Speeches

The next meeting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 22 October, at 9 a.m. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.

Thank you very much, Commissioner. Allow me a word of conclusion for this debate. You have insisted on the parliamentary dimension of this cooperation, and I want to tell you that the European Parliament has decided to have an office in Addis Ababa, as close as possible to the African Union. This is extremely important, and we will have the opportunity here in this plenary to hear from the African Union authorities. In conclusion, pursuant to Rule 136(2) of the Rules of Procedure, I have received eight motions for resolutions. The debate is now closed. The vote will take place on Thursday, 23 October 2025.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on Renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities in view of the Angola Summit" (2025/2933(RSP)). I give the floor to Commissioner Magnus Brunner to begin with for the European Commission. Commissioner, you are already expected.

Madam President, in Madagascar, a youth is rising. It is called Generation Z. She cries out for justice, respect, dignity. But these dreams clash with poverty, corruption, the reign of oligarchs and the chains of an unequal world order in which we participate and which confiscates their future. In Antananarivo, Kathmandu, Rabat, Jakarta, the same voice is rising, an international of anger and despair of a youth freed from the fear of the powerful. This conscious and connected youth wants to believe in a possible future and to have taken on the construction of its destiny and that of its country. Let's hear it. For in Europe, as everywhere else in the world, the time of youth has come, and it is capable of taking away the old world.

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the beginning of the next sitting. If there is no objection, I will forward the resolutions adopted at today's meeting to their addressees.

We turn to explanations of vote on package travel and related travel arrangements: strengthening the protection of travellers and simplifying and clarifying certain aspects.

Before giving you the floor, Commissioner, let me make a comment and say that, since Monday, of all our debates, the debate we have this afternoon is probably the one that speaks the most to the millions of European citizens. It is a very concrete debate, which concerns all families, and it is a debate that unites us. And we are proud to discuss this in the European Parliament. And we are proud of the European Union's strategy on Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. I give you the floor, Commissioner.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the European strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia (2025/2859(RSP)).

The minutes of yesterday's sitting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any observations? That's not the case. The minutes were approved.

The next item is the joint debate on cohesion policy, which covers three reports: – the report by Ciaran Mullooly, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on the role of cohesion policy in supporting the just transition (2024/2121(INI)) (A10‐0137/2025), – the report by Marcos Ros Sempere, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on the role of cohesion policy investments in resolving the current housing crisis (2024/2120(INI)) (A10‐0139/2025), – and the report by Vladimir Prebilič, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on the possibilities for simplification of cohesion funds (2024/2106(INI)) (A10‐0138/2025).

The next item is the debate on the report by Dragoş Benea, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review (COM(2025)0123 – C10‐0063/2025 – 2025/0084(COD)) (A10-0129/2025). I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there will be only one round of speakers from the political groups for this debate. There will therefore be no on-demand intervention or blue card.

The next item is the debate on the report by Marit Maij, on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges (COM(2025)0164 – C10‐0064‐2025 – 2025/0085(COD)). I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there will be only one round of speakers from the political groups for this debate. There will therefore be no on-demand intervention or blue card.

Mr President, this autumn, you will agree, the urgency is social. Europe has never had so many working poor, families plunged into precariousness, students forced to choose between food and healthcare. Factory closures are accelerating, territories are emptying and poverty is reaching unprecedented levels. Paradoxically, Europe has never been so rich, with so many billionaires capturing a significant share of the wealth produced. The urgency is not in the accounting policies dictated by the European Commission and the financial markets. The urgency is in a dignified life and in happiness for the greatest number. It is also for these reasons that in France, tonight, the government of François Bayrou has fallen and that Wednesday promises a great day of popular mobilization.