Speeches

The next item is the debate on the report by Andrzej Halicki and Matjaž Nemec on the joint text on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 approved by the Conciliation Committee under the budgetary procedure (11216/2025 – C10‑0206/2025 – 2025/0210(BUD)) (A10-0235/2025).

Mr President! Our democracy is under pressure. We live in a digital age where large platforms act as arenas for public debate. But the platforms are not designed for information or proper debate. They are designed for attention. The more extreme attitudes you express, the more you are seen and shared. It has also become harder to figure out what is really on social media, and this is undermining trust in the democratic institutions we should be able to trust. That is why we need a democracy shield. Particularly important is the new European Centre for Democratic Resilience. It will help strengthen authorities, electoral bodies and civil society. But a democracy shield only works if the foundations are in order. And it takes four things. It requires free media. It requires enlightened citizens. This requires clear rules and frameworks for platforms. This requires a strong civil society. We must not take our democracy for granted. We have to fight for it, and we have to start now.

The minutes of today's and yesterday's sittings will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the next part-session. If there are no objections, I shall forward forthwith the resolutions adopted at today's sitting to the persons and bodies named in the resolutions.

We now move to the explanations of vote on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Thank you very much, Mr Sieper. I forgot to say that it was an explanation for the report by Chloé Ridel on addressing transnational repression of human rights defenders.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on combating violence against women and girls, including the exploitation of motherhood (2025/2936(RSP)).

To wind up the debate, I have received one motion for a resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 142(5). The debate is closed. The vote will take place today, 23 October 2025.

The first item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on Audiovisual Media Services Directive obligations in the transatlantic dialogue, tabled by Nela Riehl on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education (O-000026/2025 - B10-0010/25) (2025/2776(RSP)).

I have received from the Council its positions at first reading regarding the safety of toys and the European Maritime Safety Agency. I have also received the reasons which led to their adoption and the positions and opinions of the Commission. The full title will be published in the minutes of today's sitting. The three-month period available to Parliament to adopt its position begins tomorrow, 24 October 2025.

Madam President! We talked about it two weeks ago in this room, but it is important and it requires action. The peace as we knew it is over. Insecurity and hybrid attacks are the new normal. Europe must therefore be able to stand on its own feet and defend itself. Preferably now, but by 2030 at the latest. Our intelligence services say that Russia may be ready to attack a European country within five years. That is why, in Europe, we cannot wait ten or twenty years to get ready, and that is why the Commission's plan for Readiness 2030 is an incredibly important step. A common drone defense, an air and space shield. A strengthened east flank. We need to do more. But the fact is that the further away you get from the Ukrainian border, the less willing European countries are to go in and make an effort. We have to act. We need to be able to protect ourselves, and that is why we need to make sure that we are ready for it, and that is why I support this plan.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy (2025/2917(RSP)).

I also had one more blue card, but due to time constraints, I will only allow one at a time. The next speaker will be Michael von der Schulenburg for one minute, please.

Mr. President! The EU or the European Commission has fined Google DKK 22 billion because Google has abused its power to manipulate who is shown which ads, and abused its dominant position. In doing so, they have given themselves advantages at the expense of other media, advertisers and, not least, at the expense of European citizens. When one company both decides the rules and scores the profit, then the market is not free and democracy comes under pressure. In the EU, EU rules apply, which is why it is incredibly important for me to say a thousand, many thanks to the European Commission for using the good laws we have in the EU to use the Digital Markets Act, the DSA, etc. We need to say stop when the tech giants make their own rules and won't abide by ours. I have no doubt. We must dare to fight, even in this area. We do not want tech giants to abuse their power and threaten free and independent media. Neither citizens nor the free press should rely on platforms that put profit above truth. Because without free media, citizens lose the opportunity to make informed choices, and then we lose the core of our democracy. In the Nordic region, we have a healthy public service culture that gives citizens access to news they can trust. This creates a safeguard against polarisation and against misinformation. This is our democracy shield. I hope that we can build it on so that it will apply throughout Europe. A free Europe requires free media. Not free rein to the tech giants.

Mr President! Our world is more digital now than ever before. And so that we do not have a wild West, there is a need for regulation, and fortunately we have that in the EU. The DSA is a historic step in that direction. But the work doesn't stop there. Europe is under pressure from foreign tech giants and from foreign governments. But they shouldn't be allowed to control our digital lives. For too many years, their business models have been exploiting the data, privacy and mental well-being of Europeans. This is especially true of our children. Social media is flooding with addictive content, manipulation, advertising and other dangerous content. And our children, yes, they have become addicted to the screens. We must not accept that. We need to protect our children. And here the EU has a special responsibility. Mrs Virkkunen, You and I know that it is the EU that must lead the way. We are the only place in the world that makes digital rules with citizens at the centre. That is why we also need to go a step further in protecting our children online. We must make addictive design illegal. We need a Europe-wide age limit for social media. Many countries are underway. Denmark has yesterday proposed an age limit of 15 years. We need to be clear: Foreign tech giants and foreign governments should not be allowed to dictate our digital lives and especially not our children's digital lives. We need rules.

The next item on the agenda is the topical debate requested by the political group ECR (Rule 169) - Europe's automotive future - reversing the ban on the sale of combustion cars in the EU. I would like to remind Members that for this debate, there is no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue-card questions will be accepted.