Speeches

I criticise the political opening of the Commission President and her party family to right-wing and far-right forces. Decisions such as the appointment of Raffaele Fitto as Vice-President of the Commission or the reversal of important progress made in the past legislature, such as the EU Supply Chain Act or the Green Claims Directive for common standards on climate and environmental claims, undermine confidence in a consistently European policy. Nevertheless, this motion of censure was not the right way to go. It was not introduced by convinced democrats, but by declared opponents of the European Union. It is based in part on right-wing conspiracy theories. As a Social Democrat, I am committed to a strong and capable Europe. This requires reliable majorities and clear political responsibility – not playing with destructive forces. This vote and the previous negotiations of our S&D Group were a clear signal – also to the Commission President. Their announcements must now be followed by a consistent European policy.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Turkey, Germany and Europe have a lot in common – and we have heard that today. But there is also a lot that divides us at the moment – we have heard that too. The Turkish government is driving the country further and further away from democracy, the rule of law, freedom of the press and human rights. The arrest of the political competitor – the Istanbul mayor – is just the tip of the iceberg. But in spite of everything: The EU and Turkey belong together. This is also shown by the millions of people, especially young people, who take to the streets in Turkey. All of them are our solidarity. We hear you, we fight with you, and we are loud to you. The Commission must maintain and expand support for democratic forces. Erdoğan's attempt to starve the democratic opposition must not be successful. Unfortunately, the Turkish government continues to show no ambition at all to meet the criteria for EU accession. It is clear: There is no shortcut for Turkey's path to the EU. The same rules apply to everyone. And in spite of everything: The door must remain open.

Dear Vice-President, Dear colleagues! Dear Roxana! We heard a lot today. The debate is now coming to an end. And no matter if Finland, Sweden, Amazon, Tesla or whatever they are called – but also in Germany there are still and quiet voices that make you listen. For example, with regard to critical infrastructure, the FDP has once again demanded: Restricting strikes to avoid economic damage. But not with us, dear FDP, there is no half right to strike. And – as Roxana has just mentioned – the right to strike is also enshrined in Article 28 of our EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Commission and also the Parliament must show a clear edge: The right to strike and collective bargaining are non-negotiable fundamental rights. Workers' rights must not be eroded by national laws or by multinational corporations. And the FDP often talks about competitiveness. So let's talk a little bit about it: These and social rights belong together and are not to be played against each other.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen! We talk a lot about sustainability, about the Green Deal. It is important to make the abstract concrete – here with us, the expansion and attractiveness of rail. After all, as we have just heard, a freight train alone can replace up to 52 trucks. Important here is a Europe-wide freight line expansion and harmonisation for long freight trains up to 740 meters, because this creates more capacity with at the same time more quality at lower costs. Unfortunately, we are also far from harmonization in the passenger transport sector. We need a new Commission proposal for multimodal ticketing – a system, an app for the whole EU. But this app is not enough; We also need the trans-European rail network. Here's another note: In the end, all this must not be to the detriment of transport workers. On the contrary: Their protection and rights are central. So: If we want to achieve our climate goals, optimise the transport of goods and arrive in the reality of life of many commuters – including local transport – and people in Europe, time is indeed running out.