Speeches

Now we come to the end of our session. The minutes of today's and yesterday's sittings will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the beginning of the next sitting. If there are no objections, I will forward the resolutions adopted at today's sitting to the persons and bodies referred to in those resolutions.

Madam President, Commissioner! Corporate sustainability reporting is of course a central concern, especially now in times of climate crisis and social inequality. Particularly from the perspective of employees along the often opaque, long supply chains worldwide, we must ensure that transparency and compliance with all human and environmental obligations are the core task of each individual company. And we have significantly improved transparency in this regard with the current proposal. But it goes even further. Negotiations on corporate responsibility along supply chains are only just beginning. Building on this directive on reporting, which we are finalising today, we must fight for a strong directive on companies' rights and obligations. Companies that accept child labour or pollution, whether as subcontractors or suppliers, must finally be held accountable.

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1614 of 15 September 2022 establishing existing deep-sea fishing areas and establishing a list of areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems are known or likely to occur (2022/2879(RSP)).

The EPP Group has forwarded decisions to the President on the modification of appointments in delegations. These decisions will be published in the minutes of today's meeting and will enter into force on the day of this announcement.

In accordance with Rule 136(5) of the Rules of Procedure, a motion for a resolution has been tabled*. The debate is closed. The vote will take place on Thursday 20 October 2022. ___________ * See Minutes Written declarations (Article 171)

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on Solidarity with Ukraine in the field of culture and a joint emergency support mechanism for the recovery of culture in Europe by Sabine Verheyen, on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education (O-000030/2022 – B9-0026/2022).

It is with great pleasure that I can now also report something very pleasing to the Commissioner responsible: The President received the Council's position at first reading, including the reasons why it adopted that position. The Commission's positions and opinions have also been received. The title will be announced in the minutes of this meeting. The three-month period for Parliament to express its views thus starts tomorrow, 21 October 2022. This is a dossier which has been under negotiation for many years and which has now been adopted by the Council, namely the - now I say it in the succinct title - Women-on-boards-directive on gender balance on supervisory boards.

Madam President, dear Commissioner Dali, we have adopted three resolutions underlining the same thing: violence, and especially sexual violence, is not acceptable in the European Union, not in any of our Member States and not in our own House. We need mediators and we need trainings for everyone. I’m disgusted to see that someone convicted for rape did not only get away unpunished within the European institutions, but even got rewarded by getting more than a million of taxpayers money, a salary while being out of service. No wonder that victims do not dare to speak up. Our institutions need to stop this culture of tolerating sexual violence immediately. In December, 76% of Members of this House approved stronger measures, and I want to see them implemented by our own administration now. Make zero tolerance for any kind of harassment a reality – now.

We are now continuing our debate on the Commission statement on EU-Western Balkans relations in the context of the new enlargement package (2022/2881(RSP)).

The next item on the agenda is the debate on the Commission statement on EU-Western Balkans relations in the context of the new enlargement package (2022/2881(RSP)). Before I give the floor to Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on behalf of the Commission, I would like to make an advance request to all Members who are going to speak that they abide by the speaking time.

Thank you very much, good luck with your work at the Court of Auditors! Thank you to everyone who took part in this debate. The debate is closed.

Thank you, Commissioner. Tony Murphy has the final word. I would like to join the congratulations and wish you that the enthusiasm that has been shown to you across political groups in this House will continue next year.

Mr President, I am extremely horrified how the Iranian regime hunts down these brave Iranian women and men. But at the same time I’m proud, very proud, and proud of every single woman standing up for her rights, standing up for the rights of her sisters and daughters. And I’m proud of the many men supporting women’s rights openly. It is essential that all women around the world know that they are valuable, that they have rights. And these brave women in Iran are the reasons why these rigid structures begin to change. So we, as politicians from other parts of the world, have to show the Iranian government that we will not accept their crimes against their own citizens, not accept their crimes against these brave women. So rest in power, Mahsa Amini.

Commissioner Hahn, you saw: It's about the canned. The European Parliament pays close attention to what the Commission is doing. Finally, I would ask you to send us your message from the Commission.

You just got a blue card, a question to you, and if you want to ask a blue card yourself, that's possible if you take a seat. However, I would like to say that, because the debate is very lively and we have other debates afterwards, I will only accept blue cards if they are not presented by speakers who have speaking time anyway and then give input in their speech. These are the rules for this debate.

I would really invite those in the visitors’ gallery not to show any sign like clapping or support. According to our Rules of Procedure, our guests are invited to participate and to watch the debate, but not to clap or give any signs. If you do so, unfortunately I will have to ask the ushers that you leave the room. So if there is one more sign of support or noise, I will really have to do that. I invite you to participate and watch the debate – because for us it is very important that the public has the opportunity – but please remain silent.

I would like to ask the visitors to the gallery not to gossip. In accordance with our Rules of Procedure, you are observant here, but not to give signs of consent or disagreement. You are welcome to watch, but do not intervene by applause.

The next meeting will take place tomorrow, 4 October 2022, at 9 a.m. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.