Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, over the past few years, painfully, through Washington's unpredictability, Moscow's aggressiveness, the invasion of Ukraine and constant hybrid attacks, Europe has learned that it must take full and autonomous charge of its security. This is the debate we have here today: the reason for the European Defence Industry Programme, joint investments, common procurement and further integration into European industry. We have learned that the fragmentation of our industry is a threat to ourselves. That's what we do here today: bet not only to spend better, but to spend more European and spend much better. That's why we need to strengthen our industry, our industrial base, our jobs: to have a Europe more sovereign and less dependent on the good mood of the presidents of others to defend the security and the voice of Europe in the world.

Mr President, Commissioner, tomorrow, when we vote on the European Union's 2040 decarbonisation target, we will be sending a message to the world. The decarbonisation of Europe is a path of no return: not only do we want to have a clear horizon and with determination and ambition, but we agree to have flexibilities, facilities, on this path. Instruments are not a fetish for us, the goal is the relevant thing. There are three things I want to highlight today. First, tomorrow it is at stake to lead by example, to combat what is the greatest threat to our way of life and our economy. It is at stake to comply with the Paris Agreement and our international commitments. And our credibility as a global actor in climate negotiations and diplomacy is at stake, but we don't just do this because it's our responsibility: We do this because our interest is at stake. We're interested. We are interested because we send a message of certainty and certainty, we generate legal certainty, we send the message to the private world that it has to invest and plan investments. And we know that we are voting for a more competitive and more sovereign, less dependent Europe: less dependent on fossil fuels, from Russia or the United States, and less dependent on Chinese technology in the green field. We are committed to technology and innovation. And finally, we are committed to the pro-European democratic consensus. We are committed to generosity and to being able to reach agreements with the Council and the Commission – the pro-European forces – to continue to move Europe forward. And this is a sign of enormous importance so as not to squander our future.

The next vote is on objections pursuant to Rule 114(3): specifying a methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low-carbon fuels (see minutes, item 8.3).

The next vote is on the objection pursuant to Rule 114(3): InvestEU Fund strategic investments in the field of defence (see minutes, item 8.2).

First, an announcement that the Renew Group has notified the President of decisions relating to a change to appointments within committees, and this decision will be set out in the minutes of today's sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement. Some Members have asked to speak during the voting session. But I remind you that, unfortunately, Rule 189(4) allows only for the rapporteur to speak during the voting sessions. So I have to reject this possibility.

The next meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, 23 October 2025, at 09:00. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.

I would like to announce that we will close catch-the-eye. We will take the four catch-the-eyes that we have. We will also close the blue cards.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on ending all energy imports from Russia to the EU and closing loopholes through third countries (2025/2918(RSP)).

To wind up the debate, I have received one motion for a resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 142(5). The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow, 23 October 2025.