Speeches

Mr. Lacapelle, there is a "blue card" question from Mrs. Loiseau. Don't want to answer? Is it? Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. You can stay here thirty seconds for both of them.

The next item is the debate on the Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia (2024/2580(RSP)).

Before we come to the next item, I have to make a little announcement. I would like to inform you that the competent authorities of the Netherlands have notified the President of the election of Henk Jan Ormel to the European Parliament replacing Esther De Lange with effect from 27 February 2024. I wish to welcome our new colleague and recall that he takes his seat in Parliament and its bodies in full enjoyment of his rights pending the verification of his credentials.

The next item is the joint debate on: – the recommendation by Jan Olbrycht and Margarida Marques, on behalf of the Committee on Budgets, on the draft Council regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (COM(2023)033705818/2024 - C9-0030/2024 - 2023/0201(APP)) (A9-0051/2024); – the report by Michael Gahler and Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Budgets, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Ukraine Facility (COM(2023)0338 - C9-0210/2023 - 2023/0200(COD)) (A9-0286/2023); – the report by José Manuel Fernandes and Christian Ehler, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241 (COM(2023)0335 - C9-0209/2023 - 2023/0199(COD)) (A9-0290/2023).

Madam President, dear colleagues, thank you so very much, dear Commissioner Helena Dalli. Your LGBTI Equality Strategy is already a success, as such. For the first time in EU history, our Union is committed to tackle discrimination not only on the grounds of sex and sexual orientation but also on gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics and not forgetting intersectionality. However, a lot still needs to be done to achieve a real Union of Equality. We should not forget that still today, part of our society is victim of discrimination, harassment and violence, merely as a result of the person they are or they love, be they lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary or intersex persons. The Union of Equality is above all, a Union that puts human dignity at the core of our society. In this context, the renewal of the LGBTI strategy after 2025 is a priority. Dear Commissioner, this House, with large majorities, has issued clear calls for a Union that ensures safe and inclusive sex education from early childhood, a Union that protects minorities from hate speech and hate crime, a Union that bans conversion practices, a Union that recognises marriage and parenthood of rainbow families. Our fight for equality is far more than a political debate in this House. It is a societal topic and it is so good to see in the last Eurobarometer that growing majorities of our citizens are supporting LGBTIQ rights. This is a reality, despite the loud voices of haters. Human rights will always prevail.

The next item is the debate on: – the oral question to the Council on the EU’s priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women by Robert Biedroń, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (O-000056/2023 – B9-0005/2024), and – the oral question to the Commission on the EU’s priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women by Robert Biedroń, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (O-000057/2023 – B9-0006/2024).

Madam President, President Iohannis, it is a great honour for us to welcome you here at the House of European Democracy. And, of course, we welcome the fact that Romanian citizens in the Schengen area will henceforth be able to cross air and sea borders without any control. However, as Socialists and Social Democrats, we are very disappointed that the controls at the national borders, which are for many hours lost, for much displeasure – this is harmful to the climate, this is harmful to the economy – remain in place. And by the way, even aid items destined for Ukraine are blocked for a long time. This is incomprehensible and unjust, and that is why we do not give up calling on the Council to decide immediately on the abolition of checks at national borders. Romania, as well as Bulgaria, have earned this by hard work. This development will further strengthen our European family and our joint project. Dear Mr President, We are facing enormous challenges, such as the digitization of our societies. I recently had the honour of attending an event by my Romanian colleague Victor Negrescu on digital skills in rural areas. In this context, I have been able to find out about some very interesting projects in Romania. So I wanted to ask you how you see the challenges of digital transformation in Europe and what recipes for success you give us. Do we need to continue to regulate, or do we – which I do not hope – let the tech giants and algorithms run wild?

The next sitting will be tomorrow, Wednesday, 7 February 2024 at 9.00. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament website.

The next item is the debate on the report by Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2011/61/EU and 2009/65/EC as regards delegation arrangements, liquidity risk management, supervisory reporting, provision of depositary and custody services and loan origination by alternative investment funds (COM(2021)0721 – C9-0439/2021 – 2021/0376(COD)) (A9-0020/2023).

Madam President, Commissioner Schmit, ladies and gentlemen, women are facing all crises under the gaze of a patriarchal society that is struggling to reinvent itself. Socialists and Democrats call for greater social equity that puts human capital at the centre of the European project without gender discrimination. We have certainly made progress under this mandate through the adoption of the directives on minimum wages, pay transparency and the European Child Guarantee, among others. But it is above all a transversal, inclusive and intersectional approach that we need in order to meet the challenges of the environmental and digital transition. Reinforcing investment in public infrastructure and services, as well as in energy-efficient housing, is a first step that will need to be further stepped up. We Socialists and Democrats will also keep a close eye on the implementation of targeted policies that take into account the gender dimension in policies to combat poverty, access to employment and continuing training. In the coming years, ladies and gentlemen, we will fight for European legislation that guarantees just transitions, inclusive transitions, but also gender-sensitive transitions.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the Review of the economic governance framework (2024/2516(RSP)). I would like to inform Members that there will be only one round of political group speakers, and therefore there is no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue cards will be accepted.

Thank you very much, Madam Minister. I have received one motion for a resolution to wind up the debate on the situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds. The debate is now closed and the vote will be held on Thursday. (The sitting was briefly suspended for technical reasons)

I am sorry, but your speaking time is over. Thank you very much. Dear colleague, I have just started chairing, so I didn’t privilege any other colleague.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the Fight against the resurgence of neo-fascism in Europe, also based on the parade that took place in Rome on 7 January (2024/2509(RSP)). I would like to inform you that due to conflicting obligations, the Council Presidency cannot be present for this debate, which was added to the agenda on Monday.