and Council (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0260/2021 - 2021/2108(DEC)) (A9-0067/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section IV – Court of Justice of the European Union (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0261/2021 - 2021/2109(DEC)) (A9-0066/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section V – Court of Auditors (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0262/2021 - 2021/2110(DEC)) (A9-0061/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0263/2021 - 2021/2111(DEC)) (A9-0079/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section VII – Committee of the Regions (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0264/2021 - 2021/2112(DEC)) (A9-0063/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section VIII – European Ombudsman (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0265/2021 - 2021/2113(DEC)) (A9-0068/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0266/2021 - 2021/2114(DEC)) (A9-0086/2022), - the report by Isabel García Muñoz, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020, Section X – European External Action Service (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0267/2021 - 2021/2115(DEC)) (A9-0065/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0271/2021 - 2021/2119(DEC)) (A9-0125/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0294/2021 - 2021/2142(DEC)) (A9-0109/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0297/2021 - 2021/2145(DEC)) (A9-0111/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0285/2021 - 2021/2133(DEC)) (A9-0118/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0278/2021 - 2021/2126(DEC)) (A9-0113/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0293/2021 - 2021/2141(DEC)) (A9-0106/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0270/2021 - 2021/2118(DEC)) (A9-0095/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0284/2021 - 2021/2132(DEC)) (A9-0103/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0295/2021 - 2021/2143(DEC)) (A9-0102/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0291/2021 - 2021/2139(DEC)) (A9-0105/2022), -the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0286/2021 - 2021/2134(DEC)) (A9-0100/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0273/2021 - 2021/2121(DEC)) (A9-0122/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0280/2021 - 2021/2128(DEC)) (A9-0115/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0276/2021 - 2021/2124(DEC)) (A9-0099/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0287/2021 - 2021/2135(DEC)) (A9-0119/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0288/2021 - 2021/2136(DEC)) (A9-0120/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0272/2021 - 2021/2120(DEC)) (A9-0093/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0298/2021 - 2021/2146(DEC)) (A9-0110/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency (now the European Union Agency for the Space Programme) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0299/2021 - 2021/2147(DEC)) (A9-0117/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0279/2021 - 2021/2127(DEC)) (A9-0114/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0277/2021 - 2021/2125(DEC)) (A9-0112/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0289/2021 - 2021/2137(DEC)) (A9-0121/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0296/2021 - 2021/2144(DEC)) (A9-0090/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0281/2021 - 2021/2129(DEC)) (A9-0091/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0275/2021 - 2021/2123(DEC)) (A9-0098/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0282/2021 - 2021/2130(DEC)) (A9-0101/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0290/2021 - 2021/2138(DEC)) (A9-0108/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0268/2021 - 2021/2116(DEC)) (A9-0097/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0269/2021 - 2021/2117(DEC)) (A9-0123/2022), - the report by Lefteris Christoforou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0283/2021 - 2021/2131(DEC)) (A9-0094/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0274/2021 - 2021/2122(DEC)) (A9-0107/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0292/2021 - 2021/2140(DEC)) (A9-0116/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, 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 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0304/2021 - 2021/2152(DEC)) (A9-0076/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the SESAR Joint Undertaking (now the Single European Sky ATM Research 3 Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0307/2021 - 2021/2155(DEC)) (A9-0073/2022), - the report by Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking (now the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0301/2021 - 2021/2149(DEC)) (A9-0070/2022), - the report by Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (now the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0300/2021 - 2021/2148(DEC)) (A9-0074/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (now referred to as the Innovative Health Initiative) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0306/2021 - 2021/2154(DEC)) (A9-0072/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (now referred to as the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0305/2021 - 2021/2153(DEC)) (A9-0075/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (now the European Rail Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0308/2021 - 2021/2156(DEC)) (A9-0069/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking (now the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0302/2021 - 2021/2150(DEC)) (A9-0077/2022), - the report by Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0303/2021 - 2021/2151(DEC)) (A9-0078/2022), - the report by Younous Omarjee, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2020 (COM(2021)0379 - C9-0310/2021 - 2021/2158(DEC)) (A9-0124/2022), - the report by Tomáš Zdechovský, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2020: performance, financial management and control (COM(2021)0381 - C9-0309/2021 - 2021/2157(DEC)) (A9-0104/2022). For this debate, we have a total of 53 reports submitted by eight rapporteurs, MEPs. Chastel, Freund, García Muñoz, Zdechovský, Christoforou, Czarnecki, Brudziński and Omarjee. I would remind you that the system of free choice of benches in the Chamber applies, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for group presidents. After entering the voting card it will be possible to make "catch-the-eye" and "blue card" requests through the voting device. I would also like to remind you that speeches in plenary will continue to be made from the central podium with the exception of the catch-the-eye procedure, blue card questions and points of order.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in this unprecedented, complex and difficult time, we have learned that there are many things that we can classify as war, from the missiles that are hitting Lviv in these minutes - and from this House I would like solidarity to come to the mayor, to the population hit exactly in these minutes, while we debate. To the old tools of propaganda, of disinformation, to the boots in the mud of the infantry invasions, which we have rediscovered to exist in recent months, up to the threats we are discussing tonight that run along the fibers of the world, the so-called hybrid war. We have learned about it in recent months, and despite the fact that the nature of this conflict is articulated, complicated, the responses of our institutions must be united and strong, from the increasingly structural alliance between the Member States, to unprecedented instruments of defense against Putin's unjustified and brutal aggressions. And on this we will find ourselves once again ready.

Mr Donato, I have avoided interrupting, but let me say one thing: that this House cannot in any way become the megaphone of positions that are absolutely unacceptable. The Bucha massacre, Mr Donato, is before everyone's eyes and we cannot accept, I say very clearly, that this is even called into question in this House. The massacres that are taking place in these minutes, in these hours, of innocent civilians are before everyone's eyes and it is not acceptable in this House that this can be questioned! This House, Mr Donato, is not equidistant! There is an aggressor, who is Putin, and there is an aggressor, who are the Ukrainian citizens, whom this House and the European institutions defend. Make a point.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Daly, we have given you the opportunity to reply, and now let us try to remain calm in order to continue the debate and be respectful of the views of all our fellow Members.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, on 22 March the Taliban announced that girls will not be able to attend high school and that women cannot leave the country without being accompanied by a male relative. The Taliban, dear colleagues, are demonstrating for what they are, a fundamentalist movement, because women are denied the right to education and the right to independence; Many businesses are banned in the name of Sharia law. Segregation, misogyny, discrimination, racism are just some of the aspects that are helping to make Afghanistan a real prison. Prison, yes, because it is no longer possible to get out of that country! There is, as I mentioned, a ban on leaving the country without being accompanied. So, dear Commissioner, dear President, the Union, all of us, the European institutions, must react firmly, welcoming refugees and continuing to deny recognition to the Taliban. It is not possible to find compromises on the skin and life of Afghan women, girls and girls.

The next item is the brief presentation of the report by Adrián Vázquez Lázara on the protection of the rights of the child in civil, administrative and family law proceedings (2021/2060(INI)) (A9-0033/2022).

The next item is the report by Manuel Pizarro, on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries, on the future of fisheries in the English Channel, the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the light of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU (2021/2016(INI)) (A9-0042/2022).

The next item is the recommendation for second reading by the Committee on Transport and Tourism on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2006/1/EC on the use of vehicles hired without drivers for the carriage of goods by road (13531/1/2021 - C9-0014/2022 - 2017/0113(COD)) (rapporteur: Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar) (A9-0041/2022).

I now give the floor, on behalf of the Commission, to Vice-President Timmermans, confirming his feelings of esteem and respect for his work, Commissioner.

I would ask colleagues to avoid embarrassing comments that put this House in difficulty and even unpleasant comments. So, Mr Haider, I believe that you should apologise for the expressions you have used, which are not respectful of the Commissioner but not even of colleagues and this House. Catch the eye procedure

Thank you, thank you very much, Undersecretary Beaune. I would also like to thank all the colleagues who have contributed to this debate. The joint debate is closed. Written declarations (Rule 171)