What Elsi spoke about.

Mr President, Commissioner, Putin's unforgivable attack on Ukraine has shocked us all. As the war escalates, it is particularly important to ensure the safe escape of all civilians from conflict zones. Russian troops have not respected the agreed ceasefires, which is absolutely unacceptable. About two million refugees have already arrived in EU countries from the feet of the war, and this number will multiply. As a Union, we must help people in need in every possible way. We must support Ukraine's neighbours and do what we can to dismantle the queues at the borders. It is good that the Temporary Protection Directive was swiftly introduced in the EU. Coherent EU coordination must continue and there must be readiness to introduce new mechanisms as well. At the latest, the EU's refugee policy as a whole must also be reformed in the longer term, as the security situation in Europe and the world as a whole has changed and there is no going back.

Mr President, I would also like to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work. It is very positive that there has been an increase in public interest in animal welfare. The EU has been investing in animal welfare for a long time and, depending on the Member State, the measures are very progressive. Of course, there is still work to be done. It would be imperative that the EU also commits to existing laws. This would ensure not only animal welfare but also fair competition in the internal market. In the EU, for example, we continue to cut the beak of chickens and cut the tails of pigs, even though the Pig Directive, among other things, prohibits this. The new legislation must also take into account the profitability crisis of farmers, as only economically viable farms can invest in tightening requirements in the desired way and with sufficient transition periods. The well-being of investments should definitely also be reflected in the price of products and the producer's result.

Mr President, the most important contribution of the Farm to Fork Strategy is to finally look at the whole food chain as a whole. It is clear that security of supply, food security or high climate and environmental standards for agriculture will not be met if the farmer's income is negative. Therefore, farmers need to get a fairer price for their products. Environmental measures must also be reflected in market prices. Care must be taken to ensure that the entire food chain – transport, processing, trade, consumers – assumes their responsibilities in reducing emissions. One cannot point the finger at a farmer and at agriculture alone, because it is the farmer who is one of the few who sequestrates carbon, and there must be more incentives to do so. The food sector is rightly concerned about the impact of the objectives set by the Commission on food production. That is why we insist that any future legislative initiative must be based on a comprehensive impact assessment. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that profitable food production is possible throughout Europe also in the future.

Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to thank the rapporteur for his good work. The Arctic is exceptionally sensitive and valuable. It faces the economic and security interests of the great powers, as well as the extreme effects of climate change. The importance of geopolitics has been growing, and we therefore need an active and constructive EU approach that strengthens peaceful cooperation between the countries in the region. From Brussels, we need to see all the way to the northernmost part of Europe and understand the challenges and opportunities of the Arctic. The EU has the power and responsibility to contribute to the sustainable and comprehensive development of the region. Special funding for northern sparsely populated areas has been particularly effective and now needs to be increased. In its communication on the Arctic, the Commission has the opportunity to take Parliament's strong and balanced report into account and to strengthen the position in the Arctic region in practice. Comprehensive and international contractual arrangements are now needed, and the EU now needs to be an active and proactive party.