Speeches

Mr President, I really wanted to ask a question, but before that, I would like to thank the colleagues and colleagues who have been committed to this directive and this proposal that we are discussing here today, and I would also like to thank the Commissioner. This path that we have taken and that has allowed us to get here has to do with the struggle of feminists to reduce the pay gap between men and women. What we have just heard is the situation in a country. The European Parliament does not legislate for a Member State, it legislates for the European Union. And my question is whether she is comfortable with the 13% gender pay gap on average in the European Union.

Madam President, dear Vice-President, I would like to begin by welcoming the ratification by the European Council of the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council on the revision of the rules of economic governance. We are now waiting for the Commission to come forward with the necessary legislative initiatives. The European Parliament has been waiting for them for a long time. One thing is certain: we want net zero industry. We need to invest in strategic sectors without affecting cohesion objectives. We need stable supply chains for the climate and digital transitions. We must strengthen the European Union's strategic autonomy. The proposals that the Commission is preparing to put forward for the revision of the economic governance rules must create a favourable environment and the necessary fiscal and investment capacity of the Member States and the European Union so that we can achieve these objectives and not become blockers themselves of these key political priorities for the future of the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Tunisian President's reforms are calling into question the independence of the judiciary, workers' rights, freedom of expression and association. The arrest of journalist Noureddine Boutar or the expulsion of trade unionist Esther Lynch are examples of this. Civil society, the press, trade unions are vital in democratic societies. The recent statements by President Saied, holding immigrants accountable for violence and crimes, have lit a fuse in a country experiencing deep social instability and a serious economic situation. Yes, they are racist and disgusting statements. This resolution requires the Tunisian authorities to respect fundamental rights and the rule of law, and requires the Commission and the Council to denounce what is happening in the country. Calls for EU aid to be channelled only to civil society. Tunisia is too important an actor in the Mediterranean region, but we must ensure that citizens live in democracy and the rule of law.

Madam President, Mr Michel, Mr Šefčovič, today the European Union has a temporary budgetary instrument, NextGenerationEU, to support reforms and investments by Member States. The International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and the European Fiscal Board ask the European Commission, suggest the creation of a permanent fiscal capacity. My question to the Commission is as follows: To what extent, following yesterday's debate in ECOFIN and the debate at next week's European Council, is the European Commission prepared in its legislative proposals to revise the fiscal rules of economic governance to propose the creation of a permanent fiscal capacity in the European Union?

Mr President, I would like to put a question to the speaker. Two weeks ago, I was in Moldova on a mission from the Committee on Budgets, and we had the opportunity to discuss with the Moldovan government the steps that the country is taking to become a rule of law, with the independence of the different powers, including the reform of the judiciary, and a number of steps are being taken towards Moldova's integration into the acquis communautaire by the end of the year. My question is this: How do you see the support for Moldova, particularly on the side of the EU budget?

Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, in this debate it should be remembered that we are concerned about the rules of economic governance. We await the compromise today at ECOFIN and the compromise at the next European Council. But above all, we look forward to the Commission's legislative initiatives for the revision of the Regulation on the European Semester and on the Stability and Growth Pact. Time is scarce. We have commitments to Europeans: making the green and digital transitions, delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Porto Commitment. None of them will be made with austerity policies that we reject. We have learned the lessons of the past and we cannot, as happened with the financial crisis, four years after the beginning of the crisis, move from the investment recommendation - NextGenerationEU is there for that - to the recommendation of austerity policies. But we are also learning the positive lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility or SURE. Madam Minister, Commissioner, we must be able to find the necessary convergences that best serve citizens and economies. Parliament has been working on this.

Madam President, Commissioner McGuinness, President Lagarde, the first call of this report is the need for greater and real coordination between monetary policy and fiscal policy. This coordination was crucial in the COVID-19 crisis. In the current crisis, there is a lack of coordination. As the European Commission pointed out this week, the effects of the ECB's policy of raising interest rates are already visible. Financing costs are rising rapidly for households, businesses and Member States. Credit is shrinking dramatically, first for households and, more recently, for businesses. The number of cases of families that have seen their incomes reduced and are no longer able to pay their housing loans is worrying, with unpredictable implications. Inflation has been falling slightly, but mainly via lower energy prices. We need coordinated and balanced responses to fight inflation, but we also need coordinated responses to support growth, jobs and strategic investments. And this brings me to a second call in this report for the ECB to act, in line with the Treaties, also more actively in fulfilling its secondary mandate and to support the general policies of the Union. This is an urgent need, first of all, in the fight against climate change. In the report, we also highlight the urgency of completing the banking union with a European deposit insurance; assessing the impact and effectiveness of recent interest rate hikes; analysis and action on excessive bank profits; the importance of the European Pillar of Social Rights and SMEs; the need to move forward on the digital euro and monitor cryptocurrencies; and the promotion of gender equality at the ECB. President Lagarde – and I will finish – we are aware of the unprecedented challenges that the current inflation crisis poses to monetary policy. To face it we need an independent ECB, but we also need an ECB that is more predictable in its decisions and more cooperative with the other European institutions and with the Member States.

Madam President, I would like to raise two points at the end of this debate and we hope that this road map will indeed be a path to political decision-making. And the two points I would like to raise are the following: Firstly, the recent experiences in migration policy, immigration policy, refugee policy, after the war in Ukraine, are the learnings that we have to do and they are important learnings that must be decisive in the future immigration policy of the European Union. The second point has to do with non-use, and our position is very clear: European money, the budget of the European Union, must be used to promote European values and not against European values. That is why we completely reject the use of European money, of the European budget, for the construction of walls.

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, at the end of January, in the second round of the Tunisian parliamentary elections, 90% of the voters did not vote. A record abstention in the country that, 12 years ago, was the birthplace of the Arab Springs. But what may seem like a paradox actually has an explanation: Tunisians no longer believe in the country. The dissolution of the government and parliament by the president, under the pretext of fighting corruption, and the holding of a referendum that amended the constitution to concentrate power on the president have thrown the country into a deep political crisis. Political parties are no longer strong. Civil society is not heard. Tunisians say the new parliament lacks independence and legitimacy. There is no freedom of expression. The political crisis is compounded by an economy in progressive decline and rising inflation. The European Union is Tunisia's main trading partner. It is a major beneficiary of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the Erasmus+ programme, macro-financial assistance operations. Tunisia is too important an actor in the Mediterranean region. The people of Tunisia and civil society must have the support of the European Union to ensure democratic life and the rule of law in this country.

Mr President, I should like to begin by thanking the rapporteurs for bringing this issue here. This must be on the permanent European political agenda, because violence against women is also a permanent issue in many women's lives. I thank Commissioner Dalli. I am sure you will always have the support of this Parliament. We are talking about a Convention adopted in 2011. Its ratification by the European Union has been the Commission, after the Commission, in the respective action plans. It is included in the 2020-2025 priorities for Gender Equality. I take the view of the Court of Justice: Women's rights are human rights. The defence and promotion of human rights is a task for everyone, in all its dimensions. The European Union cannot delay its accession to the Istanbul Convention and remain hostage to positions of Member States, unacceptable positions in the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, Russia's invasion of Ukraine requires support for Ukraine, but it also requires measures to limit the economic and social consequences of the war in the European Union. Firstly, to combat energy poverty. These are two fronts of the same problem. RePowerEU is the Union’s energy response to citizens and businesses. It must be a key tool to build European energy autonomy and promote and consolidate the internal energy market by supporting coordinated planning and financing of cross-border infrastructure and projects, supporting projects and reforms in energy markets, as well as removing fossil fuels, replacing them with renewables and green energy. To transform, to empower, we need European investment, alongside other European policies, without supporting or stifling them by reducing their funding, such as cohesion policy. I will end by thanking colleagues Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Siegfried Mureşan and Dragoş Pîslaru for their work.

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, on the Economy item on the agenda of the European Council: the creation of a sovereign wealth fund is one of the pillars of the new industrial plan for the Green Deal. It will have to meet two objectives: firstly, to support the strategic autonomy of the European Union and a green European industrial policy, secondly, to ensure that the new State aid rules guarantee a level playing field in the functioning of the internal market, avoiding its fragmentation, as is the case with the recent suspension of those rules. And all this, in compliance with the rules of the World Trade Organization. We need a new fund, as we did with the creation of NextGenerationEU or SURE. Mobilising theoretically available funds is not enough. Yes, the European Union must strengthen its economic, industrial and technological base, it must strengthen people's skills, it must deepen its trade agenda.

Mr President, President, Commissioner, the Global Gateway initiative opens up opportunities that Europe must seize. It is an opportunity to turn development support into real “Investment for Development”. In other words, focus on key sectors for the future that will accelerate the inclusive digital and climate transition, raise the level of education and innovation, expand excellence in transport or health, in the acceding countries, but also at a global level. It is an opportunity to strengthen and explore new forms of funding in the European Union. The budget of the European Union, of the Member States, of the private sector, acting together, can give us more options to finance political priorities, such as a new European industrial policy that we talk about so much, decisive for the strategic autonomy of the European Union. It is an opportunity to strengthen the presence of European companies in markets outside the European Union, boosting their growth on a global scale, based on local partnerships that allow us to mobilise local entrepreneurs, develop new markets, for the benefit of economies and for the benefit of citizens. It is an opportunity to build greater trust and security in our partners, leading to more sustainable, stable and long-term investments. Global Gateway is thus an opportunity to share political, social, environmental priorities, values such as democracy, transparency, accountability, social rights. But we're not the only ones. We have competitors like China, the United States or the United Kingdom. Finally, Global Gateway needs ambition to move from “opportunity” to delivery and results.

Madam President, President of the European Council, Vice-President of the Commission, the European Council underlined the importance, in the current global context, of an ambitious European industrial policy to adapt the European economy to the green and digital transitions and reduce strategic dependencies. For when the European Commission's proposal for the creation of an investment fund, the sovereignty fund, what can support this European industrial policy? At the end of last year, Portugal, Spain and France jointly committed to a programme for the full integration of these three countries into the internal energy market. I would like to call on the Commission to do everything in its power to ensure that this agreement is complied with, that the necessary funding is made available in good time and that the timetable is respected. Indeed, it is an important tool for the green transition, for building energy autonomy, for building the energy union.

Madam President, Commissioner, valuing the multilateral dimension in the European Union's foreign policy necessarily includes Latin America as a natural partner, as a strategic partner. Portugal and also Spain, and since their accession, from their bilateral relations, have contributed significantly to the strengthening of this relationship. I must remind you that the first EU-Brazil Summit was held during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council in 2007 with President Lula. We have, among others, three key instruments in this relationship: the EU-Chile, EU-Mexico, EU-Mercosur agreements. Today we have a favourable political context on the other side of the Atlantic. We share the same values. We must not waste this opportunity. We must do what is necessary for the swift finalisation of the agreements, so that 2023 is indeed the year of Latin America.

Madam President, Prime Minister, Vice-President Šefčovič, the review of the European Union's economic governance rules and the debate on new own resources to finance common challenges at European level are two important points on the European agenda this semester. In economic governance: we need the Presidency to reach an agreement in the Council, so that legislative proposals arrive and Parliament assumes its role as co-legislator. Member States need clear, simple, transparent and balanced rules in due time to be able to prepare their 2024 State Budgets and know the intentions of the European institutions on the activation/deactivation of the escape clause. In the new own resources: on them depends the respect of commitments such as NextGenerationEU, and also the level of ambition of the European Union. For example, it is not enough to talk about strategic autonomy, we must build it and finance it. On these two points, we expect from the Swedish Presidency a sense of urgency.

Madam President, at the end of this debate, it is clear that we need a revised MFF, we need to protect cohesion policy and we need a permanent instrument within the European Union budget. And we ask the Commission, when preparing the revised proposal for the MFF 2021-2027, to take into account the political lines set out in this resolution and which are Parliament’s requests. I conclude this debate by thanking Jan Olbrycht, who prepared this report with me. Jan, it's a pleasure to work with you! I thank the shadow rapporteurs who helped to make this report ambitious and forward-looking, Valérie Hayer, Rasmus Andresen, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, the sectoral rapporteurs from the different committees, because they too had a say, the secretariat of the Committee on Budgets and our teams for the long hours and quality work. Thank you! Let us make the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework work for the European Union and its citizens.

Madam President, President, Commissioner, two years after its entry into force, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 in the pillar of centralised management has been brought to the limit of its budgetary availability. And this, alongside NextGenerationEU, which has also been able to react to the economic and social effects of the pandemic. Unexpected challenges have hit the EU budget: supporting Ukraine in its different dimensions, supporting people and businesses to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the war, the impact of energy, food prices or the effect of rising inflation. It worked, the principle of flexibility has worked, but we have already realized that the use of flexibility is insufficient. I note here the strength and political will of the European Parliament, as the budgetary authority, taking decisions in record time so that Europeans have the necessary support from the European Union. From vaccines to supporting Ukrainian refugees, or supporting funding of €18 billion for the functioning of the Ukrainian state, so that it can ensure minimum services to citizens. It is now clear that the architecture of the Multiannual Financial Framework is not adjusted to the pressure to which it is subject, nor to the current macroeconomic timetable. The current MFF, as it stands, is not equipped to finance emerging policies such as the climate transition and respect for the Paris Agreement, increased defence cooperation, the creation of a sovereign fund for strengthening the European Union’s strategic autonomy, building energy autonomy, where REPowerEU has to become a key instrument, the implementation of the Chips Act, the Social Climate Fund, which should instead be within the European Union budget. That is why we need a revised multiannual financial framework. So we need to move from one-off solutions to structural solutions in the budget architecture. On the revenue side, we need the new own resources agreed in 2020 to enter the Union budget within the agreed timetable. In order for the Union budget to be able to react quickly to crises and their social and economic effects, we propose the creation of a permanent instrument that can be activated when necessary. We therefore need the Commission to propose a permanent instrument within the MFF and we hope, Commissioner, that this will be your legacy for the future of the Union budget. Commissioner HAHN, the European Parliament no longer wants to see the creation of financial instruments outside the EU budget, in which Parliament has seen its power of budgetary authority reduced. This created the European Stability Mechanism in 2012 and, outside the Community framework and more recently, NextGenerationEU. Enough with Article 122! Nor do we want funding outside the Union budget, through external resources, we want more transparency, more democratic accountability. Nor do we want cohesion policy to be continuously used as a crisis response mechanism, as it had to be now, and rightly so, because there was no other solution to compensate for the shortcomings in budgetary flexibility. No, no! Cohesion policy is not a crisis instrument, it is the European Union's investment policy and must remain so. Commissioner HAHN, as always, will have full support from the European Parliament to make the European Union budget more effective and more effective in sustaining the political ambition of the European Union.

Madam President, I would like to congratulate the Council on the late agreement two days ago. They have overstepped Hungary's veto, we can now approve the global rate and move forward with support for Ukraine by EUR 18 billion. They made the rule of law conditionality work, forcing Hungary to reform, freezing European funding for Hungary. Congratulations, Presidency. However, we cannot remain hostage to the veto and we must be vigilant about how this package is implemented. It is good to see the point of energy interconnections on the agenda and, here, I highlight the Portugal-Spain-France agreement, which is so important for ending the Iberian island, so important for promoting and deepening the internal energy market and the energy union.

Madam President, Commissioner, the EU-ASEAN Summit must be a time to deepen cooperation region by region and to expand trade relations with ASEAN nations by diversifying supply chains, which is good for both blocs. ASEAN is also a strategic partner for strengthening the European Union’s strategic autonomy in a multilateral framework. This summit is the time to move from words to deeds, but it must also be an opportunity not to be missed in promoting common and universal values to the governments of the region. We encourage the creation of a legal and political framework to respect social, labour and environmental rights and to foster support for civil society organisations in the region, counteracting the shrinking civic space in several ASEAN countries. We encourage the end of laws that limit rights such as freedom of association and assembly. Above all, this summit must result in the strengthening of relations between the European Union and the ASEAN region and its member countries.

Mr President, Commissioner, 80% of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip depend on humanitarian aid. More than half live in poverty and without medical care. 80% of young people are unemployed. There are 47,000 Palestinian political prisoners. Israeli attacks continue in the occupied territories. Civilians are still being killed. These numbers are shocking, of course, they are shocking. Behind these numbers are people. The strengthening of the influence of the far right in power in Israel has exacerbated the conflict, which increases the demand of the European Union. That is why this resolution is important. Because he insists that the two-state solution is the only possible solution to peace. He called for an international peace conference. Because it advocates stepping up European funding to stimulate economic recovery, help rebuild infrastructure and support civil society. Because it demands an end to illegal settlements and demands that Palestinian NGOs cease to be considered terrorists. A solution to the conflict must be found and the European Union must be part of it.

Madam President, I would like to bring here, to continue, what my colleague João Albuquerque has already raised here: the European Year of Youth. The European years are years of commitment and it is commitment that we have to talk about. And the young Portuguese asked for the four commitments that my colleague João Albuquerque spoke about, but they also ask: investing in energy independence through renewable energy; promote the retraining of those who lose their jobs due to the digital transition; cleaning up the oceans; the protection of biodiversity; the ratification by the European Union of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and a European strategy on mental health. These are commitments, commitments that young Portuguese people make to the European institutions, and we, as the European Parliament, must take these commitments into account. Because the European years will only be a success if we actually commit to the ideas, to the projects, that are shared in the debate throughout the European Year.

Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, today we are ready to discuss, as a matter of urgency, the financial support package for Ukraine already for 2023, one month before the beginning of the year... This financial support is overcoming two usual "tabus" in these cases: the amendment to the Multiannual Financial Framework and the debt contraction on behalf of the Union. This package involves an amendment to the MFF Regulation! Decision requiring unanimity in the Council and the consent of the European Parliament. What is the proven proof of the saying "if there is a will there is a way’. It is this amendment to the MFF Regulation that will allow the Commission to lend Ukraine, also through a new macro-financial assistance agreement, the MFA PLUS, EUR 18 billion in 2023. Exactly the same way as it already lends to the Member States of the European Union. And this is only possible because before we beat the taboo and created an instrument, the Fund. NextGenerationEU, anchored in the budget of the European Union. With this new MFA PLUS, we remain fully committed to Ukraine's long-term stability, including financial stability. This MFA PLUS will enable the continuation of public services and help with reconstruction and infrastructure projects, but it also serves to drive democratic reforms. It is therefore essential to ensure democratic control by the European Parliament. Finally, Commissioner, let me conclude that this amendment to the MFF underlines, more than ever, the obvious need to revise the MFF 21-27 already next year. We need a revised, stronger, more agile European Union budget and we need a permanent instrument to enable us to respond to crises, as we are doing now. And we can do it, as I said, just because there is the NextGenerationEU.

Madam President, Libya is today a deeply divided country with enormous political, social and economic instability. It is a country under enormous pressure from citizens trying to reach Europe. But Libya is also a key player in the Mediterranean, because of its size, geographical position, its assets. My colleague Giuliano Pisapia's own-initiative report is therefore entirely relevant and timely. We have worked, with the support of the United Nations, for the Libyan authorities to carry out a genuine process of national reconciliation that allows for stability and security. But we cannot stop humanitarian aid. The situation of migrants and refugees arbitrarily detained in Libya shocks us in the name of dignity and respect for human rights. In the 2023 budget we achieved a reinforcement of €70 million for the Southern Partnership and mobility in the region is a priority. New measures have been announced by the European Commission: the reform of the asylum and protection system in the European Union. These measures, if they go in the right direction, will certainly contribute to stabilising the political process in the region and in the country.

Mr President, in the proposal for the revision of the multiannual financial framework, in the own-initiative report that the European Parliament has already adopted in the Committee on Budgets, we propose the creation of a fund for sovereignty, for the strategic sovereignty of the European Union, an idea that President von der Leyen has already defended here in her State of the Union speech. Would you like to know how open the Commission is to support the establishment of this fund, which will necessarily be a key instrument for supporting investment in the European Union?