Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the challenge facing the world is also a challenge to our democracies, because autocratic regimes seem more ready, even at the speed of decisions. We, on the other hand, face a difficult balance, which is to combine the complexity of our democracies with the speed of the decisions we have to take when necessary. The Niinistö report seems to me to set out clearly and unequivocally the future for our European Union, for a near future of peace and security. Work to increase collaboration between theintelligence, the armies and the productive worlds, being ready to react quickly in case of need, overcoming veto mechanisms on common defence expenditure are aspects that can no longer be postponed. It is a priority, it must be a priority for our political families, because the future of Europe passes through the security that we will be able to give to our common home.

Dear colleagues, let us try to listen to each other for a moment, because I understand that it is a sensitive debate, it is a debate that takes place after dramatic events, but I call on the House to calm down, to listen to each other, to avoid mutual accusations and to stay on the dramatic subject we are discussing. I invite you to cooperate. I gave extra time to everyone. I have allowed everyone to conclude their speech - yes, everyone, Mr Montserrat - because it is a particularly heartfelt subject. I am speaking now, Mr Montserrat, so please listen to me. I call on the House now to calm down and to continue the debate in a dignified manner. We owe it to the victims, because we are here discussing serious things, so let us avoid a sterile controversy and an end in itself.

I would also remind you, Mr Mazurek, that you are not allowed to insult the Commission in this House. I remind you that we must have appropriate language that is respectful of the institutions that are present in this House and of the colleagues present. So please have appropriate and respectful language.

The next item is the Commission statement on the misuse of new technologies for the manipulation and radicalisation of young people through hate speech and anti-democratic speech (2024/2887(RSP)).

Ladies and gentlemen, we can resume Question Time to the Commission after this exercise. I would like to give the floor to Mr Crespo Díaz, who has been interrupted by the exercise that has just been carried out.

As you can hear, an evacuation exercise is underway. So, unfortunately, we have to leave the Chamber and, as soon as the exercise is over, we will be able to resume the sitting.

(in reaction to an intervention without a colleague's microphone) No, this is not acceptable. Excuse me, Honourable Member: I allow everyone to finish their speeches and I kindly ask you to respect speaking time for everyone and I have asked for cooperation several times. But please be calm and respect the work that is being done in this House.

Mr Blaha, you are certainly free to express your views as long as they are naturally in line with the founding values on which our European institutions are based and which this House is committed to respecting every day. So, of course, the Presidency will take a look at your speech and possibly give you a decision on it. And now let us proceed with our questions. You have the right to speak and to put your question to the Commissioner, Mrs Glavak.

The next item is Question Time to the Commission, under Rule 143 of our Rules of Procedure, on: "Animal health situation: How to prevent and prepare for future health crises in agriculture. Some information for colleagues. Question time is expected to last 90 minutes. You have one minute to put the question and the Commissioner will have two minutes to answer it. For the first round of speakers it will be possible to ask an additional question of 30 seconds with two minutes for the answer available to the Commissioner. I would remind you that any additional question is only granted if it is related to the main question. It is therefore not a new question. If you wish to ask a question, you are invited to register your request as of now, using the function catch on your voting device. After, of course, inserting your voting card during Question Time, Members will be speaking from their seats and I invite, of course, from now on, to respect the time we have set ourselves. As Members may need a few minutes to register their request, we will of course give you this time and I would ask you, as I anticipated, to submit your request now so that we can proceed swiftly with our work. So, you have a few minutes to register, so you can get started right away. They inform me that Mr Blaha had requested to speak on a personal matter at the beginning of the sitting.

The minutes of the sitting of Monday 21 October 2024 and the texts adopted were circulated. Are there any comments? There are no comments. The minutes were approved.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, as you know, the Putin regime has a widespread intolerance and I would like to say chronic towards every occasion when citizens can express themselves freely. His propaganda infiltrated the UK in 2016, infiltrated the elections in France, attempted to condition even the elections for this Parliament. So it has already happened other times and the next few days will be crucial to prevent and limit Moldovan public opinion from being flooded with violence. fake news and anti-democratic propaganda. Because the Moldovan national anti-corruption prosecutor's office has already shown that last September 15 million dollars were transferred to pay voters to vote against EU membership and to favor the candidates of the pro-Russian oligarch Shor. But despite all this, Moldova is getting closer to Europe and therefore guaranteeing its accession process means first and foremost ensuring that this choice is freely expressed.

Ladies and gentlemen, before we give the floor, if necessary, to Mr de la Hoz Quintano, we must, however, understand how we are going to proceed with our work. The blue card It means - and you can of course do so - that you have to ask a question to the colleague who is speaking at the time. Le blue card can not be used to make speeches on the theme let's say general. So, from now on, if there is a question from you to the interlocutor who is speaking, you will be granted. If, on the other hand, it becomes an opportunity to speak, to tell what you think, you must apply, as all colleagues do, to your groups to be able to intervene. I hope I've been clear.

The next item is the Commission statement on Comprehensive measures against social media platforms - Strengthening the role of the Digital Services Act and protecting democracy and freedom in the online environment (2024/2806(RSP)).

I announce the result of the vote. Number of voters: 699 Blank or blank cards: 76 Votes cast: 623 Absolute majority: 312 The candidates obtained the following votes: Ms Metsola: 562 votes Mr Montero: 61 votes Ms Metsola obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast. President Metsola, I congratulate you on your election and wish you every success in your term of office. I invite you to take over the Presidency.

Did they all vote? Did the scrutineers vote too? Looks like they all voted. The vote is closed. I invite the tellers to come to room R1.1 for the counting of the ballots. The sitting is suspended. The sound of the bell will indicate the resumption of the session, which will also be announced on the screens. (The sitting was adjourned at 11:22 a.m. for the counting of the ballots.)

Let us now move on to the vote. The instructions for the election of the President have been distributed electronically to all Members and you will find additional copies at the entrance of the Chamber if you need them. I would remind you that, under Rule 16, in order to be elected, a candidate must obtain, in the first three ballots, an absolute majority of the votes cast. Blank or void ballots will not be taken into account for the purposes of calculating the votes cast. In the meantime, the clerks are distributing the cards; We therefore ask you for a moment of patience in order to better organize the vote. Ladies and gentlemen, you must remain in your place in order to receive the ballot paper. The clerks will now proceed with the distribution of the ballots, but in order to deliver the ballot you must be in your place. Please stay seated. I invite you to keep quiet, while we explain the voting method and the salesmen distribute the ballots. In the meantime, I invite you to wait until the opening of the vote; We will use this time to explain the manner of the election. The ballot papers and envelopes are being distributed in these minutes. To vote, you will have to tick the box corresponding to the name of the candidate chosen. You can only vote for one candidate. If you want to rectify the vote, you will have to ask a clerk for a new card, who will give it to you in exchange for the wrong card, which will be immediately destroyed. The presence on the card of writings or signs other than those necessary to express the vote will result in its cancellation; The same applies if you vote for more than one candidate. Fold the card in four before inserting it into the envelope. For those who wish, there are voting booths at the entrance to the hemicycle. For the vote, I invite you to use the urn that corresponds to the first letter of your surname: The first urn is for the letters A and B. The second urn is for the letters C to E. The third urn is for the letters F to G. The fourth urn is for the letters H to K. The fifth urn is for the letters L and M. The sixth urn is for the letters N to R. The seventh urn is for the letters S and T. The eighth urn is for the letters U to Z. I will not call Members, but will simply announce the opening and closing of the vote. The names of the Members who took part in the secret ballot are published in the Minutes, which is why I invite you to sign the nominative attendance lists before depositing the ballot paper in the ballot box. I remind you to deposit the ballot paper in the ballot box that corresponds to the first letter of your surname. When voting, I invite you to show the teller an identity document or your badge. The tellers will vote at the end of the ballot. I now invite the tellers to go to their respective polls. Voting is open. (The plenary proceeded to the vote)

Let us now proceed to the drawing of lots for the appointment of the eight tellers. As they are appointed, I will invite the tellers to approach the bench of the Presidency. Mr Millán Mon, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Millán Mon accepts.) Mr Decaro, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Decaro accepts.) Mr Peter-Hansen, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Peter-Hansen accepts.) Mr Turek, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Turek accepts.) Mr Bartulica, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Bartulica accepts.) Mrs Gosiewska, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Gosiewska accepts.) Mr Ušakovs, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Ušakovs accepts.) Mr Bonaccini, do you agree to be a teller? (Mr Bonaccini accepts.) The following Members were appointed as tellers: Mr Millán Mon, Mr Decaro, Mr Peter-Hansen, Mr Turek, Mr Bartulica, Mr Gosiewska, Mr Ušakovs and Mr Bonaccini. The vote will begin in a few minutes.