Speeches

Mr President, Executive Vice-President Timmermans, dear Chrysoula, it is an imminent need to speed up the transformation of our economy in the EU. It is also the time to seriously enhance our strategic autonomy. At this period of time we need also to provide to the market the proper stability and predictability with the legislation at stake. In that sense, starting with ETS, on which the rapporteur Peter Liese did a great job, it is important to underline that now we make a significant step forward by having the maritime sector on board with particular funding and support to achieve innovation and a willing transformation in the next period of time. As far as the Social Climate Fund is concerned, I fully support Esther de Lange and David Casa’s proposal to support the population in need without adding burden to the households as the energy crisis is up and running. Regarding to CBAM, I would like to be clear: we need this too. We need this mechanism in relation to the carbon prices without jeopardising the competitiveness of the sectors involved. For that reason, I fully support the establishment of CBAM, as well as realistic implementation when it comes to the phase—out of free allocations, combined with realistic solutions for ECS. Dear colleagues, tomorrow we vote and we have to take the responsibilities. Our own ones. Dear colleagues, the Fit for 55 package is an updated, more coherent package that sticks to the von der Leyen coalition. We need to show to our citizens who struggle today with the energy crisis that we send a clear message to all these who are abiding with EU values and that we bring solutions to raised problems while we stand united toward the achievement of Europe’s strategic objectives.

This is very good news, Commissioners, and thank you very much for your response. I would like just to say that the suggestions coming from ACER are looking for medium- and long-term solutions. In the cases (inaudible) the Commission is ready to intervene in a very short measure. And that’s why I insist on very short measures. Thank you very much once again.

Thank you, Commissioner, for being here in the plenary. My first question concerns the level of the crisis that our citizens are facing. They are facing energy prices that are soaring and they are struggling to find a way to address them. In this regard, I think that it is now time for a European solution in order to address the price crisis. In this regard, I would like to ask you the following: First of all, is the Commission is ready to proceed with an amendment of the target model in order to proceed with decoupling of natural gas prices with electricity? Secondly, is the Commission ready to draw lessons from the pandemic in order to proceed with specific financial instruments to address the crisis? Third, is the Commission ready to proceed with an intervention in the crisis in the Amsterdam market?

Madam President, today we are facing another important challenge, and this is how to practically align the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation with the Stockholm Convention and with the overall aim to protect human health and the environment. What we need to keep in mind is that in each and every step we have to set the basis for sustainable chemicals by design, maintaining the precautionary approach and also setting the standards for POPs in waste. We therefore need to take actions to prohibit, while implementing legal and regulatory measures necessary to eliminate both the production and use of chemicals listed in Annex A and the import and export of these chemicals. We have to guarantee that the transition to a high—quality, toxic—free materials cycle cannot coexist with an approach that allows the recycling of POPs—containing waste based on weak POPs limit values. In this regard, we should be able to establish a framework, but it is about creating a global level playing field, leveraging, at the same time, the EU position on the chemical markets. I am fully in line with the limits that the rapporteur proposed to the respective annexes. Adoption of high limits leads to contamination of recycling of POPs, which re-enter the economy instead of being disposed of. And needless to say that the market players will have a strong role in the implementation of the POPs Regulation. They will be able, according to the market knowledge, a condition to adapt for a toxic-free environment and a truly circular economy.

Madam President, the key message of the European Union budget in 2023 is the determination and protection of our citizens and societies from the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The pandemic has taught us that joint action delivers on a scale. In the face of skyrocketing energy prices, rising inflation, price control must be a top priority, hand in hand with the support of the vulnerable. The control of wholesale gas prices, as proposed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the revision of the electricity-gas price interconnection model should be carefully examined by the Commission and the results presented immediately. The European Union must be an umbrella for all, based on the application of the rule of law and fundamental principles. Instead of Orbán now shaking our fingers, we should already have made our decision not to fund those who blatantly violate our principles a reality. Because now that authoritarianism is appearing with its bloodiest face, it may find other imitators.

Madam President, allow me to focus today in the framework of the IPCC on a really huge issue, which is the lack of water, and allow me to provide some figures. In Europe, about 30% of our population is affected by water stress, which is a situation where there is insufficient water of sufficient quality to meet the demands of people and the environment during an average year. As the climate crisis is deepening, the situation is expected to worsen. The trends are especially worrying for southern and the south-western Europe, where river discharge during summer could decline by up to 40% under a 3℃ temperature rise scenario. Improved water efficiency and policies to reduce demand can reduce risks to water security. At Member State level, local authorities in collaboration with communities can take actions that include updating building codes, land use plans, improving soil management and finally, enhancing water-use efficiency. Protection and restoration of our natural and semi-natural ecosystems are key adaptation measures. Moreover, water is a crucial input for hydroelectric and thermoelectric energy production. With 1 300 GW installed capacity in 2019, hydropower became the world’s largest single renewable energy source. Therefore, minimising the risk to water security from the climate crisis will require a full systems use that considers the direct impacts of mitigation measures on water resources and their indirect effect to our efforts to tackling climate change.

Madam President, Vice-President Dombrovskis, it is common ground that we are in the middle of a storm and our citizens are looking at us here in Brussels. It is urgent to take short- and medium-term measures in this direction as well. The Commission's proposals for joint gas orders, joint LNG storage processes and high stocks, which will reach 90% of full capacity next winter, prove that here in the European Union we have learned the lessons of the pandemic and are making use of them. However, energy prices are skyrocketing and that is why we need immediate, urgent measures. Regulating gas and electricity prices in the Member States and taxing the profits of energy companies is unfortunately not enough. We need a limited time intervention in the wholesale gas market. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' proposal is on the table. To have a free market that works, we must ensure that our citizens are not impoverished by the crisis. To continue defending our values with heavy sanctions against Russia, we must maintain the cohesion of our societies, push prices now, accelerate the installation of renewables, go to deep upgrading of buildings, to sustainable transport. Run investment, but first and foremost protect our citizens from the storm by all means.

Madam President, the new strategy for sustainability in the fashion industry should, first of all, address the needs of consumers. Nowadays, consumers are becoming more conscious of the impact of their clothing choices. In this regard, we have to support measures to implement minimum repairability requirements, minimum ecodesign standards for stress resistance and lifetime of products and components, and ban the use of hazardous chemicals and materials in clothing and textile products. It is time to act now. It is time because textile consumption in Europe helped to leverage the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change from a global lifecycle perspective in 2020. After food, housing and mobility, the clothing industry has one of the highest impacts on the planet since it represents 11 kilos per citizen in textiles and it produces about 20% of global wastewater and around 10% of global carbon emissions. In this regard, I insist that it is also important to support actions at EU level in order to increase the effectiveness of extended producer responsibility schemes by establishing an EU level definition for obligated producer and an EU level classification for when textiles become waste. We must ensure that the future will lead from fast fashion to sustainable clothing, meaning that we cannot accept half of working practices, overextraction of raw materials and high energy consumption.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we see in the harshest terms that we are still dependent on Russian gas, whereas since 2014 Putin has given us a handwriting sample of the illegal annexation of Crimea. And, you know, we all need to recognize here that we're late. We delayed looking for alternative gas suppliers. We delayed building the interconnection networks for electricity and natural gas ready for hydrogen. We delayed focusing on renewable energy investments and the development of renewable energy storage technology. Now is the time to build on the experience of the pandemic. Now is the time to give a collective European response to the problem. To collectively activate financial tools to address energy costs, but above all to facilitate investment in renewables. Give fiscal space to Member States to support households and businesses. In the face of this crisis, ladies and gentlemen, we are all vulnerable. We must use this lesson of history without delay. By increasing public acceptance, renewables, Commissioner, can be at least 45% of the European Union's energy mix in 2030. All we have to do is start the job now.

Madam President, Commissioner Kyriakides, ladies and gentlemen, today, World Day Against Childhood Cancer, we are taking a very important step towards the single health policy that the European Union so badly needs. By adopting the Cancer Plan, we are taking important steps to anticipate and strengthen screening and screening structures. We are taking important steps towards equitable access to cancer care. We are taking an important step towards the challenges that exist in cancers affecting children, adolescents and young adults. An important element of this effort is the appointment of the Special Envoy for Cancer to report directly to the President of the Commission, a proposal emanating from the European People's Party. It is a great honour for me that in this report - and I am very grateful to the rapporteur, Mrs Trillet-Lenoir - my amendments have been incorporated concerning the treatment of cancers caused by HPV and the broadening of the vaccination base to girls and boys, gene screening and diagnostics for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the strengthening of information and awareness-raising actions to address the remission observed in the early diagnosis of cancers through screening. In Greece, during the last 10 years of the economic crisis, diagnoses decreased by 40%, but not the cases. In conclusion, I would like to share with you a belief: we are creating the political roadmap for the Member States, which should proceed immediately with its implementation. Better policies are irrelevant if there are no synergies and if there is no monitoring of implementation, if there is no supervision of implementation. I would like to dedicate this day to two people who lost their lives to cancer: to my best friend, Polyxeni Mastroperou and my partner, Sofia Chantzara. They did not have time to see this historic European step.

Madam President, Commissioner Simson, today's debate on offshore renewable energy comes at a time when Europe's energy autonomy is becoming an existential issue and an existential parameter. Achieving the offshore renewable generation target of 60 GW by 2030 and 340 GW by 2050 requires coordinated actions at European level, simplification of the permitting and regulatory framework. However, it requires, first and foremost, the necessary infrastructure and public acceptance and consensus for the creation of offshore wind farms, which will include the participation of local investment schemes. One of the reasons why there is a very serious reaction in various areas is the issue of the proper siting of offshore wind farms, and for this reason, this condition must concern us all. In the Mediterranean, where we are a multi-promising location, we have not exhausted our potential. Good practices coming mainly from the North Sea could help in this direction. We could also develop the potential of offshore renewable energy with more appropriate maritime spatial planning processes, by engaging in the consultation of local communities, by accelerating research and development funding in innovative technologies such as floating offshore wind, solar, climate and tidal energy installations, and green hydrogen production. Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we need EUR 800 billion in renewable energy in offshore installations in order to fill the European gap. We are facing a bet that we must win for Europe's strategic autonomy, days that are.

Mr President, Vice-President Šefčovič, Minister, ladies and gentlemen, the problem of high energy prices can only be tackled by starting tomorrow with the European Council, collectively, European and dynamically, and despite the fact that the energy mix is the responsibility of the Member States. The European Union must return to the lessons of the pandemic and proceed without further delay with voluntary joint gas orders, so that the countries that mainly face the problem in the South, such as my homeland Greece, can strengthen our negotiating capacity vis-à-vis suppliers as part of the single market. It is also necessary for the European Union to support infrastructure that increases our strategic energy autonomy. Stability and energy security in Southeast Europe go hand in hand with green energy transition and storage infrastructure for the future to come. From the lips of the President of the Commission we have heard, Mr Sefkovic – and it is a pity that Mrs von der Leyen does not systematically remain in the Chamber until the finalisation of the speeches by Members of the European Parliament – that there is the possibility of decoupling (decoupling) gas prices from electricity, which in principle entails high strategic reserves of shared use. This debate must immediately evolve into the necessary change in the legislative framework for setting electricity prices. High energy prices, ladies and gentlemen, inflation, accuracy in goods are particularly affecting the weakest. It is our responsibility to tackle energy poverty radically. The large social fund will be ready in 2026. Until then, the interventions of the European Union must not leave any of our fellow citizens in the cold. In Menemeni, Mandra, Nevrokopi they see us and wait for our intervention.

Mr President, the global agreement achieved at COP26 in Glasgow, having about almost 200 countries, is keeping alive the hope of limiting the rise of global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Glasgow climate package is not a game changer in terms of climate commitment. However, it is a step forward which finally completes the Paris rulebook. COP26 was a great opportunity for us, for the EU, to reinforce our global leadership, starting with the Global Methane Pledge. Until now, 105 countries are on board, representing more than 70% of the global economy, committed to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions, but at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. Delivering on the pledge will reduce warming by at least 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2050, and it is an EU initiative that has been adopted here in this House by a vast majority, and it works. COP26 also is an opportunity to confirm our leadership on phasing out coal with regard to the comparison to the final wording for phasing down coal power. EU is once again the world’s champion. We can all agree that the result of COP26 will be achieved if every country delivers on what they have pledged. In this regard, it is important to work intensively for setting global standards for sustainability and for the implementation of the provision of the Paris Agreement, putting further pressure on reluctant, big global emitters, namely China and Russia. Also in the EU, we have to translate commitments into rapid action without leaving anyone behind. We have to reward frontrunners to decarbonisation, my home country Greece is one of them. We have also to invest heavily to scale up innovative technologies for expansion and storage for green energy. It is time to lead by example on the biggest challenge of our generation without undermining our competitiveness. Let’s do it!

Madam President, I would like to thank all colleagues for their comments and say frankly that I was trying to take into account their concerns, especially when they were based on scientific evidence. I have to try to do my best in this long process. Following the recent climate agreement with the US, it is our best hope in the EU to be able to lead the world in the right direction. It is now the time to suggest and negotiate a binding global agreement on methane mitigation at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow in line with the model pathways that limit global warming to 1.5°C from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report, the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and the 2021 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Methane Assessment. In this regard, it is of paramount importance to proceed with immediate and rapid reductions in methane emissions, paying attention to economic and social sustainability and, in this decade, it is one of the effective measures for the EU climate action. Methane emission reduction complements the necessary reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and many of the emission cuts required by the Paris Agreement and could already be achieved with low cost, as the Commission said, and technically feasible methane mitigation. Commissioner, we fully endorse your approach and your arguments on methane reduction in the energy sector and we are looking forward to our cooperation. When it comes to the agriculture sector, I would like just to repeat that it is included in the report as it is important to establish a framework which incentivises and rewards farmers along with the entire value chain and especially frontrunners for their effort. I would like to kindly ask all of you, dear colleagues, here in this House on this day, to vote in favour and to support the EU strategy to reduce methane emission. Now we should not think about the next election, but above all, about the next generation.

Madam President, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, warming the planet 80 times as much as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period before degrading to CO2. We should provide a fair, comprehensive and clear legislative framework, setting binding measures and methane reduction targets covering all sectors, leading to a significant reduction of methane emissions in the EU by 2030. Ahead of COP26, a challenge is arising. By concluding a global agreement on reducing methane emissions, we can ensure a new era of fast-track reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. After the announcement by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the US President, Joe Biden, of the Global Methane Pledge – an initiative to reduce global methane emissions to be launched at the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow in November – we have to start working intensively in order to prepare the legislative framework as soon as possible, and to engage all relevant stakeholders. More than half of global methane emissions stem from human activities in three sectors: energy, waste and agriculture. In this framework, it is important to proceed with an ambitious revision of our environmental legislation. The upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve significant emissions reductions, swiftly and as cost-effectively as possible, and provide incentives and support to companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal manner, while fully respecting the ‘polluter pays’ principle. In the energy sector, inputs account for over four-fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU, and most methane emissions associated with oil and gas are occurring outside EU borders. That’s why we must explore regulatory tools on fossil energy inputs, develop methods with importing and partner countries to align our efforts, and secure a UN-based pathway on methane as soon as possible. In the meantime, we could proceed with bilateral agreements with these exporting partner countries. It is necessary also to provide credible data, identify issues and efficient measures and assess the progress achieved. A mandatory MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) system would improve Member States’ reporting to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and a strong leak and detection repair system is also a critical element for our strategy. We should encourage the Commission to proceed with initiatives on the mitigation of methane from coal mines. It is important for us to include the closure of abandoned sites. In Greece, we have Western Macedonia and the Megalopolis Lignite Centre. It is important, finally, to ensure that we provide financial aid so that the cost will not be paid by our citizens. We also have to support the establishment of an independent International Methane Emissions Observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Developmental Programme and the Climate and Clean Energy Coalition under the International Energy Agency (IEA). At the same time, we need to ensure a just transition for sectors in which methane emissions reductions may have socio-economic impacts, especially for agriculture. We have to incentivise farmers and SMEs to adapt, provided that a lot of innovative best practices are in place. It is important to establish a framework that incentivises and rewards farmers, along with the entire value chain, and especially front runners for their efforts. In the waste sector, we should support Member States and regions to stabilise biodegradable waste prior to disposal, increase its use to produce climate neutral, secure and bio-based materials and chemicals, and divert this waste towards bio-gas production. We must provide specific incentives suited to each Member State’s conditions to ensure separate collection of bio-waste, to the maximum possible extent, including by encouraging public private sector cooperation. To conclude, I would like to thank all my colleagues and the shadow rapporteur for the collaboration and support during the negotiation process. We have managed to finalise a very balanced report and to send the right message to our citizens: by reducing methane now, we will prevent nearly 0.3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2045. The immediate implementation of methane reduction measures for human sources of methane could reduce methane emissions by as much as 45% by 2030. As the President of the Commission declared, on the road to COP26, we will reach out to global partners to bring as many as possible on board for tackling methane emissions with the EU Green Deal and the EU Methane Strategy, we are ready to lead the way.

Mr President, the UN Climate Change Conference in November is a unique opportunity for the EU to lead once again, this time to reduce methane emissions, which is the second gas responsible for raising the temperature in the planet after CO2. President von der Leyen and US President Biden have already announced the global methane pledge, an initiative to reduce global methane emissions to be launched at the COP26. The European Union and eight countries have already declared their support for the global methane pledge. These countries include six of the top 15 methane emitters globally and together account for over one fifth of global methane emissions and nearly half of the global economy. Starting from COP26, methane emissions reduction should be a top priority for the EU’s climate diplomacy. For this reason, it is our duty as the EU to take the lead and proceed with actions within the context of the EU’s diplomacy and external relations. This should follow a UN-based path to spearhead a binding international agreement on methane mitigation. The European Union has a duty as a global leader to continue to enlist additional countries to join the global methane pledge. The next 10 years will be very crucial. We do not have a second chance because we do not have a second planet.

Madam President, Commissioner Simson, when we were discussing the ambitious Energy Union project here in this Chamber in 2015, we declared that we would never again allow any supplier to drive our energy supply and threaten our energy security. Today, six years later, energy prices show that we did not foresee sufficient diversified supply for the gas transition fuel. And most importantly, we have not yet built the necessary green energy storage infrastructure to increase our energy autonomy. We must move immediately to coordinated actions at European level for diversified gas supplies, activating our potential as the largest single market in the world. Accelerate the installation of renewable sources and storage infrastructure, but also the upgrading of existing infrastructure. Ladies and gentlemen, in the city where I grew up and live, in Thessaloniki, according to a survey of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2018, six out of ten households depend on natural gas. One in ten waits for the temperature to drop to 15 degrees Celsius to turn on the heating system. Addressing energy poverty with specialised holistic upgrading programmes in vulnerable neighbourhoods, promoting energy communities and incentivising small-scale green energy production by households is urgent. Above all, a European response to the skyrocketing energy costs is now urgent, Commissioner. The recovery, the competitiveness of businesses, jobs, the quality of life of all of us are at risk. We can't wait tomorrow. The European Union must act now.

Madam President, Commissioner Dalli, ladies and gentlemen, one in three women, one in three of us has experienced gender-based violence, one in three has been in the position of victim and has had to prove that responsibility lies with the perpetrator. One in three have seen the darker side of human relationships, sometimes even within the family home. The question is how many of the women who suffered domestic violence, how many of the women who suffered domestic violence, eventually found protection. It is essential that gender-based violence is tackled with the most robust legislative framework to act as a deterrent to anyone who believes they can attack women, that they can attack LGBTIQ people. Today we must, today Parliament must send a clear message, we must, without going beyond our powers, take the first step to create that legislative framework which will be a model for the whole world, a model for the protection of women, a model for the protection of LGBTIQ people against gender-based violence, which will once again show that Europe is a Union of Values. Commissioner, in my home country of Greece, Caroline in Glyka Nera, Konstantina in Makrinitsa, Garyfalia in Folegandros did not catch up. We're already late.