Speeches

Mr President, since the beginning of the parliamentary term, I and my Renew Group have been defending a simple idea: simplification and coordination of existing tools through a real rule of law cycle, more readable for citizens and structured around key moments. This idea was also taken up in the State of the Union speech byme von der Leyen last September. It was an encouraging first step. I also know, Commissioner, that you are a strong ally in this matter, and I thank you for that. After referring to this cycle in the report on the Article 7 procedure for Hungary, Parliament elaborates on it in detail and reiterates its call for rapid implementation. So that means two fundamental things. Firstly, that there is a broad consensus among the Democrats in this House on the establishment of this cycle. Secondly, it also means, Commissioner, that we are counting on you for its forthcoming completion and that we are ready to support you in achieving this. I understand that you are ready to open this project with us, and I thank you for that. All lights are green. Finally, it is time to put everything in place to make the rule of law cycle a reality. Let's go.

The next item is the debate on five motions for resolutions on human trafficking and grave human rights violations linked to the recruitment of non-Russian nationals, in particular from Africa, for Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine (2026/2641(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on AccessibleEU and the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities: state of play and the future of EU accessibility policy (2026/2639(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on: – the oral question to the Commission on the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act, tabled by Eszter Lakos, Sofie Eriksson, Ivars Ijabs and Ville Niinistö on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (O-000008/2026 – B10-0007/26) (2025/2951(RSP)); and. – the oral question to the Council on the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act, tabled by Eszter Lakos, Sofie Eriksson, Ivars Ijabs and Ville Niinistö on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (O-000007/2026 – B10-0006/26) (2025/2951(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the report by Jörgen Warborn, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, on European Union regulatory fitness and subsidiarity and proportionality – report on Better Law-Making covering 2023 and 2024 (2025/2015(INI)) (A10-0020/2026).

The next item is the debate on the report by Sven Simon, on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, on the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission (N10-0005/2026 - C10-0021/2026 - 2025/2243(ACI)) (A10-0031/2026).

The next item is the debate on the report by João Oliveira, on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy (2025/2095(INI)) (A10-0260/2025).

Madam President, a few hours ago, I was still in the United States, and I can confirm that the majority of my interlocutors – business leaders, academics, but also colleagues in Congress – were concerned. And it's true, many Americans are wondering if their democracy isn't faltering in the long run. And I understand them. ICE has become the embodiment of this drift, with agents who have carte blanche and enjoy, according to Vice President Vance, total immunity. Renee Good and Alex Pretti paid for it with their lives. It must be realized that ICE is only the visible tip of this appalling iceberg, I fear. So, it's true that it's important that we can debate it here, but that's not enough. We must first maintain a permanent dialogue with the United States, and this also outside our institutional relations, because American society, the parties too, are not a monolithic bloc of thought. Awareness can come from within – and I am talking about dialogue and not interference, as the US wants to do by funding organisations in Europe that are aligned with its ideology. Two: put an end to the curves. A language of firmness, without breaks, moves the lines, we saw it in Greenland. For example, the ability to withdraw from the trade agreement if it is not respected and if we are not respected, or that the Commission cannot negotiate as if nothing had happened to access the biometric data of European citizens, to name but a few. Colleagues, a year after the start of President Trump's second term, we see that the submissive and sweet approach that has been adopted so far with the United States is not convincing. It's time to change it.

The next vote is on 'Decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and the development and deployment of fishing gear' (see minutes, item 6.7).