Speeches

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)).

Two motions for resolutions were tabled at the end of the debate. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow, Thursday 13 March 2025.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on social and employment aspects related to restructuring processes and the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights (2024/2829(RSP)).

Before I give the floor to the next speaker, I would like to announce that I am closing the catch-the-eye procedure. And as we are already half an hour over the time, we will not accept any more blue cards.

The next meeting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 12 March at 9 a.m. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.

The next item on the agenda is the explanations of vote. But I see that Mr Panayiotou has already left the room, and therefore this item on the agenda is considered to have been dealt with, and Mr Panayiotou can then make his statement in writing if he so wishes.

The debate is closed. I would have liked those who took part in the debate to have stayed there until the end. I would like to express my thanks to the Commission and the Council for their presence until the end.

Before I pass the floor to our Commissioner, I would like to announce that we will not open the catch-the-eye or the blue card because of the time delay.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip following the expiry of the ceasefire (2025/2603(RSP)).

At the end of the debate, eight motions for resolutions were tabled pursuant to Rule 136(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 12 March 2025.

Thank you very much also for keeping the time. And I would again say that we closed already the catch-the-eye procedure. So for those who are now arriving, there is no chance for catch-the-eye or for blue cards.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the need for the EU to support a just transition and reconstruction in Syria (2025/2569(RSP)). I really beg everyone who is speaking today to keep the time, because we are already very late. And I announce directly at the beginning that we can just take five people for the catch-the-eye procedure. So we will open it shortly and then I will close it when we have five announced, because otherwise we will be here until midnight.