Speeches

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Minister, I begin with a greeting to all the rapporteurs of this 'Fit for 55' package. It cannot be the most vulnerable, those already suffering from energy poverty, who pay for the climate transition. We have ambitious climate goals, and we have to have them, but we need to promote social justice here too. That is why the Social Fund for Climate Action is needed. But this is a new expenditure in the European Union budget, and new expenditure means new money. It cannot be created at the expense of European programmes or policies, in particular cohesion policy. It must respect the democratic principles of the EU budget: transparency, universality, democratic control by the European Parliament. The Committee on Budgets proposes an adjustment mechanism in the event of a carbon market development that benefits citizens and Member States.

Mr President, President, Commission, I should like to begin by congratulating the rapporteur. Today, as always, the European Union needs allies to address challenges in the area of security, countering disinformation, foreign interference, protecting critical infrastructure, securing supply chains, tackling climate change, ocean governance and preserving the planet’s biodiversity. Challenges affecting both the European Union and the Indo-Pacific and requiring strong cooperation guided by European values. The European Union must step up its commitment to human security, the eradication of poverty, social injustice and human rights violations. It is essential that the European Union enhances security cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region, recognising the diversity of the region, i.e. a one-size-fits-all approach would not be the appropriate strategy.

Mr President, I recognise the European Commission's effort to present this REPowerEU. It is necessary and it is the moment. But REPowerEU is revolutionising, it is the appropriate expression, several key European instruments, in particular the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. That is why we demand from the European Commission the necessary, clear and transparent proposals that safeguard European policies, priorities and defined objectives. First, the revision of the 2021-2027 MFF. And we want an in-depth debate on REPowerEU in this Parliament. We can adjust European priorities. We cannot support well-defined policy objectives. And one thing is certain, under no circumstances will we accept the downgrading of the role of the European Parliament, particularly as a budgetary authority.

Mr President, the implementation in the European Union of the OECD Global Agreement is not only historic but also a huge responsibility. Historical because it paves the way for a global solution and greater tax justice. Historical because it is an important step to reduce the €190 billion a year that the European Union loses in evasion and aggressive tax planning. A sum that we would give to finance the NextGenerationEU every four years. But it is also a responsibility to continue to provide the European Union with new own resources, which are essential to finance the common investments needed to meet the challenges. Without the creation of new own resources, debt financing and repayment of instruments such as the Next Generation EU or others needed now or in the future, e.g. as a result of the war in Ukraine, could put enormous pressure on European budgets and lead to an unsustainable increase in national contributions or cuts in European policies.

Madam President, Commissioner, I once again congratulate the European Commission and, in particular, Commissioner Reynders on this report which is making its way. The debate on the rule of law in the Union is of enormous importance, but it is more relevant today. I quote one case: The European Commission is preparing to approve the Polish recovery and resilience plan and submit it to the Council. Parliament has not let down its arms and will not fail to demand that Poland comply with the principles of the rule of law. This is also required of all Member States, namely the primacy of Community legislation and the separation of powers. We recognise the efforts of the Polish people in welcoming Ukrainian refugees, but it is unacceptable that today, in Poland, the legislation prohibits Polish courts from directly applying EU law, judicial independence is not yet safeguarded, there is no independence of the Central Anti-Corruption Office. This Parliament was very clear: Recourse to European funds requires respect for European values.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Minister, in the European response to the COVID crisis, Europeans felt that the European Union was protecting them and opening up prospects for them. The creation of SURE or NextGenerationEU has made the value and importance of the European Union visible not only in protecting jobs, but also in relaunching European economies. It is this decision that Europeans now expect from the European Union to respond to the social and economic impacts of war and sanctions on their lives, on the costs of energy, food, on deepening strategic autonomy that creates the necessary tools. We therefore expect the European Commission to propose the creation of a programme and related funding for the energy transition and autonomy, but also to compensate for the increased energy costs for people and businesses. We look forward to RepowerEU and we also look forward to the creation of NextGenerationEU 2.0, which will ensure investment that starts to have a permanent character. Finally, the new priorities cannot support European objectives in the climate and digital transitions.

Madam President, Commissioner, if we had any doubts about the importance of this report, we could look at Eurobarometer. January this year: 55% of Europeans believe that voting in the European elections is the most effective way for their voice to be heard. March 2021: 19% of Europeans against transnational lists, 42% in favour, 69% want to vote in the European elections on who should chair the European Commission. Systematically, we call for more transparency, more democracy, more power for citizens to participate. The European Parliament's proposals in this report go exactly in this direction. We have no doubt about the challenges for the Member States, for the ownership of these principles, but we have to take this path. This report makes a successful effort to respond to problems identified five years ago. I would like to highlight two: not weaken the representation of small and medium-sized Member States and ensure gender balance. I therefore call for the report, the transnational lists and the transparency process to be voted in favour.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, thank you, Nicolae Ştefănuţă, neither Next Generation EU nor the flexibility of the 2021-2027 MFF is sufficient for the financial needs generated by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The EU needs to respond on several fronts at the same time, without reversing European political and structural priorities for a greener, more digital, more social Europe. The response to refugees, the supply chains of essential goods and raw materials, the supply and the brutal increase in energy prices, this response must be European, based on solidarity, it must come from the Union budget! Flexibility exists and is necessary, but it is not enough. Commissioner, we need to start thinking about the revision of the 2021-2027 MFF, yes, but the traditional revision is not enough. We need to look at the architecture of the MFF. It is time to equip the European Union with the appropriate and agile instruments in the European Union's Financial Framework for these and other future crises, so that we are prepared for whatever comes and goes.

Madam President, what is expected of this European Council is a European response that will make it possible to support Ukraine and the Ukrainians and Ukrainians, those who stay in the country and those who arrive in the European Union. To penalize the invader, without cutting off the Russian people who, like us, oppose this invasion. Take on new priorities such as defence and energy security. But these priorities should be added to the priorities and political ambition of the European Union, taken up in the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, such as the climate and digital transitions. Add and not replace. It protects European citizens in terms of security, but also from the impact of sanctions on European economies. They cannot be the most vulnerable to pay for increases in energy or food prices. It paves the way for the strategic autonomy of the European Union in all its dimensions, including energy. A robust European response is expected, as European and robust was the response to the pandemic crisis.

Madam President, Commissioners, I should like to begin by congratulating my colleagues in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. The Committee on Budgets underlined that NextGenerationEU is having a stabilising effect for Member States and that the Recovery and Resilience Facility required further adaptation of the European Semester. For the promotion of inclusive sustainable growth all options should be considered, including the revision of the Stability and Growth Pact, the importance of the European Commission's ability to go to financial markets on behalf of the European Union. Finally, the success of the Recovery and Resilience Facility should be the basis for redefining the European Semester as a privileged instrument for coordinating fiscal, social and environmental economic policies, with renewed democratic legitimacy, greater accountability, more parliamentary oversight. A European semester with identity, to be given by a separate regulation based on the lessons learned from the governance of the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you very much, Sophia, for this opportunity. European citizenship is not for sale. Democracy, freedom, prosperity, European values cannot be for sale and cannot be for sale to the richest. It is not only ethically reprehensible but also undermines European security. If there were still doubts, the gold passports of all Russian oligarchs made it clear in the current context of the Ukraine crisis and sanctions on Russia. Passports must be stopped. gold Visas should be closely monitored gold, monitor including in the framework of the European Semester as stated in the report. We need to be sure that there is indeed an effective investment initiative. It is necessary to make public who benefits. Visas gold under no circumstances may they be used as instruments of money laundering or corruption. For a safer Europe, the European Commission should put forward the legislative proposals that the European Parliament is today clearly calling for to stop any abuse in defending justice and European values.

Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, we have always said that respect for the fundamental values of the European Union is an essential condition for the sound and effective financial management of European funds. It couldn't be different, we repeated over and over again. The instrument of conditionality to protect the budget of the European Union has been in force since 1 January 2021. It should have been applied right away, including it in the recovery fund. The Commission did not follow decisions of the European Parliament, it did not propose the necessary measures requested by the Parliament in its resolution of 25 March to finalise the guidelines for the application of the Regulation by 1 June. If the Commission had any doubts, it is now clear, black and white, by the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Commission can no longer make excuses, it must immediately enforce the conditionality/rule of law mechanism, in its role as guardian of the treaties, in its responsibilities for the sound management of the European Union budget.

Madam President, Minister, Commissioners, the creation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility was an achievement. That we can't waste. Now, making sure it's a success. In other words, the national plans do indeed help to kick-start the European economy. They pave the way for investment. They are instrumental in making the two transitions, climate and digital, towards a greener, more digital, more cohesive, more feminist Europe. They strengthen public health, education and justice services to better serve citizens and businesses. They generate a European dimension. They strengthen the European Union’s value chains and strategic autonomy. That is why the European Parliament is so committed to this demanding follow-up. And we certainly have, and we have, the same ambition on the Commission's side. And it is this success now that will enable us to define the future of economic governance and Next Generation EU.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this Ministerial Conference must not be a missed opportunity to strengthen the WTO. MC12 must be the zero-day of the modernisation of the WTO so that it can play a role in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, sustainability and the response to future pandemics, while respecting the rights of all citizens. For this, we need tangible results that show that multilateralism is the solution, that confirm that the return of the United States to the multilateral stage and that the enormous commitment of the new Director-General are not wasted. Trade policy has been essential in this pandemic, but the application of exceptions and flexibilities can be improved now and in view of future pandemics. Finally, Commissioner, we hope that the European Union will actively participate in the TRIPS negotiations on a temporary waiver of the Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights to pave the way for solving the problem of global vaccination.

Mr President, today we have in full operation an instrument that supports the recovery of European economies. Debt issuance operations have been a success. The money is already reaching the Member States, but the creation of this fund has required a commitment: reimbursement provided by new own resources, including a digital levy. This agreement in the OECD is undeniably excellent news, unthinkable not long ago, but the obligation to repay the debt by new own resources of the Union budget remains. Future generations of European taxpayers must be safeguarded and it must be ensured that the payment is not made by the contribution of the Member States. We want a solution to the digital tax. It is up to the Commission to make proposals to ensure that the entire estimated revenue initially foreseen is generated and enters the budget of the European Union.

Madam President, Mr High Representative, Tunisia has been a strategic partner in the Southern Neighbourhood Policy. We are concerned about the situation in the country, and I am not just talking about the political situation, but also about the economic, social and health situation. President Saïed suspended the activities of Parliament, dismissed the Prime Minister, waived the immunity of deputies, assumed that this was an exceptional period to address the crisis that the country is going through. But with all this, it has called into question the basic principles of the functioning of any democratic system and the period of exception has taken too long. It is essential and urgent to define a timetable to restore the constitutional order: the scheduling of parliamentary elections. Tunisia must once again be an example of the Arab Spring and the European Union must do everything in its power to support the recovery of democracy in Tunisia.

Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, in the debate on the 2022 budget we have two key points: the fulfilment of commitments made in the multi-annual budget 21-27 on the expenditure and revenue side, including the respect of the timing of the new own resources, and the contribution of the budget to the post-COVID recovery and the creation of an economic and social environment that underpins the internal and external ambitions of the European Union. The economic recovery relies largely on NextGenerationEU. But, Commissioner, the European programmes that give priority to the European dimension, managed from the outset by the Commission, are also the instruments of excellence for economic recovery, an economic recovery that wants to be innovative, with a view to a carbon-neutral economy based on a just, green and digital transition. Without supporting the responsibility of the Member States, this effort is the responsibility of the European Commission.

Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to begin by congratulating the Commission on all the programmes that have been approved so far. The use of Recovery and Resilience Funds must respect all Regulations, including the rule of law conditionality. And all people and institutions are potential beneficiaries. The Commission must ensure that these principles are respected. Preventing fraud, corruption, conflict of interest is imperative! According to Eurobarometer, 85% of Europeans call for transparency and effective control of the Recovery and Resilience Funds. Poland and Hungary, whose governments undermine the principle of the rule of law, all Member States must comply with the basic values of the European Union in order to access European funds. We will not accept any risk of discrimination against beneficiaries, whether of a gender or sexual orientation, or of a political nature, of local authorities, of those elected by political families other than those of their respective governments. And the European Commission must ensure that the necessary mechanisms are in place in all management models to prevent any discrimination. These and others. This is what is expected of the Commission now, before the approval of the plans, and increased vigilance throughout the implementation. Parliament will do its part.

Madam President, Commissioner, Parliament has a say in the governance of the European Union's Trust Funds. In its operation: Parliament will not fail to guarantee the unity of the EU budget. The Trust Funds do not act to the detriment of the NDICI. Its management must be transparent. In its use: They are an instrument, of course. But they are an instrument for promoting the values of the European Union, human rights and refugee rights. They are not a border management tool, to be used for the benefit of people, in direct support of their needs, by suitable entities, to support people's lives when the first humanitarian aid is no longer required. With regard to Turkey's mechanism, Commissioner, we must remain vigilant in respecting the rights of refugees and verify that the money truly reaches projects, civil society, people to support health, education, employment, housing without discrimination.

Madam President, Commissioner, Council, colleagues, the debate on economic governance is a difficult and divisive debate, but it requires consensus in order to be successful. To start this debate with definitive positions from the outset would have left us with no room for manoeuvre and would have been to condemn this debate to failure. It took us a while to get here. It has forced us to make a huge responsible effort to find common solutions for almost a year. We listen to experts, politicians, European and international organisations from different fields of academic political thought. This internal debate has allowed us progressively to build a broad understanding of the challenges of the economic governance of the Union, but also to understand the positions that are being drawn up, from the most consensual to the most minority. That is why I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs very much. We discussed divergent positions. We have always sought to find the best solutions for a well-functioning and credible economic governance framework, based on sound economic fundamentals and with a forward-looking vision. That is what citizens expect of us. I would also like to thank the teams from the different political families and the Commission secretariat and AFCO colleagues for their excellent collaboration. We recommend the European Commission to reopen the public debate that was suspended with the necessary activation of the escape clause. We look forward to following the necessary legislative initiatives. With this own-initiative report, Parliament is today establishing a position which determines the political framework for this debate. With the political guidelines that we have set out, the Commission is in a position to adopt ambitious, realistic and consensual proposals. We have proved that this strategy has strengthened Parliament's power. We have already done so with the European response to the crisis. We did this with the negotiation of the Multiannual Financial Framework, where Parliament's unity was decisive. The current rules are complex and opaque. They have proven to be ineffective and are not met. The successive changes and interpretations have made them even incomprehensible. The pandemic has made this even more visible. We must equip ourselves with the necessary mechanisms to enable the Union to meet current and future European challenges. That is what this report does. The European response to the crisis is seeking to protect the most vulnerable, jobs, businesses in strategic sectors and aims to relaunch a greener, more digital, fairer economy. But the impact of the crisis on economies is clearly visible with growing inequalities and uncertainty remains. Confidence on the part of the citizens has increased and we cannot disappoint them. The escape clause is currently in force until the end of 2022. It gives us a one-year window of opportunity to politically position ourselves on the new rules of economic governance. We will already have new rules in place at the time of deactivation. One thing is certain, the guidelines of the new rules must be defined to give predictability to Member States and Member States must have full capacity to make full use of the European response to the crisis. Next Generation EU. We know that it was created as a single instrument, but we cannot ignore its European added value. The Commission must exploit the full potential of all the instruments put in place in the European response to the crisis. On the other hand, it has to make use of the full flexibility of the current framework by ensuring country-specific adjustments. The premature interruption of monetary and fiscal policy support would block the recovery and neither governments, social partners nor citizens would be able to understand it. It would feed those who fight the European Union and European democracies. We need to revise the Stability and Growth Pact, anchored in the European Union's long-term objectives, based on a resilient institutional framework with a new understanding of debt sustainability. That is why a more dynamic notion of debt is needed, ensuring country-differentiated reduction paths. Instead of focusing solely on debt ratios, which has often been a drag on growth, we need to focus on ensuring sovereign debt sustainability and sustainable and inclusive growth in line with European commitments. The Stability and Growth Pact must not be a brake on investment and job creation, on growth. Quality investment translates into quality of public finances and the quality of public finances improves the long-term sustainability of debt and improves the potential growth of economies. A deep reflection on how and who makes the decisions is needed. Parliament has a greater capacity to define economic policy guidelines. The European Semester has evolved over the years, but there is no economic policy that survives if it does not reflect the commitments of the European Green Deal, the SDGs and the Social Pillar. It is now up to the European Commission to be ambitious and realistic. It is up to the Council to put an end to its small clubs and build a spirit of mutual trust. It is up to all of us to ensure that the review of the macroeconomic legislative framework makes it simpler, more transparent, more democratic and with greater ownership by the Member States, based on a Community method that promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Instead of having a perfect fiscal framework in theory, we need to build a fiscal policy that works in practice.

Mr President, Commissioner, the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the European Union budget is clear: failure to respect fundamental values leading, in particular, to the exclusion of certain organisations, in particular because of their political, ideological or societal orientation, or to more or less visible fraud, inhibits access to European funds. We all know that it was very difficult to adopt this regulation. First of all, because of the blackmail with the agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework on the part of those who were most afraid of its implementation. We did it. It's supposed to be done now. And the European Parliament is here to enforce. No need for new interpretations. Especially new interpretations that could change the spirit or the letter of the approved Regulation. That is why we are now asking the Commission, and we are counting on you, Commissioner, not to allow yourself to be entangled in expedients that delay its implementation. The Regulation is in force. Apply without further delay.