Speeches

Madam President, it is appalling that hate speech and crimes against LGBTI people are rising across the European Union. That's why I want everyone from this place. queer Excuse people facing these attacks, violence and discrimination. I'm sorry. At the same time, I would like to say to all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people: You are not alone in this. It is not just some politicians who stand on the side of equality and dignity. Almost two hundred thousand people responded to the recent homophobic attacks by the Minister of Culture in Slovakia with her signature and demanded her departure. Humanity has and will continue to have a majority. I therefore thank all Europeans who always speak out when someone tries to blatantly attack our LGBTI fellow citizens. Exactly as the European Parliament does in its resolutions, including the terrorist attack outside the Tepláreň bar. Therefore, from this place too, I want to publicly promise that we will do everything we can to protect you in our society like everyone else, and to be able to love those you truly love with a sense of security and freedom.

Mr President, disinformation on social networks is a real threat to democracy. Experts warn us about this, but citizens are also fully aware of it. And truly free elections and a truly free campaign in a democratic society are free from manipulation and lies. We must not forget the consequences on this Europe of similar manipulations and similar lies 100 years ago. And now they're not brought in by anonymous pamphlets, they're brought in by social media. That's why the advent of deepfake videos is so frightening, they look real, and yet they're lies. From the experience of the recent election campaign in Slovakia, I can tell you how such a deepfake discrediting one of the election leaders and former vice-presidents of this House, moreover, reached hundreds of thousands of voters during the moratorium, thereby interfering in the elections. Freely world media like CNN come to Slovakia to report and beat the alarm. Social networks, where deepfakes spread, reacted irresponsibly and superficially. And the investigators? According to the Slovak authorities, nobody believes the content of the video. That is why, Commissioner, citizens tell you this clearly: intervene, enforce and effectively sanction manipulations and their propagators, otherwise we will all pay the price, including our freedom and democracy.

The next item is the debate on the report by Jessica Polfjärd, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (COM(2023)0411 - C9-0238/2023 - 2023/0226(COD)) (A9-0014/2024).

The next item is the report by Markus Pieper, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on Transparency and accountability of NGOs funded by the EU budget (2023/2122(INI)) (A9-0446/2023).

The next item is the debate on the report by Biljana Borzan, on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and better information (COM(2022)0143 - C9-0128/2022 - 2022/0092(COD)) (A9-0099/2023).

The next item is the joint debate on: – on the report by Danuta Maria Hübner, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on Markets in Financial Instruments Regulations: Amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) (COM(2021)0726 – C9-0438/2021 – 2021/0384(COD)) (A9-0039/2023), and – on the report by Danuta Maria Hübner, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR): Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as regards enhancing market data transparency, removing obstacles to the emergence of a consolidated tape, optimising trading obligations and prohibiting receiving payments for forwarding client orders (COM(2021)0727 – C9-0440/2021 – 2021/0385(COD)) (A9-0040/2023)

The next item is the debate on: –on the report by Jessica Polfjärd, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 (COM(2022)0151 C9-0143/2022 - 2022/0100(COD)) (A9-0050/2023), and – on the report by Bas Eickhout, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (COM(2022)0150 - C9-0142/2022 - 2022/0099(COD)) (A9-0048/2023).

I would now like to hand over to the State Secretary Navarro Ríos. As this is the last time that the Spanish Presidency is speaking in the Chamber, I would like to use this opportunity to thank you very much for all the work you have done and to wish you and all the country a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The next item is the debate on: – the oral question to the Council by Adrián Vázquez Lázara, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, on non-objection mechanisms in international conventions to which the European Union is a party (O—000043/2023 - B9-0036/23) (2023/2867(RSP)), and – the oral question to the Commission by Adrián Vázquez Lázara, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, on non-objection mechanisms in international conventions to which the European Union is a party (O—000042/2023 - B9-0035/23) (2023/2867(RSP)).

Mr President, the signals from the climate conference speak very clearly. Three times more green renewables, twice as much energy efficiency by 2030. Countries all over the world agree on this. We are finally hearing about how we need to get rid of fossil fuels. This is despite the really strong resistance of OPEC countries, countries that export oil and gas, which are earning from the destruction of the climate. It took a long time, but it's there. Now is the time to act. It is time to seize this opportunity, both for Europe and for developing countries, to be able to develop green energies, to create new jobs, not only to help the climate, but also to help our own security, to get rid of our dependence on fossil fuel imports, to get rid of the high energy prices caused by this dependence, to give the opportunity to develop small and medium-sized enterprises of innovative firms, to give energy back to people. This COP was also exceptional in that the European Union was able to stick very strongly together and that the European Union was in the majority, that we were on the side of the future of life, on the side of the future of our planet, together with most other countries. Most countries want to protect the climate. Now we just need to act.

The first item on the agenda and today's agenda are the Council and Commission statements, Outcomes of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28) (2023/3022(RSP)).

Following the resignation of Helmut Geuking, and on the proposal of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Parliament takes note of the vacancy of his seat from 5 February 2024, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, and will inform the national authority concerned thereof.

Madam President, the rule of law is breaking down in Slovakia. Prime Minister Fico is pushing the Mafia package through parliament very quickly. He ignores the recommendations of the European Commission, which he himself came to Brussels to ask. Twenty thousand people went to squares all over Slovakia. They called for a halt to the dismantling of democracy. More than 70,000 citizens have signed two petitions against interference in justice, but for Fico they are enemies or agents. Journalists, opposition and non-governmental organizations. He despises his own people. Even for a moment, he does not consider properly discussing the mafia package and listening to criticism. He prefers to make everyone an enemy of Slovakia and its interests. But the truth is, Mr. Fico, much easier. The national interest of Slovakia is not corruption, but its suppression. The betrayal is not the defense of justice, but its dismantling. Europe, this Parliament, is our home. Therefore, our real nation is a strong and fair Slovakia in the European Union.

Mr President, housing is becoming an almost impossible target for young people in Europe. Therefore, many of them remain living with their parents without the possibility of becoming independent or starting a family. Living and housing costs have jumped in recent years due to the impact of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and subsequent inflation. It is precisely because of double-digit inflation that the possibility of obtaining adequate housing, for example by renting or buying through a mortgage, has been taken away from most young people in European countries. It is awful to read that, in order to buy a simple 75 square meter apartment, a young average earner in his 30s or 30s would have to postpone his entire monthly salary – in Bratislava for almost 24 years and in Prague for 25. With rising rents and property prices, housing has become unaffordable for millions of young people, regardless of their social status. Therefore, we need to think about what future we want to offer them. I believe in a future in which independent living is once again an achievable goal for all young Europeans to be given the same opportunity to have their home as their previous generations, including mine.