Speeches

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Beata Kempa, on behalf of the Committee on Development, on improving food security in developing countries (2022/2208(INI)) (A9-0195/2022).

This concludes Question Time. I also ask for your understanding. We scheduled 90 minutes for question time. They're over now. We don't know how many additional questions come up. We're trying to balance that. I would also like to say that we agreed that d’Hondt would apply to the political groups and that, if all the political groups had exhausted their possibilities, the last two or three speakers or questioners would not have taken part. This means: We already have a degree of flexibility, and now people have gone away again, which I should then take into account first. I just made my decision and I don't want to change it anymore. This concludes Question Time.

The next item on the agenda is Question Time with questions to the Commission under Rule 137 of the Rules of Procedure. I welcome Commissioner Sinkevičius to this Question Time. The theme of this Question Time is: More ambitious EU biodiversity targets ahead of COP15. The question time will last about 90 minutes. Questions are not pre-assigned to individual members. The speaking times are: One minute to ask a question, two minutes for the answer, 30 seconds for a supplementary question and two minutes for the answer. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that a possible supplementary question is admissible only if it is closely linked to the main question and does not contain a new question. If you would like to ask a question, I would ask you to register your request now by using the function of your voting device for spontaneous interventions after inserting your voting card. Instructions are available in the Chamber. I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. During Question Time, comments will be made from your seat. I ask all speakers to respect the speaking time allocated to them. Members may need a few moments to register their request to ask a question via their voting device. I therefore ask you again to submit your request now.

The minutes of yesterday's meeting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any objections? That is not the case. The minutes have thus been approved.

I have another announcement: The Renew Europe Group has forwarded to the President a decision amending appointments to a committee. This decision will be published in the minutes of today's meeting and will enter into force on the day of this announcement. (The meeting adjourned at 10.52)

The next item on the agenda is the joint debate on the preparation of the European Council with the statements by the Council and the Commission on the preparation of the European Council on 23 and 24 June 2022 and the meeting with the Heads of State or Government of the Western Balkans on 23 June (2022/2660(RSP) and the statements by the Council and the Commission on the status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia as candidate countries (2022/2716(RSP)). I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. After inserting your voting card into the voting machine, you can use your voting machine to request spontaneous interventions and blue cards. Please always carry your voting card with you. Instructions are available in the Chamber. If you would like to speak spontaneously, I would ask you to do so from now on and not to wait until the end of the debate. I would also like to point out that blue cards can also be held up for a short speech and that a follow-up question is allowed thereafter. I would like to point out that interventions in the Chamber will continue to take place from the central lectern, except for spontaneous interventions, blue cards and comments on the application of the Rules of Procedure. I would therefore ask you to keep an eye on the list of speakers and to go to the lectern shortly before the start of your speaking time. The comment concerning the first two series does not, of course, concern the Council and the Commission.

The minutes of this meeting will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the beginning of the next meeting. If there are no objections, I will forward the resolutions adopted at today's sitting to the persons and bodies referred to in those resolutions.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on illegal logging in the EU by Dolors Montserrat, on behalf of the Committee on Petitions (O-000020/2022 – B9-0016/22) (2022/2523(RSP)). I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. After inserting your voting card into the voting device, you can then use your voting device to request spontaneous interventions and blue cards. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that interventions in the Chamber will continue to take place from the central lectern, with the exception of spontaneous interventions, blue cards and remarks on the application of the Rules of Procedure.

The minutes of yesterday's meeting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any objections? (The minutes of yesterday's meeting were approved.)

Thank you very much, Secretary of State Zacharopoulou! The joint debate is thus closed. The vote will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 8 June 2022. We will now suspend the sitting until the votes at 2 p.m. Written declarations (Rule 171)

Thank you very much, Mr Liese! I would like to remind you that, for technical reasons, we are speaking from the ground up, mainly in the catch-the-eye procedure. You are very welcome to come forward here as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know that there is a very emotional debate, it is about life and death, it is about guilt and atonement. Nevertheless, at the end of this first round of speakers, I would like to point out that it is not one of our parliamentary practices that rallies of displeasure or applause take place from the tribune.

I would like to welcome here a bipartisan delegation of six members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine who are following this important debate from the stands. Their presence is a sign of our shared commitment and determination to fight for our shared values and ideals, to intensify our joint parliamentary work and to support Ukraine on its European path. (Applause)

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine (2022/2655(RSP)).

– In accordance with Rule 136(5) of the Rules of Procedure, a motion for a resolution has been tabled*. The debate is closed. The vote will take place today. _______________ * See Minutes. Written declarations (Article 171)

The next item on the agenda is the oral questions to the Council and the Commission on the creation of the European Education Area by 2025 – micro-credentials, individual learning accounts and learning for a sustainable environment (O-000012/2022 - B9-0014/22) (O-000011/2022 - B9-0013/22) (2022/2568(RSP)). I would like to remind you that, with the exception of the first two rows, which are reserved for the chairmen of the political groups, there is a free choice of seats. After inserting your voting cards into the voting machine, you can use your voting machine to request spontaneous interventions and blue cards. Please always carry your voting card with you. Instructions are available in the Chamber. If you would like to speak spontaneously, I would ask you to do so from now on and not to wait until the end of the debate. I would also like to point out that blue cards can also be held up for a short speech and that a follow-up question is allowed thereafter. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that interventions in the Chamber will continue to take place from the central lectern, with the exception of spontaneous interventions, blue cards and remarks on the application of the Rules of Procedure. I would therefore ask you to keep an eye on the list of speakers and to go to the lectern shortly before the start of your speaking time.

As far as the explanation of vote on Mr Lega's report is concerned. Any further explanations of vote may be submitted in writing or may be dealt with tomorrow evening after the debates. The meeting closed and will resume tomorrow, Wednesday 4 May 2022, at 8.30 a.m. with a key debate on the Council and Commission statements on the impact of the Russian war in Ukraine on society and the economy in the EU and on strengthening the EU’s capacity to act (2022/2653(RSP)). The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website. We are at the end of today's agenda. I thank everyone for their cooperation and wish everyone a blessed night's sleep. The session is closed.