Plenary session
Legend
Transcript markers
- text Sentence being played
- text Search result
- text Intervention cited by the link you opened
Click a sentence to play the video from that moment. Select text to quote it with the speaker, timestamp and link.
More options
Offset
Transcript offset
Export
Live capture
Versions of this video
Transcripts may differ slightly from one version to another.
PLENARY European Parliament
Follow its sittingsMaroš Šefčovič
Second, we need a robust and stable system of new own resources. And I thank you, honorable members, for your contribution to this debate. On the topic of competitiveness and global economic challenges, leaders took stock of progress on the One Europe, One Market roadmap. The overall picture is mixed. There has been real progress with provisional agreements on the omnibus proposals on defense readiness, chemicals and small mid-caps and digitization, as well as on the revised FDI screening regulation and the amendment to the market stability reserve.
But we need to further accelerate work on simplification, EU-inc, the Industrial Accelerator Act, and the Savings and Investment Union. On the international level, leaders had a productive discussion on the need to address structural overcapacities and global imbalances. Notably with China, where the EU ran a trade deficit of billion euros a day in 2025, and this will be even higher in 2026. There was a clear support for continuing on the path for diversification and de-risking of our relationships. Leaders also agreed on the need to strengthen the protection of our market from unfair trade practices, making more proactive and strategic use of our extensive economic security toolbox to defend European interest.
And we have also started preparatory work for the new country-neutral instrument that would act as a trade diversification tool. Having said that, dialogue remains crucial, and I had constructive exchanges with my Chinese counterpart, Minister Wang Wentao, when he visited Brussels last week to launch trade and investment consultations. This is a dedicated platform to tackle in a structured way the issues we have identified together.
The aim is to deliver first tangible results ahead of the October European Council. Last week, we also took a vital step towards ensuring the long-term viability of Europe's strategically important steel industry. The regulation protecting the EU steel sector from the damaging impacts of global overcapacity entered into application on the 1st of July. Here, I would like to thank all members of the European Parliament for their strong support for this measure. Madam President, I would end my introductory remarks here and thank you very much for the attention.
Thank you very much, Commissioner Šefčovič. Now we'll start with the first round of political group speakers, starting with the EPP group, François-Xavier Bellamy. Two minutes.
François-Xavier Bellamy
Merci, Madame la Présidente. Monsieur le Commissaire, le dernier Conseil européen a été l'occasion d'aboutir enfin sur le sujet fondamental travaillé ici pendant de nombreux mois, celui du règlement retour, dernière pièce de la stratégie européenne en matière d'immigration et plus spécifiquement de lutte contre l'immigration illégale. Les médias se sont fait l'écho des débats qui ont eu lieu autour de la table du Conseil entre les chefs d'État sur ce sujet essentiel. Nous avons travaillé, nous avons négocié, nous avons voté, maintenant il faut agir.
Et sur ce sujet clé, l'essentiel sera désormais dans la mise en œuvre concrète des mesures qui ont été validées. 19 États membres sur 27 ont signé une lettre commune. 19 États membres de groupes politiques différents, certains issus du PPE, d'autres de la d'autres groupes de la droite, certains issus du groupe Renew, d'autres du groupe socialiste, qui ont dit ensemble l'urgence d'agir pour ouvrir des centres de retour. Après que nous aurons subi pendant si longtemps des procès en inefficacité, des procès en illégitimité, nous voyons aujourd'hui des États prêts à se saisir de cet outil fondamental pour pouvoir garantir que demain plus personne ne pourra s'établir durablement en Europe sans y avoir été légalement autorisé. Quelle tristesse de voir que certains États choisissent de rompre avec cette logique et de voir en particulier le président français déclarer que ce n'est pas son Europe.
Bien sûr, ce n'est peut-être pas son Europe. Il voudrait aujourd'hui contester ces centres de retour parce qu'ils ne seraient pas efficaces. Mais qu'est-ce qui est moins efficace que la situation actuelle quand en France moins d'un OQTF sur dix est effectivement mis en œuvre ?
Ce n'est peut-être pas son Europe, mais c'est la nôtre, c'est celle que nous construisons ensemble, une Europe qui retrouvera la maîtrise de ses frontières et la maîtrise de son destin, une Europe qui rendra à nos démocraties le pouvoir de décider qui rentre sur leur sol et qui ne peut s'y établir, une Europe qui mettra fin à l'immigration illégale et à toutes les tragédies qui l'entourent. Nous sommes fiers de construire cette Europe-là, c'est l'Europe de l'avenir. Merci beaucoup.
Merci, Monsieur Bellamy. Now for the S&D Group, Thijs Reuten, one minute.
Thijs Reuten
Thank you, President, Commission, colleagues. I'm really, really unpleasantly surprised that the Council is not here. Why are we debating Council conclusions without the Council? The Commission is not the problem on defense and support of Ukraine. We are not the problem on defense and support of Ukraine.
The 27 capitals are deeply lacking sense of urgency. The Council in his conclusions this time called for investing better and faster together, more aggregation of demand, proper European defense markets. None of that is coming to realization. We have heard this for years and we have no real progress other than the hugely necessary surge in spending. We are not investing better.
Still no joint European approach. It harms our operational readiness and costs billions per year. Narrow and short-term national interests will override European security. We need a real European Defense Union. Oh, and another thing.
Condemnations of Russian attacks don't save lives or make us more secure. What helps is member states sending their air defense systems they still have to Ukraine. Thank you.
Csaba Dömötör
Az elmúlt években, amikor megrendezték a szokásos vitákat a csúcstalálkozókról, mindig külön kitértek a magyar kormány álláspontjára, és folyamatosan aggódtak a demokrácia állapotáért. De most, hogy az új Tusk-kormány tényleg elkezdi rombolni a jogállamot, síri csend van. Hahó, van itt valaki? Egyetlen soros alkotmánymódosítással eltávolítanák a köztársasági elnököt, és még csak indoklás sincs. Megakadályozzák, hogy az ellenzék vezetője még egyszer miniszterelnök-jelölt lehessen.
Visszamenőleg 12 évben korlátozzák a képviselői mandátumot, így az ellenzéki képviselők nagy részét egész egyszerűen kizárják a politikai életből. Ha itt az Európai Parlamentben lenne ilyen szabály, akkor 164 képviselő nem indulhatna újra 29-ben, nem indulhatna Manfred Weber, de a Zöldek és a Szocialisták frakcióvezetője sem, mint ahogy az Európai Parlament elnöke sem. Szóval kíváncsian várjuk az ír elnökség, de leginkább a jogállamiságra különösen érzékeny Európai Bizottság álláspontját.
A hallgatás annak bizonyítéka lenne, hogy valójában eddig sem a demokrácia állapota érdekelte a Bizottságot, csak az, hogy engedelmes kormányok legyenek a tagállamokban. Ellen fogunk állni. Köszönöm.
Thank you very much. And now for the ECR group, it's Nicola Procaccini.
Nicola Procaccini
Grazie, Presidente. C'è stato un tempo in cui le tesi dei conservatori sulla protezione dei confini e sul realismo industriale venivano derise o liquidate come provocazioni. Le conclusioni dell'ultimo Consiglio europeo dimostrano che quel tempo è finito. Oggi l'Unione comincia a muoversi lungo il percorso che noi abbiamo indicato per anni. A partire dalla gestione dei flussi migratori.
Purtroppo non potremo cancellare gli errori del passato, quando le sinistre imposero la tragica politica delle frontiere aperte a chiunque, ma siamo consci di aver cambiato paradigma per il futuro. L'Unione guarda finalmente alla dimensione esterna, alla gestione ferma dei flussi, al rimpatrio veloce di chi non ha diritto alla protezione internazionale. In questo modo contrasteremo i trafficanti di esseri umani, salveremo la vita dei migranti più di quanto sia mai accaduto in passato e lavoreremo per garantire loro il diritto a non emigrare.
È il buon senso che vince, che ora deve trovare un adeguato sostegno finanziario nel prossimo bilancio pluriennale. Lo stesso realismo serve sulla competitività strategica. La prossima settimana la Commissione presenterà la revisione del sistema ETS e noi conservatori saremo molto attenti a ciò che verrà presentato. Non accetteremo norme cieche, incapaci di vedere la deindustrializzazione dell'Europa e la consegna del nostro destino economico nelle mani del fanatismo ambientalista e del regime cinese. Difenderemo il principio della neutralità tecnologica e la competitività del nostro tessuto produttivo.
Dalla nostra salute economica dipende la nostra possibilità di investire sulla sicurezza interna e sulla difesa esterna, sulla ricerca scientifica, sul sistema sanitario e scolastico, sulla conservazione della natura, che paradossalmente sembra interessare sempre di meno agli pseudo-ambientalisti da salotto. Beh, a noi conservatori interessa proteggere la terra dei nostri padri e proteggere la vita delle persone che vi abitano. È il motivo per cui noi siamo qui.
Roberta Metsola
Grazie. Now for the Renew Europe Group, Billy Kelleher, one and a half minutes.
Billy Kelleher
Go raibh maith agat, a Uachtaráin. I welcome the Council conclusions of the 18th and 19th of June and just a few observations, Commissioner.
First and foremost, the commitment to Ukraine. We really appreciate the fact that the money is now being spent on two capacities, both in terms of support of the state and on defense as well. But it leads to a very fundamental question about the issue of how we fund the European Union itself. And while we're going through another round of multiannual financial framework discussions and trying to ensure that we have a budget that underpins and supports the values that the European Union proposes, we have to accept that as it stands, we simply do not have the capacity to do what we must do in terms of supporting Ukraine, paying off the loans that we've taken out previously to support the European Union during the COVID crisis, and now also facing into a potential round of enlargement. I am very supportive of the enlargement process.
And there's two things I believe we have to do, whether we like it or not, is one, institutional reform, and the other area is looking at how do we ensure that we have budgetary capacity in the MFF into the future to facilitate enlargement.
It is simply disingenuous of us to continue to say that we will support enlargement, we want to see enlargement, we open the clusters and yet the most fundamental issue that it will be required if we want to continue with the enlargement process is to have the budgetary capacity to do that to support the incoming member states and also to ensure that citizens within the European Union as is have the supports and funds available to them through the various sectors. So I believe we have to have that big debate and I hope that it happens over the next six months so that we can have an honest interrogation of our budgetary position.
Thank you. Now for the Greens group it's Gote Teter-Reintke one and a half minutes.
Terry Reintke
Dear colleagues, who else in this room has been suffering from the unbearable heat in the last weeks? Well, if we are already suffering, think about the construction workers, the people working in living in care homes and the nurses in overheated hospitals. We need ad hoc solutions to this heat crisis and we need a special EUCO to discuss this. Cool spaces in cities, better protection for workers, funding for climate adaptation, but most of all colleagues, we need nature. We need to stop treating our nature as an enemy.
Nature is the basis of our existence, we are part of nature. And there are people in Europe who have understood this. Look at Albania. In one of the poorest countries in Europe, people take to the streets to defend their nature. Nature over money.
They say Albania is not for sale. Instead of billionaires becoming richer with concrete luxury resorts, we want flamingos, we want birds, we want one of the richest biodiversities in all of Europe. They want Europe to speak up for them. They need European leaders and the European Commission to be at their side and defend EU laws in the accession procedure, including laws on habitats and nature protection. The aim is very clear, colleagues.
Albania should join the European Union as soon as possible, but with a strong nature protection and anti-corruption laws in place. We owe it to the people who are fighting in Albania. Let's be in solidarity. Let's be by their side. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Now for the Left group, it's co-chair Manon Aubry, two minutes.
Manon Aubry
Merci Madame la Présidente. Monsieur le Commissaire, l'Europe brûle littéralement, les personnes âgées suffoquent dans les EHPAD, les enfants étouffent à l'école, les hôpitaux surchauffent au sens propre comme au sens figuré, les morgues débordent, les récoltes sont menacées, les forêts partent en fumée. Et quelle est vous, votre réponse à la Commission européenne ? Mettre la lutte contre le changement climatique en pause.
Il fallait oser. Car la canicule, quoi qu'on en dise, n'est pas juste un incident météo. La canicule est politique. Et les morts de cette canicule sont le résultat de votre politique. N'est-ce pas vous à la Commission européenne qui avez détruit méthodiquement plus d'une vingtaine de régulations environnementales depuis le début de votre nouveau mandat ?
N'est-ce pas vous, Monsieur le Commissaire, personnellement, qui signez à tour de bras des accords de libre-échange pour aller chercher à l'autre bout du monde ce que l'on sait, ce que l'on peut produire ici ? Alors oui, vous n'êtes pas seuls. Il y a les États membres qui manifestement se cachent aujourd'hui, mais vous êtes aussi embarqués dans le sillage de l'extrême droite, désormais votre complice favorite, pionnière du déni du réchauffement climatique et toujours prête à défendre les privilèges. Mais descendez de votre bureau climatisé et ouvrez les yeux. Vous verrez que tout le monde n'est pas logé à la même enseigne.
Pendant que les puissants se barricadent au frais, les plus pauvres morflent. Plus vous êtes exploités, plus vous brûlez. Ce massacre climatique est en réalité un massacre de classe. Ce sont les riches qui tuent les pauvres. Les 1 % les plus riches polluent autant que les deux tiers de l'humanité.
Cent entreprises sont responsables de 70 % des émissions mondiales. Bernard Arnault émet 1200 fois plus de CO2 qu'un Français moyen.
Mais surtout, ne leur demandons aucun effort, continuons comme avant, ne les mettons pas à contribution, ne touchons surtout pas à leur mode de vie. Les trois épisodes caniculaires que nous venons de vivre ne sont pourtant que la bande-annonce de ce qui nous attend dans les années à venir. Face à la canicule, adoptons les bons gestes barrières : taxons les riches et sortons de l'idéologie néolibérale. Car à force de recul, de renoncement et d'inaction, vous nous condamnez à brûler. Merci.
René Aust
Einige tausend Hitzetote hat Europa und Deutschland bereits zu beklagen und währenddessen möchte man durch den CO2-Emissionshandel die Preise für Energie noch teurer machen, um das Klima weltweit zu beeinflussen. Genau das ist der Unterschied zwischen Theorie und Praxis, das ist der Unterschied zwischen jenen auf der linken Seite und den patriotischen Kräften in Europa. Wir glauben nicht daran, dass höhere Steuern und mehr Belastung für die Bürger irgendetwas am Weltklima verändern würden und dieser Ansatz ist ja auch bereits in der Realität gescheitert. Stattdessen möchten wir den Menschen ganz praktisch helfen, beispielsweise indem Altenheime, Pflegeheime, Krankenhäuser, Schulen ganz konkret und systematisch mit Klimaanlagen ausgestattet werden.
Wir wollen praktische Politik statt Wolkenkuckucksheim. Etwas anderes, was auf der Tagesordnung stand, das ist die Frage nach dem Erweiterungsprozess. Meine Damen und Herren, der Balkan ist eine unglaublich wichtige Region für uns. Sie ist strategisch wichtig für Europa. Und deswegen möchten auch wir, dass der Balkan und die Europäische Union sehr viel enger zusammenarbeiten, beispielsweise durch privilegierte Handelsbeziehungen, dass diese noch weiter ausgebaut werden.
Was wir aber nicht wollen, ist, dass diese Länder aufgenommen werden bei dem aktuellen Stand in die Europäische Union. Wir wollen nicht, dass weitere Empfängerländer aufgenommen werden, die am Ende des Tages den deutschen Steuerzahler weiter und noch mehr belasten. Schon die letzten Erweiterungsrunden sind nicht voll verarbeitet worden von der Europäischen Union. Nach wie vor gibt es große Konflikte. Nach wie vor sind die institutionellen Regeln nicht auf diese Größe ausgelegt.
Wir müssen erst mal daran arbeiten, dass diese Europäische Union und die europäische Kooperation wieder arbeitsfähig wird, indem man sich auf das Wesentliche konzentriert und indem man eben nicht immer neue Aufgaben und Länder hinzunimmt. Meine Damen und Herren, wir wollen, dass der Balkan näher an uns herangeführt wird, aber eben ohne den deutschen Steuerzahler zu belasten.
Thank you. Now I give the floor to Marta Wcisło, one and a half minutes.
Marta Wcisło
Szanowna Pani Przewodnicząca, koleżanki i koledzy. Dzięki państwom wschodniej flanki i polskiej prezydencji Europa wreszcie uznała, że wschodnia granica Unii jest pierwszą linią naszego wspólnego bezpieczeństwa. Dlatego program Eastern Flank Watch nie może oznaczać samego monitorowania zagrożeń. Samo obserwowanie drona czy rakiety to za mało. Konieczne są realne zdolności obronne, systemy antydronowe wczesnego ostrzegania, zintegrowana obrona powietrzna i nowoczesne technologie.
Polska daje przykład, jak działać skutecznie. Jesteśmy największym beneficjentem programu SAFE i wykorzystujemy te środki na realne wzmocnienie bezpieczeństwa Polski, wschodniej flanki i całej Europy. Pomimo weta prezydenta i sabotażu opozycji w Polsce. Wojna Wschodu z Zachodem to nie jest, szanowni państwo, teoria. To jesteśmy w stanie wojny hybrydowej w Europie i w Polsce, na którą spadały ruskie drony, zamykane były lotniska, prowadzona była dywersja na torach kolejowych.
A Putin wykorzystywał migrantów jako żywą tarczę. Putin nie testuje tylko Polski, Rumunii czy państw bałtyckich. On testuje całą Unię Europejską. Dlatego wschodnia flanka musi być dziś najtrwalszą i najtwardszą linią obrony całej Unii Europejskiej. Dziękuję.
Cecilia Strada
Merci Madame la Présidente. Les conclusions du Conseil européen dédient de l'espace à la Palestine, alors que dans cette salle, chaque proposition de débat ou de résolution sur le thème est systématiquement bloquée par la droite et par le centre-droit. Ce mois-ci, la proposition de débat sur le docteur Abu Safiya, pédiatre palestinien emprisonné depuis 18 mois sans procès et qui risque sa vie, a également été rejetée. En juin, les dirigeants européens ont écrit noir sur blanc qu'Israël doit se retirer de Gaza. La ligne jaune est inacceptable.
Les ministres israéliens promeuvent des violations des droits de l'homme.
La colonizzazione della Cisgiordania è una grave violazione del diritto internazionale. Lo sapevamo già. Caro Consiglio, oltre alle parole però servono i fatti. Perché non spingete i vostri ministri ad adottare delle sanzioni efficaci come fu fatto con la Russia nel 2022? Invece il Parlamento, il Parlamento deve ritrovare la voce.
Il Parlamento che sta in silenzio davanti a un genocidio è un silenzio colpevole, è un silenzio pesante, è un disonore per questa istituzione. Grazie.
Grazie. Now I give the floor to Rasmus Nordqvist. One minute.
Rasmus Nordqvist
President, dear colleagues. I'm going to speak about our budget and the climate, no big surprise. On the MFF, the European Council had one job in June: show ambitions and directions for Europe's future budget. Instead, what we saw was a negotiation box of 27 mini-priorities squeezed together. That's not ambitions for Europe and not what this House asked for.
At the same time, we can look out the windows and we see a third heatwave already, larger and earlier wildfires, and a Council meeting in June will not stop this. But ambitions at the meeting is needed to act. I read the conclusion twice searching for ambitions and I couldn't really see them. I found one sentence squeezed in among competitiveness.
But let's be honest, the 2040 target is so far from reach. We need to act, we need ambitions. This is not a call to reopen every single line, but it is a call for the Council to come back in October with ambitions and green actions. My group stands ready to work with you on the basis of ambitions, but patience is running out.
Paolo Borchia
Commissario, nel suo intervento analizzando il tema del bilancio lei ha parlato di risorse proprie. Ma io ho un messaggio chiaro da mandarle: basta tasse. Perché prima si razionalizzano le spese, si tagliano i costi spesso inutili che anche questo Parlamento avvalla, e poi si ragiona. Si tagliano gli sprechi e le inefficienze perché dobbiamo essere realisti. L'industria europea è in difficoltà, ci sono tante sacche di povertà, sempre più europei non arrivano a fine mese.
Parlare di risorse proprie e quindi di nuove tasse è totalmente fuori luogo e scollegato dalla realtà. A livello globale ci sono dei modelli di economie, tipo l'economia argentina, che stanno basando il rilancio dell'economia sulla riduzione delle tasse. In quest'aula invece si parla di aumentarle.
Siamo fuori dal mondo, Commissario, serve un'inversione di tendenza, altro che nuove tasse.
Grazie. Now Fidias Panayiotou, one minute.
Fidias Panayiotou
The EU leaders are very concerned about the situation in Palestine. They are so, so concerned that several EU countries still selling weapons to Israel while they continue attacking Palestinians and the Lebanese people. I wish this was not true, but the reality is that the EU countries keep selling weapons to Israel for millions of euros in 2026. This is crazy to me. Our leaders use words to say how concerned they are about Palestine while their actions show they just been complicit in Israel destabilization of the Middle East.
But I have good news. I know the EU loves sanctions. We have put 20 packages of sanctions to Russia. Maybe it's time to pressure a little bit Israel by stop selling weapons to them. Thank you so much.
I love you all.
I give the floor next to Charlie Weimers, two minutes.
Charlie Weimers
Madam President, colleagues, the EU leaders are right.
We must work more intensively to control migration. The return regulation was a victory for the common sense majority in this house. It sends a clear signal: if you have no right to be here, you will be returned. That is progress. But we must be bolder still.
The entire asylum process, receiving, assessing, and hosting all claims, must be moved outside the European Union. We cannot continue to let illegal migrants set foot on European soil before their claims are even examined. That is the only way to break the business model of the smugglers and end the chaos at our borders. The only mission of Frontex must be to secure our borders. That requires removing the fundamental rights activists who have captured and paralyzed the agency from within.
We need border guards, not bureaucrats who see their job as facilitating migration. Large-scale deterrence campaigns must clearly warn away illegal migrants before they risk their lives and burden our societies. And yes, we must also scrap outdated international conventions that were made for a bygone era.
They no longer serve the interests of European citizens in the 21st century. It is time to take back control. For our citizens want to feel safe in their own societies. For our nations who have the right to decide who enters. And for Europe itself, so that it can remain prosperous, secure, and recognizable for generations to come.
Thank you.
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy
Thank you, Madam Chair. The European economy will experience long-lasting damage from the Hormuz crisis, and that's a fact. And when fossil fuel is expensive, European industry suffers deeply, that's also a fact. And when sea levels rise, my country, the Netherlands, must build expensive infrastructure or it will drown, also a fact. In short, our fossil fuel addiction is becoming very, very expensive.
And we've known this for a while, and still, in the weeks after your most recent European Council, your members still call for abolishing our most effective tool, the ETS.
Turn this around, kick the addiction. The Green Deal is not an ideological green agenda. It is the future-proof economic growth model. Those member states implementing the Green Deal are doing much better economically than those who don't. Look at the facts and save Europe from its fossil fuel addiction.
Thank you.
Thank you. Now, Matthia, ah, excuse me, Mr. Gerbrandy, there's a blue card for you. Will you take it? Okay. From Mr. Sandersmit.
Go ahead, Mr. Smit.
Sander Smit
Thanks, Madam President. Meneer Gerbrandy, u spreekt hier over Europees of de Green Deal. Hoe reflecteert u op het feit dat de Europese Commissie in de nieuwe veehouderijstrategie heeft gezegd dat er geen verdere krimp van de veestapel mocht komen, terwijl uw kabinet nu werkt aan de liquidatie van duizenden familiebedrijven in Nederland en daarmee de voedselzekerheid op het spel zet? U spreekt over de Straat van Hormuz, afhankelijkheden.
Maar wat vindt u als we afhankelijk worden voor dierlijke productie en andere landbouwproducten van derde landen? Heeft u daar wel eens over gereflecteerd? En wat het doet met agrarische familie- en gezinsbedrijven en mensen aan de keukentafel?
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy
Ja, heerlijk altijd die nationale politiek in het Europees Parlement. Voedselzekerheid. Wellicht heeft u onlangs ook het rapport gelezen waarin staat dat Nederland een importeur is van voedsel, en niet menselijk voedsel, maar vanwege de enorme hoeveelheid diervoeding die wij moeten importeren om ons waterhoofd aan dierlijke producten overeind te houden. Als u echt, echt betrokken bent bij voedselzekerheid van Europa, dan weet u dat ons dieet plantaardiger moet worden en dat de toekomst niet ligt in het nog verder uitbreiden van de veestapel, wat volgens mij het beleid is van uw partij, waarmee niet alleen onze economie, maar zeker ook onze wereld helemaal kapot gaat.
Matthias Ecke
Vielen Dank, Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen. Ein Thema ist beim letzten Europäischen Rat irgendwie erstaunlicherweise zu kurz gekommen: der zukünftige EU-Haushalt. Dabei ist es doch das Thema, das die Grundlage dafür bildet für alles, was wir hier an Programmen diskutieren. Die Verhandlungen für den Haushalt ab 2028 laufen und gleichzeitig stehen viele nationale Budgets unter Druck. Das müssen wir natürlich anerkennen und das tun wir auch.
Deswegen hätte ich mir mehr Ambition von den Mitgliedstaaten erwartet. Denn wenn es ernst wird, dann schauen alle nach Brüssel.
Aber wenn es darum geht, den gemeinsamen Haushalt zu finanzieren, dann wird es plötzlich ganz still. Dabei hat dieses Haus gute Vorschläge gemacht, wie wir aus dem Deadlock rauskommen, wie wir aus dieser Sackgasse der Verhandlungen rauskommen. Wir brauchen mehr und bessere Eigenmittel für den künftigen EU-Haushalt. Eine Digitalabgabe, eine Besteuerung von Kryptowährungen oder Online-Glücksspiel, das europaweit zunimmt. Das sind gute Vorschläge und ich erwarte von den Mitgliedstaaten, dass sie endlich sich zusammenreißen und diese Sachen genau prüfen für den künftigen Haushalt.
Vielen Dank.
Paulo Cunha
Senhora Presidente, Senhor Comissário, colegas, o mercado único é um desígnio europeu e o 28.º regime é a melhor ferramenta para o concretizar. Falo-vos de um regime que oferece uma via pragmática para ultrapassar a fragmentação jurídica que continua a limitar o crescimento das empresas europeias, em particular das PME e das startups.
Ao permitir um quadro jurídico opcional, uniforme e diretamente aplicável em toda a União, reduz a complexidade administrativa, os custos de conformidade e a incerteza jurídica que hoje travam a expansão além-fronteiras. Num contexto de transição verde e digital e de crescente concorrência internacional, a União não pode dar-se ao luxo de desperdiçar ferramentas que podem aumentar a sua eficiência económica e a sua autonomia estratégica. O dossiê do 28º regime deve ser rapidamente retomado pelas instituições europeias. Não sendo uma bala de prata, representa um sério passo em frente que deve ser dado por uma União que demasiadas vezes teima em ficar exatamente como está. Muito obrigado.
Thank you very much, Mr. Cunha. Now Johan Van Overtveldt, one and a half minutes.
Johan Van Overtveldt
Voorzitter, commissaris, collega's, het MFF staat eindelijk, zou ik zeggen, ook op de agenda van de Council. We staan aan het begin van dit proces rond dit rond deze nieuwe meerjarenbegroting en de klassieke tegenstellingen en rode lijnen tekenen zich al af binnen de Raad, in de Commissie en ook in dit Parlement. We zouden echter best het klassieke debat overstijgen en de oefening niet beperken tot een droge discussie over meer of minder middelen.
Europa heeft in de eerste plaats nood aan bijkomende hervormingen die de efficiëntie verhogen, onze concurrentiekracht vergroten en de broodnodige investeringen aanmoedigen. De focus moet daarbij onder meer, maar zeker niet in het minst, liggen op versterking van de interne markt, volwaardige kapitaalmarktenunie en ook deregulering. Dit zijn, als je er even over nadenkt, hervormingen die weinig of geen geld kosten, maar die wel een hoog rendement hebben. Het debat overstijgt of zou het boekhoudkundig perspectief moeten overstijgen. Europa staat voor grote uitdagingen op het vlak van concurrentievermogen, veiligheid, defensie en geopolitiek.
We pleiten voor een welomschreven prioriteitengeheel en hervormingen die toelaten een toekomstgerichte Europese begroting uit te bouwen. Dank u.
Thank you, Mr. Van Overtveldt. Now we will go through the catch-the-eye requests, starting with Nikolina Brnjac.
Hvala predsjednice, povjereniče, zaključci Europskog vijeća jasno pokazuju da se Europa nalazi u odlučujućem trenutku. Rasprava o novom proračunu nije samo rasprava o brojkama, već je rasprava o tome kako Europu želimo graditi u narednim godinama.
Nikolina Brnjac
Stoga pozdravljam snažniji fokus na konkurentnost, na inovacije, na otpornost europskog gospodarstva. Međutim, moramo osigurati da novi europski fond za konkurentnost mora biti otvoren za sve i da ne smije produbiti razlike između država članica koje već danas imaju snažne inovacijske kapacitete i onih koji ih tek razvijaju. Ne smijemo ponoviti situaciju koju danas imamo u programu Obzor Europa, gdje svega šest država članica koristi 70% sredstava, a danas govorimo o Europi koja može biti konkurentna i mora biti globalno konkurentna samo ako raste zajedno, sjever, jug, istok i zapad. Hvala.
Thank you, Ms. Brnjac. Next is Juan Fernando López Aguilar.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Thank you, Madam President. Turn on the mic. Yeah, okay, go ahead. Thank you, Madam President, Comisario, un debate sobre las conclusiones del Consejo sin el Consejo, absolutamente inaceptable. Dígaselo y trasládele tres mensajes.
Ucrania, apoyo, por supuesto, pero cuando llegue el momento de la negociación de la paz, Europa tiene que asegurarse de estar en la mesa y no en el menú. En segundo lugar, responsabilidades de Rusia, para eso hace falta apoyar la activación del estatuto de bloqueo para proteger a los jueces del Tribunal Penal Internacional que están siendo unilateralmente sancionados por la administración Trump de los Estados Unidos.
Y en tercer lugar, un mensaje muy claro. Hemos aprobado en este pleno del Parlamento Europeo una nueva extensión de la derogación temporal de la ePrivacy. ¿Por qué lo hemos hecho? Porque el Consejo no ha hecho todavía su trabajo de aprobar de una vez el reglamento que el Parlamento Europeo aprobó la pasada legislatura contra los delitos sexuales contra los menores en la red. Es el momento de hacerlo.
Trasládele ese mensaje, comisario Šefčovič.
Sander Smit
Voorzitter, waar is het Ierse voorzitterschap hier? We hebben gesproken over nieuwe aanvallen op schepen in de Straat van Hormuz. De meststoffencrisis kan weer verergeren. Onze voedselzekerheid komt in gevaar, maar de Commissie en de Raad weigeren en talmen met het herzien van die nitraatrichtlijn. Wanneer kunnen we dit tegemoetzien?
Dit huis heeft dat geëist. Op het gebied van het MFK komt de Raad maar niet tot overeenstemming. Voedselveiligheid, voedselzekerheid zijn in gevaar. Herstel landbouw- en visserijsteun. Geef meer ruimte aan dierlijke mest.
Stop de natuurherstelverordening. De ons platteland en de regio's dragen de last. Maak snelheid met de terugkeerhubs. Versterk Frontex en onze buitengrensbewaking.
De instroom is te groot. De regio en platteland dragen de lasten van de Europese spreidingswet en de nationale Nederlandse spreidingswet. Commissie en Raad, kom in beweging, kom in actie. Bescherm onze buitengrenzen. Bescherm ons platteland.
Bescherm onze voedselzekerheid.
Jaume Asens Llodrà
Señor comisario, el Consejo de Europa cree en el derecho y en las reglas tanto como la FIFA. Vivimos en un mundo de impunidad. Trump hace una llamada y se anula una tarjeta roja. Pero nosotros hacemos algo peor. No solo desobedecemos las resoluciones de los tribunales internacionales de justicia y de la ONU sobre nuestra obligación de frenar el genocidio, de dejar de vender armas, sino que hacemos lo contrario.
Y todavía hay algo peor. Permitimos que se persiga a esos funcionarios públicos. Cooperamos con Estados Unidos sin ni tan siquiera haber recibido una llamada de Trump, o quizá nos ha llamado Trump. La cuestión es que hay unas sanciones contra esos funcionarios públicos, hay una norma que se debe aplicar y no la estamos aplicando.
Trump es un cínico, pero nos dice la verdad. Nosotros somos unos hipócritas. Decimos una cosa y hacemos la contraria.
Sandra Gómez López
Gracias, presidenta. La posición que ha adoptado el Consejo de Europa sinceramente con respecto al marco financiero plurianual es sencillamente decepcionante. Mientras Europa se enfrenta a enormes desafíos como la transición climática, la competitividad, la soberanía digital o el acceso a la vivienda, la respuesta que ha dado el Consejo ha sido recortar el presupuesto. Es decir, una Europa más pequeña y sin capacidad de respuesta. No podemos hacer más con menos.
No podemos hablar de autonomía estratégica y al mismo tiempo renunciar al fondo social, a la PAC o a las políticas de cohesión.
Y todo por una falta de valentía en aprobar y desbloquear un paquete de recursos propios que precisamente nos dé la capacidad de tener una posición política propia en un mundo cada vez más incierto, más violento y sobre todo más competitivo. Por eso desde el Parlamento le decimos al Consejo que Europa no se fortalece desde la renuncia, los recortes y la falta de ambición, sino que se construye con la solidaridad y con recursos suficientes para dar respuesta a lo que nos reclama la ciudadanía.
Maria Grapini
Mulțumesc, doamnă președintă, domnule comisar, vă mulțumim pentru informațiile pe care ni le-ați adus, dar vreau să mă refer la câteva puncte. În primul rând, CFM-ul. Domnule comisar, nu este clar, ați spus că sunt două niveluri, nu este clar ce facem cu resursele proprii, pentru că noi Parlamentul am propus de foarte multe ori de unde pot veni aceste resurse noi pentru a nu avea un CFM mai mic, pentru a nu avea un buget mai mic nici măcar cu inflația. Apoi competitivitatea, o Europă și o piață. Ați spus de decalajul comercial cu China, dar ce facem pentru competitivitate?
Pentru că dacă vrem să susținem industria, așa cum ați spus, atunci trebuie o revizuire a ETS-ului și trebuie cu adevărat politici de susținere nu numai a industriei siderurgice, dar a industriei și bineînțeles a agriculturii, pentru că securitatea alimentară este foarte importantă. Practici comerciale neloiale.
Păi da, dar avem acorduri în care puneți taxe vamale la materii prime mai mici decât la produsul finit, ceea ce este ilogic, pentru că producătorul din Europa n-o să poată să fie atunci competitiv. Așadar, eu cred că trebuie, domnule comisar, sigur vine concediul, dar haideți să gândim cu adevărat un CFM care să ducă la competitivitate și la reindustrializarea Uniunii Europene. Vă mulțumesc.
Sabrina Repp
Bildung, Kultur, Wettbewerb, Sozialarbeit, Forschung, Verteidigung, Infrastruktur, Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Aufgaben erfüllen, das wollen wir gut, aber wir kriegen dafür nicht mehr Mittel. Wenn wir uns einmal anschauen, der EU-Haushalt, der jetzt angestrebt ist, ist nicht mal halb so groß wie der deutsche Bundeshaushalt. Wenn wir eine handlungsfähige Europäische Union wollen, dann brauchen wir auch eine ordentliche Mittelausstattung. Horizontale Kürzungen anzustreben und die Kohäsionsmittel weiter runterzukürzen, ist dabei das völlig falsche Signal.
Es ist EU-vertragsrechtlich geregelt, dass die Europäische Union in die Zusammenhalt in den Zusammenhalt der Mitgliedstaaten investiert. Und mit diesen Kürzungen sorgen wir dafür, dass genau dieser Zusammenhalt in solchen herausfordernden Zeiten auseinanderdriftet. Das können wir uns nicht leisten. Wir wollen die Aufgaben gut erfüllen. Wir wollen eine handlungsfähige Union.
Und das bedeutet auch, dass die Mitgliedstaaten dazu angehalten werden müssen, diese Europäische Union mit ordentlichen finanziellen Mitteln auszustatten.
Mitgliedstaaten müssen dafür sorgen, dass wir diese Verantwortung dieser Verantwortung gerecht werden und nicht weiter Kürzungen voranschreiten. Danke.
Danke. Madame Sorel, vous voulez la parole? Madame Sorel, vous voulez la parole aujourd'hui? Maintenant?
Malika Sorel
Madame la Présidente, merci. Je n'ai pas grand-chose à dire sur enfin il y aurait trop de choses à dire à vrai dire sur les sujets abordés. Je voudrais simplement dire à mes collègues que je suis choquée par le peu de députés présents dans notre hémicycle. Je veux le redire, Madame la Présidente a essayé de mettre en place un certain nombre de mesures. C'est extrêmement préoccupant, y compris pour nos concitoyens.
Les sujets abordés sont décisifs. Hier nous parlions de la cybersécurité, de l'intelligence artificielle et puis tant de domaines qui sont importants. Donc s'il vous plaît, demandez à vos collègues d'être présents. Ça a une importance, y compris pour l'image du Parlement vis-à-vis de la Commission européenne et du Conseil. Je vous remercie.
Ensemble, soyons plus forts, mes chers collègues.
Merci. Now I give the floor to the Commissioner to conclude the debate.
Maroš Šefčovič
Thank you very much, Madam President, honorable members. First and foremost, I would like to tell you that discussion this morning very much reflects also the debate which took place among the leaders, heads of states and government sitting together in the European Council. So it clearly reflects the mood and the sense of priorities among European citizens and you as directly elected representatives are clearly introducing these topics into the debate in this hemicycle and into the discussions which we have on these very crucial topics. I would start with the references and remarks made on Ukraine. I think Mr. Kelleher, Mr. López Aguilar rightly pointed out to the need of further support for Ukrainians.
And in my introduction, I was describing to you all the aspects of the financial support, political support, but also moral support I believe we give to our Ukrainian friends to defend themselves.
But I agree with Mr. Reuten and also with Madame Csiszlo that further work clearly would be needed to do even better if it comes to our defense capacities, how can we be more efficient, how can we pool our strength together, what we can do as Europeans in spending every single euro on this very important priorities in the most efficient manner. And of course, especially the people from Central and Eastern Europe feeling the heat from the conflict which is so close to their border, as Madame Csiszlo brightly described, is are very preoccupied by the by the fact that the peace which we believed and we've taken for granted for so many years is under so much threat even within the border of the European Union and therefore they're rightly calling for making sure that the eastern flank and eastern border is better better protected and I believe that you have seen that this is becoming more and more I would say one of the priority tasks which is done by the member states, by the European Union and which is now being discussed in Ankara as well.
So all these are very concrete priorities which will be followed through by the European Commission, by the European Union, and we of course will be working on all of them very closely with you. Second topic which was kind of appearing in several interventions, and rightly so because it would be definitely the top priority for the Irish presidency, and for that ambition I really thank them in advance, and this is to deliver ambitious multi-annual financial framework for all of us. Because as you rightly pointed out, against Mr. Kelleher, Mr. Nordqvist, this is the key topic for European future. That's a key prerequisite for further progression of the enlargement, and this is also one of the key components for making Europe clearly more competitive. Therefore, we will be working very closely with the Irish presidency and with you, because this is very important, complex task to make sure that by the end of this year we will deliver on MFF and we would have that predictability and certainty, what is the framework for all of us if it comes to budgetary boundaries for the next seven years.
And as I said, I very much appreciate that Irish presidency took this as a priority for themselves and want to devote all necessary resources, time, and political focus on this key issue.
Of course I fully understand and share the preoccupation of many honorable members who raised the issue of heatwave. We are suffering it all and and it and it's the issue for all our member states. I never believed that in my country we will have the temperatures which go over 40 degrees and I can only imagine how difficult it must be in France, in Spain, in Southern Mediterranean countries when this is becoming more and more common phenomenon. But I would like to reassure you that for the European Commission climate resilience and better preparedness which are going to to discuss in in a moment especially for extreme weather events is a priority. And therefore later this year we will present new European framework for climate resilience and risk management and we believe that through this measure we can work even more closely with the member states and with the regions to better prevent and prepare for this very often dramatic dramatic events.
And I would say on this, but it applies to other topics which have been also raised in this morning debate, we also have to be fair to ourselves and to make sure that we will implement collectively, starting by the member states of course, what we have already agreed and adopted as our laws. If you allow to conclude on two topics, Madame Grapini was underscoring the importance of competitiveness and reindustrialization. And I would like to again reassure this house that there is not one college session, not one discussion among the commissioners where these two very important topics are not discussed. We are looking into really all the native ways how to protect Europe from unfair competition, how to lower energy prices and how to increase the trade among the member states within the European Union because we are still trading by 10% less than the states in United States of America. And this could be unbelievably source of income, of more jobs, of more prosperity and more competitiveness if our member states among themselves would trade even more.
We have to lower the barriers among our member states and this is clearly one of the priorities we are taking on. And if you allow, Madam President, the last point on free trade agreements addressed by Madam Manon Aubry. Here I just would like to underscore that almost half of our European GDP depends in one way or another on global trading. Despite of what's happening and what's going on in the world, Europe is still number one global trader if it comes to goods and services. So we trade more than China, we trade more in US.
And for that we need to improve how single market performs.
We are best in doing this and I think that this is clearly the very important position we have to defend. Not only because we like to be on the podium, but because more than 700,000 companies is benefiting from trade. And more than 80% of them are SMEs, very often small family companies which create more than 30 million jobs in this regard. So I think that all this have to be taken into account because Europe is very good in what is doing. Our economy for decades been developing in that regard and therefore we are doing our utmost to open new opportunities and new market for our entrepreneurs.
Madam President, I would like to thank all the honorable members for their intervention and as it was suggested I will of course pass all the messages not only to my colleagues in European Commission but also to our colleagues from the Council. Thank you very much, Madam President.
Roberta Metsola
Thank you, Commissioner Šefčovič. So we have one minute, the next debate will start.
Javi López
We can start again the plenary. The next item on the agenda is the Council and Commission statements, EU response and preparedness to protect people against recurring heatwaves and upcoming wildfires, with a new format of the key debates. To start, we have the Council, Thomas Byrne, that will have the floor, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs.
Thomas Byrne
Thank you, Vice-President, honorable members, Commissioner. Just two weeks ago, the most severe and widespread heatwaves scorched large parts of Europe. These heatwaves are the most recent testament of the rising average global temperatures, which have been nearing 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The trend is very worrying for Europe. We are the fastest warming region in the world.
Human-induced climate change is undoubtedly a major underlying cause of heatwaves, wildfires, and other extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. This is why prevention starts with strong policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. And first, may I express my sympathies to all those who have been affected, and the families of those who have died as a result of recent weather events. On mitigation, the EU has been contributing its share to global efforts with one of the most ambitious climate frameworks. In the same vein, the European Union and its member states are committed to working on strengthening the capacity to adapt, building resilience, and reducing exposure to extreme events.
We look forward to the Commission's ideas on how to link these different strands in its upcoming European Union framework for climate resilience. 2023 was a record-breaking season for wildfires, with over 1 million hectares burned across the European Union, triggering an unprecedented number of activations of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. It's entirely plausible that Europe could face a similar scenario this year. Southern Europe has had an early start of the wildfire season, and we've even witnessed wildfires in Greenland, which are particularly rare this early in the season. Tackling this risk is a priority for member states and the Council.
On the 29th of June, the Council adopted a recommendation on integrated wildfire risk management, promoting a more coordinated and integrated approach covering the entire disaster risk management cycle. In other words, this recommendation sets out a comprehensive framework to help Member States to better prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires. It also encourages Member States to strengthen prevention through sustainable land and forest management, improve preparedness by making better use of data, risk assessments, and early warning systems, and enhance cooperation and interoperability in wildfire response. Furthermore, the recommendation highlights the importance of raising public awareness, supporting local communities, and strengthening governance and long-term funding for wildfire risk management. Beyond efforts to better manage the consequences of these extreme events, let me stress the importance of efforts to increase our readiness.
Enhancing our collective preparedness and resilience to major hazards, including wildfires and heatwaves, is a key aim of the European Union's preparedness strategy tabled by the Commission and the High Representative in March last year.
A number of policy actions announced by this strategy have been presented by the Commission, and we will continue to steer their careful examination in the Council. Let me mention in particular the proposal on a regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response, which represents an essential step to upgrade our preparedness set up on climate-related risks and to ensure appropriate financing priorities. The Irish presidency will continue to carry further the discussions in the Council on this proposal with the aim of reaching a general approach during our semester, and I look forward to hearing the contributions of Commissioner Labib and members here today in this very important debate. Thank you very much.
Javi López
Thank you very much, Minister. Now we have Commissioner Labib representing the European Commission.
Hadja Lahbib
Honorable members, just as Minister Thomas Byrne said, Europe is the fastest warming continent on the planet, and we are experiencing in our daily lives the impact of this scientific reality, from record heatwaves and droughts to devastating wildfires. This year has again broken records. Only weeks after historically high temperature in June, another major heatwave is approaching. The consequences of the recent heatwave were grave.
Labour productivity went down, schools were shut, workplaces closed, hospitals overwhelmed, roads damaged, rail tracks buckled and crops ravaged. And people paid the highest price. At least 2,500 fatalities could be attributed to the June heatwave. On the 3rd July, France reported more than 2,000 excess deaths from the last week of June. And these are only preliminary estimates.
To date, there has not been an activation of the UCPM related to heatwave emergencies. Honourable members, heatwaves increase wildfire danger. Last year more than 1 million hectares burned across the EU, the highest figure ever recorded, triggering 19 requests for assistance from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. This is the largest number ever. This year, the wildfire season started unusually early with two activations of the mechanism already in late July, April, sorry, and early May.
This requires swift action. The Commission has already taken a range of actions in the area of prevention, preparedness, response and restoration.
While national authorities remain primarily responsible for civil protection, the Commission supports Member States across the entire disaster cycle. The EU invests in science, technology, and innovation to monitor drought conditions, improve early detection, and enable faster action, notably through Copernicus Emergency Management Services. We also promote prevention through analytical tools, peer reviews, funding, cross-border cooperation, and the exchange of best practices. Last March, the Commission adopted a communication, complemented by a Council recommendation on wildfire risk management. Together with Member States, we will develop implementation guidelines and an EU funding portal for integrated wildfire risk management, improve data, raise population awareness, and support international engagement.
We have also reinforced operational preparedness through rescEU and the European Civil Protection Pool. 22 firefighting aircrafts, 5 helicopters, and 22 certified ground firefighting teams are available across 10 countries.
In addition, nearly 800 firefighters from 13 countries are prepositioned in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Following the lessons learned from the last summer, we have strengthened our response capacity in the south of our Union with a new European regional firefighting station in Cyprus. So we can take immediate action when needs arise. In recent days, Portugal and France asked for assistance due to severe wildfires. In response, nine rescEU airplanes were deployed, three to Portugal and six to France.
The European Union Solidarity Fund also remains important, providing financial support to Member States and accession countries affected by natural disasters and helping them address the burden of emergency and recovery measures. Adding to this, cohesion policy and funding play a crucial role in strengthening resilience, combining prevention and preparedness before disaster strikes, as well as reconstruction. And the Recovery and Resilience Facility includes investment and reforms aimed at increasing resilience to natural disasters.
Finally, we are also preparing a new European integrated framework for climate resilience, which we expect to adopt later of this year. The road ahead is a very difficult one, but through cooperation, engagement, and solidarity, Europe will move towards a collective and clear objective to raise the protection of our citizens and our territories against the growing and challenging risk landscape. Thank you.
Javi López
Muchas gracias, comisaria. Con esto empezaríamos las intervenciones en nombre de los grupos políticos y en primer lugar tiene la palabra Carmen Crespo en nombre del Partido Popular Europeo por dos minutos.
Carmen Crespo Díaz
Muchas gracias, presidente, comisaria, consejo. En primer lugar decir que estamos encantados en este Parlamento de pertenecer al intergrupo de protección civil que está dando lugar a muchas cuestiones importantes sobre nuevas tecnologías y posibilidades para el futuro. Por tanto, en estos momentos este Parlamento está trabajando y seguiremos trabajando con ahínco en un momento difícil de los países donde el cambio climático está produciendo olas de calor muy dificultosas en mi país, cincuenta y siete focos en estos momentos, Cataluña, Andalucía y otros países de la Unión Europea de forma importante.
Una crisis humanitaria y de protección civil muy, muy importante y un golpe al mundo rural en un momento muy crítico. Por eso tenemos que trabajar con seriedad y sin dogmatismo ideológico, es decir, trabajar en la prevención y trabajar también en las medidas. La Comisión Europea ha puesto a disposición el mayor dispositivo de la historia con 777 bomberos en 14 estados, el refuerzo del rescEU y protección civil y los fondos que tienen que ver con ello. Pero en la prevención, ¿cómo lo tenemos que hacer? Hemos perdido una oportunidad única con el Next Generation, recuperación y resiliencia, porque son fondos fundamentales que deberían de haber ido a la prevención y, en cambio, países como el nuestro no han aprovechado lo suficiente estos fondos en este caso.
Renunció incluso a la compra de 10 aviones apagafuegos en 2023 y esto es un error mayúsculo que luego se paga. Y por tanto, por un lado aprovechar los fondos para los medios, pero también simplificar. Y termino con eso, flexibilizar directivas que impidan labores tradicionales como la silvicultura, el pastoreo conducido, la caza sostenible o la agricultura sostenible en algunas zonas son esenciales para prevenir.
Echar a la gente o la vida del campo como antaño que respetaba la cuestión de la naturaleza es un error porque sobreprotege y al final tarde o temprano son pasto de la llama. Muchas gracias.
Javi López
Muchas gracias. Ahora tiene la palabra Iratxe García en nombre del Grupo de los Socialistas y Demócratas por tres minutos.
Iratxe García Pérez
Gracias, presidente, comisaria, quiero comenzar con un agradecimiento a su persona por su compromiso en esta materia. Me consta el gran trabajo que está llevando a cabo y el trabajo que durante el pasado verano llevó a cabo para responder con solidaridad, que es como Europa tiene que hacerlo ante las desgracias en muchos países como es mi propio país, España, donde usted estuvo en primera línea apostando y apoyando todas las necesidades. Pero la realidad hoy es que más de 2.000 muertos en Francia, más de 1.200 en Bélgica, más de 1.000 en España y cerca de 500 en los Países Bajos.
Miles de hectáreas calcinadas en Francia, Portugal y España. Carreteras que se derriten. Vías ferroviarias deformadas. Infraestructuras que dejan de funcionar. Esto no son eslóganes.
Son los hechos. La realidad letal del cambio climático. Y mientras Europa enterraba a sus muertos, un ministro de la extrema derecha aquí en Europa se permitía bromear en las redes sociales sobre el calor, presumiendo desde su piscina con una cervecita bien fresca. Ese mensaje fue infame porque cuando se frivoliza con la emergencia climática, se alimenta la inacción y la inacción mata. Por eso hoy quiero preguntar al Partido Popular y a los falsos patriotas de la extrema derecha qué informes manejan ustedes para seguir negando el cambio climático.
¿Qué evidencia científica les permite justificar que hay que desmantelar precisamente las políticas que salvan vidas? Porque cada vez que atacan el Pacto Verde, cada vez que intentan acabar con el principio de no causar un perjuicio significativo y cada vez que debilitan la lucha contra la deforestación, ponen vidas en riesgo. El Pacto Verde no es una carga. Es nuestro escudo. Es el mejor seguro de vida de los europeos porque proteger su salud, proteger su poder adquisitivo, su empleo y su soberanía es lo que consigue el Pacto Verde.
Necesitamos acelerar las energías renovables porque la energía más limpia y también es la más barata que se puede producir.
Pero mitigar ya no basta. Tenemos que adaptarnos y por eso exigimos una ley vinculante para proteger a los trabajadores expuestos al calor extremo dentro de la futura ley de empleos de calidad y exigimos también un auténtico plan europeo de adaptación climática. Y Europa no puede seguir esperando. Estamos negociando el próximo presupuesto europeo y en esa negociación se está decidiendo quién quiere invertir para proteger a las personas y quién prefiere recortar los instrumentos que las protegen. Quién quiere reforzar la acción climática y quién sigue desempeñado en debilitarla.
He comenzado esta intervención hablando de miles de ciudadanos que han perdido la vida. Y precisamente por ellos nuestro deber es conseguir que el próximo verano no tengamos que comenzar con este debate. Defender el Pacto Verde es defender vidas. Defender las renovables es defender la libertad en Europa y defender la transición justa es sencillamente defender a los europeos. Muchas gracias.
Javi López
Muchas gracias. El siguiente orador es el señor Knotek por un minuto representando al grupo de los Patriotas.
Ondřej Knotek
Thank you Mr. Chairman, Madam Commissioner, Mr. Minister.
Actually, current EU climate policy is not able to protect EU citizens from heatwaves because it is primarily designed to reduce EU-based emissions faster than our EU global competitors and to close industrial jobs before having adequate sustainable replacement. This is by the way not at all good for the climate, but mainly this policy weakens European economy and increases electricity prices. The only way how to effectively protect citizens from impacts of climate change is to prioritize the climate adaptation. And for that we need strong economy and cheap electricity, exactly opposite outcomes than of current EU climate policy. So you really want to protect citizens from heatwaves, then please first make the climate policy more realistic and transfer the money to the climate adaptation.
Thank you very much.
Javi López
Muchas gracias. El siguiente orador es el señor Razza por dos minutos representando al grupo ECR.
Ruggero Razza
Grazie Presidente, signor rappresentante del Consiglio, signora Commissaria.
Io ritengo che non possiamo perdere l'occasione di questo dibattito scendendo in questioni di ordine ideologico, perché la prevenzione e la strategia per la prevenzione che si è data anche l'Unione europea è la prima risposta che si deve dare a fenomeni come quello che abbiamo vissuto nelle settimane scorse e che assai verosimilmente vivremo nel corso di tutta l'estate. Prevenzione anzitutto sotto il profilo sanitario, e bene hanno fatto quegli Stati membri, penso all'Italia, che hanno saputo dare sul fronte sanitario delle direttive chiare a tutte le regioni per occuparsi per primo luogo in primo luogo degli anziani e della solitudine. In secondo luogo prevenzione significa adattare al cambiamento del clima le nostre infrastrutture, sia quelle energetiche, sia quelle che si occupano della socialità, ma prevenzione significa mettere in primo luogo la necessità che ogni investimento venga diretto per evitare che si possano verificare fenomeni che hanno impatto sulla vita di ogni cittadino. Vede, Presidente e colleghi che siete intervenuti anche prima di me, l'adattamento al cambiamento climatico non vuol dire che l'uomo è un una presenza non gradita nel sistema dell'ambiente.
Adattamento al clima vuol dire che gli stati che ciascun governo deve saper adottare delle politiche e mettere a frutto gli investimenti che sono disponibili. Allora il nostro dibattito anche su questo tema diventerà un dibattito seriamente sensato. Abbandonare ogni approccio ideologico concentrarsi come io apprezzo molto il lavoro che sta svolgendo il commissario su temi pragmatici pratici che partono da regole che devono essere condivise. Grazie.
Javi López
Muchas gracias el siguiente orador es el señor Alion por un minuto representante del grupo de Renew.
Grégory Allione
Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, je voulais tout d'abord m'adresser à vous. Merci pour l'engagement que vous avez dans cette politique de protection civile et la défense d'un monde qui se mobilise en ce moment. Dans mon pays plus de 15 000 hectares sont partis en fumée c'est trois fois plus que l'an dernier à la même période. Je voudrais remercier l'ensemble des députés qui sont engagés également dans l'intergroupe de protection civile. Ces éléments-là font l'actualité mais vous êtes toujours là également à nos côtés pour défendre cette politique aux côtés d'Hadja Lahbib.
Le climat accélère mais notre réponse elle elle reste trop lente. Nous ne pouvons pas davantage choisir entre atténuation et adaptation il faut combiner les deux politiques c'est certain. Les feux de forêt ne sont plus seulement une conséquence du dérèglement climatique ils en deviennent un accélérateur parce que lorsqu'une forêt brûle elle rejette du carbone et en plus elle ne peut plus en absorber. Les fumées tuent la canicule aussi.
En 2003, il y a plus de 20 ans, nous nous disions plus jamais cela. Pour autant, depuis 40 ans presque sapeur-pompier, je suis sûr qu'à l'automne la plupart des décideurs politiques ont oublié l'émotion que suscite finalement cette situation. La préparation ne peut plus être une politique d'urgence. Ce doit être un élément porté chaque jour, une politique d'anticipation portée par chaque citoyen, chaque entreprise, chacun d'entre nous. Monsieur le Président, laissez-moi encore quelques secondes.
Je viens d'apprendre il y a quelques minutes le décès d'un jeune sapeur-pompier volontaire en France qui luttait contre un feu. Nous ne sommes que début juillet, l'été sera compliqué. Madame la Commissaire, lorsque je vous dis qu'il faut défendre, reconnaître les sapeurs-pompiers volontaires, je pense qu'il y a urgence.
Javi López
I am being flexible with the time, but it was more than 40 seconds, please. Then we are moving to the next speaker, that is Mrs. Schilling, for one minute representing Greens group.
Thank you. Dear colleagues, 1,300 people at least died in a heatwave. I want us to be serious about that.
Lena Schilling
Imagine just for a moment 1,300 people had been killed in a terrorist attack. All of Europe would be mourning. The heads of states, the governments would have crisis meetings. We would be in a situation where we understand how dramatical that is. And we would offer our deepest condolences.
We would take that much more serious as we do it now. And in this house, we need to finally understand the climate crisis is severe for thousands of lives, for real people. And just standing here, having cynical words the next speech is not enough. This is a consequence of political decisions taken by governments, taken by leaders that is killing people in Europe. People that are downplaying, blocking and delaying climate action also now.
And I think we should account them for what they are doing. They are responsible. So here in this house I have a proposal to make. Let us name the next heatwaves after the people actually fueling them, causing them. So why don't we just say the next heatwave is called Friedrich, oder Katharina, or Donald, or I don't know, Vladimir.
Thank you.
Javi López
Thank you very much. The next speaker is Mrs. Anderson for one minute and a half representing the Left.
Li Andersson
Deadly heatwaves, thunderstorms, flooding and rampant wildfires. This is the world that the wealthy and the powerful have created.
These are the consequences of our fossil fuel-based economies. This is human-made climate change and we must be honest, we are not prepared for this. Our buildings and our cities are not designed for this. Our agriculture, our nature cannot stand this and we are not affected in the same way. Those who are already struggling are hit the hardest.
They also lack the resources to change the systems or to change their own circumstances. So while people are dying from the heat, while people are dying from the heat, what is the right wing doing, who did also did not bother to show up for this debate? They are calling for the EU's most effective climate policy tool, the Emissions Trading System, to be weakened. Under pressure from polluting industries and from far-right groups, they have been watering down Europe's climate policy throughout this whole mandate.
The most important response, the most important preparedness is to stand against the weakening of EU's climate policy. We will stand against the weakening of EU's climate policy because we know we must cut our dependencies on fossil fuels, we must tax the oil and gas companies and use the money to invest in climate-friendly choices and adaptation that are accessible to everyone, not only for the rich and the wealthy.
Javi López
Thank you very much, the next speaker is Mrs. Knapfo for one minute representing ECR.
Sarah Knafo
Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, en Europe, moins d'un foyer sur cinq est équipé d'un climatiseur. Aux États-Unis et au Japon, neuf foyers sur dix en possèdent. Et pourtant, avec l'argent du contribuable, nous sommes tellement riches que nous climatisons le monde entier. L'Agence française de développement prête 20 millions d'euros pour rénover la climatisation d'une banque en Thaïlande. Elle verse 7 millions pour équiper des bâtiments administratifs à Djibouti.
Elle installe des climatiseurs à technologie inverter dans les dispensaires du Sénégal. Quant à l'Europe, elle offre 11 climatiseurs à un service de pédiatrie du Monténégro. Elle prête 40 millions d'euros pour climatiser un hôpital neuf de 250 lits en Turquie. Elle cofinance la climatisation des hôpitaux tunisiens de Gafsa et de Sidi Bouzid. Vous financez le confort thermique à l'autre bout du monde pendant que vous expliquez aux Européens qu'ils doivent souffrir en silence et sans clim parce que ça pollue.
Alors assez de vos leçons de morale, assez de vos gabegies, ce n'est pas votre argent, c'est celui des Européens.
Javi López
Thank you very much. Now I inform you that I'm gonna close the catch-the-eye because we have a lot of petitions, requests, and we are moving to the European Commission, to Commissioner Labib, to answer the political groups. The floor is yours, Commissioner Labib.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and first of all, I would like to thank you all for your constructive and positive contribution to this debate so far. What I've heard is really encouraging. I think that we are all on the same page, that we need to work without ideology. And what I've heard so far nearly goes far beyond ideology because indeed, as you rightly said, García Pérez, this is the lethal reality of climate change that we are facing today. And we cannot deny this reality.
We propose on behalf of the Commission a very ambitious budget to have a UCPM here a comprehensive manner to response to the climate change and to the risks we are facing today. You've raised the importance to help the people who live in rural area. Yeah, people and local communities play a major role in wildfire risk prevention and management. So the share of wildfire ignition caused by human activity in the EU by far exceeds those from natural causes and could be as high as 96%. 96% caused by human activity.
That's why also I count on your support for the negotiation of the next MFF.
Complementing the preparedness Union strategy, the Commission today proposes to promote and disseminate good practices in wildfire risk assessment and awareness and community involvement, for example, through the UCPM knowledge network, develop a toolkit for supporting resilience building and promote volunteering and exchange opportunities in the field of preparedness.
And we are working also with Member States on guidelines to increase awareness about risks and threats with particular attention to ensuring that information is accessible, inclusive, and adapted to the needs of groups at risk. I totally agree that UCPM or mechanism of civil protection is solidarity, European solidarity at its best. And we need to develop it further. That's why we presented one year ago our new strategy, preparedness strategy. We will present also, as it was requested by Honorable Knotek, a climate adaptation plan that will be presented by Commissioner Hoekstra in autumn.
And yes, I totally agree that the first responder are always Member States. They are the one who needs to spend the money and the budget we allocate on the right funds. And that's why also we need to adapt our cities with the RRF, for instance, or the Solidarity Funds, because we must protect our citizens and particularly those living also in urban areas by making our cities, buildings, and public spaces more resilient.
And finally, I will respond to Grégory Allione. Si nous avons aujourd'hui le cœur lourd par le nombre de morts qui ne cesse d'augmenter, que ce soit les citoyens, je regardais hier encore dans le journal tous ces citoyens qui refusent de quitter leur village dans le sud de la France parce qu'ils y sont attachés, parce qu'ils y sont nés, parce qu'ils veulent y voir grandir leurs enfants et aussi parce qu'ils veulent contribuer, même avec parfois des bouteilles d'eau simplement, à réduire l'ampleur des feux. Nous ne sommes pas à un moment où il faut pleurer, où il faut présenter nos condoléances, même si nous avons le cœur lourd. Nous devons absolument agir. Et nous ne cessons d'agir, vous le savez.
Nous avons activé le mécanisme déjà de nombreuses fois depuis le début de la saison qui a commencé fin avril. Jamais la saison des feux, comme on l'appelle malheureusement maintenant, n'a commencé aussi tôt. Et oui, quand il s'agit du de reconnaître le statut des volontaires et des pompiers, nous y travaillons, même si cela ressort plutôt de la compétence de la commissaire Minzatou. Nous avons aujourd'hui pour la première fois des échanges de jeunes sapeurs-pompiers, de jeunes volontaires qui ont lieu à Varsovie.
Ce n'est jamais arrivé avant. Nous voulons aussi contribuer à créer de la prise de conscience, à avoir une une nouvelle génération qui est plus à même de répondre à ces dangers et à ce réchauffement climatique. Je vous remercie.
Javi López
Thank you very much, Commissioner. We have more than 20 catch-the-eyes, I want to inform you. Well, this is because it's a really important debate and I understand it. I only kindly ask you to respect the time that we have because then we will be able to take as many as possible members intervening in this important debate. Now, Mrs. Pedro has the floor for one minute and a half.
Ana Miguel Pedro
Obrigada, Presidente. A União Europeia já conta este ano com mais de 118 mil hectares ardidos até ao início de julho, acima da média dos últimos 20 anos. Portugal sabe que estes números não são abstrações, sabe o que significa ver aldeias cercadas pelas chamas, sabe o que significa retirar populações à pressa, o que significa perder casas, empresas, explorações agrícolas, floresta, solo fértil e memória coletiva. Pela primeira vez em Portugal, a participação das Forças Armadas na prevenção e combate direto aos incêndios é um sinal de compromisso e prontidão.
Mostra que Portugal mobiliza todos os instrumentos do Estado quando as populações estão em risco. Mas se um Estado-membro precisa de mobilizar todos os seus meios nacionais tão cedo no verão, então a União Europeia tem de responder com outra escala. É justo reconhecer que a União Europeia avançou. Mas sejamos claros: já não basta. A Europa tem de deixar de chegar quando o país já está exausto.
Tem de chegar antes. Por isso, desafio a Comissão Europeia a ir mais longe. Precisamos de transformar o rescEU numa verdadeira força permanente europeia de combate a incêndios, com meios aéreos próprios, com brigadas multinacionais e com pré-posicionamento automático nas regiões de maior risco. Desafio também a Comissão a mudar a lógica do financiamento europeu. A prevenção tem de ser uma prioridade central do próximo orçamento europeu: gestão de combustível, cadastro, caminhos florestais, pontos de água, apoio ao mundo rural e tecnologia de deteção precoce.
E precisamos de justiça mais firme. A resposta penal não pode ser simbólica. Temos verões cada vez mais longos, mais secos e mais extremos. A escala da ameaça mudou. A resposta europeia tem de mudar também.
Javi López
Thank you very much. You have a blue card coming from Mr. Oliveira, if you want to accept it, Mrs. Pedro.
Não, senhor deputado João Oliveira, não faço demagogia com este tema.
Now we are moving to the next speaker, that is Mr. Chahim for one minute.
Okay. Thank you very much.
Mohammed Chahim
Dank u wel, voorzitter. Tijdens de laatste hittegolf werd het voetbaltoernooi van mijn zoontje afgelast. Een enorme teleurstelling voor mijn zoon, maar het was simpelweg te warm om nog veilig te kunnen spelen. En met een knuffel kom je dan als heel ver om die teleurstelling weg te nemen. Maar dat is natuurlijk klein leed.
Wat op andere plekken in Europa werd tijdens diezelfde hittegolf kostte mensenlevens. En bosbranden verwoesten complete gebieden. En toch blijven rechtse partijen in het huis, in het parlement, stemmen tegen verduurzaming, tegen vergroening, klimaatmaatregelen vertragen en fossiele belangen beschermen. Ik vraag me echt af: wanneer houdt het op? Bij tienduizend doden?
Bij honderdduizend doden? Wanneer stoppen we met die cognitieve dissonantie? Wanneer erkennen klimaatontkenners en partijen die hen napraten dat dit een probleem is van vandaag en niet pas van morgen? We weten wat er moet gebeuren. We moeten stoppen met fossiele subsidies.
We moeten die energietransitie versnellen. Ik vraag maar één ding: bescherm onze mensen tegen hitte.
Javi López
Thank you very much, Mr. Chahim. You have a blue card if you want to accept it, it's coming from Mr. Grasulis.
Petras Gražulis
Taip, gerbiamas pranešėjau, jūs, socialdemokratai, labai kovojate su klimato kaita, su CO2, kad būtų nulinis CO2 išmetimas, ir čia Europa tikrai padariusi didelę pažangą. Pramonė faktiškai, galima sakyt, stagnuoja, CO2 mažiau išmetama, bet Europa labiausiai kenčia nuo karščių. Ką jūs ne taip darot?
Mohammed Chahim
Yeah, I mean, maybe that question should be... maybe he should try to answer that question himself. I mean, it's very clear, we are trying our best from day one to show more ambition, to take also our historical responsibility. And this is a consequence of that. You know, scientists are very clear: whatever we can do to lower global warming, the more lives we can save. This is something that we have been telling you for quite a while.
Javi López
We should do a bit more, and we should convince the rest of the world to do more.
Csaba Dömötör
Rendkívüli aszályos időszakkal nézünk szembe. A Copernicus aszálymegfigyelő adatai szerint júniusban tovább romlott a helyzet, ami azt is jelenti, hogy riasztási szintű aszály alakult ki többek között Németországban, Franciaországban, de Magyarországon is. Az én hazámban áprilisban a szokásos csapadékmennyiségnek csak a tizede hullott, 4 milliméter. 2021 óta akkora csapadékhiány halmozódott fel, mint az a teljes évnyi csapadékmennyiség, ennyinek felel meg. Jelentős beruházásokra van szükség a vízvisszatartás és az öntözött területek növelése érdekében, de ehhez uniós forrásokra is szükség van.
Ehhez képest az Európai Bizottság 20 százalékkal megvágná az agrárkasszát a hétéves költségvetésben. Sokan kérjük arra az Európai Bizottságot, hogy változtasson ezen, biztosítson külön forrásokat ne csak a vízvisszatartási létesítményfejlesztésre, hanem az öntözésfejlesztésre is. Utóbbi ugyanis nagyon kis hangsúlyt kap a Bizottság terveiben.
Hogyha nem lesz elég víz, akkor nem lesz élelmiszerbiztonság sem, pláne nem megfizethető áron. Köszönöm.
Javi López
Thank you very much, but you have also a blue card if you want to accept it. It's coming from Mrs. Ohisalo. Okay.
Maria Ohisalo
Dear colleague, over the past four years more than 200,000 people have died from heat in Europe. This week temperatures are exceeding 30 degrees in cities across the continent, and work continues on construction sites and in fields regardless. And I agree on your points on water, definitely. But so far the far right, together with many right-wing parties, has said no to the binding rules on really tackling the climate crisis and really to protecting the workers from heat at their workplaces. So please, tell us directly how many deaths would it take to convince you and your colleagues in your parties that this isn't a hypothetical situation or problem, but something that is happening right now, killing people all over the European Union.
Thank you very much.
Csaba Dömötör
Köszönöm a kérdését.
Azt hiszem, hogy a célban egyetértünk abban, hogy a klímaváltozás következményei ellen fel kell lépni. De azt, hogy hogyan kezeljük ezt, abban már eltérő megközelítéseink vannak. Önök, és mondhatom azt, hogy a baloldali nagykoalíció egy tervgazdasági megközelítéssel dolgoznak, ami azt jelenti, hogy olyan terveket tesznek kötelezővé, amelyekről nagyon hamar kiderül, hogy nem teljesülnek. És mindeközben nincsenek tekintettel arra, hogy milyen következményei vannak ezeknek a terveknek. Gondoljanak csak az autóiparra.
Beletolták az európai autóipart kötelező tervekbe, kötelező átállásba, következésképp tönkremennek. A Volkswagen ennek is következményeként jelentette be, hogy százezer embertől válik meg, százezer munkahely szűnik meg. Ez a következménye az önök politikájának. Köszönöm.
Gheorghe Piperea
În ultimele săptămâni Europa a ars și s-a inundat în același timp. Franța, Spania și Italia au înregistrat temperaturi de peste 38 de grade, România a fost lovită de furtuni violente, inundații și distrugeri. Răspunsul Uniunii Europene rămâne însă prea des unul birocratic. Vorbim despre obiective pentru anul 2050 în timp ce oamenii au nevoie de soluții astăzi.
Pactul Verde a rămas un exercițiu birocratic, construit pe reguli multe și costuri mari pentru cetățeni și industrie, contrazis de știință. Un raport recent arată că reducerea aerosolilor proveniți din arderea cărbunelui a contribuit la creșterea încălzirii globale cu un grad Celsius în orașele europene. Asta în condițiile în care Uniunea Europeană a împovărat industria europeană, a crescut costul vieții, a diminuat competitivitatea economiei noastre. Cetățenii europeni nu mai au nevoie de promisiuni pentru 2050. Și încă un lucru, încercarea de a introduce soarele cu ligheanul, lumină în casa fără ferestre, nu e știință, este prostie în stare pură.
Javi López
Thank you very much, the next speaker is Vice-President Hojsík for one minute.
Martin Hojsík
Ďakujem. Ako je možné, že v roku 2024 sú v Európe krajiny, kde nemocnice nemajú klimatizáciu, kde je počas horúčav 42 stupňov na izbe? Ako je možné, že sú v Európe krajiny, ktoré ani nerátajú, nerátajú úmrtia kvôli horúčavám, čiže ani nevieme, koľko ľudí vlastne zomrelo?
Ako je možné, že sú v Európe krajiny, ktoré majú ministrov, ktorí sa zrazu zobudili do toho, že existuje zmena klímy a nepočúvali o tom posledných 30 rokov. A potom o tom len počúvame, že za všetko zlé môže Brusel, ten zlý magický Brusel. A pritom v mnohých členských krajinách stále stovkami miliónov, miliardami dotujeme fosílnu ideológiu, dotujeme fosílnu lobby namiesto toho, aby sme presne tieto peniaze, ale aj európske peniaze použili na pomoc poľnohospodárom, na pomoc mestám, udržať si zeleň, na modernizáciu nemocníc tak, aby pacienti neležali pri horúčavách na izbách a sestričky neodpadávali pri operácii. Ďakujem.
Javi López
Thank you very much, Mr. Kohut, you have also a blue card coming from Mr. Stier, if you want to accept it.
Davor Ivo Stier
Thank you President, esteemed colleague, with the heatwave more than ever we need a cooling strategy and I would say in that cooling strategy also an action plan for geothermal energy in order to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Now, the Commission has been promising that to be delivered in May, then in June, then it was postponed, now it's July, so I would like to ask you about your views about that cooling strategy and particularly on the role of geothermal.
Martin Hojsík
And indeed, we are walking on the very heat, but also cold, let's be honest, from heat you can make cold, that's physics, that we need. And geothermal is the very one we have been overlooking and understating. So I expect the Commission to come up now in the electrification strategy with a very concrete dedicated action on generation on geothermal, on next generation geothermal, so we can use it both for electricity as well as heating and right now cooling. Thank you very much.
Diana Riba i Giner
Gràcies, president, comissària, Ensell. El món crema, la terra crema, hem de canviar la manera de viure i la manera de fer. Así reaccionaba Núria, una payesa catalana, al ver cómo las llamas de los incendios que estos días afectan Cataluña convertían el territorio en cenizas. Eventos climáticos extremos como las olas de calor o los incendios de sexta generación que ya forman parte de los veranos en el sur de Europa están cada vez más son más frecuentes en el centro y en el norte del continente. La terra ens parla, decía Núria, y hemos dejado de escucharla.
El ritmo del sistema bajo el que vivimos es incompatible con la sostenibilidad del mundo en el cual residimos.
Frente a un mundo complejo, rápido y expansivo, la solución pasa por potenciar las formas de vida arraigadas al territorio y en armonía con el entorno. Ni la tierra es plana ni el callo solar funciona. O apostamos por la ciencia, la evidencia y la gestión regional y local del territorio o el negacionismo climático conseguirá que Europa se convierta en un cenicero gigante.
Javi López
Muchas gracias, señora Riba. Tiene una tarjeta azul de la señora Mendía, si quiere aceptarla.
Idoia Mendia
Gracias, presidente. Este año se calculan ya 20.000 muertes en Europa, la mitad de ellas de personas mayores, y seguimos sin hacer nada. La falta de inversiones en adaptar sus viviendas no está siendo una prioridad para esta Comisión. Muchas residencias de mayores tampoco cumplen con la adaptación climática. En Europa los mayores sufren un edadismo que les hace vivir peor y morir antes.
Pregúntense, colegas, porque todos llegaremos a mayor, por qué dejamos de ser sujetos con derechos a partir de cierta edad y pasamos a convertirnos en objetos que hay que esconder o apartar y cuya vida ya no vale nada. ¿Es esto lo que queremos?
Diana Riba i Giner
Muchas gracias. Creo que es verdad que estamos hablando a grandes rasgos, pero cuando vemos la cifra de miles de muertos que también han expuesto nuestros colegas, dentro de estas cifras hay una mayoría que son los mayores de edad y creo que tenemos que hacer más atención a estos grupos vulnerables, la gente mayor, los menores. Hemos visto en Alemania no hay ni un hospital que esté climatizado, no hay residencias climatizadas, tampoco escuelas en todo Europa bien climatizadas. Tenemos que adaptarnos urgentemente a esta situación porque el cambio climático creo que nos pone dos objetivos por delante: la descarbonización que hemos hablado, el pacto verde, pero también la adaptación que ya hoy es una realidad de esta subida de las temperaturas. Muchas gracias.
Giorgos Georgiou
Κύριε Πρόεδρε, η κλιματική κρίση είναι εδώ και ας μην την αναγνωρίζουν οι συντηρητικοί μιμητές του Τραμπ και ας την υποτιμά ακόμα και η κυρία Φον ντερ Λάιεν. Ο καύσωνας σκοτώνει, οι πυρκαγιές καταστρέφουν, οι χώρες του ευρωπαϊκού νότου δοκιμάζονται. Στην πρώτη γραμμή βρίσκεται η Κύπρος: ακραίες θερμοκρασίες, παρατεταμένη ξηρασία, καμένα δάση, χαμένες περιουσίες, ανθρώπινες ζωές σε κίνδυνο.
Δεν αρκεί να μετράμε τις καταστροφές. Χρειαζόμαστε περισσότερη πρόληψη, όχι με κριτήριο το κόστος. Περισσότερη ανθεκτικότητα, περισσότερη ευρωπαϊκή αλληλεγγύη. Η Κύπρος λόγω της στρατηγικής γεωγραφικής της θέσης μπορεί και πρέπει να γίνει πρότυπο ευρωπαϊκό περιφερειακό κέντρο δασοπυρόσβεσης και πολιτικής προστασίας για την Ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Με μόνιμα εναέρια μέσα, με εξειδικευμένο προσωπικό, με επαρκή ευρωπαϊκή χρηματοδότηση.
Η κλιματική κρίση δεν γνωρίζει σύνορα. Ούτε η ευρωπαϊκή αλληλεγγύη πρέπει να προσφέρεται με το σταγονόμετρο.
Milan Uhrík
Tie vlny horúčav sú skutočne niekedy naozaj neznesiteľné, ale teda hovoríte, že musíme znižovať emisie, že musíme obmedzovať dopravu a obmedzovať priemysel, aby sme zastavili to otepľovanie. A ja mám na vás, kolegovia, jednu možno trošku konšpiračnú, ale podľa mňa úplne legitímnu otázku. Čo ak sa to otepľovanie napriek tomu drastickému znižovaniu emisií jednoducho nezastaví? V roku 1990 sme mali nejakú úroveň emisií, teraz sa tá úroveň emisií znížila údajne o 40 % oproti roku 1990. Teplo je napriek tomu stále.
Kde máte garanciu, že keď znížime tie emisie o 90 %, že to otepľovanie jednoducho nebude? Čo keď bude jediným výsledkom vašej zelenej politiky, vášho Green Dealu to, že si zničíme naše hospodárstvo, náš priemysel a aj tak bude v Európe teplo? Podľa mňa treba viac peňazí investovať práve na tú adaptáciu. Investovať ich do klimatizácií, do vodozádržných opatrení na boj proti suchám alebo do budovania viac zelených miest, aby tam nebol len samý žeravý betón. Jednoducho pripravovať sa na to, že to teplo v Európe bude.
Javi López
Thank you very much. You have also a blue card. Okay. And then we are moving to the next speaker that is Mrs. Zacharia for one minute.
Maria Zacharia
Κάθε καλοκαίρι, η ίδια συζήτηση, τα ίδια λάθη. Η φύση δεν μας αιφνιδίασε. Η επιστήμη προειδοποιεί εδώ και δεκαετίες. Εσείς όμως κάθε φορά που έπρεπε να διαλέξετε ανάμεσα στο περιβάλλον και το κέρδος, διαλέγατε το κέρδος. Δώσατε γη και ύδωρ, δάση, ακτές, φυσικούς πόρους, στο όνομα μιας δήθεν ανάπτυξης.
Σήμερα το λογαριασμό δεν τον πληρώνουν όσοι κέρδισαν, τον πληρώνουν οι λαοί. Δεν υπάρχουν πλέον φυσικές καταστροφές χωρίς πολιτικές ευθύνες.
Η κλιματική αλλαγή δεν είναι άλλοθι της πολιτικής αδράνειας. Και όχι, δεν μπορούμε να μιλάμε για ετοιμότητα όταν απέναντι σε μόνιμους κινδύνους εξακολουθείτε να στέλνετε εποχικούς εργαζόμενους. Δεν μπορούμε να μιλάμε για προστασία των πολιτών όταν ζητάμε από οικοδόμους, αγρότες, διανομείς, εργαζόμενους στην ύπαιθρο και διασώστες να εργάζονται κάτω από ακραίες θερμοκρασίες και χωρίς επαρκή προστασία. Σας ζητώ να χρηματοδοτήσει η Ευρώπη την πρόληψη, τη διαχείριση των δασών, τις αντιπυρικές ζώνες, την προστασία των οικισμών και την προστασία των ανθρώπων που βρίσκονται στην πρώτη γραμμή. Σας ευχαριστώ.
Thank you, your time is up. Mr. Arimont, you have the floor for one and a half minute, please.
Pascal Arimont
Merci, Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire Schreinemacher. Europa brennt mal wieder und das ist längst keine Ausnahme mehr, es ist zur neuen Realität geworden und das hat sehr viel mit Klimaveränderung zu tun. Allein in diesem Jahr wurden bereits tausend Waldbrände registriert, was doppelt so viel wie im Durchschnitt der vergangenen Jahrzehnte. 2022 war das zerstörerischste Waldbrandjahr in der Geschichte der EU, mehr als eine Million Hektar wurden verwüstet.
Frankreich und Portugal haben den Katastrophenschutzmechanismus erst vor wenigen Tagen erneut aktivieren müssen. Wir reden nicht über ein Zukunftsszenario, wir reden über die traurige Gegenwart. Die Kommission hat bereits über 800 Feuerwehrkräfte aus 14 Ländern in den Hochrisikogebieten Südeuropas vorpositioniert. Das ist richtig, das ist notwendig, aber es wird leider nicht reichen. Denn wir haben es längst nicht mehr mit einzelnen Extremereignissen zu tun.
Wir arbeiten gerade auch mit Hochdruck daran, den sogenannten europäischen Katastrophenschutzmechanismus weiterzuentwickeln. Wir brauchen aber weitere Investitionen in Prävention, moderne Frühwarnsysteme, klimaresistente Wälder und den Schutz unserer Einsatzkräfte. Unser Leitgedanke muss sein: Krisen antizipieren statt improvisieren, vorbereiten statt hinterherlaufen, handeln, bevor eine Lage eskaliert. Und ich möchte diese Rede auch hier nutzen, um diejenigen in den Fokus unserer Aufmerksamkeit zu stellen, die das verdienen. Wer löscht den Brand, wenn es brennt?
Es sind natürlich die Feuerwehrmänner und -frauen. In Europa gibt es ungefähr 2 Millionen, 2,5 Millionen freiwillige Feuerwehrleute. Die müssen wir in den Fokus stellen, die müssen wir nicht nur schützen, wir müssen sogar diese Freiwilligkeit fördern. Dazu gehört auch, dass wir unsere Systeme der sozialen Sicherung an diese Freiwilligkeit anpassen. Europa brennt und wir müssen dem helfen, der den Brand löscht.
Thank you. I'm very sorry. Thank you, Mrs Gualmini.
I will ask you to stick to your time because there is a lot of requests for speak. Thank you.
Elisabetta Gualmini
Ok, merci Madame la Présidente. In Europa siamo già alla terza ondata di super caldo e siamo solo all'inizio di luglio. Quindi i dati sul cambiamento climatico sono indiscutibili e chi oggi si esercita nel negazionismo è semplicemente pazzo. Quindi devono stare fuori dalla politica quelli che negano il cambiamento climatico perché il nostro dovere è rispondere ai bisogni dei cittadini. E vedo comunque che i banchi vuoti dell'estrema destra vanno in questa direzione.
Il punto oggi è quello delle nuove diseguaglianze che si stanno creando: diseguaglianze nell'accesso al raffreddamento, diseguaglianze nelle fasce di età, diseguaglianze anche sul piano dei migranti. Stanno aumentando i migranti climatici. Quindi c'è un forte nesso tra giustizia ambientale e giustizia sociale. Serve un approccio di ecologia integrale, quello che già Papa Francesco indicava, dove si danno risposte integrate soprattutto a chi è più vulnerabile. L'Europa ha fatto molto, prenda in mano il timone e soprattutto si porti dietro tutti e non solo alcuni.
Grazie.
Chloé Ridel
Chers collègues, ce week-end un incendie d'une virulence rare est parti du village de ma famille, Lédénon dans le Gard. Il a dévasté 500 hectares de garrigue en quelques heures. Des familles ont été confinées, des habitants évacués. D'autres incendies ravagent en ce moment la France et d'autres pays en Europe. Ces feux arrivent avec un mois d'avance, ils sont plus intenses, plus incontrôlables du fait de la canicule et de la sécheresse des sols.
Nous savons que tout ça n'est qu'un début, les scientifiques le répètent depuis des décennies. Et pourtant, dans cet hémicycle, certains font toujours le choix d'affaiblir ce qui peut nous protéger en détricotant le pacte vert. Je pose la question au groupe de Jordan Bardella. Allez-vous installer la clim contre les incendies dans le champ des agriculteurs ? Vous avez choisi de désarmer l'Union européenne face au changement climatique en votant mois après mois contre la restauration des forêts, contre les énergies renouvelables, contre l'obligation de transparence climatique des entreprises.
Vous avez choisi l'inaction alors que les canicules et les incendies ont fait 200 000 morts en Europe sur les quatre dernières années. Soyons clairs, seule une politique de lutte contre le réchauffement climatique pourra nous sauver : sortir des énergies fossiles, adapter le logement, nos villes, protéger les forêts, renforcer la sécurité civile. Nous avons tous les atouts. La maison brûle, ne regardons pas ailleurs.
Merci. Mr. Theodoros, you have one and a half minute, please.
Dimitris Tsiodras
Αγαπητοί συνάδελφοι, οι καύσωνες και οι πυρκαγιές δεν είναι απειλές του μέλλοντος, αλλά η νέα σκληρή πραγματικότητα.
Οι αριθμοί μιλούν από μόνοι τους. Το 2025 αποτέλεσε τη χειρότερη περίοδο δασικών πυρκαγιών, αφού πάνω από ένα εκατομμύριο εκτάρια καταστράφηκαν στην Ευρώπη, ενώ ο Ιούνιος του 2026 ήταν ο θερμότερος που έχει καταγραφεί ποτέ σε αρκετές χώρες της Ευρώπης. Πρόκειται για μια πραγματικότητα την οποία η Ελλάδα, αλλά και γενικότερα η Μεσόγειος, βιώνουν με αυξανόμενη ένταση και η οποία κάνει τη λήψη μέτρων για τη βελτίωση ανθεκτικότητας των πόλεων απολύτως αναγκαία. Πρέπει όμως να αναπροσαρμόσουμε το μοντέλο αντιμετώπισης των φυσικών καταστροφών με έμφαση στην πρόληψη και την έγκαιρη προειδοποίηση, αλλά και με δραστική αύξηση των ευρωπαϊκών μέσων. Η Ένωση Ανθεκτικότητας θα πρέπει να πάρει σάρκα και οστά με καλύτερο συντονισμό μεταξύ ευρωπαϊκού και εθνικού επιπέδου, ενίσχυση του Ευρωπαϊκού Ταμείου Αλληλεγγύης και του μηχανισμού rescEU, περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη του ευρωπαϊκού συστήματος πληροφοριών για τις δασικές πυρκαγιές, δημιουργία ευρωπαϊκής πλατφόρμας έγκαιρης προειδοποίησης με αξιοποίηση της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης και φυσικά ενισχυμένη χρηματοδότηση στα πλαίσια του επόμενου επταετούς προϋπολογισμού της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, ώστε τα κράτη μέλη να είναι επαρκώς εξοπλισμένα.
Η κλιματική κρίση απαιτεί συντονισμένη δράση, αυξημένα μέσα και αλλαγή του τρόπου που ενεργούσαμε στο παρελθόν.
Και αυτή η αλλαγή πρέπει να γίνει τώρα. Ευχαριστώ.
Mireia Borrás Pabón
Sí, gracias presidenta. Cada verano escuchamos en este hemiciclo la misma excusa: que los incendios son inevitables, que todo es culpa del cambio climático y que debemos resignarnos. Y mientras unos utilizan cada incendio para hacer su propaganda climática, pues otros sabemos cómo se evita el fuego. Los incendios en verano se apagan en invierno, señorías, con pastoreo, con cortafuegos, con desbroces, con una gestión forestal inteligente, con esa España rural que ustedes han expulsado con su amado y querido y alabado Pacto Verde. Con esa misma España rural es como se apagan los incendios.
Y ¿qué informes utilizamos?, preguntaban los socialistas, señora Iratxe. Pregunte a los ganaderos, a los que han impedido pastorear. Pregunte a los agricultores, a los silvicultores y a todos los que han sido expulsados del campo por décadas de políticas del bipartidismo y de su Pacto Verde que ha dado la espalda al mundo rural.
Esos son nuestros informes, el mundo real, ese que ustedes solamente pisan cuando hay cámaras. El clima cambia, señorías, efectivamente, pero el cambio climático no limpia los montes, no abre fuegos cortafuegos, no desbroza, no retrasa las ayudas y no explica por qué España concentra el 40% de los incendios de toda la superficie de la Unión Europea cuando Portugal comparte el mismo clima y no.
Sophie Wilmès
Thank you. Thank you. Please stick to your time, but you will have the opportunity to speak more if you want because you have a blue card from Mrs. Boeselager. Do you want to take it? From Mrs. Boeselager, do you want to take it?
Delara Burkhardt
Ja, vielen Dank. Ich fände es noch mal spannend zu hören, weil Sie ja wieder Klima-Ideologie als Begriff benutzt haben. Könnten Sie uns vielleicht noch mal erklären, was Ihre Definition von ideologisch ist? Weil ich das Gefühl habe, dass Ihre Besessenheit davon, Autokraten dieser Welt eine Importgarantie für fossile Energien zu geben, eine ganz schön ideologische Herangehensweise ist, anstatt EU-Bürgerinnen in Spanien oder überall anders tatsächlich die Chance zu geben, auch günstige erneuerbare Energien zu beziehen. Ist das nicht eher die Ideologie?
Vielleicht könnten Sie noch mal unsere Definition klären.
Mireia Borrás Pabón
Vamos a ver, lo primero, estamos hablando aquí de incendios, no de energías renovables. Pero qué concibo yo como ideología: su ideología, su fanatismo climático es simplemente hacer un uso político e ideológico de un hecho fáctico que es el cambio climático, que aquí nadie niega que el clima es cambiante. El clima lleva cambiando desde los orígenes del planeta Tierra. Ustedes utilizan ese hecho fáctico de que el clima es cambiante para establecer una ideología y establecer sus propios intereses ideológicos, su fanatismo climático para inventarse cuestiones como esta, que los incendios son culpa del cambio climático, cuando ha quedado más que demostrado que los incendios son culpa de su nefasta gestión. Y como son incapaces de asumir responsabilidades, ustedes se escudan en su fanatismo climático.
Thank you. Madame Toussaint.
Marie Toussaint
Chers collègues, nous vivons l'été le plus frais du reste de notre vie. La canicule, ce n'est plus une anomalie, c'est notre nouvelle normalité. Et cette canicule tue : 200 000 personnes en Europe en quatre ans.
Suelen Demestre lance un cri d'alarme au nom des gens du voyage : "Nous cherchons un refuge climatique, nous ne pouvons plus respirer". Sarah, sans-abri, mère de 4 enfants, raconte qu'en été tous les abris sont fermés. On dort dans les parcs, parfois sur le béton, il n'y a pas d'eau. Et pendant que nous débattons ici, ouvriers, agricultrices, éboueurs continuent de travailler sous 40 degrés sans protection européenne. Parce que oui, la canicule ne touche pas tout le monde de la même façon.
La Commission le sait, elle la connaît cette injustice, elle qui a allumé la climatisation pour les commissaires dans les étages supérieurs et éteint pour les fonctionnaires dans les étages inférieurs. Elle a aussi manqué de réagir, pas un communiqué, pas un plan d'action, pas un tweet lorsque la haute chaleur a touché notre continent. Cette inaction doit cesser. Les canicules ne tombent pas du ciel, elles portent le nom des multinationales des fossiles et notre plan d'action doit être clair : reprendre en main les firmes qui ont provoqué le dérèglement climatique, adopter une grande loi pour protéger les travailleurs exposés aux chaleurs extrêmes, dégager les moyens urgents pour adapter nos hôpitaux, nos écoles et les logements aux grandes chaleurs.
N'attendons plus.
Sophie Wilmès
Merci. You have a blue card, you have two blue cards. Vous avez deux cartes. Alors, Mr. Madison and Mrs. Konečná. Alors, Monsieur Madison de ECR et Madame Konečná de non-inscrits.
Alors, I will ask Mr. Furlas to come and take the floor for one minute and a half. Please, please stick to your time or I will be obliged to cut it off. Thank you.
Loucas Fourlas
Ευχαριστώ πολύ κυρία Πρόεδρε, κύριε Επίτροπε. Προέρχομαι από μία χώρα όπου ο καύσωνας το καλοκαίρι είναι σχεδόν καθημερινό φαινόμενο. Στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση πέρσι είχαμε ρεκόρ πυρκαγιών με πάνω από 10 εκατομμύρια στρέμματα καμένης γης. Για την Κύπρο, την πατρίδα μου, τα δεδομένα του ευρωπαϊκού συστήματος πληροφόρησης για τις δασικές πυρκαγιές καταγράφουν μία ακραία κορύφωση των καμένων εκτάσεων. Χαιρετίζω λοιπόν την απόφαση σταθμό καθώς υπάρχει ένας αριθμός ρεκόρ για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, 777 πυροσβέστες, 22 αεροσκάφη και 5 ελικόπτερα σε διάφορα σημεία της ευρωπαϊκής επικράτειας ώστε να συνδράμουν ανά πάσα στιγμή εκεί και όπου χρειάζεται.
Θέλω όμως να μάθω αν υπάρχει προγραμματισμός για το πού θα πάνε και πότε, αν μπορείτε να μας πείτε. Ήμουν και παραμένω ένας εξ αυτών που υποστήριξαν σθεναρά την απόλυτη ανάγκη μόνιμης και ενισχυμένης παρουσίας του RescEU στην Κύπρο καθώς η γεωγραφική απομόνωσή της την καθιστούσε ευάλωτη. Νομίζω πως είμαστε τώρα σε μια σωστή κατεύθυνση και επιβάλλεται η συνεχής ενίσχυση.
Οποιεσδήποτε καθυστερήσεις είναι επικίνδυνες με ανυπολόγιστες συνέπειες για το φυσικό περιβάλλον και την ανθρώπινη ζωή. Ευχαριστώ πολύ.
Estelle Ceulemans
Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues, justice sociale et justice climatique, même combat. Aujourd'hui déjà et demain plus encore, ce sont les plus vulnérables au nord comme au sud de la planète qui paient le prix du dérèglement climatique. En Europe, on estime que le décompte morbide sera chaque été de 80 000 morts. Rien qu'en Belgique, pour la canicule de ce mois de juin, on déplore plus de 1 200 décès supplémentaires liés aux fortes chaleurs et à nouveau les plus fragiles sont touchés : les personnes âgées, les malades chroniques ou les bébés. Et les travailleurs aussi sont en première ligne.
Mais pendant ce temps, notre gouvernement, par la voix de notre ministre de la Défense, nous invite à ne pas dramatiser et à profiter d'une bonne bière au bord de la piscine. Monsieur Franken, je vous invite à vous mettre dans la peau des 130 millions de travailleurs exposés à des températures infernales qui mettent leur santé et leur vie en danger. Et c'est pourquoi il est urgent d'adopter une directive qui protège ces travailleurs et ces travailleuses afin de prévenir les risques pour leur santé, pas pour prendre acte ou pour subir.
Merci, Mrs. Hernandez Garcia. You have one minute, please.
Esther Herranz García
Muchas gracias, señora presidente. Lejos de remitir la incidencia de los incendios en Europa, como todos desearíamos, cada año se inician antes y son más virulentos. La Unión es consciente del problema y trata de coordinar mejor los medios efectivos que hay contra los incendios, pero tenemos una causa pendiente. Es la prevención. No lo hacemos bien.
Hemos avanzado algo, como por ejemplo con la nueva aprobación de las nuevas técnicas de edición genómica para hacer más resilientes el mundo vegetal, o el reconocimiento de anteayer por parte de la Comisión Europea a la ganadería extensiva del ovino y el caprino y su importante papel medioambiental y la lucha contra incendios. Pero aún quedan decisiones políticas y presupuestarias necesarias que evidencien de manera incontestable la apuesta por el entorno poblacional del mundo rural y su papel. Hay que modificar legislación como la Red Natura 2000, reglamentos como el de restauración de la naturaleza, la estrategia forestal 2030, reglamentos como biodiversidad o hábitats para volver a permitir, sin polémicas, que la población rural europea vuelva a practicar medidas eficaces para prevenir los desastres naturales que son los incendios. Y ¿cómo?
Permitiéndoles volver a prácticas que durante siglos y siglos han funcionado como las talas, los clareos, las limpiezas, las veredas, los cortafuegos. No sé a qué estamos esperando, pero mientras discutimos si son galgos o son podencos, Europa sigue ardiendo. Muchas gracias.
Sophie Wilmès
Thank you. You have a blue card from Mr. Kennes. You have a blue card from Mr. Kennes. Do you wish to take it?
Rudi Kennes
I will speak in Dutch. Ja, dank u wel. Ik heb al een aantal tussenkomsten gehoord van laten we zeggen beschaafd rechts, hè, centrumrechts, en ik hoor telkens maar pleiten over preventie en over investeringen en weet ik ik veel. Nu, wat ik vaststel, dat is overal in Europa, waar dat de grote of overgrote deel rechtse of centrumrechtse regeringen zijn, dat er overal net wordt bespaard op preventie, dat er overal wordt bespaard op hulpdiensten en dergelijke. Dus ik zou willen vragen van, allez, is dat wel eigenlijk consequent wat dat u komt vertellen en hoe ziet u dat?
Esther Herranz García
La visión es muy clara, caballero, y gracias por su pregunta.
Mire, tenemos que ser conscientes de que hay una prevención muy importante, que es la práctica que siempre se ha llevado a cabo en el mundo rural. Los que mejor conocen el mundo rural son aquellos que por herencia, por tradición, por familia, por conocimientos, lo hacen bien desde hace siglos. Y hemos, durante yo diría que más de una década, hemos empezado a prohibir sistemáticamente un montón de medidas que ellos apostaban. Han desaparecido los cortafuegos, por eso ahora no podemos limitar el alcance del fuego. No les dejamos, cuando entran en Red Natura 2000, utilizar los recursos naturales como lo han hecho siempre.
No limpiamos. Hemos acabado con la ganadería extensiva del ovino y el caprino que lucha contra incendios. Oiga, es tan sencillo como lo que sabemos, el conocimiento, aplicarlo y no prohibirlo.
Martin Günther
Jedes Jahr sterben in Europa mehr als 175.000 Menschen an den Folgen extremer Hitze. Die Temperaturen in Europa steigen doppelt so schnell wie im globalen Durchschnitt. Doch anstatt dies als den Notfall zu behandeln, der es ist, baut die EU Klimaschutzmaßnahmen ab. Während die reichsten 1 % so viel CO2 ausstoßen wie die ärmsten zwei Drittel der Bevölkerung zusammen, sind es die Arbeiterinnen, Rentnerinnen und einkommensschwachen Familien, die am meisten leiden.
Klimaschutz bedeutet Besteuerung von extremen Vermögen und Emissionen, Abbau von Subventionen für fossile Brennstoffe, Investitionen in öffentliche Dienstleistungen und die größten Umweltverschmutzer zur Kasse zu bitten. Doch während Europa brennt, stecken Konservative und Extremrechte gemeinsam unter der Decke. Sie schwächen den Green Deal und die EU steckt weiterhin Milliarden in Subventionen für fossile Brennstoffe. Menschen statt Verschmutzer, Leben statt Gewinne fossiler Brennstoffe schützen.
Just a minute please, yes, right now.
Jaak Madison
Ja, kuna räägite saksa keeles, siis ma räägin eesti keeles. Teie kõne oli ääretult entusiastlik ja positiivne, seega kõnepidajana olete te väga hea. Kuid kui te räägite fossiilkütustest ja Euroopa põlemisest ja süüdi fossiilkütused, meil pole kliimakokkuleppeid, rohepööret, kõike seda, siis lihtsalt väikene küsimus, et minu teada kliima on alati muutunud, alati läbi ajaloo. Ja aastal 1685 oli Thamesi jõgi nii jäätunud, et seal hobused jooksid.
Mis teie arvate, miks muutus kliima umbes 200 aastat tagasi, kui ta nüüd muutub ainult sellepärast, et meil on bensiiniautod? Et kui varem muutus kliima tänu päikesele ja tänu loodusele, siis nüüd ta muutub hoopis sellepärast, et meil on olemas teaduslik areng ja võimalik majandust arendada ka loodusressurssidele. Mis juhtus vahepeal? Miks varem kliima muutus?
Martin Günther
Ja, es gab Klimawandel auch vor dem menschengemachten Klimawandel. Den menschengemachten Klimawandel zu ignorieren, der wissenschaftlich eindeutig festgestellt ist, das ist klimaterroristische Ideologie, die Sie zusammen verfolgen, unter der Arbeiterinnen, Rentnerinnen und arme Familien in dieser EU leiden. Und ich fordere Sie auf, endlich Verantwortung dafür zu übernehmen für Ihre Politik und den Leuten ehrlich zu sagen, was auf sie zukommt. Das tun Sie nicht. Sie belügen die Menschen.
Sophie Wilmès
There is a request for a follow-up. Mr Günther, Mr Günther, there is a request from Mr Madison for a follow-up, 209.
Jaak Madison
Jaa, te räägite, et keegi peab võtma vastutuse. Siis miks te arvate, et Euroopa peab võtma vastutuse, kui te räägite kliimamuutustest ja kliimasoojenemisest, siis ainult Euroopas on vaid märkimisväärselt vähe tõusnud kliimamuutused, samas ülejäänud maailmas, Aafrikas, Aasias ei ole seda juhtunud. Miks peab Euroopa inimene teie poliitika tõttu hakkama rohkem kinni maksma rohelepet, kõrgemat kütusehinda, kõrgemat toasooja hinda, et teha mingit ideoloogilist projekti nagu tegid kommunistid ja noh, te olete ka ju natukene kommunist. Et miks meie peame kinni maksma Euroopa inimestena teie ideoloogia, kui me teame, et tegelikult inim-mõju kliimamuutustele on marginaalne, väga väikene või olematu. Miks te tahate, et Euroopa...
Martin Günther
Erstens, es sind 57 Konzerne, die 80 % aller weltweiten Emissionen produzieren. Es sind nicht die Menschen, die es zahlen sollten, es sind diese Konzerne, die sie zahlen sollten, endlich ihrer Verantwortung gerecht zu werden. Und ja, das sind auch viele europäische Konzerne. Und ich bin sehr dafür, dass es nicht die Menschen sind, die am meisten darunter leiden, was sie heutzutage schon tun. 175.000 Tote durch extreme Hitze in Europa und Konzerne wie Exxon sagen fürs erste Vierteljahr bereits, dass sie 5 Milliarden mehr Profit gemacht haben.
Wo bleibt da eigentlich Ihre Initiative?
Leire Pajín
En los últimos días hemos vivido récords de temperatura en toda Europa y mucho me temo que este va a ser el verano más fresco de los próximos años. Las olas de calor han dejado miles de víctimas y han multiplicado los incendios. El estrés térmico amenaza a más de 130 millones de trabajadores y la superficie quemada ya supera las 130.000 hectáreas. En nuestra tierra, en Castellón, en Segorbe, pero también repetidamente en León, en Cataluña, de forma simultánea están luchando contra el fuego. Todo nuestro apoyo.
Nuestro nuevo mecanismo de protección civil debe de reforzar las capacidades de la Unión para responder. Estamos en ello. Pero sobre todo tiene que fomentar una cultura de la preparación, de la planificación, de la prevención, con la participación de actores locales y rurales. Tenemos que entender su dimensión y su frecuencia y su virulencia en emergencia climática. No podremos hacerlo si no desmantelamos las leyes que protegen y monitorean nuestros bosques como aquí se está intentando.
Y no lo haremos si no entendemos sus causas: el cambio climático, la despoblación, si no tenemos en cuenta a los actores locales y rurales. Y esto, señorías, no es un debate sobre más aire acondicionado.
Hay que climatizar, sí, pero sobre todo hay que prevenir, hay que anticiparse y evitar más incendios y también más muertes por el calor.
Anna-Maja Henriksson
Arvoisa puhemies, komissaari, meillä on vain yksi planeetta. Tällä hetkellä se palaa monin paikoin ja sään ääri-ilmiöt yleistyvät. Ilmastonmuutos on täällä. Me näemme sen omin silmin joka päivä ja tuhannet ihmiset Euroopassa ovat menettäneet henkensä helteen vuoksi. Se on järkyttävää.
Suomessa lapsemme ja lastenlapsimme eivät sinilevän vuoksi enää voi uida meressä samalla tavoin kuin ennen. Myrskyt ja rajut ukkosilmat seuraavat toisiaan. Arktisella alueella asuvat saamelaiset kärsivät ilmastonmuutoksesta erityisen paljon. On vastuutonta, että vielä tänäkin päivänä on päättäjiä, jotka kieltävät ilmastonmuutoksen. Euroopan kansalaisilla on oikeus odottaa meiltä toimia.
Meidän on luovuttava fossiilisista polttoaineista, öljystä, kivihiilestä. Meidän on rakennettava EU:n varautumisunioni ja on aika toteuttaa presidentti Niinistön raportti EU:n kokonaisvaltaisen varautumisen vahvistamisesta.
And thank you Commissioner Labib for all your good work.
Thank you Mrs. Henriksson. You have a blue card, Annamaja, you have a blue card from Mrs. Konečná. 846. You wish to take it?
Kateřina Konečná
Děkuji a děkuji paní kolegyni, že přijímáte moji modrou kartu. I'm waiting. Yeah. Děkuji, že přijímáte moji modrou kartu a vlastně ta otázka je na vás všechny kolegy ze socialistů, zelených i Renew. Bavíte se o tom, že máme opustit fosilní paliva.
Bavíte se o tom, že nám Evropu a svět oteplují fosilní paliva. Proč se nebavíte o válce? Kolik emisí způsobuje vaše války, které si začínáte? Vy podporujete nákupy zbraní, které zabíjí lidi a ničí klima a o tom nikdo z vás neřekl ani slovo. Pojďme to tedy vzít komplexně.
Pojďme se podívat na to, jak vaše válečné štvaní, které vy podporujete a peníze do něho investujete, ničí tuto planetu.
Yes, thank you.
Anna-Maja Henriksson
I will answer you in Swedish. Det verkar som att parlamentarikern kan ha missat nånting elementärt. Det är Ryssland och Putin som har startat ett krig mot Ukraina. Och det är tragiskt. Det kriget pågår varje dag.
Och det ska vi se till att vi gör allt för att stödja Ukraina för att vi inte i Europa ska köpa rysk gas och olja. Vi kan på vårt eget sätt stödja Ukraina genom våra egna åtgärder i våra länder och det är vår uppgift att se till att Ukraina också en dag kan bli medlem i Europeiska unionen. Tack.
Kateřina Konečná
Paní kolegyně, ale tady přece vůbec nejde o Ukrajinu. Vy jste nebyli schopni odhlasovat, že nesouhlasíte s tím, jak agresivně postupuje Donald Trump v Íránu a tam se také používají zbraně, tam se také ničí klima. Vy jste nebyli schopni odhlasovat, že nesouhlasíte s genocidou v Palestině, také se tam používají zbraně.
Prostě dokud nepřistoupíte na to, že mírová politika je ta environmentálně nejčistší politika a budete toto svádět jenom na jednu část té ekonomiky nebo toho sektoru, tak si prostě, tak je to papalášství a jenom si na něco hrajete.
Anna-Maja Henriksson
Det förstås på det sättet att det skulle vara väldigt bra om vi skulle ha fred i världen. Men det betyder inte det att vi kan stänga våra ögon för den miljökatastrof som håller på att hända i världen nu, den klimatkatastrof som vi har. Vi måste jobba på många plan varje dag. Vi måste bekämpa klimatförändringen, vi måste göra oss av med fossila bränslen, vi ska satsa på den gröna omställningen och vi ska jobba för en värld där människor respekteras, demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter och det att varje land har rätt till sin suveränitet.
Laurent Castillo
Merci, Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues, face aux vagues de chaleur, la climatisation n'est pas un luxe, c'est un enjeu de santé publique. Depuis 2017, près de 40 000 Français sont morts des conséquences de la chaleur, pourtant seuls 24 % des logements sont climatisés contre plus de 50 % en Italie.
Lorsque les températures s'affolent, il faut pouvoir protéger efficacement les écoles, les hôpitaux et les maisons de retraite. À Nice, nous avons choisi un grand plan d'action, un plan d'action de climatisation de notre ville. S'adapter au changement climatique, ce n'est pas renoncer à le combattre. S'adapter, c'est investir dans le nucléaire pour produire une électricité décarbonée. S'adapter, c'est rendre nos bâtiments vivables été comme hiver.
C'est avant tout protéger la vie des plus fragiles. La véritable écologie, ce n'est pas celle qui culpabilise, c'est celle qui protège. La véritable écologie ne choisit jamais entre la planète et les personnes, elle protège les deux. Je vous remercie.
Merci, Mrs. Temido. Please come forward, you have one minute.
Marta Temido
Obrigada, Presidente, Senhora Comissária. As ondas de calor extremo são uma emergência de saúde pública, disse ontem o Diretor Regional da OMS Europa, e nós já o sabíamos. As temperaturas elevadas têm um impacto direto no aumento da morbilidade e também da mortalidade. O excesso de mortalidade devido ao calor foi de mais de 7 000 mortos apenas no mês de julho em três países da Europa.
Mas para além dos meios de combate a incêndios que a União Europeia está disponível para apoiar todos os países, nós precisamos de fazer mais. O recuo nas políticas de redução do aquecimento global, de desregulação ambiental, tem um custo pesado. Mede-se em doenças evitáveis, mede-se em mortes evitáveis. E as medidas de adaptação e mitigação climática são a chave de longo prazo. Para muitos neste hemiciclo, basta olhar para ele, os incêndios são uma coisa que acontece porque as ganadarias foram terminadas.
As doenças transmitidas por vetores acontecem porque vêm os aviões de uns sítios estranhos que trazem uns mosquitos a bordo. E as alterações climáticas são ideologia. Enquanto não nos entendermos sobre os factos, não vamos senão correr atrás do prejuízo. Obrigada.
Mathilde Androuët
Six jours de canicule en juin en France, 2025 morts. Et pendant que certains discutent encore, d'autres agissent. À Madrid, le métro est climatisé, à Barcelone des refuges climatiques sont accessibles en quelques minutes à pied, en Grèce les employeurs doivent prévoir des espaces rafraîchis pour leurs salariés. Ces pays ont compris une chose simple : protéger la population face à la chaleur, ce n'est pas un luxe, c'est une politique publique.
En France, nous sommes en retard. Trop d'écoles, d'EHPAD, trop d'hôpitaux, trop de logements restent inadaptés. Et pourtant, la chaleur tue. Elle frappe les enfants, les personnes âgées, les malades, les travailleurs. Face à cela, nous proposons un plan clim : le droit à la fraîcheur pour tous.
Rafraîchir les bâtiments publics prioritaires, aider les familles à adapter leur logement, développer l'isolation et les pompes à chaleur réversibles. Et aussi produire ces équipements chez nous. Chaque euro investi doit protéger les Français, relancer notre industrie, créer des emplois européens non délocalisables. Voilà notre ligne : ni déni climatique, ni écologie punitive, une écologie de protection qui s'adapte et surtout, surtout, qui sauve des vies.
Paulo Cunha
Senhora Presidente, Senhora Comissária, caros colegas, há uma relação inevitável entre alterações climáticas, ondas de calor e incêndios. E esta circunstância é cada vez menos conjuntural e mais estrutural, o que explica a permanência desta mesma sequência. A questão que se coloca é o que fazer. Há dois níveis de ação muito relevantes. O primeiro, a mitigação : continuar a apostar na redução das causas, combater as alterações climáticas.
Mas o segundo é o nível da adaptação. Não podemos ser inocentes ao ponto de pensarmos que a mitigação vai acontecer num ápice e temos que nos preparar para essa circunstância.
O que fazer? Preparar as comunidades mais expostas, reforçar a resiliência dos territórios, modernizar e capacitar as autoridades de proteção civil, investigar ou investir cada vez mais em investigação contra os fogos. Mas também é preciso reforçar a atuação de nível europeu, nomeadamente o mecanismo europeu de proteção civil e o RescEU, assim como a partilha de meios e a cooperação operacional. Só com um nível europeu ativo e preparado podemos ser bem-sucedidos no combate ao flagelo dos fogos. Muito obrigado.
Thank you, you have two blue cards, Mr. Cunha, one's from Mrs. Martins and one Mr. Gonçalves. Do you wish to take them? Yes. Mrs. Martins, number 80.
Catarina Martins
Obrigada, senhor presidente, obrigada, senhor deputado, por aceitar o cartão azul. Nós estamos a discutir o mecanismo de proteção civil na Europa, eu tenho defendido que precisamos de incluir no mecanismo de solidariedade a recuperação precoce. Em Portugal, nós estamos a ter fogos em florestas onde ainda está deitada a madeira das tempestades. E temos populações ainda sem eletricidade e mesmo dificuldades em comunicações.
Os grupos aqui do Parlamento Europeu têm tido um consenso sobre a necessidade de recuperação precoce, exceto o seu grupo, o PPE. E por isso pergunto-lhe, quando defende aqui mais solidariedade europeia, se não acha que devíamos fazer tudo e assegurar esta recuperação precoce para limparmos o território e repormos eletricidade e comunicações com solidariedade e rapidamente.
Paulo Cunha
Muito obrigada. Reitero que a aposta na mitigação é crucial, mas isso não significa que não nos devamos preparar para as circunstâncias que são inevitáveis. Infelizmente, as alterações climáticas são uma realidade e a sua afetação ao nível dos incêndios, particularmente os incêndios florestais, é também uma realidade. E para isso, a adaptação e a preparação das comunidades é fulcral. O que o meu grupo político defende e a Comissão Europeia tem feito é apostar em fundos como o Preparedness, que ajudam as comunidades a ficarem mais resilientes, melhor preparadas para melhor vencerem estas circunstâncias.
Muito obrigado.
Bruno Gonçalves
Muito obrigado, senhor deputado. Eu não vou aqui nacionalizar a questão como no passado fez, aliás, o PSD com eurodeputados do PS, vou mesmo europeizá-la. Falou do mecanismo de proteção civil e estamos juntos não apenas nessa ação, nessa ativação e naquilo que é a ajuda aos Estados-membros. Mas é que aqui nesta casa, em 2023, foi aprovada a lei da União Europeia contra a desflorestação.
No último ano essa lei aqui voltou para ser ratificada ou para ser adiada. Ao contrário deste grupo que votou a favor da manutenção, o seu grupo votou a favor do adiamento. Portanto, a pergunta que lhe deixo é: em vez de um mecanismo de proteção civil, não era melhor ter um mecanismo de proteção dos deputados que seja a favor da prevenção e evitar aquilo que hoje acontece em Portugal?
Paulo Cunha
Muito obrigado. O grupo político a que orgulhosamente pertenço tem tido uma posição muito consistente nessa como noutras matérias. O que nós não podemos defender é um regime de desflorestação que não seja compatível com outras dimensões que importa acautelar. Tenho defendido em muitas circunstâncias que o conceito de sustentabilidade pressupõe não só avaliar os impactos ambientais das medidas económicas, mas também os impactos económicos das medidas ambientais. É disso que falamos quando tratamos de um tema como aquele que aqui sugere.
E, portanto, consistência, sentido de responsabilidade e acima de tudo uma dimensão de sustentabilidade que seja mais adequada à circunstância que nós vivemos. Muito obrigado.
Pascal Canfin
Merci, Madame la Présidente.
Je voudrais dire aux députés d'extrême droite de cet hémicycle qu'ils portent une très lourde part de responsabilité dans la situation actuelle. Vous avez voté contre tous les textes, tous les textes qui nous permettent de réduire les effets les pires du dérèglement climatique. Vous avez voté contre le principe même qu'il y ait une politique climatique européenne pour réduire les émissions et donc pour réduire le choc climatique. Vous avez donc une part de responsabilité très claire dans le fait qu'il y a, par exemple en France, 12 millions de personnes, 12 millions de personnes dont les maisons sont en train de se fissurer, de se craqueler et de perdre toute leur valeur à cause de l'impact du dérèglement climatique. Vous portez une lourde responsabilité dans le fait que des milliers d'agriculteurs sont en train de perdre toutes leurs récoltes dans le sud de la France à cause de la multiplication des feux de forêt, à cause du changement climatique.
Assumez au moins, assumez au moins cette responsabilité, dites-le devant l'ensemble des Français, des Européens, et s'il vous plaît, arrêtez, arrêtez cette politique climatosceptique qui est insupportable aujourd'hui en Europe.
Merci, Monsieur Canfin, vous avez une carte bleue de Monsieur Jungbluth, ESN.
Alexander Jungbluth
Vielen Dank, Herr Kollege, dass Sie die Zwischenfrage zulassen.
Sie haben gerade gesagt, dass die Verantwortung bei der Rechten liegt dafür, dass es zu Umweltkatastrophen und Waldbränden gekommen ist. Ich habe mal die Frage, welches Gesetz kennen Sie ganz konkret, das, wo Sie glauben, dass es nicht zustande gekommen ist wegen einer Abstimmung der Rechten? Ich würde nämlich behaupten, es sind alle Gesetze zustande gekommen und am Ende ist doch dann die Feststellung, dass Ihre Gesetze einfach wirkungslos sind.
Pascal Canfin
Monsieur, votre groupe politique et l'ensemble des groupes politiques d'extrême droite a voté contre la loi sur la restauration de la nature qui permet justement d'avoir des zones humides qui permettent de limiter les impacts du changement climatique sur le stress hydrique ou sur les feux de forêt. Vous avez voté contre le principe même qu'il y ait une loi climat européenne qui respecte l'accord de Paris. Vous avez voté absolument contre tous les textes sur l'industrie, sur l'automobile, sur tout, sur l'agriculture, qui permettraient de limiter les conséquences absolument dramatiques pour les Européens du changement climatique. Assumez, ayez au moins l'honneur d'assumer cette responsabilité. Merci.
Mr. Schenk, you have the word for one and a half minute, please.
Oliver Schenk
Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissarin, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen.
Viele von uns haben in ihrer Heimat in den letzten Jahren die Erfahrung gemacht, dass wir mit Extremwetterereignissen zurechtkommen müssen. Auch in meiner Heimat Sachsen erleben wir diese Entwicklung unmittelbar. Der Großbrand in der Gohrischheide im vergangenen Jahr war der größte Waldbrand Deutschlands. Deshalb geht an dieser Stelle auch ein großer Dank an die vielen tausend Einsatzkräfte, Feuerwehrleute, Katastrophenhelfer, die uns in diesen Situationen zur Seite stehen und helfen. Aber gerade deshalb ist es richtig, dass Europa seine Katastrophenvorsorge und den Preparedness-Gedanken weiter stärkt.
Mit dem europäischen Katastrophenschutzmechanismus, gemeinsamen Löschflugzeugen und Satellitendaten aus dem Copernicus-Programm schafft die Europäische Union einen echten Mehrwert. Europa hilft, Gefahren früher zu erkennen und im Ernstfall schneller gemeinsam zu handeln. Mindestens, mindestens genauso wichtig ist aber die Vorsorge. Wir brauchen widerstandsfähigere Wälder, neue Konzepte der Wasserversorgung, moderne Frühwarnsysteme und Investitionen in den Bevölkerungsschutz. Europa kann hier unterstützen.
Die Verantwortung beginnt aber vor Ort. Mit einer Preparedness-Strategie, die Menschen schützt, Infrastruktur sichert und unsere Region widerstandsfähiger macht. Und genau darauf werden wir auch in den Verhandlungen über einen neuen EU-Haushalt als Hohes Haus achten müssen. Vielen Dank.
Thank you Mr. Holmgren. You have one minute please.
Pär Holmgren
Tack så mycket fru talman. Ja då var det dags igen då. Ny värmebölja här i Strasbourg. Den förra vi hade för två veckor sedan ungefär nu är ju faktiskt en av de värsta som vi har haft någonsin i flera av EU:s länder. Men EU och medlemsländerna kan göra mycket för att klimatkrisen i alla fall ska bli mindre katastrofal.
Och idag har vi från gröna gruppen skickat ett brev till er i kommissionen med våra krav för att skydda oss i Europa från följderna av extremväder. Vi måste satsa mer på naturbaserade lösningar, se till att klimatresiliens finns med i all lagstiftning, ta fullt ansvar för hela klimatanpassningsarbetet i verkligen i alla samhällssektorer, sätta tydliga mål för de 36 största utpekade riskerna och sist men absolut inte minst skydda de arbetare som riskerar att drabbas av den extrema värmen. Kort sagt, vi behöver en väldigt stark klimatanpassningslag för EU. Tack.
Mrs. Bonté, please. You have a minute.
Thank you.
Barbara Bonte
Dank u, voorzitter, commissaris, collega's. De hittegolf van eind juni was niet de eerste die we tegenkwamen en zal ook niet de laatste zijn. En net daarom moet onze focus liggen op klimaatadaptatie. Maak huizen, kantoren, ziekenhuizen, rusthuizen, scholen en crèches beter bestand tegen die extreme hitte. En daarom moeten we in de eerste plaats stoppen met het demoniseren van airco's.
Een airco is geen symbool van klimaatonverschilligheid, integendeel. Het is een noodzakelijk hulpmiddel om ouderen, zieken, jonge kinderen en zorgverleners te beschermen wanneer de temperaturen hoog oplopen. Airco's redden levens, ze zijn dus levensnoodzakelijk. Wat we zeker niet moeten doen is het voorbeeld van de Commissie volgen, want tijdens de hittegolf in juni moesten medewerkers op de lagere verdiepingen van het Commissiegebouw namelijk zonder airco werken, terwijl de kantoren van de Commissievoorzitter en de andere commissarissen op de bovenste verdiepingen wel gekoeld werden. Orwell zou zeggen: all floors are equal, but some floors are more equal than others.
En zoiets heet hypocrisie en vat het beleid van de Commissie heel goed samen.
Thank you.
Tiemo Wölken
Sehr geehrte Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, Klimaapokalypse abgesagt, so hat sich die AfD im Mai noch gefreut. Ich würde sagen, das ist gealtert wie frische Milch in der Hitzewelle. Keine zwei Monate später und wir haben europaweit Temperaturen von über 40 Grad, Waldbrände, Stromausfälle, Hitzetote, Plünderung. Und die Wissenschaft ist sich einig: Diese extreme Hitzewelle wäre ohne den menschengemachten Klimawandel, ohne die Klimakrise undenkbar. Und die Europäische Union trifft es unmittelbar.
Und was fällt Ihnen am rechten Rand dazu ein? Klimaanlagen. Wow. Haben Sie schon mal in dieser Hitzewelle auf einer Baustelle gearbeitet, Pakete verteilt, Kranke gepflegt? Nein, haben Sie nicht.
Sie sitzen hier im klimatisierten Plenarsaal. Wir brauchen Investitionen in unsere Krankenhäuser, in Pflegeeinrichtungen, in Produktionshallen, ja. Aber wir brauchen auch Katastrophenschutz. Wir brauchen mehr erneuerbare Energien. Wir brauchen eine resiliente Infrastruktur.
Und gleichzeitig, und ich weiß, an zwei Dinge gleichzeitig zu denken fällt Ihnen schwer, wir haben es in der Hand dafür zu sorgen, dass dieser Hitzesommer eine Ausnahme bleibt und nicht der Anfang der Klimakrise ist. Der Green Deal muss konsequent weiterverfolgt werden. Emissionen müssen runter. Anpassung allein wird uns nicht retten.
Wann begreifen Sie das endlich?
Ana Vasconcelos
Thank you, Chair, Commissioner, colleagues, I will address you in Portuguese. Mais de 1300 europeus perderam a vida acima do que é habitual entre 21 e 29 de junho devido à onda de calor. E estima-se que se perdem cerca de 44 mil vidas por ano devido às altas temperaturas na Europa. A prevenção de incêndios e resiliência climática é uma das agendas mais importantes deste mandato e quero focar-me numa medida de adaptação climática em particular: ar condicionado acessível a todos os europeus de norte a sul. Não é um luxo, é uma necessidade.
Apenas uma em cada cinco casas na UE tem ar condicionado. Nos Estados Unidos e no Japão, nações que enfrentam verões semelhantes aos nossos, são nove em cada dez. Em vários países europeus, instalar um aparelho de ar condicionado em casa pode exigir licenças, aprovações municipais e consentimento da maioria do seu condomínio.
Uma União que considera urgente a adaptação às alterações climáticas não pode considerar tecnologias como o ar condicionado um luxo dispensável porque gasta muita energia. Deve e tem de tratá-las já como uma medida de adaptação climática. Muito obrigada.
Sophie Wilmès
Thank you, you have a blue card, Mrs. Vasconcelos, you have a blue card from Mr. Oliveira.
João Oliveira
Obrigado, presidente, senhora deputada Ana Vasconcelos falou nos de ar condicionado a propósito da mitigação do calor, mas eu queria fazer-lhe uma pergunta sobre gestão de recursos hídricos e acesso a fundos europeus para a melhoria das redes de águas e de abastecimento de água e de saneamento que em muitas circunstâncias se veem limitadas na possibilidade de utilização de fundos europeus para terem melhor eficiência na gestão dos recursos hídricos que são tão absolutamente essenciais para fazer face às situações de seca e de calor excessivo que temos. A senhora deputada acha que devemos continuar a lidar com este tipo de restrições no acesso aos fundos europeus por parte das entidades públicas que têm essa responsabilidade de gestão da água e saneamento?
Muito obrigada, senhor deputado. O sul da Europa, Portugal incluído, tem sido dos maiores beneficiários de fundos europeus para gerir os recursos hídricos.
Sobretudo, aliás, é graças à má gestão desses fundos que não temos tido um bom desempenho na gestão desses recursos e na disponibilidade de água aos nossos cidadãos. E, portanto, sim, devemos gerir melhor os nossos recursos, os recursos europeus e os recursos nacionais para disponibilização de água de qualidade e para evitar perdas de água por causa de infraestruturas mal mantidas. Muito obrigada.
Thank you, Mrs. Corrado. You have one minute, please.
Annalisa Corrado
Grazie, Presidente. Commissaria, nella più recente ondata di calore abbiamo contato in Europa più di 1.300 vittime. Chi per malori causati dal lavoro in condizioni insostenibili, chi per fragilità pregresse o malori improvvisi che hanno intasato i nostri pronto soccorso, chi per essersi tuffato in bacini o corsi d'acqua pericolosi. Le città che hanno preso sul serio questa questione, guarda caso nessuna guidata da negazionisti di estrema destra, stanno salvando vite, creando rifugi climatici, potenziando il verde urbano, rimuovendo l'asfalto, desigillando il suolo. Si salvano vite, soprattutto quelle dei più fragili e dei più soli.
E pensiamo anche ai detenuti, a chi non ha una casa o che ne ha una che è un frigo d'inverno e un forno d'estate.
Ed è qui che le strategie per combattere la crisi climatica, la crisi sociale e i loro effetti si saldano. Investire sull'abitare sostenibile taglia emissioni, crea coesione sociale, crea lavoro stabile, potenzia le filiere industriali europee come quella delle pompe di calore, salva vite e la loro dignità. Abbiamo gli strumenti, ci vuole il coraggio della politica. Grazie.
Sophie Wilmès
Mr. Moreira da Silva, please come forward, you have one minute please.
Tiago Moreira de Sá
Obrigado, senhor Presidente, senhora Comissária. Gaston Bachelard escreveu que o fogo é a maior ambiguidade da experiência humana. Desde que o primeiro homem contemplou uma chama, percebemos porquê. O fogo aquece e destrói, ilumina e consome, brilha no paraíso e queima no inferno. Mas acima de tudo, o fogo foi sempre o símbolo da prova.
Em todas as culturas, a prova de fogo representa o teste decisivo, aquele que revela o verdadeiro valor. Foi assim que durante séculos se aferiu a autenticidade do ouro. Só o ouro verdadeiro resiste ao fogo. O ouro e o bombeiro partilham a mesma verdade essencial. Não é o fogo que faz o ouro, nem o bombeiro.
O fogo apenas revela aquilo de que um e o outro são feitos. E sempre que entram nas chamas para proteger os outros, as casas dos outros, as vidas dos outros, os bombeiros portugueses passam mais uma vez pela prova de fogo. É aí, face a face com as chamas, que se prova que aqueles homens e mulheres são autenticamente feitos de ouro.
Portugal está a ferro e fogo. O mecanismo europeu de proteção civil pode ajudar, mas só os bombeiros portugueses podem impedir que ardam 900 anos de existência. Muito obrigado.
Thank you. You have a blue card from Mrs. Temido. No? All right. Thank you.
Mrs. Moratti, please come forward. You have one and a half minutes.
Letizia Moratti
Presidente, Commissaria, colleghi, quest'estate ancora milioni di europei vivono giornate soffocanti. Anziani che non riescono a uscire di casa, bambini che devono rinunciare ai giochi nei parchi, famiglie evacuate per gli incendi, vigili del fuoco che rischiano la vita. Questa non è più un'emergenza, è una realtà. L'Europa deve continuare a combattere il cambiamento climatico con la mitigazione, basandosi più su incentivi che sulla penalizzazione, ma deve accanto alla riduzione delle emissioni pensare a una grande strategia di adattamento. Dobbiamo continuare a prevenire i cambiamenti climatici, ma accanto a questo dobbiamo proteggere le persone dagli effetti dei cambiamenti climatici.
I tre miliardi di alberi previsti entro il 2030 sono un segnale importante. L'Europa deve rafforzare la propria strategia di riforestazione: un miliardo di alberi in più nelle città per abbassare le temperature da due fino a otto gradi in meno, più foreste dove il fuoco ha distrutto interi territori, più verde nelle aree minacciate dalla desertificazione. Adattarsi al cambiamento climatico non significa arrendersi, significa difendere la salute, difendere la sicurezza, difendere il futuro dei nostri figli. È una responsabilità che oggi l'Europa deve assumersi.
Thank you. Now we are going to come to the catch-the-eye procedure. I will really ask you all to keep to your time because we have a lot of requests if we want everybody to be able to go through. First, Mr. Millán Mon.
Francisco José Millán Mon
Gracias, presidenta. El año pasado el sur de Europa sufrió una temporada de incendios sin precedentes, marcada por los llamados incendios de sexta generación. Los datos de este año tampoco son buenos, más bien lo contrario. Yo celebro que la Unión Europea esté reaccionando. La Comisión presentó el año pasado, perdón, el pasado mes de marzo la primera comunicación sobre la gestión de incendios forestales y también ha aumentado el despliegue de medios.
Es un paso en la buena dirección y las demás administraciones públicas debían seguir esta línea. En este sentido, yo quiero celebrar la importancia que la Xunta de Galicia en estos años está dando a la prevención y a la extinción de los incendios y está reforzando todavía más este año 26 un dispositivo que es un auténtico referente no solo a nivel nacional, sino internacional. Para este año 2026, digo, la Xunta ha mejorado los sistemas a todos los niveles: prevención, vigilancia, extinción. Se han aumentado los medios materiales y humanos disponibles y se ha aprobado el mayor presupuesto de la historia: más de 213 millones de euros, un 18% más que el año pasado. Gracias.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Thank you, President, Comisaria. De la intensidad de este debate y de la controversia suscitada es evidente que la Unión Europea es la región del mundo más afectada por el calentamiento global y tiene un balance trágico en mortalidad este mismo verano.
Pero rebajar los estándares en la ambición europea en la agenda digital y en la agenda migratoria, sin duda ninguna es dañino y a mi juicio suicida. Pero nada más injusto que rebajar los estándares en la transición verde justa y eso no puede pasar bajo ningún concepto por rebajar la partida financiera necesaria en el marco financiero plurianual para que la Unión Europea pueda mantener su ambición en la incorporación de energías renovables, en el combate a la descarbonización de la economía europea que ha coadyuvado al calentamiento global. Es imprescindible que haya recursos para proteger a la ciudadanía y especialmente a la clase trabajadora que no puede soportar este calor. Gracias Presidenta.
Thank you Mrs. Jerković, 548.
Romana Jerković
Dear colleagues, for years, decades even, we have been warning about the impact of climate change. And yet here we are. Every summer is hotter, every wildfire season more devastating, and our response is still too slow. Why? Because of those who repeatedly choose to ignore the facts.
Unfortunately, some of them are today here in this plenary. Heatwaves and wildfires are no longer exceptional events. They are Europe's reality. Families lose their homes, workers face unbearable conditions, and firefighters risk their lives.
Europe must do more because no member state should be left to face these disasters alone. There is no credible strategy against heatwaves and wildfires if at the same time we weaken climate policies or dismantle the Green Deal. Every delay and every vote against climate action has consequences that are measured in lives lost and communities destroyed. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Tinkinnin.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Arvoisa puhemies, seuraa EU-uutisia. Helleaallot koettelevat Brysseliä ja muuta Eurooppaa ja komission rakennuksesta sammutettiin osittain ilmastointi. Nyt vaaditaan hikipäässä EU-hellestrategioita ja EU-tason vastauksia. Mutta mitä yhteistä on Suomen hellepäivällä ja Espanjan yli 40 asteen lämpöaallolla? Eipä juuri mitään ja siksi ratkaisujenkin on oltava erilaisia.
Pelastuspalvelut, terveydenhuolto, rakentaminen ja varautuminen kuuluvat jäsenmaille. Ne tuntevat omat olosuhteensa paremmin kuin yksikään Brysselissä hikoileva virkamies.
Mutta kun lämpömittari nousee, näyttää Brysselissä nousevan valtakuume. Jos puhutaan ilmastotoimista, me kyllä voimme käydä keskustelua Kiinasta ja muista riistolaisista. Mutta kun puhutaan näistä varautumisratkaisuista tähän hetkeen, niin näiden ratkaisujen on pysyttävä kansallisissa käsissä. Kiitos.
Maria Ohisalo
Dear Chair, the five biggest fossil fuel companies, TotalEnergies, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell, together generate roughly a trillion euros in revenue every year. According to the Commission's own estimate, making Europe heatwave-proof would cost 70 billion euros a year, just 7% of these companies' revenue. These same companies have spent decades profiting from the very emissions now killing people all over the world and in Europe.
So my question to the Commission is, will the Commission put the companies causing the climate crisis pay the bill for making schools, hospitals and the care homes safe in hot weather?
Marc Botenga
Merci, Madame la Présidente. Écoutez, ça a été dit, mais 1222 personnes mortes en Belgique à cause de la chaleur. Si ça avait été une attaque militaire, comment est-ce que vous auriez réagi ici? S'il y avait 1200 personnes mortes en Belgique à cause d'une attaque militaire, ça aurait été l'état d'urgence. Vous auriez mobilisé toutes les troupes, toutes les forces, tous les fonds pour réagir à cela.
Et ici aujourd'hui, qu'est-ce que j'entends de la Commission? Ne vous inquiétez pas, dans quelques mois on viendra avec un nouveau plan d'action. Mais entre-temps, les fonds pour la militarisation, pour la guerre, ils sont là, des centaines de milliards pour les avions de chasse. Où est-ce que sont les centaines de milliards pour nos maisons de repos, pour les hôpitaux? On doit mettre maintenant des couvertures de survie en Europe, des couvertures de survie sur les fenêtres de nos hôpitaux pour que les patients ne crèvent pas de chaleur.
Les travailleurs qui doivent travailler à 40 degrés, où est le plan d'urgence? Comment est-ce qu'on va les sauver? Et là l'extrême droite qui nie même l'évidence, c'est une honte. Mais la coalition gouvernement, la coalition pouvoir ici a aussi des questions et des responsabilités auxquelles elle doit répondre. Merci.
Željana Zovko
Evo, trebalo je čekati ovdje da se smrznem sat vremena koliko je hladno. Čestitam povjerenice za povećanje fonda za EU RescEU mehanizam za 11 milijardi eura. Kao izvjestiteljica za mišljenje Odbora za razvoj mislim da je to ključno. 2019. ova kuća uopće nije imala interes da išta učinimo na tom pogledu. Ali mi još uvijek ne ulažemo ono što je osnovno, a to su vatrogasci.
Nitko ne pomaže vatrogascima da nabave opremu. Prije protekli tjedan u Mostaru, znači mi koristimo ovu opremu i za prekogranično gašenje požara i u Bosni i Hercegovini, očajan vatrogasac je došao i rekao: mi ne možemo dalje, mi ne možemo više, mi nemamo opremu. Znači požari dolaze i u Hrvatsku i iz Bosne i Hercegovine. 11 milijardi ovdje se raspravlja, mi za prevenciju još ništa ne radimo, ništa ne koristimo, a 1956. u Mostaru je bilo 46 stupnjeva zabilježeno. Vrućine je bilo i bit će, ali našeg nerada je još uvijek ovdje postoje.
Hvala.
Gracias, presidenta.
Alicia Homs Ginel
Proteger a las personas frente a las olas de calor implica también proteger a los trabajadores y trabajadoras, porque la preparación frente a las olas de calor empieza por no obligar a nadie a elegir entre su salario y su salud. Por eso resulta incomprensible que el Partido Popular en España proponga precisamente recortar prestaciones a quienes están de baja, como si los médicos no tuvieran criterio o como si, por ejemplo, sufrir un golpe de calor no fuera lo suficientemente grave. Esa es su receta para proteger a las personas trabajadoras cuando las temperaturas extremas ya están poniendo en riesgo su salud, porque el cambio climático no entiende de ideologías, pero sí de consecuencias. Un trabajo de calidad tiene que ser un trabajo seguro, saludable y adaptado a la realidad del siglo XXI. Y eso en 2026 pasa por proteger a quienes trabajan frente al calor extremo, por establecer normas mínimas comunes de prevención y protección, y pasa por garantizar los ingresos cuando no sea seguro trabajar.
Esa es la diferencia entre quienes entienden la adaptación como un recorte y quienes la entendemos como una ampliación de derechos. Muchas gracias.
Kai Tegethoff
Thank you, Chair, Commissioner, colleagues. The data is clear. The next climate refugees will be us.
It will be families in Spain, Portugal or Italy forced to leave towns their grandparents built because the climate is just too hot. In Andalusia right now, experts are using crop planting methods once reserved for the Sahara because that's what Europe's soil is turning into. Yet some still prefer just distracting citizens. Today we again listen to some of your climate lies that in the end only serve and protect the wealthy. Those who are building air-conditioned luxury bunkers because they know what's coming, as do you.
You're just fooling your own voters. We need a European plan to work with nature, to update our infrastructure before our own citizens are forced to flee it. Let's stop pretending the danger is somewhere out at the gates. The danger is right here in our own ranks.
Sunčana Glavak
Hvala vam lijepa. Kolegice i kolege, požari su i sigurnosni i gospodarski i klimatski izazov.
Dolazim iz Hrvatske, iz zemlje koja je bila razarana požarima proteklih godina i dobro znamo što znači štititi živote, domove i prirodu. Zahvaljujući snažnom sustavu civilne zaštite, profesionalnim i dobrovoljnim vatrogascima te protupožarnoj zračnoj floti, pokazali smo da dobra organizacija ipak spašava živote i imovinu. To je ono što zovemo prevencija. Sada tu razinu spremnosti moramo podići na europsku razinu. Potrebni su i veći zajednički kapaciteti kroz RescEU, brža prekogranična pomoć i više ulaganja u prevenciju i upravljanje šumama i moderni sustavi ranog upozoravanja.
Ulaganje u otpornost nije samo klimatska politika. To je politika sigurnosti europskih građana. I zato moramo razgovarati o tome prije nego što dođe sljedeća sezona, jer opet ćemo reći: došli su požari, došlo je toplo vrijeme. Ne, o tome moramo razmišljati danas. Hvala vam.
João Oliveira
Obrigado, Presidente. Senhora Comissária Lahbib, a prevenção e o combate aos incêndios exige a valorização do mundo rural, exige o investimento nos serviços públicos e nas estruturas de proteção civil. Quando se defende a competitividade, esmagam-se as pequenas empresas e os pequenos produtores.
Quando se defende a militarização, desviando os recursos da PAC e de outros fundos europeus que deviam apoiar os setores produtivos, arruína-se a agricultura familiar e tudo isto contribui para a desertificação do mundo rural, transformando o território num barril de pólvora. Quando se impõem limitações orçamentais ao investimento dos Estados nos serviços públicos, condiciona-se a capacidade de ação dos serviços de saúde, condiciona-se a resposta da proteção civil. Tudo isto é absolutamente essencial ser revertido. Precisamos de melhor planeamento, precisamos de melhor abordagem às questões da prevenção dos incêndios, mas nada disto se consegue fazer se não houver da parte dos Estados a capacidade e os meios para fazerem face às suas responsabilidades, incluindo nestas áreas que sublinhei.
Thomas Bajada
Imma hna verament ippreparati? Ghadna qed nitkellmu fuq il-heatwaves bhal kieku huma l-problema ta' ghada. Imma mhumiex. In-nies qed ibatu biex jorqdu, it-tfal ma jistghux imorru l-iskola bhal soltu, haddiema qed jahdmu f'temperaturi perikolużi, u b'hekk din hi emerġenza soċjali. In-nies m'ghandhomx bżonn aktar dibattiti, ghandhom bżonn protezzjoni u azzjoni llum.
Ninsulaw id-djar taghna, nipproteġu l-iskejjel u l-isptarijiet, aktar spazji bid-dell fil-bliet taghna, u f'dan l-istess Parlament sena ilu sejjaħt aċċess għall-ilma tax-xorb fl-ispazji pubbliċi.
Dawn huma miżuri prattiċi li jsalvaw il-ħajja u għal xi persuni diġà tilfu ħajjithom. Għażiża Kummissjoni, daqshekk strateġiji, in-nies iridu azzjoni tanġibbli. Qed nistenna l-pjan ta' reżiljenza klimatika li jaħdem mhux għaxar snin oħra, mhux is-sajf li ġej, imma issa. Grazzi.
Kostas Papadakis
Χιλιάδες νεκροί από το κύμα καύσωνα στην Ευρώπη. Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, κυβερνήσεις, αφού αφαίμαξαν δισεκατομμύρια από τους λαούς για να ταΐσουν τα αρπακτικά των πράσινων ομίλων με την επίκληση αλλαγών στο κλίμα, τώρα εμφανίζονται προκλητικά αιφνιδιασμένες και απροετοίμαστες. Την ίδια ώρα προϋπολογίζουν ήδη εκατοντάδες δισεκατομμύρια πολεμικής προετοιμασίας, καταπνίγοντας και τις πιο στοιχειώδεις ανάγκες που αφορούν βεβαίως τους λαούς, όπως οι υποδομές. Στην εποχή της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης οι λαοί και οι εργαζόμενοι στους χώρους δουλειάς λιώνουν στα απάνθρωπα ωράρια και τις υψηλές θερμοκρασίες.
Θρηνούν απώλειες και καταστροφές από φυσικά φαινόμενα για τα οποία πάντα προβάλλεται ως άλλοθι η κλιματική αλλαγή ενώ δασικές υπηρεσίες και πυροσβεστική όπως στην Ελλάδα είναι γυμνές από υποδομές και προσωπικό. Ισχυρίζονταν ότι η καπιταλιστική αγορά και ο ανταγωνισμός θα έλυναν ακρίβεια, ενεργειακή φτώχεια, χαμηλούς μισθούς και τελικά ο λαός ζει σε αδιανόητες στερήσεις για τον 21ο αιώνα. Από παντού φωνάζει η ανάγκη του νέου κόσμου, του σοσιαλισμού, ανατρέποντας το σάπιο ξεπερασμένο καπιταλιστικό σύστημα του πολέμου, των κερδών και της εκμετάλλευσης.
Rosa Serrano Sierra
Señorías, Europa necesita un presupuesto a la altura de la emergencia climática. Acaba de empezar el verano y España ya está en llamas. Y frente a los gobiernos autonómicos que pactan con los negacionistas del cambio climático y recortan los recursos destinados a afrontar esta crisis, estamos los socialistas, que defendemos invertir donde realmente importa: en prevención, en servicios de emergencia, en adaptación y en una solidaridad europea efectiva, especialmente en las zonas rurales y despobladas, donde nuestros agricultores, nuestras familias, nuestros vecinos, como los míos de Recifienna y Robres, arriesgan sus vidas cuando intentan acotar las llamas con sus propios medios.
Demos prioridad a la agenda de la adaptación y la prevención climática. Actuemos ahora. Salvemos vidas y salvemos también el patrimonio europeo. Gracias.
Sophie Wilmès
Thank you, Mrs. Labib. You have one minute. I'm very sorry for the one who didn't had the opportunity to have the catch the eye, but we are way above the limit. Thank you.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you, Madam President. I'll be very brief in one minute. I just want to to correct some information. First of all, thank you for this very hot debate. The EU must be an added value, some of you said, and this is exactly the spirit of the preparedness strategy that we presented last year.
And I would like to add that it is not a strategy that started last year, but the rescEU capacities, the ERCC or Coordination Centre for Emergency exists since 2000, so we didn't started last year from scratches. Our rescEU capacities must be a permanent reserve, some of you said. It is a permanent reserve. It is not during the summer that we activate. This is a reserve that we can activate when Member States are overwhelmed.
And we have, through the rescEU and the European Civil Protection Pool, 22 firefighting aircraft, 5 helicopters, 22 certified ground firefighting teams are available across 10 countries. So I would like to thank you for this strong debate, and I hope to have such a commitment in autumn, while the temperature will go down and we will need your support for the next MFF. Thank you.
Thank you, Commissioner Lahbib. Mr Byrne.
Thomas Byrne
Thank you, Madam Vice-President, and I want to thank the honourable members, and indeed the Commissioner as well. This has been a timely debate on a very, very important topic. I should say as well that it is important to remember those who have died and those who have suffered because of the unprecedented heatwave that we've just experienced in Europe, and it's a reminder of the urgent need to tackle the causes and consequences of the climate crisis. The Presidency will support continuing work in this regard, alongside risk management and preparedness to extreme events. And I should acknowledge that many members from Southern Europe spoke during the debate, and we must acknowledge the suffering and deaths there.
But it was not just members from Southern Europe. We see that this has been an issue in other Member States of the European Union, and it is an example of where best I think the European Union can show solidarity and action.
The Council has been acting on two main fronts countering the effect of climate change. One is to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which we know from the science leads to negative impacts of climate change. And secondly, to adapt to climate change. Regarding the mitigation of emissions, I would like to stress that the EU has one of the most ambitious and necessary climate policies in the world. Our task for the following months and years is to ensure that the implementation of the climate measures supports and enhances the competitiveness of the European economy and indeed not just contributes to climate resilience, but contributes to economic resilience as well.
With the increasing economic costs of extreme weather events such as wildfires, heatwaves and floods, it's increasingly clear that the cost of inaction against climate change exceeds the cost of timely climate measures. On the front of adaptation to climate change, the recent analysis by the European Environment Agency has acknowledged uneven progress in national adaptation policies and identified gaps between the plans and implementation across European countries.
Indeed, to address these challenges, the Council looks forward to a proposal for a European Union framework for climate resilience, which the Commission is expected to propose in the fall. Thank you very much.
Sophie Wilmès
Thank you. The debate is now closed and the sitting is suspended. It will be resumed in a few minutes with the votes. Thank you.
Victor Negrescu
Dear colleagues, the sitting is resumed. Please quietly take your seats before proceeding to the voting session. Colleagues. So before we start the voting session, we have the pleasure to welcome in the diplomatic gallery delegates from the National Diet of Japan present for the 43rd EU-Japan interparliamentary meeting.
Thank you for joining us today. So we now come to the vote and we start the voting session. The first vote will be on the objection on the trajectory to decrease the contribution of high indirect land-use change risk biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels to renewable energy targets. Before we move to the vote, I will give the floor to Commissioner Šuica. Commissioner, you have the floor.
Dubravka Šuica
Dear Chair, dear honorable members, I would like to encourage honorable members to support the Commission delegated act on indirect land-use change and to vote against the tabled objection. In the latest review, it was found that both palm oil and soybeans qualify as feedstock with a high risk of indirect land-use change. Therefore, the Commission was obliged to revise the delegated act accordingly. This delegated act is supported by robust scientific analysis and latest available data and is legally required by the legislative framework agreed by the co-legislators.
Updating the scientific data to determine which feedstock are classified as high risk is also needed for the European Union to comply with the findings in two dispute settlement cases at the World Trade Organization. Should the delegated act be blocked, then the European Union risks being subject to substantial sanctions, which could target our agriculture exporters. It is important to underline that the categorization of soybeans as high ILUC risk feedstock does not represent a ban. Member States are still free to promote and support biofuels, including from soybeans, as they consider most appropriate. Only the amount of fuels that is counted towards the targets in the Renewable Energy Directive is gradually reduced until 2030.
I would also like to stress that only a small share of biodiesel consumed in the European Union is produced from soybeans and the vast majority of it is grown in third countries. Therefore, although some operators in the European Union may need to adapt, the economic impact of classifying soya as high ILUC on EU producers and crushing industry should remain limited.
The European Union livestock sector continues to rely on soybean and there are alternative outlets for soya oil, including food, feed, and industrial uses. Strong global demand and high soybean oil prices, together with possible lower EU imports and export opportunities, should further help limit negative effects on suppliers and the soya industry. Independently from that, work is currently ongoing on ways to review the low ILUC risk certification procedure. So, producers of soybeans that receive such classification will be exempted from the categorization of a feedstock of high ILUC risk. We will further assess in setting up the renewable energy framework for the decade ahead how we can further support domestic biofuel production as well as the farming sector.
Thank you.
Victor Negrescu
Thank you, Commissioner. Again, we start with the votes. The first vote by roll call, amendment four. We open the vote. We close the vote.
Rejected. Amendment five by roll call. We open the vote.
We close the vote. Rejected. Amendment six by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected.
Amendment seven by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected. Paragraph 3.5 original text by raise of hands, who's in favor? Who's against?
Abstentions? Check. We open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected.
Recital A original text in four parts, first part, who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions? Adopted. We check.
We open the vote. We close the vote. Adopted. Second part, who's in favor?
Who's against? Abstentions? Please colleagues, do raise your hands. We are going to check because we are not raising the hands. Again, open the vote.
We close the vote. Rejected. Third part, who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions?
Rejected. Fourth part, who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions? Rejected.
Amendment one by roll call vote. We open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected. Amendment two by roll call, we open the vote.
We close the vote. Rejected. Recital H, original text, who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions?
Rejected. Amendment three by roll call vote, we open the vote.
We close the vote. Rejected. The vote on the resolution as a whole, by roll call, we open the votes. We close the vote. Adopted.
We move to the second item, objection on lead in certain fishing tackle. We vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected. We move to the third item on the agenda, and I have to mention here the objection on infection with bluetongue virus was withdrawn by its authors, therefore we move to the next vote.
So the next vote will be on the report by Mr. Javi López and Mr. Borja Jiménez Lárraz on the EU-Mexico political, economic and cooperation strategic partnership agreement. We have a vote on consent by roll call. We open the votes. We close the votes. Adopted.
The next item, report by Javi López and Borja Jiménez Lárraz on the EU-Mexico political, economic and cooperation strategic partnership agreement, interim report. The first vote is amendment eight. Who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions, rejected.
Amendment nine. Who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions, rejected. Amendment 18 by roll call.
We open the votes. We close the votes. Rejected. Amendment 19 by roll call. We open the votes.
We close the votes. Rejected. Amendment 10. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Abstentions, rejected. Amendment 11 by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected.
Amendment 20 by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected. Amendment 21 by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote.
Rejected. Amendment 22 by roll call, we open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected. Amendment 12 by roll call, open the vote.
We close the vote. Rejected. Amendment 13 by roll call, open the vote. We close the vote. Rejected.
Amendment 14 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 23 by roll call, the vote is open. We close the vote.
Rejected. Amendment 24 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 25 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 26 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 27 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 28 by roll call.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 29 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 30 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 1 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 31 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 32 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 33 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 2. Who's in favor? Who's against? Abstention, rejected.
Amendment 34 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 35 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 3 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 15 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 36 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 37 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 38 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 39 by roll call.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 4. Who's in favor?
Against? Abstentions? Rejected. Amendment 5 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 6 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Recital F original text by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Who's in favor? Against? Abstentions? Rejected. Recital G original text by roll call.
Amendment 7.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment sixteen by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment seventeen by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Recital N original text. Who's in favor? Against? Abstentions?
Adopted. The vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
We move to the next item, a report by Mr. Borja Jiménez Larras on the EU-Mexico interim agreement on trade. Vote on consent by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Report by Mr. Ilhan Kyuchyuk on the protection of the environment through criminal law, vote on consent by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Report by Mr. Tomas Tobé on the EU-Morocco Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement, accession to the EU of Croatia, vote on consent by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Report by Mr. Paolo Borchia on the EU-Morocco agreements for scientific and technological cooperation, I give the floor to the rapporteur for two minutes. Colleague, you have the floor.
Please open your mic, eh?
Paolo Borchia
There is a cordon sanitaire for the microphone as well. Grazie, grazie Presidente. Stiamo stiamo procedendo a un voto che rappresenta un allineamento tecnico per la partecipazione del Marocco a Prima, programma per la ricerca e l'innovazione nell'area del Mediterraneo con focus su acqua, agricoltura e sicurezza alimentare. Questo questo voto ne garantirà la continuità fino al 2031 senza implicazioni di bilancio. Io ne approfitto anche per ringraziare i colleghi della commissione ITRE che hanno votato il provvedimento in commissione quasi all'unanimità.
Ciò premesso, però vorrei ampliare la riflessione al tema al tema dell'agricoltura, visto che non possiamo guardare ad un accordo con il Marocco senza estendere la nostra vision ad un quadro più ampio delle relazioni, in particolar modo sul sul fronte agricolo. Sono solo negli ultimi due mesi del 2025 il Marocco ha coperto oltre il 70% delle importazioni extra-UE per quanto riguarda il pomodoro, un flusso che negli ultimi vent'anni è quadruplicato, per cui questa relazione vorrebbe anche aprire una riflessione sul tema che la Commissione dovrebbe monitorare l'attuazione di queste tipologie di accordi, anche quelli riferiti alla ricerca e all'innovazione, con particolare attenzione alle importazioni agricole affinché siano rispettati i principi di reciprocità e concorrenza leale.
Grazie.
Victor Negrescu
We move to the votes. Vote on consent by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
We move to the next item, report by Mr. Michael Gahler on the 2025 Commission report on Ukraine. Amendment 8. Who's in favor? Who's against? Abstentions.
Rejected. Amendment 9 by roll call vote. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 10. Who's in favor? Against? Abstentions. Rejected.
Amendment 53 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 29 and amendment 42.
In favor? Against? Abstentions. Adopted. We move to paragraph 13, original text by roll call vote.
The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Paragraph 14 original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Paragraph 17 original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 30 and 43 in favor? Against?
Abstentions adopted. Paragraph 18 original text in four parts, first part in favor? Against? Abstentions adopted. Second part in favor?
Against? Abstentions adopted. Third part by roll call vote, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Fourth part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 31 and 44, who's in favor? Against?
Abstentions adopted. Amendment 11 by roll call vote, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Paragraph 21 original text by roll call vote, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Amendment 12 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 32, who's in favor? Against?
Abstentions? Adopted. We move to paragraph 23, original text in three parts, first part, who's in favor? Against? Abstentions?
Adopted. Second part, in favor? Against? Abstentions? Adopted.
Third part, in favor? Against? Abstentions? Adopted. We move to amendment 13 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 24 original text in two parts, first part by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Second part by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Adopted. Amendment 54 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Paragraph 26, original text in two parts. First part, in favor? Abstentions? Against? Adopted.
Second part, in favor? Against? Adopted. Abstentions? Amendment 55 by roll call.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 56 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Now I give the floor to Mr. Jacek Ozdoba to move an oral amendment to add a new paragraph after paragraph 26. Colleague, you have the floor.
Szanowny panie przewodniczący, I will speak in Polish. Proponujemy poprawkę o brzmieniu, przeczytam ją w tej chwili. Parlament Europejski upomina się o pamięć stu tysięcy bestialsko pomordowanych w rzezi wołyńskiej Polakach i Żydach.
Jacek Ozdoba
Zdecydowanie nie akceptuje kultu bandytów z Ukraińskiej Powstańczej Armii i Stepana Bandery, którzy odpowiadają za ludobójstwo i współpracę z Hitlerem. Wzywa władze Ukrainy do natychmiastowego zaprzestania ich państwowego upamiętnienia oraz gloryfikacji. Kultywowanie pamięci o ludobójcach jest sprzeczne z moralnością i wartościami europejskimi. Dlatego wzywamy władze Ukrainy do jednoznacznego odrzucenia gloryfikacji osób odpowiedzialnych za ludobójstwo. Podkreśla, że ideologia banderowska jest lustrzanym odbiciem ideologii nazistowskiej i tak jak nazizm banderyzm musi zostać uznany za ideologię zakazaną w Unii Europejskiej.
Dziękuję.
Victor Negrescu
So is there any opposition to the oral amendment? So the oral amendment cannot be taken, we move to the next vote. Paragraph 27 original text in four parts, first part by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Second part by raise of hands. In favor? Against?
Adopted. Fourth part by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Amendment 19 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. We move to paragraph 29, original text in two parts.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 33 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted.
We move to paragraph 31, original text in two parts. First part, who's in favor? Against? Abstentions? Adopted.
Second part, in favor? Against? Abstentions? Adopted. Amendment 4 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 5 by roll call, the vote is open. Amendment 14 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. I now give the floor to Mr. Gilles Pennelle to move an oral amendment to add a new paragraph after paragraph 31.
Colleague, you have the floor.
Gilles Pennelle
Oui, merci Monsieur le Président. La perspective de l'adhésion de l'Ukraine à l'Union européenne constituerait une menace majeure pour l'agriculture de nos nations. Nos agriculteurs en subissent déjà les conséquences depuis 2022. La libéralisation des importations agricoles ukrainiennes, que seul le groupe des Patriotes a combattu dès le départ, a entraîné l'arrivée massive de sucre, de céréales et de volailles sur le marché européen au détriment du revenu de nos producteurs. Et pourtant, la Commission veut aller plus loin.
Dans sa nouvelle stratégie sur les protéines végétales présentée hier, elle confirme son renoncement à l'ambition de voir l'agriculture européenne satisfaire nos besoins en protéines végétales pour aggraver les importations depuis l'Ukraine. Je propose donc l'amendement suivant pour créer un nouveau paragraphe 32. Souligne que la Commission, dans sa dernière stratégie en matière de protéines, propose de s'appuyer sur la capacité de production agricole de l'Ukraine pour remédier à la protéine, à la pénurie de protéines végétales dans l'Union, au lieu de privilégier le développement de la production européenne.
Victor Negrescu
So, is there any opposition to the oral amendment? So the oral amendment cannot be taken. We move to the next vote. Amendments 34 and 45. Who's in favor?
Against? Abstentions? Adopted. Amendment 35 in five parts.
First part by roll call. The vote is closed. Adopted. Third part by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Fifth part by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Now I give the floor to Mr. Petras Auštrevičius to move an oral amendment to add a new paragraph after paragraph 32. Colleague, you have the floor.
Petras Auštrevičius
Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Colleagues, let me to move following oral amendment. Welcomes the valuable talks between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Ukraine held in Warsaw on 3rd July, which demonstrated the goodwill on both sides to resolve the existing tensions before they develop into a crisis. Calls for the open and constructive dialogue between Polish and Ukrainian authorities, historians and civil societies in order to restore the indispensable trust between the two countries. Thank you.
Victor Negrescu
So, is there any opposition to the oral amendment? So the oral amendment cannot be taken, we move to the next vote. Amendment 20 by roll call vote. It's clear, unfortunately. It's clear.
Amendment 20 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 33, original text. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Abstentions. Adopted. Amendment 57 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Amendment 58 in two parts by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. So the second part falls. We move to amendment 59 by roll call, the vote is open.
Rejected.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 36, who's in favor? Against? Abstentions, adopted.
Paragraph 41 original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 37, in favor? Against?
Abstentions, we check. We open the vote. We close the vote. Adopted. Please raise your hands.
Amendment 38, who's in favor?
Who's against? Abstentions. Adopted. Amendment 15. Who's in favor?
Against. Abstentions. Rejected. Amendment 60. In favor.
Against. Abstentions. Rejected. So we move to amendment 61 by roll call vote. The vote is open.
We close the vote. Rejected. Amendment 62 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 39 by roll call. The vote is open. We close the vote. Rejected.
Paragraph 61 original text in two parts. First part by raise of hands. In favor. Against. Abstentions.
Adopted. Second part. In favor. Against. Abstentions.
Adopted. Amendment 21 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 22 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 62 original text in two parts.
First part by raise of hands. In favor. Against. Abstentions. Adopted.
Second part by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 63 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 16 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 71, original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Adopted. Amendment 17 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 78, original text by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Paragraph 80, original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Paragraph 83, original text by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Paragraph 99, original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Paragraph 101, original text in two parts. First part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Second part by raise of hands, in favor?
Against? Abstentions? Adopted. Paragraph 102, original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Adopted. Amendment 18 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 47 by raise of hands, in favor?
Against? Abstentions? Rejected. Amendment 23, in favor? Against?
Abstentions? Adopted. Amendment 48, in favor? Against? Abstentions?
Rejected. Amendment 49 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 50 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 51 in two parts, first part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. The second part falls. Recital M, original text in two parts by raise of hands, first part, in favor, against, abstentions, adopted. Second part, in favor, against, abstentions, adopted. Amendment 1 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 2 in two parts, first part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Second part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 3 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Amendment 52 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Recital V, original text in two parts by show of hands. First part, in favor?
Rejected.
Abstentions? Against? Adopted. Second part, in favor? Against?
Abstentions? Adopted. Amendment seven by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 24 by show of hands, in favor? Against? Abstentions? Adopted. Amendment 25, in favor?
Against? Adopted. Abstentions? Amendment 26, in favor? Against?
Abstentions? Adopted. Amendment 27 and 40, in favor? Against? Abstentions?
Adopted. Amendment 28 and 41, in favor? Against? Adopted. Abstentions?
We move to the vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Next item on our agenda, report by Mr. Sven Mikser on the 2025 Commission... A point of order. Please, colleague, please do respect the point of order.
Sergey Lagodinsky
I would like, I would like to raise your attention, Mr. President, to some of the chants that were uttered here from that side of the chamber when somebody dared to stand in opposition to one of the oral amendments. People, colleagues, were called Nazis just because they dared to have a different position on something which is very sensitive, but where we do not share the style of calling each other Nazis. Some of the real Nazis, some of the real, some of the real Nazis who are present in this chamber are never called during the sitting sessions here. I have never heard anyone calling each other, and I would like to ask you to identify and to sanction those who are attacking their colleagues just for their opinion here, who dared to oppose to that amendment. Thank you.
Victor Negrescu
Colleague, we take note of your remarks. We will check the recording. It's very important to respect the rules of this house. Colleague, on the same item?
If we open the same item, it will be too much. Mr. Glucksmann, you have the floor.
Raphaël Glucksmann
Sur le même sujet mais pas au moment du même vote. Le collègue qui est s'assoit au numéro 286, je crois, au 288, a fait un bras d'honneur. A fait un bras d'honneur au moment du vote. Ce geste-là en direction de cette partie de l'assemblée. Et c'est profondément insupportable.
Vous avez le droit d'être les relais de Vladimir Poutine dans cette enceinte, mais ne vous comportez pas comme des fascistes russes.
Victor Negrescu
So, colleagues, colleagues, please, all the respect this house and respect ourselves.
So we take note of all the remarks. We will give the floor for one more intervention, one more intervention, Mr. Bistron, Mr. Bistron.
Petr Bystron
Dankeschön, Herr Präsident, und vor allem vielen Dank an den Kollegen aus Deutschland, der sich dagegen ausspricht, dass hier Kollegen als Nazis beschimpft werden, weil Herr Brandstätter, Ihr Freund im Geiste, hat gestern mich, einen tschechischen Flüchtling, das freundliche Gesicht des Nationalsozialismus genannt. Das verbitte ich mir, ja, das verbitte ich mir! Und ich denke, das sollte geahndet werden.
Victor Negrescu
So, colleagues, we take note of all the remarks and I want to assure you that in the Bureau of this house, the issue of respecting the rules of the house has been discussed. We move to the next votes on our agenda, report by Mr. Sven Mikser on the 2025— we cannot generate a debate, we take note, it will be too much. Report by Mr. Sven Mikser on the 2025 Commission report on Moldova. We start with amendment 8. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Abstentions? Rejected. Amendment 3. Who's in favor?
Against? Abstentions? We check the vote. We open the vote on amendment 3. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 4.
Who's in favor? Against? Abstentions? Amendment 9. Adopted.
In favor? Against? Abstentions? Rejected. Amendment 10 by roll call vote.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 11 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 12 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Amendment 5 by raise of hands. In favor? Against? Abstentions?
Rejected. Amendment 1. In favor? Against? Abstentions?
Adopted. Amendment 2. In favor? Against? Abstentions?
Adopted. Amendment 6. In favor? Against? Abstentions?
Rejected. Amendment 7 by roll call. The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
The resolution as a whole by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. The next item, report by Mr. Tonino Picula on the 2022 Commission report on Serbia. Amendment five by raise of hands. In favor.
Against. Abstentions. Rejected. In favor. Amendment two.
Against. Abstentions. Adopted. Amendment six. In favor.
Against. Abstentions. Rejected. Amendment one by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 20, original text in two parts by raise of hands. First part, in favor. Against.
Abstentions. Adopted. Second part, in favor. Against. Abstentions.
Adopted. Amendment seven. In favor. Against. Abstentions.
Amendment three. Rejected. In favor. Against. Abstentions.
Adopted. Amendment four. In favor. Against. Abstentions.
Adopted. I give the floor to Mr. Helmut Brandstätter to move an oral amendment to add a new recital after recital K.
Helmut Brandstätter
I will have this oral amendment, but first I have to tell you, and I will do it in German, according to 180, I must have the possibility to say what he said, what he just said is not true. Ich habe gestern gesagt, es gibt den Bundestagsabgeordneten der AfD namens Matthias Helferich, und er hat sich einmal bezeichnet als das freundliche Gesicht des Nationalsozialismus. Matthias Helferich, Mitglied des deutschen Bundestages, AfD. Genau das habe ich gestern gesagt. Ich habe es nicht zu Herrn Bystron gesagt, und deswegen hat er jetzt die Unwahrheit gesagt.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Und ich würde Sie bitten, Herr Präsident, dass Sie dem Herrn Bystron die Möglichkeit geben, sich für seine Unwahrheit zu entschuldigen. Thank you very much. And now I come to the oral amendment. It's very short. President Vučić's insinuations that he might run for the post of Prime Minister are reminiscent of the Putin-Medvedev scheme.
Thank you very much.
Victor Negrescu
So, is there any opposition to the oral amendment?
I would like the administration to count. Yeah, we, yeah, they are counted, yeah. Yeah, colleagues inform me that the oral amendment cannot be taken due to the numbers. So we move to the next vote. We move to the resolution, to vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Next item, the motion for a resolution tabled by the FEMM Committee on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on Cypriot women and girls and the crimes committed by Turkish forces and consequences on gender equality. Amendment 15 by roll call.
The vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Paragraph 2 original text in two parts by roll call. The vote is closed.
Adopted. Amendment 8 by roll call. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 9 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected.
Amendment 10 by show of hands, in favor, against, abstentions, we check. Vote is open. The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment 1 and 11 in three parts by roll call, the first part, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Second part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Third part by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 12 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Adopted. Amendment 13 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
14 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 16 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed.
Rejected. Recital B original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 2 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 3 by raise of hands, in favor, against, abstentions, we check. Open the vote. We close the vote.
Adopted. Amendment 4 by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Amendment 5 by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Rejected. Amendment seven, a raise of hands. In favor? Against?
Abstentions? Rejected. Recital G, original text by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. Adopted. Next item, objection on genetically modified maize NK603. Amendment two, raise of hands.
In favor? Against? Abstentions? Rejected. Amendment one.
In favor? Against? Abstentions? Vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call, the vote is open. Rejected.
The vote is closed. Adopted. Next item, objection on genetically modified soybean MON 87705. Raise of hands, amendment two. In favor?
Against? Abstentions? Amendment one. Rejected. In favor?
Against? Abstentions? Rejected. Vote on the resolution as a whole by roll call, the vote is open.
The vote is closed. Adopted. I would like to remind members who are on the speaker's list for the first debate in the afternoon to remain in the chamber as the debate will start immediately after the vote. And the next item, objection on genetically modified maize DP 202216. By raise of hands, amendment two, in favor, against, abstentions, rejected.
Amendment one, in favor, against, abstentions, rejected. Resolution as a whole, vote by roll call, the vote is open. The vote is closed. The vote is closed. Adopted.
Thank you colleagues, we resume the meeting.
Martin Hojsík
Príjemné popoludnie prajem a najprv začneme schválením zápisnice, ktorá zo včerajšieho rokovania je k dispozícii. Chcem sa spýtať, či má niekto nejaké pripomienky. Nie, ďakujem, zápisnica je týmto schválená. A ďalším bodom programu je tematická rozprava na žiadosť politickej skupiny S&D podľa článku 169 rokovacieho poriadku: Úloha EÚ pri obnove Gazy a zodpovednosť Izraela podľa medzinárodného práva.
Chcel by som vás informovať, že pri tejto rozprave sa neuplatňuje postup prihlásenia sa o slovo zdvihnutím ruky a nebudú akceptované žiadne modré karty. Takisto pripomínam rečníkom, že vzhľadom na aktuálne platné skúšobné opatrenia a pevne stanovený čas ukončenia rozpravy bude potrebné pre mňa prísne dodržiavať rečnícky čas, takže rátajte s tým, že budem prísny a vypínať vás, keď samozrejme prekročíte svoj čas. A na úvod debaty poprosím navrhovateľa a autora, kolegu Maniatisa. Nech sa páči.
Yannis Maniatis
Μπορεί η επίσημη κατάπαυση του πυρός στη Γάζα να συμφωνήθηκε τον περασμένο Οκτώβριο, όμως στην πραγματικότητα ο πόλεμος συνεχίζεται ακόμη και σήμερα. Τα χτυπήματα δεν σταμάτησαν ποτέ, η ανθρωπιστική πρόσβαση συνεχίζει να γίνεται με εμπόδια και η πλειοψηφία των κατοίκων της παραμένει εκτοπισμένη. Την ίδια στιγμή η κατάσταση στη Δυτική Όχθη επιδεινώνεται. Το 2026 η βία των εποίκων έφτασε σε πρωτοφανή επίπεδα. Νέοι παράνομοι εποικισμοί, καταστροφές και κατασχέσεις σε περιουσίες Χριστιανών και Αράβων, ακόμα και εντός του διαδρόμου Ε1.
Όλα αυτά τα μέτρα εδραιώνουν μια de facto προσάρτηση με μόνο στόχο να μπλοκάρουν κάθε βιώσιμη προοπτική για τη λύση των δύο κρατών.
Για το λόγο αυτό ζητήσαμε ως ομάδα των Σοσιαλιστών και Δημοκρατών τη σημερινή επίκαιρη συζήτηση στην ολομέλεια αφού ήταν ο μόνος τρόπος να το θέσουμε ξανά. Γιατί η Ευρώπη δεν μπορεί να παραμένει άλλο θεατής στις παραβιάσεις του διεθνούς και ανθρωπιστικού δικαίου. Δεν μπορούμε να θέλουμε να εμφανιζόμαστε ως υπερασπιστές της διεθνούς έννομης τάξης και την ίδια στιγμή το Συμβούλιο Υπουργών Εξωτερικών να μην μπορεί να αναγνωρίσει την πραγματικότητα ότι δηλαδή παραβιάζεται το άρθρο 2 της συμφωνίας σύνδεσης και να λάβει τις απαραίτητες στοχευμένες κυρώσεις κατά των εποίκων αλλά και κατά των ακροδεξιών υπουργών της κυβέρνησης Νετανιάχου. Δεν μπορούμε από τη μια να υπερασπιζόμαστε τα Ηνωμένα Έθνη και από την άλλη να συμμετέχει η Επιτροπή έστω και ως παρατηρητής στο Συμβούλιο Ειρήνης του Προέδρου Τραμπ. Σας το είπαμε κυρία Επίτροπε, ήταν λάθος σας που πήγατε, τόσο δικό σας όσο και της Προέδρου της Επιτροπής που σας το ζήτησε.
Δεν είχατε καμία εξουσιοδότηση για να συμμετάσχετε. Όπως επίσης ήταν πολύ λανθασμένη και η πρόσφατη επίσκεψή σας στο Ισραήλ.
Δεν είχε τη σαφήνεια ούτε την απαραίτητη αυστηρότητα απέναντι στην κυβέρνηση Νετανιάχου και έγινε σε μια πολύ λάθος στιγμή, όταν η ισραηλινή κυβέρνηση επιτέθηκε στην Ύπατη Εκπρόσωπο. Μόνο και μόνο γι' αυτό η επίσκεψη έπρεπε να έχει ακυρωθεί. Όταν ο θεσμικός μας εκπρόσωπος δέχεται επιθέσεις, η σιωπή δεν είναι ουδετερότητα, είναι υποχώρηση. Κυρία Επίτροπε, το ζήτημα της ανασυγκρότησης της Γάζας και η διασφάλιση των προϋποθέσεων για ένα βιώσιμο παλαιστινιακό κράτος είναι πολύ σοβαρό ζήτημα για να το αφήσουμε σε έναν ιδιωτικό μηχανισμό εκτός του διεθνούς πλαισίου. Ζητούμε έναν μηχανισμό ανασυγκρότησης της Γάζας με κεντρικό ρόλο των Ηνωμένων Εθνών, συμπεριλαμβανομένης και της UNRWA, όπου τον κύριο λόγο θα τον έχουν οι Παλαιστίνιοι.
Μόνο έτσι θα είναι επιτυχής. Η Ευρώπη πρέπει να είναι όχι μόνο παρούσα, αλλά η κινητήριος δύναμη. Δεν αρκεί πια να είμαστε απλώς ο μεγαλύτερος χορηγός ανθρωπιστικής βοήθειας στην περιοχή. Θα πρέπει να έχουμε και την αντίστοιχη επιρροή και συμμετοχή. Δεν θα αποφασίζει κάποιος άλλος και εμείς απλώς θα πληρώνουμε.
Για το λόγο αυτό, επαναλαμβάνω το αίτημά μας για μια φιλόδοξη, ολοκληρωμένη και συνεκτική στρατηγική για τη Μέση Ανατολή που θα αντιστοιχεί στο μέγεθος της πρόκλησης.
Χωρίς διπλά μέτρα και σταθμά, με σαφή φωνή και με πολιτική βούληση. Μας το υποσχέθηκε η Πρόεδρος πριν από δύο χρόνια και ακόμα δεν έχει ξεκινήσει καν η προεργασία. Σας ευχαριστώ.
Thomas Byrne
Thank you, Vice-President, MEP Maniatis, honorable and distinguished members, Commissioner Dubravka Šuica. Thank you for organizing this debate on a topic that unfortunately is a recurring one for both Parliament and the Council. Let me stress that the Irish presidency will do its utmost to support efforts on all European Union work strands concerning the Middle East. Concerning Gaza, the European Council continues to express concerns about the lack of progress in the implementation of the ceasefire and other provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803. It called on all actors to fully implement the resolution, including the permanent disarmament of the terrorist Hamas group and other non-state armed groups and the full withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the Gaza Strip.
We remain gravely concerned over the persistent and devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel must allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza. When it comes to providing support for the reconstruction and development of Gaza in line with international law, the role of international and regional stakeholders is crucial. This is why the European Union is engaging with all partners to contribute to recovery and reconstruction efforts. Next week, on the 13th of July, the European Union will host the next ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group in Brussels, co-chaired by the Commission and the Palestinian Authority.
The European Union will also continue to support the Palestinian Authority in implementing its reform program so that it can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza and be fully involved in its reconstruction. Israel must also do its part to ensure the proper functioning of the Palestinian Authority; this includes the release of withheld tax revenues so that it can deliver essential services to the population. In terms of accountability, the European Union has consistently urged the government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and to protect the Palestinian population of the occupied territories. Independent and impartial investigations and prosecution of crimes are essential to achieve justice.
In May 2025, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed to a review of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It is clear from the finalized review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations. Faced with continuing and growing settler violence against Palestinian civilians, which the EU strongly condemns, the Council on the 28th of May adopted additional restrictive measures against extremist Israeli settlers and organizations which support them under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. When the Foreign Affairs Council returns to the matter next week, ministers expect to have a discussion of options for measures related to illegal settlements presented by the Commission. Thank you very much for your attention.
Ďakujem pán minister a teraz poprosím za komisiu pani komisárku Šuicovú, nech sa páči.
Chair, honorable members, thank you for the opportunity to discuss this crucial issue. The persistence crisis in Gaza and in Palestine more broadly oblige us to act. During my recent visit to Ramallah, I met Palestinian Vice President Al-Sheikh and Prime Minister Mustafa. The Palestine Authority finances were under pressure, which affected the banking sector and access to finance of the private sector.
Dubravka Šuica
I see some positive further steps from Israeli side. As you know, the corresponding banking arrangements have lately been extended every two weeks. This morning, we have been informed that these arrangements have been extended until the end of the year 2026, which is another positive sign. Basic services such as healthcare are challenged. Rising settler violence is straining all this further.
During my visit to Israel, I have underlined that partnerships or partnership requires a continued open and frank dialogue. Both President Herzog and Foreign Minister Saar agreed and reiterated the importance of EU-Israeli relations. We need to engage with all parties. It is important that they engage with all European interlocutors as well. Supporting a reformed Palestinian Authority and continuing to engage with Israel are not mutually exclusive.
Without buy-in from both sides, we will not be able to deliver on our objectives, early recovery in Gaza and the financial stability of a reformed Palestinian Authority. As I spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Saar, I told him, the European Union remains strong in our support to a viable Palestinian state.
There can be no just and lasting peace without it. I insisted on our collective interest in avoiding backsliding on the implementation of the Gaza peace plan in line with the implementation of UN Security Resolution 2803. Early recovery in Gaza must start now, together with much more humanitarian assistance to meet the basic needs of civilians. And we achieved an important step. Minister Saar is open, or was open, has been open for the European Union and its partners to initiate two critical early recovery interventions, one on solid waste management and another on water and sanitation.
This paves the way for the Palestinian donor group next week on the 13th of Monday, 13th of July, which I will co-chair with the Prime Minister Mustafa. We are planning to bring together more than 65 delegations. We will be informed about the reform progress of the Palestinian Authority. We will also launch the Team Gaza initiative, the European Union together with like-minded partners for early recovery in Gaza. It is true the situation is dire, but we are achieving real concrete results with our diplomatic work.
Thank you so much.
Martin Hojsík
Ďakujem, pani komisárka, a teraz poprosím kolegu Lopeza Istúriza White za poslancov, klub Európskej ľudovej strany, kresťanských demokratov.
Nech sa páči.
Antonio López-Istúriz White
Thank you very much. Mr. Mañetes, I understand that you are pressed by the leadership of the Socialist Group, Spanish leadership, to talk about this now. But what I don't understand, because you know there are some problems in Spain and the government and this classical debate appears always out of the blue when there are problems in Spain. But what I can understand is that your speech, you did not mention Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Turkey. Again, double standards.
I would, I would love to talk about the reconstruction of Gaza, please. This, this is what I want to talk about. But now the show is in. Now all the interventions will be about who am I against and who am I in favor, you know, instead of talking about Gaza's reconstruction. Sorry for that.
It's a spoiled debate already from the start. I wish, you know, accountability, everybody. Terrorists that massacred also, and also democracies. Because they have courts of law, they have judges. I'm sure there will be also investigations and prosecutions.
And we will be Europeans, take the example of the Commissioner she just spoke, she was there, she talked with everybody. That is the European way of doing things. Talking and listening to everybody, not only to one side, please, everybody. Let's try for once, for once, that we are not seeing as we are taking one or the other side. Accountability is for everybody.
That's what Europe has to do. And this kind of debates again, that we, some of you will speak about one side, the others will speak about the other, are not going to solve any of the problems of the region. I think that we have to take seriously for once in this Parliament this kind of debates. And that really we have these European solutions, these pragmatical solutions. Thank you very much for that, Commissioner.
I think it was much welcome, your visit and the results. Let's hope that all of us we do a little effort not to be biased for once, and to talk about the real reconstruction of Gaza and the humanitarian help that this European Union has to provide. I'm on board. I'm on board. Thank you very much.
Martin Hojsík
Ďakujem a teraz za skupinu Progresívnej aliancie socialistov a demokratov v Európskom parlamente poprosím kolegu Sáncheza Amora, nech sa páči.
Nacho Sánchez Amor
Gracias. Tono, Hamás, Hezbolá, etcétera. Lo mencionamos, pero vamos al tema de hoy que es la responsabilidad de Israel. Comisaria Šuica, usted me dijo en algunas ocasiones: habrá dinero para la reconstrucción, hay distintas partidas de las que sacar dinero. Yo creo que crear una facility para Gaza da visibilidad externa a nuestro compromiso.
Y por tanto le ruego que reexaminen la posibilidad de, en vez de tomar dinero de varias partidas, crear esta facility que nuestro grupo le está pidiendo. Y vamos a acabar con los dobles estándares. Estamos hablando todo el día de la responsabilidad de Rusia en la reconstrucción de Ucrania. ¿Por qué es tan difícil hablar de la responsabilidad de Israel en la reconstrucción de Gaza? ¿No es la misma violación del derecho internacional a la que hemos asistido?
Por tanto hay que exigirle a Israel lo mismo que le exigimos a Rusia. Y comisaria, yo no la culpo a usted. Usted ha sido enviada al Board of Peace, usted ha sido enviada por la señora von der Leyen a saludar a ministros genocidas. Yo entiendo que ustedes son un equipo. Por favor, comisaria, cuando tenga que saludar a esos ministros muestre usted alguna incomodidad por estar en ese papel.
Gracias.
Ďakujem a teraz poprosím kolegu Vilimského zo skupiny Patrioti pre Európu.
Harald Vilimsky
Danke sehr, meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren. Halten wir fest, dass Israel die einzige Demokratie im Nahen Osten ist. Halten wir ferner fest, auch wenn Sie lachen, halten wir ferner fest, dass Israel umgeben ist von einer halben Milliarde Muslimen, wo es sehr viel an Bedrohung ja gegeben ist. Halten wir ferner fest, dass an diesem 7. Oktober 2023 der brutalste Anschlag überhaupt stattgefunden hat auf Israel mit über 1200 Toten, wo Zivilisten missbraucht wurden als lebendige Schilde.
Ich weiß schon, dass Sie gern lachen, das ist aber Faktum. Halten wir ferner fest, dass wir wissen, ja, dass die Europäische Union über UNRWA-Mittel in den Gazastreifen gepumpt hat und dass diese Gelder aber gelandet sind in den Terrorküchen der Hamas. Das ist der falsche Weg. Leute wie der israelische Außenminister Gideon Sa'ar und auch die Amerikaner haben recht, diese Terrororganisationen sind endlich zu entwaffnen. Es hat eine Demilitarisierung dieser Region stattzufinden und erst dann, und nachdem sichergestellt ist, dass Israel sein Recht auf Existenz und Verteidigung behält, dann kann man über entsprechende Hilfen reden.
Dankeschön.
Alberico Gambino
Presidente, colleghi, oggi la comunità internazionale è chiamata ad affrontare due sfide inseparabili. La prima è garantire un'assistenza umanitaria immediata alla popolazione civile. La seconda è fare in modo che il 7 ottobre resti confinato alla storia e non torni mai più a segnare il futuro del Medio Oriente.
La prima impone di assicurare un accesso umanitario pieno, sicuro e senza ostacoli, affinché gli aiuti raggiungano rapidamente chi ne ha bisogno senza essere intercettati o strumentalizzati da organizzazioni terroristiche. La seconda richiede una visione politica di lungo periodo. La ricostruzione di Gaza dovrà accompagnarsi allo smantellamento delle reti terroristiche e di ogni forma di estremismo che ha alimentato l'odio e la violenza. L'Europa deve guidare questo processo mobilitando gli strumenti già disponibili per ricostruire ospedali, scuole, infrastrutture essenziali e creare le condizioni per una crescita economica duratura. Perché dalla stabilità di Gaza passa anche la stabilità del Mediterraneo, e dalla stabilità del Mediterraneo passa una parte decisiva della sicurezza e della prosperità dell'Europa.
Grazie.
Hilde Vautmans
Thank you very much, Mr. President, dear colleagues, Madam Commissioner. The world spends more on weapons in one single day than it spends on tackling sexual violence as a weapon of war in an entire year.
And for the first time, the UN has listed Israeli forces among the parties suspected of conflict-related sexual violence. And at the same time, the UN has recorded, colleagues, the highest number of grave violations against children ever verified. More than 2,700 Palestinian children have been killed. And when we ask for justice, we are told this conflict is a difficult issue. And yes, for many member states, it is.
But that cannot be an excuse for silence. Europe must defend international law every time, everywhere. I repeat my call for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Europe, it's time to act. Thank you.
Martin Hojsík
Děkuji a teraz poprosím kolegu Sondergaarda za skupinu Zelených, Európska slobodná aliancia.
Thank you, Chair. I'm going to speak in Danish. Temaet for debatten i dag er genopbygning af Gaza, og jeg siger det til oplysning for højrefløjen, som gerne vil diskutere noget andet.
Villy Søvndal
Men endnu vigtigere, respekten for menneskeliv og menneskeværd skal genoprettes. Mere end 70.000, 70.000 mennesker bekræftet døde. Intet her i verden, heller ikke Hamas' forfærdelige terrorangreb, berettiger drab på mange uskyldige mennesker og fastholdelse af mere end to millioner millioner mennesker i en katastrofal situation. Mange tusinde ligger gemt, men ikke glemt under ruinerne. De oplever nu at leve i kaos, affald, forurenet vand og skadedyr.
EU og EU's medlemslande ved godt, hvad der sker. Vi ved godt, hvad der sker, ikke alene her, men også på Vestbredden. Selv uden adgang til internationale journalister ved vi, hvad der sker. Vi taler om frihed, om fred, vi taler om respekt og retfærdighed, men vi handler stadig med ulovlige bosættelser. Vi har stadig en associeringsaftale, der endda har menneskerettigheder skrevet ind som forudsætning.
Vores handlingslammelse er en moralsk fallit.
Lynn Boylan
Actuallly, the people of Gaza have now suffered more than 1,000 days of genocide, 1,000 days of mass murder, starvation, and an international community that's too cowardly to hold Israel accountable.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestine Territory has found that Israel continues to commit genocide and deliberately targets Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the rogue state that, according to the European Commission, is a close ally. This rogue state. And we stand here and we talk about reconstruction and pretend that the genocide is over when it continues. We need sanctions, a two-way arms embargo, suspension of the Association Agreement, and a ban on trade with the illegal settlements, and full, unequivocal support for UNRWA.
And before we even talk about reconstruction in Gaza, how about we talk about the fact that Israel has destroyed at least 150 million of EU-funded infrastructure and has not paid back a single cent? When are the Commission going to recover our taxpayers' money? When are they going to release the documents that are relating to the destruction of EU-funded infrastructure in Gaza, because the public has a right to know how much Israel is costing them? And finally, the EU must urgently act to secure the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who has been arbitrarily detained by Israel since December 2024. He has been beaten, he has been tortured, he is at risk of death.
Free Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya.
Hildegard Bentele
President, Commissioner, colleagues, Europe has been engaged for decades in providing humanitarian aid and basic social services to the people of Gaza. Recent initiatives by Commissioner Várhelyi, including the convening of donor conferences, demonstrate Europe's continued strong commitment even at a time when equally devastating humanitarian catastrophes in Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan demand our attention. But reconstruction cannot simply mean rebuilding buildings. It must mean building a future in which Hamas can never again use civilian infrastructure as a base for terror, store weapons in school or hospitals, or divert international assistance for its own extremist Islamist purposes.
The reality is that Hamas has never respected and never will respect international law. On the contrary, its ideology is built on a cult of death and martyrdom in which individual human lives are meaningless and a high civilian death toll is cynically exploited to preserve its grip on power. For us Europeans and for our partner Israel, international law matters because we have committed ourselves to it. But it's also clear that international law alone does not always provide solutions when dealing with terrorist organizations or violent and oppressive regimes. This is why we must urgently advance the implementation of the political process laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Hamas's announced withdrawal from Gaza's civil administration opens a critical window. The apolitical technical national committee for the administration of Gaza can assume its responsibilities. The EU police training mission can help restore public order and improve security for civilians. And the CMCC is fully operational to coordinate stabilization and relief efforts.
Thank you very much. A teraz poprosím pani kolegyňu In 't Veld.
Evin Incir
While Israel continues with oppression and occupation, generations of Palestinians are paying the price. Yet every time until now, European Union has failed to act properly. Too many in this house, especially in the center-right and the far-right side, chose to see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing. And you play the fourth monkey through crossing your arms and thinking that you are not doing any evil. Let me be clear: inaction is action, and that choice has consequences.
You even attack vital organizations as UNRWA with baseless allegations, making yourself Netanyahu and Hamas' useful idiots. EU does not suffer from a lack of solution. EU suffer from a lack of political courage. What more should Israel do for enough to be enough? Should it commit a genocide?
And let me remind you, they have already done that. Can we start acting now and suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement? Commissioner, with all due respect, I don't know what steps you mean Israeli government have taken. The only steps I have seen until now are steps into other countries.
Jorge Martín Frías
Gracias, señor presidente. Señorías, el título de este debate para empezar es tramposo. Juzga la responsabilidad de Israel y omite la del culpable. Todo debate serio exige partir de la verdad y aquí algunos grupos se han instalado en la mentira deliberada. Tres hechos se obvian una y otra vez.
Primero, si hablamos de reconstruir Gaza es porque Hamás decidió destruirla.
El 7 de octubre de 2023, una organización terrorista asesinó a más de 1.200 personas, el mayor asesinato de judíos desde el Holocausto. Y quien omite esta responsabilidad no busca la paz, sino una coartada. Segundo, la Comisión Europea y algunos Estados miembros, con el gobierno corrupto socialista español a la cabeza, siguen financiando a la UNRWA, cuyos empleados estuvieron implicados en la masacre. Tercero, el artículo 51 de la Carta de Naciones Unidas reconoce a todo Estado el derecho inmanente, inmanente a la legítima defensa. Todo Estado, también Israel.
Por eso exigimos la suspensión inmediata de toda financiación a la UNRWA y que no se desembolse ni un solo euro...
Thank you very much. Thank you, I have to be strict with the timing, and you had used your time. Teraz poprosím kolegu Reutena, nech sa páči.
Bert-Jan Ruissen
Dank u wel, voorzitter. Beste collega's, als het ergens moeilijk is om perspectief te zien, dan is het wel in Gaza. Twee miljoen Palestijnen levend onder erbarmelijke omstandigheden in een volstrekt uitzichtloze situatie. Allemaal de schuld van Israël, zeggen velen. Maar dat is natuurlijk niet zo.
Zeker, Israël moet zich maximaal inspannen om de humanitaire hulp bij de getroffen bevolking te krijgen. Maar we kunnen Israël toch onmogelijk verwijten dat ze probeert Hamas onder controle te krijgen. Dat brengt ons, collega's, bij de kern van het probleem: de weigering van Hamas om de wapens neer te leggen. Hoe kan de EU dan helpen bij de wederopbouw? Ik zou willen zeggen: laten we ons concentreren daarbij op Hamas-vrije gebieden.
Zorg er in ieder geval voor dat er geen euro in handen komt van Hamas, want zolang deze terroristische organisatie er nog de lakens uitdeelt, blijft de situatie zoals die nu is volstrekt uitzichtloos. Dank u wel.
Ďakujem a teraz poprosím pani kolegyňu Al-Sahlani, nech sa páči.
Thank you chair, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, I was asking myself what kind of a charade is this? Rebuilding Gaza, really?
Abir Al-Sahlani
For 1,000 days, the Palestinians in Gaza have been enduring unimaginable suffering. And they have not even elected the despicable terrorist organization Hamas, still they are paying the price for this narrative that is broadcasted in Europe. Somehow it is still connected. 1,000 days of killings, even during the so-called ceasefire. Nothing seems to, you know, get a grip of us as Europeans.
We are still unable to take any concrete action. Why haven't we suspended the agreement with Israel? Why haven't we forbidden the import of illegal settlements? Why haven't we acted? We still just speak these big words while 73 Palestinians have been killed.
Children have lost their limbs in thousands and many of them operated without anesthesia. Somewhere there has to be a heart, even in you, even in you. Somewhere it has to be a heart.
Martin Hojsík
Thank you very much. I have to be strict and fair to everybody. A teraz poprosím pani kolegyňu Neumann.
Dear colleagues, grand statements do not resolve complex crises. It has been nine months since Trump declared a ceasefire for Gaza.
Hannah Neumann
Since then, more than 1,000 Palestinians killed, more than 60% of Gaza controlled by the Israeli military, with Netanyahu pushing for 70, and families forced to flee again and again. An illegitimate so-called peace board is to govern Gaza without any role for Palestinians. Rafah, never fully reopened, aid deliveries still severely restricted. This is not peace. This is war disguised as peace, and Netanyahu wants to keep it this way.
So, where is Europe? How much longer will we hide between constructive dialogue when all it has delivered is nothing? The Commission put measures on the table almost a year ago: partial suspension of the Association Agreement, sanctions, trade measures. Let's finally take these steps and stop treating the status quo as a solution, because it's not.
Irene Montero
Gracias, presidente. Comisaria, una pregunta. ¿Donald Trump tiene el teléfono de ustedes? ¿Les llama como llama al presidente de la FIFA? No sé, cuéntenos cómo son esas conversaciones.
¿Donald Trump les llama para que apoyen el genocidio? ¿Para que apoyen la ocupación ilegal de Cisjordania?
¿Les llama cuando van a quemar niños vivos? ¿O simplemente les llama para que estén calladitos y paguen sus guerras mientras bombardean medio mundo? Porque eso es lo que ve la gente, comisaria. Que hay un grupo pequeño de hombres muy peligrosos que están destruyendo el mundo por negocios y que nadie les pone límite. Y hay un problema, porque ahora mismo cogerle el teléfono a Trump es convertirle en el dueño de Europa y a ustedes en cómplices de sus crímenes.
Hagan algo ya. Paren el genocidio. Rompan relaciones con el Estado terrorista de Israel. Es su obligación. Dejen de cogerle el teléfono a Donald Trump.
Cuélguenle el teléfono.
Ondřej Dostál
Dear Christian Democrats, dear Christian patriots, dear leaders of the EU, you are hypocrites and you will probably end in hell. It is Vatican, not me, who is saying that. I quote: "If a country is an enemy, it is condemned as undemocratic and sanctioned in various ways. But if it is an ally, the fact that it lacks freedom of expression, human rights or democracy is ignored."
The EU chose as an ally the genocidal regime of Netanyahu. By doing that, we alienated majority of Global South, including the Arab world, and lost any credibility regarding international law. Please note that I don't speak about Israel or about the Jews. It is not about a country and it is not at all about race. It is about a genocidal regime.
The EU should denounce Netanyahu and his ministers as war criminals, which they are, now, or bear the mark of Cain of utter hypocrisy. Thank you.
Reinhold Lopatka
Dear colleagues, reconstruction is an important step towards providing the people of Gaza with the prospect of returning to a semblance of normal life. Hopefully, it is soon possible. The EU conducted an assessment in April together with the World Bank and the United Nations, finding out that we would need 71.4 billion dollars to rebuild the Palestinian enclave. Reconstruction must go far beyond rebuilding roads, hospitals and schools.
It must restore hope and the foundation of a lasting peace. And the European Union is already the largest humanitarian donor to the Palestinians. It has to be mentioned, however, reconstruction also needs accountability. And therefore, I think the terror organization of Hamas cannot play any role in the future of Gaza. The European Union must still support this two-state solution enabling Palestine and Israel to coexist.
Martin Hojsík
Ďakujem. Ďakujem a teraz poprosím pani kolegyňu Annunziata, nech sa páči.
Lucia Annunziata
Thank you. Yesterday Hamas has announced that has dissolved its own government and has agreed to give up its role into the hand of the Palestinian Authority. It's a beginning of a big change. Yet, doubts and fear in this moment are bigger than satisfaction in the Middle East. The fear is that Hamas is going to apply the Hezbollah model, separation between administration and military wing.
The suspicion is sustained by the fact that has said nothing about the future of the military wing.
On the other hand, the border peace is a lost case, has proved to be an ineffective, slow institution. So I think these things can work in this moment, there is a very critical moment, if a very fast new protagonist, new power, new country, and especially Europe, this is what I want to say, act very fast and insert itself into this process. So it's time for Europe to step, but very fast, Commissioner, in an independent initiative, fully diplomatic. We have the contacts, the people, and the money to get there.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Dear President, dear leftists, when you talk about accountability, perhaps you should first look at yourselves. For years, you have been very consistent in your support for a terrorist-led regime, demanding impossible standards of proof from Israel while accepting Hamas propaganda without any skepticism. Let me be absolutely clear: Europe must never spend a single euro rebuilding what Hamas will simply use for the next war.
We have already once paid for tunnels, rocket infrastructure and a terrorist regime. So if you want accountability under international law, start with the organization that started the war and massacred civilians. Before you say another word about reconstruction, make sure first that the Islamist terrorists are wiped out for good. Thank you.
A teraz poprosím kolegu Gerens-a, nech sa páči.
Charles Goerens
Merci Monsieur le Président. Dans la reconstruction de Gaza culminent tous les problèmes que nous pouvons nous imaginer. Le nombre de victimes qui se comptent par dizaines de milliers, l'atténuation de la catastrophe humanitaire qui sévit toujours, la question de la responsabilité de la présente situation et pas seulement celle du gouvernement de Netanyahou, mais aussi celle du Hamas et de sa tutelle iranienne, sans vouloir passer sous silence ceux qui ne veulent en aucun cas accepter la solution à deux États. L'Union européenne quant à elle reste divisée sur l'opportunité de mettre en œuvre le peu de moyens dont elle dispose pour peser sur le cours des choses. C'est du déjà vu.
Nous souffrons d'un manque d'autorité, on n'est respecté ni par les uns ni par les autres.
Tant que nous nous payons le luxe de la division, nous resterons un observateur impuissant de la situation au Moyen-Orient et la seule chose qu'on nous demandera, c'est de payer. Payer ou payer, that's the question.
Ďakujem a teraz poprosím pani kolegyňu Fiare, nech sa páči.
Catarina Vieira
A few months ago I stood in the occupied West Bank and around me was the rubble of what was once a community center. The family next door were next, their house was next to go. And right there, there was still a children's playground with a shiny blue EU plaque and I wonder how many of those plaques are buried under the destruction of the genocide in Gaza. Israel has destroyed more than 150 million of EU-funded infrastructure there and in the West Bank and the reconstruction of Gaza might cost up to 70 billion in the next decade. When will we demand that Israel pay for the destruction that they caused?
Yes, we must act swiftly to ensure humanitarian aid and reconstruct Gaza, we need to do it together with Palestinians and by recognizing the irreplaceable role of UNRWA. But without accountability, we risk rebuilding today what Israel will destroy again tomorrow. So it's time for accountability.
On Monday, finally stop trade with illegal settlements, suspend the association agreement, introduce proper sanctions, and support the ICC, because words will not rebuild Gaza, only action will.
Danilo Della Valle
Grazie Presidente, Commissaria. Dopo oltre mille giorni di pulizia etnica, 75.000 morti accertati, milioni di sfollati, questo Parlamento ancora non condanna il genocidio israeliano. E per pulirvi la coscienza ci proponete un dibattito sul ruolo dell'Unione Europea nella ricostruzione di Gaza. Ma io dico, ma con quale coraggio, onestamente? Ci sono migliaia di esseri umani che restano intrappolati in un campo di morte a cielo aperto, uccisi dalla fame, dalle malattie oppure dalle bombe democratiche di Tel Aviv.
L'Unione Europea in realtà oggi è lo zerbino di Trump e di Netanyahu. Da Tajani con il cappellino MAGA, Meloni, von der Leyen, il Board of Peace, fate a gara a inginocchiarvi dinanzi agli Stati Uniti, incapaci perfino di difendere i giudici della Corte Penale Internazionale o la relatrice Francesca Albanese. Per salvare la dignità dell'Unione c'è una sola via: sospendere l'accordo di associazione con Israele, sanzionare il governo Netanyahu. Il resto è solo vergognosa ipocrisia. Grazie.
Kostas Papadakis
Γενοκτονία με πάνω από 73.000 νεκρούς Παλαιστίνιους, ισοπέδωση Γάζας, σχέδιο διαμελισμού και γενικευμένος εποικισμός στη Δυτική Όχθη, με ιστορικό υψηλό δολοφονίας παιδιών. Ατιμώρητα κατά συρροή εγκλήματα του κράτους κατακτητή Ισραήλ, με επίθεση επιπλέον στο Ιράν και εισβολή στο Λίβανο και τη Συρία. Παράλληλα επιβραβεύεται με προκλητική ασυλία, επισκέψεις σαν της Κομισιόν στο Ισραήλ, στρατιωτικές και εμπορικές συμφωνίες από τις συνένοχες Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, ΝΑΤΟ και την ελληνική κυβέρνηση. Το αμερικανικό σχέδιο δήθεν ειρήνης, όπως και το αντίστοιχο νατοϊκό σχέδιο πύλης της Ανατολικής Μεσογείου που μεθοδεύτηκε στη σύναξη στην Άγκυρα, προωθούν τους ενεργειακούς εμπορικούς διαύλους ευρωατλαντικών συμφερόντων στον ανταγωνισμό με Κίνα και Ρωσία. Παρόλα αυτά οι εξελίξεις απέδειξαν ότι ο ιμπεριαλισμός δεν είναι άτρωτος, δεν είστε παντοδύναμοι, γιατί ούτε το παλαιστινιακό λαό ούτε αυτό του Ιράν βάλατε στο χέρι.
Με τη διεθνιστική αλληλεγγύη και την αυτοτελή του πάλη, ο παλαιστινιακός λαός έχει τη δύναμη να επιβάλει το δίκιο του για ανεξάρτητο παλαιστινιακό κράτος με πρωτεύουσα την Ανατολική Ιερουσαλήμ στα σύνορα του '67.
Seán Kelly
The Commission estimates that rebuilding Gaza will cost 71 billion dollars.
For decades, the EU has funded schools, hospitals, water networks, community centers in Palestine, many of them now destroyed. We must ask ourselves why the European Union has become remarkably consistent in financing the foundations of Palestinian life while displaying far less determination in holding accountable those who systematically dismantle them. The EU has a moral responsibility to help rebuild Gaza, but it must also go hand in hand with accountability. UNRWA, the only organization with the capacity to respond at this scale on the ground, has become a scapegoat while the real questions go unanswered. What has the so-called board of peace delivered?
Without a two-state solution, we'll find ourselves funding the reconstruction of Gaza again and again. Europe must help build not only infrastructure but also the conditions for a just and lasting peace. Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh.
President, Commissioner. Once again, this Parliament is debating on Gaza while the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen. Despite the so-called peace agreement, civilians continue to suffer, humanitarian access remains severely restricted, and there is still no credible political horizon.
Hana Jalloul Muro
At the same time, West Bank faces unprecedented settler violence and de facto annexation. Lebanon continues to suffer repeated violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the recent conflict with Iran has once again demonstrated how volatile the regional security environment remains. And what is European strategy? We don't have a holistic approach on militias' disarmament, Hamas, Hezbollah, territorial integrity, borders, being part of a peace agreement, being on the table to negotiate. We need a comprehensive Middle East strategy that matches all these challenges.
Our credibility depends on how we apply international law and humanitarian law, the foundation of a credible European foreign policy, particularly on the Middle East, and Europe has often failed. We need to act, no double standards, reconstruction in Gaza, and it's not about Israeli population, we need them on board, but we need to stop impunity of the killing of the Netanyahu government. Let's act once and for all.
Irena Joveva
Colleagues, some of you are talking about the reconstruction of Gaza as if the need arose from a natural disaster. Gaza was destroyed, and that destruction has an aim: genocide. It is astonishing that some still spend more energy avoiding that specific word rather than condemning what's happening. True champions of justice and peace, indeed. Now, one thing is to pay the bills, but what about accountability for those responsible?
If we rebuild the infrastructure but fail to defend international law, we will soon be facing the rubble again. That's precisely why it is even more shameful that the new Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is talking about relocating Slovenian embassy to Jerusalem as a maneuver of his political alignment alongside Netanyahu. At a time when we should be defending international law, he is relativizing it, choosing political loyalty. So once and for all, make up your mind, not between when and when not is international law politically convenient, but decide whether you will stand up for the values you so often speak about or you will continue to help finance the consequences of your own silence. And I'm not speaking only about...
Martin Hojsík
Thank you very much. Thank you. A teraz poproszę kolegę Saturi, niech się panie.
Mounir Satouri
Chers collègues, Madame la Commissaire, le ministre des Affaires étrangères israélien insulte Kaja Kallas, la cheffe de la diplomatie européenne, et quatre jours plus tard, vous courez à Tel-Aviv lui serrer la main, sans doute avec l'approbation de Ursula von der Leyen. Le signal envoyé est désastreux et votre mépris pour la crédibilité européenne est total. Et pour que le ridicule soit absolu, vous ajoutez qu'Israël est un partenaire clé. Madame Šuica, Israël bloque l'aide humanitaire et les médicaments que vous envoyez à Gaza. Israël rase les infrastructures financées par l'Union européenne en ignorant vos demandes de remboursement.
Et Israël poursuit une politique d'apartheid assumée, des crimes de guerre au Liban et un génocide à Gaza malgré vos appels à la paix. Madame Šuica, j'ai besoin de comprendre. Quand nos traités ont-ils été modifiés pour vous autoriser à vous affranchir et affranchir la politique étrangère européenne du droit international et des valeurs de l'Union européenne ? Quels sont désormais les critères, quels sont vos critères pour qualifier un partenaire clé ? Où sont...
Martin Hojsík
Thank you very much. Thank you. I have to be sorry, I have to be fair and strict with the time. A teraz poprosím kolegu Barrena Arza, nech sa páči.
Gracias, presidente.
Pernando Barrena Arza
Reconstruir Gaza no es solamente dedicar recursos para volver a hacerla habitable, que también, sino cómo hacemos para que los palestinos y palestinas sean los únicos dueños y gobernantes de ese territorio. ¿Cómo hacemos, cómo actúa y presiona Europa para que Gaza no se convierta en un resort de lujo para millonarios sin empatía ni vergüenza? Gaza no es tierra de nadie. Es parte de la nación palestina y, por lo tanto, solo corresponde a palestinos y palestinas decidir, comenzando por los términos de la reconstrucción y acabando con el ejercicio del derecho a decidir, con el derecho a autodeterminación del pueblo de Palestina. Cualquier otro que se arrogue esa competencia en sustitución del pueblo palestino siempre contará con nuestro rechazo y nuestra denuncia, y esa debiera de ser también la actitud de la Unión en defensa de la legalidad internacional.
A fecha de hoy, Palestina sigue siendo objeto de un genocidio planificado que ha costado más de setenta mil vidas. Situarse del lado correcto de la historia exige suspender inmediatamente el acuerdo de asociación UE-Israel y dar cobertura política a la Corte Penal Internacional, particularmente en lo referente a las órdenes de detención contra los perpetradores del genocidio palestino. Muchas gracias.
A teraz poprosím kolegu Warnkeho, nech sa páči.
Jan-Peter Warnke
Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin, irgendwie haben alle Vorredner so ein bisschen recht, aber das wird den Menschen in Gaza tatsächlich nicht helfen. Der Aufbau, und da sind wir uns glaube ich alle klar, wird nur im Rahmen einer für alle Beteiligten politischen grundsätzlichen Befriedung des Konfliktes möglich sein. Der EU fällt dabei die Rolle des zentralen finanziellen und diplomatischen Unterstützers zu, während Israel nach dem Völkerrecht als Besatzungsmacht primär für die Versorgung und den Wiederaufbau ziviler Infrastruktur verantwortlich wäre. In der Realität passiert genau das Gegenteil und Friede liegt in der Ferne. Unterdessen muss die EU weiterhin in Zusammenarbeit mit allen Akteuren versuchen, humanitäre Hilfe nach Gaza zu bringen und versuchen, die Verletzten des Gazakrieges zu retten.
Wir sollten überlegen, ob wir die Mittel für die Bordermission Rafah schnell in die Krankenhäuser von Westbank und Jordanien umleiten, um praktische Hilfe leisten zu können. Letzte Woche war ich Zeuge der Evakuierung von Verletzten und Angehörigen über Jordanien nach Spanien und die Türkei. Danke Spanien, danke Jordanien, danke der Türkei.
Seien wir die EU, die für die Schwachen, die Entrechteten, die Betrogenen und die leidenden Verletzten die Völkerfamilie sind, die sich kümmert. Schönen Dank.
Alice Teodorescu Måwe
Tack talman. EU är den största givaren till den palestinska myndigheten och inför nästa veckas möte i den palestinska givargruppen måste det vara glasklart att ekonomiskt stöd förutsätter konkreta reformer. Utan resultat finns inga förutsättningar för en varaktig fred. Först måste Hamas avväpnas och genomgripande avradikalisering genomföras i Gaza. Skolundervisningen måste reformeras så att antisemitism, glorifiering av terrorism och martyrskap inte traderas till nästa generation.
I fjol betalade PA ut motsvarande 156 miljoner amerikanska dollar i ersättningar och förmåner till terrorister och deras familjer inom ramen för pay-to-slay. Också detta måste omedelbart upphöra. Om dessa förhållanden inte förändras så förblir tvåstatslösningen en illusion. Kommissionen måste vara glastydlig. Uteblivna reformer kommer att få kännbara ekonomiska konsekvenser.
Europeiska skattebetalares pengar ska aldrig användas för att finansiera eller belöna terrorism. Tack.
Chloé Ridel
Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues, à Gaza le cessez-le-feu n'existe que sur le papier, les frappes continuent, elles tuent 125 Palestiniens chaque mois.
L'armée israélienne ne s'est pas retirée, elle contrôle 60 % de la bande de Gaza. Alors dans ce Parlement, il faut que notre groupe insiste à chaque plénière pour que nous puissions juste débattre de ce qu'il se passe en Palestine. Toute discussion est systématiquement verrouillée par les groupes de droite et d'extrême droite. Pourquoi ? Comment être à ce point aveugle à la souffrance humaine et à l'injustice ?
Cela a été dit, il a fallu quelques heures au gouvernement israélien pour rompre les relations avec la haute représentante de l'Union européenne Kaja Kallas parce qu'elle dénonçait le régime d'apartheid en Cisjordanie. Mais nous, nous tergiversons depuis des années sans suspendre l'accord d'association avec Israël. Nous n'avons toujours pas condamné la loi sur le rétablissement de la peine de mort en Israël conçue pour ne s'appliquer qu'aux Palestiniens. Toujours pas protégé la Cour pénale internationale contre les sanctions américaines. Cette inaction complice est celle des droites européennes que l'histoire jugera.
Il y a des élections dans quelques mois en Palestine et en Israël, une nouvelle génération peut arriver au pouvoir pour enfin travailler à la justice, à l'égalité des droits et à la paix, il faut agir maintenant.
Dainius Žalimas
Dear colleagues, international law is the foundation of peace and security. When we weaken it, we all become less secure.
That is why first Europe should be skeptical of the so-called board of peace. Lasting peace depends on strong institutions and clear rules that provide legitimacy, predictability and accountability. Europe should never accept their replacement by alternative and personalized structures that lack a sound foundation in international law. Second, the same principles must guide our approach to Gaza. We should support Israel's rights to self-defense.
At the same time, all violations of international humanitarian law must be investigated, those responsible held accountable. The independence of International Criminal Court should be respected, advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice have to be respected as well. Third, the reconstruction of Gaza cannot succeed while Hamas remains an armed force. It has no role in Gaza's future. The real test is not declarations but genuine disarmament.
Thank you.
Benedetta Scuderi
Volete sapere come possiamo opporci, garantire la ricostruzione di Gaza, la pace? Dobbiamo opporci all'occupazione, dobbiamo opporci al genocidio. Bisogna attribuire la responsabilità prima di parlare di ricostruzione.
Le Nazioni Unite ce l'hanno detto: Israele ha deliberatamente ucciso bambini, Israele sta compiendo un genocidio. E dove sono ora questi criminali? Sono a Gaza, decidono cosa entra e cosa esce, chi entra e chi esce. Sono in Cisgiordania dove fanno accordi con i coloni per rubare le terre dei palestinesi, catturarli e ucciderli brutalmente. Israele sta illegalmente occupando Gaza e la Cisgiordania.
Nel frattempo i palestinesi a Gaza continuano a morire tra i topi, senza acqua, tra le rovine, sotto le bombe, tra i corpi dei loro cari. E noi che facciamo? Continuiamo a fare affari con dei criminali di guerra, con un governo genocida, continuiamo a trattarli come alleati. Basta, dobbiamo interrompere i rapporti con Israele. Ma di che ricostruzione state parlando?
Di quella di Trump che vuole farci un resort, di Netanyahu che vuole annetterla ad Israele o del progettino coloniale del Borrell-Pisa a cui l'Europa vergognosamente partecipato?
Martin Hojsík
I have to be fair and strict.
A teraz poprosím pani kolegyňu Hedin, nech sa páči.
Hanna Gedin
Kommuner, FN larmar om att Israel medvetet attackerar och dödar palestinska barn.
Detta är barn som sover, barn som leker, barn som flyr, barn som är måltavlor. Kan ni se era barn i ögonen och säga att ni har gjort allt, allt i er makt för att stoppa folkmordet? Kan ni det? Människor som demonstrerar på gatorna har betydligt mer civilkurage än den ryggradslösa politiska elit som fortsätter gång på gång att skydda krigsbrottslingen Netanyahu. Världen ser denna medbrottslighet.
Ni visste allt, ni visste allt och ni gjorde ingenting. Stoppa handelsavtalet med Israel och ställ mördarna inför rätta.
Lukas Mandl
Thank you President, Commissioner, colleagues. This crisis must not be forgotten. Hamas is still around in Gaza, it's not yet gone.
People are still under pressure. This terrorist organization even was not ashamed to put children on the line, to put women on the line, to put the own civil society, the civil population at risk. And they are still around. So I can only one more time advocate for de-weaponizing the terrorist organization, de-militarizing Gaza, creating proper education towards a proper civil society without hatred, antisemitism, Islamism, created the precondition for economic self-capability, that one day it will not be necessary anymore that the whole world pours money into the region. And when development aid is given, not one single cent must be misused for hatred, for Islamism, for antisemitism, because that means pouring hatred into even children's hearts, which leads again to such an outrageous violence such as in October 7, 23.
Kathleen Van Brempt
Dank u wel, voorzitter, collega's, mevrouw de commissaris. Hoe kan deze commissie zichzelf nog in de ogen kijken? Hoe kunnen onze regeringsleiders dat eigenlijk? Terwijl Gaza levend wordt begraven en de Westelijke Jordaanoever wordt opgeslokt, nederzetting per nederzetting, en dat in real time voor onze ogen. En laten we ook stoppen met te zeggen dat dit een ingewikkeld verhaal is.
Het geweld is onwettig, de bezetting is onwettig, de nederzettingen zijn illegaal. De Verenigde Naties zeggen ons dat, het Internationaal Gerechtshof heeft het gezegd en ook vanuit de Europese Unie moet dat luid en duidelijk blijven klinken. En toch gebeurt er niets. En dat heeft een naam, mevrouw de commissaris: medeplichtigheid. Schors dat associatieverdrag volledig, verbied de handel in producten uit illegale nederzettingen en breid die sancties uit.
Dat is het niet.
Deze commissie wilde ooit een geopolitieke commissie zijn. Europa wil een belangrijke rol spelen op het geopolitiek toneel. Wel, doe dan iets. Woorden volstaan niet. Free Palestine, nu.
Billy Kelleher
Humanitarian aid still being weaponized and politicized. 90% of Gaza destroyed, 60% of Gaza occupied. Continual encroachments into the West Bank, aggressive actions by settlers being facilitated by the Netanyahu government and the Israeli Defense Forces. Fundamental breaches of international law, refusals to accept the International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice.
And at the same time we're here in the house today debating EU role in reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and accountability of Israel under international law. But maybe it's time that we started looking for accountability amongst ourselves. Because we have consistently turned a blind eye to Israel in all its actions with regard to Palestine. No acceptance of the two-state solution, no acceptance of the Palestinians' right to self-determination. Israel acts with impunity because we've granted it immunity.
We simply will never sanction any action that Israel does. So the accountability should start here in this house, in the European Union, and particularly among the Council.
Jaume Asens Llodrà
Comisaria, le tengo que confesar algo. Tras Gaza, tras mil días de genocidio, yo soy otra persona. Nadie puede convivir con tanto horror sin cambiar su forma de estar en el mundo, de verse a sí mismo y a la humanidad. Hoy debatimos sobre Israel, pero en realidad debatimos sobre nosotros. Sucedió y puede volver a suceder.
Nos lo advirtió Primo Levi después de Auschwitz. ¿Y nosotros qué le dijimos? No, nunca más. Lo prometimos. Mentimos.
Y ustedes se hacen fotos con los responsables. Somos mejores que aquellos que miraron a otro lado cuando deportaban a judsos como Primo Levi? Somos peores, porque ahora no podemos decir que no sabsamos, ni tan siquiera que no participsbamos. Cuando nos preguntamos por quisn doblan las campanas, doblan por nosotros. Qus sers de nosotros despuss de Gaza, seqora comisaria?
Está volviendo a suceder.
Los lugares mss oscuros del infierno nos esperan. A la derecha, que hoy no ests aqus, por su participacisn en el genocidio, por deshumanizarse, y a nosotros por no impedirlo.
João Oliveira
Obrigado, presidente, senhora comisssria Suica. Enquanto discutimos a reconstrusso de Gaza, a destruisso no terreno continua. O cessar-fogo s uma mentira.
Israel continua a assassinar palestinianos, a impedir a entrada da ajuda humanitária de que necessitam, a atacar acampamentos de palestinos desalojados, a destruir infraestruturas civis, algumas delas construídas com financiamento da União Europeia. Enquanto aqui discutimos a responsabilização de Israel pelas violações do direito internacional, a União Europeia mantém a sua plena cumplicidade com o genocídio. A senhora comissária foi a Israel para reafirmar que as políticas económicas, que as relações políticas, económicas e até de cooperação militar com Israel se mantêm a todo o vapor. A prova mais evidente da cumplicidade da União Europeia com o genocídio está aqui. Nem o relatório da comissão inquérito das Nações Unidas que denuncia o genocídio e os crimes cometidos por Israel contra as crianças faz a União Europeia corar de vergonha e reverter o caminho.
Mas esse tem que ser o sentido: garantir o respeito pelos direitos do povo palestiniano, pôr fim aos genocídios.
Peter Agius
President, kollegi, tlabt li nitkellem f'dan id-dibattitu f'isem iż-żgħażagħ li niltaqa' magħhom f'Malta. Iż-żgħażagħ jgħiduli xebgħajna bid-double standards, xebgħajna bl-ipokrezija Ewropea. Jiena rrid il-prosperità tal-poplu Palestinjan daqs kemm irrid is-sigurtà tal-Iżraeliti f'darhom. Però l-akbar kontribut li rridu nagħmlu lit-tnejn li huma huwa li ninsistu fuq il-legalità. Għalhekk ma nistgħux nibqgħu nappoġġjaw ftehim tal-kummerċ kif għandna bħalissa ma' Iżrael, qisu xejn mhu xejn.
Il-President von der Leyen f'din l-istess plenarja hawnhekk wegħditna sospensjoni ta' dan il-ftehim.
X'ġara s'issa? Għadna f'deadlock bejn il-gvernijiet. Emmnuni, b'qalbi jiena nistħi nispjega din is-sitwazzjoni lit-tifla tiegħi ta' 14-il sena. Nistħi ngħid li l-Ewropa hija kompletament impotenti. Għandna kriżi ta' kredibbiltà li noħorġu minnha billi jkollna rikostruzzjoni accountable, li la sservi lill-Ħamas u lanqas biex jerġgħu jinkisru l-binjiet bil-bombi.
Matjaž Nemec
Dear Commissioner, the situation in Gaza is dire. But we must also draw attention to the situation of the West Bank, where Israeli forces are actively cooperating with the violent settlers, ignoring court decisions, international law, and facilitating attacks on innocent Palestinian families. From the beginning of the war, the settlers and the IDF have killed at least 1,160 Palestinians in the West Bank, including 242 children. Children, colleagues, while simply living on their own land.
This is why I strongly condemn any tolerance of and support for Israeli violations, including dangerous threats of the new Slovenian government and President of the Government Janez Janša, member of the EPP, to move Slovenian embassy to Jerusalem. This does not only show the 180 overnight shift in Slovenian foreign policy, but also deviates from the official EU position. Colleagues, the EU will retake a test of principles on Monday. To pass, we must suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Thank you so much.
Nela Riehl
Before I came to this Parliament, I was a school teacher in Germany. And back in my home country, we make sure children deeply study the darkest chapter of our past so they never, never ever question the horrors of what happened. But we only succeed as educators if we get students to think beyond the specifics of one era. Because that's exactly what people do to avoid accountability. They hide behind the specifics of the moment to justify looking away at today's crimes.
But history is not a museum piece. It's a life lesson in human dignity. And the hardest part is recognizing suffering when it wears a different face in a different era.
True reconstruction begins with the courage to apply international law equally. If we don't ask for accountability now from the perpetrator of this genocide, we have failed the most fundamental lesson of our recent history. Thank you.
Marit Maij
Ja, dank u wel voorzitter, commissaris. We praten over de wederopbouw van Gaza alsof er een natuurramp heeft plaatsgevonden. Maar de realiteit is anders. Als onderdeel van een genocidale campagne heeft Israël 85% van Gaza met de grond gelijk gemaakt. Er is op papier een staakt-het-vuren.
Dus zou wederopbouw mogelijk moeten zijn. Zou humanitaire hulp mogelijk moeten zijn. Maar dat verhult de werkelijkheid. Ook sinds dat staakt-het-vuren zijn meer dan duizend Palestijnen gedood, duizenden gewond. En de hulp die wel binnenkomt, die is onvoldoende en aan banden gelegd met absurde beperkingen.
Protheses worden tegengehouden als militaire middelen. Deze week nog werden hulpverleners blootgesteld aan luchtaanvallen. Onder zulke omstandigheden is het onmogelijk om te spreken over wederopbouw en een fatsoenlijk gesprek daaroer te hebben. Het beleid van de Israëlische regering is niet veranderd.
Zolang Europa dit blindelings laat gebeuren, trots praat over de Europese inzet voor wederopbouw en humanitaire hulp, dat is dan niets meer dan een schaamlap. Het Palestijnse volk verdient wederopbouw en humanitaire hulp. Daarom moet de EU-Israël associatieverdrag worden opgeschort. Dank u wel.
Thank you. Next speaker, Ignazio Roberto Marino.
Ignazio Roberto Marino
Signor Presidente, signora Commissaria, sono stato con altri parlamentari nella Cisgiordania, nei territori occupati. Abbiamo visto appena arrivati nella città di Hebron una curva dove ci è stato indicato che c'erano ancora delle macchie di sangue di alcuni palestinesi uccisi qualche giorno prima. E abbiamo chiesto: "Ma perché non vi rivolgete alla giustizia?". "No, perché noi non abbiamo la giustizia normale, noi abbiamo la giustizia militare e la prima cosa che farebbero verrebbero a distruggere la nostra casa". Ho visto un bambino che non aveva l'incubatrice, nato sottopeso, ed era in una scatola di scarpe con del cotone.
Una sposa che piangeva perché dietro di lei la sua casa era distrutta per motivi di sicurezza. Non possiamo continuare in questo modo.
Ho visto trattare esattamente quel popolo come sono stati trattati gli ebrei durante la seconda guerra mondiale. Dobbiamo sanzionare Israele, interrompere ogni contatto con Israele, perché Israele ascolta in questo momento col suo governo solo la forza.
André Franqueira Rodrigues
Senhor Presidente, o Tribunal Internacional de Justiça foi claro. Israel tem obrigações. Tem de garantir o essencial à sobrevivência da população de Gaza. Tem de deixar entrar ajudas, sem exceções. Mais, o tribunal rejeitou com factos as desculpas usadas para bloquear essas mesmas ajudas.
Uma decisão do tribunal que não é cumprida não é só uma decisão ignorada, é o direito internacional posto em causa. E quem viola o direito internacional tem de responder por isso perante a justiça e perante a história. Não pode haver impunidade. Não pode haver regras para uns, exceções para outros. A história julgará não só aqueles que violaram direitos humanos, como aqueles que assistiram e nada disseram.
Basta de palavras sem consequências. É tempo de suspender o acordo de associação União Europeia-Israel. Obrigado.
Thank you very much. Next speaker, Laura Ballarín Cereza. You will speak from place, please.
Laura Ballarín Cereza
Europa no puede mirar hacia otro lado mientras denuncia lo que pasa en Gaza. Mientras pedimos que se aplique el derecho internacional en Ucrania, pero no lo aplicamos con la misma firmeza en Palestina, el mundo entiende una cosa terrible: que en Europa no todas las vidas valen lo mismo. Este doble estándar está destruyendo nuestra credibilidad y nuestra dignidad. Gaza ha pasado de ser una cárcel al aire libre, como decía Borrell, a un cementerio al aire libre. Y cuando dentro de unos años mi hijo me pregunte qué hizo Europa para frenar el genocidio en Gaza, yo quiero decirle que no miramos hacia otro lado.
Por eso Europa debe actuar ya. Debe pedir el alto el fuego inmediato, el fin de la ocupación, pero hoy le pedimos a los ministros de exteriores una medida urgente: que se suspenda el acuerdo de asociación entre la Unión Europea e Israel. Porque cuando Europa calla ante Gaza, no solo pierde su credibilidad, sino también su alma. Muchas gracias.
Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis
Thank you so much, President, Commissioner, dear Minister.
You just saw a lucky mother with this excellent child. But unfortunately, in Gaza, hospitals are destroyed. Hospitals are not battlefields. Yet in Gaza, this basic principle of humanity has been broken for too long, colleagues. Since the October ceasefire, the strikes have not stopped, and humanitarian access remains conditional and obstructive, colleagues.
I am speaking with you, with representatives of Council, colleagues, now. Children are dying not only from bombs, but from the collapse of health, of hospitals and healthcare system collapse now. It is, it's now, you see, contrast between those two examples. And of course, you know, this is not a side issue to the political debate. A ceasefire that still allows a hospital to run out of oxygen is not a peace.
It's, it's crime. We need to stop it immediately. And it is up to us now to send clear message to Council. Please act. Thank you very much.
Andreas Schieder
Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, stability in the Middle East is of utmost importance, also for European security and stability, but most importantly, of course, for the people who have been suffering too much and too long. And the only viable way for long-term stability is the two-state solution. And what does this mean, a two-state solution? It means two fully democratic states, holding regular and free elections, meaning no space for religious extremists on all sides, no Hamas, no orthodox extremists, which includes also the settlers in the West Bank. And with the newest reports coming now from Gaza, a clear European position for a two-state solution is essential.
We cannot leave rebuilding to the United States under Donald Trump. We need to stand on the side of human rights, of international law and the people hoping for peace, prosperity in this region.
73,000 Palestinians have been killed, among them 21,000 kids. 10,000 kids have suffered life-changing injuries. 60,000 kids have lost one or both of their parents. Hundreds of journalists have been killed.
Daniel Attard
Hundreds of thousands of homes have been completely damaged or totally destroyed. So when this genocide is being perpetrated, settler violence still continues to this very day. Land is stolen, families are beaten, children are being terrorized. Now, let's be honest, no horror will ever justify another. But what if these were Ukrainian kids or Ukrainian families?
What if this genocide was being perpetrated by the Iranian regime? This chamber would not be empty as it is today. It will roar, it will call it for what it is. So please spare us the empty speeches, especially from the right side of this house, because there is no reconstruction without justice. There is no reconstruction without a Palestinian state.
Israel has every right to exist, but so does Palestine. And recognizing the right of the Palestinian people is no punishment against Israel, it is the rightful recognition of the Palestinian people. So end the EU-Israel Association Agreement now.
A Gaza il genocidio non è mai finito. Le parole del patriarca di Gerusalemme Pizzaballa sono come pietre. Mancano acqua, cibo, medicinali, i topi mordono i bambini mentre le persone muoiono.
Brando Benifei
Hamas sembra aprire al trasferimento dell'amministrazione civile ma non al disarmo e intanto si parla del dispiegamento di un contingente marocchino. Il piano di Trump avanza nel vuoto lasciato dall'Europa. Ma la ricostruzione di Gaza deve essere sotto l'egida delle Nazioni Unite e delle sue agenzie come l'UNRWA. Per questo serve dare messaggi netti ora di fronte alla deriva del governo israeliano. Mi rivolgo al governo italiano in primis, a Giorgia Meloni, abbia il coraggio per una volta e tolga il veto sulla sospensione dell'accordo di associazione UE-Israele e riconosca come Italia lo Stato di Palestina.
È necessario che almeno la parte commerciale degli accordi sia sospesa come abbiamo chiesto in questo Parlamento. L'Europa rompa con il doppio standard e faccia ciò che serve per restituire dignità e libertà ai palestinesi. Stop al genocidio, stop al terrorismo, stop alla violenza, lavoriamo insieme per ricostruzione e pace. Grazie. Thank you.
Next speaker Eoin Ó Broin.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Minister Byrne, I have a simple question: what do we mean when we say respect for human rights? It is the foundation of our European project and a legal obligation under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Does it mean the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinian children, reducing the city of Gaza to rubble, turning what's left into an open-air prison the world is forbidden to enter? The list of Israel's crimes is endless, but I can name one action we need to take: ending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. While the agreement remains, it's worth billions to the Israeli economy, yet we comfort ourselves by saying we will lead in rebuilding Gaza. But you cannot rebuild a hospital with one hand while rewarding the war criminals that flattened it with the other. Ending this agreement is not radical.
It is the minimum required by our own law and our own values. The Irish EU presidency must lead: end the EU-Israel Association Agreement once and for all.
Thank you very much. Now I would like to ask to take floor for the Commission, Commissioner Schmit, the floor is yours.
Chair, honorable members who left in this room, I was listening carefully to each of you and I heard each word which you said during this meeting. Our speaking slots are not enough to elaborate on this very difficult topic.
Dubravka Šuica
One minute speeches are not enough to discuss this topic. I have to say that I'm here representing HRVP Kaja Kallas. So I will quote her first just to... European Union and Israel have a lot that binds us together. I value our dialogue and engagement respectfully and constructively.
Dialogue is the foundation of diplomacy, especially when differences arise. This is what HRVP, our HRVP said. So I'm building on this and leaning on this. All of us know that situation is dire. The topic is very serious, as I said.
Listening to you, I felt like I was or I were in Foreign Affairs Council. So as long as we are divided, we will stay powerless. All of you turned to the Commission, turned to me. But I don't want to blame anyone. This is not black and white story.
This is not blame game.
But the ball is in the Council. So I really, the gentleman, the member who told last, Orjordan, Orjordan, he really said the right thing. He was the only one who turned towards the Council. I'm also looking towards the Council. And I think that during the Irish presidency, we are, I wish we would be capable of reaching consensus.
Unfortunately, the Association Agreement and its suspension is at the table as of last September. You remember, during the State of the Union speech, it was put on the table. Unfortunately, I was present at each and every Foreign Affairs Council. The member states are divided. Just to make you aware, this is something not to blame anyone, but just to say where is the problem.
We can speak for for decades like this. We can blame each other. We can post our video clips blaming someone. But I'm, I say we wouldn't reach solution if we attack each other. This is not the way how how it works.
So I really hope that under Irish presidency, we would be capable of reaching the unanimity on this. Someone said time to suspend Association Agreement. Yes, time is to suspend Association Agreement, but it's on the table and as I told you, turning towards us and toward me was the not right address. We are trying to find a solution all the time.
In parallel, we are having a dialogue. In parallel, we are financing the Palestinian Authority. Without us, all of you know that Palestinian Authority wouldn't have survived. I mean those people there, teachers, nurses, doctors. We have this package program which is 1.6 billion euro.
So without us, they would be totally, they would have collapsed.
Roberts Zīle
We have a new procedure. We have to ask also commissioners to have a...
May I?
Yes, you may.
Dubravka Šuica
I have replied to all of you. Especially I want to thank Mr. Amor Sanchez because I need your support for this. We want to have on, in the next MFF, we want to have extra money on top of our budget, which means Team Gaza initiative is being launched and we would like to have this in our budget. It is very important, but we cannot do it without you. You are the ones who decide on budget in the end.
So we are trying to bring together a coalition of all member states, coalition of willings, and this is what we are doing.
But as I said, each and every conflict ended at the negotiation table. So we need to come to, we need conditions, we need circumstances for this, and first of all, we need accession to Gaza. Unfortunately, this Ad Hoc Committee, which was established, sits in Cairo at the moment. They haven't accessed Gaza, and this is what I was trying to do during my visit in Israel. They somehow, as I told you in my introductory speech, they released now this banking sector issues and they also approved two projects for waste and water management, which I think is a good sign.
So we need diplomacy and we are doing what we can. I hope that during Palestine Donor Group, which will be held on Monday, there will be much more to say. So I want to thank you for all this and we need to be together, we need to be unified. It's not a blame game. We have to help people on the ground.
Thank you so much.
Roberts Zīle
Yeah, thank you very much, Honorable Commissioner. So we just have to, we ask all the speakers to be more or less keeping time. This is our second month when we are trying this procedure and all the chairs should follow this rule. So now I would like to ask for the Council, Minister Byrne, the floor is yours.
Thomas Byrne
Thanks very much, and I do want to thank all of the speakers who made their voices heard so strongly in this debate. I've noted that I think almost 50 members have spoken in this debate, and it does show the very strong views here in the European Parliament, and the Council certainly takes note of everything that was said. And I particularly mention, as my, the Commissioner Šuica did, Eoin Ó Riada, but also Member Andriukaitis as well, for directly addressing the Council. Diverging views have been expressed on what the EU can and should do to help the people in Gaza and to hold Israel and Hamas accountable. But I can say this: we are united in one common goal, and that is lasting peace and security in the Middle East.
In our priorities as the Irish Presidency, which our Taoiseach presented yesterday, we've committed to promoting active engagement in support of such lasting peace and security regarding the conflicts in the Middle East, and in particular the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This reaffirms and must reaffirm the EU's commitment to a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.
And we must work towards ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the deteriorating situation in the West Bank. Next week, as I said already, the Council is looking forward to the options that the Commission will present for the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on the 13th of July, in light particularly of the further deteriorating situation regarding the illegal settlements. And I have no doubt that the Council and the members of the Council will certainly hear the views that have been expressed here in the European Parliament. Thank you very much.
Roberts Zīle
Paldies, ministra kungs. Kolēģi, mēs slēdzam šo darba kārtības punktu, debates ir slēgtas. Nākamais darba kārtības punkts, kolēģi, ir Komisijas paziņojums: narkotiku tirdzniecība Eiropas ūdeņos, mūsu robežaizsardzība un tiesībaizsardzības amatpersonu atbalstīšana. Vēlos atgādināt runātājiem, ka, ņemot vērā pašlaik spēkā esošos testa režīma pasākumus un noteikto debašu beigu laiku, nu būs stingri jāievēro uzstāšanās laiks, tai skaitā visiem runātājiem, ne tikai deputātiem. So, honorable Commissioner Kadis, when you are ready, you can take the floor.
Yeah, please take your notes and so.
Floor is yours.
Costas Kadis
Thank you, Mr. President, honorable members. On the 8th of May, two Spanish Guardia Civil agents were killed after their boat collided while chasing suspected drug traffickers in the Atlantic. I feel deeply for the two officers, their relatives, and their colleagues. This tragic event reminds us of the risks that law enforcement officers face to keep narcotics off our streets. They deserve our full support.
Honorable members, we recently presented the annual European Drugs Report. It paints an alarming picture. Cocaine is more available than ever before. Between 2013 and 2023, cocaine seizures in Europe increased sixfold. At the same time, we are seeing a sharp rise in synthetic drugs, which are often even more dangerous and harder to detect.
Drug trafficking is not an isolated crime. It fuels money laundering, corruption, human trafficking, violence, and other forms of serious organized crime. Behind this market are highly sophisticated criminal networks. They use advanced technologies, including for their communications, international logistics chains, and enormous financial resources. At the same time, they exploit social vulnerabilities, social exclusion, lack of opportunities, mental health challenges, and other societal pressures that create an environment in which drug use and addiction can flourish.
That is why we take a comprehensive approach. The new EU Drugs Strategy combines public health, prevention, and treatment with a strong security and law enforcement response, because we need to reduce both supply and demand.
On the law enforcement side, we presented a European action plan against drug trafficking at the end of last year. Its objective is to target criminal networks along the entire supply chain, from production countries and transit routes to European markets. A key focus is the security of our ports. A large share of the cocaine entering Europe comes through them. That is why we are strengthening the European Ports Alliance, improving controls and tackling the infiltration of ports by organised crime.
The alliance shows what can be achieved when public authorities and private operators work hand in hand. And you can see the results in the media. Four tonnes of cocaine seized at Rotterdam in March. Eight tonnes concealed in cocoa beans in Wilhelmshaven in May. And over 100 tonnes of cocaine and ketamine hidden in timber from Chile.
We are also stepping up cooperation with partner countries, particularly in Latin America. Drug trafficking is a global business and our response must be global as well. Europol has recently concluded new partnerships with Brazil and Ecuador to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. The Commission has recently proposed a new mandate for Europol. It will strengthen the agency as Europe's information hub, operational hub and technology hub, enabling it to better support Member States in tackling increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
And early next year, we will propose modernized rules on organized crime. I encourage you to give priority to all these files in the coming months so that we will be able to see their impact on the ground soon. I look forward to the discussions that will follow. Thank you.
Roberts Zīle
Thank you very much. Now for the EPP group will speak Ana Miguel Pedro. The floor is yours.
Ana Miguel Pedro
O narcotráfico marítimo no Atlântico está a evoluir rapidamente e pressiona cada vez mais as fronteiras da União Europeia. Falamos de redes mais organizadas, mais agressivas, mais sofisticadas, com impacto direto na nossa segurança interna e na nossa capacidade de resposta. As operações recentes em Espanha e em Portugal, na qual lamentamos a morte de agentes da Guardia Civil e da GNR, mostram que esta é uma ameaça estruturada e cada vez mais impune. Só em 2023 deixamos escapar cerca de 192 embarcações e 700 toneladas de cocaína no Atlântico. As redes adaptam-se, mudam de rota, usam a África Ocidental como ponto de transbordo.
Recorrem a embarcações de alta velocidade e a narcossuubmarinos para redistribuir a droga por diferentes rotas. No mar, continuam a ter vantagem pela mobilidade, pelo alcance e pela rapidez de fuga. A Comissão Europeia não pode limitar-se a acompanhar o fenómeno, tem de liderar uma resposta operacional, legislativa e tecnológica à altura da ameaça. Precisamos de mais financiamento, sim, mas precisamos sobretudo de mais capacidade, mais vigilância aérea, mais partilha de informação e de inteligência, mais instrumentos operacionais.
Precisamos também de rever com seriedade as regras de intervenção no mar, com uma abordagem clara sobre o uso proporcional da força em operações marítimas de alto risco. A Comissão deve ainda avançar com legislação europeia sobre a posse, a modificação e a operação de embarcações de alta potência utilizadas pelo crime organizado. Deve apoiar tecnologias capazes de neutralizar motores à distância. E deve reforçar a cooperação com os Estados-Membros e com os países da África Ocidental, onde muitas destas rotas se consolidam. Senhor Comissário, não podemos pedir às nossas forças de segurança que enfrentem organizações que não conhecem fronteiras com meios limitados, com regras desajustadas, com financiamento pensado para os desafios do século passado.
Não podemos exigir eficácia sem lhes dar capacidade. Esta é uma questão de segurança, de soberania e de Estado de Direito.
Roberts Zīle
Thank you very much. Next speaker for S&D Group, Juan Fernando López Aguilar. Please.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Thank you, President, Comisario. Dos años de legislatura de Parlamento Europeo y es raro el pleno, si es que alguno, que se libre de un punto en el que las fuerzas que hacen oposición al Gobierno de España no lo aprovechen instrumentalmente para criticarlo.
Y resulta deplorable en un asunto tan sensible que debiera concitar tanto nuestra unidad como es la lucha contra el narcotráfico en nuestras fronteras exteriores y el apoyo a las fuerzas y cuerpos de seguridad, que es exactamente lo que hace el Gobierno de España. El ministro del Interior ha incrementado en 17.000 los policías y los guardias civiles durante el tiempo de mandato del Gobierno progresista que preside Pedro Sánchez. Pero 4.000 de ellos en Andalucía y 2.000 millones de euros invertidos en infraestructuras de comisarías y, por tanto, centros de seguridad en la zona del Campo de Gibraltar. Pero evidentemente este asunto tiene dimensión europea y, por tanto, lo que importa es la estrategia europea 20-26 de lucha contra la droga y contra el narcotráfico, con coordinación europea y colaboración con Eurojust y con Europol. Recursos europeos, tiene que haber una partida europea tal y como sugiere la Agencia Europea de Drogas situada en Lisboa.
Y, por supuesto, protección de víctimas, ponernos del lado de las víctimas sin hacernos jamás la foto con los narcotraficantes. Gracias, presidente.
Hermann Tertsch
El narcotráfico no es solo un enemigo terrible para la salud de los individuos y sociedades. Hoy el narcotráfico es además un arma de guerra híbrida y un poder político colosal. El crimen organizado ha entrado en la política. Hace décadas los cárteles de la droga se aliaron con la izquierda iberoamericana. Hoy ese narcosocialismo del Foro de São Paulo ya está en Europa.
Entró por España. El gobierno de Sánchez liquidó a las mejores unidades de policía antidrogas y las otras sin medios son impotentes. De ahí los muertos por las ventajas de los narcos que ha provocado el propio gobierno español. España es hoy el paraíso de los narcos gracias al gobierno amigo. Primero porque están abiertas todas las costas y después porque campan a sus anchas y porque invierten y blanquean su dinero en España.
La única forma de frenar el narcotráfico es acabar con los gobiernos que trabajan para él. Es decir, acabar con el socialismo, con el narcosocialismo es la clave para acabar con esta plaga.
Speaker 215
Per troppo tempo le istituzioni hanno trattato il narcotraffico, lo spaccio e il consumo di droga come un male endemico, ormai non più estirpabile, quasi invincibile. A volte da arginare, se non, nelle peggiori delle ipotesi, addirittura da ignorare o favorire. Se vogliamo invece essere responsabili, come persone impegnate in politica, dobbiamo dimostrare di avere un cuore aperto alla coscienza e al bene comune. Dobbiamo crederci, crederci fermamente, dobbiamo credere nel fatto che queste reti criminali possono essere sconfitte.
Possono essere sconfitti coloro che guadagnano sulla pelle dei più giovani e sulla morte delle persone. E se è così, allora abbiamo il compito, il dovere di dare gli strumenti adeguati alle nostre forze dell'ordine e di investire maggiori risorse. Dobbiamo imporre ai porti maggiori e costanti controlli, difendere i confini e usare il pugno di ferro. Questo è l'unico modo per vincere contro i trafficanti di morte. Non possiamo infatti lasciare soli coloro che combattono da soli in prima linea.
Grazie.
Malik Azmani
Thank you, President, Commissioner. The convicted and wanted drug lord Jos L. remains free because Sierra Leone refuses to extradite him. One month ago, I called on the European Commission to increase pressure on Sierra Leone after the largest seizure of cocaine in the Canary Islands. The Netherlands has already made repeated requests through all available diplomatic and legal channels. Yet Sierra Leone continues to refuse cooperation.
In fact, it appears to be shielding Jos L. and even facilitating drug trafficking. This must stop now.
Drug-related organized crime undermines our security, trust in the rule of law, and ultimately threatens our democracy. All European countries should therefore take this seriously and stand united in the fight against organized crime. The European Union must come forward with a concrete and comprehensive package of measures, including suspension of EU development cooperation with countries that refuse to cooperate in the extradition of convicted criminals. I ask the Commissioner, what is the current state of these concrete measures and when can we expect tangible results?
Roberts Zīle
Thank you. Thank you very much. Next speaker on behalf of Greens, Leoluca Orlando.
Leoluca Orlando
Signor Presidente, l'Europa trae e consuma enormi quantità di sostanze stupefacenti in un mercato di droghe miliardario. L'Europa è diventata luogo d'incontro tra narcotraffico colombiano e narcomafie europee, italiane e organizzazioni criminali belghe, olandesi, francesi e altre. Questo criminale mercato si alimenta anche di produzione di droga in paesi dell'Asia, dal Laos al Myanmar, dall'Afghanistan al Pakistan, con il recente allarme dell'ONU sulla provenienza di droghe sintetiche da est.
Una rete di complicità rende possibile eludere i controlli di polizia nei maggiori porti europei. Non basta accertare l'identità di quanti attraversano il Mediterraneo e l'Atlantico. È urgente intervenire e intercettare all'origine gli accordi criminali tra cartelli nello smercio verso l'Europa. Urgente di loro prevista riforma, signor Commissario, rafforzare Europol ed Eurojust nella loro lotta alla criminalità organizzata per offrire una risposta europea forte. C'è inoltre bisogno di maggiore coordinamento per contrastare il riciclaggio dei profitti del narcotraffico tramite sistemi bancari e finanziari europei.
Considerando gli effetti che questo riciclaggio di denaro ha nella vita...
Roberts Zīle
Thank you very much, sir colleague. I have to be fair to everybody, so micro is switched off, sorry, I have to be fair for all colleagues, so next speaker Antoci is not in the room, so that's why I will give a floor to Moritz Körner, please.
Mary Khan
Europa steht vor einer Explosion der Drogenkriminalität und wir erleben eine Rekordverfügbarkeit illegaler Drogen. Die EU hat die USA inzwischen als größten Kokainmarkt überholt und bei Eurojust sind die Fallzahlen in nur fünf Jahren, nur fünf Jahren, um 60 Prozent gestiegen.
Drogen im Wert von 20 Milliarden Euro wurden festgestellt. Mehr als die Hälfte der gefährlichsten kriminellen Netzwerke Europas ist im Drogenschmuckel tätig. Zwei Drittel setzen Gewalt ein, über 70 Prozent nutzen Korruption, um Behörden und Hafenpersonal zu beeinflussen. Und das ist keine Randerscheinung mehr, das ist ein sicherheitspolitisches Totalversagen. Und selbst Europol stellt fest: Die Netzwerke, die Drogen nach Europa schmuggeln, sind häufig dieselben kriminellen Strukturen, die auch illegale Migration und Menschenhandel organisieren.
Die Kartelle haben längst verstanden: Europas offenen Grenzen und politische Kuschelkurse sind ihr Geschäftsmodell. Unsere Häfen dürfen nicht länger Einfallstore für Drogenkartelle sein und unsere Grenzen dürfen nicht länger Geschäftsmodelle für Schleuser sein. Die Lösung ist so simpel und heißt: Außengrenzen sichern, Schleusernetzwerke zerschlagen und illegale Migration stoppen. Vielen Dank.
Dolors Montserrat
Señorías, el narcotráfico mata. Mata a quienes consumen, mata el futuro de los jóvenes, mata el Estado de derecho y mata a los agentes que lo combaten. Los guardias civiles asesinados en Huelva y Barbate arrollados por narcolanchas no son una tragedia aislada. Son la consecuencia de años de impunidad, de falta de recursos, de un Gobierno como el de Sánchez que desprotege a las fuerzas de seguridad, que liquida OCON-Sur, la unidad clave en la lucha contra el narco. Europol lo ha advertido: los narcotraficantes ya no solo introducen la droga desde fuera de la Unión Europea, sino que están infiltrados en Europa.
Gracias, presidente.
Operan desde nuestros puertos, blanquean capitales con empresas pantalla y usan armas de guerra y tecnología punta para corromper, intimidar y matar. Europa, comisario, acierta con la Alianza de Puertos, persiguiendo el dinero y cortando el oxígeno financiero de las bandas. Pero el nuevo marco estratégico solo funcionará si protegemos a quienes nos protegen, tipificando el eurodelito a cada ataque a cada policía, reconociendo la profesión de riesgo de nuestros policías.
El narcotráfico es la mayor amenaza para la seguridad de Europa y debemos estrechar la cooperación entre Europol, Eurojust, Frontex, aduanas y las policías nacionales. Y debemos exigir a cada Estado más compromiso, más agentes, más medios, más seguridad jurídica y una legislación más dura, porque solo así derrotaremos el narcotráfico. Pero no con gobiernos que abandonen a sus policías, sino con una Europa que les reconozca, les respalde y les proteja. Muchas gracias.
Roberts Zīle
The colleague Montserrat, you have a blue card, you will not accept it. So we continue with Muriel Laurent, please.
Murielle Laurent
Merci Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues. Le narcotrafic est une menace majeure pour nos sociétés. Il alimente les violences, corrompt nos économies et fragilise l'État de droit. Face à des organisations criminelles qui opèrent à l'échelle mondiale, notre réponse doit être européenne. Mais ne nous trompons pas de combat.
Le narcotrafic ne se combattra pas en entretenant la confusion entre migration et criminalité organisée. Les réseaux qui acheminent la drogue vers les ports européens n'ont rien à voir avec celles et ceux qui fuient les conflits et les persécutions. Penser qu'une politique migratoire toujours plus restrictive répondra à nos défis sécuritaires est une impasse politique et une erreur stratégique.
La lutte contre le narcotrafic exige autre chose, notamment davantage de coopération entre les États membres et une action déterminée contre le blanchiment d'argent. Soyons fermes contre les trafiquants, soyons lucides sur les réponses à apporter, refusons les raccourcis qui affaiblissent à la fois notre sécurité et nos valeurs.
Matthieu Valet
Merci Monsieur le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs, chers collègues, face au narcotrafic, il ne faut plus des mots mais des actes car derrière chaque cargaison interceptée, il y a désormais du sang versé dans nos villes européennes. L'Union européenne semble enfin prendre conscience de l'ampleur de la menace. Nous avons approuvé dès demain un accord important avec l'Équateur dont j'ai été le rapporteur, pays devenu un point stratégique dans le trafic de cocaïne vers l'Europe. Nous avons également tout fait pour renforcer l'agence de police européenne Europol afin de mieux coordonner la lutte contre les réseaux criminels transnationaux.
De vraies avancées contre des narcomafias qui désormais kidnappent, corrompent, intimident et bien souvent tuent en plein jour. Je pense au jeune Médic et Sassi, au père de famille et chauffeur Uber Nissim Ramdane à Marseille ou encore l'étudiante Socayna Jean, victime des balles des Kalachnikov des narcotrafiquants, tous morts à Marseille devenue capitale française du narcotrafic. Derrière Marseille, d'autres villes suivront si rien n'est fait : Anvers, Hambourg, Rotterdam. De par mon métier de policier, j'ai vu l'organisation de ces groupes et leur force de frappe sans foi ni loi. Notre faiblesse depuis des décennies est leur principal carburant.
Pour tous ceux qui l'ont payé de leur vie, reprenons le contrôle de nos frontières maritimes, protégeons nos ports stratégiques et donnons des moyens réels à nos douaniers, policiers, gendarmes, magistrats et services de renseignement.
Thank you colleague Vallet. Would you accept a blue card from colleague Gražulis 525? Please.
Petras Gražulis
Aš manau, kad mes visi sutiksim, kad čia nėra nei ideologijų, nei kairės, nei dešinės. Visi matom didžiulę problemą, kad tas narkotikų verslas ar nusikaltėliai klesti tiesiog Europoje. Ir viena tendencija, ar jūs nemanot, kad čia persipina jėgos struktūros su nusikalstamu pasauliu, tie, kurie turi kontroliuot? Pavyzdžiui, Lietuvoj sulaikyta 12 pareigūnų ir savivaldybės darbuotojų, kurie dalyvavo kontrabandoje.
Matthieu Valet
Écoutez, chers collègues, la corruption est un combat que nous devons tous mener, mais la majorité de nos policiers, gendarmes, douaniers, agents pénitentiaires, services de renseignement, militaires font un travail exceptionnel. Et je veux redire ici, le problème ce n'est pas majoritairement la corruption dans nos démocraties, ce sont des voyous qu'on a laissé que trop faire et qui ont bénéficié d'un laxisme judiciaire, d'un laxisme politique, d'une lâcheté. Et en France, l'extrême gauche et la gauche sont membres des partis qui défendent des voyous, des criminels plutôt que nos policiers, nos gendarmes. Donc il faut changer de logiciel et il faut une vraie révolution avec une volonté transpartisane de lutter contre ce narcotrafic qui peut mettre à bas nos démocraties.
Maciej Wąsik
Mam przekonanie, że Unia Europejska przez długi czas nie doceniała problemu ochrony granic, pozostawiając państwa na zewnętrznych granicach Unii bez dostatecznego wsparcia. Aby sprawić, że granice Unii będą bezpieczne, należy spełnić kilka warunków. Kraje graniczne muszą uzyskać znaczące wsparcie finansowe związane z zadaniami ochrony morskiej i lądowej granicy zewnętrznej.
Służby krajowe muszą być wzmocnione i mieć stosowne narzędzia techniczne, także te, które były tu w Parlamencie Europejskim poddawane powszechnej krytyce. Frontex musi wszechstronnie wspierać służby krajowe, a nie prowadzić postępowania wobec funkcjonariuszy. Dość z polityczną poprawnością. Państwa muszą zliberalizować przepisy dotyczące używania środków przymusu bezpośredniego, a funkcjonariuszom zapewnić bezpieczeństwo prawne. Nie sposób nie wiązać przestępczości narkotykowej z grupami przestępczymi rekrutującymi się z obywateli państw trzecich, nielegalnych migrantów i oszustów azylowych.
Aplikujący o pobyt w Unii muszą mieć świadomość, że nieprzestrzeganie prawa wiąże się z szybką karą i skuteczną readmisją. Skuteczna ochrona granic jest pierwszym krokiem przywrócenia porządku i bezpieczeństwa w wielu miastach europejskich.
Iedere dag weer gaan onze mensen van de politie en de douane de strijd aan tegen internationale drugsbendes. Door kleine ruimtes kruipend, op zoek naar drugs, verstopt in de meest onwaarschijnlijke plekken. Geïntimideerd door georganiseerde criminelen die ze proberen te corrumperen. Het gevecht tegen deze ontwrichtende criminaliteit dwingt ons allemaal harder en slimmer te gaan lopen. Een paar heilige huisjes zullen omver moeten.
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle
Minder nationaal denken, meer Europees. Eén: meer middelen, meer bevoegdheden en meer mogelijkheden voor Europol, onze unieke Europese politie. Met meer operationele aanwezigheid in het veld en meer investeringen in innovaties zoals artificial intelligence en drones. Twee: een ambitieuze Europese anticorruptiestrategie. Zonder corruptie geen drugshandel.
En drie: durven blijven investeren op preventie, in preventie in onze wijken om te voorkomen dat kwetsbare kinderen gerekruteerd worden door drugscriminelen. Narcos zijn meer dan een Netflix-titel en cosmetische oplossingen krijgen van mij een dankjewel maar nee dankje. Thank you.
Roberts Zīle
Thank you, actually you have a blue card, would you accept from colleague Oliveira?
Yeah, sure.
I will be speaking Portuguese. Obrigado, presidente.
João Oliveira
Senhora Deputada Garcia Hermida-van der Wal, nós ouvimos neste debate um deputado da extrema-direita espanhola, Hermann Tertsch, fazer uma diferença entre o tráfico de droga que é mau se vier de alguns países, mas que já pode não ser tão mau se vier de outros. A mim parece-me que isto é um aproveitamento político verdadeiramente indecente do tráfico de droga e é particularmente difícil de compreender como é que é possível fazer este tipo de aproveitamento quando estão em causa, por exemplo, as vidas de profissionais das forças e serviços de segurança como aqueles que foram, infelizmente, assassinados em operações de combate à droga. O que lhe pergunto é se não acha que este é um aproveitamento que não devia ser feito.
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle
Obrigada, colega Oliveira. Yes, debates get hijacked all the time in this House by those who want to put every single fault on a single country or a single group of people. To me, it's really important to understand that drug trafficking is from all times. Colleague Tertsch will remember that in Spain, the country that I come from originally, we had huge problems with drug gangs in Galicia and they were all homegrown, eh? They were not coming from outside the European Union, they were Spanish homegrown.
In the Netherlands, we see criminals that are international but also homegrown, and in other countries we see the same. So it's really important that we take this as the problem that it is and not try to make it into a different problem which citizens are not particularly interested in. Thank you.
Speaker 228
How many women have to be raped and murdered before you start doing anything? How many children have to die at the hands of vile criminals and murderers before you realize what is happening outside? How many seniors have to become victims of those criminals in Europe before you start thinking about the future of Europe and the safety of Europeans? We just need to secure our external borders right now, immediately, and we need to protect our borders at all costs. People just deserve this safety.
And we need to start with mass deportations right now. Every illegal immigrant from Europe has to be deported. Even every legal immigrant who does not respect our way of life and our laws and committed a crime has to be deported. And as soon as you do this, you will realize how the narcotraficking problem, which we are discussing right now, just disappears. As soon as you do this, you will see how the numbers of rapes, violent attacks, and murders just drops down.
And if you are not ready to fight for Europe, then we need to replace you, defeat you in the elections, and save Europe for our children.
Roberts Zīle
Yeah, thank you, colleague, but words like mass deportations is not approved here, so, and we will do it with the, according the rules, so. European Union is not doing mass deportations, so.
Next speaker, Caterina Chinnici.
Caterina Chinnici
Grazie Presidente, signor Commissario. La recente perdita di due agenti della Guardia Civil spagnola per lo speronamento da parte di una barca di narcotrafficanti è l'ennesima dimostrazione di quanto il traffico di stupefacenti costituisca una seria minaccia per le nostre società. E come mamma di due appartenenti alle forze dell'ordine, voglio esprimere la mia solidarietà alle loro famiglie. Enormi profitti per le organizzazioni criminali, perdita di vite umane, corruzione, riciclaggio, violenza dilagante, minori reclutati, insicurezza ed enormi costi sanitari e sociali. Tutto questo è, e sempre è stato, il traffico di droga.
E l'impatto sull'Europa, mercato di consumo, hub di transito e luogo di produzione, è davvero enorme.
Dobbiamo quindi proseguire con decisione nell'attuazione della strategia Protect EU e soprattutto nel piano d'azione per individuare e contrastare le rotte di traffico marittime, terrestri e aeree, rafforzare la cooperazione fra Frontex, Europol, l'MAOC-N e le forze di polizia nazionali, migliorare lo scambio di informazioni tra autorità doganali, di contrasto e giudiziarie e rafforzare la cooperazione con i paesi terzi di origine degli stupefacenti. Per questo occorre dotare di risorse e di mezzi le nostre forze di polizia. Ma occorre anche investire in prevenzione e recupero per contrastare non solo l'offerta, ma anche la domanda di stupefacenti. E questa contro la droga è una battaglia non facile, è vero, ma che l'Unione europea intera non può permettersi di perdere. Grazie.
Jaroslav Bžoch
Thank you chair. EU ports have become a gateway for organized crime. Record amounts of cocaine are entering the European Union, fueling violence, corruption and criminal networks. Our law enforcement officers, custom authorities and coast guards deserve all our support. They need better tools, modern technology and stronger cooperation across Europe, not more bureaucracy.
But if we're talking about corruption, we also need to talk about protection of the workers in the ports. Because we all know how much money the organized crime have. And sometimes the port workers without the protection are made have to make the choice between their life or being corrupted. So it goes hand in hand. If we talk about the our law enforcement authorities, they have to have better tools, but we also need to protect the workers in the ports.
The fight against drug trafficking starts at our borders. We need stronger port security, closer cooperation between Member States and Europol, and the relentless effort to dismantle criminal networks and seize their assets. Safety of our citizens depends on it. Thank you.
Nora Junco García
Gracias, presidente. Comisario, hoy no voy a hablar de los de lo peligrosas que son las mafias del Estrecho. Eso ya lo sabemos todos. Sabemos que tienen más dinero, sabemos que sorprendentemente tienen más medios y sabemos que son cada vez más violentas. Lo que no entiendo es por qué seguimos tratando a quien nos defiende como si el problema no fuera sangrante.
La frontera española sur, bueno, la frontera del sur de España, los guardias civiles mueren, señorías, mueren, y no tienen reconocida la tan peleada profesión de riesgo. Todavía seguimos sin considerar eurodelito a las agresiones a las fuerzas y cuerpos de seguridad europeas que se juegan la vida cada día frente a criminales con armas de guerra. Sin seguridad física y sin seguridad jurídica. Y todavía hay gobiernos en los que se toman decisiones incomprensibles, como en el de España, desmantelando la unidad OCON-Sur, una unidad que había logrado miles de detenciones y algunos de los mayores golpes al narcotráfico en el Campo de Gibraltar. Este es el mensaje que reciben las mafias.
Ellas se organizan, ellas se arman, avanzan y nosotros desmantelamos herramientas que funcionan. Señorías, despierten. La violencia extrema se combate con medios, con contundencia y con autoridad. Gracias.
Fredis Beleris
Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Fredi Beleris.
Ευχαριστώ, κύριε Πρόεδρε. Κύριε Επίτροπε, φίλες και φίλοι. Σήμερα βρισκόμαστε εδώ όχι μόνο για να συζητήσουμε, αλλά κυρίως για να εκφράσουμε την ευγνωμοσύνη και τον σεβασμό μας στους αφανείς ήρωες, στις γυναίκες και στους άνδρες του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού, των εθνικών ακτοφυλακών, των σωμάτων ασφαλείας, της Frontex και όλων των ευρωπαϊκών υπηρεσιών που αγωνίζονται για την καταπολέμηση της μάστιγας των ναρκωτικών. Σε όλους εκείνους που με αυταπάρνηση και υψηλό αίσθημα καθήκοντος φυλάσσουν τα εθνικά και ευρωπαϊκά μας σύνορα. Κυρίες και κύριοι συνάδελφοι, η απειλή των ναρκωτικών μπορεί πολλές φορές να μοιάζει με μακρινή και αθέατη.
Στην πραγματικότητα όμως είναι διαρκής, οργανωμένη και αδυσώπητη. Γνωρίζουμε καλά το βαρύ αποτύπωμα στις γειτονιές, στους δρόμους και στις πόλεις μας. Γνωρίζουμε όμως εξίσου καλά ότι η καταπολέμηση των ναρκωτικών απαιτεί συνεχή επαγρύπνηση, άριστο συντονισμό και διεθνή συνεργασία.
Γι' αυτό οφείλουμε από αυτήν την αίθουσα να ενισχύουμε διαρκώς το έργο όσων επιχειρούν καθημερινά στις θάλασσες και στα λιμάνια της Ευρώπης. Στην πρώτη γραμμή της μάχης απέναντι στο οργανωμένο έγκλημα. Κάθε φορτίο ναρκωτικών που αναχαιτίζεται δεν θα φτάσει ποτέ στις κοινωνίες μας. Και κάθε εγκληματικό δίκτυο που εξαρθρώνεται είναι μία νίκη για την ασφάλεια, την ανθρώπινη αξιοπρέπεια και τη συνοχή των κοινωνιών της Ευρώπης. Ευχαριστώ.
Fabrice Leggeri
Grazie onorevole, prego onorevole Leggeri. Prego.
Si le narcotrafic prospère, c'est parce que disons-le, nos frontières sont devenues des passoires et que l'Union européenne continue de multiplier les obstacles à ceux qui sont chargés de les protéger. Nos policiers, nos douaniers et nos magistrats ont besoin d'une coopération renforcée, pas d'une bureaucratie supplémentaire. Il faut faciliter la collecte et l'échange des données entre les autorités nationales, Europol, Frontex et Eurojust. Les cartels, eux, n'attendent pas les autorisations de Bruxelles pour partager leurs informations. Et pourtant, le contrôleur européen de la protection des données a suspendu la coopération entre Europol et Frontex.
C'est une décision totalement déconnectée de la réalité du terrain. À force de privilégier les contraintes administratives sur l'efficacité opérationnelle, ce sont les criminels qui en sortent gagnants.
Nous devons également clarifier le rôle de la future agence européenne des douanes. Il n'est pas question de créer une nouvelle couche institutionnelle qui viendrait brouiller les missions d'Europol et de Frontex. Enfin, donnons à l'Alliance des ports européens les moyens d'échanger librement leurs enseignements avec les autorités de police et de justice. Face à des mafias toujours plus puissantes, notre réponse doit être simple : plus de coopération, plus de renseignements, plus d'efficacité et moins d'idéologie. Merci, Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire.
Georgiana Teodorescu
Un vas pleacă încărcat cu 10 tone de cocaină dintr-o țară sud-americană către Europa, fiul de 16 ani al unui doctor din Bruxelles sau din Paris sau Berlin sau din Roma sau din București încearcă primul său gram la o petrecere. Este un copil bun, cu rezultate extraordinare la școală, bine educat de părinți și cu un viitor luminos în față. Sau cel puțin așa trebuia să-i fie viitorul până la acel prim gram. Știe că nu este bun, dar prietenii râd de el că nu are curaj să încerce și își spune că este puternic și că va fi o singură dată, apoi se va opri. În timp ce băiatul trage prima sa linie de zăpadă sau pudra morții, alt vas încărcat ajunge într-un port european și reușește să descarce marfă.
Zecile de tone înseamnă sute de mii, chiar milioane de victime, de dependenți, de tineri care își anulează viitorul, de copii buni, precum al meu sau ai voștri. Și fix în timp ce se întâmplă toate astea, în Parlamentul European, unii colegi de-ai noștri votează să nu întărească structurile de forță competente cu combaterea traficului de droguri, adică fix acele structuri care ar fi putut opri cele două vase venite de pe mare și ne-ar fi putut salva copiii.
Céline Imart
Merci Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire. Les cartels entrent en Europe par nos failles. La ligne portée en France par Bruno Retailleau doit trouver son prolongement européen. Le narcotrafic n'est plus l'écume de faits divers dispersés. C'est une puissance criminelle, maritime, financière, territoriale.
Elle défie nos États, elle jauge nos frontières, elle appelle des moyens d'exception. Cette puissance transforme nos scrupules en couloirs de circulation. Quand il faut empêcher un trafiquant identifié de revenir sur son point de deal, une partie de la gauche trouve l'État trop ferme. Quand les habitants réclament de l'air, elle rouvre le débat sur la dépénalisation. C'est une étrange boussole : moins de contraintes pour les dealers, plus d'abandon pour nos populations.
Lorsque la drogue entre par la mer, c'est l'Europe qui prend l'eau, emportée par une vague qui gagne nos campagnes, qui finit par recruter, par abîmer et par tuer nos enfants.
Alors passons aux actes. Faisons de nos ports des zones de riposte douanière avec coordination interservices, commandement clair, contrôle ciblé 24 heures sur 24, protection des agents menacés et faisons payer les cartels pour la sécurité. Chaque euro doit équiper les services répressifs. Il ne suffit plus d'écoper, il faut définitivement reprendre le gouvernail. Merci.
Matthieu Valet
Madame, il y a une carte bleue pour vous, Monsieur Valet.
Merci Madame la Présidente. Céline Imart, vous parlez de Bruno Retailleau et du narcotrafic en France. Hier, la présomption de légitime défense a été adoptée à l'Assemblée nationale. On va enfin croire nos policiers avant les voyous. Mais depuis un an, Monsieur Retailleau est à Beauvau.
Réforme de la police judiciaire, recrutement des OPJ, paiement des heures supplémentaires, simplification de la procédure pénale, mais aussi peines planchers, peines minimales pour lutter contre les récidivistes et les délinquants qui s'en prennent à l'uniforme de la République. Vous ne l'avez pas fait pendant un an. Du courage, Céline Imart, rejoignez Marine Le Pen et Jordan Bardella. Le redressement, c'est maintenant. Ce que vous n'avez pas pu ou voulu faire, faites-le à nos côtés.
Notre pronostic vital, celui de notre pays, est engagé.
Céline Imart
Merci Monsieur Valet pour votre très aimable invitation.
Je tiens à vous rappeler que Bruno Retailleau n'était pas ministre de la Justice mais ministre de l'Intérieur. Et donc il a agi sur les compétences qu'il avait à l'intérieur de son portefeuille qui malheureusement ne concernent pas notamment la justice pour les mineurs. Mais il a agi sur ce qui dans son portefeuille pouvait être fait, c'est-à-dire d'avoir une loi d'urgence narcotrafic qui va aller taper les trafiquants au portefeuille, qui va mobiliser les forces de l'ordre et les rendre plus efficaces sur ces points de deal. Je crois que nous avons des convictions assez similaires sur ce sujet. Et en tout cas le combat continue à l'échelle française mais aussi à l'échelle européenne parce que ce combat-là, il est vital pour nos enfants.
Merci.
Kristoffer BIRKHOLM
Kære formand, kære kollegaer. Jeg har været politibetjent i 19 år, og jeg ved, hvad narkotika i virkeligheden er. Det er at banke på en dør klokken to om natten. En far og en mor åbner, og deres ansigter krakelerer, når de forstår hvorfor. Deres barn er død af en overdosis.
Det glemmer man aldrig. Imens så strømmer kokainen ind gennem Europas havne og grænser. Og hvad gør EU? De skriver strategier, mens narkobagmændene tjener milliarder. Strategier alene stopper ikke forbryderne.
Det gør betjentene, tolderne og effektiv kontrol. Så løsningen, det er ikke mere EU. Løsningen er permanent grænse- og havnekontrol, stærke nationale politistyrker og hårde straffe. Giv landene magten tilbage og politiet de redskaber, der skal til for at stoppe forbryderne. Mine gamle kollegaer, de knokler hver evig eneste dag.
Så svigt dem ikke. Det skylder vi både dem og vores unge mennesker. Tak for ordet.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole, prego onorevole. Sorry, there is a blue card for you, sorry, from Mrs. Garcia Van Der Valle, please.
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle
Tak kollega Bilkum. Next year the so-called Prüm regulation will enter into force for automated data exchange of DNA profiles, fingerprints and number plates of vehicles of criminals. Your country Denmark cannot participate in this system and will not be able to exchange data of criminals with other countries.
How do you think Denmark can stay a safe country without this key instrument if it keeps the opt-out on justice and home affairs? Thank you.
Kristoffer BIRKHOLM
Jeg er rigtig stolt af, at vi i Danmark har vores retsforbehold, for jeg har selv arbejdet med international og grænseoverskridende kriminalitet igennem ti år. Og vores retsforbehold i Danmark beskytter både politiet og vores lovgivning. Det beskytter således, at vi faktisk kan implementere nye efterforskningsmetoder uden at skulle spørge EU om lov. Og det gør, at man kan tilpasse efterforskningsmetoderne inden for det land, man nu kommer fra. Så jeg er stolt af, at vi i Danmark har et retsforbehold, som beskytter os på lige præcis det her område.
Og til det skal jeg også sige, at i og med jeg selv har arbejdet inden for det her område, så har vi en lang række parallelaftaler i Danmark. Og Danmark er måske en af dem, der er mest førende og bedste til at opklare international organiseret kriminalitet. Så derfor så har vi parallelaftaler, som gør, at vi kan få alle de samme oplysninger, som man sidder og forhandler om i den nye Prüm-aftale.
Thank you so much for your answer, and I really appreciate your service as a police officer, also having worked in a border region.
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle
But the whole point here is automated data. When a criminal is crossing from, say, Germany into Denmark, if you cannot have access to automated data exchange, then it's impossible for you to know what person, what that person has done and why it might pose a risk to your country. So wouldn't you want to solve that by being part of Prüm regulation and other parts of the justice system of the United, the European Union, sorry.
Kristoffer BIRKHOLM
Tak for spørgsmålet. Det kan man løse, og det løser man allerede i dag, fordi man har med de her parallelaftaler fuldstændig adgang til alle de her oplysninger. Det er både nummerpladeregistrering. Vi har samarbejde med Europol. Vi har selv et kontor dernede.
Vi kan få DNA-svar og så videre. Så jeg ved, at det her det er muligt i Danmark, og jeg har selv gjort det utallige gange, og oplysningerne de er kun et opkald væk. Og jeg kan supplere med, at Danmark sidste år har sendt 40.000 SIENA-anmodninger, som også er et samarbejde man har.
Så vores parallelaftaler, de gælder faktisk ikke kun i Europa, men også udenfor. Og det gør, at vi står langt stærkere i efterforskning af kriminalitet i Danmark.
Jacek Ozdoba
Szanowna pani przewodnicząca, nie da się mówić o przestępczości zorganizowanej, która trudni się handlem narkotykami bez tematu nielegalnej migracji. Tak się składa, że akurat koalicja rządząca w Unii Europejskiej jest odpowiedzialna za wpuszczenie nielegalnych migrantów. Więc jeżeli chcecie zwalczyć drogę dotyczącą narkotyków, to musicie też zająć się nielegalną migracją. Temat, który dotyczy konsekwencji, chociażby zapomóg związanych z nielegalnymi imigrantami pod przykrywką organizacji pozarządowych leży i nie jest dalej procedowany, dlatego że lewica to blokuje. Może warto jest zwrócić uwagę na to, jakim doświadczeniem może podzielić się Polska.
Tak się składa, że miałem przyjemność być w rządzie, który zatrzymał nielegalną migrację, który doprowadził do tego, że odsyłano nielegalnych migrantów. Ale co się dzieje? Zaraz na drugi dzień przyjmujecie rozwiązania, które są związane z paktem migracyjnym. Chcecie, aby imigranci, którzy wielu z nich trudni się działalnością przestępczą, wzrost przestępczości na różnym tle, w tym seksualnym jest gigantyczny, został przerzucony do innych krajów. Więc no prosta odpowiedź jest taka: zero nielegalnych migrantów i zamkniemy również temat związany ze skalą problemu z narkotykami.
Dziękuję.
Gracias, presidente. Verán, igual les parezco un poco dura, pero voy a decir algo. La droga que mañana le van a ofrecer a cualquiera de nuestros hijos, la cocaína en cualquier capital europea, probablemente venga de España, todo un país europeo.
Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik
España es la principal puerta del sur de Europa, y es una puerta que está completamente abierta. Es la puerta por la que se está colando buena parte de la droga que está envenenando nuestro continente. Tranquilos, porque esta frontera tiene guardianes, guardias civiles valientes que cada noche salen a plantarle cara al narco con más vocación que recursos. Pero quiero decirle algo, comisario. Les estamos mandando a la guerra sin armas.
Porque mientras enfrente tienen narcolanchas, semisumergibles y armamento bélico, detrás tienen un Estado cada vez más débil y un Gobierno enfermo de corrupción. Ha muerto gente en Barbate, ha muerto en Huelva y van a seguir muriendo porque los criminales los matan, sí, pero por falta también de nuestra voluntad política. Así que, comisario, por favor: más recursos para Europol y para Frontex, más inteligencia compartida, penas más duras contra los criminales. No esperemos al próximo funeral para reconocer el peligro, son una profesión de riesgo. Muchas gracias.
Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik
Pani przewodnicząca, szanowni państwo, tylko w 2024 roku państwa członkowskie Unii Europejskiej zgłosiły ponad półtora miliona przestępstw związanych z narkotykami. Belgijska Antwerpia jest bramą do Europy przemytu dla gangów narkotykowych. Dzieje się to nieprzypadkiem tuż pod nosem eurokratów, tych nauczycieli praworządności. W latach 2018-2023 liczba pacjentów rozpoczynających leczenie z powodu problemów związanych z kokainą wzrosła o 31%. Liczba osób rozpoczynających leczenie z powodu uzależnienia od krak wzrosła o 35%.
Taka skala przemytu narkotyków to dzieło Komisji Europejskiej, to polityka otwartych granic. W czasie gdy Europejczycy boją się gangów narkotykowych w swoich miastach, kartele narkotykowe traktują europejskie wybrzeża i porty jak swoje magazyny. Służby ochrony granic potrzebują realnego wsparcia, twardego prawa i wolnej ręki w działaniu, a nie ataku lewicowej agendy ze strony Komisji Europejskiej. I tak powiem szczerze, że brak waszej skuteczności w zwalczaniu przemytu narkotyków do Europy nasuwa takie pytanie, czy wy czasami nie współpracujecie z przemytnikami i nie czerpiecie jakieś korzyści finansowych z handlu narkotykami w Europie. Tak dla kolegi pytam.
Dziękuję.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole. Abbiamo concluso il dibattito. Per la procedura Catch-the-eye ci sono sei colleghi iscritti, possiamo accettarli tutti. Iniziamo. Prego onorevole Donascimento Cabral.
Prego.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral
Muito obrigado senhor presidente, senhor comissário.
A nova estratégia de combate às drogas da União Europeia não pode repetir dois erros: esquecer a emergência do combate às drogas sintéticas e ignorar que as suas fronteiras ocidentais começam no coração do Atlântico com os Açores e com a Madeira. É pelo Atlântico que têm passado rotas cada vez mais exploradas por redes internacionais de tráfico de droga, com barcos, drones e até narcossubmarinos. É por isso que é urgente reforçar a vigilância marítima, a tecnologia, a partilha de informação, a cooperação para as agências europeias, mas também o reconhecimento da importância das nossas forças de segurança que tanto têm feito com tão pouco. Nós precisamos também de reconhecer que as fronteiras externas da União Europeia começam pelos Açores e da Madeira, e os Açores e a Madeira têm um papel fundamental na segurança da União Europeia. E é também por isso que precisamos de ter uma nova estratégia para o Atlântico que enquadre as novas tensões geopolíticas, mas também o combate ao tráfico de droga e à segurança da União Europeia.
Muito obrigado.
Isabella Tovaglieri
Grazie.
I nostri confini sono un colabrodo e voi lo sapete. Oggi parliamo di narcotraffico nel Mediterraneo ma la droga è il sintomo. La malattia è che noi non difendiamo i nostri confini, perché ogni anno dai nostri porti arrivano tonnellate di droga, soprattutto dal Nord Africa, che stanno uccidendo migliaia di giovani europei. Quella stessa rotta che negli ultimi quindici anni ha portato clandestinamente via mare un milione e mezzo di immigrati in Italia e tre milioni in Europa, è stata sfruttata anche per trafficare droga, armi e alimentare profitti miliardari per le mafie. Mentre voi predicavate porti aperti e mentre von der Leyen e le sinistre europee trasformavano Frontex in un bersaglio ideologico, scafisti e organizzazioni criminali facevano affari oro.
Difendere i confini non è uno slogan, è l'unico strumento serio e concreto per bloccare il narcotraffico.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Dear speaker, let's be brutally blunt. Europe is losing control of its security. Open border policies fuel chaos, turning narcotrafficking into a real threat for all of us. The core issue is a catastrophic failure of integration. Multi-generational migrant neighborhoods are forming parallel societies that reject European values.
In Sweden, second-generation migrants dominate gangs behind record bombings. In France, suburb drug wars drive hundreds of narco-homicides. Criminal groups exploit this isolation. They turn youth into foot soldiers and use minors as legal shields for drugs and killings. We can no longer deny the link between uncontrolled migration, failed integration, and tribal gang violence.
The age of naive multiculturalism must be over. Thank you.
João Oliveira
Onorevole, prego onorevole Oliveira. Prego.
Obrigado, Presidente, Senhor Comissário Schinas, é preciso atuar em duas dimensões. Por um lado, combater a toxicodependência, fazendo desaparecer o negócio lucrativo do narcotráfico. Por outro lado, combater o tráfico de droga e as redes criminosas que nele florescem. Em ambas as dimensões, o papel dos Estados é determinante.
Para vencer este combate, precisamos de políticas eficazes de combate à toxicodependência, de serviços públicos de saúde e inserção social robustos, de investimento público no tratamento e reabilitação dos consumidores. Precisamos também de medidas de política criminal adequadas e de investimento nas forças e serviços de segurança nacionais, incluindo nas alfândegas, melhorando as condições de trabalho dos seus profissionais e reforçando a sua capacidade operacional. Ao mesmo tempo, precisamos de nos libertar das imposições da UE sobre os orçamentos nacionais que condicionam o investimento público que é essencial para todos estes objetivos. E não podemos permitir que o combate ao narcotráfico seja o pretexto para a militarização, para justificar medidas de vigilância indiscriminada sobre os cidadãos ou para propagandear suspeitas e preconceitos de natureza racista e xenófoba, como infelizmente acabámos de ouvir nas últimas intervenções feitas pela extrema-direita.
Malika Sorel
Grazie onorevole, prego onorevole Sorrel.
Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues, le trafic de drogue obéit aux lois classiques de l'offre et de la demande. Aussi, tant qu'il y aura des consommateurs, il y aura des trafiquants de drogue et le trafic de drogue continuera avec son cortège de morts, de destruction de la santé d'une partie de nos populations et de déstabilisation de nos sociétés. Si nous voulons triompher dans cette lutte contre le trafic de drogue, alors nous devons travailler à dissuader la consommation de drogue.
Cela passera par trois stratégies. Premièrement, le déploiement de sanctions dissuasives contre les consommateurs de drogue. Deuxièmement, la diffusion massive sur tous les médias de spots d'information sur les ravages de la drogue sur la santé, mais également sur les morts occasionnées, car les consommateurs doivent prendre conscience du fait qu'ils ont du sang sur les mains. Et dernier point, la confiscation systématique de tous les biens acquis grâce au trafic de drogue. C'est ainsi que nous triompherons.
Je vous remercie.
Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez
Hay noches en que estamos solos mi compañero y yo contra quince narcolanchas. Desgraciadamente no es el comienzo de una serie colombiana de Netflix. Se trata del testimonio de un Guardia Civil español denunciando la indefensión con la que nuestros agentes se ven obligados a combatir al narco. Una indefensión que tiene un altísimo costo humano. En los últimos dos años, cuatro agentes han sido asesinados en España y en las últimas semanas uno en Portugal.
Esta escalada de violencia, más propia de otras latitudes, es la nueva normalidad en las costas europeas. Pero Europa no puede seguir tolerándolo.
No podemos seguir dependiendo del heroísmo de nuestros agentes. Los gobiernos europeos tienen la obligación política y moral de dotarles de los mejores medios para combatir al narco. Ellos no quieren palmaditas en la espalda ni homenajes en los funerales, aunque algunos ni siquiera se atrevan a hacerlo. Quieren simplemente los medios para poder cumplir con su deber en defensa de todos los europeos. Muchas gracias.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole, abbiamo concluso il catch-the-eye. Prego Commissario Kadis a nome della Commissione. Prego.
Costas Kadis
Thank you, Madam President, honorable members. Thank you for your remarks and we have taken well note of all your positions. I will make some general comments. I think that we all agree that no member state can face security challenges alone.
We are bringing the full weight of the EU legal, financial and operational resources to support the Member States in this fight. We have agreed on a new EU drugs strategy and action plan against drugs trafficking and we are already working on their implementation. We have proposed new mandates for Europol and Eurojust and we will propose new legislation on Frontex and organized crime soon. So in all these initiatives we count on your cooperation and support to make real progress. Thank you for your attention.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie, Commissario. La discussione è chiusa e la votazione si svolgerà durante la prossima tornata.
We'll be starting in a few minutes.
Antonella Sberna
Colleghi, procediamo. L'ordine del giorno reca: dichiarazione del Parlamento, futuro del sostegno dell'Unione europea a favore delle forze democratiche, degli attori contrari alla guerra e della società civile repressi russi.
Vorrei ricordare agli onorevoli deputati che per questa discussione si terrà un unico giro di interventi di oratori dei gruppi politici. Pertanto non è prevista la procedura catch-the-eye e non saranno accettati interventi cartellino blu. Vorrei inoltre ricordare agli oratori che, date le misure di prova attualmente in vigore e l'orario fisso di conclusione della discussione, sarà necessario rispettare rigorosamente il tempo di parola. Iniziamo quindi il dibattito. Prego, onorevole Kalniete.
Sandra Kalniete
Kolēģi, Krievijas pilna mēroga uzbrukums Ukrainai, kas turpinās nu jau piekto gadu, nav tikai militārs konflikts. Krievijas neoimperiālistiskajai agresijai ir un būs dziļa un ilgstoša ietekme uz starptautiskajām tiesībām, Eiropas drošību, demokrātiju un miljoniem cilvēku dzīvi. Visi Krievijas valsts instrumenti — valdība, ekonomika, finanšu sektors, propaganda, pareizticīgā baznīca — kalpo karam un militarizē sabiedrību. Tāpēc vienīgais ceļš uz Krievijas atdzimšanu un sabiedrības atveseļošanos ir Ukrainas uzvara karā.
Krievijas neoimperiālisms ir jāaptur. Tikai caur sakāvi Krievija var kļūt par valsti, kurā attīstīsies demokrātija, valdīs likuma vara, būs nodrošinātas cilvēktiesības un pamatbrīvības. Tāpēc mūsu pienākums ir atbalstīt Ukrainas pašaizsardzību. Eiropas Parlaments ir demokrātijas mājvieta, tāpēc mēs atbalstām Krievijas demokrātisko opozīciju, pilsonisko sabiedrību, cilvēktiesību aktīvistus, kuri nosoda agresiju pret Ukrainu. Viņi turpina pretestību Kremļa režīmam, neskatoties uz represijām, apcietināšanām un trimdu.
Režīms nežēlīgi vēršas pret katru, kas neatbalsta agresiju. Ir ierosinātas vairāk nekā pieci tūkstoši krimināllietu. Cietumos smok vairāk nekā četri tūkstoši politieslodzīto. Politieslodzīto atbrīvošana ir prasība, kura ir jāiekļauj Ukrainas un Krievijas miera sarunās, kuras agrāk vai vēlāk notiks. Tomēr Krievijas demokrātiskie spēki ir sašķelti.
Vēsture atkal un atkal ir pierādījusi, ka diktatūru uzvar tie, kas uzvaras vārdā atliek malā uzskatu un personīgās nesaskaņas un koncentrējas uz stratēģisko mērķi, demokrātiskas un likumpaklausīgas valsts un sabiedrības izveidošanu.
Bez vienotības Krievijas demokrātisko spēku ietekme uz politisko procesu Krievijā būs maznozīmīga. Paldies.
Alessandra Moretti
Grazie Presidente. La Russia non è Putin. La Russia sono anche migliaia di donne e uomini che in un clima asfissiante continuano a difendere la democrazia, i diritti umani e le libertà fondamentali. Sono persone che si oppongono alla brutale guerra di aggressione della Russia contro l'Ucraina ed è proprio da loro che ogni giorno ci arrivano innumerevoli segnalazioni di cittadini repressi, detenuti, imprigionati e maltrattati solo perché si sono esposti, hanno alzato la testa e la voce dicendo la verità sulla guerra di Putin. La propaganda del regime impedisce alle forze democratiche di esprimersi e quando qualcuno riesce a sfuggire alle maglie fittissime di questa rete, il sistema giudiziario prende la scena confezionando sentenze ad hoc per punire attivisti, giornalisti e chiunque abbia il coraggio di alzare la voce.
L'Unione Europea deve essere ferma e decisa nel suo incrollabile sostegno al popolo ucraino di fronte alla guerra di aggressione di Putin. Allo stesso tempo l'Unione deve continuare a sostenere gli attivisti russi per i diritti umani, gli attori pro-democrazia e gli attivisti contro la guerra, persone che spesso rischiano la propria incolumità e la propria vita per il loro impegno e per rappresentare un'altra Russia, la Russia libera, democratica, una Russia dello stato di diritto, una Russia così che ricordiamoci è possibile. Grazie.
António Tânger Corrêa
Senhor Presidente, caros colegas, meus caros amigos, façamos um pouco de história. E os europeus, desde o fim da Guerra Fria e da queda do Muro de Berlim, muito pouco diálogo político com a Rússia e total dependência energética desse país. O resultado era previsível porque afastámo-nos politicamente e abraçámos uma dependência económica e energética. Meus caros amigos, longe, muito longe de aceitar este regime na Rússia, pelo contrário, criticá-lo vivamente, agora nós não temos que nos imiscuir nos assuntos internos de outros países, de países terceiros, ainda por cima alheios à União Europeia.
A prioridade deve ser fixar e resolver os problemas da Europa antes de arranjar agendas externas que nem sempre são claras nem honestas. Portanto, vamos tentar mais uma vez que a Europa se comporte à altura e que resolva os seus problemas em vez de andar a tentar resolver os dos outros. Muito obrigado.
Mariusz Kamiński
Szanowni państwo, cieszę się, że rozmawiamy w parlamencie europejskim o innej Rosji, o Rosji, która nie będzie śmiertelnym zagrożeniem dla wolnego świata i która nie będzie ociekała krwią niewinnych ofiar. Czy taka Rosja jest możliwa? Kiedy spojrzymy na historię tego kraju, to trudno znaleźć podstawy do optymizmu. Zarówno carska Rosja, jak i czerwona Rosja były agresywnymi państwami imperialistycznymi. Putin czerpie z obu tych tradycji.
Takie wartości jak demokracja, prawa człowieka, prawa obywatelskie w Rosji nigdy się nie zakorzeniły. Ci, którzy marzą o tym, aby w Rosji uczynić, aby z Rosji uczynić państwo cywilizowane, są po prostu mordowani. Tak stało się z Anną Politkowską, Borysem Niemcowem, Aleksiejem Nawalnym.
Dziś w Rosji nie ma żadnej zorganizowanej opozycji. Nie oznacza to, że nie należy wspierać tych, którzy będąc w większości na emigracji, deklarują niechęć wobec dyktatury. Wsparcie to musi być jednak adekwatne do realnie podejmowanych działań oraz rzeczywiście wyznawanych wartości. Należy również pamiętać, że niemal 20% obywateli współczesnej Rosji to przedstawiciele mniejszości narodowych. Ich aspiracje narodowe zasługują na szczególną uwagę.
Bernard Guetta
La géographie nous l'impose. Parce que la Russie est européenne et que c'est avec elle que nous partageons ce continent, il nous faut trouver les voies et moyens de coexister dans une paix solide et durable. Cela demande deux choses. La première est de toujours plus aider l'Ukraine à infliger à Vladimir Poutine la défaite qu'il mérite.
La stabilité de notre continent exige que plus personne ne puisse croire en Russie que la force brute puisse triompher du droit et que les missiles puissent reconstituer l'empire des tsars. Peut-être ce jour est-il plus proche qu'on ne le croit, on verra. Mais la certitude est que rien ne sourit plus à Vladimir Poutine, qu'aucune dictature ne survit à l'humiliation d'une déroute militaire et qu'une page se tournera donc bientôt à Moscou, dans trois jours, trois mois ou trois ans. Ce jour-là, nous devons le préparer et c'est pour cela que nous avons entamé et poursuivrons un dialogue avec l'opposition russe. Avant même que la victoire de l'Ukraine ne lève un vent de liberté à Moscou, il faut que les Russes, non pas le Kremlin mais les Russes, nous entendent leur dire que nous ne voulons rien d'autre que vivre à leurs côtés dans la sécurité et la coopération et que le jour venu, nous tendrons la main à une Russie libérée, enfin libre de choisir l'Europe et la démocratie.
Sergey Lagodinsky
Grazie onorevole, prego onorevole Lagodinsky, prego.
Dear colleagues, for too long the EU's Russia policy has been reactive. Sanctions after aggression. Statements after repression. Emergency support after arrests. This is not enough.
This is not strategic.
We need a real EU strategy on Russia with two pillars: deterrence against the current regime and deputization of Russia of future. This should be European security objective. The Brussels dialogue conference last month showed that this is possible. For the first time officially, the European Parliament with support of Commission and EEAS brought together Russian democratic forces in a structured dialogue with the EU institutions, including voices from Russia following the initiative of Mr. Kubilius a couple of years ago. The presence of Commissioner Kubilius, but also of Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič was also important because enlargement also includes wider strategic neighborhood.
This dialogue should mark the beginning of a more structured and political engagement with Russians who fight against Putin's regime. A Russia that remains imperialist remains a threat to Ukraine and to all of us. Europe cannot impose democracy on Russia, but we can support those Russians who fight for it, who die for it. That is why the next MFF, we need in the next MFF a dedicated Global Europe funding line for Russian civil society. I call on the Commission and the Council to work on an update of EU strategy on Russia.
They are, they are our allies. They are our best, important weapon against weapon against Putin and for Ukraine. And this Parliament will do our best to support them and all of us. Thank you.
Stop treating Russian civil society as a side issue.
Li Andersson
Missiles and drones are killing people in Kyiv every night at the moment. Putin has shown that he is a modern-day fascist leader by trying to conquer Ukraine militarily, but also by attacking those in his own country who oppose his imperialist ideology and who do not fit into his patriarchal and heteronormative notion of the nation. It is not only our moral obligation but also in our own interest to support the Ukrainians that are fighting for independence and that are fighting against Putin's authoritarianism.
And likewise, it is also in our own interest to support those democratic Russian opposition forces who share these objectives. This means engaging in dialogue but also recognizing the diversity of actors in Russian civil society, including those who represent linguistic and ethnic minorities. This means supporting independent media projects and also providing refuge in Europe for those who really need it, not sending back people belonging to the LGBTQI community or those that are resisting Putin and resisting his war on Ukraine.
Petar Volgin
Уважаеми колеги, мечтата на колективния Запад винаги е била да види Майдан в Москва. В продължение на десетилетия Западът обучаваше и финансираше много хора и организации в Русия, надявайки се те да се превърнат в неговата пета колона и сами да съсипят страната си. Но въпреки милиардите долари и евро, дадени за тази цел, мнозинството от руските граждани отхвърли данайския дар на западните лицемери. Нормалните руски граждани отлично разбират, че тези хора, въпреки всичките си високопарни слова, пет пари не дават за демокрацията, свободата и просперитета на Русия. Единственото, което искат, е тотален контрол върху Руската федерация и да я грабят безнаказано.
Западът много иска да се повтори ситуацията от 90-те години, когато техният любимец Елцин и приближените му олигарси изпълняваха безпрекословно желанията на чуждите властови центрове и разпродаваха страната си. Днешното ръководство на Русия отдавна отхвърли тази васална зависимост и затова Брюксел и Вашингтон правят всичко възможно, за да го свалят. Само че нито излетите колосални суми, нито истеричната пропаганда постигнаха тази цел. Чуждестранните агенти на влияние в Русия или избягаха при своите покровители, или замълчаха засрамени. Тотално сбъркана е политиката на колективния Запад по отношение на Русия.
Вместо да водят откровен диалог с Москва, западните ръководители решиха, че могат лесно да съсипят тази държава. Сметнаха, че на безценица ще си купят руския елит така, както са правили западните колонизатори с местното население в Африка и Америка. Повярваха, че днес тлъстите грантове и безплатните воаяжи до Брюксел и Вашингтон за руснаците ще бъдат това, което някога са били искрящите маниста за американските и африканските племенни вождове. Да, отделни НПО-та и политици се продадоха, но в крайна сметка се оказа, че огромният финансов ресурс, отделен за антируска пропаганда, не е довел до нищо. Продължаването на тази стратегия ще доведе до същия нулев резултат.
Благодаря.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie, onorevole, la discussione è chiusa. L'ordine del giorno reca dichiarazione della Commissione: focolaio di Ebola nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo e in Uganda, solidarietà e preparazione dell'Unione Europea in termini di salute globale. Iniziamo ora il dibattito a nome della Commissione, prego Commissaria Labib.
Hadja Lahbib
Presidente, honorable members, the Ebola outbreak continues to expand rapidly in a region marked by conflict displacement and fragile health systems. It is a crisis within a crisis and a reminder that in today's interconnected world, no country can face a major health threat alone. Sustained financing and global coordination are essential. According to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, ECDC, the risk of infection for people living in the EU remains very low. But this is no reason for complacency.
We remain vigilant and the Health Security Committee issued an opinion on the current recommendations for a common EU approach. The EU and our member states are prepared for an imported Ebola case, as France's rapid response has shown. A few weeks ago, I travelled to Bunia in Ituri, the epicentre of the outbreak, to show EU solidarity and reaffirm our support. I saw the extraordinary bravery of healthcare and humanitarian workers operating in extremely difficult conditions. But I also saw that Europe's support matters.
Our presence, our reliability and our ability to act quickly are recognised and highly valued by our partners. And our assistance is saving lives. Major challenges remain. Our priority is to boost surveillance and contact tracing, deploy diagnostics and medical teams, support exit screening, keep humanitarian health access open, strengthen community trust and ensure respect for international humanitarian law.
Since day one, we have worked with WHO, the Africa CDC, affected countries and partners. ECDC experts have been deployed through the EU Health Task Force to support Africa CDC and strengthen exit screening. Overall, the EU is providing immediate and long-term support of 493 million for humanitarian aid, vaccines, treatments and health security in the region. This includes more than 1 million for the current preparedness and response efforts with 16.5 million to rapidly deploy diagnostics and strengthen field testing capacities. We have invested 39.3 million in CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, to support the development of new broadly protective filovirus vaccines.
We have also mobilized 15 million in humanitarian assistance for WHO and frontline humanitarian partners and transported more than 590 tons of essential supplies to eastern DRC through eight EU humanitarian air bridges.
Our response builds on years of EU investments in health security in Africa, healthcare workforce training, public health institutes and laboratory capacities, clinical trials, infrastructure, surveillance, logistics and research into vaccine therapeutics and diagnostics. Beyond our bilateral and Team Europe action, we continue to provide significant multilateral contributions to the global health initiatives such as the Pandemic Fund, Gavi and the Global Fund, which are mobilizing flexible funding to help countries respond to Ebola and maintain essential health services. Honorable members, while responding to the immediate crisis, we must also continue building long-term preparedness and response capacity. This is the aim of the Global Health Resilience Initiative to help countries prevent, prepare for and respond to current and future outbreak. Containing Ebola requires solidarity, political commitment to bring a lasting solution to the conflict, sustained financing and reliable access to life-saving humanitarian supplies and medical equipment.
I have pleaded for that already in February during my first visit to the Great Lakes region. We must invest in what is needed today while preparing for tomorrow.
This is why sustainable financing and health preparedness must go hand in hand in the next multiannual financial framework. You can count on me and my commitment to support the response, mobilize resources, and advocate for humanitarian access and respect for humanitarian international law. Thank you.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole, iniziamo il dibattito, prego onorevole Sokol, prego.
Tomislav Sokol
Poštovana potpredsjednice, povjerenice, kolegice i kolege. Izbijanje ebole u Demokratskoj Republici Kongo i Ugandi ponovno nas podsjeća da zarazne bolesti ne poznaju granice. U današnjem međusobno povezanom svijetu, zdravstvena kriza u jednom dijelu svijeta može vrlo brzo postati sigurnosni izazov i za Europu. Zato odgovor na ovakve epidemije nije samo pitanje humanitarne pomoći, nego i pitanje zdravstvene sigurnosti, otpornosti naših sustava i odgovorne međunarodne suradnje. Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija ovu je epidemiju proglasila međunarodnom javnozdravstvenom krizom.
Upravo zato brzina reakcije, međunarodna koordinacija i razmjena stručnog znanja mogu biti presudni za zaustavljanje širenja bolesti.
Europska unija već je pokazala solidarnost pružanjem financijske pomoći, slanjem stručne podrške te ulaganjem u istraživanje i razvoj novih cjepiva, dijagnostike i terapija. Istodobno, EU pomaže u jačanju epidemiološkog nadzora, laboratorijskih kapaciteta i pripravnosti susjednih država kako bi se spriječilo daljnje širenje zaraze. Europa mora nastaviti pažljivo pratiti razvoj situacije. Iako stručne procjene pokazuju da je rizik za građane Europske unije trenutačno vrlo nizak, iskustva iz proteklih godina pokazala su koliko se zdravstvene okolnosti mogu brzo promijeniti. Zato moramo nastaviti ulagati u pripravnost naših zdravstvenih sustava, jačati sustave ranog upozoravanja, razvijati zajedničke europske kapacitete za odgovor na zdravstvene krize te produbljivati suradnju sa Svjetskom zdravstvenom organizacijom.
Borba protiv zaraznih bolesti test je naše sposobnosti da djelujemo zajednički, pravodobno i solidarno. Samo suradnjom, ulaganjem u znanost i odgovornim međunarodnim djelovanjem možemo spriječiti da lokalna epidemija preraste u globalnu prijetnju. Upravo zato, europska solidarnost i pripravnost moraju ostati temelj našeg odgovora na ovakve zdravstvene izazove. Hvala lijepa.
Leire Pajín
Gracias presidente, el brote que tiene origen en la República Democrática del Congo y en Uganda no es un asunto africano.
Es un asunto global y también europeo porque las enfermedades no se detienen en las fronteras. Un brote puede empezar muy lejos de Europa, pero tarda en llegar exactamente lo mismo que se tarda en desplazarse una persona. Al principio nos llegan noticias, cifras, unos cientos de casos y las primeras muertes, ya llevamos quinientas. Entonces podemos caer en el error de decir que como es en África y no aquí, no es nuestro problema. ¿Alguien se acuerda de la pandemia?
Porque es exactamente esto y yo sé que el ébola no es el COVID-19, pero deberíamos haber aprendido lo que aprendimos en la pandemia. Es absolutamente importante que nuestra respuesta sea doble: apoyo firme a los países afectados, prevención, preparación y respuesta desde la Unión Europea, que nuestros mecanismos se compartan también en coordinación con los países del sur global. Señora comisaria, yo le quiero dar las gracias por su compromiso, por ir al terreno, por su constante trabajo, por ser luz en un momento oscuro, porque necesitamos reforzar la vigilancia, la logística, la comunicación comunitaria y la coordinación entre nuestros centros de vigilancia y los africanos. Y sobre todo porque la solidaridad no es caridad, es contener el brote en origen y es justicia, pero es también la forma más inteligente de asegurar la seguridad de los europeos.
Thierry Mariani
En République démocratique du Congo, les populations subissent déjà les ravages de la guerre.
Désormais, elles doivent affronter une nouvelle catastrophe Ebola. Plus de 1500 cas, plus de 500 morts. Mais il faut dire les choses. Ce virus se propage aussi parce qu'il arrive dans une région détruite par la guerre, l'Ituri et le Kivu. Depuis 2021, l'est du Congo est à nouveau ravagé par les attaques du M23 soutenu par le régime de Paul Kagame.
Des millions de personnes ont dû fuir. Des infrastructures et les hôpitaux ont été incendiés. Alors comment arrêter Ebola ? Comment arrêter quand il n'y a pas assez d'ambulances, quand les centres de soins sont détruits, quand les médecins ne peuvent même plus atteindre les malades ? Oui, il faut envoyer de l'aide humanitaire.
Mais fermer les yeux sur les vrais responsables de ce chaos, c'est accepter que la situation continue, c'est nous rendre complices. L'Union européenne doit enfin agir comme le demande le Parlement depuis plusieurs années. Sanctionner le Rwanda et Monsieur Kagame et faire pression pour mettre fin à cette guerre. Pourquoi tant de complaisance pour le Rwanda ? C'est le moment de montrer qu'on sait faire aussi une action politique et pas uniquement une action humanitaire.
Hilde Vautmans
Chère présidente, chers collègues, l'épidémie d'Ebola en RDC est une des plus graves de l'histoire.
De plus, le conflit armé dans l'est de la RDC rend la lutte presque impossible. Sans sécurité, il est impossible de stopper l'épidémie. L'Afrique, collègues, est un partenaire essentiel. C'est notre voisin. Face à un virus qui menace toute une région, nous ne pouvons pas rester spectateurs.
Nous devons protéger les civils, protéger le personnel de santé et garantir un accès à l'aide humanitaire. Et nous devons renforcer notre soutien aux organisations locales, comme l'hôpital de Panzi du docteur Denis Mukwege, qui sont en première ligne dans la lutte contre Ebola. Et on doit aussi rendre la sécurité dans la région et comme d'autres intervenants ont dit, on doit commencer à sanctionner le Rwanda. La paix doit retourner là-bas pour faire le combat contre l'Ebola. Notre devoir est clair : sauver les vies, chaque jour compte.
Merci.
Ignazio Roberto Marino
Signora Presidente, signora Commissario, questo virus che in molti abbiamo paragonato a quanto è accaduto qualche anno fa con il Covid è un virus molto più letale, molto più pericoloso. Non esistono cure, non esistono vaccini e non esiste nessun modo per fermare le emorragie all'interno del corpo e all'esterno del corpo di questi poveri pazienti. Noi dobbiamo veramente sostituirci a quanto gli Stati Uniti hanno fatto con il loro passo indietro rispetto all'Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità. Se non lo vogliamo fare perché crediamo che l'aiuto e la solidarietà siano importanti dovremmo farlo per egoismo perché come tanti hanno detto a partire anche dalla Commissaria i virus non hanno bisogno di un passaporto per attraversare un confine.
E il fatto che ci siano già stati 1500 contagi, 500 persone hanno perso la vita e vedere quelle immagini dove, signora Commissaria, è vero che è stato fatto uno sforzo, ma di fatto sul territorio dove queste persone muoiono, non hanno neanche la possibilità di avere quegli strumenti di protezione per i medici e per gli infermieri, tant'è vero che ne sono morti quasi venti, e anche per le stesse persone che assistono o vanno per trovare i loro cari. Dobbiamo fare di più, dobbiamo farlo adesso perché questo virus è veramente pericoloso e mortale.
Catarina Martins
Obrigada, senhora presidente. Senhora Comissária, bem sei que supervisionou pessoalmente o embarque de paracetamol para o Congo para ajudar com o surto de Ébola, mas é poucochinho, não é? Eu queria fazer-lhe duas perguntas sobre ações concretas da União Europeia. Em primeiro lugar, nós estamos perante uma variante para a qual não há nenhuma vacina comercial, mas que sabemos agora que há avanços científicos que entusiasmam. E a minha pergunta é se a União Europeia vai então investir nestes avanços científicos para termos a vacina.
A segunda questão é sobre os serviços de saúde locais. Os Médicos Sem Fronteiras têm dito, e muito bem, que é preciso investir diretamente lá, têm aliás pedido investimento direto para que os serviços de saúde possam não só monitorizar como controlar, tratar a doença.
E a minha pergunta é se a União Europeia vai aumentar o seu apoio, porque tem de o fazer. Os casos detetados em Paris e Berlim mostram, aliás, que é do próprio interesse fazê-lo. E uma nota final: a União Europeia tem particulares responsabilidades. Porque se nas zonas de conflito é mais difícil controlar o surto de Ébola, não esqueçamos que nós somos parceiros comerciais daqueles minerais do sangue que estão a provocar os conflitos nas zonas mais afetadas.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you, Madam President, and thank you all for this first exchange. I totally agree that the Ebola outbreak is not an African problem. It's all of us. It's about all of us, because no one of us is in security until everyone is in security. And we live on the same planet, so we have to acknowledge and to remind us that virus don't need visa to cross borders.
And when it comes to investments in vaccines, the Commission is currently replenishing its rescue stockpiles for a range of relevant medical countermeasures in Europe. Also for remdesivir, an antiviral authorized in the EU against COVID-19, but which is considered and recommended by WHO as potential therapeutics against Ebola. And together with Member States, we are looking into the possibility of rolling out clinical trials with potential therapeutic candidates. The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership is supporting the development of monoclonal antibodies against Ebola and other filoviruses, 3.4 million. And the Commission has invested over the last years heavily into the development of vaccines and therapeutics for filoviruses like Ebola and Marburg.
And I have to say that this Ebola Bundibugyo was already a priority. We have already acknowledged that it was a threat coming soon.
And last month we launched also a call for tender with 16 million to establish an investigational vaccine reserve for human pathogenic filoviruses for which no authorized vaccines are currently available, addressing Marburg, Sudan, Ebola, but also Bundibugyo virus. Thank you.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole. Prego onorevole Andrew Kaitis. No, Mr. Mandl, please. Sorry. Please.
Prego Mr. Mandl.
Lukas Mandl
Thank you very much, President, Commissioner, colleagues. It's again an outbreak of a terrible sickness. We have Ebola in many parts of Africa, even one case on European soil. We've seen the Hantavirus spreading over springtime.
And I want to emphasize one important point, because this is the very beginning of the one or the other sickness, and we don't know where it will lead to in the one or the other case. But I have already observed extremists claiming that the sickness would not exist, that the sickness would have been made up by what they call elites. But these extremists are the ones who define themselves whom they call elites. And they create a conspiracy theory that the elites would create the information about a sickness to control anybody. No, this is academic research.
This is scientific data what we are doing is based on. And this is why especially the European role with our approach of human dignity, of individual freedom, is to take it serious when such outbreaks take place, and to always rely on evidence, academic evidence, and to confront extremists in the very beginning when they start their conspiracy theories.
Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis
Thank you so much, Madam President, dear Commissioner. I fully agree with you what you just said about about situation related to vaccines, to antibodies and so on, so on. You know, but what we see, climate-sensitive disease spread.
Of course, pandemic and epidemic threats are ongoing. We have no chance to to deny it. But in opposite, we have fragile and shrinking global health financing and global health support. And now when we discussing MFF and speaking in our global health, you know, how many money we can put, we see that we also reducing financial capacities. Humanitarian aid and cross-border preparedness is require a lot of, you know, financial means.
Of course, all all means which can help us. But we are facing situation. And we can help Commissioner and ask Council to to do more attention in front of global threats. Because otherwise we have no no strategies. Please keep in mind that United States goes out from WHO.
It's clear it's a lot of challenge.
Cara Presidente, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues. L'épidémie d'Ebola qui sévit en République démocratique du Congo et en Ouganda est avant tout une tragédie humanitaire.
Heidi Hautala
Plus de 1700 personnes ont été infectées et des centaines ont perdu la vie. Derrière ces chiffres se cachent des familles, des communautés et des professionnels de santé qui luttent pour survivre dans ces circonstances difficiles. Le contexte d'insécurité et des tensions régionales rendent la situation bien plus complexe dans l'est de la RDC. Le conflit est en cours et l'instabilité liée à la crise entre le RDC et le Rwanda complique l'accès des travailleurs humanitaires, perturbe fortement les services de santé et accentue les mouvements de population à travers les frontières. J'appelle la Commission et le Conseil à compléter notre aide humanitaire par un engagement diplomatique renouvelé, en exhortant toutes les parties à mettre en œuvre un cessez-le-feu immédiat afin de garantir l'accès humanitaire et de protéger les civils.
Car protéger des vies nécessite non seulement une aide médicale, mais aussi la paix et la stabilité pour que les communautés puissent se rétablir. Merci.
Marc Botenga
Merci Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire. Les nouvelles sur Ebola sont horribles évidemment. C'est une maladie qui tue, qui fait peur aussi, transmissible, très mortelle. Mais en même temps, il faut aussi qu'on ose tacler les causes fondamentales du problème. En République démocratique du Congo, qu'est-ce qu'il faudrait pour combattre de manière efficace Ebola ?
Il s'agit pas uniquement de recherche d'un vaccin, il s'agit aussi d'un système de santé publique performant, de la prévention, la détection, pouvoir aller chercher, pouvoir avoir les pratiques au niveau des enterrements aussi, travailler avec les communautés locales. Mais pour tout cela, il faut des moyens. Et ces moyens-là, ils manquent, ils font défaut. Pourquoi ? Ben d'un côté effectivement parce qu'il y a tout simplement la guerre avec des acteurs impliqués comme le Rwanda que nous sponsorisons toujours.
Mais deuxièmement aussi à cause du pillage des ressources naturelles organisé aussi par les États-Unis et les multinationales européennes. La RDC perd des sous, perd de l'argent, perd de la richesse à l'Occident et n'a donc plus les moyens pour investir dans ce système santé publique. Donc c'est sur ça qu'il faut travailler, sur notre politique commerciale contre les multinationales occidentales européennes qui pillent les richesses du Congo. Merci.
Wouter Beke
Dank u wel voorzitter, mevrouw de commissaris, collega's. Sinds 2019 weten we heel helaas meer dan ooit dat virussen geen grenzen kennen. Hoewel de risico's voor Europa momenteel zeer laag zijn, zien we dat de humanitaire tragedie in Congo en Oeganda vandaag nog niet volledig ingedijkt is. Gelukkig kan er gerekend worden op een sterke interventie van de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie, van de Europese Unie en van haar lidstaten. Met lokale ondersteuning van de gezondheidszorg en investeringen in onderzoek naar vaccins en behandelingen versterken we ook de globale en dus ook de eigen weerbaarheid hier bij ons tegen nieuwe varianten zoals dat hier het geval is.
Door samen te werken, onze Afrikaanse partners te ondersteunen en te investeren in innovatie redden we niet alleen levens ter plaatse, maar versterken we ook de gezondheid en de veiligheid van onze eigen burgers. En net dat toont aan dat er meer dan ooit nood is aan een sterke Europese gezondheidsunie, iets waar ik ook binnen de Biotech Act naar streef. Collega's, we kunnen niet wegkijken van dergelijke tragedies, dus blijft een sterke steun vanuit Europa meer dan ooit noodzakelijk. En daarvoor reken ik op u. Dank u wel.
Ja, dank u wel voorzitter, mevrouw de commissaris.
Marit Maij
Meer dan 1500 bevestigde gevallen van Ebola in DRC en Oeganda. Meer dan 500 doden. Een uitbraak die zich uitbreidt naar nieuwe gebieden. Wat zo pijnlijk is, is dat we dit hebben zien aankomen. Mondiale bezuinigingen op ontwikkelingssamenwerking, het afbreken van USAID.
We wisten dat de crisis hierdoor zouden toenemen, juist in landen waar conflict en rampen al groot zijn. Meer geld naar infrastructuur, meer geld naar de winning van kritieke grondstoffen en minder geld naar armoedebestrijding, gezondheidszorg, onderwijs. Minder geld naar de weerbaarheid van gemeenschappen en dit is het directe gevolg. En de consequenties zijn desastreus, niet alleen voor de mensen die nu ziek zijn en die risico's lopen. Ebola ondermijnt de weg naar stabiliteit en ontwikkeling voor hele gemeenschappen.
Het is een voorkombare ziekte. Het voorkomen kost geld. Het kost aanwezigheid. Het kost vertrouwen. Vertrouwen dat jarenlang is opgebouwd en nu in rap tempo wordt afgebroken.
Dit kan en moet anders, niet alleen incidenteel, maar ook structureel. Dank u wel.
Stine Bosse
Kære kommissær, formand, kære kollegaer. Det er jo fuldstændig rigtigt, som kommissæren siger, at før vi er sikre alle sammen, er ingen sikre. Men jeg har samtidig lyst til også at fejre og gøre opmærksom på, at vi her i Europa faktisk har lært af det, vi har været igennem. Vi har nu myndigheder, som holder øje, HERA, ECDC, som faktisk hver dag sørger for at sikre, at vi kan sove trygt om natten. Mens alt det her har sket, og det har flere kommenteret på, så har USA sænket deres investeringer.
USA har trukket sig fra WHO. USA har trukket sig helt ud af USAID. Og i samme tidsrum har vi selvfølgelig prøvet at kompensere så godt som muligt. Vi har rustet op, og kommissæren har gjort en kæmpe indsats.
Jeg vil gerne spørge kommissæren: Kan kommissæren fortælle os helt konkret, hvad foregår der lige nu? Hvilke aktiviteter er der sat i gang for at holde situationen under kontrol? Og frem for alt, hvad gøres der for at afhjælpe i landene netop nu?
Ingeborg Ter Laak
Dear chair, dear colleagues, dear commissioner. One in three people does not survive Ebola, and recently the first case in France was detected. This outbreak should remind us that infectious diseases do not stop at borders. It demonstrates the need for a resilient health system worldwide. Despite declining international help, African countries are little by little strengthening their own health system through improving surveillance, regional cooperation, and targeted investment.
Europe should support this African-led transition by investing in laboratories, healthcare workers, and outbreak preparedness, while supporting African ownership of their respective health systems.
A stronger African healthcare system is not only in Africa's interest, it's in Europe's interest. Investing in an Africa-led health resilience is an investment in shared global health security. Thank you.
Oliver Schenk
Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissarin, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen. Der Ebola-Ausbruch in Ostafrika erinnert uns daran: Gesundheit kennt keine Grenzen. Der globale Gesundheitsschutz schützt auch unsere Sicherheit. Unsere erste Verantwortung gilt den Menschen vor Ort. Sie brauchen schnelle medizinische Hilfe und starke Gesundheitssysteme.
Gerade jetzt, da sich internationale Partner, insbesondere die USA, aus Teilen der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und der globalen Gesundheitsfinanzierung zurückziehen, wächst Europas, wächst unsere Verantwortung. Doch dieser Ausbruch ist auch eine Mahnung an Europa. Die Lehre aus Ebola lautet: Vorsorge statt Abschottung. Pandemien bekämpft man dort, wo sie entstehen, nicht erst an unseren Außengrenzen. Aber Gesundheitspolitik ist längst auch Sicherheits- und Wirtschaftspolitik.
Wer über resiliente Lieferketten und sichere Rohstoffpartnerschaften spricht, muss auch in globale Gesundheit investieren. Ebola ist deshalb ein Prüfstein, ob wir globale Gesundheit als humanitäre Verantwortung und als Voraussetzung für Sicherheit und Wohlstand verstehen. Gerade jetzt, da sich andere Akteure zurückziehen, muss Europa Verantwortung übernehmen, aus Solidarität und aus kluger Vorsorge. Vielen Dank.
Michele Picaro
Grazie, Presidente, Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi. L'epidemia di Ebola in Congo e in Uganda ci ricorda che le crisi sanitarie possono superare rapidamente i confini nazionali, come dimostra anche il caso confermato in Francia di un medico rientrato dal Congo, segnalato dall'Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità. La solidarietà europea non è soltanto un dovere umanitario, ma anche un investimento nella sicurezza sanitaria internazionale. Sostenendo i paesi colpiti, proteggiamo le comunità locali, riduciamo il rischio di diffusione oltre i confini e rafforziamo la capacità globale di prevenire future emergenze. Per questo l'Unione Europea deve continuare a sostenere la sorveglianza sanitaria, la ricerca, la prevenzione e la risposta rapida alle crisi.
Investire nella solidarietà, nel coordinamento e nella preparazione significa rafforzare la tutela della salute pubblica in Africa, ma anche in Europa, contribuendo al contempo a una maggiore capacità globale di prevenire future epidemie. Grazie.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole. Abbiamo concluso il dibattito, apriamo la procedura catch-the-eye, abbiamo un solo collega. Prego onorevole Tinkinen. Mr. Tinkinen, for you. Thank you.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Grazie. Dear speaker, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is deeply worrying. While we cannot control when these outbreaks happen, we can and must control how we respond. Targeted emergency funding is appropriate. At the same time, there is an endless number of crises in the world.
Aid can provide temporary help, but ultimately true safety cannot be outsourced. It starts with the institutions that are built within a country. A response to a crisis should not be to cross fingers and hope that new crisis will not come. They will come, and at some point aid money runs out.
If at that point there are no institutions in the country that can step up, it is not the donor who has betrayed the people, it is their government. Thank you.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie onorevole. Prego commissaria Labib per le sue conclusioni. Prego.
Hadja Lahbib
Thank you. You know, this Ebola outbreak is the 17th that occurred in the region. So it means that this epidemic outbreak didn't take us by surprise. We were prepared for that. And I have to say that when I went there in February, I saw that all the ingredients were already there to provoke this epidemic outbreak.
So it is right to say that we need a structural investment, and that's exactly what we are doing.
Last month, last May, we presented our humanitarian communication, which is mainly addressing fragile context, how we can help this protracted crisis, addressing the root causes in these fragile contexts and how we can implement the famous nexus, working hand in hand with humanitarian aid, development and peace actors. That's why we propose to strengthen our humanitarian diplomacy and to work with a long-term vision, involving our international partners, but also cooperation in development at a very early stage, because indeed humanitarian aid cannot solve what is mainly a crisis provoked by the lack of governance and wars in this region. And to ask to your questions, dear Stine Bosse, what are we doing now? As I said in my introductory remarks, we first have a funding response very quickly. The eighth EU humanitarian air bridge arrived in Goma last Tuesday.
Another EU air bridge is planned for South Sudan on the 21st July to support preparedness and for, and we are exploring a possibility for more EU humanitarian air bridge in the coming weeks, probably to Entebbe as it is really a strategic location. And allow me to end on a personal note. As a former journalist, I know the effect of misinformation can have on our response to crisis. People need facts they can trust to protect themselves and their families.
And that's why when I was there in Bunia, I entered in contact, I was there to communicate for us towards European citizens, but also for local communities. And I entered into contact with global traditional leaders, religious leaders to encourage them to help us to build trust with the affected communities. And lastly, a word on the next MFF. We will have three good instruments to boost research and development and medical countermeasures: the UCPM Hub, European Competitiveness Fund, and Horizon. I count on you for a strong support on the next MFF.
Thank you.
Antonella Sberna
Grazie, Commissario. La discussione è chiusa. La seduta è sospesa e riprenderà tra alcuni minuti con la dichiarazione della Commissione sulla valorizzazione del potenziale di una strategia dell'Unione Europea per una bioeconomia competitiva e sostenibile in nome dell'autonomia strategica dell'Unione Europea.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much, the sitting is resumed.
The next item on the agenda is Commission statement: Harnessing the potential of a competitive and sustainable EU bioeconomy strategy for EU strategic economy. And first, Commissioner Roswall has the floor.
Jessika Roswall
President, honorable members, thank you for organizing this debate on the bioeconomy and its potential to boost the EU strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness. The timing could not be more relevant. Europe is facing a changing geopolitical and economical landscape. Real wars, trade wars and climate change have turned global energy and raw material markets upside down. We often speak about our energy dependency, but we must also have a conversation about our material dependency.
The bioeconomy is a part of the answer. Every time we use bio-based materials to produce plastic, chemicals, textiles or fertilizers, we increase our resilience and our independence. The recent crises have highlighted just how vulnerable our economies are at external shocks.
They have also reminded us of the resilience that the resilience is not built overnight, it requires long-term investments, strategic partnership, and confidence in Europe's own resources. In this context, building a competitiveness competitive and sustainable bioeconomy has become an economic necessity and clear strategic opportunity for Europe. We know what the EU bioeconomy already means for citizens and businesses across Europe. I have seen it firsthand in discussions with farmers, fishers, rural communities, and innovative companies. And the numbers they speak for themselves.
The EU bioeconomy creates a value of around 2.7 trillion euros. It employs 17.1 million people and corresponds to 5% of EU GDP. And every job in the bioeconomy creates three indirect jobs in the EU. And I have no doubts with the right incentives that we can deliver more economic growth, environmental benefits, and resilience. And for the first time, we have taken steps to maximize this potential with our new EU bioeconomy strategy.
We showed that the possibilities that already exist in nature's design. We are not the only one who sees this.
In October, the Irish presidency will bring the world to Dublin for the Global Bioeconomy Summit with the European Union as a committed partner. But strategies alone only can matters if they also lead to concrete actions. And this is only happening when policy, industry and finance move together and that is what I want to focus on today. First, we aim to remove barriers that delays market entry, creates uncertainty and increase administrative costs. We will look at sector-specific regulations, but also cross-cutting efforts, steering by the way, by the soon-to-be-established Bioeconomy Regulators and Innovators Forum.
Some innovators tell me that they struggle with different national definitions of what can considered be considered as bio-based. That matters a lot of course in terms of what legislative legislations applies. So with the future Biotech Act too, we will streamline rules to remove bottlenecks and create a single market for these innovative products. We also progressing work on bio-based plastic, including the necessary preparatory studies and consultation to provide greater clarity for innovators and investors.
Second, we are taking concrete steps to bring investors to the table. The first meeting of the Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group confirmed that the challenge is not lack of capital, but it's a mismatch between available finance and the needs of bio-based industrial projects. That is why we will work closely with the EIB, private investors and national promotional banks to better connect promising projects with the financing that they need to scale up. During the Global Bioeconomy Summit, we will officially launch the Bio-based Europe Alliance to mobilize private demand for bio-based materials and products. The Alliance will gather EU companies committed to collectively purchasing bio-based materials and products worth 10 billion euros by 2030.
We are already engaging with key industry associations and leading companies across Europe to ensure that this Alliance starts delivering tangible market demands from day one. It is key to create long-term opportunities for Europe's bio-based materials, products, technologies and applications.
So we are also working on a buyers club to leverage public and private investments for purchases of carbon farming credits, thus encouraging investments across value chains. Honorable members, building a thriving innovative bioeconomy requires buy-in from all Europe, from farmers to the financial sectors, from rural communities to regulators, from policymakers to researchers and innovators. So here the Parliament plays a crucial role. I really look forward to continue working with you on this strategy. Thank you very much.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much, Madam Commissioner. On behalf of the EPP group, Mr. Sokol has the floor.
Tomislav Sokol
Poštovani potpredsjedniče, povjerenice, kolegice i kolege. Farmaceutska i biotehnološka industrija strateški su sektori za Europsku uniju. To ispravno prepoznaje Mario Draghi u svom izvješću o konkurentnosti u kojem naglašava da će upravo inovacije u području biotehnologije i napredne proizvodnje biti ključne za budući gospodarski rast i stratešku autonomiju Europe. Europska unija danas ostvaruje trgovinski suficit od oko 220 milijardi eura u lijekovima i farmaceutskim proizvodima, što pokazuje da je riječ o jednoj od naših najuspješnijih industrija. No taj uspjeh ne smijemo uzimati zdravo za gotovo.
Konkurencija je sve snažnija. Kina agresivno ulaže u proizvodnju biotehnologija, Indija jača svoju poziciju kao globalni proizvođač lijekova i aktivnih sastojaka, a Sjedinjene Američke Države kroz svoje industrijske politike i poticaje privlače investicije, istraživanje i razvoj iz Europe. Ako želimo zadržati vodeću poziciju, Europa mora djelovati odlučno. Zakon o kritičnim lijekovima i predloženi zakon o biotehnologiji važni su koraci u dobrom smjeru. Međutim, za očuvanje europske konkurentnosti potrebno je učiniti više: osigurati snažnu zaštitu intelektualnog vlasništva, ubrzati izdavanje dozvola za strateške projekte, olakšati pristup kapitalu te pomoći europskim inovativnim tvrtkama da prerastu iz uspješnih startupova u globalno konkurentne scale-up kompanije.
Upravo zato, nova strategija za konkurentno i održivo gospodarstvo EU mora biti više od okolišne ili poljoprivredne strategije. Njena primjena mora povezati znanost, održivu proizvodnju biomaterijala, biotehnologiju i farmaceutsku industriju. Time ćemo jačati europsku otpornost, povećati dodatnu vrijednost naših prirodnih resursa i osigurati da inovacije nastale u Europi ostanu u Europi. To je put prema istinski konkurentnoj, održivoj i strateški autonomnoj Europskoj uniji. Hvala lijepa.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much, dear colleague. En representación del grupo Socialistas y Demócratas, el señor Luena.
César Luena
Moltes gràcies, president.
Desde luego que la bioeconomía puede ser una gran oportunidad, pero no podemos sustituir, comisaria, una economía basada en extraer petróleo por otra basada en extraer cada vez más recursos de la naturaleza. Sería un error. Porque la biomasa no es infinita. Nuestros bosques, suelos, mares y ecosistemas tienen límites y respetarlos no es un freno al desarrollo, es la condición para que ese desarrollo sea duradero. Por eso necesitamos una bioeconomía verdaderamente circular, que aproveche mejor los residuos y los subproductos, que utilice los recursos con inteligencia y que genere más valor añadido con menos materias primas.
Tampoco podemos olvidar algo esencial: la alimentación y la biodiversidad tienen que seguir siendo prioridad. La bioeconomía nunca puede competir con la producción de alimentos ni poner más presión sobre unos ecosistemas que ya están muy tensionados. Si queremos una Europa más fuerte y competitiva, nuestra ventaja no vendrá de producir más recursos biológicos, sino de consumir menos recursos y de crear más valor utilizando menos. Moltes gràcies.
Esteban González Pons
Muchas gracias, señor Luena. En representación del grupo de los patriotas, Madame Brassac-Clank.
Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain
Merci Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire.
Le Conseil a reconnu en mars dernier la bioéconomie comme un levier de souveraineté industrielle, de transition écologique et de compétitivité. Charge maintenant aux États de tirer parti de leurs abondantes ressources agricoles et forestières et des nouveaux instruments européens, notamment l'accélérateur industriel et le règlement Biotech. En France, la bioéconomie représente deux millions d'emplois et 300 milliards d'euros de chiffre d'affaires par an. Mais la lecture des conclusions du Conseil interroge. On y parle de neutralité carbone et de suppression des obstacles réglementaires sans abaisser les normes, de simplification tout en installant une nouvelle bureaucratie, de protection du marché intérieur tout en prônant l'économie ouverte.
Et enfin, on détourne les enjeux de ce plan pour faire avancer la financiarisation de la nature et transformer l'agriculteur en simple fournisseur de services écosystémiques. Pour faire de la bioéconomie un instrument de puissance géopolitique, l'UE doit sortir de ses dépendances stratégiques, mais aussi sortir de son inertie.
Esteban González Pons
Merci Madame. On behalf of the ECR Group, la signora Donato.
Elena Donazzan
Grazie. Dobbiamo riconoscere che la strategia dell'economia della bioeconomia è tanto. Il termine greco bio riguarda il ciclo della vita. Io mi soffermerò sul tema dei carburanti e sul loro utilizzo.
Se declinata in un'ottica di neutralità tecnologica deve mettere anche al centro il tema dei carburanti. E parliamo di biocarburanti prodotti in Europa, con materie prime europee, lavoratori europei che tengono insieme la decarbonizzazione, la sicurezza e l'occupazione. Gli scarti animali, gli scarti dell'agricoltura, ma anche il recupero di materie prime seconde rappresentano un buon punto di partenza per avere autonomia. Anche questo è bio, se si considera appunto il ciclo della vita. Sui carburanti però c'è una contraddizione.
Noi oggi chiediamo, e in queste ore ad Ankara questo si dice, maggior sforzo per la difesa, maggior sforzo per poter essere autosufficienti. Ma aerei militari che vanno a batteria non ne conosco, né carri armati, né navi, né la logistica che porta in giro i nostri mezzi e le nostre e i nostri beni prodotti. Allora dobbiamo avere un approccio della circolarità economica, garantire questo con un approccio della bioeconomia e difendere ciò che è realmente europeo.
Speaker 275
Grazie, onorevole Donato. On behalf of the Renew Group, Madame Kulmuni.
Katri Kulmuni
Dear Chair, for decades Finland has championed for the bioeconomy. Our economy is heavily based on that, but bioeconomy is also so much more.
Bioeconomy is an answer for the several wicked problems of our time. Bioeconomy is not just wood, but it is how to replace the fossil-based solutions that we eventually need to get rid of with renewable local solutions based on bioeconomy and largely, yes, on wood, but also all the side streams it also generates to us. There's been lot of talk and goodwill with the bioeconomy, but then when it comes to the actual legislation, we face constantly contradictory goals. Commission often presents rather restrictions on bioeconomy-driven legislation, which only supports the fossil industry and not the phase-out of it. Hopefully, we would finally find the majority to integrate bioeconomy into the actual legislation, while this is not only question of environment, but it is a question for the economy, security and self-sufficiency of this continent.
And finally, I'm very grateful for the groups that you backed this discussion from the Renew initiative. It is very important theme for all of us.
Speaker 277
Thank you very much, dear colleague. On behalf of the Greens, la signora Guarda.
Cristina Guarda
Parliamo di costruire una bioeconomia europea competitiva e poi ostacoliamo una delle sue filiere più promettenti: la canapa.
Dove in pochi anni, solo in Unione Europea, la superficie coltivata è cresciuta del 60% e la produzione dell'oltre l'84%. Non è soltanto un settore molto versatile che fornisce materie prime per l'edilizia, il tessile, l'alimentazione, i mangimi e molti altri prodotti bio-based. Ma è anche un settore che dà agli agricoltori nuove fonti di reddito, diversificazione e quindi più resilienza, capacità di resistere alle crisi. La nuova strategia europea per la bioeconomia deve sostenere chi lavora in questa filiera superando gli ostacoli politici che ancora oggi ne frenano lo sviluppo. A loro dobbiamo dare regole chiare, criteri che incentivino l'uso di materiali bio-based negli appalti pubblici, nelle costruzioni, investimenti, soprattutto negli impianti di prima trasformazione della fibra, innovazione senza preconcetti.
L'Europa dispone già delle competenze, delle imprese e degli agricoltori interessati. Ora serve una strategia capace di rispondere a tutto questo. Grazie.
Anthony Smith
Président, Commissaire, collègues. La bioéconomie est souvent présentée comme un secteur d'avenir, mais encore faut-il savoir au service de qui elle est mise en œuvre.
La nouvelle stratégie européenne de la Commission n'est comme à son habitude pas à la hauteur de l'enjeu. Sous couvert de compétitivité et d'innovation, elle organise la prédation généralisée du vivant. La logique est toujours la même : transformer le vivant en marchandise, exploiter davantage les forêts, les terres agricoles et la biomasse en allongeant l'exploitation des brevets. Le tout en réduisant au maximum les normes environnementales et en remettant en cause le principe de précaution. En réalité, cette stratégie ne répond qu'à une seule urgence, celle des intérêts des industriels et des capitalistes en facilitant la privatisation du vivant à leur seul profit.
À la France Insoumise, nous refusons cette fuite en avant. Seule une stratégie fondée sur le bien commun, répondant aux besoins réels des populations, garantissant la préservation des écosystèmes pourra faire face à la crise du climat. Stop au greenwashing, place à la planification écologique. Merci.
Speaker 282
Merci monsieur. Madame Commissioner, do you want to take the floor? From where you are, from where you want.
Jessika Roswall
Thank you very much President. It's the first time for me in this new setting.
So, Mr. Sokol, I really fully agree that this is not, it is about growth and simplification and the competitiveness for Europe. And as I see it, really the momentum now is to make this a sustainable industry strategy. Just a push for the question on the medicine and the pharma sector, we are really important that we put the biotech, bioact, tech act to into place very soon. César Luena, you correctly point out that the resources that we have when it comes to bio is not endless, but they are renewable, they are homegrown, and that is why we need to treat them both, manage them with sustainability, but also use this as the opportunity to change the decarbonization agenda that we are into. I also want to highlight one maybe additional point on that is that on another part of my portfolio is that we also need to use the circularity here.
MEP Donatza, you mentioned the defense and resilience, and this is a key point for me. Because as I started with my first intervention, it is about reduce our dependencies, and that again a new crisis has shown how much that cost for all of us and us as consumers.
And then on the bioeconomy, on I totally agree with the MEP from Finland, I totally agree and we know that this is not a niche. This is something, this is a big sector, I showed it a bit with my figures in the beginning. It is a key sector for all of Europe, a sector that we can lead if we do this right, we do this together. And I think that the time to do this is now, it's never been better or worse, but there is that we have. So absolutely I will try to move the regulation into that security angle also.
I think that I answered a little bit on MEP Guarda that for me to harmonize and use this and link it again to circularity is exactly where I am. Finally to MEP Smith, as I see this, this is also an opportunity to create jobs. We already see how much jobs the bioeconomy creates in rural areas, creates for foresters, creates for farmers. So this is also again something that is beneficial for all of Europe and a win-win-win situation. Thank you very much.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much, Madam Commissioner. We jump now into the second part of the debate and my first speaker is my friend Mr. Kelly.
Seán Kelly
Míle buíochas, a Uachtaráin, as ucht an deis labhartha seo.
Europe's bioeconomy represents one of our greatest untapped economic opportunities. By turning agricultural residues, forestry by-products, marine resources and organic waste into high-value products, we can reduce our dependence on fossil-based materials while creating new jobs, new industries and new income streams for rural communities. We need to frame the bioeconomy as a critical element of Europe's industrial policy, innovation policy and competitiveness policy. It strengthens European strategic autonomy by producing more of the materials, chemicals, fuels and ingredients we need here in Europe from resources we already have. I therefore welcome investments such as Ireland's new national biorefinery pilot plant in County Monaghan, which help researchers, SMEs and industry from across the country to transform promising ideas into commercially viable products, bridging the gap between laboratory research and market deployment.
If Europe is serious about competitiveness, circularity and supporting our rural economy, then we must put the bioeconomy at the heart of our industrial strategy, invest in innovation and give Europe's entrepreneurs the tools they need to scale up and succeed. Míle buíochas a scoilge, tapaidh an deis. Míle buíochas a Uachtaráin.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you, thank you very much. My next speaker is Madame Burkhardt.
Delara Burkhardt
Thank you, President, dear Commissioner. Die Bioökonomie kann oder wird ein wichtiger Baustein für eine wettbewerbsfähige und unabhängigere Europäische Union sein, aber mehr Unabhängigkeit bedeutet nicht, dass wir einfach Biomaterialien produzieren und fossile durch biobasierte Materialien ersetzen. Schon heute stehen unsere Ökosysteme unter enormem Druck. Die Bioökonomie darf deshalb nicht einfach das alte lineare Wirtschaftsmodell mit einem grünen Etikett fortsetzen. Unsere Antwort muss, und die Kommissarin hat es auch schon gesagt, eine Kreislaufbioökonomie sein, weniger Ressourcenverbrauch und eine klare Orientierung an der Abfallhierarchie.
Unsere Chance liegt nämlich darin, mit weniger Ressourcen mehr Wert zu schaffen.
Das Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz, das zweite Biotech-Gesetz bieten dafür wichtige Möglichkeiten durch eine stärkere Kaskadennutzung von Biomasse, durch klare Kriterien, wann biobasierte Materialien über ihren gesamten Lebenszyklus tatsächlich einen Vorteil bringen, durch Quoten für den Einsatz dieser Materialien aus europäischer Produktion und durch die Staffelung von Abfallgebühren entsprechend der tatsächlichen Umweltfreundlichkeit der eingesetzten Materialien. Ich bin überzeugt, so erschaffen so schaffen wir eine Bioökonomie, die nachhaltiger ist, die Europas Wettbewerbsfähigkeit stärkt durch Innovation, durch Ressourceneffizienz und durch weniger Abhängigkeit von globalen Rohstoffmärkten. Vielen Dank.
Barry Cowen
Thank you. Members, a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy is a strategic necessity. Our recent experience with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz makes that all the more clear. The EU's vision for the bioeconomy is that by 2040, bio-based construction products like biochemicals, textiles, fertilizers, plastics and so forth will all be widely deployed across our Union. And there are to be these are to be fossil-free alternatives that create stable new income streams for citizens.
Looking specifically at the potential of fertilizers, we see that the bio-based fertilizers can cut our dependence on imports, lower our carbon footprint and turn agricultural residues and organic waste into real economic value. And that's why when the Commission evaluates the Fertilising Products Regulation, it must ask whether it is delivering market access for bio-based fertilizers appropriately.
If not, we need to see action now, we need to see these products fast-tracked to the market. It's a rare case where everyone can win and we can and have to at this stage because of what I've mentioned earlier, grab that opportunity with both hands at this stage. Thank you.
Letizia Moratti
Presidente, Commissaria, colleghi. Ogni giorno nelle nostre case, nelle mense, nei supermercati, nelle aziende agricole, milioni di tonnellate di cibo vengono finiscono nella spazzatura. In quei materiali c'è già una parte del futuro dell'Europa. Quello che oggi scartiamo può diventare energia pulita, fertilizzanti naturali, nuovi materiali compostabili, nuove imprese, nuovi posti di lavoro. La bioeconomia è una grande politica industriale, non solo ambientale.
È una scelta di libertà perché significa dipendere meno dalle materie prime importate e valorizzare ciò che già produciamo. L'Europa possiede competenze, possiede ricerca e imprese capaci di guidare questa trasformazione, ma siamo lenti.
Gli scarti organici non sono un problema da eliminare, ma una risorsa da valorizzare. Dobbiamo rendere più efficienti i nostri sistemi di raccolta e di riciclo in tutta Europa e promuovere i materiali compostabili che rappresentano davvero la soluzione migliore. Oggi troppe filiere bio-based restano bloccate da ostacoli burocratici che frenano l'innovazione. In un mondo in cui le materie prime sono sempre più rare e più contese, continuare a sprecare risorse è un lusso che l'Europa non si può più permettere. La bioeconomia non è un sogno per il futuro, è un'opportunità concreta per costruire un'Europa più forte, più competitiva e più autonoma.
Sakis Arnaoutoglou
Κύριε Πρόεδρε, η ευρωπαϊκή βιοοικονομία μπορεί να αποτελέσει φυσικά σημαντικό εργαλείο για την πράσινη μετάβαση, την καινοτομία, τη βιομηχανική ανταγωνιστικότητα και την στρατηγική αυτονομία της Ευρώπης. Όμως πρέπει να είμαστε σε κάτι πολύ ξεκάθαροι. Η βιοοικονομία δεν μπορεί να γίνει μια νέα μορφή πίεσης πάνω στη γη, στα δάση, στο νερό και στη βιοποικιλότητα γενικότερα.
Δεν αρκεί να αντικαταστήσουμε τα ορυκτά υλικά, δηλαδή με βιολογικούς πόρους, αν αυτό οδηγεί σε υπερεκμετάλλευση οικοσυστημάτων ή σε ανταγωνισμό με την παραγωγή τροφίμων. Χρειαζόμαστε μια βιοοικονομία κυκλική, προπάντων δίκαιη και πραγματικά βιώσιμη, με προτεραιότητα στην υψηλή προστιθέμενη αξία και στις τοπικές αλυσίδες παραγωγής. Οι αγρότες, οι δασοκόμοι, οι αλιείς και οι παράκτιες κοινότητες δεν πρέπει να είναι απλώς προμηθευτές πρώτων υλών, πρέπει να είναι συμμέτοχοι στην αξία που δημιουργείται. Και ιδιαίτερα στη Μεσόγειο, όπου η ξηρασία, η λειψυδρία και η απώλεια εδαφών επιδεινώνονται, η βιοοικονομία πρέπει να συνδεθεί με την ανθεκτικότητα, την προστασία των φυσικών πόρων και την κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη. Στρατηγική αυτονομία λοιπόν, ναι, αλλά μέσα στα όρια της φύσης.
Ευχαριστώ.
Stine Bosse
Commissioner, Chair, dear colleagues, Europe has a hidden strength: our bioeconomy, our bio-based solutions. What is this? Well, it is the power of the new and the very old. The power of the gigantic and the very, very small. The largest trees in our forests and the smallest, smallest microorganisms.
They feed, they heal, they ferment and they build.
The bioeconomy contributes almost one trillion annually to our Union. More than 8% of GDP and supports 17% of our jobs. We must use this strategic asset to build for our future food security and to deliver our clean transition. Europe's position is under pressure. The US and China move very fast.
Now our Europe needs a strong Biotech Act too to create lead markets, to buy greener, to simplify how we regulate. Thank you.
Esteban González Pons
Dear colleague, you have a blue card from Mr. Sokol from the EPP Group. Do you accept it?
Of course.
Tomislav Sokol
Thank you very much. You said that we are being pressured by the US and China. And Biotech Act is definitely a way how to tackle this. But do you think that is enough? Do you think the Biotech Act provides enough solutions to tackle the problem of being squeezed from both sides, or do we need something more?
And what concretely do you think European Commission should do to answer this very big problem of pressure from both sides? Thanks.
Stine Bosse
Thank you very much, Mr. Sokol. Yes, a very good question indeed. And I do think that many of the things that we have done together already in this field and the Biotech Act too are very important cornerstones. But if I should mention one more thing that is desperately needed and that is in, well, I guess also in the hands of this Commissioner, but definitely in the hands of other Commissioners and von der Leyen and all the countries, it is of course to make the Capital Markets Union work much better and much stronger than we've seen up to today. We know that capital is the thing that is needed when we want to grow these businesses, and it is too scarce and it's too easy to go to the US and to get the capital.
So yes, please, that also.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much, Madame Vossi. The next speaker is Mr. Kula.
Stefan Köhler
Sehr geehrter Vizepräsident, liebe Kommissarin, die Bioökonomie bietet die einmalige Chance für Europa, einen einzigartigen Wirtschaftszweig zu erschließen, der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und die Nachhaltigkeit miteinander verbindet. Fakt ist, ohne uns Land- und Forstwirte wird dieser Sektor keinen Erfolg haben. Sie dürfen nicht nur Lieferanten von Rohstoffen sein, sondern müssen weiter an der Wertschöpfungskette beteiligt werden.
Die Innovation ist da. Schon heute gibt es unglaubliche Bandbreite an Produkten und Prozessen, von Baumaterialien bis hin zu biobasierten Textilien. All das gibt es heute schon in Europa. Jetzt müssen wir in die Breite kommen. Wir brauchen Investitionen und weniger Bürokratie.
Wer biobasierte Produkte entwickeln will, darf nicht an komplizierten Genehmigungen oder widersprüchlichen Vorschriften scheitern. Deshalb sollte die Bioökonomiestrategie bestehende Hemmnisse identifizieren und den Weg vorwärts aufzeigen. Der angekündigte Biotech Act 2 muss nun die Bioökonomie weiter voranbringen. Wir brauchen schnellere Genehmigungsverfahren, innovationsfreundliche Rahmenbedingungen und bessere Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten. Mit Land- und Forstwirtschaft im Zentrum bei uns schlummert so viel Potenzial.
Lassen Sie uns jetzt Europa als Standort für biobasierte Produkte entfesseln. Vielen Dank.
Günther Sidl
Sehr geehrter Herr Präsident, geschätzte Frau Kommissarin. Die Bioökonomiestrategie bietet neue Chancen für die Europäische Union.
Die Chance, fossile Rohstoffe zu ersetzen. Die Chance, auf diesem Gebiet die Technologieführerschaft zu übernehmen und dadurch auch die Chance, Arbeitsplätze und Wohlstand in Europa abzusichern und auszubauen, vor allem durch mehr Unabhängigkeit. Das alles sind unterstützenswerte Ziele und genau deshalb darf es hier nicht bei schönen Überschriften bleiben. Für mich heißt das, dass wir die Kreislaufwirtschaft weiter vorantreiben müssen und mit klaren Vorgaben gegen die Verschwendung von Ressourcen angehen. Für mich heißt das, dass wir endlich die Gesundheit unserer Böden und Gewässer sicherstellen müssen, und für mich heißt das auch, dass wir klare Regeln brauchen, mit denen unsere hohen Lebensmittelstandards und der Schutz der Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher abgesichert werden.
Eine Bioökonomiestrategie, auf die ein starkes Fundament fußt, werde ich gerne unterstützen. Herzlichen Dank.
Christophe Grudler
La bioéconomie, ce sont des innovations concrètes : plastiques fabriqués à partir de déchets agricoles, carburants durables ou encore médicaments.
Nous avons pour cela d'excellents chercheurs et des entreprises innovantes. Mais trop souvent, les innovations naissent chez nous et sont industrialisées ailleurs. Parce que nos entreprises ont toujours les mêmes obstacles en Europe : des procédures trop longues, un accès au marché insuffisant et un marché européen trop fragmenté. Nous devons changer d'échelle. Il faut pour cela davantage d'investissements avec le soutien de la BEI et du prochain budget européen.
Il faut aussi des règles qui créent de vrais débouchés pour nos produits biosourcés et qui accélèrent la construction de nouvelles usines. La bioéconomie, c'est donc aussi une politique industrielle, une politique d'innovation et un levier essentiel pour renforcer notre autonomie stratégique. Transformons ce potentiel en emplois, en investissements et en production ici en Europe.
Merci, Monsieur. Madame Tadlak.
Ingeborg Ter Laak
Dear Chair, dear Commissioners, dear colleagues. The next breakthrough that could save lives or make plants climate resilient or make us produce chemicals or plastics on large scales without fossil fuels, all these breakthroughs, they could come from Europe. The question is, will it? Will it be developed and produced in Europe? And Europe has it all, you know, Europe has the knowledge, has the talent, has the innovation.
We have everything to become a global leader in biotechnology. But we must ensure that those innovations will reach patients, will reach consumers, and also for companies it must pay off to transform. Investing in clean innovation is not an investment just in our economy. It's above all an investment in healthcare, an investment in sustainability, in our environment. Bioeconomy is Europe's future.
By bringing together health, sustainability, competitiveness, we can really strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy. Thank you.
Elsi Katainen
Kiitoksia puhemies, hyvä komissaari. Riippumattomuus venäläisestä tai Lähi-idän fossiilipolttoaineista ei synny siten, että rajoitamme voimakkaasti Euroopassa uusiutuvien luonnonvarojen käyttöä. Biotalous on yksi tärkeimmistämme keinoistamme vahvistaa omavaraisuutta ja rakentaa vahvempaa uusiutuviin luonnonvaroihin perustuvaa Eurooppaa.
Samalla vähennämme tuontiriippuvuutta, luomme työpaikkoja, nostamme tietysti jalostusarvoa ja vahvistamme huoltovarmuuttamme. Me tarvitsemme johdonmukaista sääntelyä, ilmasto- ja energiatavoitteiden yhteensovittamista, teknologianeutraalisuutta ja investointien, myöskin tutkimuksen, määrätietoista tukemista. Esimerkiksi ennallistamisasetuksen toimeenpanoon liittyy edelleen merkittäviä epävarmuuksia liittyen sen laajuuteen, sen hintaan ja vaikutuksiin. Jos emme luo yrityksillä ennustettavaa toimintaympäristöä, investoinnit jäävät tekemättä ja riippumattomuus jää pelkäksi puheeksi. On hyvä, että EU-biotalousstrategia tunnistaa myös biokiertotalouden valtavan potentiaalin.
Nyt tarvitaan myös poliittista rohkeutta hyödyntää se.
Hildegard Bentele
Sehr geehrter Herr Präsident, liebe Frau Kommissarin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, strategische Autonomie bedeutet nicht nur Abhängigkeiten bei Chips, Energie oder kritischen Rohstoffen zu verringern. Sie bedeutet auch unsere eigenen biologischen Ressourcen besser zu nutzen. Die Bioökonomie kann Europa in zentralen Bereichen unabhängiger machen, bei der Lebensmittelversorgung, bei Energie, bei Gesundheit und überall dort, wo wir heute noch von fossilen Rohstoffen abhängig sind.
Das ist kein Nischenthema. Die europäische Bioökonomie steht bereits heute für mehr als 17 Millionen Arbeitsplätze und eine Wertschöpfung von 2,7 Billionen Euro. Arbeitsplätze in der Bioökonomie-Industrie sind hochproduktiv und schaffen fast drei weitere indirekte Arbeitsplätze in Europa. Gerade für ländliche Räume und Küstenregionen ergeben sich hier neue Chancen. Europa ist in der Bioökonomie nicht abgehängt.
Im Gegenteil: Wir sind stark in Forschung und Innovation. Was uns noch fehlt, ist die industrielle Skalierung. Dafür braucht es mehr Pioniergeist, mehr Investitionsbereitschaft, europaweite Harmonisierung und Leitmärkte für biobasierte Produkte. Gut, dass die EU-Kommission das Thema auf die Agenda gesetzt hat. Unsere Aufgabe ist es jetzt, dafür zu sorgen, dass Biotech-Cluster, Regulierung und Finanzierung besser ineinandergreifen, damit die Bioökonomie in Europa international wettbewerbsfähig wird und bleibt.
Vielen Dank.
Esteban González Pons
Dankeschön, liebe Kollege. The next speaker is Madame Wiesner.
Emma Ytterell
Biofiber i kläder och tyg, starka limträbalkar, snygga byggmaterial, gröna kemikalier, rengöringsmedel, smörjmedel, biobaserad färg och lim, bioplast, hållbara förpackningar, biogas, biodrivmedel, el och värme. Ja, listan kan göras lång. Och jag står ofta i den här talarstolen och säger att EU måste bryta vårat beroende av fossila energikällor, insatsvaror och kemikalier. Och jag får lika ofta frågan, inte minst från den här sidan i parlamentet, de som förnekar klimatförändringarna och fortsätter vill handla, vill fortsätta handla med diktaturer och skurkstater, om hur det här ska gå till. Och här har ni svaret: i bioekonomin.
Låt oss göra det fossila till historia. Med bioresurser från skog, lantbruk och hav kan vi göra slut med det fossila. Men då duger det inte med EU-regler som ställer sig i vägen. Nu måste EU leverera enklare regler som möjliggör och inte blockerar skogsbruk, som bättre finansierar och tar vara på möjligheter och potentialen i hela vår biobaserade sektor. Tack.
Ako želimo istinsku stratešku autonomiju Europske unije, moramo početi od onoga što je temelj svake ekonomije: naši prirodni resursi i sposobnost da ih održivo koristimo. Upravo zato bioekonomija nije samo razvojna prilika, nego strateška nužnost. Ona Europi omogućuje manju ovisnost o uvozu, jača našu proizvodnju i istodobno daje odgovor na klimatske izazove.
Marko Vešligaj
U tome poljoprivreda ima nezamjenjivu ulogu. Nova tranzicija mora biti pravedna. Hrvatska to najbolje pokazuje. Naša Slavonija, Zagorje, Međimurje, Banija, Lika, dalmatinska zagora, Gorski kotar i mnogobrojne druge ruralne regije imaju golemi potencijal da postanu europski centri proizvodnje biomaterijala, obnovljive energije, inovacija i kvalitetnih radnih mjesta. Ono što nam nedostaje nije potencijal, nego ulaganja, moderna infrastruktura i snažnija europska potpora.
Zato trebamo ambicioznu europsku strategiju koja će povezati bioekonomiju, poljoprivredu i regionalni razvoj te ulagati upravo ondje gdje Europa može biti najjača: u svojim regijama. Hvala.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Thank you, President. There is something in the leftist logic that I simply cannot understand. You claim to want a cleaner and more autonomous Europe, yet your actions contradict your words. In the energy sector, you push electrification while undermining Europe's nuclear industry. You want batteries instead of petrol, but you oppose mines for the critical raw materials that batteries require.
The same contradiction applies to the automotive sector. You push electric vehicles while burdening European producers. It's almost like calling on China to dominate our automotive market. When forestry companies are innovating to build a bio-based future, you oppose them and demand limitations on harvesting the material that is needed for wood-based products. The leftist logic is hurting Europe.
Thank you.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you, Mr. Tynkkynen. And now my friend, Madame Grapini, seat 542.
Maria Grapini
Mulțumesc, domnule președinte, doamnă comisar, stimați colegi. Sigur că Uniunea Europeană are nevoie de o strategie în domeniul bioeconomiei. Numai că, doamnă comisar, chiar dumneavoastră ați spus că există capital, dar oare ce ne lipsește? Încrederea, pentru că de foarte multe ori în această perioadă în Uniunea Europeană s-au făcut reglementări care se obstrucționează unele pe altele. Și ca să vă dau un exemplu concret, se vorbea aici de biotehnologia farmaceutică și este foarte importantă să avem această independență într-o industrie care depinde de fapt viața oamenilor de această industrie.
Dar avem o directivă, directiva pe ape uzate. Noi în Parlament am votat o rezoluție să o schimbați pentru că este prost gândită și are un impact și închide pe rând fabrici de medicamente. Vă mai pot da exemple în domeniul textil unde am lucrat vreo 36 de ani, că ani de zile Uniunea Europeană a ars câmpul cu cânepă, considerând-o absolut neutilizabilă și dăunătoare. De fapt este o plantă textilă ecologică care poate fi folosită în toate domeniile și este cea mai eficientă că n-arunci nimic de la ea, de la uleiuri până la reziduuri care se folosesc în domeniul construcțiilor. Și atunci, lipsa aceasta de încredere că există o continuitate a politicilor face ca sigur investitorul să nu investească.
Poate că veniți să eliminați acele bariere, pentru că mai avem o barieră, bariera tarifelor, pentru că puneți taxe vamale și o spun mereu aici la materii prime mai mici decât la produsele finite. Vă mulțumesc.
Thank you very much, Madam Commissioner, please.
President, honorable members, thank you very much for this debate. It was really encouraging for me. I will just shortly repeat some things. Bioeconomy is a big sector. I talked about it in the beginning, many have repeated, and it has a big potential.
I also, we also see the great importance for our resilience with bioeconomy.
Jessika Roswall
Biofertilizers was mentioned, I totally agree, that can create our own homegrown fertilizers. The competitiveness will be encouraged by this, but also of course fighting climate change and the decarbonization and the dependencies that we are today. Of course I also see the challenges. Access to market, mentioned from many, that is actually the one thing that is mentioned over and over again when I visit innovative companies all around Europe. The need for scale up, the need for finance, but also as I said in my beginning, it's not always the lack of capital, but it's the mismatch of capital.
I will end this, my intervention, with stealing what MEP Sean Kelly said. He said, let us now use this momentum, that was my words maybe, but let's put circular bioeconomy in the heart of our industrial agenda. Thank you very much for the debate.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much, Madam Commissioner. With the new rules, it's obvious that there is no, there are no more members in the room. We are only six, taking into account that I'm here as well, we are seven. And now I have to stop the sitting until half past five.
So I'm going to read, the sitting is suspended. It will resume at half past five with the debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Thank you very much and please excuse, excuse us. We will continue later. Have a rest.
Dear colleagues, the sitting is resumed. The new item on the agenda is debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The next debate is the threat of war crimes, the escalating violations of international humanitarian law and the human rights situation in El Obeid, Sudan. And my first speaker is my friend Madame Tarak.
Ingeborg Ter Laak
Thank you, Chair, Commissioner, colleagues. Starvation, rape, enforced disappearances and torture as weapon of war. Thousands have been killed and many more have been forced to flee their homes. This was is what the world is witnessing in El Fasher just months ago. Today, the people of El Obeid face the same horrific fate.
For months, the RSF siege and trapped half a million men, women and children. Drone strikes on fuel stations and hospitals have deprived people from food, healthcare and safety, leaving them to live in constant fear. Europe has not done enough to prevent that could become another massacre in El Obeid, despite our moral and legal responsibility to act. Today, we call on the Council and the Commission to change this course, impose sanctions on those responsible for these crimes and use every available lever to end the external support that is fueling Sudan's suffering. Thank you.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you, dear colleague. My next speaker is Madame May. Also great friends. Great friends, well, near to the best.
Marit Maij
Thank you, Chair, Commissioner, colleagues. The clock is ticking for the people in El Obeid. And today we have the eighth debate this mandate on Sudan. The EU has the opportunity to curb further human suffering. So I look to you, Commissioner.
Article 21 of the Treaty on the European Union places upon you, on the Commission, the responsibility for consistent foreign policy. Consistent foreign policy is not giving a little aid to victims of the humanitarian disaster and bags of support for those who sustain it. It is not condemning violations of human rights and clearing the room for the lobbyists of the very financiers of those war crimes. It is not millions of euro for humanitarian support to the Sudanese people and billions of euro for trade to the United Arab Emirates. But it is providing support for those who need it most, imposing sanctions on those who sustain this conflict, considering the inclusion of the RSF on the EU's terrorist list and demanding that all perpetrators of war crimes across the Sudan be held accountable.
Thank you.
Speaker 303
Thank you, President, Commissioner, dear colleagues. 33 million. That is the number of people in Sudan who urgently need humanitarian assistance, and 16 million of them are children. Colleagues, the situation in the Sudan is worsening by the day. The RSF are now threatening an offensive on El Obeid, putting 500,000 civilians at risk.
We have already witnessed the horror of El Fasher. We cannot allow another massacre to happen. We must increase humanitarian assistance, ensure humanitarian access and support those working on the ground to save lives. But we must also hold those accountable who are responsible.
The Council must adopt targeted restrictive measures against commanders, financiers, and external enablers, such as the UAE-based private security company Global Security Services Group, for providing military support to the RSF. Colleagues, our commitment to international law is tested not by our words, but by our actions. The people of Sudan are suffering, and we must not look away. Thank you.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you, dear colleague. Madame Vriel. You have the floor.
Nela Riehl
First of all, thank you all colleagues for the collaboration on this resolution. I put it on the agenda because we urgently need decisive action to save lives in Sudan. 33 million dependent on aid, 19 million facing hunger, and now the siege on El Obeid that will escalate the crisis, especially for women and children. And it's remarkable how easily some in this house pretend to care about women's rights, but behind closed doors they just care about UAE, and I'm looking to the far-right colleagues over there, that the UAE is the state funding the war, the rape, the trafficking of women. Last time too many members on that side of the house stayed silent when we all wanted to hold the Emirates accountable.
Now there's even more evidence of the Emirates funding the war in Sudan. They are responsible for this genocide and it is time they pay for it. I think tomorrow is the time to vote in favor of this resolution for women's rights.
And here we are again.
Isabel Serra Sánchez
Gracias, presidente. Señorías, supongo que han visto ustedes imágenes de mujeres en Sudán con sus hijos encima llorando de desesperación. Ante esto hay dos opciones. Una es explicar lo que sucede en Sudán recurriendo al viejo relato del colonialismo, según el cual los conflictos en el sur global se deben a que son unos bárbaros, a que no saben convivir en paz, a que no saben autogobernarse y bajo ese relato siempre se han justificado las invasiones extranjeras y callado ante la violencia que suponen. Y hay otra opción, que es decir la verdad.
Decir la verdad en el caso de Sudán implica decir que los 60.000 muertos son consecuencia de la responsabilidad de Occidente y sus aliados.
Que Emiratos Árabes Unidos introduce las armas que sirven para cometer un genocidio y que extrae el oro de Sudán. Y como todos y todas sabemos que Emiratos Árabes Unidos es un gobierno títere de Estados Unidos e Israel, que los planes expansionistas del sionismo están detrás del genocidio que se está cometiendo en Sudán. Y otra vez más, que Estados Unidos e Israel son la principal amenaza para la humanidad. Muchas gracias.
Carlo Ciccioli
Grazie, presidente. La situazione nella città di El Obeid, 340.000 abitanti, sta precipitando. Centinaia di migliaia di civili sono intrappolati nei combattimenti, mentre continuano gli attacchi contro la popolazione e le infrastrutture civili. L'Alto Commissario delle Nazioni Unite per i diritti umani ha confermato che i civili vivono in questa città da 18 mesi sotto assedio permanente e che si rischia una nuova tragedia umanitaria. Sia chiaro, in Sudan non esiste una soluzione militare.
Entrambe le parti sono responsabili di gravissime violazioni del diritto internazionale umanitario.
Per questo chiediamo un cessate il fuoco immediato, il pieno rispetto della dichiarazione di Gedda, un accesso umanitario senza ostacoli e sanzioni pi severe contro chi alimenta il conflitto e impedisce addirittura l'arrivo di aiuti umanitari. Non ci sar pace finch il futuro del Sudan rester nelle mani di questi gruppi estremisti. I Fratelli Musulmani hanno alimentato per anni radicalizzazione, violenza e instabilit in Sudan e in tutta la regione. L'Unione Europea, insieme alle Nazioni Unite e all'Unione Africana, deve sostenere un processo politico che escluda ogni influenza di movimenti islamisti radicali.
Tomasz Froelich
Herr Prsident, Frau Kommissarin, der Sudan gleicht der Hlle auf Erden: ber 150.000 Tote, 14 Millionen Vertriebene, 25 Millionen Hungernde, massenhaft Vergewaltigungen und systematische Verfolgungen von Christen und nicht-arabischen Minderheiten. Es drohen jetzt weitere Massaker. Wir verurteilen das aufs Schrfste. Natrlich befeuert dieser Konflikt auch Massenmigration nach Europa. Wer aber den halben Sudan aufnimmt, hilft nicht dem Sudan, sondern wird selbst zum Sudan.
Wir mssen daher unsere Auengrenzen schtzen und wir sollten dort helfen, wo es sinnvoll ist, nmlich in der Region gemeinsam mit den Nachbarstaaten.
Das ist Diplomatie. Es geht darum, Realismus mit Humanität zu verbinden. Klare Kante gegen Kriegsverbrechen, keine Waffenlieferungen, die den Konflikt nur verlängern, regionale Stabilität statt weiterer Anreize für Massenmigration und deshalb enge Kooperation mit den Staaten der Region statt Werteimperialismus. Denn eine tragfähige Friedenslösung ist nur dann möglich, wenn man die regionalen und kulturellen Kontexte berücksichtigt. Wer diese ignoriert, verschlimmert nur das Chaos.
Das ist eine Politik der Verantwortung gegenüber den Menschen im Sudan und gegenüber den Menschen in Europa.
Esteban González Pons
Thank you very much. We jump now into the second part of the debate and my first speaker on behalf of the EPP group is Madame Niechel.
Mirosława Nykiel
Dziękuję bardzo, panie przewodniczący. Powiem tak: Sudan to nasza sprawa. Sudan to nasza sprawa, bo kiedy głód staje się bronią, pojawia się co? Migracja. Usłyszałam dzisiaj dwie złe odpowiedzi na ten temat.
Pierwsza to lewicowe marzenia, że wystarczy otworzyć drzwi i świat się sam ułoży. Otóż się, proszę państwa, nie ułoży. Mieliśmy już tego przykłady. I drugi, druga odpowiedź: migracja to ryzyko, kto temu zaprzecza, nie kocha Europy. Ta druga odpowiedź to prawicowy kabotynizm.
Wiecie co? Mamy na tej sali europosła, który biega po ulicy i nagrywa ludzi tylko dlatego, że mają inny kolor skóry. To po prostu świr.
Musimy wybrać inną drogę. Korytarze humanitarne natychmiast. Rozliczenie zbrodni wojennych natychmiast. Musimy działać, nie czekać. Dziękuję.
Marta Temido
Obrigada, presidente, senhora comissária. Depois de Zalingei e El Fasher, El Obeid corre o risco de ser o epicentro de uma nova tragédia no Sudão. El Obeid, que alberga uma população de meio milhão de habitantes, mas também um número indeterminado de pessoas internamente deslocadas e que está desde há meses cercada. El Obeid, onde aos ataques contínuos de drones que destruíram infraestruturas essenciais, semeando a fome e a cólera, ameaça agora juntar-se a repetição do massacre de civis a que assistimos antes, quando as forças rápidas de suporte e as forças armadas sudanesas se confrontaram, alimentadas pelo exterior.
Foram as palavras do alto representante das Naçes Unidas para os direitos humanos. E isso que hoje pedimos que a Unio Europeia mas tambm os Estados Unidos o Egito os Emirados rabes Unidos façam. Respeito pelo bloqueio na entrada de armas sançes individuais e responsabilizaço participaço na construço de uma soluço civil para o conflito. Obrigada.
France Jamet
Oui. Mes chers collgues Al-Fashir les populations subissent des bombardements des excutions des viols des dplacements forcs et des violations rptes du droit international humanitaire. Il semble que nous soyons tous d'accord aujourd'hui pour faire ce constat. On notera cependant qu'trangement on entend peu les lus d'extrme gauche et je veux parler particulirement de la France Insoumise autour de ce sujet. Il faut dire qu'ici il n'y a pas d'opportunit ni d'attaquer les juifs ni d'attaquer Isral.
Alors la ralit certains l'ont dit c'est que nombre d'tats sont complices de ce qui se passe au Soudan puisque les mirats Arabes Unis qui soutiennent les forces de soutien rapide l'origine des massacres jouissent chez nous c'est vrai d'un passe-droit scandaleux achet coup de ptrodollars.
Oui, si nous voulons arrêter de regarder ailleurs ou sortir de l'incantation pour réellement stopper ces massacres et ces exactions, commençons par pointer les vrais responsables et prenons aussi les mesures qui sont à notre portée. Je vous remercie.
Dubravka Šuica
Thank you, Vice-President, honorable members. As we speak, the Sudanese city of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, stands on the brink of catastrophe. About the size of Poznań, Lyon, or Lisbon, and home to one of Sudan's largest universities, it shelters some 500,000 people, including more than 100,000 who have already been displaced at least once this year. Today, all of them are in danger. For the past three weeks, drone strikes have hit the city.
Dozens of civilians have been killed. Fuel depot, power, and water supply lines and medical facilities have been struck. And around El Obeid, the Rapid Support Forces are massing their forces for what could be an imminent large-scale assault. We have seen this before in El Fasher in October 2023.
The mass killings, the ethnically targeted violence, the sexual violence. The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission documented it. El Obeid must not become another El Fasher. So let me be clear on what the European Union demands. The European Union calls on the Rapid Support Forces to halt their assault immediately and to refrain from any offensive that would place civilians at risk of mass atrocities.
Credible reports of ethnically targeted violence are already emerging. International humanitarian law must be respected. Civilians must be free to leave safely. Humanitarian actors must be granted rapid, safe and unhindered access to everyone in need, underpinned by credible security guarantees. The EU calls on those who support and have influence over the Rapid Support Forces to use that influence now.
The responsibility does not rest with the warring parties alone, it rests also with those who arm them, finance them and enable them. And the European Union is not bystander.
The European Council conclusions on Sudan adopted in October 2025 spell out four key asks to all parties of the conflict: ceasefire, humanitarian access and protection of civilians, civilian governance and accountability. Our special representative for the Horn of Africa has reached out to the Rapid Support Forces at every level of their leadership and through our regional partners. The European Union is engaged with the Quintet and with the wider international community to press for a cessation of hostilities and return to credible civilian-led transition. The European Union has already imposed restrictive measures on those fueling this conflict, linked to both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. And we stand ready to act again.
Those who commit atrocities and those who command them will be held to account through our sanctions, through the independent fact-finding mission to Sudan and through the International Criminal Court. Impunity is not an option. Dear members, we are raising the alarm now so that the international community is not left to once again to document a massacre after it has happened.
As Sudan's war has entered its fourth year, we call on the parties for constructive engagement in negotiations towards an immediate ceasefire. Only so can the suffering of the Sudanese people end. Thank you.
Reinhold Lopatka
Dear chair, dear colleagues, as Commissioner Šuica mentioned it, the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in El Fasher is yet another tragic reminder that the people of Sudan continue to pay the highest price for a conflict they did not choose. Reports of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the destruction of vital infrastructure, and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance raise serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law. Those responsible for atrocities against civilians must be held accountable. And at the same time, we must ensure that humanitarian organizations can reach those in need.
Millions of Sudanese are facing displacement, hunger, and a complete lack of basic services. And we have to call to all parties and also external actors to agree to an immediate ceasefire, engage in meaningful dialogue, and work towards a peaceful Sudanese-led political process that respects human dignity and the rule of law. Thank you very much, dear colleague, Señora Pajín.
Leire Pajín
Muchas gracias, presidente, querida comisaria. Les confieso que asisto a este debate con dosis de frustración y de impotencia, porque traemos una y otra vez el debate sobre Sudán a esta Cámara mientras Sudán se desangra y El Obeid se convierte en un símbolo de una tragedia anunciada una y otra vez. En apenas tres semanas, quince ataques con drones en la ciudad, ejecuciones sumarias, secuestros, tortura, violencia sexual en la región. Más de trece millones de personas desplazadas, más de treinta y tres millones necesitan ayuda urgente y millones viven bajo la amenaza del hambre. Pero al mundo directamente no le importa.
Debemos exigir de una vez por todas el cese inmediato de los ataques a los civiles, a las escuelas, a los mercados. Y el derecho humanitario internacional no puede ser una promesa vacía ni una norma selectiva, debe ser siempre nuestra brújula de forma coherente.
Y es verdad que la Unión Europea ha estado a la altura en la necesidad de la ayuda humanitaria, pero no es suficiente. Tenemos que desplegar la diplomacia humanitaria y garantizar los corredores y sobre todo parar esta barbarie de una vez por todas. La respuesta humanitaria necesita 2.900 millones de dólares, el 0,1% del gasto militar. Y es para abordar 20 millones de personas y sus necesidades. A nadie le importa y no estamos a la altura.
Esteban González Pons
Muchas gracias, señoría. I have three requests for the catch-the-eye, my first speaker in that sense is going to be Madame Laurent, seat 551.
Murielle Laurent
Merci Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues. C'est la troisième fois en six mois qu'une discussion alarmante de la situation dramatique au Soudan est à l'ordre du jour de cette assemblée. À chaque fois nous dénonçons les massacres, les conditions de vie voire de survie des populations déplacées, de millions d'enfants menacés par la famine, de femmes et de jeunes filles exposées aux violences sexuelles sans oublier les dizaines de milliers de morts. La dernière fois il s'agissait également d'attirer l'attention sur l'ingérence extérieure et notamment celle des Émirats arabes unis. Aujourd'hui c'est la situation d'El Obeid qui nous préoccupe.
Il est impératif que l'Union européenne mette en place des mesures de protection immédiates. Les populations d'El Obeid doivent être protégées, l'Union européenne doit être à leurs côtés.
Je vous remercie.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Thank you, President. Islam is not a religion of peace. I know that might be hard for some people to hear, but the evidence is overwhelming. Some will angrily say that not all Muslims are violent. I would agree.
However, Islam is the vehicle that has caused terror and suffering across the globe. Let me give you an example. Besides the devastating civil war, Sudan, for example, has suffered from jihadist terrorism and Islamist oppression. The country is ranked in the top five for Christian persecution. When Islam becomes the majority, minorities pay the price.
They are silenced. Many of them even abducted, raped, murdered, or have their lands taken away from them. We cannot talk about solutions without recognizing the problem.
The problem is Islam not respecting the dignity of human life. Thank you.
Marc Botenga
Merci, Monsieur le Président. Madame la Commissaire Šuica, je vais essayer avec grande retenue de vous exprimer la profondeur de ma colère par rapport à vos paroles qui dégoulinent d'hypocrisie. Vous avez parlé du massacre d'Al-Fasher avec des milliers de Soudanais massacrés par les forces rapides. Soutenus par les Émirats arabes unis, vous n'avez pas osé le dire, mais vous le savez. Qu'avez-vous fait un mois après ce massacre ?
Vous avez été dans les Émirats leur offrir un partenariat stratégique avec l'Union européenne. C'est les encourager à continuer leur soutien au massacre au Soudan. Et encore aujourd'hui, vous n'arrivez pas à les condamner, à prononcer leurs mots et à prendre des sanctions contre vous, contre eux. La même chose, vous l'avez fait avec les Palestiniens. Le jour où les Nations Unies ont publié un rapport disant qu'Israël cible délibérément des enfants palestiniens, vous allez en Israël sourire avec le président israélien.
J'ai hâte de développer de nouveaux partenariats. Prenez des sanctions, arrêtez vos larmes de crocodile et condamnez les Émirats et condamnez Israël.
Esteban González Pons
Merci, Monsieur.
May I ask the Madam Commissioner if she wants to take the floor again? Okay. The debate then is closed. We have received seven motions for resolutions. The vote will be held tomorrow.
Next debate on the agenda is ongoing prosecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kavel-Bilat massacre. My first speaker is Questor Lexmann.
Miriam Lexmann
Thank you chair, commissioner, dear colleagues. The horrific attacks in Kavel village where innocent Christians, including their pastor, were brutally killed is yet another tragic reminder of the escalating violence against Christian communities in Nigeria. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Nigeria has become one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Across the country, Christian communities face repeated attacks by Fulani militants, Boko Haram and other organized groups.
Violence is part of a broader and deeply worrying pattern of persecution. EU must therefore strongly condemn these attacks and press on the Nigerian government to step up its fight against the armed militant groups responsible for this violence. I call on the Commission to give an urgent attention to the worrying situation of Christians in Nigeria and all persecuted religious communities in Nigeria. We had a very fruitful discussion this morning with the newly appointed EU Special Envoy on Religious Freedom, Mairead McGuinness, and I look forward to working with her to help Christian and other religious groups facing persecution. Thank you very much.
Bert-Jan Ruissen
Dank u wel, voorzitter, beste collega's. En weer ging het afschuwelijk mis in Nigeria. Nu in het dorp Kawel, waar tientallen christenen het leven lieten bij een aanval door extremisten. Maar ik denk ook aan de tientallen scholieren die recent werden ontvoerd in de deelstaat Borno.
De aanslagen en de ontvoeringen gaan maar door en nemen in intensiteit alleen maar toe. Onze resolutie spreekt duidelijke taal. Wij roepen Nigeria op het probleem onder ogen te zien, de bevolking veel beter te beschermen en de daders te straffen. Maar de vraag is ook vandaag: wat kunnen wij doen om het geweld in Nigeria te helpen stoppen? Welke mogelijkheden ziet u, commissaris?
Ziet u bijvoorbeeld mogelijkheden om Nigeria te helpen bij het trainen van politiemensen? Natuurlijk is Nigeria primair zelf verantwoordelijk, maar als we kijken naar de escalatie van het geweld in de regio, mogen wij niet werkloos toezien. Dank u wel.
Innocent people were massacred at the Kawel village, and our thoughts are with the families of the victims. The violence in Nigeria is driven by disputes over land and water, climate change, poverty, criminality, weak government, persistent impunity, and deep-rooted religious, ethnic, and intercommunal tensions.
Catarina Vieira
Together, these pressures have fueled a brutal cycle of revenge and breaking that cycle requires more than expressions of outrage. To the colleagues who rightly demand the protection of Christian communities in Nigeria, I ask to look at the actions of your global conservative allies. Last year, Trump dismantled USAID with enormous consequences in Nigeria. Hundreds of schools in conflict-affected areas were closed. One-fifth of the national healthcare budget was taken away.
Imagine the consequences on maternal health and on the fight against HIV. Conservatives have defunded the very local networks, many of them Christian faith-based healthcare providers, that offered a frontline against poverty and radicalization. I call on the EU to be a committed partner in supporting humanitarian aid, conflict prevention, justice reform and climate resilience, and on the Nigerian authorities to protect all civilians, and on my colleagues to also make sure that right-wing populism doesn't cut away international aid. Thank you.
Roman Haider
Danke Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin. Am 22. Juni verüben bewaffnete Milizionäre im Dorf Kawel im nigerianischen Bundesstaat Plateau ein Massaker.
Mindestens 22 unschuldige Menschen wurden dieser christlichen Gemeinde, die nicht geschützt wurde, getötet. Angriffe auf christliche Dorfgemeinschaften, auf Bäuerinnen und Bauern, auf Geistliche, Schulen und Gesundheitseinrichtungen nehmen zu, ebenso die Entführungen. Frauen und Mädchen sind massiv betroffen. Die katholische Bischofskonferenz Nigerias bekräftigt, dass Christen genauso wie Muslime Opfer des anhaltenden Terrorismus sind. Gezielte Gewalt gegen Zivilisten wurzelt in Konflikten um politische Macht, Landstreitigkeiten, ethnische Zugehörigkeit, Sektenzugehörigkeit und Bandenkriminalität.
Wir erwarten von den nigerianischen Behörden entschlossenes Handeln, eine umfassende Untersuchung des Massakers von Kawel, strafrechtliche Verfolgung der Täter und wirksamen Schutz gefährdeter Gemeinden und der Zivilbevölkerung sowie die entschiedene Bekämpfung bewaffneter Gruppen. Wo Menschen aufgrund ihres Glaubens verfolgt werden, greift das die Religionsfreiheit an und das ist ein fundamentales Menschenrecht, das wir schützen müssen. Danke.
Silvia Sardone
Silenzio. Il mondo tace mentre in Nigeria si consuma una strage.
Decine e decine di cristiani massacrati, ancora, ogni settimana, nell'indifferenza generale. Solo nel 2023 si parla di 3.500 cristiani uccisi da mani islamiste. Non sono numeri. Sono famiglie intere sterminate. Villaggi rasi al suolo.
Chiese bruciate con i fedeli dentro. È una strategia precisa: terrorizzare, confiscare le loro terre, sradicare un'intera comunità. Non è più un'emergenza umanitaria, ormai le caratteristiche sono quelle di un genocidio. I cristiani sono oggi il gruppo religioso più perseguitato al mondo, ma continuate a girarvi dall'altra parte o a parlare di un'inesistente islamofobia. L'Europa non riconosce né contrasta questa persecuzione islamista.
Non possiamo più aspettare. Ogni giorno di silenzio è complice di chi ammazza i cristiani. Grazie.
Tomasz Froelich
Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin, weltweit werden rund 400 Millionen Christen verfolgt. Christen sind damit die am stärksten verfolgte Glaubensgemeinschaft weltweit. Besonders brutal ist diese Verfolgung in Nigeria. Nirgendwo auf der Welt werden mehr Christen ermordet als dort.
Ermordet aus einem Grund, weil sie Christen sind. So geschehen auch vor zwei Wochen. Fulani-Milizen ermordeten mindestens 23 Christen im Dorf Kawel, darunter einen Pastor. Der US-Gesandte bei der UN, Mike Waltz, sagt, das ist keine zufällige Gewalt, das ist ein Genozid, ein Genozid an Christen. All diese Fakten sind seit langem bekannt, doch in Europa spricht man kaum darüber.
Warum? Vielleicht, weil die Opfer Christen und die Täter Islamisten sind. Wir aber sollten die Täter beim Namen nennen: Boko Haram, der westafrikanische Ableger des Islamischen Staates, Fulani-Milizen, kurzum islamistische Terroristen. Sie morden, entführen, vergewaltigen, foltern. Wir können das nicht länger hinnehmen.
Wir müssen Druck ausüben. Nigeria muss seine Christen schützen. Nigeria muss den islamistischen Terror bekämpfen. Dafür muss Nigeria seine Institutionen stärken: Polizei, Justiz, Sicherheitsapparat. Falls nicht, darf kein Cent mehr von uns nach Nigeria fließen.
Danke, su señoría Buxadé.
Gracias, presidente, señora comisaria. No puede ser que la matanza de cristianos por motivos religiosos no nos despierte la misma indignación que nos provocan otras matanzas y persecuciones en el mundo.
Isabel Benjumea Benjumea
Unos datos: según datos de Open Doors, 388 millones de cristianos están perseguidos en el mundo y 4.849 asesinados hubo el año pasado. Y especialmente grave es el caso de Nigeria, donde se dan el 72 % de estos asesinatos, la mayoría ejecutados por grupos terroristas islamistas. No podemos caer en la trampa de pensar que aquí lo que está ocurriendo son guerras entre clanes por recursos naturales. Está habiendo una persecución real de cristianos y Europa no puede permanecer callada. Desde la Unión Europea debemos tomar medidas, debemos endurecer nuestro régimen de sanciones, así como la condicionalidad y el control de nuestras ayudas a terceros países para evitar financiar a aquellos estados, como el de Nigeria, que de una manera activa o pasiva permiten esta violencia contra los cristianos y este atentado contra los derechos humanos.
Muchas gracias.
Murielle Laurent
Merci, Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues. Parler de la situation au Nigeria dans cet hémicycle permet de mettre en lumière les persécutions et violences quotidiennes auxquelles doivent faire face les civils.
Réduire le débat à la religion est cependant la preuve que beaucoup ici n'ont pas compris ce qui se passe dans ce pays, ou alors qu'ils ne veulent pas le comprendre. Ou simplement, ils se servent de ces atrocités pour servir leur agenda politique. Comment ne pas voir que les victimes des massacres ont un seul point commun, non pas leur religion, mais le fait d'être civil ? Comment ne pas voir l'influence du changement climatique, de la pression démographique, de la raréfaction des terres dans ces conflits ? Il est de notre devoir d'élus de faire preuve d'honnêteté intellectuelle afin d'apporter un réel soutien à la population nigériane, sans quoi nous continuerons à compter les morts.
Tiago Moreira de Sá
Senhor Presidente, Senhora Comissária, quando denunciou a perseguição e o suplício de Jean Calas, Voltaire não estava apenas a fazer a defesa de um homem injustamente condenado. Estava a lembrar a toda a Europa que toda a intolerância praticada em nome de Deus é sempre um pacto com o diabo. A intolerância desumaniza simultaneamente a sua vítima e o seu autor. Dessa denúncia nasceu um tratado sobre a tolerância que permanece uma das magnas cartas da Europa.
Por isso, quando nos chegam relatos de comunidades cristãs ameaçadas na Nigéria, no Sudão, em Moçambique ou um pouco por todo o Médio Oriente, ouvimos mais do que notícias distantes. Reconhecemos os nossos demónios. A Europa tem uma responsabilidade especial de proteger as comunidades cristãs onde quer que elas sejam perseguidas. Porque em cada Jean Calas silenciado, na Europa de ontem ou na África e no Médio Oriente de hoje, ouvimos de novo a voz de Voltaire. Muito obrigado.
Arkadiusz Mularczyk
W czerwcu 2026 roku w wiosce Kawel w stanie Plateau w Nigerii doszło do brutalnego ataku na chrześcijańską społeczność. Dziesiątki osób zginęły, wielu zostało rannych, a cała wioska została zniszczona. To nie jest pojedynczy incydent, lecz element szerszego, powtarzającego się wzoru prześladowań chrześcijan w regionie, ataków na rolników, kościoły, szkoły, duchownych. I mimo wielokrotnych ostrzeżeń władze nigeryjskie nie zapewniły ochrony, a sprawcy nadal cieszą się bezkarnością. Potępiamy te zbrodnie z całą stanowczością.
Wyrażamy głębokie współczucie rodzinom ofiar. Wzywamy rząd Nigerii do natychmiastowego, transparentnego śledztwa, ukarania winnych i przerwania kultury bezkarności.
Apelujemy o realne wzmocnienie ochrony ludności chrześcijańskiej i podjęcie konkretnych działań przeciwko fali przemocy. Niestety reakcja Unii Europejskiej pozostaje dalece niewystarczająca. Oficjalna linia Unii Europejskiej w tej wypowiedzi wysokiej przedstawiciel Kai Kallas unika jasnego określenia tych wydarzeń mianem prześladowania chrześcijan. Zamiast tego skupia się na złożonych czynnikach, konfliktach o ziemię między rolnikami a hodowcami, zmianami klimatu, działalnością bandytów i terrorystów. Jednocześnie Unia z niezwykłą czujnością doszukuje się przejawów islamofobii w Europie, nawet tam, gdzie chodzi o uzasadnioną krytykę islamu radykalnego.
To wyraźny przejaw odchodzenia europejskich elit od chrześcijańskich korzeni Europy. Unia powstała w oparciu o chrześcijańskie wartości: godność osoby ludzkiej, sprawiedliwość, solidarność. Fundamenty Europy są chrześcijańskie. Nie możemy więc pozostawać obojętni na cierpienie milionów chrześcijan na świecie, od lat najbardziej prześladowanej grupy religijnej. Takie selektywne podejście źle wróży przyszłości Europy, osłabia naszą spójność kulturową, ignoruje realia demograficzne i pozbawia nas zdolności do skutecznego przeciwstawienia się radykalnemu islamowi.
Czas, by Europa wróciła do swoich korzeni, nie tylko słowami, ale także czynami. Dziękuję.
Marcin Sypniewski
Szanowni Państwo, Nigeria zajmuje siódme miejsce w światowym rankingu prześladowań chrześcijan Open Doors, a jednocześnie pozostaje krajem, w którym ginie ich najwięcej na świecie. Według raportu European Center for Law and Justice tylko w pierwszych 220 dniach 2025 roku zamordowano ponad 7000 chrześcijan, a między styczniem a kwietniem tego roku kolejnych 1400. A my od lat słyszymy o konfliktach o ziemię. Ale jak konfliktem o ziemię wytłumaczyć palenie kościołów, ataki na chrześcijańskie wsie, mordowanie wiernych podczas nabożeństw czy okrzyki wzywające Allaha podczas masakr? Trzeba to powiedzieć jasno, że za tymi zbrodniami stoją ugrupowania islamistyczne.
Dodatkowo w 12 północnych stanach Nigerii obowiązuje szariat, a wpływy radykalnych środowisk islamskich stale rosną. Obecny prezydent jak i wiceprezydent są muzułmanami, co łamie obowiązującą od lat zasadę, zgodnie z którą chrześcijanin i muzułmanin są zrównoważeni na najwyższych stanowiskach państwowych. A tymczasem Unia Europejska nadal pogłębia strategiczne partnerstwo z Nigerią w obszarze bezpieczeństwa, migracji, energii i rozwoju gospodarczego.
Przeznaczyła ponad 700 milionów grantów na lata 2021-27 dla Nigerii, w której łamane są prawa człowieka. Musimy upomnieć się o chrześcijan gdziekolwiek oni żyją, gdziekolwiek mieszkają, dlatego że Europa będzie chrześcijańska albo nie będzie jej wcale. Dziękuję bardzo.
Liudas Mažylis
Dėkoju pirmininke, komisare, kolegos. Žudynės įvykdytos Nigerijoje, Kawel kaime, sukrėtė ne tik vietos bendruomenes, bet ir visą civilizuotą pasaulį. Ginkluotos islamistų grupuotės jau ne vienerius metus terorizuoja Nigerijos kaimus ir bendruomenes. Bendrai Afrika šiandien išlieka smurto prieš krikščionis epicentru, o Nigerijoje matome ne pavienius nusikaltimus, bet pasikartojančius, koordinuotus išpuolius net prieš dvasininkus ir bažnyčias. Tai sąmoningai toleruojamas smurtas ir valstybės pareigos ignoravimas, kurio nebeįmanoma paslėpti už atsargių diplomatinių formuluočių.
Nigerijos valdžia privalo ginti savo piliečius, tirti nusikaltimus ir bausti vykdytojus.
Europos Sąjunga privalo kalbėti griežtai, remti aukas, spausti valdžią ir taikyti priemones tiems, kurie kursto ir finansuoja ar dangsto šį terorą. Tikėjimo laisvė yra pamatinė žmogaus teisė ir ji turi būti ginama ne rytoj, o dabar ir be išlygų. Dėkoju.
Susanna Ceccardi
Grazie Presidente. Quello che sta accadendo in Nigeria non può essere liquidato come un semplice conflitto tribale. È una persecuzione folle contro i cristiani e i numeri sono terribili: 3.490 cristiani uccisi in un anno per motivi legati alla fede. Significa che quasi tre cristiani su quattro uccisi nel mondo sono stati uccisi in Nigeria. Villaggi distrutti, chiese attaccate, famiglie massacrate, fedeli rapiti.
Ma dov'è l'indignazione in Europa? Guardate, questa parte dell'aula, quella a sinistra, è vuota. Non c'è un parlamentare di sinistra che oggi si scaglia contro il massacro dei cristiani. Volevo vedere se era stato ucciso un musulmano. Erano tutti qua, era tutto pieno.
Era tutta piena l'aula a sinistra a dire islamofobia. In quest'aula si sente parlare soltanto di islamofobia. E di cristianofobia qualcuno vuol cominciare a parlarne?
Qualcuno vuol cominciare a difendere i cristiani nel mondo? Ecco, l'Unione Europea deve condizionare aiuti e cooperazione alla protezione delle comunità cristiane e pretendere dal governo nigeriano sicurezza e giustizia.
Esteban González Pons
Signora Ceccardi, you have a blue card from Mr. Heide. Do you accept it? Mr. Heide, you have the floor.
Roman Haider
So thank you for taking the blue card and I want to show that there are members from the left side taking position on this conflict. But I want to refer to an amendment by the Patriots because you are calling the situation genocidal characteristics. So you worry about the Christians and you also want to protect them. So my question to you, goes your Christian charity that far that you would grant asylum or refugee status to those who are persecuted?
Guardi, la ringrazio perché è l'unico rappresentante di sinistra oggi in quest'aula a seguire il dibattito. Ah no, siete due, scusate, mi scuso tantissimo, due rappresentanti della sinistra a seguire questo dibattito e quindi questo vi fa molto onore. Ma lei crede che questo sia sufficiente?
Susanna Ceccardi
Cioè io credo che in Europa, che c'è ormai la cristianofobia, non è più soltanto in Nigeria, cari miei. La cristianofobia si sta spargendo a macchia d'olio anche in Europa perché è difficile oggi andare in giro in Europa anche con una croce al collo in certi quartieri a Bruxelles, a Strasburgo, a Parigi e a Roma. Pensiamo a questo.
Speaker 215
Grazie ancora presidente, grazie commissario. A Kavel in Nigeria decine di cristiani sono stati massacrati ancora, ancora una volta. Donne, uomini, famiglie intere uccisi soltanto perché cristiani e Open Doors ci dice che negli ultimi due anni cinquemila cristiani sono stati uccisi. E dal cuore dell'Europa abbiamo il dovere di non tacere.
Ma non basta, non basta parlare, non basta denunciare, non basta dare il nostro cordoglio. Ma dobbiamo agire, dobbiamo cominciare perché l'Unione Europea deve dimostrare che noi sappiamo utilizzare gli strumenti diplomatici e di cooperazione per pretendere che le comunità cristiane vengano difese, che i responsabili vengano perseguiti e che avvenga davvero lo smantellamento delle reti terroristiche. Basta quindi esportare ideologia progressista in Africa. Dobbiamo invece legare i nostri accordi di partenariato e commerciali al rispetto della libertà religiosa. Difendere i cristiani, infatti, i nostri fratelli, significa difendere la pace, la civiltà e anche difendere noi stessi proprio laddove c'è più necessità.
Grazie.
Nikolaos Anadiotis
Πριν δύο εβδομάδες, στις 22 Ιουνίου, εισέβαλαν στο χωριό Καουέλ της Νιγηρίας ένοπλοι και εκτέλεσαν τουλάχιστον 20 χριστιανούς αμάχους. Ανάμεσά τους ο πάστορας Μάρκους Νιάμ και μια έγκυος γυναίκα. Αυτό δεν είναι μεμονωμένο περιστατικό δυστυχώς. Είναι μοτίβο. Σύμφωνα με το πρόγραμμα Open Doors, η Νιγηρία καταγράφει τους περισσότερους δολοφονημένους για την πίστη τους χριστιανούς από κάθε άλλη χώρα στον πλανήτη.
Είναι θλιβερό. Επανερχόμαστε ξανά και ξανά θέτοντας το ζήτημα της προστασίας των χριστιανικών πληθυσμών, αλλά η ευρωπαϊκή και η παγκόσμια κοινότητα κάνει πως δεν ακούει.
Μένουμε απλοί παρατηρητές στα εγκλήματα που συντελούνται από μουσουλμάνους μετανάστες εναντίον γηγενών Ευρωπαίων μέσα στο σπίτι μας, σε χώρες της Ευρώπης, και κλείνουμε τα μάτια μας. Περιμένουμε απλά την καταστροφική εξέλιξη αυτών των γεγονότων. Πρέπει να ξυπνήσουμε άμεσα. Εδώ, στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο, πρέπει να θέσουμε την προστασία αυτών των κοινοτήτων ως άμεση προτεραιότητα. Με κυρώσεις και πίεση προς τη Νιγηρία, αλλά και προς όλες τις χώρες όπου διώκονται και δολοφονούνται συστηματικά χριστιανοί.
Η Ευρώπη οφείλει να δράσει τώρα. Πρέπει να προστατεύσει τους γηγενείς πληθυσμούς της από την ανεξέλεγκτη μετανάστευση και την εξάπλωση του ισλαμιστικού εξτρεμισμού. Ευχαριστώ.
György Hölvényi
Dankeschön. Tisztelt képviselőtársaim, ez most a harmadik alkalom, hogy ebben a ciklusban a nigériai keresztényüldözés kérdésével foglalkozunk. Sajnálatos, hogy dacára ennek, a Bizottság és hát itt is nagyon többen is mindent elkövet, hogy a keresztényekkel szembeni támadásokat kizárólag etnikai konfliktusként próbálja beállítani. A keresztényüldözés tényének elismerésétől von der Leyen bizottság úgy tart, mint ördög a szenteltvíztől. Holott óvatos becslések szerint 2024 óta, hölgyeim és uraim, tisztelt képviselőtársaim, 10 000 keresztény ember veszítette életét pusztán a hite miatt Nigériában.
A karácsonyra, húsvétra, pünkösdre időzített templomok elleni támadásokat nem lehet félremagyarázni. Hány halott kell még ahhoz, hogy keresztényüldözést ne akarják relativizálni? Hány halott kell még, hogy végre megfelelő forrásokat tegyenek az üldözött keresztények védelméért és a közösségek támogatásáért? És kérdés: mit tesz a Bizottság, a Külügyi Szolgálat a keresztények elleni erőszak megelőzéséhez? Nagyon megtisztelő lenne, ha végre érdemi választ kapnánk.
Köszönöm szépen.
Stephen Nikola Bartulica
Kolegice i kolege, kršćani su najprogonjenija vjerska skupina na svijetu. Mediji ignoriraju tu činjenicu, ova plenarna dvorana je prazna. Danas stojimo pred užasnim masakrom u selu Kavlu u Nigeriji, gdje su militanti 22. lipnja upali u to selo i ubili desetke nedužnih ljudi, svećenike, žene i djecu.
Dok osuđujemo ovaj masakr, kršćanske vrijednosti, kršćanstvo kao temelj europske civilizacije je na udaru. Dok ne progovorimo o tome, dok ne prestanu antikršćanski napadi, vandalizam nad crkvama, gotovo svaki tjedan nova crkva je u plamenu, stvari se neće promijeniti. Moramo jasno i glasno progovoriti u ime ne samo nedužnih ljudi u svijetu koji trpe, nego kršćana u samoj Europi koji postaju danas meta raznoraznih skupina i napada. Hvala.
Sabine Verheyen
There is a blue card from Mr. Sokol, please. Hello, there is a blue card from Mr. Sokol, do you accept it?
Hvala lijepa. Postoje jasni podaci da su kršćani najprogonjenija vjerska zajednica na svijetu. I što mislite zašto je nekima ovdje u Europskom parlamentu, u Europi općenito, tako teško priznati tu činjenicu? Hvala lijepa.
Stephen Nikola Bartulica
Hvala na pitanju, kolega Sokol. Nažalost, radi se o jednom velikom licemjerju u Europi.
Dakle, Europa danas zapravo se srami vlastitog identiteta. Imamo ljude koji dižu glas u ime ljudskih prava, čak bih ponekad imao dojam da životinje uživaju veću zaštitu kod nekih ljudi u ovom parlamentu nego nedužni ljudi. Dakle, moramo raščistiti neke stvari. Nema Europe bez kršćanstva. Ljudska prava sama kao koncept je nastao u okrilju kršćanske civilizacije.
Dakle, trebamo se ponositi time. Zapadna civilizacija je nešto čime se trebamo ponositi, a ne sramiti. Nažalost, Europa je to izgubila iz vida i dok se to ne promijeni, bojim se da ćemo ići dalje krivim smjerom.
Speaker 341
Danke, Frau Vorsitzende. The massacre of Christians in Owo is not an isolated tragedy. It's a part of a long and brutal campaign of violence carried out by Islamist extremists and radicalized Fulani militants against Christian communities in Nigeria. Families are murdered, churches are burned, and entire villages are wiped out simply because these people confess the Christian faith.
Europe must stop pretending that this is a merely a local conflict over land. Islamist terror Islamist terrorism is one of its driving forces and political correctness must never prevent us from naming that reality. Those who kill in the name of religious extremism are terrorists and they must be called exactly that. The European Union must demand accountability from the Nigerian authorities, support the victims, and make the protection of religious freedom a real priority of its foreign policy. Thank you for attention.
The next speaker is Beatrice Timgren.
Beatrice Timgren
Tack. Jag kan stå här och säga att jag är kristen utan rädsla för att jag ska bli mördad eller att min familj ska utsättas för våld. Men hade jag levt i Nigeria så hade inte det här varit fallet. Nigeria är ett av världens farligaste länder för kristna. Kyrkor bränns, familjer mördas och kvinnor och barn utsätts för sexuellt våld.
När Mellanösternkonflikten dominerar nyhetssändningarna då fylls våra gator med protester. Men när kristna slaktas då är tystnaden öronbedövande. Var är de blåhåriga feministerna? Var är människorättsorganisationerna?
Var är Svenska kyrkan? Hyckleriet om mänskliga rättigheter har nått en ny bottennivå. Antingen gäller mänskliga rättigheter alla, eller så är det bara tomma ord. EU måste sluta blunda för att kristna är världens mest förföljda religiösa grupp. Tack.
Margarita de la Pisa Carrión
Nada deja más desprotegidos a nuestros hermanos cristianos que un Parlamento que se niega a llamar a las cosas por su nombre. El 22 de junio, hombres armados irrumpieron de madrugada en la aldea cristiana de Kabel. Dispararon contra los vecinos, quemaron sus casas, asesinaron a más de 20 personas, entre ellas a su párroco. Esto no es un conflicto tribal, tampoco por la escasez de recursos como se trata de justificar hoy aquí. Es una persecución por su fe contra los cristianos, porque no es un caso aislado.
¿Cuántas iglesias tienen que arder? ¿Cuántos sacerdotes tienen que ser secuestrados? ¿Cuántas comunidades cristianas tienen que desaparecer para que esta Cámara reconozca la verdad? Es incomprensible que decir esto sea un problema para una parte del Parlamento.
Es incomprensible que algunos grupos sigan negando el componente religioso de los ataques del terrorismo islámico. La acción internacional debe ser mucho más contundente. La Unión Europea no puede mirar hacia otro lado, y mucho menos criticar a quienes tienen la valentía de actuar. Porque la verdad no se puede ocultar. Se está cometiendo un genocidio contra los cristianos.
Dominik Tarczyński
Thank you, Madam President. Dear leftists, it's not many of you in here to discuss genocide committed on Christians in Nigeria. But I've got a question: who is killing them? Islamists, jihadists. And who let them into Europe?
You did, communists. You let them in. People in Europe are dying. People in Europe are killed, beheaded, raped, but not in Poland. Not in Poland because we did not let them in.
When you started this madness in 2015, we did not let them in. Not only that, we changed our law. When our soldier was killed with a spear, we changed our law and our soldiers can use live bullets now. So I have a message to all jihadists: do not come to the Polish border.
Do not try to harm any of our soldiers because you will be dead. Shot dead. And mark my words, communists. There will come a day when Christian Europe will rise. There will come a day that we will get rid of communists from the governments.
We're gonna get rid of jihadists and we're gonna make Europe great again. And always remember my motto: learn from Poland, be like Poland. Thank you.
Sabine Verheyen
Mr. Tarczyński, there are two blue cards, one from Mr. Tomasz Frölich and the other from Lukas Sieper. Do you accept them?
Yeah, of course.
Dziękuję, panie pośle, że pan zaakceptował niebieską kartę. Mnie dziwi jedna rzecz, że jak się patrzy na lewą stronę, która jest zupełnie pusta, ale ci, którzy przemawiali, twierdzą, że to jest taki konflikt symetryczny, że chrześcijanie i muzułmanie walczą i że to są jakby te same siły, które walczą, jakby to był symetryczny konflikt. Jak więc pan tłumaczy to, może wytłumaczyć, że prawie w stosunku do populacji prawie pięć razy tyle chrześcijan jest zamordowanych jak muzułmanów?
Dominik Tarczyński
Because they're sick, I'll answer in English if you don't mind. Their sick ideology is to conquer the world. This is a cult of death. So we have to get rid of jihadists from Europe. This is Christian continent and I'm serious.
This is not politics. This is existential threat. So it's not about politics. They are not equal with us.
We not kill to gain to gain land. We do not kill in the name of Christ. They kill in the name of Allah. So that is a identity. It's our identity.
Our DNA is different. So we do not want them. We do not have them in Poland. That's why Poland is so safe. Zero rapes, zero terrorist attacks by illegals because we are safe, because we did not let them in.
Vielen Dank, Frau Präsidentin, kann ich trotzdem noch Catch-the-eye machen oder eins von beiden? Beides? Okay. Thank you, dear colleague, for accepting the blue card. I'm with you in your anger.
I just want to state that up front. I listened to your speech very thoroughly, so I have one simple question for you. Is for you is there a difference between a Muslim and an Islamist? Thank you.
Dominik Tarczyński
Ideology, no. Because the the Quran itself says that you have to kill to conquer. You have to kill infidels. That's Quran. So our Bible do not teach you to kill people if they do not believe in Christ.
That is the main difference. So how can you say that religion of peace, which is the Islam's they say that this is a religion of peace, when they teach that you have to kill infidels?
You can rape infidels. You can, you can just kidnap them and make them slaves. We don't teach them. This is completely different ideology. And it's not compatible with Christianity, not only by its faith, but also by culture.
It's just unacceptable.
Speaker 349
My follow-up question then would be, sir, if in your view as a Christian, the Old Testament is also part of the Bible and is also part of the Christian faith. Because there, for example, it says that we should kill someone by stoning if he plants two different crops next to each other. So do you realize that every religion develops and there's different interpretation of every religion? And while I don't contest that Christianity has progressed more than Islam, should we still not make a difference between different interpretations of Islam?
Dominik Tarczyński
They did not develop. They spend a lot of time with goats. That's number one, as you know. And then Christ is Lord. That is the difference.
Thank you very much.
Sabine Verheyen
Sorry, we have to check that because that was not okay, the last comment.
Now I give the floor to Nicolas Bay.
Nicolas Bay
Mes chers collègues, la persécution sanglante des chrétiens se propage en Afrique subsaharienne et le Nigeria est particulièrement touché par ce drame. Ces deux dernières années, 3490 chrétiens ont été tués, plus de 40 000 d'entre eux ont perdu la vie depuis le début de l'insurrection islamiste de Boko Haram en 2009. Ces populations sont tuées, violées, déplacées, traitées dans des conditions atroces. Les églises sont incendiées et les enlèvements massifs dans les écoles chrétiennes se multiplient. Les 13 et 14 juin encore, plus de 250 personnes ont été tuées par les milices islamistes.
Un autre exemple de leur barbarie, Leah Sharibu, une jeune femme de 21 ans, est détenue depuis 2018 par un groupe islamiste car elle refuse d'abjurer sa foi chrétienne. Le Nigeria est également touché par une grave crise humanitaire, des milliers de familles sont contraintes de fuir les violences. Elles vivent dans des conditions indignes, privées d'aide humanitaire et de soins. Pour ces familles et pour toutes les victimes de cette violence, notre devoir est clair : cesser les pudeurs diplomatiques, désigner les responsables, éradiquer les coupables de ces crimes, cibler et conditionner nos financements, soutenir les communautés menacées, porter haut et fort la voix des chrétiens persécutés.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much. Now we come to the catch-the-eye and I give the floor first to Reinhold Lopatka.
Reinhold Lopatka
Thank you, Chair. I understand the anger of my colleagues, and the recent brutal killing of 28 Christians, including Pastor Markus Nyam in Kawel village, is another reminder that religious persecution remains a tragic reality in Nigeria. And we have to keep in mind that this was not an isolated incident. Across Nigeria, Christian communities continue to face repeated attacks from Boko Haram and other Islamic State terrorists. And Christians are not a small minority in Nigeria.
Nearly half of 242 million inhabitants of Nigeria are Christians. So what do we have to do? We need stronger early warning and monitoring mechanism within the European External Action Service, and we must support those who promote dialogue and resist the spiral of hatred. We owe this to the victims of Kawel.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much. The next speaker on catch-the-eye, Sebastian Tynkkynen.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Thank you, President.
We must start talking about one thing: Christianophobia. I know it is not as trending as defending Islam in this chamber, but for once, could we pay attention to what is happening to Christians in Nigeria? In rural villages, believers have been attacked, displaced and killed by armed extremist actors like Boko Haram and other jihadist militias. It is no coincidence that the persecution of Nigerian Christians is heavily concentrated in the country's northern regions, a region where several states have Muslim majorities and have adopted Sharia law. This house simply cannot look away.
It must find its backbone and defend the Christian world globally and in Europe as well, because the Christian world is worth defending. Thank you.
Sabine Verheyen
The next speaker and last speaker under catch the eye is Lukas Sieper.
Thank you, Miss President. You already noted it, I also want to make it very clear to the colleagues of the ECR or I don't know, PfE, that the colleague, when asked about the religious development of Islam, said they spend a lot of time with goats. That's his statement, just take this in for today.
Speaker 349
This debate was used not to stand up for Christians. This debate was used for political maneuvering, for attacking the political enemy instead of caring about the people. And for that I just want to reply with the words of Christ. You have heard that it was said you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Christianity is a religion of love and not of hate. Let hear this from a Christian man.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. And now I pass the floor to our Commissioner Dubravka Šuica.
Dubravka Šuica
Thank you, Chair, honorable members of the Parliament.
At the end of this debate, the European Union would like to express its solidarity with the victims of massacres and abductions committed in Nigeria, as well as with their families enduring grief and suffering. The European Union strongly condemns these cruel attacks targeting vulnerable populations across the country. Nigeria has been facing systematic insecurity affecting Christians and Christian communities and places of worship. It is important to bear in mind that violence in Nigeria cuts across ethno-religious boundaries, with victims coming from all faiths and backgrounds. The recent attack on Kwale village in Plateau State caused the lives of 21 people.
Although the victims belonged to a Christian community and the offenders were of Fulani Muslim origin, the underlying conflict does not only have a religious dimension. It is also closely related to extended fights between farmers and herders, intensified by shrinking agricultural land, difficult access to resources, and political tensions. During her recent visit to Nigeria on March 23rd, HRVP Borrell delivered the message of support to Nigerian authorities engaged in a difficult fight against Boko Haram and other extremist groups.
She stressed the complexity of this phenomenon of violence with its deep-rooted socio-economic, political and historical dimensions. She pledged to continue stepping up EU-Nigeria cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism and strengthening the whole-of-society approach for the prevention of violence and conflict in Nigeria. While keeping our strong commitment to religious freedom and non-discrimination, we must support Nigerian voices calling for sustainable peace and opposing the stigmatization of specific communities. Over the last years, the European Union has taken action to address the dire situation in Nigeria. Together with its member states, it has implemented many projects on prevention of violence, peacebuilding and support to populations affected by violence.
The European Union has acted to promote dialogue in Nigeria and kept a regular dialogue with its religious leaders from all faiths. The European Union stands ready to work alongside Nigerian authorities and international partners to strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities in Nigeria, of course including Christians. Thank you.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much, Commissioner. Die Aussprache ist nun geschlossen, es wurden sechs Entschließungsanträge eingereicht und die Abstimmung wird morgen stattfinden. Es folgt nun die Aussprache über das Thema Entführung, Zwangskonvertierung und Kinderehe von Maria Shahbaz und der Schutz von Mädchen in Pakistan und ich gebe zunächst das Wort an einen der Verfasser, Tomislav Sokol, on behalf of EPP.
Tomislav Sokol
Poštovana potpredsjednice, povjerenice, kolegice i kolege. Kršćani su najprogonjenija vjerska skupina na svijetu. Zato Europska unija mora iskoristiti sve instrumente svoje vanjske i razvojne politike kako bi zaštitila položaj kršćana gdje god su izloženi progonu, nasilju i sustavnoj diskriminaciji. U tom kontekstu posebno zabrinjavaju učestali slučajevi prisilne islamizacije kršćana u Pakistanu. Ondje se maloljetne kršćanske djevojčice otimaju, prisilno obraćaju na islam i prisiljavaju na brak sa svojim otmičarima.
To nije samo teško kršenje ljudskih prava, nego i oblik vjerskog progona kojemu ne smijemo više okretati leđa. Slučaj trinaestogodišnje, naglašavam trinaestogodišnje Marije Shahbaz, koja je nakon otmice prisilno obraćena na islam i udana za svog otmičara, tragično potvrđuje razmjere ovog progona.
Procenjuje se da se svake godine u Pakistanu otme oko hiljadu devojčica, od kojih su mnoge hrišćanke, kako bi bile prisilno obraćene i udane. To mora prestati. Koleginice i kolege, Evropska unija mora ovo pitanje dosledno postavljati u svim svojim političkim i gospodarskim odnosima s Pakistanom i jasno dati do znanja da progon hrišćana neće ostati bez odgovora. Hvala lepa.
Alessandra Moretti
In Pakistan sono 19 milioni le spose bambine a cui viene strappata l'infanzia, negati l'istruzione e il futuro in nome di un patriarcato brutale che considera la pubertà biologica come garanzia di maturità per il matrimonio. Il dramma delle spose bambine però è solo la punta di un iceberg di una violazione sistematica dei diritti. Alle donne è vietato il lavoro, l'istruzione, ma anche votare, persino aprire un conto in banca senza un uomo accanto, una vera e propria apartheid basata su una disuguaglianza di genere ma anche su una discriminazione dovuta alla povertà e all'esclusione sociale, in particolare delle minoranze. È più che mai urgente una legislazione che protegga le donne e le bambine, rispondendo alle denunce di matrimoni forzati, accertando le responsabilità e offrendo alle vittime un sostegno completo, inclusivo, compresi rifugi sicuri, assistenza legale e consulenza psicologica.
Thank you, the next speaker is Bert-Jan Ruissen.
Bert-Jan Ruissen
Dank u wel, voorzitter, beste collega's, de zaak van Maria Shahbaz staat niet op zichzelf. Ieder jaar worden in Pakistan honderden christelijke meisjes en hindoemeisjes ontvoerd, gedwongen zich te bekeren tot de islam en te trouwen met een vaak veel oudere moslimman. Een mensonterende praktijk, die niet alleen strijdig is met de vrijheid van godsdienst, maar ook een ernstige aantasting vormt van de rechten van het kind, de rechten van de ouders en het recht op vrijheid en veiligheid. Vandaag doen wij met onze breed gedragen resolutie een dringend appèl op de Pakistaanse autoriteiten om een einde te maken aan deze gedwongen huwelijken en Maria Shahbaz de vrijheid te geven terug te keren naar haar ouders. Pakistan wil graag aanspraak blijven maken op GSP+, DSP Plus.
Daar is over te praten, maar dan verwachten we wel het volledig respecteren van de rechten van minderheden. Dank u wel.
Saskia Bricmont
Chers collègues, notre résolution s'adresse aux autorités du Pakistan. L'enlèvement, la conversion religieuse forcée, le mariage forcé de Maria Shahbaz, 13 ans, et à travers elle toutes les autres jeunes filles soumises au même régime sont contraires à la Convention des droits de l'enfant et à la Convention internationale sur l'élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination à l'égard des femmes. Convention que le Pakistan a pourtant ratifiée il y a déjà 30 ans. Ne pas les appliquer l'expose à un retrait de son accès privilégié au marché européen. Je m'adresse aussi à l'Union européenne.
Nous sommes en capacité d'améliorer la situation des droits humains, des femmes, des minorités, des enfants en tant que second partenaire commercial du Pakistan. Nous attendons le respect de l'état de droit et l'interdiction des mariages forcés et des mariages d'enfants, la mise en place de mécanismes de soutien aux victimes et de s'attaquer aussi aux racines de ces problèmes que sont les inégalités et discriminations fondées sur le genre, la religion, la caste, mais aussi la pauvreté et l'exclusion sociale. Je vous remercie.
Speaker 356
Όλοι είμαστε δίπλα σε κάθε κορίτσι που το υποχρεώνουν να παντρευτεί έναν ενήλικο ή υπέργηρο άντρα ενώ είναι ακόμα παιδί. Ειδικά όταν πρόκειται για έναν νεαρό χριστιανόπουλο που με το ζόρι το αλλαξοπιστούν. Δεν χρειάζεται όμως να πάμε στο Πακιστάν ή στο Αφγανιστάν για να το δούμε, γιατί το βλέπουμε στην Ευρώπη. Χάρη στις αριστερές και κεντροαριστερές πολιτικές σας, φέρατε τη Σαρία, τη μπούρκα, τις κλειτοριδεκτομές και τους γάμους ανηλίκων εδώ, στην Ευρώπη. Οι φανατικοί ισλαμιστές δεν ενσωματώνονται, δεν αποδέχονται τις δυτικές αξίες και αποτελούν τεράστιο κίνδυνο για τις κοινωνίες μας.
Δείτε τι συμβαίνει λίγο με τους βιασμούς, τις δολοφονίες, τις ληστείες και την εγκληματικότητα που τα μέσα μαζικής ενημέρωσης φυσικά κρύβουν σε πολλές ευρωπαϊκές χώρες. Δείτε τι έχει γίνει στην Αγγλία. Λυπάμαι πολύ για όσα συμβαίνουν στο Πακιστάν, αλλά περισσότερο λυπάμαι που τα βλέπουμε όλο και συχνότερα στην πατρίδα μου την Ελλάδα και την Ευρώπη. Θέλετε λύση; Κόψτε κάθε οικονομική συναλλαγή με το Πακιστάν και απελάστε τους Πακιστανούς που βρίσκονται στην Ευρώπη παράνομα.
Θα δείτε τότε πόσο γρήγορα θα υποχωρήσουν. Αλλά δεν θέλετε λύσεις, θέλετε μόνο να κάνετε πως ενδιαφέρεστε. Λυπάμαι, αλλά σε αυτό το στημένο παιχνίδι δεν θα συμμετέχω. Islam out of Europe.
Sabine Verheyen
Sorry, the speaking time is over. So the next speaker is Thomas Fröhlich.
Tomasz Froelich
Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissarin, was für ein Martyrium. Maria Shahbaz, 13 Jahre jung, Christin. Sie wurde entführt, sie musste zum Islam zwangskonvertieren, sie wurde gezwungen, ihren eigenen Entführer zu heiraten, einen 30 Jahre alten Moslem. Schlimm und in Pakistan keine Seltenheit, nur bei uns in Europa leider auch nicht. Es ist sogar noch schlimmer, denn das, was Maria Shahbaz widerfahren ist, kommt mir irgendwie bekannt vor.
250.000 weiße minderjährige Mädchen wurden jahrzehntelang sexuell ausgebeutet von Grooming Gangs in Großbritannien. Fast alle Täter waren muslimische Männer, überwiegend pakistanischer Herkunft. Die Mädchen wurden von ihren Verbrechern systematisch angesprochen, manipuliert, mit Drogen betäubt, geschlagen, gewürgt, gefoltert, mit Zigaretten verbrannt und immer wieder vergewaltigt. Viele dieser Mädchen wurden schwanger, viele erlitten Fehlgeburten, viele mussten abtreiben. Ihre Peiniger nannten sie weiße Schlampen, weiße Huren, weiße Fotzen, weißen Abschaum und Kuffar-Schlampen.
Während sie vergewaltigt wurden, verspottete man sie wegen ihres christlichen Glaubens. Ihr Gott habe sie verlassen, ihr christlicher Glaube biete keinen Schutz. Zu den Opfern gehörten Chloe, gerade einmal 12 Jahre alt.
Ihr wurde Whiskey eingeschenkt, bevor sie vergewaltigt wurde. Als der Täter von ihr ließ, stieß er ihr eine leere Whiskeyflasche in die Vagina, wo sie zerbrach. Kate wiederum wurde von einem Hund vergewaltigt, während pakistanische Männer Wetten abschlossen, ob der Hund in ihre Vagina oder ihren Anus eindringen würde. Alles wurde gefilmt, Kate wurde gezwungen, die Aufnahme immer wieder anzuschauen. Dieser importierte Horror, das sind keine Einzelfälle, das ist hunderttausendfach passiert.
Maria Schabbaz ist überall. Polizei, Politik, Medien, MeToo-Feministinnen, sie alle hielten die Klappe. Warum? Um dem Rassismusvorwurf zu entgehen. Sogenannter Antirassismus ist im Ergebnis feiger Rassismus gegen Weiße, suizidale Empathie zugunsten fremder Vergewaltiger und zulasten weißer Mädchen.
Dreimal, dreimal habe ich eine Debatte hierzu gefordert, dreimal wurde das abgelehnt. Stattdessen sprachen wir ber Nicaragua, Burkina Faso und Weirussland. Derweil erscheinen immer hufiger Presseberichte ber Grooming-Gangs in Deutschland. Ich verspreche Ihnen, wir werden dagegen ankmpfen.
Sabine Verheyen
Your speaking time is over. Sorry, jetzt sind Sie schon 17 Sekunden drber. Ich... das ist ein wichtiges Thema, vollkommen klar, aber ich bitte darum, dass wir wirklich hier auch mit adquater Sprache agieren. Ich wei, deshalb habe ich... deshalb habe ich ja auch gesagt, ich bitte trotzdem darum, mit adquater Sprache zu reden. Man kann das auch anders.
Der nchste Redner ist Matej Tonin.
Matej Tonin
Drage kolegice in kolegi, ko se uivim v zgodbo Marije Shahbaz, me oblije groza. Ker imam sam doma 13-letno herko in ko si zamislim, da bi jo nekdo ugrabil, jo prisilil, da spremeni svojo vero, jo prisilil, da se poroi in ko bi to prijavil policiji, policija ne bi ni odreagirala, policija moje herke ne bi vrnila. Kaj naj si mislim o taki dravi? In prav to se v Pakistanu dogaja Mariji Shahbaz in njeni druini. In Evropa ne sme molati.
Draga, spotovana Evropska komisija, e kaj, potem priakujemo od vas, da boste uporabili orodja, ki jih imamo zoper Pakistan, trgovinska orodja, da pritisnete na pakistansko vlado, da tovrstnih grozot ne dovoli.
To je najmanj, kar moramo storiti.
Lina Gálvez
Gracias, presidenta. El caso de Maria Shahbaz es la historia de un secuestro, de una conversión forzosa, de un matrimonio infantil que simboliza la grave situación que siguen sufriendo muchas niñas en demasiados países del mundo. Y ninguna persona, y mucho menos una niña, debe verse privada de su libertad, de su infancia, de su vida. Y no podemos quedarnos callados, pero tampoco actuar con un doble rasero. Y por eso, al mismo tiempo que condenamos este caso, creo que debemos protestar también por la visita reciente de una delegación de talibanes a Bruselas y sus contactos con la Comisión Europea.
Nunca, nunca jamás podemos legitimar un régimen como el talibán que continúa negando a las mujeres y a las niñas afganas derechos fundamentales, su dignidad como seres humanos. La Unión Europea no puede ser hipócrita, debe ser coherente con los valores que defiende y exigir justicia para las víctimas, proteger a las niñas frente a la violencia y mantener una defensa firme e inequívoca de los derechos humanos, ya sea en Pakistán, en Afganistán o en cualquier lugar en el que sean vulnerados.
Por favor, actuemos con decencia. Gracias.
The next speaker is Silvia Sardone.
Silvia Sardone
Maria Shahbaz è una ragazza cristiana di 13 anni, viene rapita in Pakistan, costretta a convertirsi all'Islam e infine obbligata a sposare il suo rapitore. E nonostante la denuncia dei genitori per il rapimento, il giudice che cosa ha fatto? Ha rimandato la ragazzina a vivere proprio con l'uomo che l'aveva rapita. Un orrore in un paese dove ogni anno circa 1000 ragazze, molte delle quali cristiane, vengono rapite dalle loro case, convertite con la forza all'Islam e date in sposa contro la loro volontà. In Pakistan, secondo l'UNICEF, ci sono state 19 milioni di spose bambine.
Bambine e donne sottomesse, oppresse da una violenza inaudita, il tutto in nome di Allah. E cosa fa l'Europa per contrastare queste pratiche disumane e per difendere milioni di donne che subiscono questi abusi? Cosa fa per tutelare le minoranze cristiane che ogni giorno subiscono indegne persecuzioni? Volete finalmente concentrarvi sulla terribile visione della donna e delle bambine in molti paesi islamici e purtroppo anche in certe comunità in Europa o continuiamo a far finta di nulla?
The next speaker is Beatrice Timgren.
Beatrice Timgren
Tack. En 13-årig kristen flicka från Pakistan kidnappades förra året. Under hot tvingades hon att konvertera till islam och hon tvingades att gifta sig med en vuxen man. Det här godkändes utav pakistansk domstol, ett islamistiskt äktenskap. Inget barn gifter sig av frivillig vilja med en vuxen man.
Det här, det är barbariskt och det här hör inte hemma i en civiliserad värld. Inget barn ska behöva bli bortförd, tvingas byta religion eller pressas in i ett äktenskap. Ändå har EU allt för länge blundat för det här. Marias fall är tyvärr inte unikt. Kristna flickor, de sviks när etablissemanget blundar för islam.
Barn ska aldrig giftas bort i religionens namn. Europa måste våga säga sanningen. Tack.
The next speaker is Antonio López-Istúriz White.
Antonio López-Istúriz White
Muchas gracias, presidenta. El caso que nos ocupa no es la primera vez. Hablábamos antes de los casos de las persecución de cristianos en Nigeria, pero esto es todavía mucho más grave. Es la persecución de niñas, niñas forzadas en Pakistán, secuestradas, forzadas a convertirse al islam, con matrimonios forzados. Lo peor de todo, sin duda, es el silencio, silencio cómplice.
Veo aquí la izquierda radical que ni siquiera está presente, que se les llena la boca con otros casos, pero nunca hablan de lo que hay que hablar, de este caso. He hablado, he oído hablar antes a la señora Gálvez. Me ha gustado. Es otra izquierda que habla también de la visita de los regímenes de los talibanes aquí a Bruselas. Coincido absolutamente.
No se debe producir este tipo de cosas. El silencio, una vez más, aquí cómplice. Señora Montero, ¿dónde está usted cuando hablamos de niñas cristianas? Ausente, claro. Niños, niñas robadas de su futuro, entregadas como intercambio comercial, que sufren violencia y denigración.
¿Hasta cuándo este cómplice silencio ideológico en muchas ocasiones cuando se trata de niñas, de niñas cristianas?
Pascale Piera
Iqbal Masih, enfant esclave assassiné au Pakistan, présent. Maria Shahbaz, fillette chrétienne convertie de force à l'islam, mariée de force à son ravisseur, 12 ans. Des centaines d'enlèvements, des centaines de conversions forcées, des mariages forcés d'enfants martyrs sacrifiés dans l'indifférence coupable ou avec la complicité active des relais de l'islamisme. Cette indifférence est aussi celle de l'Union européenne qui concède au Pakistan des facilités commerciales inouïes sans tirer la conséquence de la violation des droits humains les plus élémentaires. Il ne peut pas suffire au Pakistan de signer des conventions internationales pour s'exonérer de l'essentiel.
Il relève de l'honneur des pays européens de faire cesser ce massacre et de mettre fin aux vils calculs économiques.
Grazie. La teocrazia islamica ha rubato il futuro a Maria, una tredicenne pakistana cristiana.
È stata rapita, costretta a convertirsi all'Islam e obbligata a sposare un uomo molto più vecchio di lei, come altre 19 milioni di bambine spose bambine, un orrore. È questo che accade dove la Sharia diventa legge dello Stato. E non pensiamo che tutto questo purtroppo sia lontano da noi. In Italia, Saman Abbas è stata uccisa perché voleva essere libera, perché rifiutava la sottomissione, il matrimonio imposto e il controllo sulla sua vita. Il fondamentalismo non va integrato, ma va combattuto.
E l'Europa deve dirlo con chiarezza: nessuna fede, nessuna ideologia, nessuna tradizione può annientare la dignità umana. Fuori dall'Europa il fondamentalismo islamico.
Sabine Verheyen
And now we come to the catch-the-eye and the first speaker in catch-the-eye is Juan Fernando López Aguilar.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Danke Frau Präsidentin, Comisaria.
La Unión Europea tiene una potente embajada en Pakistán, Islamabad, como la tienen también bilateralmente varios Estados miembros de la Unión Europea. Y no puede ser que toda la fuerza diplomática de la Unión Europea mire para otro lado ante la violación de derechos humanos que son la primera determinación de toda la política exterior y de defensa y de seguridad de la Unión Europea según el Tratado de la Unión Europea cuando se trata de niñas forzadas a un matrimonio que supone una violación, cuando se trata de la aplicación de la Sharia o de la pena de muerte por el delito de difamación. La Unión Europea no puede mirar para otro lado y resulta intolerable que la Unión Europea tenga un diálogo político con los talibanes como lo tendría con las autoridades pakistaníes con tal de retornar a personas que huyen de la desesperación, de la opresión, de la tiranía y en este caso de un apartheid de género que es absolutamente incompatible porque los niega enteramente con los valores europeos. Por tanto, una respuesta diplomática de primer grado, potentísima, para evitar que ningún caso así pueda ser ignorado ni se pueda mirar para otro lado. Gracias, presidenta.
Margarita de la Pisa Carrión
Desgraciadamente el caso de María no es un caso aislado. Pakistán no es el único país del mundo donde a la mujer no se le reconoce su dignidad, se le obliga a casarse de niña o es agredida. Todavía más si no son musulmanas, entonces se les obliga a renunciar a su fe y se les viola de forma brutal. No, no es el único país del mundo. También ha ocurrido en Europa.
Casos de explotación infantil insuficientemente denunciados en esta casa, redes donde choca el contraste entre víctimas y agresores.
Niñas blancas, cristianas. Porque quien tiene esta perversa mentalidad la mantiene aunque viaje y se instale entre nosotros. Lo que nos escandaliza fuera de Europa no deberíamos quererlo para los nuestros. Quienes están entrando en España con la regularización masiva. Está claro que el que tiene malas intenciones se aprovecha de estas oportunidades.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Thank you, President. The case of Maria Shahbaz is a warning for all of us about Islamization. At just 13 years old, this Christian girl was abducted by a 30-year-old Muslim man, forcibly converted to Islam and married against her will. Pakistani court denied Maria's justice. It upheld the marriage, neglecting evidence of abduction, her underage status and her parents' desperate pleas.
Hundreds and hundreds of girls, mostly from religious minorities, have suffered the same fate in Pakistan. Europe must learn from this.
Mass migration from Islamic nations where Sharia prevails imports these risks. If we want to prevent future European girls from facing Maria's fate, we have work to do. We must prevent the Islamization of Europe. Thank you.
Lukas Sieper
Liebe Menschen Europas, was Maria Shahbaz passiert ist, ist unfassbares Unrecht. Und für mich ist das eigenständige Unrecht dann, was danach passiert ist, dass die Gerichte in Pakistan versagt haben, dass diesem Unrecht, das diesem jungen Mädchen passiert ist, keine Gerechtigkeit widerfahren ist. Wir leben in einer Welt, in der es kein System internationaler Gerechtigkeit gibt, in der die UN, in der internationale Gerichte, in der solche Behörden wie Interpol keine Möglichkeit haben, Unrecht zu bekämpfen, wenn es in einem souveränen Staat dieser Erde passiert. Und solange wir das nicht lösen, solange wir uns als Europäische Union nicht für eine ernsthafte Reform des internationalen Rechts und der internationalen Organisationen einsetzen, wird es immer wieder solche Fälle wie den von Maria Shahbaz geben, und das auf der ganzen Welt.
Das ist das, was wir ändern müssen, und das ist das, was wir als EU, Frau Kommissarin, auch ändern können. Dankeschön.
Vielen Dank, und nun gebe ich zum Abschluss der Debatte der Kommissarin Šuica noch mal das Wort, bitteschön.
Dubravka Šuica
Danke schön, dear Chair, honorable members. The case of Maria Shahbaz is deeply troubling. Maria was reportedly 13 when she was taken from her family in Lahore, converted to Islam and married to an adult man. Her father went to court, arguing that she was a minor and could not lawfully consent. Yet the proceedings did not deliver the clear child protection response that such a case demands, including under international law.
We know this is not an isolated case in Pakistan. It reflects a wider pattern of abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of girls coming from minorities. There are other key issues that challenge equal citizenship and equal protection under the law: the misuse of blasphemy allegations, the persecution of Ahmadis, the caste-based discrimination affecting Dalits and scheduled castes, many of them Hindu or Christian.
The European Union has not been silent. We have raised these concerns repeatedly and directly with Pakistan, including during our strategic dialogues and our joint commissions. We are perfectly aware that these issues are sensitive for our Pakistani counterparts, but they cannot be postponed, minimized, or treated as side matters in our relationship. Pakistan must do more to protect minors, ensure prompt police registration, apply child protection standards consistently, and prosecute those who exploit religious or cultural grounds to deprive others of rights which are clearly enshrined in international law. We recognize Pakistan has taken some steps, including on child marriage and child protection policy frameworks.
This is undoubtedly positive, but protection is measured by outcomes: safe return of the person, investigation of forced documents, punishment of perpetrators. Only then can vulnerable individuals and communities fully trust their state, whether in Pakistan or in any country. Pakistan is an important partner for the European Union, and precisely for that reason, our dialogue must remain candid.
Pakistan is the largest beneficiary of GSP+ worldwide, you know, Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus. Preferential access to the European market is linked to implementation of international conventions, including on human rights. The continuation and renewal of GSP+ is linked to real, measurable, and sustained progress in respecting the international commitments upon which it is based. And under these international commitments, equal citizenship, freedom of religion or belief, and protection of minority women and girls are not optional, but obligatory. Thank you.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much. Die Aussprache ist hiermit geschlossen. Es wurden sechs Entschließungsanträge eingereicht und die Abstimmung dazu findet morgen statt. Wir kommen nun zum nächsten Punkt der Tagesordnung. Hier geht es um die Erklärungen des Rats und der Kommission zur Verteidigung der europäischen Demokratie und der Integrität des Europäischen Parlaments angesichts von Enthüllungen, dass ein Mitglied des Europäischen Parlaments mit Hilfe illegaler Spionagesoftware überwacht wurde.
Und ich gebe zunächst das Wort im Namen des Rates an den Minister of State of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs and at the Department of Defence to Minister Thomas Byrne.
Thomas Byrne
Vice-President, honorable and distinguished members, Commissioner Šuica, in today's world we are faced with cyberattacks that wish to expose vulnerabilities in our cybersecurity. Such attacks need our full attention because cybersecurity is essential to protect economic activity and critical infrastructure in our Union. Cybersecurity is also about the protecting our electronic devices, such as smartphones, where we keep much of our private and professional data. Attempts to undermine the security of our private data undermine the right to privacy and data protection and freedom of expression. But let's be clear, the ultimate target of such attacks are our democracies and the rule of law.
The use of commercial spyware to monitor the press, politicians and public institutions represents a massive challenge to democratic accountability. And while member states and the European Union are constantly stepping up their efforts to increase cybersecurity, so do those who want to harm our values and our Union. That's why we need to focus on strengthening our democratic resilience.
I'll speak in French briefly. L'une des facettes de la résilience démocratique est la protection de nos démocraties contre les attaques, notamment les menaces hybrides, la manipulation de l'information et les ingérences étrangères, ainsi que la désinformation. L'autre facette de la résilience démocratique réside dans la protection de la liberté de nos citoyens et de nos médias, de la tenue d'élections libres et équitables, ainsi que de la solidité des institutions et des processus démocratiques. Je tiens à vous assurer que le renforcement de la résilience démocratique constitue une priorité majeure pour nos États membres, non seulement à l'échelon national, mais aussi à travers le partage d'informations, la coopération opérationnelle et le renforcement conjoint des capacités. Ce renforcement de la résilience démocratique est également l'objectif du bouclier européen de la démocratie que nous sommes actuellement en train de mettre en œuvre.
As Irish presidency, we're committed to supporting all these efforts in strengthening democratic resilience. During the next semester, we will be paying attention to the protection of citizens online, most clear children, and the safety of political candidates and elected representatives. I know these are important issues for the European Parliament as well, and I am sure that we will have the occasion to exchange on such matters with you in the months to come. Thank you very much for your attention.
Thank you very much, and I now pass the floor to the Commission, on behalf of the Commission, Dubravka Šuica.
Dubravka Šuica
Thank you very much, dear members. The Commission has seen the media reports. Our position is very clear. Any attempts to illegally access data of citizens is unacceptable. Any alleged illegal use of spyware is in the first place a matter for national authorities to investigate.
Mindful of their competence in that matter, European Union law provides clear and comprehensive safeguards. The European Union has a strong legal framework for data protection and privacy. The GDPR, the Data Protection Law Enforcement Directive, and ePrivacy Directive offer a comprehensive protection of the confidentiality of communications and users' personal data.
The ePrivacy Directive protects against communication interception and gaining access to or storage of information on users' devices without their consent. EU data protection law is fully applicable to the processing of personal data by private entities, even where such processing is required by law for national security purposes. EU data protection law also applies when public authorities process personal data for law enforcement and criminal justice purposes. Outside of data protection, there are several other relevant legislative instruments. The Directive on attacks against information systems requires Member States to ensure that illegal system access and illegal interception are punishable as a criminal offense in their national criminal law.
The European Media Freedom Act provides specific safeguards for journalists and their families and sources regarding the use of spyware. This is essential to ensure a free and independent press.
Moreover, with the application of the Cyber Resilience Act, the manufacturers placing hardware and software on the EU market are subject to cybersecurity requirements through the product life cycle. These obligations aim to reduce vulnerabilities in products that can be exploited by spyware to gain unauthorized access, monitor users, extract data, or compromise devices. By improving the security of connected products and reducing the overall number of exploitable weaknesses, the Cyber Resilience Act will strengthen resilience against such threats. In addition, we continue to report on the issue of spyware, when appropriate, in the annual Rule of Law Report from the perspective of checks and balances and that of the protection of journalists. Thank you.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much, Commissioner. Now we come to the round of speakers on behalf of political groups, and for EPP, we have Krzysztof Brejza.
Krzysztof Brejza
Ta debata jest bardzo ważna, bo Pegasus nie jest zwykłym narzędziem. To jest system, który uderza w samo serce demokracji, w europejskie wartości, podstawowe wolności obywateli. I ta debata nabiera szczególnego znaczenia w momencie, w którym dowiadujemy się, że poseł Parlamentu Europejskiego, Kouloglou z Grecji, był atakowany Pegasusem w momencie, w którym on badał w ramach pracy komisji PEGA nadużycia związane z Pegasusem.
I to są informacje wstrząsające, gdy celem staje się parlamentarzysta badający nadużycia związane z tą cyberbronią. Wtedy zagrożeniem jest nie tylko prywatność tej osoby, ale zdolności Parlamentu Europejskiego do realizowania działań kontrolnych instytucji publicznej. Powstaje pytanie: kto kogo kontroluje? Bo gdyby chciał ktoś stworzyć narzędzie do niszczenia demokracji, to takim narzędziem z pewnością jest Pegasus, bo to jest narzędzie, które od strony osobistej potrafi niszczyć prywatność, wnikać w osobowość człowieka. Z drugiej strony ono niszczy organizacje, niszczy ugrupowania, demokrację, niszczy dziennikarzy, wolne sądy i praworządność.
I widzieliśmy takie nadużycia w Polsce, na Węgrzech. I gdy historia pokazuje, że takie narzędzia trafiają w ręce ludzi patologicznych, ludzi demagogicznych, populistycznych, zdegenerowanych moralnie, to Pegasusem można niszczyć i prywatność, i demokrację, i wybory. Przeżyłem to osobiście, gdy jako partia w dziewiętnastym roku staliśmy się ofiarą Pegasusa.
Podsyłano nam fałszywe analizy wyborcze i wiem, że takim systemem można zniszczyć człowieka, można ingerować w system proces wyborczy. A przecież wolne wybory są świętem demokracji i fundamentem zaufania obywateli do państwa. Dlatego chciałbym też podziękować na koniec badaczom Citizen Lab i organizacjom pozarządowym i powiedzieć, że należy wdrożyć wszystkie rekomendacje komisji PEGA. I szacunek dla Citizen Lab, dla tych ludzi, którzy realizują te zadania, które powinny realizować instytucje państwa. Dziękuję.
Alex Agius Saliba
Grazzi President. Iċ-ċittadini Ewropej kollha għandhom dritt għall-privatezza u għandu jkollhom rasom mistrieħa li l-komunikazzjoni personali tagħhom tibqa' waħda privata. Imma wieħed jistaqsi, dan għadu l-każ? Illum il-ġurnata nħolqu spyware li permezz tagħhom l-ismartphones jistgħu jiġu aċċessati mingħajr ma wieħed ikun jaf u mingħajr il-ħtieġa li l-vittma jagħfas link intiż għall-phishing. Dan l-iżvilupp jista' joqtol id-dritt tagħna għall-privatezza u aktar minn hekk huwa theddida għat-tħaddim tad-demokraziji tagħna.
L-ispyware intuża fil-konfront ta' uffiċjali eletti, anka fil-konfront ta' membri ta' dan il-Parlament biex jinkiseb aċċess għat-telefown tagħhom. Wieħed mill-kollegi tagħna safa vittma tal-ispyware Pegasus proprju waqt il-ħidma tiegħu fil-kumitat PEGA intiż biex jiskrutinja dan l-istess spyware.
Ħaġa assurda u inkwetanti. Il-ħtieġa għal skrutinju forensiku regolari għat-telefowns kollha tagħna hija biss ġlieda kontra s-sintomi. Ċittadini ordinarji, ġurnalisti u politikanti huma lkoll f'riskju, iżda m'għandhomx il-mezzi biex jagħmlu l-iskrutinju forensiku tat-telefowns tagħhom. Neħtieġu soluzzjonijiet reali, aktar miżuri ta' sigurtà ċibernetika u forsi regoli ġodda fl-Unjoni Ewropea biex it-telefowns tagħna jinżammu privati. Ħadd m'għandu jkollu d-dritt jindaħal fil-komunikazzjoni privata tagħna.
Servizzi sigrieti barra l-liġi użaw din il-vulnerabbiltà sabiex jippruvaw jisirqu informazzjoni sensittiva mingħand il-politiċi tagħna. L-ispyware jagħmilha possibbli li tinkiseb informazzjoni kunfidenzjali biex jiġu influwenzati dibattiti politiċi jew saħansitra l-perkors tal-elezzjonijiet.
Maciej Wąsik
Szanowni Państwo, system Pegasus to system, którego nie można kupić w sklepie. Mogą go kupić tylko rządy albo rządy albo służby podległe rządom, czyli jest pod kontrolą państwa. I mam do Państwa parę pytań, znam też parę odpowiedzi. Czy korupcja jest groźnym przestępstwem? Tak.
Czy politycy dopuszczają się korupcji?
Znamy wiele przykładów. Czy służby policyjne powinny ścigać korupcję? Tak. Czy politycy powinni być traktowani inaczej niż zwykli obywatele? Nie.
Czy polityk dopuszczający się korupcji powinien być ścigany? Tak. Czy służby mogą stosować nowoczesne metody ścigania przestępców? Tak, jest to niezbędne dla skutecznego działania. Kontrola operacyjna powinna być prowadzona za zgodą właściwych organów państwa i pod ich kontrolą.
W Polsce są to sądy. Dlaczego zatem zajmujemy się tą sprawą? Bo nie ma wątpliwości, że jakiś organ państwa, prawdopodobnie w sposób legalny, nie mamy tutaj żadnej wiedzy czy była zgoda czy nie, ale domyślam się, że była to kwestia legalna, prowadził postępowanie. Jestem przekonany, że zamiast paraliżować atakami służby walczące z przestępczością należy zastanowić się co zrobić, by Komisja Europejska była bardziej transparentna albo żeby majątki polityków były upublicznione. Nie macie wrażenia, że oświadczenia majątkowe składane przez europosłów są nieczytelne dla opinii publicznej?
Więcej jawności. Jawność jest wrogiem korupcji. Politycy także dopuszczają się przestępstw. Dziękuję.
Moritz Körner
The next speaker is Moritz Körner on behalf of Renew.
Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, auch Jahre nach dem Untersuchungsausschuss ist bei der Frage Pegasus wenig passiert. Jetzt ist der nächste Kollege mit Überwachungssoftware überwacht worden und die Kommission hat immer noch nicht gehandelt und noch nichts vorgelegt. Hier muss endlich etwas passieren. Aber ich muss ehrlich gestehen, ich finde diese Debatte schon etwas befremdlich. Wir sprechen hier über die Bedeutung und Wichtigkeit von privater und verschlüsselter Kommunikation, aber gleichzeitig werden wir morgen wahrscheinlich diese private verschlüsselte Kommunikation von 450 Millionen Menschen angreifen mit der Chatkontrolle.
Und wir haben jahrelang verhandelt. Wir hatten doch vor zwei Wochen schon fast ein Finaleverhandlung zwischen Rat und Parlament. Keine Massenüberwachung. Safety by Design, Kontrolle bei konkretem Verdacht. Aber das reicht einigen im Rat und auch hier im Parlament nicht.
Die wollen die anlasslose Kontrolle unserer Daten. Und deswegen wird die Chatkontrolle morgen wieder abgestimmt, obwohl wir sie schon zweimal hier im Parlament abgelehnt haben. Man stimmt einfach so lange ab, bis das Ergebnis passt. Die privaten Chats von 450 Millionen EU-Bürgern, die sind dann nicht mehr sicher.
Nicht mal verschlüsselte Kommunikation wollen sie ausnehmen. Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, ich appelliere wirklich an Sie: Morgen, stimmen Sie gegen diesen Wahnsinn, stimmen Sie gegen die Chatkontrolle, stimmen Sie für verschlüsselte und sichere Kommunikation und vor allem stimmen Sie für das digitale Briefgeheimnis.
Saskia Bricmont
Nächste Rednerin ist Saskia Bricmont.
Chers collègues, juillet 2021, des journalistes d'investigation et des ONG révèlent que des milliers de personnes ont été illégalement espionnées à l'aide du logiciel espion Pegasus, qui accède sans clic à absolument toutes vos données sur votre téléphone. Juillet 2023, notre Parlement adopte un ensemble de recommandations afin que personne ne puisse être espionné illégalement grâce à une réglementation stricte. Juillet 2026, alors qu'on ne compte plus les États membres où les scandales éclatent, Hongrie, Pologne, Espagne, Grèce, Slovaquie, Italie, une nouvelle ligne rouge est franchie. Un ancien membre de ce Parlement a été espionné durant les travaux de la commission d'enquête. Depuis cinq ans, les logiciels espions défraient la chronique.
Depuis cinq ans, c'est pourtant le silence radio. Je me tourne vers le Conseil. Je me tourne aussi vers la Commission européenne. Nada. Nada.
Madame Virkkunen ne nous fait même pas l'honneur de sa présence aujourd'hui. Face à ces attaques contre la démocratie et l'état de droit, contre l'intégrité du Parlement européen avec l'espionnage de Stelios Kouloglou, on vous poursuivra jusqu'à ce qu'action s'ensuive. Nous voulons une enquête concrète sur ces révélations. Qui a espionné Stelios ? Pourquoi ?
D'autres députés ont-ils été espionnés ? Nous voulons que l'Europe se dote d'un EU Tech Lab. Nous voulons l'encadrement strict de l'utilisation des logiciels espions. Et enfin, l'arrêt immédiat de tout affaiblissement du dispositif européen de protection des données personnelles et des droits fondamentaux. Je vous remercie.
Elena Kountoura
Ευχαριστώ πολύ, κύριε Πρόεδρε. Κυρίες και κύριοι συνάδελφοι, μετά από πρωτοβουλία του αντιπροέδρου της Left Κώστα Αρβανίτη συζητάμε σήμερα ένα πολύ σοβαρό ζήτημα κράτους δικαίου. Η επιβεβαιωμένη από το Citizen Lab παρακολούθηση του πρώην ευρωβουλευτή της Left Στέλιου Κούλογλου αποτελεί ευθεία επίθεση στην ανεξαρτησία του ίδιου του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου.
Το θύμα ήταν μέλος της ειδικής εξεταστικής επιτροπής PEGA που το σώμα συγκρότησε για να διερευνήσει τη χρήση του Pegasus και άλλων παράνομων κατασκοπευτικών λογισμικών στην Ευρώπη. Προφανώς όταν παρακολουθείται ένα μέλος αυτής της επιτροπής δεν τίθεται σε κίνδυνο μόνο η ιδιωτικότητά του. Μέσα από την παρακολούθηση του πρώην συναδέλφου κάποιοι παρακολούθησαν και άλλους ευρωβουλευτές όπως και το ερευνητικό έργο της επιτροπής PEGA. Οι παρακολουθήσεις αυτές πλήττουν ευθέως τη δημοκρατία, το κράτος δικαίου και τη θεσμική ακεραιότητα των ευρωπαϊκών θεσμών και μας υπενθυμίζουν ότι η ασφάλειά μας, η προστασία του κράτους δικαίου και η ανεξαρτησία των δημοκρατικών θεσμών παραμένει μία ευρωπαϊκή πρόκληση. Το πραγματικό ερώτημα είναι αν το ίδιο το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο είναι διατεθειμένο να διερευνήσει ποιοι και για λογαριασμό ποιου παρακολούθησαν τον ευρωβουλευτή μέλος της εξεταστικής του επιτροπής.
Αυτό είναι ένα ζήτημα θεσμικής αξιοπιστίας και προστασίας της εντολής των ευρωβουλευτών. Ως Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο είχαμε ζητήσει όχι μόνο στο πόρισμα της επιτροπής PEGA αλλά και σε μεταγενέστερο ψήφισμά μας από την Κομισιόν να αναλάβει νομοθετική πρωτοβουλία απέναντι στις προκλήσεις που δημιουργούν τα κατασκοπευτικά λογισμικά.
Και οι νέες αποκαλύψεις αποδεικνύουν με τον πιο δραματικό τρόπο ότι αυτό το αίτημα ήταν απολύτως δικαιολογημένο. Όλα αυτά συμβαίνουν τη στιγμή που στην Ελλάδα το σκάνδαλο των υποκλοπών όχι μόνο δεν έχει κλείσει, όπως επιχειρεί η σημερινή κυβέρνηση και η κυβερνητική πλειοψηφία, αλλά μπαίνει σε μία νέα, ιδιαίτερα κρίσιμη φάση. Μετά τον Νίκο Ανδρουλάκη, πρόεδρο του ΠΑΣΟΚ, τον πρώην υπουργό του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ Χρήστο Σπίρτζη, πλέον και ο πρώην πρωθυπουργός Αντώνης Σαμαράς ζήτησε επίσημα από τον Άρειο Πάγο να διερευνηθεί η παρακολούθησή του. Σήμερα λοιπόν υπερασπιζόμαστε το δικαίωμα κάθε μέλους αυτού του Κοινοβουλίου να ασκεί ανεμπόδιστα τα καθήκοντά του, υπερασπιζόμαστε την ανεξαρτησία των εξεταστικών επιτροπών μας, υπερασπιζόμαστε την αξιοπιστία του ίδιου του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου. Και γι' αυτό ζητούμε πλήρη διερεύνηση της υπόθεσης από τις αρμόδιες αρχές της Ελλάδας, του Βελγίου και της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, απόδοση ευθυνών και επιτέλους τη λήψη δεσμευτικών μέτρων για την απαγόρευση της χρήσης κακόβουλων κατασκοπευτικών λογισμικών στην Ευρώπη.
Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ.
Speaker 228
Som presvedčený o tom, že ste stratili aj posledné zábrany. Klamete ľuďom od rána do večera. Pozrite sa, čo ste tam napísali. Vy ste túto tému nazvali ochrana európskej demokracie.
Ja sa vás pýtam, kde je tá európska demokracia? V Európskej komisii, ktorej predsedníčka nechce zverejniť informácie o tom, ako nakupovala vakcíny? V tomto parlamente, ktorý tu pretláča Chat Control, aby mohol špehovať telefón každého jedného obyvateľa Európskej únie? Alebo vtedy, keď ste osemkrát preukázateľne zasiahli do slobodných a demokratických volieb v jednotlivých členských štátoch? Slovenská republika, z ktorej pochádzam, bola terčom vašich hybridných operácií, kedy Európska komisia výrazne s využitím Digital Services Actu obmedzovala dosahy politikov na sociálnych sieťach.
Som jeden z tých, ktorým vaša Európska komisia prikázala sociálnych sietí, aby mu vypli dosah na sociálnych sieťach. Čo to má spoločné s demokraciou? Takejto demokracii by hádam tlieskal aj súdruh Stalin a Mao Ce-tung. Toto je vaša demokracia, ktorú chcete chrániť. Samozrejme, že je obrovský problém, ak europoslancovi do telefónu nejaká tajná služba nainštaluje program Pegasus a špehujú ho.
Je to obrovský problém, ktorý treba riešiť. Ale vy chcete predsa nainštalovať špehovací program do 450 miliónov telefónov obyvateľov Európskej únie. Chcete čítať každú šifrovanú komunikáciu, vidieť každú jednu fotografiu, chcete čítať súkromné konverzácie medzi manželmi. Veď to je úchylné, choré a zvrátené.
Dvakrát toto plénum odmietlo Chat Control a pretláčate ho zase. Tak nám nehovorte o ochrane súkromia, keď vy ste najväčší porušovatelia súkromia. Ako nám môžete hovoriť o ochrane demokracie a slobody slova, keď toto plénum odhlasovalo, že ide vyšetrovať našu politickú stranu Európa suverénnych národov za to, že otvorene hovoríme veci, ktoré neporušujú žiadne zákony, ale takzvané európske hodnoty. A vy ste tí, ktorí určia, čo sú tie európske hodnoty. Príde Európska komisia a povie: demokracia, sloboda slova, ale odtiaľ-potiaľ.
My vám nastavíme, o čom môžete hovoriť. Chcete deportovať nelegálnych imigrantov, hovoríte o remigrácii ako v mojom prípade, porušujete európske hodnoty, lebo európskou hodnotou podľa tejto Európskej komisie je mať v Európe vrahov, teroristov a násilníkov, ktorí sem prišli nelegálne. A takto by som mohol pokračovať do nekonečna. Neustále európsku demokraciu ničíte, potláčate, zakopali ste ju do hrobu a dnes nám hovoríte, že my vám máme veriť, že vy budete chrániť súkromie, demokraciu a slobodu slova. Prv odíďte vy, prestaňte so všetkým, čo robíte, a potom môžeme veriť tomu, že sa demokracia bude v Európe dať obnoviť.
Michał Wawrykiewicz
The next speaker is Michał Wawrykiewicz.
Dziękuję, pani przewodnicząca. Proszę państwa, po raz kolejny wychodzi na jaw informacja przekazana przez Citizen Lab, przez instytut akademicki, która wykazuje, że system Pegasus był wykorzystywany w tak szeroki sposób, naruszając jedne z podstawowych wartości, jakie obowiązują w Unii Europejskiej i wartości, które powinniśmy my w Parlamencie Europejskim chronić. Chodzi o prawo do prywatności. Przypomnę, że sprawa Pegasusa wypłynęła w związku z naruszeniami dokonanymi przez ówczesną władzę Prawa i Sprawiedliwości w Polsce. Na tej sali siedzi ówczesny senator Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej Krzysztof Brejza, ówczesny szef kampanii wyborczej partii opozycyjnej, a obecnie poseł do Parlamentu Europejskiego.
To on i jego rodzina, a także wielu innych polityków, dziennikarzy, niezależnych prawników było inwigilowanych w Polsce systemem Pegasus zakupionym przez partię rządzącą.
To oni chcieli wiedzieć co się dzieje w ich domach, chcieli wiedzieć jakie są plany polityczne i chcieli wiedzieć jak walczyć z opozycją, z obywatelami i wszystkimi tymi, którzy nie stoją po stronie rządu. I dlatego wówczas Parlament Europejski powołał komisję PEGA i ta komisja PEGA w 2023 roku przygotowała raport liczący 145 stron, gdzie Parlament Europejski wyraźnie stwierdził, że zarówno państwa członkowskie, jak i państwa spoza Unii wykorzystywały Pegasusa, a szczególnie w Polsce i szczególnie na Węgrzech drastycznie naruszano w związku z tym prawo Unii Europejskiej i nie zapewniono obywatelom żadnej ochrony. Te działania Pegasusa były wielopoziomowe, dlatego z jednego urządzenia na drugie przechodziły, przechodził ten system szpiegowski i tego dotyczą teraz, przypomnę państwu, sprawy, które toczą się przed Europejskim Trybunałem Praw Człowieka i czekamy na wyroki właśnie w tej sprawie. Dziękuję bardzo.
Ένας ακόμη συνάδελφός μας αποδεικνύεται ότι έπεσε θύμα παρακολούθησης με παράνομο κατασκοπευτικό λογισμικό, ο κύριος Κούλογλου, μέλος εξεταστικής επιτροπής για αυτόν ακριβώς το σκοπό, για τη διερεύνηση παρακολουθήσεων με παράνομο λογισμικό στην Ευρώπη.
Nikolas Farantouris
Είχε προηγηθεί η απόπειρα παρακολούθησης ενός ακόμη ευρωβουλευτή, του Νίκου Ανδρουλάκη, μέλους των Ευρωπαίων Σοσιαλιστών και Δημοκρατών που καθόταν σε εκείνα τα έδρανα, προέδρου του ΠΑΣΟΚ και σήμερα αρχηγού της αξιωματικής αντιπολίτευσης στην Ελλάδα. Ένα ζήτημα υψίστης σημασίας και για την πατρίδα μου και για την ευρωπαϊκή έννομη τάξη. Απαιτούμε πλήρη διαλεύκανση της υπόθεσης και όλων των υποθέσεων, τόσο από τις εθνικές αρχές όσο και από τους ευρωπαϊκούς θεσμούς. Είναι θέμα δημοκρατίας και κράτους δικαίου.
Emmanouil Fragkos
Σας ευχαριστώ. Η δημοκρατία μας απειλείται. Παράνομα λογισμικά παρακολούθησης στρέφονται εναντίον των εκλεγμένων εκπροσώπων των πολιτών. Οι αποκαλύψεις για την παρακολούθηση ευρωβουλευτή με παράνομο λογισμικό μπορεί να εκπλήσσουν την Ευρώπη. Δυστυχώς στην Ελλάδα η κοινή γνώμη μέσω του δημοσιογραφικού κατεστημένου έχει συμφιλιωθεί με αυτή την εικόνα.
Βλέπουμε διαρκώς ένα μηχανισμό θαψίματος υποθέσεων από το κυβερνών παρακράτος. Το κυβερνητικό σύστημα έστησε μηχανισμό παρακολούθησης του συνόλου της αντιπολίτευσης και της κυβέρνησης. Εμείς στεκόμαστε απέναντι. Δεν εφησυχάζουμε. Ζητάμε απόλυτη διαφάνεια.
Όσοι διαθέτουν κρίσιμα στοιχεία για την προμήθεια και χρήση παράνομου λογισμικού από κρατικές αρχές όπως ο Intellexa οφείλουν να κληθούν ενώπιον των αρμοδίων επιτροπών και να καταθέσουν όλα τα αποδεικτικά στοιχεία. Κάθε άρνηση διερεύνησης, κάθε καθυστέρηση απόκρυψης αποδεικνύει συνενοχή. Εμείς εδώ έχουμε μια αποστολή. Να φωνάξουμε με κάθε τρόπο πως κανείς δεν βρίσκεται υπεράνω του νόμου και καμιά κυβέρνηση, κανένας μηχανισμός εξουσίας δεν μπορεί να χρησιμοποιεί παράνομα μέσα παρακολούθησης χωρίς λογοδοσία. Η δημοκρατία προστατεύεται μόνο όταν η αλήθεια αποκαλύπτεται όσο ισχυρό κι αν είναι το σύστημα της συγκάλυψης.
Σας ευχαριστώ.
The next speaker is Lukas Sieper.
Lukas Sieper
Vielen Dank, Frau Präsidentin, liebe Menschen Europas.
Medien und Journalismus werden häufig als vierte Gewalt der Demokratie bezeichnet. Auch wenn dies vielleicht nicht der traditionellen Gewaltenteilung entspricht, wird die Aussage deutlich: freier Journalismus und investigative Recherche sind unabdingbar für unsere Demokratie. Das gilt auch dann, wenn Menschen aus der Politik in den Journalismus wechseln. Wir können und dürfen die Spionageattacken auf den Europaabgeordneten und Journalisten Stelios Kouloglou nicht unkommentiert stehen lassen. Dass Politiker sowie Journalistinnen und Journalisten solche Eingriffe in ihre Privatsphäre fürchten müssen, wenn sie ihrer Arbeit nachgehen, ist absolut inakzeptabel und schädlich für die europäische Demokratie.
Demokratie kann nur funktionieren, wenn Menschen ohne Angst ihre Meinung äußern, Missstände aufdecken und Verantwortung einfordern können. Einschüchterung, Überwachung von Politikerinnen und Politikern, von Journalistinnen und Journalisten gefährden nicht nur eine einzelne Person, sondern auch das Vertrauen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger in unsere europäischen Institutionen. Dementsprechend muss die Kommission handeln. Ich glaube, das wissen Sie, ich glaube, das haben Sie verstanden. Wir müssen den Schutz vor Spyware zu einer Priorität machen, weil uns diese Problemstellung in unserer jetzigen Welt immer und immer wieder entgegentreten wird.
Hier geht es nicht nur um einen Einzelfall, hier geht es um die demokratische Kontrolle an sich.
Der Schutz der Freiheit der Abgeordneten, der Schutz der Pressefreiheit bedeutet den Schutz unserer gemeinsamen europäischen Werte. Vielen Dank.
Die nächste Rednerin ist Hannah Neumann.
Hannah Neumann
Dear colleagues, you all have your phones with you right now. As you have them at the negotiation table, at the dinner table, maybe even on your bedside table, and for some of you, someone else has been there too. The spyware that hacked Stelios Kouloglou was silent. He didn't need to click on a link or open an attachment, so how would you know that your phone hasn't also been infected? One minute, it's your private phone.
The next, it's the spy in your pocket. And with the speed at which this technology is proliferating and the total lack of oversight we still allow, dear colleagues, exploits from Pegasus and Predator have already reached Russian government hackers and organized criminal groups. They are now out in the wild for anyone to use. We urgently need to protect our democracy and our families from this threat. And this is a collective duty, because any one of us can become the Trojan horse.
I get my phone checked regularly, and I'm glad I know its status.
Stelios got his checked, and we should all be glad he did. There are certainly more people affected in this chamber and in national parliaments across Europe, so colleagues, get your phones checked. It is fast, it is confidential, it is very, very necessary. If you have questions, you can ask me. And one sentence to the Commission.
Three years ago, this Parliament wrote down how to fix it. It's your job to finally get it done. Because the greatest threat of spyware isn't what it does to our phones. It is what it does to our democracy and our security.
Thank you, dear colleague. I wanted to ask you how often do you check your phone, actually? But as you told us that you do it on a regular, could you maybe explain to the colleagues who don't do it, how you can check your phone here inside the European Parliament? Thank you very much.
Hannah Neumann
I'm very happily doing that. We have an agency in the European Parliament, it's called DG ITEC. And we actually made this agency able to check all the phones because of our work in the Pegasus committee, because we were kind of expecting us to be hacked at one point or another. It's quite frustrating to see it really happened.
Call DG ITEC, set up a meeting, they look at your phone, they go through it and they tell you if you have been infected or not. Another way to do that is through Citizen's Lab. That's the organization that has worked together with Stelios because he's no longer member of the Parliament. They can even do it remotely. So as I told you, it's easy, it's fast.
And I would suggest everybody does it because anyone can hack us, dear colleagues, including the Russians.
Thank you also for this lesson. Now I give the floor to Danuše Nerudová.
Danuše Nerudová
Dear colleagues, across our Union, spyware like Pegasus and Predator has been used against journalists, lawyers or politicians. In Hungary, journalists were hacked while investigating Orbán's government. In Poland, our own colleague had his phone hacked three times by the former government. It reminds me of former Czechoslovak communist secret police, who spied on everyone and everywhere. Back then, they didn't have the tools to listen to everything.
Now, governments do, and they use them. Nearly every member state has purchased this technology. Almost none will submit to scrutiny.
And when we as a parliament ask for answers, most governments responded with silence. We cannot demand the rule of law from candidates while ignoring its erosion at home. We demand independent oversight, real whistleblower protection and consequences for governments that stonewall our own committees. Democracy cannot be defend itself in the dark. Thank you.
Roman Haider
Danke, Frau Prsidentin, Frau Kommissarin, Herr Minister. Wenn ein Mitglied eines Untersuchungsausschusses, der sich mit illegaler Verwendung von Spionagesoftware beschftigt, whrend seiner Arbeit mit exakt jener Software, die Untersuchungsgegenstand ist, auspioniert wird, dann ist das nichts anderes als ein massiver und unverfrorener Angriff auf Demokratie und Parlamentarismus. Und wenn tatschlich dieselben Akteure dahinterstecken, die russische und belarussische Oppositionelle im Exil gezielt mit Spionagesoftware abgehrt haben, ist das eine ungeheure Bedrohung unserer Souvernitt und Auftrag, endlich entschieden zu handeln. Europa wird von innen und auen angegriffen. Und da kann nationale Sicherheit und darf nationale Sicherheit nicht das Aushebeln rechtsstaatlicher Prinzipien begrnden.
Bis heute wurde Predatorgate in Griechenland nicht lckenlos aufgeklrt.
Wer hat den Auftrag zur Überwachung erteilt? Mit welchem Ziel? Alle Beteiligten sind zur Verantwortung zu ziehen. Ein europäischer Rechtsakt mit klaren Mindeststandards für den Einsatz von Spyware ist überfällig. Richterliche Kontrolle, strenge Aufsicht und wirksamer Schutz für Journalistinnen und Journalisten, Juristinnen, Juristen sowie Abgeordnete dringendst notwendig.
Was muss noch passieren, damit die Kommission endlich handelt?
Sabine Verheyen
Vielen Dank. Der nächste Redner und letzte Redner vor dem Catch-the-Eye ist Juan Fernando López Aguilar.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Danke, Frau Präsidentin, Kommissarin. Tuve el honor de ser miembro de la comisión de investigación Pegasus la pasada legislatura. Y el sentido de una comisión de investigación es arrojar unas conclusiones que sean vinculantes para la Comisión para que adopten iniciativas legislativas y las recuerdo muy bien: un laboratorio europeo de referencia, pero sobre todo declarar por incompatible con la Carta Europea de Derechos Fundamentales e ilegal el uso de herramientas de espionaje masivo e indiscriminado. Y no digamos el aspecto criminal que tiene su utilización contra periodistas, activistas, defensores de derechos humanos y nada menos que parlamentarios.
Porque Predator, que es la versión griega de Pegasus, ha sido utilizado contra Nikos Androulakis y contra Stelios Kouloglou, dos distinguidos miembros de este Parlamento Europeo en su función parlamentaria, lo que es completamente inaceptable. Por tanto, se tiene que declarar ilegal la utilización de un espionaje masivo y delictivo cuando se trata de espionaje contra activistas de derechos humanos, abogados o políticos y periodistas, porque solo puede ser utilizado con autorización judicial y contra criminalidad grave transnacional. Por lo tanto, la Comisión está tardando en actuar y debe hacerlo. Gracias, presidenta.
Lukas Sieper
Vielen Dank, Herr Kollege, dass Sie die blaue Karte akzeptiert. Was wäre in Ihren Augen eine Sanktion, die diese Art illegal Verhalten vorbringen sollten? Dankeschön.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Eine Strafkode. Es ist nicht nur illegal. Es ist eine Verbrechen. Eine massive Spionage gegen Mitgliedern des Europäischen Parlament, mit den Rechtsanwälten, mit den Journalisten.
Das gegen der Charta der Grundrechte der Europäischen Union und es sollte ein Verbrechen sein. Und es sollte bringen eine Strafe nach die Strafcode jeden Mitgliedstaats der Europäischen Union.
Vielen Dank Herr Lopez Aguilar und jetzt kommen wir zum Catch-the-Eye und der erste Redner unter Catch-the-Eye ist Sebastian Tynkkynen.
Sebastian Tynkkynen
Dear speaker, an MEP was allegedly spied on. That is a serious suspicion and must be investigated and responded to accordingly. But let's not forget the bigger picture when it comes to illegal surveillance. Recently, French counterintelligence dismantled nine secret Chinese police stations on French soil. These secret networks were used by Beijing to monitor the Chinese diaspora and track down regime opponents in order to forcibly return them to China.
That is what China tries to do across our continent. Control the people who have escaped the control in China. Those people do not have the services and protection that politicians have, but they do deserve protection. It means that we must clean Chinese surveillance networks off our streets. Thank you.
Thank you, the next speaker is Jaume Asens Llodrà.
Jaume Asens Llodrà
En Israel, sus empresas de inteligencia militar nos pueden estar espiando a todos, a ciudadanos, a periodistas, pero también a diputados. Hemos hablado de Stelios, un amigo, alguien que estaba investigando ese espionaje y resulta que estaba siendo a su vez espiado por el gobierno griego con el software israelí Pegasus. Yo cené con él hace un par de semanas. ¿Estaba el gobierno griego, el de Israel en esa cena? Es surrealista.
Es como encarcelar al bombero que intenta apagar un incendio. En las distopías de Orwell, el Gran Hermano vigila a todo el mundo, pero aquí hemos ido un paso más allá. También se vigila a quien intenta demostrar que nos vigilan. Y he oído al portavoz del Partido Popular de Polonia que dice que es un gran peligro para la democracia. Pero, señorías del Partido Popular, han pasado tres años desde que el Parlamento aprobó sus recomendaciones y ustedes no han hecho absolutamente nada.
¿Por qué? ¿Quizás porque a ustedes no les espían? Espían a sus adversarios políticos.
The next speaker is Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos.
Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos
Το σκάνδαλο των υποκλοπών στην Ελλάδα, οι παρακολουθήσεις και με κατασκοπευτικά λογισμικά ευρωβουλευτών, στρατιωτικών, δημοσιογράφων δεν είναι μεμονωμένα περιστατικά. Με ευρωενωσιακές οδηγίες και κανονισμούς, την υλοποίησή τους από τις κυβερνήσεις, η παρακολούθηση των πάντων έγινε κανονικότητα. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση μάλιστα ζητά επειγόντως την έγκριση του επικίνδυνου κανονισμού μαζικής παρακολούθησης chat control. Απ' την υπόθεση Intellexa προκύπτει ότι τα κατασκοπευτικά λογισμικά επιτρέπονται από τον κανονισμό ειδών διπλής χρήσης. Είναι νόμιμη η ανάπτυξή τους, η αγορά από κρατικές υπηρεσίες όπως η ΕΥΠ στην Ελλάδα, η χρήση τους με επίκληση της έννοιας λάστιχο εθνική ασφάλεια.
Το ευρωενωσιακό θεσμικό πλαίσιο ουδείς εξαιρείται των παρακολουθήσεων, μετατρέπει τις υποκλοπές παράνομες και νόμιμες σε εργαλείο καταστολής πρωτίστως ενάντια στο εργατικό λαϊκό κίνημα που αγωνίζεται για τις σύγχρονες ανάγκες του. Αυτό είναι το κράτος δικαίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης που υπερασπίζονται τα άλλα κόμματα. Αυτά θέλει να κουκουλώσει και η κυβέρνηση της Νέας Δημοκρατίας. Η υπεράσπιση των λαϊκών δικαιωμάτων επιβάλλει τη ρήξη με την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, κατάργηση των αντιδραστικών κανονισμών, απαγόρευση εμπορίας και χρήσης κατασκοπευτικών λογισμικών, αποκάλυψη και καταδίκη όλων των υπευθύνων.
Maria Zacharia
Η Ευρώπη γεννήθηκε πάνω στα ερείπια ενός σκοτεινού παρελθόντος.
Υποσχέθηκε στους πολίτες της ότι δεν θα φοβούνται ποτέ ξανά πως κάποιος ακούει πίσω από την πόρτα, διαβάζει τα γράμματά τους ή παρακολουθεί τις σκέψεις τους. Και όμως, σήμερα ένας ακόμη ευρωβουλευτής, δεύτερος ευρωβουλευτής, αποκαλύπτεται ότι ήταν στόχος ισραηλινού κατασκοπευτικού λογισμικού. Όταν παρακολουθείται ένας ευρωβουλευτής, δεν κινδυνεύει μόνο ο ίδιος. Κινδυνεύει η ελευθερία κάθε συνομιλίας, κάθε διαπραγμάτευσης, κάθε ψήφου μέσα σε αυτό το Κοινοβούλιο. Υπάρχουν κι άλλοι ευρωβουλευτές που παρακολουθήθηκαν;
Μπορεί να είναι οποιοσδήποτε από εμάς. Το Κοινοβούλιο οφείλει να μας προστατεύσει. Η παρακολούθηση ενός ευρωβουλευτή είναι παραβίαση και προσβολή του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου. Ζητώ από την Πρόεδρο να οργανώσει εθελοντικό έλεγχο ασφαλείας όλων των συσκευών των ευρωβουλευτών, να δούμε τι έκταση έχει πάρει αυτή η κατασκοπευτική απειλή. Πόσοι παρακολουθούνται σήμερα;
Ζητώ και από την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή, τη Europol και τον Ευρωπαίο Επόπτη Προστασίας Δεδομένων να διερευνήσουν ανεξάρτητα αυτήν την ευρωπαϊκή υπόθεση. Σας ευχαριστώ.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much and now I pass the floor to the Commission, to Commissioner Dubravka Šuica.
Dubravka Šuica
Thank you, Chair. Dear Minister, honorable members, let me please restate once again, the Commission's position is unambiguous, any attempts to illegally access data of citizens is unacceptable. The follow-up and investigations into any alleged illegal use of spyware are in the first place a matter for national authorities. Nonetheless, European Union law provides a comprehensive and clear set of safeguards which must be respected. I will repeat, EU data protection law fully applies to the processing of personal data by private entities even where such processing is required by law for national security purposes.
EU data protection law is also applicable when public authorities process personal data for law enforcement and criminal justice purposes. When law enforcement authorities use intrusive surveillance software for these purposes, the Law Enforcement Directive applies.
These rules must be respected, and national supervisory authorities and national courts have a crucial role to play in this respect, which we also see from the case at hand. However, European law does not apply where public authorities directly access the data, not via a telecom operator, and process them for genuine national security purposes. It flows from European Court of Justice case law that threats to national security must not be interpreted overbroadly, and the Member States must be able to demonstrate them. It is also important to bear in mind that where European law is not applicable, the European Convention on Human Rights still applies. Outside of data protection, there are several other relevant legislative instruments.
The Directive on attacks against information systems requires Member States to ensure that illegal system access and illegal interception are punishable as a criminal offense in their national criminal law. Ensuring a free and independent press is crucial. The European Media Freedom Act provides specific safeguards for journalists, for their families and sources regarding the use of spyware. Thank you so much.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much, and now I pass the floor to Minister Thomas Byrne on behalf of the Council.
Thomas Byrne
Thank you, Commissioner Dubravka Šuica. This has been an extremely informative debate and it has shown that we need to actively protect our citizens, our press, our democratically elected politicians and our public institutions from all sorts of growing threats, but of course including cyber threats and hacking. All illegal use of spyware has to be investigated, stopped and investigated as appropriate by the national authorities. A lot has been done during the last few years, but we still have important work ahead of us. And I can undertake that the Council and the member states will continue to work closely with the Parliament, with elected members here and the Commission in this joint effort.
Our democracy is critical and the protection of the rights of elected members is in the interests of that democracy, in the interests of the people. In the program of the Irish presidency, we describe protecting democracy as upholding the indispensable foundation of our Union.
And this requires a common effort from institutions and civil society alike, in a spirit of a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach. But what has been described here tonight in respect of the hacking of phones by this ever-increasing, this technology of ever-increasing sophistication, must be stopped, investigated, and prosecuted by national authorities. Thank you very much for your attention.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you very much. Die Aussprache ist hiermit geschlossen und wir kommen zum nächsten Punkt der Tagesordnung, es folgen die Erklärungen zur Abstimmung. Zunächst einmal über den Bericht von Michael Gahler zu Bericht über zu 2025 der Kommission über die Ukraine und ich gebe zunächst Alvise Pérez das Wort. He's not there. Thank you very much.
He's not there, so I pass the floor to Cristian Terheş.
Cristian Terheş
Thank you so much.
Am votat în favoarea raportului pentru Ucraina, pentru că în primul rând susțin Ucraina în a câștiga acest război pornit de către Rusia agresivă împotriva ei. Mai mult decât atât, acest raport prevede pentru a doua oară următoarea situație: ia act de faptul că Parlamentul Ucrainei a adoptat o lege care permite parohiilor ortodoxe din Ucraina aflate sub jurisdicția Patriarhiei Ortodoxe a Moscovei să se dezafilieze de la Biserica Ortodoxă Rusă și să decidă cu privire la propria-și afiliere. În Ucraina există astăzi sute de parohii ortodoxe românești care doresc să iasă de sub jurisdicția Patriarhiei Moscovei și să-și creeze propria structură ecleziastică bisericească în Ucraina. Acest raport laudă în acest sens, ia act de faptul că în august 2024 parohiile ortodoxe române din Ucraina au depus o cerere de recunoaștere a asociației religioase Biserica Ortodoxă Română din Ucraina și raportul solicită Ucrainei, autorităților ucrainene să recunoască această asociație. Mulțumesc.
Sabine Verheyen
The next point is the report Sven Mikser, Bericht 2025 der Kommission über Moldau. Auch hier hatte sich Alvise Perez gemeldet, aber ist nicht anwesend. Somit kommen wir zum nächsten Punkt, Bericht Tonino Picula, Bericht 2025 der Kommission über Serbien. Auch hier war Alvise Perez nicht anwesend. Dann gebe ich das Wort an Cristian Terheș.
Mulțumesc.
Cristian Terheş
Am votat în favoarea raportului cu privire la Serbia, în primul rând pentru că susțin Serbia. Poți să ai o serie de critici la adresa Serbiei, la adresa guvernului Serbiei, însă e important ca Serbia să fie susținută în acest proces de integrare europeană. În plus de asta, la o serie de amendamente pe care le-am făcut, acest raport prevede pentru prima dată în istoria Parlamentului European ca autoritățile sârbești să nu mai facă distincție între comunitatea vlahă sau etichetată ca vlahă și comunitatea românească din Serbia. Cele două comunități etnice sunt comunități, este aceeași comunitate românească, că unii le spun vlahi, că alții le spun români, este irelevant. Ambele comunități sunt comunități românești și e important ca autoritățile sârbești să recunoască lucrul acesta.
Al doilea lucru pe care l-am cerut este ca Episcopia Ortodoxă Română din Serbia să i se permită extinderea jurisdicției asupra întregului teritoriu al Serbiei, lucru care astăzi nu este permis.
Sunt convins că acest raport va avea soluții benefice pentru comunitatea românească ortodoxă din Serbia și felicit pe colegii care l-au votat. Mulțumesc.
Irena Joveva
Hvala. Ljudje v Srbiji evropske vrednote branijo bolj pogumno kot marsikdo v tej dvorani. Podpore od Evropske unije, vsaj tiste na najvišji ravni, ne dobijo niti malo, kvečjemu nasprotno. Potem se pa čudite, zakaj v Srbiji ni zaupanja v Evropsko unijo. Od kdaj je stabilnost brez demokracije stabilnost?
In od kdaj se sporočila za nenapredek pošiljajo z idejami o odpiranju novih pristopnih poglavij? V tem poročilu, ki sem ga seveda podprla, smo upravičeno ostri. Vsaj nekdo, kajne, ker v Evropskem parlamentu si vsaj še upamo reči bobu bob. Ni pa to poročilo ocena Srbije kot države. Ni ocena ljudi, je ocena oblasti.
Moja podpora gre ljudem v Srbiji, tistim, ki se borijo proti korupciji, za svobodne medije in za državo, v kateri zakon velja za vse. Njihova prihodnost je evropska. Pa če smo že pri času za odpiranje novih poglavij oziroma poglavja številka tri: absolutno. Prvo poglavje: demokracija, drugo: odgovornost in tretje: institucije, ki delujejo. Dokler tega ni, pa pač ne morete odpirati nekih drugih poglavij, gospa von der Leyen.
Odprite raje oči.
Sabine Verheyen
Thank you. And now we come to the next point. Hier geht es um Entschließungsanträge, die Folgen der türkischen Invasion von 1974 für zyprische Frauen und Mädchen, die von den türkischen Streitkräften verübten Verbrechen und die Konsequenzen für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter.
Ich gebe zunächst das Wort an Kostas Papadakis.
Kostas Papadakis
Καταδικάζουμε την τουρκική εισβολή και κατοχή της Κύπρου, τα αποτρόπαια εγκλήματα που διέπραξε ο τουρκικός στρατός σε βάρος Κυπρίων γυναικών και κοριτσιών, το βίαιο εκτοπισμό, σεξουαλική κακοποίηση, τους βιασμούς, το διαχωρισμό των οικογενειών, το τραύμα, το στιγματισμό και τις ανυπολόγιστες μακροπρόθεσμες βαριές συνέπειες στις ζωές τους, στερούμενες και την παραμικρή στήριξη. Πέραν από την αυτονόητη αποζημίωση που υποχρεούται το τουρκικό κράτος να καταβάλει στα θύματά του, απαιτούμε να ανοίξουν τα κλειστά στρατιωτικά αρχεία, να γίνει αποτελεσματική έρευνα στα κατεχόμενα με ταυτοποίηση και απόδοση των λειψάνων, αποζημίωση, στήριξη των οικογενειών των αγνοουμένων μέχρι να διακριβωθεί κάθε αγνοούμενος. Πενήντα δύο χρόνια από την εισβολή, τριάντα δύο από την ένταξη της Κύπρου στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, η απάντηση ενάντια στα διχοτομικά σχέδια και την ΝΑΤΟποίηση του νησιού είναι Κύπρος ανεξάρτητη, ένα και όχι δύο κράτη, μία και μόνη κυριαρχία, ιθαγένεια, διεθνή προσωπικότητα, με άμεση αποχώρηση των κατοχικών στρατευμάτων, χωρίς εγγυητές και προστάτες, χωρίς ξένα στρατεύματα και βάσεις, κοινή πατρίδα Ελληνοκυπρίων, Τουρκοκυπρίων με το λαό της αφέντη στον τόπο του.
Sabine Verheyen
Und der letzte Redner unter dem Tagesordnungspunkt Stimmerklärungen ist Juan Fernando López Aguilar.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Danke Frau Präsidentin. Durante mis mandatos como presidente de la Comisión de Libertades, Justicia e Interior, tuve el honor de ser el ponente permanente para las personas desaparecidas en Chipre, invadida su parte norte por Turquía en 1974. Y por tanto me comprometí con esos miles de personas desaparecidas cuyas familias esperan todavía reparación y justicia. Hemos votado una resolución que incide sobre un aspecto sensible: la violación masiva de derechos humanos que supuso la violencia sexual perpetrada contra mujeres y niñas en la ocupación del norte de Chipre. Y sin duda la resolución incide en la igualdad de género, en los derechos humanos y en el Estado de derecho.
Pero lo cierto es que hay una cuenta pendiente en la que esta Unión Europea se tiene que comprometer plenamente. Esa cuenta pendiente tiene una dimensión con Turquía, que todavía figura en la lista de los Estados candidatos a la adhesión, pero sobre todo con Chipre, cuya integridad territorial nacional continúa pendiente y en cuyo Parlamento nacional todavía hay asientos vacantes que esperan la representación de la comunidad turca de Chipre del Norte. Gracias, Presidenta.
Die nächste Sitzung findet morgen Donnerstag, den 9. Juli 2026 um 8 Uhr statt. Die Tagesordnung wurde veröffentlicht und ist auf der Webseite des Europäischen Parlaments verfügbar. Das Protokoll dieser Sitzung wird dem Parlament morgen zu Beginn der Nachmittagssitzung zur Genehmigung vorgelegt. Die Sitzung ist hiermit geschlossen und ich möchte mich bei den Dolmetschern für die Unterstützung während der heutigen Plenarsitzung bedanken. Vielen Dank.
Ask anything about this video — I analyse its transcript to answer.