Speeches

Madam President! The US is the EU's main ally. It was the United States before the election. It's still the United States, but there's a man. Our world is changing. Global challenges of war, of climate change and of poverty call for action, and some will have to respond. We do this best in global cooperation, and in the EU we do not waver in the fight against climate change or in support of Ukraine. Nor should they do so in the United States, even if they have a new man in the White House. In the European Union, we build our cooperation both here and abroad on democratic values, on our rule of law and on our fundamental rights. Our cooperation with the United States should also be based on this, including in the future. But we need to do more together in the EU. We need to take greater responsibility for our own safety. We need to be able to do better on our own, but we also need to continue our close cooperation with the United States. Only in this way can we solve the global challenges of war, climate change and poverty. We have to do that together.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement entitled 'Seven years from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia: lack of progress in restoring the rule of law in Malta' (2024/2868(RSP)).

Thank you very much for that. I agree that if you're here and at the speaker's place, then you're not allowed to expose political messages. That's the way I try to rule the debate.

Thank you very much. We will take note of that. And it's true that it's not allowed to expose political messages on your clothes. So please respect that, colleagues.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks (2024/2889(RSP)).

Mr President! For almost three years, Ukrainians have been fighting for their country and for their freedom. But they have also fought for European values, for our peace and our freedom. Ukraine is currently a physical bulwark against Putin's aggression. The least we can do, then, is to support and strengthen the Ukrainian struggle, militarily, civilianly, economically. That is why it is an important decision that we will be voting on tomorrow. It is expensive to wage war. Now, together, we are giving Ukraine an extra financial boost, which is important. This loan mechanism can help them to carry the war forward. It's so important. And the financing, it comes from the interest income from frozen Russian funds. In this way, the Russians themselves help finance Ukraine's war economy. I think that's pretty smart. I hope you will support the loan tomorrow when we vote on it. This is extremely important for Ukraine. This is very important for our freedom as well. It is incredibly solidarity.

Mr President, Commissioner. More and more people are shopping online. Toys, clothes, gifts. It's easy, it's convenient, and it's convenient. But if you shop on platforms like Temu, it can harm your health, our environment and European competitiveness, and too many of Temu's products, for example, they simply do not live up to European rules. They are harmful to health, harmful to the environment, and then they are also detrimental to our competitive situation for our European companies. That is why something needs to happen. We have a lot of new rules, but we need them to be enforced. Therefore, I would like to call on the European Commission to start enforcing the rules and to do it a little faster than what is happening today. We've got some good rules in what I said. The question is whether they are good enough, the question is whether more needs to be done. One of the things that I think we should look at is whether we really should not give these trading platforms an importer responsibility, so that they were given a very concrete and direct responsibility for ensuring that the products they sell comply with European rules. So faster and better, and if that's not enough, then I think we need to look at whether we need even more stricter rules.

It was not a point of order, and we are in the vote. Colleagues, I will ask you to vote electronically by roll call on Amendment 1, as it was originally.

Thank you very much, Mr Bellamy. I would like to ask the Chamber if there is any opposition to this oral amendment to Amendment 1? Sorry, we're not taking a debate about it. I asked if there is any opposition, and if there is, please stand up so I can see it. And we need more than 39. If that's not the case, then I will proceed with the vote.

Good afternoon, colleagues. I will start with an announcement. The non‑attached Members have notified the President of a decision relating to changes to appointments within the delegations. This decision will be set out in the minutes of today's sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement. ⁂ I have received a couple of requests for points of order, and I will start by giving the floor to Mr Sieper.

We now continue with the debate on the Commission statement on the rise of religious intolerance in Europe (2024/2825(RSP)). It's finally your turn, Mr Zdechovský. You have the floor for one minute and 30 seconds, and I do apologise for the fact that you had to spring back and forth.

Colleagues, you have to conclude before the end of your speech, and when you see the red light, you should at least do it there and not continue for half a minute.