Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Polish women are proud, conscious and courageous women who know their rights well. Politicians who thought that the ban on abortion would shut their mouths showed not only naivety, but also something much more dangerous – a lack of trust in their own citizens. By choosing the right of Poles to decide for themselves, they also deprived them of their subjectivity. Laws restricting or criminalizing abortion do not eliminate it, they do not make it suddenly disappear. On the contrary, it escapes only from the radar of the health service. Where to? We all know exactly: underground, abroad. Unfortunately, the judgment of the discredited Constitutional Tribunal, which is detrimental to women, pushed Poland to the group of countries with the most restrictive abortion law. It is time for us to give the Poles what has been taken away from them - the opportunity to decide for ourselves. A woman does not need permission or political consent to know what is best for her, what is best for her health, life and future. It should have the right to the final decision, and the role of the state is to ensure that it can make its choice without fear and unnecessary obstacles. Our current government – the most pro-woman government in years – is working to create a support system that includes not only legal abortion in justified cases, but also widely available psychological, medical and social support for every woman. Finally, to all those who have doubts about which side to take, I will say one thing: Don't compute, don't calculate, have the courage to stand on the right side.

The next item is the debate on the recommendation for second reading on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism on the implementation of the Single European Sky (recast) (08311/1/2024 - C10-0114/2024 - 2013/0186(COD)) (rapporteurs: Jens Gieseke and Johan Danielsson) (A10-0010/2024).

The next item is Parliament's statement on strengthening the Single Market for a sustainable future and prosperity for all EU citizens (2024/2886(RSP)).

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Today, it is impossible to talk about a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health without paying attention to the youngest generation of Europeans. The statistics are staggering: 19% of boys and 15% of teenage girls suffer from mental disorders. The saddest manifestation of this is the increasing number of suicides and suicide attempts among children and adolescents. What is frightening is that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in the European Union. This is the result of a lack of access to the necessary professional services and adult support at the right time. We're talking about strategy, and I'm asking, what can we do here and now? The key word in this debate should be time. As a doctor, I say: This time is of particular importance. Perhaps it is worth supporting non-governmental organizations in their activities, which are often ahead of governments in their actions? How can we support their activity? The future of the next generations in the European Union depends on how we organise ourselves today, how we react today. Commissioner, we have the knowledge, we have the tools to prevent a tragic pandemic, for which unfortunately no one will find a vaccine.

The next item is the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the Outcome of the Summit of the Future: Transforming global governance for peace-building, promoting human rights and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals’ (2024/2823(RSP)).

The next sitting will be tomorrow, Wednesday 18 September 2024, at 10 a.m. 9.00. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.

The next item is the Commission statement on the outcome of the G20 ministerial meeting in Rio de Janeiro and the fight against inequality (2024/2811(RSP)).

I have received seven motions for resolutions tabled in accordance with Rule 136(1) of the Rules of Procedure. 2 of the Rules. I close the debate. The vote will take place on Thursday 19 September 2024.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 12 March 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. 9.00. The agenda has been published and is available on the website of the European Parliament.

Thank you very much, Honourable Member. Mr. Barry Andrews was the last to speak, but I don't see him in the room. Therefore, these are all notifications.

The next item is the Council and Commission statements on the urgent need to adopt a Council decision amending the protection status of the wolf in the Berne Convention (2024/2602(RSP)). Please give the floor to the Commissioner. Unfortunately, we do not have a representative of the Council, even though an invitation was issued. Commissioner Kadri Simson will speak on behalf of the Commission.

The next item is the report by Kim Van Sparrentak, on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the collection and sharing of data on short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (COM(2022)0571 - C9-0371/2022 - 2022/0358(COD)) (A9-0270/2023).

The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the new wave of mass arrests of opposition activists and their family members in Belarus (2024/2550(RSP)).

We return to the debate on the report by José Gusmão, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the implementation of the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 (2023/2082(INI)) (A9-0030/2024).

The next item is the report by José Gusmão, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the implementation of the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 (2023/2082(INI)) (A9-0030/2024).