Speeches

I have received 1 motion for a resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 136(5) of the Rules of Procedure. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow.

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade, on the outcome of the Commission's review of the 15-point action plan on trade and sustainable development (O-000029/0022 - B9-0021/2022) (2022/2692(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the report by Fabio Massimo Castaldo, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the EU’s strategic relations and partnership with the Horn of Africa (2021/2206 (INI)) (A9-0207/2022).

The next item is the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the situation in Burkina Faso following the coup d’état (2022/2865(RSP)). As you can see, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be represented by Commissioner Urpilainen.

Yes, I agree, but with regard to the timing we are way behind schedule. That’s why it was my decision. I agree it’s not democratic, but it’s the situation. Thank you for understanding.

Thank you, High Representative. I think we have to close our debate here as we are running very late. The High Representative has a schedule and we will not continue like that. We have had 12 speakers according to the D’Hondt system, and 5 minutes, it’s the case. Would you like to say something on procedure, Mr Castaldo?

Next item: Question Time (VP/HR) (Rule 137) I welcome Josep Borrell to attend this Question Time. Question Time topic: Increased tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a result of the recent military escalation I will remind you of the procedure. This question time will last about 60 minutes. One minute for a question, two minutes for an answer, 30 seconds for a supplementary question and two minutes for an answer to a supplementary question. I recall that a possible supplementary question can be asked only if it is closely linked to the main question and is not a new one. If you wish to ask a question, I invite you to register your request now using the catch-the-eye function on your voting machine after you have inserted your voting card. Interventions during the questions will be taken from the floor and I urge all speakers to respect the speaking time available. Colleagues may need a few moments to register their request to ask a question via the voting machine. I therefore once again invite you to submit your request now, and we will start with the first question.

Communication: Parliament scrutinises, on the basis of a proposal from the JURI Committee, the mandates of Mrs Patricia Chagnon, Ms Marie Dauchy, Ms Marina Mesure - I apologise if wrong - Mr Eric Minardi, which entered into force on 29 July 2022, as well as Ms Ana Miranda, which entered into force on 5 September 2022, and Mr João Albuquerque, which entered into force on 13 September 2022.

I have received seven motions for resolutions to wind up this debate. The debate is closed. The vote will take place on Thursday. Written statements (Rule 171)

Dear colleagues, I would urge not to abandon certain Members, and I remind you that paragraph 173 on so-called personal statements is on our agenda: you have the right to reply.

Thank you very much, Commissioner. Before we continue our debate I just would like to ask colleagues who would like to participate in the catch—the—eye procedure to be sure to apply for the procedure very carefully, otherwise I can give the floor only to those Members whom I see on registration.

The next item is the debate on the report by Juan Fernando López Aguilar, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2020 and 2021 (2021/2186(INI)) (A9-0224/2022).

I think I caught the point in English. So well, of course, there are difficulties and it was a very painful time. But while my Group and also in my political view is always that everybody, all ruling bodies like governments and EU level should do their own work on this crisis situation. For example, I think most should be done to decrease this pain level by national governments and at the same time the European Union level should take responsibilities to keep it in a balance in joint actions in the single market and energy problems and so on. That’s my ideal combination on how we can solve this crisis.

Madam President, Mrs von der Leyen, I have to start with the fact that this is the best speech – a State of the Union speech that I have heard here for many years. However, only in the part that contains the quick and concrete work that needs to be done, which you presented today, because in it you said what needs to be done in this difficult situation and tried, in my opinion, not to intimidate the many political views here. And thank you for that! This is an eye-opening year, in which part of Europe slept in a sweet sleep and widely closed eyes. You have to open your eyes! It is necessary to understand that the situation is different, and to strengthen your pain threshold! For example, years ago we created the European Energy Union. Instead, we get a new pipeline to Russia. And now many are hurting. And here I would like to say that your programme on the energy market seems acceptable, and go quickly, in my opinion, with these steps to difficult negotiations with the Member States and make sure that it does not disrupt the energy sector, of course, the single market, which is extremely important. We started building the Strategic Compass before the war in Ukraine. However, the war in Ukraine – with Ukrainians relying primarily on our transatlantic partners and its European neighbours – forces us, in my opinion, to revisit the direction of this compass. And the enlargement of NATO in Europe also proves where the security needle for this compass is. I would therefore urge you, and also our own colleagues, to focus on what is important and what is decisive. And let us not scream at the insubstantial! (The speaker agreed to respond to the blue card)

The meeting is closed and it will resume tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14, at 7 p.m. 9 a.m. with a key debate on the statement by the President of the Commission on the State of the Union (2022/2754(RSP)). The agenda has been published and is available on the website of the European Parliament.