Speeches

The next vote is on the new Chinese law on ‘ethnic unity and progress’ and the intensified suppression of ethnic identities (see minutes, item 7.2).

The PfE Group has notified the President of a decision relating to changes to appointments within committees. This decision will be set out in the minutes of today's sitting and take effect from the date of this announcement. ⁂ I would like to inform the House that I have received two requests for points of order.

Madam President! Cyberbullying isn't just a word on a screen. This really has consequences for children and young people. We know life on social media. Cyberbullying is just one of countless negative consequences that our children and young people can face. For far too long, platforms have been monetizing attention, especially the one driven by conflict, harassment, and humiliation. We cannot and should not accept that. With the DSA, we took an incredibly important step. We established that what is illegal offline is also illegal online, and we placed a responsibility on platforms for their systemic risks. But we are not there because it continues. We pay them fines, but not enough is being done to protect our children. Therefore, we also need to talk about the need for a stronger framework. This also applies to criminal law. I think we should consider whether platforms should not be held accountable when we can prove time and time again that they are not doing enough to protect our children. You can't hide behind your business model. We need to take our responsibility and make sure something happens. We must protect our children and young people in Europe. Thank you.

Mr. President! I find it hard to understand why we are even spending plenary time on this debate. Because the premise is completely wrong. The European Commission does not interfere in democratic elections. It's trying to protect them. It is about free and fair elections, about the right of citizens to vote on an informed basis, and about ensuring that our democracies are not manipulated from the outside by those who do not want us well. We have seen Russian disinformation. We have seen attempts to create distrust and division in Moldova, in Romania, in Hungary – in several places. This is precisely why the EU has taken massive action against disinformation. This includes the European Democracy Shield. What we should discuss is how to protect credible media and how to ensure free elections without manipulation from abroad. A strong Europe requires strong democracies, and that requires us to resign when extreme groups try to weaken the institutions that protect our democracy.

(In response to off-mic comments from Cristian Terheş) No, it's up to me to decide whether I will give you the floor for the second time. We have a very long speakers' list, so you will not be given the time.

Thank you very much, we will take note of that, Mr Sieper. That was the first round of speakers on behalf of the political groups. Now I will open the blue card. Please use it.

The next item is the debate on the report by Evin Incir and Joanna Scheuring‑Wielgus, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, on the importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU (2025/2040(INI)) (A10-0047/2026).

The next item is the debate on the report by Dick Erixon, on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on 'control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank Group – annual report 2024' (2025/2237(INI)) (A10-0086/2026).

The next sitting will be tomorrow, Thursday 26 March 2026, at 09:00. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website. The sitting is closed and I wish you all a good night.

The next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance, in accordance with Rule 179. I would like to inform you that for the one-minute speeches, you are invited to take the floor from your seat. And remember, it's one minute. It's late, also, so I hope that you will respect the speaking time.

The next item is the debate on the report by Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on combating corruption (COM(2023)0234 – C9‑0162/2023 – 2023/0135(COD)) (A9‑0048/2024).

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on imminent death penalty threats in Iran in the light of the latest executions, including on 18 and 19 March 2026, by the Iranian regime (2026/2664(RSP)). I would like to inform Members that there will be only one round of political group speakers for this debate. Therefore, there is no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue card will be accepted.

Madam President, well, I have decided not to read out my speech. I want to speak more freely because I really think that what Council President Costa said was so important. We are living in challenging times. Europe is threatened. We have war around us. The war in Ukraine is threatening us as well, but I do believe that there is hope. Yesterday, we had an election in Denmark. 12 parties were elected to the parliament. It is a very fragmented political landscape. I am happy to say that my Prime Minister was doing well – my party is the biggest – but we are divided on a lot of questions. Yet, we have decided that we want to sit down and find political solutions together because we need to work together. We need to solve the problems that people have and we need to have peace, but the only way to deliver on that is to find ways to work together. Therefore, I have to say that Hungary needs to come into the fight. We need to have them on board. They have to realise that we need to help Ukraine, for instance, but we need to work together, otherwise we will not solve the problems. I think that I am happy to say that Denmark can maybe be the role model for how we do it in Europe.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the Savings and Investments Union: time to accelerate the process to deepen market integration (2026/2646(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on building Europe's clean, independent and secure energy following the 2026 North Sea Summit (2026/2614(RSP)).

I have an announcement. The EPP and ECR groups have notified the President of decisions relating to changes to appointments within committees. These decisions will be set out in the minutes of today's sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement.