Speeches

Mr President! China restricts freedom and human rights, China strengthens its cooperation with the authoritarian regimes in Russia and Iran – a worrying development with regard to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the international order. Who can believe now that China's actions could be changed by an economic cuddle course or the political index finger? The EU must show a united flag. Standing by Taiwan is in line with both our values and our interest. Together with our transatlantic allies, we must unequivocally signal to Beijing what the cost of an attack on Taiwan would be. Our message is clear: Those who ignite peace trigger a political conflagration in which there can be no winners. At the same time, we as a Union must unite and unite to strengthen our position, both economically and geopolitically. We have to assert our interests, if necessary with tough economic and political bandages. Showing strength together, developing partnerships and ensuring sovereignty – for example, by implementing raw material supply issues with reliable partners for a common benefit. This must be Europe's triad.

The minutes of today's and yesterday's sittings will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the beginning of the next sitting. If there are no objections, I will forward the resolution adopted at today's sitting to the persons and bodies referred to in that resolution.

I have noted the facts you have raised. Yesterday in the debate, however, these expressions have already fallen, and this has not been criticised in the presence of your Group President. I assume that the President has also reserved this for discussion in the Bureau, and that is how we will go about it.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the European Citizens' Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment’ (2023/2550(RSP)).

Following the resignation of Mr Eric Andrieu and on a proposal from the Committee on Legal Affairs, Parliament determines, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the vacancy of its seat with effect from 2 June 2023 and will inform the national authorities concerned thereof.

The President received the Council's position at first reading, including the reasons why it adopted that position. The Commission's views and opinions have also been received. The full title will be announced in the minutes of this meeting. The three-month period for Parliament to express its views thus starts tomorrow, 17 March 2023.

Madam President, Mr President! Do we want to be and remain competitive? But if we continue as before, it will be difficult. Chips Act, Critical Raw Materials Act, Data Act – yes, this is going in the right direction to strengthen our sovereignty and competitiveness, but if our middle class is strangled, if it can no longer breathe, the best legislative proposals will do nothing. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy. To keep it that way, we need to reduce financial and innovation barriers. It is therefore about innovation and planning security and not about extracting more and more subsidies and more and more bans. The bureaucracy must be massively reduced. I am grateful to be told now that the Commission wants to abolish 25%. The level of the new bureaucracy alone is rising with each passing day. If you just manage twice as much as you create a new one yourself, then we might come out at 50%. Bureaucracy costs time and money, time and money that cannot be invested in innovation. Encouraging instead of burdening – that is what is required. I am grateful, Charles Michel, for this triad: Investment, innovation, trade. Please, put on it: Small and medium-sized enterprises and cutting red tape – this must be the European pentathlon. This is how we generate competitiveness, but above all prosperity for people in this country.

The next meeting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 15 March 2023 at 9 a.m. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Željana Zovko, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on EU-Azerbaijan relations (2021/2231(INI)) (A9-0037/2023).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Andrey Kovatchev, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on EU-Armenia relations (2021/2230(INI)) (A9-0036/2023).

Mr President! The European Union and Israel share a deep friendship. But friendship also means addressing worrying developments – and I am concerned. I am concerned about the new spiral of violence in the Palestinian territories. I am concerned about the planned judicial reform of the new Israeli government, which could lead to the end of the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. But the demonstrations in Israel and President Herzog's statement also show that Israel is a vibrant, defensive democracy that is struggling for better solutions. We as the European Parliament, as a democratic partner, should offer and support ourselves as a trusting partner. Being in discourse with one another, expressing oneself openly, especially as a friend, I see as more constructive than the usual blame game Both sides. I am building on courageous politicians in government and opposition who are able both to achieve social consensus in Israel and later to overcome the violence in the Palestinian territories, as it were in the continuation of the Abraham Accords.

The next meeting will take place tomorrow, Thursday 16 February 2023. We start at 8.30 a.m., so not only at 9 a.m., but at 8.30 a.m. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.