Speeches

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).

The first vote is on 'Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3), and (4)(c): Maximum residue levels for acetamiprid' (see minutes, item 6.1).

Madam President, the text we are going to vote on tomorrow is a call – one more! – that the Commission and the Council should fully assume their responsibilities in upholding the rule of law. I tell you in full transparency: Parliament is losing patience. You have in your hands one of the most effective levers for upholding our values. Budgetary conditionality has existed since 2021 and has been achieved through forceps – I know this because I have been directly involved in these negotiations – and the fact that it has only been used once is a real problem. Why? Because it is well known that the rule of law is far from being respected everywhere in the EU. We know this in the face of governments who want to free themselves from our fundamentals, who dream of a Europe à la carte, with rights, but, of course, without any duty. Unfortunately, there is nothing more effective than financial sanctions. So yes, the conditionality tool can improve, and this report offers clear paths. It is very good, it is very good, but no tool can be effective without the will to act. The future Multiannual Financial Framework will also be a moment of truth. We will see if there really is a stronger will to uphold the rule of law in the European Union.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on 'Breeders' protests following a lumpy skin disease outbreak in France: implications of the EU approach on sanitary and on animal health' (2025/3041(RSP)).