Speeches

The next vote is on 'Presidential elections in Honduras, the non-recognition of the outcome by the incumbent administration and the attacks on opposition members of the National Assembly' (see minutes, item 6.2).

The PfE Group has 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.

Mr President, dear Mr López Aguilar! We have together for the EMFA fought – as LIBE Committee, as Culture Committee, I also as Rapporteur. We have actually made legislation designed to prevent or prevent in the future the things that are so emotionally debated here about many different Member States, about the lack of freedom that we have in some countries with regard to public service broadcasting or the media as a whole. Do you also believe that the Commission needs to take action to verify whether what is happening in Lithuania at the moment is really the case? EMFA which entered into force on 8 August of last year? Yes or no?

I will now explain the rules for blue cards again: 30 seconds for questions, 30 seconds for the answers. The button for the blue card must be pressed during the original speech. Afterwards we cannot accept it. I hope that is clear for the next rounds.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on the attempted takeover of Lithuanian public service broadcasting and the threat to democracy in Lithuania (2026/2568(RSP)).

I will explain again: the time for a blue‑card question is 30 seconds, and the time for the answer is also 30 seconds. There is a possibility to ask again, but don't stretch the time too much.

However, I would like to point out again from the beginning: This Parliament is directly elected by the citizens of the Parliament and not a sham Parliament. I would like to say this explicitly again. I would also ask you to respect the sovereign, namely the citizens of Europe, in this House as well.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on Council and Commission statements on combating AI de-epfakes and sexual exploitation on social media by making full use of EU rules in the digital field (2026/2561(RSP)).

As we are running out of time, I would propose, as Mr Gražulis is also on the catch-the-eye list, that you stay on the catch-the-eye list, because I have to close now the catch-the-eye procedure. We have a long list of speakers that are foreseen. It was a first try to have this new culture of debate, but we are still limited on time. So I really beg you, when we do it next, that we really stick to questions and answers and don't debate as long in between about other things than the issue. Thank you very much for your understanding.

Yes, but in what form he answers, everyone decides for himself. Unfortunately, that's the case. And then you can decide for yourself: He didn't answer me. But we can't dictate how he responds to your question. Thank you very much. (Other comments) Please, let me say unfairness with regard to the Rules of Procedure - we should all be a little quieter here in the House.

Mr. Sieper, I must also point out to you: Where is the Point of Order? (Remarks by Mr. Sieper when the microphone is switched off) Mr. Sieper, you are asking a question. And whether or not the person who is asked answers the question is up to him. We can't tell him that. In this respect, I ask that we now continue in the debate.

Mr Körner, I have said exactly the same to this speaker, that he cannot speak to anything else, but to ... (In response to Mr Körner's remarks when the microphone was switched off) Mr. Sieper does not answer either. Mr Sieper has a request for a Blue card the current speaker, as did Mr Gražulis. So, I pointed out to Mr Gražulis that he is kind enough to ask a question to the current speaker and cannot simply address the previous one. I have expressly pointed this out. Mr Gražulis then asked a question to the current speaker. I cannot tell a speaker how to respond, Mr Körner, neither to you, nor to Mr Gražulis, nor to Mr Bocheński, nor to anyone else. I have this here Blue CardProceedings opened. I have duly pointed out that there is always a question to be asked. And actually, Mr. Sieper would now be with his Blue card Mr Bocheński, but Mr Bocheński has already sat down. (In response to comments from Mr Bocheński) You are here. So, Mr Sieper, do you insist? No? Please, let's go on in the debate. I tried to do it with you, to have a more lively debate, but you also have to respect and to deal with the rules. Then we can have more living debates. If it is like this, we cannot do it anymore.

(In response to comments from Mr Körner) We have a process that allows questions. We want to have a lively debate in this House. Now we have a lively debate because we say that we can open the blue-card system. As long as we have time to do so, I'm allowed to give the blue card to those who ask for it. I just explain. If the time is not enough, then we have to shut the blue card.

Let me explain the rules again. If we have an Blue card If you have, I can ask a second question immediately afterwards. If it doesn't come, I can't go back later. Blue card press. So, Mr Gražulis, you should have asked the second question immediately. I looked at you, you sat, you didn't react. Sorry, it's over now. (In response to statements by Mr Gražulis when the microphone is switched off) Yeah, yeah.

In theory, I have more Blue cards, but it is actually not possible to go back to the Blue card But only to the original speech of the speaker. I'm going to explain this so that everyone really knows the rules. When the speaker speaks, I can Blue CardAsk a question. I can then ask another question about my question. But during this ping-pong it is not possible to go into questions again. That's just for explanation. Next time directly, because I think such debates also make an exchange here in Parliament more lively.

The next item on the agenda is the report by Jean-Marc Germain and Monika Hohlmeier, on behalf of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Budgetary Control, on the implementation of the conditionality regime (2025/2061(INI)) (A10-0240/2025). First of all, I would like to give the floor to Jean-Marc Germain as rapporteur.