Speeches

(Protests) Sorry. I really ask for respect. Every opinion is allowed as long as it respects the others. I want that you pay respect to every speaker here. Please.

(Reacting to the speaker waving a flag) Please take it away. It's not allowed. Sorry, I have to remind you that showing flags in this room is not allowed. You can do everything outside, but not in the room. I have to stop this with everyone, so please also with you. And I find it disrespectful Not in the interest of the cause. Excuse me, it's not like that. I believe that we must all act correctly here so that we can also act accordingly when other insults or other administrative offences occur. And I think the left should remember that too. Excuse me. (Applause)

The next item on the agenda is the debate on a topical issue - Lessons learned from the Budapest Pride Parade, the urgent need for an EU-wide anti-discrimination law and the defence of fundamental rights against extreme right-wing threats. I would like to draw Members' attention to the fact that the debate does not accept spontaneous interventions or ‘blue cards’.

The minutes of yesterday's meeting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any objections? That is not the case. The minutes have therefore been approved.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Ondřej Kolář, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina (2025/2018(INI)) (A10-0108/2025).

The next item is the debate on the report by Andreas Schieder, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Albania (2025/2017(INI)) (A10-0106/2025).

Today, we are discussing the Media Freedom Act, which sets the framework for journalists to write, research and write their articles freely and independently. They discredit media workers here, journalists as liars. What are you justifying this? How can you prove that? Why do you claim that mainstream media professionals are liars? I do not think this is worthy of an unsustainable reproach here in this House and this House.

Mr President, Commissioner, honourable representative of the Danish Presidency of the Council, ladies and gentlemen! The European Media Freedom Act is a big step – a milestone on paper. But one law alone is not enough. We all remember: When the EMFA was presented, the enthusiasm was great. Finally, a European law to protect journalistic independence. A clear signal: The EU stands with the free media. But what we are seeing now is a familiar pattern. The bill is celebrated, but when it comes to implementation, it suddenly becomes silent. Then we talk about exceptions, transitional periods, national sensitivities, and I say quite clearly: That's not enough! What we need is no applause for declarations of intent. What we need is political courage, even when it becomes uncomfortable. This is not a detail of regulation. It is about the basic democratic architecture of Europe. A diverse, independent and free media landscape is not nice to have. It is the foundation of every liberal democracy. And yes, media can be uncomfortable, they even have to be. A government that cannot live with it does not oppose the media, but opposes democracy itself. What we are currently seeing, including in the EU, is worrying. Journalists continue to be monitored, sued, pressured, and in some Member States the implementation of the EMFA is lagging far behind. Particularly in those parts that are not formulated as a regulation, but where active action in the Member States is necessary. At the same time, we see that in some states there is simply a lack of political will to really do something and make the media independent. Hence my appeal: We must not allow governments to celebrate their approval of the law and then steal from responsibility when it gets serious and it goes into implementation. Consistent implementation, clear control and, if necessary, procedures against Member States that do not comply with the common rules are needed. The 8th of August is no longer far away and actually this is the date when the legislation should work and be implemented. Don't start to implement and don't start to build structures. That was the deadline. If we really want to do something for the media, then we must finally act consistently and above all strongly and courageously.

The next item on the agenda is the joint debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the risk of increasing destabilisation in the Middle East following the military escalation between Israel and Iran (2025/2770(RSP)) and on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip (2025/2747(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission on the latest developments regarding the amendment of the regulations on air passenger rights and air carrier liability (2025/2743(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Ana Catarina Mendes, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the Commission report on the rule of law 2024 (2024/2078(INI)) (A10-0100/2025).

I just wanted to explain: We have a very tight schedule today, so unfortunately we can only allow one blue card per Member in a debate – only for the information of colleagues who want to ask a question about the blue card procedure. If you have already submitted one, I will not allow it in the further course of the debate.

The next item is the debate on the report by Isabel Wiseler-Lima, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 (2024/2081(INI)) (A10-0012/2025).

I will now give the floor to the Vice-President/High Representative, but before that I want to explain that those who were here during the debate got the floor under catch-the-eye. If you are not here during the debate, there is no right to have the catch-the-eye due to the rules.

The next item is the joint debate on: – the report by David McAllister, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2024 (2024/2080(INI)) (A10-0010/2025); – the report by Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024 (2024/2082(INI)) (A10-0011/2025).

The minutes of yesterday's sitting and the texts adopted are available. Are they any comments? I see that is not the case. The minutes are approved.

Before we start the debate, I would like to say that I am closing the Catch the Eye now, because we actually have the rule that those who want to speak under Catch the Eye should be present during the debate, and the debate started more than ten minutes ago with the statements of the rapporteur and the Commission. Due to the fact that we are lagging quite far behind the actual timetable due to the long vote this afternoon, I ask for your understanding that in this case I am interpreting the rules very strictly.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on. – the oral question to the Council on the adoption, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, of the proposal for a regulation on parenthood of Ilhan Kyuchyuk (O-000004/2025 – B10-0003/25) (2025/2545(RSP)) and. – Oral question to the Commission on the adoption, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, of the proposal for a regulation on parenthood of Ilhan Kyuchyuk (O-000005/2025 – B10-0004/25) (2025/2545(RSP)).