Speeches

Mr President, the health of our children instead of toxic contamination. Clean water and air that can be breathed. Work in which you do not breathe harmful fumes that slowly kill you. Healthy soil that can yield a rich harvest. These are not self-evident. Only this week we approved more aid after the floods. Instead of development, we must finance the restoration of the damage of the climate crisis. Toxic pollution and soil degradation cost us tens of billions of euros a year. The amounts are so huge that we cannot even imagine them. But behind them are individual failed farmers or thwarted human lives. Solutions are not only good for our health, they are also good for our wallets. These are investments that generate profits, not costs. They bring quality jobs, security and freedom, independence from dictators. And also competitiveness. And as the Stur said: ‘Back to the impossible, we have to go ahead’.

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the beginning of its next sitting. If there are no objections, the resolutions adopted at today's sitting will be immediately forwarded to the persons and bodies mentioned therein.

We will now turn to the explanations of vote on the motions for resolutions on the worsening democratic crisis in Georgia following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud.

Before giving the floor to Commissioner Dalli, first of all, Commissioner, let me thank you greatly for five years of service for Europe, because this is the last time you are speaking in Parliament. We really appreciate everything you have done. I wish you good luck on your future journeys and hopefully you have a relaxing break after all this!

The next item is the Commission statement on the need to adopt an ambitious international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (2024/2954(RSP)).

The minutes of yesterday's sitting and the texts adopted are available. Does anyone have comments? No, no. Thank you. The minutes are approved.

I will also answer you with similar data that if, for example, the X rating says, if we stopped putting obstacles properly, we did not have to invest publicly (incomprehensible part), stop putting obstacles to the development of green energy and storage, so the price will go down rapidly. What we need to do is not massive subsidies for wealthy companies. Developing infrastructure for all and supporting the more vulnerable. That's the solution.

Madam President, in 2022, more than 41 million Europeans could not afford to keep their homes warm enough. And I must say with sadness and anger that Slovakia is one of the few European countries where the situation has been deteriorating for a long time. Energy poverty is not new. This is a reality that has been overlooked for many years. The main cause is a combination of low incomes, high energy prices and low energy efficiency in buildings. For a very long time, fossil gas was presented as a solution. Yes, the one from Putin. This is part of the problem, as we know. The real solutions come by themselves. Building renovation not only reduces energy bills, but also creates new jobs, reduces our dependence on imported fossil fuels and protects the climate and air. Why are we doing so little for her? We have billions of euros of EU funds, emission permits, as well as bank financing opportunities supported by a taxonomy of sustainable investments. Instead, we see massive subsidies for fossil fuels, which only exacerbates the problem. Unaddressed aid that wastes public resources to help the rich who do not need it. The most vulnerable are still in the winter.

Dear Madam President, dear College-designates, the new Commission steps in in a time of great challenge. We need the green transition to ensure that our planet remains inhabitable. We need socially just solutions which lead to prosperity while building a resilient and competitive Union on the global stage. These are no small talks, and the eyes of Europeans are on you to deliver. At the same time, we must ensure that the Union remains safe and secure, standing strong against those who threaten our values or seek to divide us. We all want peace. Peace – not to surrender to the aggressor, not to surrender our freedoms and liberties. And finally, and above all, you have a responsibility to protect liberal democracy. To protect and enforce the rule of law, protect strong civil society, protect independent media, not to appease or compromise with those who threaten them, because we can lose our democracy in a moment. Dear College, the work ahead is massive. We are ready to work with you, but also control you and hold you accountable for the delivery of your commitments.

The next vote is on the objection concerning genetically modified maize MON 89034 ×1507×MON 88017×59122 and eight of its sub-combinations (See minutes, item [5.4.]).

The first vote is on the report by Mr Molnár on the nomination of Iliana Ivanova as a Member of the Court of Auditors (see minutes, item [5.1.]).