Speeches

The next item on the agenda is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the situation in the Autonomous Province of Nagorno-Badakhshan in Tajikistan (2022/2753(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the situation of indigenous rights defenders and environmentalists in Brazil, including the murder of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira (2022/2752(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on five motions for resolutions on the arrest of Cardinal Zen and the Trustee of the 612 Aid Fund in Hong Kong (2022/2751(RSP)).

Yes, but you are careful. If there are things which are not proven, they cannot be mentioned against one of the colleagues. So we continue with colleague Rookmaker.

Please, you know me: the first round of speakers for all the group is a little more flexible, but if we do it for everybody, then we will be out. We will stick to the time please in the second round. If you are in the first round, no problem, but if you are not in the first round, then we stick to the time. I think this shows respect to the other speakers.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Katalin Cseh, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on the protection of the European Union's financial interests - Fight against fraud - Annual Report 2020 (2021/2234(INI)) (A9-0175/2022).

Madam President, Mr. Prime Minister, he couldn't be more fitting, the moment of surrender. With the Czech Republic, the European Union is in good hands, the future of the European Union is in good hands. Czechia stands for EU enlargement, Prague knows how to mediate between East and West, can use crises to create opportunities, strengthen resilience. The Eastern Partnership, for example, bears Czech handwriting. Prague launched it during the last Presidency in 2009, thus opening the door to dialogue between the EU and, among others, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and also, ladies and gentlemen, Ukraine. This courage and foresight, Mr Prime Minister, is needed by the EU, which needs to reposition itself – externally, keyword common energy policy, less dependencies, in short: geopolitical, but also internally, in its own engine room. We need to be able to make decisions faster and better in order to have global weight. And these reforms for the EU itself, they cannot wait. The Czech Republic should not slow down. ‘Rethink, rebuild, repower“ shall also apply to the establishment of the European Union. Here, the Czech Republic must be the driving force that the EU needs now. I ask you to really take care of it.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Helmut Scholz, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade, on the future of EU-Africa trade relations (2021/2178(INI)) (A9-0169/2022).

Sorry, colleague, but you can use catch-the-eye if you want to speak, but for the moment we listen to the Commissioner. You have the possibility, just use your catch-the-eye. Please stop. Thank you. Mr Commissioner, please continue.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Tonino Picula, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the 2021 Commission report on Montenegro (2021/2247(INI)) (A9-0151/2022).

Mr President! I prefer a belated Secretary of State with ambitions to improve Europe rather than a punctual snoring nose. Because now is the time to move forward with a convention. Europe's constitution is tense, not only since Putin's war, Mr Simon! And Chancellor Merkel in particular has slept for 16 years to make the EU more ambitious and capable of acting. We are already continuing on this path of reform with the citizens. They are now counting on us to implement the common reform demands, to make, not only to talk, to understand our craft, to create majorities, to get the Council behind us, to write the next chapter of the European reform path. And the signs, they are favorable this time. The German government promises reforms in the coalition agreement, the French president gives tailwind, yesterday the Irish Taoiseach here in plenary campaigned for it. Now, Mr Simon, it is time to use this momentum for a Europe with new determination and decision-making capacity. Now we must stick to making Europe's reform a top priority at this July summit under the French Presidency of the Council. We owe this to all Europeans. Let's not disappoint them, let's make Europe better! We only have one Europe.

The meeting closed and resumed tomorrow, Wednesday 8 June 2022, at 9 a.m. with the exchange of views on "What makes Europe" with the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin (2022/2699(RSP)). I would like to ask for appropriate attention and presence. 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 Witold Jan Waszczykowski, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy (2021/2199(INI)) (A9-0168/2022).

The meeting resumed tomorrow, Thursday 19 May 2022, at 8.30 a.m. with the debate on the oral questions related to the European Education Area. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.