Speeches

We are now continuing our debate on the oral question to the Commission on US sanctions and the rule of law by Juan Fernando López Aguilar, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (O-000057/2021 - B9-0034/21) (2021/2868(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the first voting session. The dossiers on which we are voting can be found on the agenda. The voting session will be open from 9.30 a.m. to 10.45 a.m. The voting procedure is the same as in the previous voting rounds. All votes are roll call votes. I hereby declare the first voting session open. You can vote until 10.45 a.m. The results of the first voting session will be announced at 1 p.m.

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on US sanctions and the rule of law by Juan Fernando López Aguilar, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs [2021/2868(RSP)] (O-000057/2021 - B9-0034/21). I would like to remind you briefly at the beginning of today's sitting that no spontaneous interventions or blue cards will be accepted in all debates at this part-session. In addition, as in the previous part-sessions, connections from Parliament’s liaison offices in the Member States are foreseen.

– After the announcement of the results of the votes: The President. – Before we come to the debates, I would like to give the floor to Daniel Freund, who has requested to comment on his report on improving transparency and integrity in the EU institutions through the establishment of an independent EU ethics body (2020/2133(INI) (A9-0260/2021), in accordance with Rule 159(4).

Mr President! Europe can keep its head above water, yes. Europe can contribute to resolving crises, yes. But that's not enough. Europe is still too slow and too often detours. Europe, we, must get better. This is what people in this united Europe want. The pandemic has revealed: Europe isn't going down, but Europe isn't pushing anything world-shattering either, Mrs von der Leyen. We need to change that. Let's make Europe world-shattering, from crisis manager to the political avant-garde of the West - that must be our ambition. The West's foreign and defence policy debacle in Afghanistan has relentlessly shown how helpless Europe is. And not just there: On the eastern flank of Europe, Putin makes menacing muscles play, along with a Lukashenko regime that has nothing to lose. All this shows us: Europe still sits at the foreign and defence policy cat table. But instead of a speech and announcement union, we must finally become a union of deeds, gain real and real strength. Now or never is the time to formulate and implement this political compass, this political departure, Mrs von der Leyen. The Conference on the Future of Europe. It is not an end in itself, not occupational therapy, but politically urgent and priority. Talent forge become, through education, research, innovation and a controlled immigration of skilled workers. Become the first address as a sustainable and competitive industrial location. Finally, find a European answer to China's appetite for power and influence to become a serious advocate of citizens and human rights. Let's start the reforms! If necessary, even with a change of contract. If we seize these possibilities, we become world-shattering in action and with deeds!