Speeches

Thank you very much, Mr Sieper. And again to Mr Streit for the cultural contribution this afternoon. I think sometimes the topics are also such that you can often only grasp them in rhymes to really grasp them. I would like to end the debate with a brief appeal, namely an appeal to the Member States to finally listen to Parliament, the Commission and the citizens here and to finally end this nonsense.

The meeting resumed. The minutes of yesterday's meeting and the texts adopted are available. Are there any objections? I don't see that. The minutes have therefore been approved.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, The EU is at a crucial point. It is about the future of our audiovisual media landscape and whether we can preserve our cultural identity in global competition. The AVMSD is not a bureaucratic obstacle, but an expression of European sovereignty. It creates fair conditions in a market that has long been global. When American platforms and streaming services operate in Europe, they benefit from our audience, our creatives, our infrastructure – and those who play with us in the European market must also comply with European rules. This is not a distortion of competition, but a legitimate policy tool to balance the market and ensure that European content remains visible. We don't want a cultural struggle with the US, but we can't sacrifice our own culture. It is disappointing that, following recent announcements from Washington, the Commission has not positioned itself more clearly on the AVMS. We need a strong, appropriate signal now. Europe remains open, competitive and self-confident, defending what makes us: our cultural diversity.

The debate is closed. The session is interrupted. It will be resumed in a few minutes with the speech of Sjarhej Zichanouski and Svyatlana Zichanouskaja.

Thank you very much, Mr Gražulis! I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that everyone here has the opportunity – like everyone else – to do so, including at: Blue card and other ways to speak. I picked you up, too. Unfortunately, I had overlooked God's on the list because ESN was relatively far behind. That wasn't a bad intention. In this respect, each of us is treated equally. I would like to make this clear again at this point.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on the situation in Belarus five years after the manipulated presidential election (2025/2900(RSP)). I would like to remind you once again that there will be no previous list of speakers in this debate either. After the first round of political groups, Members who have received speaking time from their political groups or from the secretariat for non-attached Members are invited to take the floor. I would also like to remind you of the speaking time allocated to you, because we are expecting a guest here at 12 noon and must therefore also end the debate on time. Please note the screens in the Chamber displaying the current speaker as well as the three subsequent speakers. As soon as your name appears as the next speaker, please prepare and go to the lectern. During the debate, the usual rules apply to blue cards and spontaneous interventions.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the report by Andrzej Halicki and Matjaž Nemec, on behalf of the Committee on Budgets, on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 – all sections (11216/2025 - C10‐0206/2025 - 2025/0210(BUD)) (A10-0192/2025).

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 22 October 2025.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Before we start today, I would like to ask for a moment of your time to commemorate our former colleague Petra Kammerevert, who died far too young – aged 59 – on the weekend after a serious illness. Petra has been a long-standing valued colleague and former Chair of the Committee on Culture, and she will be remembered as a passionate advocate for culture, education and media freedom in Europe. It has stood up for cultural cohesion in Europe and justice across party borders and has always defended the idea of European identity. She has also played a decisive role here in the House with her work on the AVMSD or the EMFA, a law that is crucial for creating a level playing field and new audiovisual media and also places the freedom of journalism at the forefront. Without their reliable use, these laws would certainly not have come into being. You could argue with her politically wonderfully in the matter, but on the human level she has always met you with great respect and warmth. Unfortunately, this is far too rare in politics. I will represent Parliament at her funeral on behalf of the President, and I ask that we stop for a moment to commemorate Petra Kammerevert.

Thank you very much, Minister. Thank you also to all the colleagues who took part in this very important debate! There were many in today's debate. Thank you very much for that. At the end of the debate, six 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, Thursday 9 October 2025. The session is now briefly interrupted. It will be resumed in a few minutes with the speech of Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland. Thank you very much.

Please have some respect, Mr László. You had your speaking time, and she can give her answer. You had the 30 seconds, and now our colleague has her 30 seconds.

The debate is closed. I will now interrupt the meeting for a few minutes, as it will be followed by the debate entitled ‘What makes Europe’ with Mr Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg. The session will resume in a few minutes. Thank you very much!

Thank you very much. It would be very nice to get the table you showed to all the Members, because normally showing tables or having books or other things in this room is not allowed. So it would be good, when it is factual information, to send it. I think it would be more effective if you can take a look at it. Thank you very much for that.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on "Time to complete a fully integrated internal market: Europe’s key to growth and future prosperity’ (2025/2898(RSP)).

Mr. Vilimsky, according to our rules, it is not allowed to show books here, just as it is not allowed to wear t-shirts with political prints. I ask you to continue the book, and I also ask you now to end your speaking time, because it has been over for a long time. Thank you very much! Mr. Vilimsky, we have rules. Please also respect your speaking time! You've been over it for half a minute. Thank you very much! You are welcome to go to your place and follow the debate.

Thank you very much for this. We will take the point, as we already did before, and we will discuss it also with the President. It's not that we are ignoring what happened. The question is: is it possible at the moment? Under these Rules, we have to make an additional agenda point. That's not possible at the moment under the Rules that are mentioned and cited. So we have to check that with the President.