Speeches

Dear Mr President, Dear Commissioner, thank you very much for the work you have done over the last five years and also for the report on the Energy Union. But let's be honest today and look at the next five years. Europe is facing huge energy challenges. Energy prices in Europe are far too high, and that is why Europe needs to act now and complete the European internal energy market. Let's be honest: The expansion of renewable energy is progressing too slowly, especially when we see China building twice as much solar and wind capacity as all the other countries in the world combined. That is why Europe needs to act now, remove bureaucratic hurdles and adapt the current electricity market design through capacity mechanisms. Let's also be honest: Europe's dependence on external energy suppliers is far too high. From dependence on Russian energy, we have become dependent on Chinese technologies and raw materials, and that is why Europe must act now to secure energy sovereignty by expanding domestic resources. Let's be honest: Energy security will also be of great importance in the next legislature. Not only do we now see the volatility of energy infrastructure in floodplains, but we also need to make them resilient to cyberattacks. Let's be honest: The innovation dynamics in the field of climate protection technologies have suffered greatly in recent years. We see that the increase in patent applications in innovation markers is mainly due to an increase in Asian applicants. That is why Europe must act now and invest in the competitiveness of our own industry. Ladies and gentlemen, we must ensure safe, affordable and sustainable energy for the people of Europe. It's time to deliver.