Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, our fantastic single market must remain operational at all times. And unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis has shown that this wasn’t the case. Therefore, we need new tools to allow us to react fast and collectively while respecting the rule of law. The single market emergency instrument is such a new tool to prevent the future disruption of our single market. For the Socialists and Democrats, it is crucial to respect the democratic process by including Parliament in the advisory group and by putting Parliament on an equal footing with the Council to activate the emergency mode in cases of crisis. In addition, it is crucial that the workers’ representatives play a key role in case of an emergency that has an impact on goods, services but also our workforce. And therefore, we must ensure that the activation of the emergency mode cannot affect the right and freedom to strike, the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce collective agreements, and to take collective action. The social dimension also needs to be preserved, especially in relation to the free movement of persons. I am glad that the S&D Group has been able to ensure that restrictions to the free movement of goods, services and persons are prohibited unless they are justified on grounds of legitimate public interest objectives such as public policy, public security or public health, and that the instrument also has to comply with the principle of proportionality. The final agreement reached under your auspices, dear Andreas, establishes new, well-balanced rules that preserve these rights and grant the free movement of goods and services and persons in case of crisis. Once again, thanks to all the shadow rapporteurs in the Employment Committee for the opinion, but especially for the excellent collaboration with Andreas Schwab, the rapporteur in the IMCO Committee.

President, dear Commission Vice-President, dear colleagues, I am very glad that the recommendations in the excellent report of Ms Loiseau and Mr Bilčík will introduce a stronger integrity culture within the European Parliament. And this was always a clear and strong request of my political group. And at the same time we must acknowledge that this is an additional step which also complements the set of measures taken by and being prepared by the European Parliament Bureau. We, the Socialists and Democrats, are committed to enhancing transparency, integrity and accountability also in our group, in the European Parliament and in the European institution as a whole. We take very seriously this reform package and, as promised, we also did our homework. We presented our S&D 15-point plan for preventing corruption and political interference already in January, and we decided to undertake an internal inquiry. And this four-month inquiry, led by three independent renowned experts, resulted in several recommendations that we will that we will implement in our work. And I also believe that the re-winning of trust will need more ambitious actions, as still required. And therefore we must all continue our relentless work on transparency, integrity, accountability, anti-corruption, as well as on the fight against foreign interferences and disinformation. And finally, please allow me to thank the important work done by my colleague, the chair of the ING 2 Committee, Raphaël Glucksmann, as well as our S&D shadow rapporteur, Andreas Schieder.

The next item is Council and Commission statements on ‘The need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes’ (2023/2752(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on ‘Putting the European economy at the service of the middle class’ (2023/2751 (RSP)).

I have received four motions for resolutions to wind up the debate*. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow. ______________ * See minutes.

Before closing the sitting, I would like to thank our interpreters for their excellent work and all the other European Parliament staff who are here to make this session possible. (The sitting closed at 22.46)

The next item is the debate on the report by Alessandra Moretti, 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 establishing a framework for setting eco-design requirements for sustainable products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC (COM(2022)0142 – C9-0132/2022 – 2022/0095(COD)) (A9-0218/2023).

The next item is a short presentation of the motion for a resolution tabled pursuant to Rule 227(2) by Dolors Montserrat, on behalf of the Committee on Petitions, on accession to the Schengen area (2023/2668(RSP)) (B9—0309/2023).

Thank you very much, President Hoyer. Please allow me to join the many colleagues in congratulating you for your great leadership during your two terms at the head of the European Investment Bank. Good luck for your next challenges.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the 2023 Annual Rule of Law Report (2023/2785(RSP)). I welcome in our midst the Secretary of State for European Affairs, representing the Council, Mr Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, and Commissioner Didier Reynders.

The President has asked me to make a short statement, before we vote, on the tragedy that unfolded yesterday in international waters off the coast of Greece. 79 people are reported to have lost their lives. Around 100 have thankfully been rescued so far, and rescue operations by the Greek Coastguard are ongoing. Details are still being established. However, there are suggestions that over 750 people were crammed on to a small fishing boat, with children in the hold. None of the people on board were wearing life jackets. The European Parliament pays its respects to the victims and praises the ongoing rescue efforts.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, a girl unable to get education in Myanmar, a family suffering from hunger in South Sudan, a father unable to find decent work in Europe – for all these people the Sustainable Development Goals provide a promise for a better life on a healthier planet. However, as the UN Secretary General remarks in his upcoming report, in view of the SDG summit in September, this promise is in peril. Implementation throughout the world, Europe included, is dangerously behind schedule. We have a responsibility towards all these people to deliver, and the European Union should lead these efforts. We should lead by example here at home. And in this regard, the S&D Group reiterates its call to the Commission to present a comprehensive strategy for achieving the 2030 Agenda. The European Union should also be in the driver’s seat when it comes to championing and promoting international cooperation and partnerships as espoused by SDG 17. With Africa, we must develop a mutually beneficial partnership and support them in reaching their objectives. Equally, the ACP—EU partnership is crucial to fostering sustainable development in ACP countries and building stronger alliances to tackle global challenge. Latin America has become even more crucial partner for our union, and we must strengthen our mutual cooperation. Finally, there can be no sustainable development without peace, justice and strong institutions. We can witness this from up close with Russia’s thuggish war in Ukraine. Dear colleagues, we owe it especially to those already left behind, to be ambitious and we must take bold action.

Thank you very much, Minister Roswall. Let me, as a Vice—President, also thank you for commitment, over the last six months, to this Parliament, for your constant presence and for listening to, and also for answering and reacting to our colleagues’ questions and comments. This has contributed to the lively debates. So thank you very much to you, and to your colleagues at the Swedish Foreign Ministry. The debate is closed. Written statements (Rule 171)