Speeches

The next item is the thematic debate (Rule 169 of the Rules of Procedure) on Social Europe: ensuring affordability of life, protecting jobs, wages and health for all. I would like to inform you that there is no catch-the-eye procedure for this debate and no blue cards will be accepted.

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

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted for approval at the beginning of the next sitting. Unless there are any objections, the resolutions adopted at today's sitting shall be forwarded immediately to the persons and bodies referred to therein.

Let us now turn to the explanations of vote on the social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers' rights.

The next item is the Commission statement on the European Schools Alliance: the potential to create a European Education Area by stimulating innovation, enhancing mobility and promoting inclusiveness (2025/2604(RSP)).

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

The next vote is on the joint motion for a resolution tabled by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers' rights (see minutes, item 7.5).

The next vote is on the joint motion for a resolution on the unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high‑ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan (see minutes, item 7.4).

The next vote is on the joint motion for a resolution on the severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular the sexual violence and child rape (see minutes, item 7.3).

The next vote is on the joint motion for a resolution on democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees (see minutes, item 7.2).

I come to the request by the EPP Group for an urgent decision on the European Defence Industry Programme and framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products – the EDIP (see minutes, item 7.1). I would like to now give the word to the rapporteur, Mr Bellamy.

I would like to also inform you that the President has received a request for an urgent procedure from the EPP Group pursuant to Rule 170(6) on the following legislative file: Directive as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements. The vote on this request will be taken on the Tuesday of the next part‑session. Colleagues, I would really implore you to be careful with the points of order on Thursdays but, if you are really sure, then please do not forget to state the rule under which you have a point of order.

Yesterday, the President made an announcement about the name of Péter Magyar having been added to the names of the signatories of the joint motion for a resolution on the future of European defence due to a clerical error. After a thorough investigation into the matter was launched, it can be confirmed, as already said yesterday, that the name should not have been on the list of signatories since it was not in the names transmitted by the EPP Group to the services. The President has asked the services to put measures in place to prevent similar errors in the future. However, I would also like to invite the Members of this House not to escalate such a regrettable situation and to stick to the facts.

I have to say that it's actually quite impossible for me, from this lectern, to pull out of my pocket the exact data resources, just like I cannot pull out the exact data resources for the costing of the construction of a gas power station or any other one because, I'm sorry, but in this middle of speech, I don't have all the references that you are not able to find yourself. But let's sit down and let's look for them together.

Mr President, Commissioner, high energy prices are damaging both people and companies. They threaten prosperity and competitiveness. Energy poverty especially in Slovakia threatens a quarter of households. Where is the cause? Let's just say it straight: largely in our dependence on imported fossil gas. The most expensive gas-fired power plants determine the price of all electricity, colleague Knotek. That is why I welcome the European Commission's Roadmap for Affordable Energy. It includes measures to reduce payments to both households and industry. It improves our crisis preparedness. I believe that it will reduce bills for households and businesses and, above all, strengthen our resilience to crises. It also addresses the root cause of the problem: dependence on imported fossil fuels. It can help save €130 billion by 2030. And here's the key. It will depend on whether we turn the plan into action, whether Member States, including Slovakia, really start to take action, or whether some will continue to throw logs under the feet of green energy development and energy savings. Without them, we will continue to have high prices and become dependent.

Thank you very much. We're only doing one blue card per debate. There was a blue card request from João Oliveira, but he already had a blue card, and I'm not doing two blue cards per Member. We want to be on time with the vote.

I would like to inform you that the blue‑cards are now open – we don't have it during the round of speakers for the political groups – and also that I will have to be a bit stricter with the timing, because we don't want to run into the vote.