Speeches

Before we continue, I have an announcement to make. Obviously we have a technical problem with the catch-the—eye procedure at your places. So if you wish to request the floor for catch-the-eye, just raise your hand and we will take your names.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on "90 years after Holodomor: Recognition of mass starvation as genocide’ (2022/3001(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (2022/3000(RSP)).

Mr President! A discussion on the Middle East peace process is overdue. It must not get out of our sight despite the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It is urgently needed because a two-state solution is more difficult than ever. One thing is absolutely clear: Only with serious efforts by the parties to the conflict themselves, only with a desire for fair, peaceful conflict resolution will peace be possible in the region. On both sides, a clear commitment, political leadership and concrete action are needed for a two-state solution. We in the European Parliament, too, must move away from deadlocked confrontations towards a balanced, constructive role for the European Union. As a continent of reconciliation, the EU can contribute from its history to finding a comprehensive, lasting and peaceful solution. Breaking the vicious circle of violence, counter-violence and hatred is crucial. We must act consistently against terror and glorification of violence and break through the inheritance of physical and structural violence from generation to generation. The key to this is the education system. Let us support civil society to work for peace, for human rights, for an education system that promotes mutual respect and tolerance. It is disappointing that this resolution does not do justice to this.

I am really sorry for our esteemed visitors but there is now going to be a break until voting time at 12.00. Perhaps you can take a coffee in the meantime ... (The sitting was suspended at 11.35).

Mrs Chabaud, I'm sorry, but it's not possible because you've spoken before. Ah, it is marked as an on-demand intervention, but it is actually a blue card intervention. Who is it for? (Non-microresponse in the Chamber) We can take the blue card intervention if it is accepted, but later, after the on-demand interventions, okay?

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen. Putin is escalating violence. We are daily witnesses of a perfidious drone war against women, children, the elderly – in short: against life. This makes us even more determined in supporting Ukraine. We must be equally determined in our own resilience and in protecting our people. The joint purchase of gas – obvious to push prices down, discussed for too long – must finally be implemented. It is an important building block of European strength. Only: 15% are far too little, that would at best be an energy-political gymnastics exercise, there is no time for that. We immediately need a powerful purchase, well over 50%. In order for us to play Putin on the wall, it says: Not spilling, but spilling. Clogging, however, does not mean artificially setting prices yourself. Then the gas is simply sold elsewhere than in Europe. Heads of state and government can confidently ignore this proposal tomorrow – it hurts rather than helps. We create real relief if we maintain the market without passing on the pressure to people and companies. So, no to a Brussels gas price cap and yes to a temporary gas price brake.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Energy, nutrition are the soil of social peace – and this is fragile everywhere. People are extremely insecure. They are concerned about increases in energy prices, food prices, and that the inflationary spiral is continuing. This is a situation Putin is creating to fuel fears and undermine cohesion. And it is all the more important that we do not just allow this to happen, that we not only talk but act in a united way, that we quickly lower prices and fight inflation with a common plan. We are increasing energy production in Europe, and therefore the German decision to continue operating the nuclear power plants is important. We buy more together from reliable partners. We are expanding renewable energies faster and further developing future energies. We save energy, we fight inflation through structural measures. We relieve the burden on citizens and businesses until all measures are taken safely – from electricity price and gas price brakes to cutting red tape. It doesn't work at the push of a button, but we're moving forward. And now it is important to persevere, to maintain our cohesion with confidence. This proves our democracy towards the aggressor Putin and our unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Tom Berendsen, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, on the implementation of the updated New Industrial Strategy for Europe: Adjustment of expenditure to policy (2022/2008(INI)) (A9-0214/2022).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Rainer Wieland and Charles Goerens, on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (recast) (COM(2021)0734 – C9-0432/2021 – 2021/0375(COD)) (A9-0223/2022).

Before we enter the agenda, I have another announcement to make. The President received from the Council its position at first reading on the application of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny, including the reasons for adopting that position. The Commission's positions and opinions have also been received. The title will be announced in the minutes of this meeting. The three-month period for Parliament to submit its observations thus starts tomorrow, 16 September 2022.

Dear Presidents! The situation of the Union could hardly be more tense. Putin is waging war, including an energy war, against all of Europe. Now it says: Clever and closed against it, otherwise Europe threatens to slip into a winter of rage. Every source of energy now helps prevent insolvencies and social upheavals. We need all the available capacity. Now to make an arc around nuclear power plants is measured and unrealistic. Energy must not only be available, it must also remain affordable, across society. Countering market distortions in this crisis is right, but, Mrs von der Leyen, the EU Commission cannot and will not get a carte blanche to intervene permanently in the single market. This would not be an emergency economy, but a planned economy. Europe must now rely on a temporary electricity price brake, European purchasing, networked infrastructure and strategically new energies such as fusion energy. A future-rich Europe also needs completely different energies: Energy for reforms, a reform of fiscal rules – finally streamlining again without building up new mountains of debt – reforms also for the EU. And that, Madam President of the Commission, was your promise today. Now it's up to you to redeem it. We are waiting for concrete steps with a constitutional convention to make Europe fit again, not just for this winter.

Madam President, continued military actions, occupying international waters in the Taiwan Strait and jeopardising freedom of navigation. These are just some recent examples of China playing hardball in order to install a ‘new normal’ under our eyes. At Taiwan’s cost! At our cost! At the cost of international security! However, we will not buy into this Chinese ‘new normal’. We will not witness a 24th February in Asia! Europe will not shy back. Taiwan will not shy back. Europe will not allow China to change the status quo, to keep threatening Taiwan’s democracy, to keep pushing the line. Taiwan is our democratic ally, our democratic friend – and I could have a really deep impression of that when I was recently visiting Taiwan. As such, the European Parliament makes it its ambition to institutionalise mutual bilateral visits to promote a bilateral investment agreement to intensify relations at eye level. This House will fight for a Taiwanese ‘new normal’ in relation with Europe and in relation to the international democratic world.

The meeting is closed and will resume tomorrow, Thursday 7 July 2022 at 9 a.m. with the Commission statement on the recent heat wave and drought in the EU (2022/2746(RSP)). The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.