Speeches

Dear colleagues, we have the pleasure to welcome to the distinguished visitors’ gallery a delegation of parliamentarians from Malaysia, led by the Speaker of the Parliament. They are here for the 10th EU—Malaysian interparliamentary meeting. Welcome to the Chamber. Enjoy your time in the European Parliament. (Applause)

Mr Buda, I have to tell you that you are on the list of speakers, so I will not take you on the blue card and give the floor to Mr Bas Eickhout.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have several pages of interventions, which is understandable on this important subject. I would very much ask that, given the abundance of speakers' lists, we be somewhat reluctant to speak in response to the blue card procedure. I can take a maximum of one person per speaker. But I would ask, after we have so many speakers and all opinions are represented here, that we also take into account the list of speakers here. A maximum of one blue card, but only if it is urgently needed. But I do not want to intervene in the debate otherwise, because it is a very emotional and important issue anyway.

The first item on the agenda is the debate on the report by César Luena, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration (COM(2022)0304 – C9-0208/2022 – 2022/0195(COD)) (A9-0220/2023).

I come to a communication: In accordance with Rule 158(2) of the Rules of Procedure, I would like to inform the plenary, on a proposal from the President and with the agreement of the political groups, that the vote on the Regulation on the promotion of ammunition production will take place on Thursday 13 July. The following deadlines apply: Amendments must be tabled by 1 p.m. on 11 July. Separate and separate votes today until 7 p.m.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘For the protection of cosmetic products without animal cruelty and a Europe without animal testing’ (2023/2679(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Tiemo Wölken, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (‘strategic actions against public participation’) (COM(2022)0177 – C9-0161/2022 – 2022/0117(COD) (A9-0223/2023).

Mrs. Roswall, thank you is also with us. Thank you for your commitment, your constant presence and your openness in dialogue with the European Parliament – not only in this House, but also in the meetings we had together in cooperation with national parliaments. Thank you very much and all the best.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements in preparation for the European Council on 29-30 June 2023, in particular in the light of the recent steps towards the conclusion of the Pact on Migration (2023/2678(RSP)).

My second message this morning is as follows: A request for waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Andris Ameriks and Nils Ušakovs and a request for waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Ioannis Lagos were sent to the President by the competent Latvian authorities. These requests will be referred to Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs for further consideration.

I have two messages to make. Firstly: Gemäß Artikel 158 Absatz 2 der Geschäftsordnung wird auf Vorschlag der Präsidentin und mit Zustimmung der Fraktionen die Reihenfolge der beiden Aussprachen am Donnerstagmorgen, also morgen, umgekehrt. The meeting on Thursday will therefore start with the debate on the oral question to the Commission on the accession of Ukraine to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters of 2 July 2019 and will be followed by the debate on the Commission statement on the water crisis in Europe. If there are no objections, this amendment will be adopted.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission on the situation of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement in the light of the recent visit of the High Representative to the island (2023/2744(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda 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 Nicaragua (2023/2743(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the violation of the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds (2023/2691(RSP)).

Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Before giving the floor to Mr Paulo Rangel, I would like to pay tribute to the presence of Ms Jackie Fox at today's debate on combating cyberbullying among young people in the EU: She's with us today. Ms Fox is the mother of Coco, a young girl from Ireland who has suffered from cyberbullying for years. These harassments led to Coco's tragic suicide in 2018. Based on these personal tragic experiences, Ms Fox launched a nationwide campaign in Ireland that led to the introduction in 2021 of the Law on Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Crimes, better known as ‘Coco’s Law’, which aims to cover a whole range of online abuse practices. Building on the success of the Irish law, Ms Fox's initiative, which has already led to several legal offences, Ms Fox has now campaigned to criminalise cyberbullying at EU level as well. It is therefore an honour and a responsibility for us as legislators to welcome you today, Mrs Fox, and to thank you for your initiative.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on combating cyberbullying among young people in the EU (2023/2697(RSP)).