Speeches

The first item is the report by Sarah Wiener, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the sustainable use of plant protection products (COM(2022)0305 - C9-0207/2022 - 2022/0196(COD)) (A9-0339/2023)

Madam President, Commissioner, I have a special reason to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work, because actually, I got to know him before he joined our Parliament when he was leading an ODIHR OSCE electoral observation mission, of which we as the European Parliament were a part, next to two other parliamentary fora. And I remember very well that we had to undertake certain measures to save the integrity of our mission, right? So this leads me to the question of fake election observation and behaviour that is not acceptable for observers. And on the grounds of that mission we did together, we actually created a code of conduct for three parliamentary assemblies on code of conduct for election observers. And I think it was an important exercise. Now, unfortunately, we see that even elected Members of this House from time to time participate in fake elections, such as the so-called referendum in Crimea or also another referendum in Azerbaijan. Or they go and pretend to be experts for elections in Russia, whereas they legitimise totally undemocratic elections. Now, I am happy to say that, in fact, here in the European Parliament we have a fresh new revised code of conduct for Members. And it’s much easier now to make those Members accountable for working against any democratic principles.

I have two announcements before we move on to the next issue. Firstly, I would like to inform you that Elisabetta De Blasis is a member of the ECR Group as of 9 November 2023. And another announcement, the S&D Group and the non-attached Members have informed the President of the decisions on changes to appointments in committees.

The debate is over. We can move forward on the agenda. The subject of the following paragraph is: The Commission statement on EU Enlargement Policy 2023 is a very recent issue. Written statements (Rule 171)

The next item is the Council and Commission statements on ‘The rule of law in Malta six years after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the need to protect journalists’ (2023/2902(RSP)).

The next item is the report by Tonino Picula, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the 2022 Report on Montenegro (2022/2202(INI)) (A9-0277/2023).

Mr President, Commissioner, this report that we will vote tomorrow is a prolongation of the current GSP Regulation – the generalised system of preferences – which originates from 2012. By dealing swiftly and efficiently with this prolongation and rollover, the Parliament underlines that it will not let beneficiaries down. The INTA Committee has adopted the proposal unanimously with no amendments. The 2012 regulation expires at the end of this year. Thus, it was necessary to prolong its validity in order to avoid significant socioeconomic disruptions for the beneficiary countries and, as well, for the companies. The proposal is to prolong the 2012 regulation for another four years until the end of 2027. However, this rollover is an unfortunate consequence of not being able to reach an agreement between the Council and Parliament on the ongoing review of the GSP Regulation. The trilogues are currently on hold since June as after seven rounds of trilogues two outstanding disputed issues remain. Firstly, the European Council imposed to the Commission’s legislative proposal a link between the tariff preferences and the obligation to readmission of beneficiary countries’ own nationals. The European Parliament’s position is against the inclusion of this type of migration policy measures because this is a trade and development policy instrument which benefits two billion people in the developing world. Secondly, the question remains unresolved to date on how to provide sufficient safeguards to European rice producers against market distortions, on one hand, and how, on the other hand, to avoid putting excessive barriers to raise imports from some of the poorest countries. The trilogues will continue and it is vital to conclude them as soon as possible, as soon as acceptable compromises on these two outstanding issues have been achieved. The GSP has been the EU’s preferential trade arrangement with developing countries since 1971. It covers more than 60 countries – LDCs and lower-middle income countries – and indeed it benefits approximately two billion people, as I already said. Hence, it is an absolutely important instrument to promote sustainable development in partnership with developing countries, and it is also an instrument which significantly improves the implementation of international human rights and environmental standards in exchange to the tariff benefits. So, a lot has already been achieved in the trilogue negotiations. Recently, FORUM-ASIA, speaking in the name of 85 member organisations across 23 Asian countries, has very much encouraged the European institutions to secure this reform before the end of this legislature because it crucially enhances the role of civil society and prevents democratic backsliding in the region. Now it is very important that the parliament and the Spanish Presidency go the extra mile and make this review a reality. This will require, however, a change in the approach by the Council on the question of readmissions. We need to preserve the GSP as a development tool and we should not let already agreed improvements in the trilogue negotiations go to waste. Therefore, I ask you to vote in favour of the prolongation tomorrow and I hope that I can also soon bring to you a deal on the revised, modernised and improved GSP Regulation as well.

The next item is the topical debate under Rule 162 of the Rules of Procedure on decent housing for all. This debate will not allow catch-the-eye speeches on request, nor will it allow blue card questions.

Ladies and gentlemen, we shall continue the sitting.The first item to be approved is the Minutes of yesterday's sitting. The texts adopted are available. I would now like to ask if anyone has any comments on the Minutes of yesterday's sitting. If not, the minutes will be approved.

The next item is the Council and Commission statements on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh following the Azerbaijani invasion and the ongoing threat to Armenia (2023/2879(RSP)). For a moment, the Council is coming. Just a short break.