President. – The first item on today's agenda is the presentation by the Commission President‑elect of the College of Commissioners and its programme.
Before I give the floor to the CommissionPresident‑elect, I would like to draw attention to the commitment in the political guidelines for the next European Commission to swiftly revise the Framework Agreement between Ϸվ and the Commission. Discussions are ongoing. President von der Leyen and I have already agreed on the political principles on the revision of the Framework Agreement, and I look forward to completing this process swiftly, in the event of a positive outcome of our vote today.
I will now give the floor to the President‑elect, Ursula von der Leyen.
Ursula von der Leyen, President-elect Commission. – PresidentMetsola, honourable Members, before I present to you my new team, I would like to start by thanking the outgoing College. Five years ago, no one could have imagined what Europe would go through, and I could not have imagined a team as dedicated and tireless to go through that with. So I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their service to Europe, and I think I speak also in your name.
Honourable Members, when I stood here exactly five years ago, asking for your confidence, I spoke of the events of 1989, about the generation that returned freedom and democracy to the people of Europe and the courage of everyday people, like those in Bratislava, in Timișoara, who stood up for their liberty, about the leaders like Lech Wałęsa and Václav Havel, who inspired entire countries and reunited an entire continent. I think back to the power in those images of 2million people holding hands across the Baltics, or those tasting freedom for the first time on the border between Hungary and Austria.
So it was with great emotion that I witnessed the moving events in Prague just ten days ago – not just the people honouring and celebrating 35years since the Velvet Revolution, but also those mourners who gathered across town outside the Hlávka student dormitory, which is a place that symbolised what happened on that exact same day 85years before, the day Nazi troops murdered students, closed universities and curbed civil liberties.
I start with this because these stories incarnate Europe's eternal struggle and sacrifice for freedom and democracy. Because fighting for freedom connects us as Europeans – our past and our present, our nations and our generations. For me, this is the raison d'être of our Union and it remains a driving force more than ever today. This is the Europe I love, and this is the Europe my Commission will always be devoted to. Because I believe that our generation of Europeans must once again fight for freedom and sovereignty – for the freedom that the people of Ukraine are heroically fighting for, for the freedom to shape our own future in a confrontational and unstable world.
But this freedom is not just an abstract word. It is about Europeans knowing that their families will be safe, their country protected, that they will be able to afford to buy food and heat their homes, with decent wages and fair prices, that they will be able to seize opportunities, and that they feel in control of the change – and the speed of change – happening in societies. Our fight for freedom may look different to generations past, but the stakes are just as high.
Honourable Members, these freedoms will not come for free. It will mean making difficult choices. It will mean massive investments in our security and our prosperity. Above all it will mean staying united and true to our values, finding ways to work with each other and overcoming fragmentation – this is what I, and all the 26 women and men with me, will strive for every single day. We are ready to get to work immediately.
Honourable Members, you have scrutinised every Member of this College in the last week. You have tested their fitness for the jobs they will serve. I know this was not easy. But overcoming divisions and forging compromises is the hallmark of a vivid democracy, and my message today is we want to work with you in that spirit. We will be guided by the Political Guidelines this House voted on, and by the mission letters, in which I will address concerns that you have raised in the hearings. As I said before the vote in July, we will work with all democratic pro-European forces in this House, and as I have done in my first mandate, I will always work from the centre. Because we all want the best for Europeans, and we all want the best for Europe, and it is time to come together.
Honourable Members, this unity will be all the more important in today's contested world – a world in which every weakness is weaponised, every division pounced upon, every dependency exploited. Our freedom and sovereignty depend more than ever on our economic strength. Our security depends on our ability to compete, to innovate and to produce. Our social model depends on a growing economy while facing demographic change. This is why I asked Mario Draghi to chart the way forward – and his diagnosis was stark and his roadmap for action equally ambitious. Many of his proposals were taken up in our mission letters. Leaders endorsed this work in the European Council earlier this month. I have listened very carefully to the hearings. I've heard your repeated calls to deliver the substantial change he is putting forward, with speed, with ambition.
So I can announce that the first major initiative of the new Commission will be a 'Competitiveness Compass'. This Competitiveness Compass will be the frame for our work for the rest of the term. The Compass will be built on three pillars from the Draghi report. First, closing the innovation gap with the United States and China. Second, a joint plan for decarbonisation and competitiveness. Third, increasing security and reducing dependencies.
The first pillar is closing the innovation gap. Let me start with good news: Europe's global share of patent applications is on par with the United States and China. But – and now comes the but – only one third of these are commercially exploited. We are roughly as good as the United States at creating start-ups, but when it comes to scale-ups we are doing much worse than our competitors. So we have to close this innovation gap. So we will put research and innovation, science and technology at the heart of our economy. We will invest more, we will focus better, and we will ensure that our small companies, our start-ups and scale-ups, can thrive in Europe. We know what needs to be done. We all know that a start-up from California can expand and raise money all across the United States, but a start-up in Europe has to deal with 27 different national barriers. We need to make it easier to grow in Europe. For this and for many more reasons, the first-ever Commissioner for Start‑ups, Research and Innovation will be Ekaterina Zaharieva. Her leadership and experience will be invaluable to get more breakthrough tech from the lab to the market.
This is particularly important when it comes to digital tech. For us to be competitive, Europe must be home to the next wave of frontier technologies. I can think of no better person to lead on this as Executive Vice-President than Henna Virkkunen. You know her well. She will leave no stone unturned to ensure Europe can use digital technologies to boost its prosperity, to unleash innovation and to help keep people safer. She is the right person to ensure that Europe's tech sovereignty is built right here in Europe.
Honourable Members, the second pillar is the joint plan for decarbonisation and competitiveness. Almost five years ago we launched the European Green Deal – our growth strategy and roadmap to net zero. The reasons which pushed us to be so ambitious then are even more pronounced today, so I want to be clear: we must and we will stay the course on the goals of the European Green Deal.
But if we want to be successful in this transition, we must be more agile and better accompany people and business along the way. We need to play on our traditional strengths – our industries and SMEs, our innovators, our workers. This is why we will put forward the Clean Industrial Deal within the first 100days of this mandate. This will involve the entire College, and we will have a team working hand in hand to coordinate our proposal.
We will have Teresa Ribera, our first Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. She's well equipped to ensure that we have a modern competition policy to support our ambitions. She is a true and devoted European, and together we will always work for the European interest.
We will have Stéphane Séjourné. You know him well in this Ϸվ. He will work tirelessly as Executive Vice-President to bring the industry and internal market dimensions together.
We will have Wopke Hoekstra. Wopke was our key coordinator, key negotiator at COP28 and COP29, and he is already leading the road to net zero and clean growth.
Together, they will ensure that we tackle the biggest challenges facing our companies, and we know that the most prominent of these is high energy prices. We have done a lot to respond to Russia's blackmail and to the high inflation that followed, but the price of energy is structurally still too high and has to go down. That is what Dan Jørgensen will be working on, building on his previous experience. He will work on bringing down costs for households and companies, to invest in clean energy, and to replace Russian LNG imports. It is high time to make that happen, and I know this House will support us in this.
Honourable Members, each industry has different needs, and each sector will have its own individual path to be clean and competitive. This is why I am delighted that, to help make that happen, Apostolos Tzitzikostas will be in charge of transport and tourism. His vast experience of European regions will be invaluable to develop connectivity. To support this work, I have decided to convene a strategic dialogue on the future of the car industry in Europe. This dialogue and its follow-up will be under my leadership. We will bring together all stakeholders around the table, to listen to each other, and to design solutions together as this industry goes through a deep and very disruptive transition. Europe's car industry is a European pride. Millions of jobs depend on it, and together we have to make sure that the future of cars will continue to be made in Europe.
Honourable Members, the third and the last pillar is reinforcing our economic security. We know that overdependencies can quickly turn into vulnerabilities. This is why stable and secure supply chains are so vital. Critical raw materials are the most obvious example. The demand for critical raw minerals for the clean transition has already doubled during the last mandate, and it could triple during this mandate. So we need free and fair trade to diversify our suppliers. There is no one better suited to do this than Maroš Šefčovič. He will deliver more partnerships for trade and investments and also protect our economic security against the greatest risks to our strategic interests and sovereignty – and we must go further.
PresidentNiinistö's report on preparedness called for a systematic review of all our dependencies. To increase our resilience, he has laid out a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach. This is why I have asked Hadja Lahbib to work on crisis response and preparedness. Her work will be supported by HERA. Olivér Várhelyi will lead our work on biotechnologies, and his first priority will be the Critical Medicines Act. Jessika Roswall will work on developing a competitive circular economy. This is crucial to give us more independence. We have paid the price for putting our future in the hands of a single supplier, and we will not make the same mistake again. European sovereignty is not for sale.
Honourable Members, war, conflict and human suffering continue unabated in our neighbourhood – from Ukraine to the Middle East to parts of Africa. Europe must play a stronger role in all of these areas. We have a duty to help that destruction and loss come to an end. Strengthening our security is all the more important in a world as contested and fragile as it is today – a world in which I believe Europe is needed more than ever. Just think of multilateralism and partnerships; sustainable development and humanitarian aid; security and human rights. They are more important than ever, and they will continue to be the linchpin of our external action. This will need a lot of work and tireless leadership. I know we can count on Kaja Kallas as our High Representative and Vice-President. She is the right person at the right time for Europe's diplomacy and interests in the world.
To work on sustainable development, international partnerships, and to work on investments via Global Gateway, I have chosen Jozef Síkela. He will bring his business-like mentality and his experience to the table to develop the truly strategic approach that we need. We will need a special focus on the regions with which we are bound to by history and by geography, starting with our southern neighbourhood. I am delighted that Dubravka Šuica will be our first ever Commissioner for the Mediterranean. We share the same shores, the same challenges and the same opportunities, and we know that we share the same destiny.
Honourable Members, these partnerships will gain importance in today's ever more dangerous world. War is raging at Europe's borders, and we must be ready for what lies ahead – working hand in hand with NATO. Just one figure: Russia is spending up to 9% of its GDP for defence. Europe is spending on average 1.9%. There is something wrong in this equation. Our defence spending must increase. We need a single market for defence. We need to strengthen the defence industrial base. We need to improve our military mobility. We need common European projects on defence. This is why Andrius Kubilius will be the first European Commissioner for Defence. We have no time to waste, and we must be as ambitious as the threats are serious. So we will come forward with a white paper on the future of European defence in the first 100days of this mandate. I can assure you that Europe's security will always be this Commission's priority.
Honourable Members, this fight for freedom does not just apply to our 27 Member States. The dream of Europe extends to the Western Balkans, to Ukraine, to Moldova and beyond. We have seen the bravery of the people of Ukraine in pursuing their European journey. We have seen the resilience of the people of Moldova to stick to their European future. I have seen and we have seen the commitment of the Western Balkans to reform, to grow and to get ready to join the European Union.
At the same time, we have seen how Russia will stop at nothing to prevent them from having a European future. But, honourable Members, Europe's commitment to these countries will always be stronger. Let there be no doubt: we want Ukraine as part of our European Union. So, we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will get ready with the reforms that we need on our side, and we will support these countries every step of the way on their merits-based process until they are ready to join our Union. Marta Kos – with her vast experience – is the right person for this job. The vision of a continent united by democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms will always drive our work. Because the people of these countries deserve a future of peace, progress and prosperity, and we will make sure that that future can be in Europe.
Honourable Members, these are the three pillars of our Competitiveness Compass: innovation, decarbonisation and security. They will all require a new approach to coordinating our policies, and they will all need a major boost of investment, of simplification and of skills.
First, on the question of financing, this will have to be an investment Commission. Of course, public investment will be crucial. We have all seen what the budget can deliver for Europeans – whether for our citizens, our businesses, our researchers, our farmers, our communities and our regions. But our budget is often too complex – funding the same thing in different programmes and in different ways. We must be much more focused on investing in our priorities. This is why I have put Piotr Serafin in charge of shaping our next MFF. He is a skilled negotiator. He will work with the Ϸվ and the Council to deliver a simpler, more focused and more responsive budget, and he will work to ensure that Europe has the means to deliver on its ambitions.
But public budgets can only go so far. We urgently need more private investment. Let me give you three figures. Business expenditure for research and development in Europe accounts for about 1.3% of GDP. That is compared to 1.9% in China and 2.4% in the United States – business expenditure. So this private-capital gap is the main reason we lag behind on overall R&D spending, and thus on innovation. This is why we have proposed a European Savings and Investments Union – a task I have entrusted to Maria Luís Albuquerque. She will help ensure that European companies can find the capital they need here in Europe. With her experience, I know Maria Luís is the right person for this job.
Honourable Members, for Europe to catch up, we will also need to make things easier for our companies. They are telling us that the regulatory burden weighs heavily on them: too much reporting, too many overlaps, too complex, too costly to comply with. We need to streamline our rules to reduce the burden on businesses, and we need to give legal certainty about what we expect from them. This is why I have asked one of our most experienced Commissioners, Valdis Dombrovskis, to take the lead on simplification and implementation. He will also be responsible for boosting Europe's economy and productivity. I can announce that one of our first steps in the new mandate will be a new omnibus legislation. We will look at different sectors and assess the European legislation. Our single market has always been the greatest engine for growth. This was the message delivered by Enrico Letta in his report. The greatest strength of our single market is that it replaces a myriad of national standards and customs with a single set of rules. So we need to get back to what the single market does best and make business easier. That's our task.
Honourable Members, the foundation of our economy is people: their hard work, their talents, their skills. Competitiveness today is less about the cost of labour – that was 20years ago. But it's much more about the knowledge of workers, and this is where we can outmatch our competitors. Here in Europe, companies find incredibly experienced workers and top-notch tech graduates. But we do not have enough of them, and this is a handbrake on our ability to compete. For this reason, I have appointed as Executive Vice-President, to lead our work on skills and preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu. She will ensure that we put people first, because productivity depends on good working conditions, on earning a fair wage, on a good work-life balance, on finding a nursery for your kids, and good care for your elderly parents, and on having access to decent and affordable homes.
Housing was one of the biggest issues for Europeans at the last election. It comes up time and again as the biggest concern for so many families. We need to tackle the housing crisis head-on. This is why for the first time we will have a Commissioner for Housing, and I am pleased that this Commissioner will be Dan Jørgensen. This idea of putting people first has always been at the core of Europe's social market economy. We want strong social partners. The market can only function well if the social dialogue thrives too. That's our experience. That's our success. We need to make sure that we strengthen social rights in Europe. Roxana will lead on the ambitious social programme that we have laid out – starting by updating the European Pillar of Social Rights. I know how important this is for you here in this House. So I want to say that I have heard your call, and I am happy to announce that social rights and quality jobs will be part of Roxana's title as Executive Vice-President.
Honourable Members, this is how we will uphold the unique quality of life of Europeans across Europe. Whether in a coastal or fishing community, in a rural area or farming community, on an island or in an outermost region, in a big city or in one of Europe's unique and diverse regions, we must work to tackle the issues that regions face – from changing demographics, to climate change, to the need for modern infrastructure. This goes to the heart of the freedom I am talking about today. Because for many people, freedom is about choice – choosing where to live, work and study. Choosing where to bring up their families – in other parts of Europe or perhaps where they grew up. This is what Letta called 'the right to stay'. I want regions and communities to be in control of their own destiny and to help shape our policies. This is the task of cohesion and reforms that I have entrusted, as Executive Vice-President, to Raffaele Fitto. This is a choice I have made, also because I know how vital it is to give regions the political importance they deserve.
This is notably the case in our rural and coastal communities. Farmers and fishers give us the highest-quality food in the world. They bear the brunt of climate change more than anybody, and they deserve a level playing field and their hard work to be rewarded. We must ensure that our farmers and fishers have a fair and sufficient income. That they have the right incentives to help protect our nature. This is why I have chosen Christophe Hansen as Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. He will bring the same skills to find compromises as he always did in this House, and he will lead the follow-up of the Strategic Dialogue for the Future of Agriculture in Europe. I chose, as Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis. His academic and professional expertise will help to deliver the right solutions. Both Christophe and Costas will ensure that our farming and fishing communities can thrive, just as they have for generations gone by. Europe will always be at their side, and so will be this Commission.
Honourable Members, since the start of my first mandate, I promised an approach to migration that is both fair and firm, that guarantees sovereignty and solidarity, with stricter rules but also guarantees for individual rights – and we will work on opening up legal pathways. This approach is now at the core of the Pact for Migration and Asylum. Magnus Brunner is the right person to preserve this balance, and he will work every single day to secure our external border and bolster our internal security.
Honourable Members, the rights and freedoms we enjoy were gained slowly, generation after generation. We owe them to our freedom fighters who stood on a barricade, and trade unionists on a picket line; to women who raised their voice, and reformers who patiently lobbied for change; to mass mobilisations; and to lonely campaigners with the courage to challenge the status quo. It has taken decades to earn the freedoms we hold today. But we all know it can take a moment to lose them. This is why we must always be vigilant. I have tasked Michael McGrath to be a steadfast guardian of our values and our principles, and I have listened to our European Ϸվ and added consumer protection to his title. He will consolidate the tools for the rule of law we already have, and he will work to build new ones, including proposals on smart conditionality. He will make sure that the rule of law and justice for all remains at the heart of the European project, and he will strengthen equal application of all rule-of-law instruments. Our values are our foundation and our common bond, and they will always be our future.
Honourable Members, this College is the right team for this moment in Europe's history. I want to stress the word ‘team'. We will be a team with European citizens – listening and learning more from the daily realities people face. We will also be a team with you and with the Member States. We know that your confidence will need to be continuously earned. Not just for today's vote but for the whole five years. This is why I have asked my Commissioners to be more present in this Plenary and in each of your committees, to engage more and be more transparent, and we will work to keep strengthening our partnership with this House – starting with an ambitious reform of our Framework Agreement. You can count on me, and you can count on Maroš Šefčovič and all Commissioners to deliver on that from day one. Together, we can work on an ambitious reform agenda in general that Europe needs. I believe we need Treaty change, where it can improve our Union, and I want to work on that with this House.
This team that you are voting on today is truly European. It represents different nations and generations. We have former prime ministers and ministers, mayors and local officials. Some have been CEOs and others have worked for non-profits. Some have been journalists and business owners; others are biologists and physicists by training. Some are from rural areas and farming stock, and others from the bright lights of our big cities. Some have lived through war; others through the transition to democracy. I am proud that this team is so diverse in so many ways. But we all know there is more work to do. As I promised you in July, I fought tooth and nail just to ensure we got to 11women in this College – up from 5 when the first set of nominations came in – and yet it is still not even half, and it is certainly not enough.
We have achieved so much in the last mandate. We have tackled the gender pay gap. We have taken European action on violence against women. We did what people said was impossible by unblocking women on boards. I want to thank all of you here – women and men – in this House for the cross-party support. We will never stop fighting for equality. This is why I am so glad to have Hadja Lahbib as our Commissioner for Equality. She has broken so many glass ceilings herself. She will strengthen women's rights and ensure equality for all. Together, we will work every day to bring different parts of our society together. I have chosen last, but certainly not least, Glenn Micallef – born in the year when the Berlin Wall fell – to be the bridge between generations. He will support our young people and ensure solidarity between people of all ages.
To conclude, honourable Members: freedom and democracy need to be nourished and fought for every single day, so we can pass them on to the next generation, just as we have inherited them from those before us.
Last week, Strasbourg marked a momentous anniversary: 80years since the day Strasbourg was liberated – 23November 1944. After five years of Nazi annexation, Strasbourg was finally free. It was a fresh start for the city and it was hope for Europe. But what followed wasn't easy. Europeans had fought each other for so long. It took a generation of leaders with the courage to mend the wounds, to imagine a different future.
This is the spirit that has led our continent forward ever since. Time and again, we have had a choice: on the one hand, the course of division and decline; on the other hand, the very narrow path towards a more united Europe.Europe has always chosen strength in unity.
So it is with honour and deep emotion that I stand here in Strasbourg 80 years on – in this House of European democracy, at the heart of a free Europe, asking you for your trust in this team, asking you to choose a stronger and a more united Europe, asking you to choose a future of freedom for Europe. That path has never been the easiest one. But together, we know we can do it. So let's get to work.
Long live Europe. Vive l'Europe. Es lebe Europa.
(Loud and sustained applause)
Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE Group. – President of the European Ϸվ, the European Commission, future Commissioners, today is an important day. Ϸվ has to vote on the new Commission – I would call it our European government.
Ϸվ has a strong mandate. 180 million people, Europeans, participated in June's elections. We, all 720 Members, represent the political reality and, more importantly, the political will of the people of Europe, and today we have to vote for our Commission.
I am, since my first day in this Chamber, a proud Member of the European Ϸվ, and I thank the mothers and fathers of the Lisbon Treaty for giving us, as Ϸվ, such a strong role. In none of our Member States, the parliament is doing a similar hearing process as we do. Elected governments propose the candidates. Ϸվ finally votes for the next Commission. This means full democratic legitimacy for the new team. Let us be proud about this.
The new Commission also builds on the successes of the previous one, which delivered great results, as Ursula von der Leyen already said: remember Brexit, COVID, the war in Ukraine, the finalisation of the migration pact, the Green Deal. Sometimes we forget to speak about our positive results. That is why I also want to thank, on behalf of the European People's Party, all outgoing Commissioners and our Commission President for their work. Thank you so much. You made Europe stronger in the last five years.
Now we look forward, dear Ursula. You proposed a very balanced Commission – geographically, politically – and also focused on the main priorities. Especially, let me underline, that our 14 EPP Commissioners in the new team are also showing the best part of Europe; they are coming from all parts of Europe, different generations, teachers, mayors, governors, as Ursula von der Leyen already mentioned. So that's really representing Europe at its best.
The Commission enters office at a time of war in Europe. Global competition is intensifying. Rivals like China are challenging our industries and our economic model, the social market economy. We need actions now from this new team from day one.Václav Havel said, and I want to quote him, 'It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs'. Let's do what Havel told us. Let's do the first step now.
With the priorities on competitiveness, last week, the EPP Group invited the car industry – seven CEOs from big European car manufacturers were there – and the message, dear colleagues, is dramatic: thousands of jobs in Europe are, in the near future, at risk. 13 million in total – 7% of the GDP. A lot is at stake. That is one reality of today's Europe.
The second reality of Europe is the floods in Valencia, the floods in Hungary, in Austria, the fire in Portugal. That is why we have to implement the Green Deal. We have to do our ambitious approach, as it was agreed in the last period.
Dear colleagues, the historic responsibility of the next five years is to bring jobs, economic growth – the social responsibility and the environmental responsibility together. That is the first step we have to do.
The second is we must keep Europeans safe. We will support Ukraine as long as it takes, no doubt about this. The next Commission must realise De Gasperi's dream of building up a European defence union, and we need safe borders.
And the third pillar is we have to protect the European way of life. What Europe does to make us to feel at home. And let's be honest, rising inflation, polarisation, fractures inside of our societies are threatening our democracies. We must keep our societies together. We must define quality of life, not only with economic figures, and we must make sure that nobody is left behind.
Dear colleagues, that is a challenge in front of us. The socialists, liberals and the European People's Party are the founding parties of today's Europe. Later, also, the Greens contributed a lot to the future of Europe, and even politicians like Thatcher from the conservative side strengthened Europe with inventing the single market. They fought for this idea of the single market. We all have a special responsibility.
And let me be on one point for the EPP crystal clear. The German AfD, for example, is asking to leave the European Union and the euro. The German AfD, Le Pen in France and Orbán in Hungary – they are not just democratic competitors but political enemies for us as the EPP. I will not allow them to destroy my Europe I love so much. Péter Magyar against Orbán, Donald Tusk against Kaczynski – the EPP is in the first row of defending what we believe in: pro-Europe, pro-Ukraine and pro-rule of law.
And I thank the socialists and the liberals that we agreed to put into the platform agreement, especially this formulation of the red line towards the extremists, as I said it, in this moment of time.
I want to thank my colleagues, Iratxe and Valerie, we have worked together in the last month already very intensively. I want to thank the Greens, Terry and Bas, for the constructive approach, but also Nicola, because with your support we achieved the two thirds majority.
We have different ideas, dear colleagues. We fight for our convictions but we all want to find compromises and serve all Europeans. Let us keep this spirit. Europe's best years are in front of us, dear colleagues. Let us vote now for the Commission and then let us start to work.
Iratxe García Pérez, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señora presidenta, señora presidenta von der Leyen, la nueva Comisión empezará su mandato en un momento decisivo para el futuro del proyecto europeo, en un momento en el que está en juego el progreso de nuestros ciudadanos, la supervivencia del planeta, la competitividad de nuestras empresas, nuestras capacidades de defensa y el liderazgo que queremos en el mundo.
Retos de enorme magnitud que tendremos que afrontar en un tiempo en el que la extrema derecha quiere desguazar el proyecto europeo, Trump amenaza con romper el vínculo transatlántico, China ha hecho añicos las reglas comerciales y el mundo se debate entre la ley de los fuertes o las reglas del Derecho internacional, como consecuencia de la devastadora guerra de Putin contra Ucrania y de la matanza de Netanyahu en Gaza y en el Líbano.
Y, en este contexto de riesgo, hay quienes han socavado el prestigio de la institución y han expuesto a la Unión a una crisis de gobernabilidad. El sí de la familia socialdemócrata es un sí para seguir avanzando. Es un sí al nuevo Colegio de Comisarios responsable, un sí constructivo, un sí por la estabilidad europea, pero tengan claro que no es un cheque en blanco.
Señora von der Leyen, señor Weber, las fuerzas europeístas que hemos construido la Unión desde su fundación tenemos un acuerdo. Y los acuerdos se cumplen. Sean fieles a la tradición europeísta y reafirmen su compromiso con la mayoría proeuropea.
Insisto, no aceptaremos un doble juego. Porque no se puede construir Europa con quienes quieren destruirla. Porque es inmoral construir Europa con quienes impulsan una agenda de supresión de los derechos conquistados, con quienes niegan el cambio climático y dan marcha atrás en las políticas de igualdad, de medio ambiente o de justicia social. Porque es imposible construir Europa con quienes rechazan el proceso de integración y quieren reducirla a un simple mercado interior, sin las políticas comunes y sin avances en políticas de defensa y exteriores.
Frente al relato del miedo y el instinto nacionalista, las fuerzas europeístas tenemos la obligación de defender los principios sobre los que se construyó la Unión Europea.
Recordemos a los ciudadanos por qué somos europeístas.
Somos europeístas porque compartimos los valores de la democracia, el Estado de Derecho, la igualdad de género y la protección de las minorías.
Somos europeístas porque queremos que nuestros Estados hagan valer su soberanía para defender nuestros intereses comunes, frente a retos como el cambio climático, la transformación digital o la evasión fiscal.
Somos europeístas porque creemos que nuestra economía social de mercado es la mejor fuente de progreso, un modelo social único en el mundo que garantiza a todas las personas educación, sanidad o pensiones; un modelo social que todavía está por construir. Y no hay mejor manera de vencer al populismo de la extrema derecha que garantizar salarios dignos y viviendas asequibles.
Somos europeístas porque nuestra larga historia de odio, del miedo al otro y de las guerras crueles, nos ha enseñado que los conflictos deben resolverse pacíficamente siempre que sea posible.
Y somos europeístas porque la historia nos demuestra que, después de cada crisis, nuestra unión sale más integrada y unida.
Sí, los socialdemócratas somos europeístas. Y con el liderazgo de Teresa Ribera en la transición verde, con el empeño de Roxana Mînzatu por los empleos de calidad, con el compromiso de Dan Jørgensen en la lucha contra la pobreza energética y por el acceso a la vivienda, y con la implicación de Glenn Micallef por el futuro de los jóvenes, lo seremos más en el futuro.
La historia de Europa tiene sello socialdemócrata y que nadie piense que nos vamos a resignar. Seguiremos firmes, con la cabeza alta y con nuestros valores intactos para afrontar los nuevos desafíos.
Señorías, la Unión Europea es el proceso de integración más exitoso en la historia del planeta. Juntos, hemos logrado la estabilidad y el progreso para un territorio en el que conviven 27Estados con 450millones de personas. Y hoy, más allá de nuestras diferencias ideológicas, debemos seguir avanzando por un objetivo común: construir una Europa unida, una Europa próspera, una Europa en paz.
Jordan Bardella, au nom du groupe PfE. – Madame la Présidente, Madame la présidente de la Commission européenne, après un mandat jalonné par de nombreux échecs et par de nombreux scandales, après des élections marquées par une contestation sans précédent du fonctionnement de l'Union européenne, vous nous présentez aujourd'hui la nouvelle équipe qui formera la Commission européenne.
Ces commissaires européens sont anonymes, inconnus du grand public. Ils n'ont été élus par personne et pourtant ils dictent le quotidien de 450millions de citoyens. Et pourtant ce sont eux qui ont droit de vie ou de mort sur des pans entiers de l'économie européenne. Ce sont eux, au détour d'un couloir à Bruxelles, qui peuvent décider d'interdire la vente de véhicules thermiques à l'horizon2035, de plonger notre industrie dans la détresse, de soumettre les agriculteurs à des normes draconiennes, sans jamais songer aux conséquences ravageuses de ces décisions pour ceux qui les subissent.
Malgré les protestations populaires, malgré les mobilisations, comme celle de nos paysans, vous restez campée sur vos positions, sur votre idéologie; vous réaffirmiez, il y a quelques instants, les ambitions démesurées du pacte vert, qui est l'autre nom plus bucolique de votre projet funeste de décroissance, qui va remettre la souveraineté des nations d'Europe et notre destin entre les mains des autres.
La Commission refuse de se réformer parce qu'elle refuse de reconnaître publiquement plus d'une décennie d'erreurs et d'errances qui ont mené les nations d'Europe là où elles sont aujourd'hui. En décrochage face aux États-Unis, menacée par l'avancée rapide de la Chine, contestée par l'émergence de nouveaux géants comme l'Inde, vidée de ses talents qui s'expatrient chaque jour davantage, l'Europe est devenue l'homme malade des économies développées.
Cette réalité devrait vous appeler au sursaut, mais elle vous conduit indéniablement à la continuité: la même inaction face à la concurrence déloyale, les mêmes règles européennes du marché de l'électricité, la même écologie punitive, le même déferlement migratoire qui change l'identité de notre continent, la même faiblesse à l'égard de l'islamisme et de ses relais. Vous êtes, MadamevonderLeyen, à l'image de beaucoup d'élus ici dans ce Parlement, une femme qui se disait de droite, mais qui rêvait de se faire aduler par la gauche et par ses lubies.
Les mêmes causes entraînant les mêmes effets, ce chemin mènera l'Europe tout droit vers le déclassement. Ne comptez donc pas sur nous pour vous y accompagner. Le groupe des Patriotes pour l'Europe votera à l'unanimité contre cette nouvelle Commission européenne.
Nicola Procaccini, a nome del gruppo ECR. – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, l'ECR ha una sua identità politica. Siamo un gruppo che si batte per la conservazione dei valori che hanno fondato l'Europa. Siamo uomini e donne fermi nelle proprie convinzioni ma anche misurati nel modo di esporle.
Manteniamo un certo stile britannico, se me lo consentite, malgrado l'Inghilterra abbia lasciato l'Unione europea e con essa i Tories che fondarono l'ECR.
Infatti, abbiamo assistito con un certo distaccato divertimento allo psicodramma delle sinistre, in preda alle convulsioni per una vicepresidenza assegnata ad un conservatore italiano. La collega Aubry ieri ha detto: "I gruppi della sinistra hanno ceduto su tutta la linea".
Io credo invece, più semplicemente, che i cittadini europei abbiano espresso il loro punto di vista alle elezioni europee e nazionali e che questo vada tenuto in considerazione, soprattutto dalla Presidente della Commissione, a cui devo riconoscere di aver resistito con dignità e coraggio alle pressioni delle sinistre.
Ogni volta, e dovunque si è votato, la sinistra ha perso le elezioni e la composizione di quest'Aula ce lo spiega più di 1000 pensose analisi politiche.
Ciononostante, non esiste una maggioranza di centrodestra, perché non esiste un vincolo di maggioranza: non c'è mai stato, neanche nei cinque anni passati, quando, grazie a numeri ben diversi dagli attuali, i socialisti bullizzavano i popolari, Timmermans bullizzava von der Leyen e tutti insieme bullizzavano i cittadini europei con un feroce radicalismo verde.
Fortunatamente le maggioranze qui si formano sui contenuti e possono cambiare ad ogni votazione. Noi resteremo fedeli a noi stessi. Abbiamo sostenuto i commissari indicati dai governi nazionali senza risparmiare loro le nostre critiche durante le audizioni, ma rispettando la prerogativa degli Stati membri di nominare il proprio commissario.
E daremo libertà di voto oggi, perché ogni nostra delegazione ha il diritto di scegliere, di decidere in base al proprio interesse nazionale. Questo non significa essere euroscettici o antieuropeisti: questo vuol dire amare l'idea originale e meravigliosa di un'Europa dei popoli, "unita nella diversità".
Valérie Hayer, au nom du groupe Renew. – Madame la Présidente, Madame la Présidente de la Commission, chers collègues, ça n'aura pas été une mince affaire, ça n'aura pas été facile tous les jours, mais on y est arrivés. On sort d'un moment intense de conviction, de négociation, de responsabilité.
D'abord, je voudrais saluer tous les candidats commissaires. Si votre collège est approuvé aujourd'hui, on travaillera ensemble, main dans la main, pour l'avenir de l'Europe. Je voudrais aussi avoir un mot particulier pour nos cinq candidats Renew: Stéphane, Kaja, Marta, Hadja, Michael. Vous avez fait un sans faute! Et dans votre équipe, Madame la Présidente, Renew Europe, deuxième force politique du collège, sera moteur de l'Europe. Mais il y en a qui ne seront pas moteur de l'Europe, Madame la Présidente, et vous le savez très bien. Parmi eux, il y a le Fidesz.
Je rappelle qu'en2020 Viktor Orban prônait les vaccins russes et qu'il intimide tous les jours les femmes qui veulent avorter. Alors nos collègues en commission parlementaire ont été intransigeants. Merci, Madame la Présidente, de les avoir écoutés, en retirant du portefeuille du commissaire Fidesz les droits sexuels et reproductifs et l'ensemble de la direction généraleHERA. Voilà le travail du Parlement européen. Et ce travail paie.
Le sérieux paie, parce que, disons-le clairement, je crois que l'on fait tous la même analyse sur la manière dont les auditions se sont passées. Franchement, est-ce que c'est ça l'image qu'on veut renvoyer du Parlement européen? Une guerre commerciale nous pend au nez et, pendant ce temps, on passe des jours à se parler d'ordre de passage. C'était censé être un sujet technique et non un combat politique.
VladimirPoutine mène une guerre barbare à nos portes, multiplie les ingérences ici, en Europe, sur notre sol. Pendant ce temps, parce qu'un populiste peut fragiliser son premier ministre en Slovénie, nous perdons des jours dans le processus d'audition, ici, au Parlement européen. Et je ne cite pas, évidemment, un autre débat national, que l'on a tous en tête, et qui a vampirisé le processus de ces auditions.
Chers collègues, ça ne marche pas, parce que, dans ces auditions, la vraie question, en réalité, est: est-ce que le commissaire à l'énergie va nous proposer un mix qui garantisse notre indépendance énergétique? La vraie question est: est-ce que le commissaire à la défense va soutenir, oui ou non, l'industrie européenne? La vraie question est: est-ce que chacun de vos commissaires, Madame la Présidente, sera en mesure d'assurer la vraie simplification qu'attendent nos PME, nos agriculteurs et nos citoyens?
C'est cela le cœur des auditions; c'est pour cela qu'on a créé ce processus; c'est pour cela qu'elles sont importantes. À la lumière des dernières semaines, chers collègues, nous devons clairement réviser la façon dont cela se passe: depuis les nominations jusqu'aux évaluations, sur la parité, sur la rapidité de la procédure –cela fait bientôt un an que l'on n'a plus un seul texte sur la table du Parlement européen– et sur la manière dont on s'assure que les jeux nationaux et les jeux des groupes ne parasitent plus les auditions.
Chers collègues, dans une heure, nous allons voter sur le collège. La question est maintenant: comment travailler ensemble pour les cinq prochaines années? Car nous le voyons aujourd'hui, il y a deux majorités possibles dans ce Parlement européen.
Nous avons, d'un côté, la majorité «Venezuela». Celle-là, il faut le dire clairement, elle va faire beaucoup de mal aux démocrates qui la font exister, parce qu'elle est contre l'Europe et surtout parce qu'elle est contre-nature. Elle est tellement contre-nature que les textes, à la fin, notamment sur le budget– on l'a vu– tombent quand même. En face, nous avons la seule majorité qui vaille, la seule possible: c'est celle qui a fait le plan de relance, celle qui a fait le pacte vert, c'est aussi celle qui a fait Schengen et qui a fait l'euro par le passé. C'est la majorité centrale, celle des pro-européens.
Cher Manfred, chère Iratxe, c'est cette majorité centrale que nous avons formalisée la semaine dernière dans l'accord que nous avons passé. Merci beaucoup pour le travail commun. Et c'est sur elle, Madame la Présidente, que vous devrez vous appuyer, même si– vous le savez parfaitement–, sur la question des vice-présidents exécutifs, nous ne sommes pas d'accord avec tous vos choix. Parce que cette coalition, c'est la seule qui soutient l'Ukraine, qui soutient l'état de droit; la seule qui soutient le pouvoir d'achat, l'environnement, la liberté; la seule qui porte un programme positif pour l'Europe.
Je voudrais avoir un mot pour Bas et Terry: je sais votre engagement et nous aurons l'occasion de fortifier ensemble le chemin pro-européen de ce Parlement européen. Car cette majorité, évidemment, est ouverte à tous ceux qui veulent la rejoindre sur cette base.
Terry Reintke, im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, Frau Kommissionspräsidentin! Ich glaube, uns allen ist klar, und wenn wir einen Schritt zurückgehen, dann sehen wir es noch mehr: Wir stehen vor riesigen geopolitischen Herausforderungen. Gerade ist ein Demagoge und Antieuropäer wieder ins Weiße Haus gewählt worden. In der Ukraine finden gerade die blutigsten Auseinandersetzungen seit Anbeginn dieses Krieges statt, und wir sehen immer stärker, wie brutal der Klimawandel uns schon jetzt trifft– nicht in der Zukunft, sondern heute. So groß diese Aufgaben sind, so groß ist auch unsere Verantwortung. Wir brauchen gerade jetzt eine handlungsfähige Europäische Union, und dazu gehört ein handlungsfähiges Europäisches Parlament. Aber das Europäische Parlament hat sich ehrlich gesagt in den letzten Wochen selbst verzwergt mit einem unwürdigen Prozess der Anhörungen, bei dem es nicht um Qualifikationen, sondern um Machtpoker ging– mit einem brutalen Ende letzte Woche, bei dem auch die Kandidaten der extremen Rechten durch Ausschüsse gewunken worden sind – leider auch mit Stimmen der Konservativen, der Sozialdemokratinnen und ‑demokraten und der Liberalen. Wir Grüne haben dagegen gestimmt, und das aus voller Überzeugung, weil wir uns sicher sind, dass nur mit proeuropäischen gemeinsamen Mehrheiten der Mitte eine Europäische Union funktionieren kann.
Diese zentrale Chance, genau diese Mehrheiten zu bauen, die ist verpasst worden. Denn mit proeuropäischen Mehrheiten geeint hätten wir eine Strategie vereinbaren können, die das Europäische Parlament gestärkt hätte und klare Mehrheitsfindungen auch in Zukunft sichert. Die EVP zeigt ehrlich gesagt leider immer offener, dass sie sich Zusammenarbeit mit der extremen Rechten offenhalten will, zur Gefahr für das gesamte europäische Projekt. Aber wir Grüne sagen sehr klar: Gerade weil uns dieses europäische Projekt so am Herzen liegt, haben wir bis zum letzten Moment verhandelt. Wir haben das nicht getan aus Eitelkeit, wir haben das nicht getan, weil wir es uns einfach machen wollen, wir haben das getan, weil wir die Europäische Union stützen wollen. In der Gesamtabwägung haben wir von der Präsidentin Zusagen bekommen zum Green Deal, zur Rechtsstaatlichkeit und auch zu proeuropäischen Mehrheiten.
Ich kann Ihnen sagen, die Debatten bei uns in der Fraktion waren nicht einfach. Für uns ist diese Entscheidung extrem schwierig, und nicht alle Abgeordneten der Grünen sind zum gleichen Ergebnis gekommen. Ich habe großen Respekt vor den unterschiedlichen Entscheidungen meiner Kolleginnen und Kollegen. Am Ende wird eine knappe Mehrheit unserer Fraktion für diese Kommission stimmen. Wir werden in diesem Parlament immer beides sein – kritisch und konstruktiv. Wir wollen proeuropäische Mehrheiten gegen Rechtsextreme bauen, weil wir nur so dieses europäische Projekt schützen können.
Manon Aubry, au nom du groupe The Left. – Madame la Présidente, MadamevonderLeyen, votre nouvelle Commission sera le premier gouvernement d'union de la droite et de l'extrême droite de l'histoire de l'Union européenne.
La prétendue coalition des groupes centraux n'existe plus et toutes les lignes rouges des soi-disant progressistes ont été piétinées. On nous disait qu'il n'y aurait pas d'extrême droite à des postes de responsabilité: vous avez choisi comme vice-président RaffaeleFitto, le post-fasciste aussi connu pour ses accusations de corruption.
Vous nous avez dit qu'il n'y aurait pas de négociation avec l'extrême droite pour la répartition des postes de pouvoir: au final, l'extrême droite a mené les négociations.
Vous nous avez dit qu'il n'y aurait pas de coalitions entre la droite et l'extrême droite: depuis le début de ce mandat, elles sont systématiques, comme on l'a vu par exemple pour faire tomber un texte contre la déforestation. Et il suffisait de voir, à l'instant, la jubilation de ManfredWeber, célébrant sa nouvelle coalition avec le groupe ECR d'extrême droite pour en être sûr.
MadamevonderLeyen, la Commission que vous nous proposez, c'est en réalité la Commission de la fin du cordon sanitaire. C'est la Commission de la honte, qui déroule le tapis rouge à l'extrême droite en célébrant des dirigeants autoritaires, comme en Hongrie, en Italie, qui s'attaquent aux droits des femmes, aux LGBT et propagent leur haine raciste et xénophobe. Alors, à mes collègues écologistes et socialistes, je demande: comment pouvez-vous cautionner cela?
D'autant plus que tout le processus de désignation de cette Commission a été un pur scandale démocratique. Les conflits d'intérêts n'ont jamais été sérieusement étudiés. Un seul exemple suffit pour le comprendre: le commissaire WopkeHoekstra sera en charge du climat et de la fiscalité, alors qu'il a travaillé pour l'entreprise pétrolière Shell et a eu une société écran dans un paradis fiscal. Les auditions n'ont été qu'un cirque risible dont le dénouement était déjà connu; des magouilles opaques ridiculisant un peu plus, voire totalement, la crédibilité de notre Parlement européen.
Je vous le dis avec fierté, MadamevonderLeyen: notre groupe de la gauche est le seul à avoir refusé cette mascarade depuis le début. Car, sur le fond, votre projet politique va également ajouter partout du malheur social.
Quelle réponse apportez-vous à la multiplication des plans sociaux à travers l'Europe et à l'augmentation de la pauvreté? Un chèque en blanc aux multinationales qui peuvent toucher de l'argent public tout en licenciant, et une nouvelle saignée sociale avec votre cure d'austérité XXL.
Quelle réponse apportez-vous à la colère agricole et à l'urgence climatique? La signature, à tour de bras, d'accords de libre-échange, dont celui avec le Mercosur sera probablement un de vos premiers actes.
Quelle réponse apportez-vous, enfin, aux massacres en cours dans la bande de Gaza? Une complicité coupable, MadamevonderLeyen, en refusant de prendre les sanctions qui s'imposent contre le génocidaire BenjaminNetanyahou malgré le mandat d'arrêt de la Cour pénale internationale. Alors comment osez-vous rester silencieuse après une telle décision, alors que plus de 45000 civils sont déjà morts sous les bombes?
MadamevonderLeyen, vous l'aurez compris, notre groupe de la gauche votera unanimement contre votre Commission de malheur et constituera la seule opposition crédible de cet Hémicycle.
Avec votre bénédiction, le règne de l'extrême droite commence aujourd'hui. Je pense donc, pour finir, aux mots de la grande résistante française Lucie Aubrac: «Le verbe résister doit toujours se conjuguer au présent.» Alors, depuis cet Hémicycle, je lance ce grand, ce bel, ce puissant appel à la résistance avant qu'il ne soit trop tard.
Sarah Knafo, au nom du groupe ESN. – Madame la Présidente, MadamevonderLeyen, vous n'ignorez pas que les peuples européens ne s'intéressent absolument pas à cette élection des commissaires. Et je veux vous dire en face, MadamevonderLeyen, que c'est de votre faute.
À force d'arrangements à voix basse, de petits calculs partisans et d'hypocrisie technocratique, vous avez réussi à dégoûter les citoyens des institutions européennes. Ils ne veulent même plus savoir qui va être désigné commissaire aujourd'hui, ni pourquoi. Ils savent d'avance que ces commissaires seront à votre image, à l'image de ce que vous avez fait de l'Europe depuis cinq ans: une Europe étouffante, dangereuse, sclérosée.
Je veux dire à ces millions d'électeurs que, pour les cinq ans qui viennent, je ne vous laisserai pas faire. Vous ne ferez pas de notre continent un espace sans intérêt et sans âme, où vos caprices technocratiques font la loi et dictent la morale. Avec tous ceux de cette Assemblée qui sont attachés à la vérité et à la liberté, nous briserons le silence qui règne dans votre institution.
Vous gagnerez sans doute cette élection, mais nous vous feront perdre tout le reste. Dans les cinq ans qui viennent, nous ne vous accorderons aucun répit. Nous ne vous laisserons plus opérer en catimini. Nous serons le projecteur braqué sur vos agissements. Les Européens doivent savoir la vérité. Ils en ont envie, ils en ont besoin et ils y ont droit.
Andrzej Halicki (PPE). – Pani Przewodnicząca! Szanowni Państwo! Bezpieczeństwo, bezpieczeństwo, bezpieczeństwo, bezpieczeństwo – mógłbym tak jeszcze kilka razy wymieniać to słowo, bo obywatele Europy czekają, by poczucie bezpieczeństwa wzmacniać i to nasze wspólne zadanie.
Bezpieczeństwo militarne – mamy wojnę na naszym kontynencie, u naszych bram. Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne, bezpieczeństwo gospodarcze, bezpieczeństwo w polityce społecznej, bezpieczeństwo żywnościowe, bezpieczeństwo zdrowotne, czy wreszcie szybka reakcja na kataklizmy, które coraz częściej dotykają nasze regiony. Bezpieczeństwo nie ma charakteru lewicowego czy prawicowego. Bezpieczeństwo jest nasze wspólne i kto działa przeciwko wzmacnianiu bezpieczeństwa, działa przeciwko obywatelom, Waszym obywatelom, którzy czekają na wzmacnianie poczucia bezpieczeństwa.
W tym miejscu chciałbym zaapelować do Parlamentu, do wszystkich grup politycznych: czas skończyć debatę i dyskusję o tym, jak i w jaki sposób powołać nowe komisje, które powinny wspomagać prace Komisji Europejskiej. Komisja – stała, duża – do spraw bezpieczeństwa powinna działać natychmiast, najdalej od początku przyszłego roku. Komisja – stała, duża – która wzmocni proces legislacyjny w dziedzinie ochrony zdrowia, powinna działać natychmiast. To postulat polskiej delegacji Europejskiej Partii Ludowej od lat. Tak, obie komisje powinniśmy powołać jak najszybciej, bo bezpieczeństwo nie może czekać. Na to czekają też nasi obywatele.
Nicola Zingaretti (S&D). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, noi guardiamo alle cittadine e ai cittadini europei che hanno paura del futuro e stanno perdendo la speranza e chiedono protezione. E i singoli Paesi da soli non potranno garantire questo futuro e solo l'Europa può essere una soluzione, ma deve cambiare: non l'Europa intergovernativa delle nazioni ma un'Europa che nel disordine mondiale riprende la strada dell'integrazione federale.
Dobbiamo unirci, investire per politiche comuni più forti sul lavoro, la competitività, l'innovazione dell'industria, la ricerca tecnologica, formare nuove risorse umane adeguate, affrontare la transizione ecologica e digitale, pensare a nuovi modelli di welfare e salute per proteggere le persone.
Dobbiamo unirci intorno a coraggiose riforme che ci rendano un attore globale per una politica estera e di sicurezza comune e difendere la pace, rilanciare le cooperazioni rafforzate, ridiscutere il criterio dell'unanimità, pensare a riforme fiscali comuni che portino giustizia.
Presidente von der Leyen, noi a luglio abbiamo votato il suo programma per questi motivi. Ora, se si è cambiato idea e si cercano altre strade, sarebbe corretto dirlo senza furbizie, perché ora quel programma va attuato con i fatti.
E attenzione: i nazionalisti non hanno un'idea diversa di Europa; non la vogliono l'Europa unita e si alleano nel mondo con i nemici dell'Europa. Noi voteremo "sì" perché si deve partire. Non faremo regali a Donald Trump e a Putin ma da ora nessuno sconto.
Vigileremo per il rispetto del programma e combatteremo in ogni spazio parlamentare per far avanzare il progetto di un nuovo europeismo, sapendo, per dirla con Altiero Spinelli, "che la via da percorrere non è facile, non è sicura ma deve essere percorsa e lo sarà". Per questo voteremo "sì" con questa chiarezza verso una nuova Europa, più forte e più umana.
Harald Vilimsky (PfE). – Frau Präsidentin, meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren! In Richtung der Linken, der Grünen, der Marxisten, der Leninisten, was immer da herumkrebst bei Ihnen: Ich lasse es mir nicht länger gefallen, dass von Ihnen meine politische Gruppierung hier in die Nähe des Extremismus gerückt wird. Sie waren es, die Bella Ciao getönt haben. Sie sind es, die in Ihren Reihen eine Gewalttäterin haben, die mit einem Hammer auf Menschen losgegangen ist. Hier stehen wir für Demokratie und für Rechtsstaatlichkeit, und das schreiben Sie einmal in Ihr Stammbuch!
Meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren, wir haben nicht fraternisiert mit der Frau von der Leyen und ihrer Kommission. Wir lehnen diese Kommission ab. Nicht ein einfaches Nein– ein dreifaches, ein fünffaches Nein, denn diese Kommission steht für Massenmigration, sie steht für Freiheitsentzug, sie steht für Kriegstreiberei, sie steht für Deindustrialisierung und den Niedergang Europas. Im Übrigen merke ich an: Die europäischen Verträge normieren, dass es 18Kommissare geben sollte, und nur mit Einstimmigkeit des Rates können Sie diese Breitband‑, diese 16:9‑Kommission auf 27 aufblasen. Völlig unnötig in einer Zeit, wo wir wirtschaftliche Probleme haben. Sie hätten Geld sparen können. Sie hätten deregulieren können. Sie hätten Ihre Kommissare mit irgendwelchen Orchideenreferaten hier weglassen können und dieses Geld für europäische Bürger verwenden können. Das wäre der richtige Weg. Was Sie machen, ist der falsche Weg.
Adam Bielan (ECR). – Pani Przewodnicząca, dzisiaj w Pani przemówieniu najczęściej wymienianym słowem było słowo „konkurencyjność”. I bardzo słusznie, ponieważ Unia Europejska w ostatnich latach, między innymi pod Pani rządami, dramatycznie tę konkurencyjność na rzecz naszych rywali na świecie utraciła.
Jak czytamy w raporcie Mario Draghiego, który również Pani prezentowała, jednym z głównych powodów utraty tej konkurencyjności jest fakt, że – cytuję – „ceny detaliczne energii elektrycznej – zwłaszcza dla sektorów przemysłowych – są obecnie dwa do trzech razy wyższe niż w USA i w Chinach”, a więc jedne z najwyższych na świecie.
Głównym powodem tak wysokich cen energii jest szaleńczy – nie waham się tego słowa użyć – szaleńczy plan Zielonego Ładu. A jakie wnioski Pani z tego wyciąga? Pani nam dzisiaj powiedziała, że nie tylko nie zawróci Pani z tej drogi, która prowadzi gospodarkę Unii Europejskiej ku katastrofie, ale ze względu na to, że potrzebuje Pani głosów frakcji Zielonych, w ciągu najbliższych lat będziemy mieć de facto więcej tego samego.
Tymczasem w ostatnich eurowyborach wyborcy jasno opowiedzieli się za zmianą. Niestety, w dzisiejszym wystąpieniu udowodniła Pani, że jest Pani głucha na głos obywateli. Nikt z nas nie kwestionuje tego, że działania na rzecz ochrony środowiska są potrzebne. Ale jedyny efekt obecnej polityki klimatycznej, jakiego doświadczają obywatele Unii Europejskiej, to droższa energia, droższy samochód, droższe ciepło i droższa żywność.
Nie usłyszeliśmy dzisiaj nic o wycofaniu się z groźnego, szkodliwego paktu migracyjnego. Słyszymy za to od miesięcy o próbie wprowadzenia umowy handlowej z Mercosurem, która będzie brutalnym ciosem w europejskie rolnictwo.
I choć w obecnym składzie Komisji Europejskiej znajduje się wielu kompetentnych kandydatów, takich jak pan Fito, pani Kallas czy pan Kubilius, to nic nie wskazuje na to, aby ta błędna i szkodliwa polityka Komisji Europejskiej jako całości miała ulec jakiejkolwiek zmianie. Nie może być na to naszej zgody. Dlatego jako delegacja Prawa i Sprawiedliwości w Parlamencie Europejskim zagłosujemy dzisiaj przeciwko tej Komisji.
Billy Kelleher (Renew). – Madam President, I want to wish the individual Commissioners success personally, and I hope that the Commission collectively will have success into the future. We have significant challenges geopolitically, economically and in the areas of competitiveness.
President, you referenced the issue of increasing our spending in innovation and research, decarbonising our economy and supporting the Green Deal and ensuring economic security. These are critical issues to be dealt with immediately. You speak about investment and public and private funding, simplification of the single market, decent wages, quality of life, education, childcare, healthcare and housing. And in our regions and our rural communities, you speak about ensuring that farmers and fishers have a future.
But most importantly, President, we have a duty in this House to ensure that we hold you to account. You spoke about the fact that you were going to work from the centre out. Well, I honestly believe that the centre starts there and finishes there (points to the left and the right of the Chamber). And if you are to work from the centre out, if you continue, and if others continue, to listen to the far right, well, then the centre will not hold.
And our duty is to ensure that the centre does hold, because on the far right they want to destroy the very values that you spoke about. So we cannot give comfort or succour to those on the far right. Let us be very clear. Individual freedoms and individual rights never, ever come from the far right, and our history and lessons should teach us that.
So, Commission President, I wish you well, and I hope that you will ensure that the coalition of the centre will work, will function and will be supported, and people in this House have a duty to ensure that the coalition works as well. So we do not want to be in truck to those on the right.
Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE). – Señoras presidentas, señoras comisarias, ¿era posible tener una Comisión sin la presencia de la extrema derecha? Ciertamente, probablemente, no lo era. Si hay Estados gobernados por la extrema derecha, sabemos que habrá comisarios de la extrema derecha. Pero lo que sí estaba en sus manos, presidenta von der Leyen, era decidir qué papel iban a jugar estos comisarios. Y, ante esta elección, usted ha decidido dar una vicepresidencia —con grandes responsabilidades— al enviado de Meloni, ni más ni menos que las políticas de cohesión que, a través de sus fondos, gestionan un tercio del presupuesto europeo. Y por ahí no podemos pasar. No podemos dar apoyo a lo que, a todas luces, implica la normalización de la extrema derecha.
Sabemos que, en su Comisión, hay personas que están tan incómodas como nosotros con esta decisión. A ellas les decimos que haremos una oposición constructiva y que siempre, siempre, nos encontrarán dispuestos a trabajar por una Europa de derechos y libertades. No son tiempos fáciles para la democracia, pero tampoco son tiempos para bajar los brazos.
(La oradora se niega a que Stefano Cavedagna le formule una pregunta con arreglo al procedimiento de la «tarjeta azul»)
Marc Botenga (The Left). – Madame la Présidente, MadamevonderLeyen, nous ne vous soutiendrons jamais. Jamais, parce que dans votre Europe, travailler ne suffit plus pour vivre: plus d'un tiers des actifs européens, aujourd'hui, disent que leurs revenus ne suffisent plus pour payer les factures. Plus d'un tiers des Européens a dû renoncer à des soins de santé, près d'un tiers, renoncer même à des repas, et plus de deux parents sur trois, aujourd'hui, renoncent aux sorties en famille.
Dans ce contexte, vous prônez l'austérité pour les travailleurs, vous qui gagnez 30000euros par mois. C'est facile, évidemment! Pendant que vous refusez de taxer les millionnaires, vous refusez de tacler les superprofits des grandes multinationales. Mais quelle honte!
Et parlons de l'international, où personne n'a oublié votre voyage à Tel-Aviv, pour aller encourager le criminel de guerre Netanyahou. Je me demande si, un jour, ce soutien, votre voyage peut-être, vous vaudra aussi un billet pour La Haye.
Madame von der Leyen, pour sauver votre place, vous avez pactisé avec l'extrême droite, vous avez acheté les écologistes, humilié les socialistes, mais nous, nous ne céderons rien. Nous serons l'opposition sociale pendant les cinq ans à venir. Comptez sur nous pour nous opposer à vous.
Christine Anderson (ESN). – Frau Präsidentin! Donald Trump stellt sein neues Kabinett vor: hochkompetente Patrioten, entschlossen to make America great again, entschlossen, wieder Politik für das Volk zu machen. Und was kriegen wir? Sie, Frau von der Leyen – herzlichen Dank! Die Abrissbirne, die gnadenlos alles niederreißt, was die europäischen Völker stark gemacht hat. Ich möchte ein Europa, das stark, souverän und erfolgreich ist; ein Europa des Erfolgs, ein Europa der Freiheit, der Demokratie und der Rechtsstaatlichkeit. Mit Ihnen werden wir all das nicht bekommen.
Frau von der Leyen, Sie alleine wären ja schon schlimm genug. Aber die angehenden Kommissare, die Sie um sich versammelt haben, das ist die reinste Trümmertruppe, was Freiheit und Demokratie und Rechtsstaatlichkeit angeht. Legen Sie, Frau von der Leyen, doch erst mal Rechenschaft über Ihre unsäglichen mRNA‑Impfstofflieferverträge ab. Ansonsten können Sie sich Ihren Vorschlag der Kommissare an den Hut stecken. Meine Fraktion wird das nicht unterstützen. Nun, bedauerlicherweise darf ich Sie nicht korrupt nennen, sonst stellt man mir hier wieder das Mikrofon ab, aber seis drum: Frau von der Leyen, Sie sind korrupt bis in die letzte Faser Ihres Daseins!
Μαρία Ζαχαρία (NI). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, συμφωνήσατε μεταξύ σας πίσω από κλειστές πόρτες και μας φέρατε θεατές σε ένα στημένο παιχνίδι. Οι ακροάσεις μια φτηνή παράσταση και εσείς ατάλαντοι ηθοποιοί σε ένα κακοπαιγμένο έργο.
Ούτε τα προσχήματα δεν κρατήσατε, αφού ούτε έναν Επίτροπο δεν κόψατε. Υπάρχουν «διορισμοί» από τις ίδιες τις κυβερνήσεις, όπως του Έλληνα Επιτρόπου Τζιτζικώστα στο χαρτοφυλάκιο των Μεταφορών, με τον οποίον η Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής ξεπληρώνει τη φιλοξενία του κ. Μητσοτάκη στα Χανιά, για να συγκαλύψει η ελληνική κυβέρνηση και σε ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο το σκάνδαλο του σιδηροδρομικού εγκλήματος 57 νέων ανθρώπων στα Τέμπη το 2023. Όσοι υπερψηφίσετε, δυστυχώς, γίνεστε συνεργοί τους.
Ως συνδικαλίστρια, βρίσκω προκλητική και απαράδεκτη την απουσία χαρτοφυλακίου αποκλειστικά για την εργασία. Αυτό δείχνει ότι η κοινωνική πολιτική τίθεται για τα καλά στο περιθώριο και ότι ο κόσμος της εργασίας θα δεχτεί μεγαλύτερα χτυπήματα στα δικαιώματά του.
Συνάδελφοι, θα καταψηφίσω αυτό το θέατρο, αλλά θα συνεχίσω να παλεύω για μια Ευρώπη των αξιών, της διαφάνειας, της δημοκρατίας, της ειρήνης, του ανθρωπισμού και του πολιτισμού.
Dolors Montserrat (PPE). – Señoras presidentas, esta nueva Comisión tendrá que liderar la defensa de nuestros valores, nuestra seguridad y nuestro Estado de Derecho, impulsar la competitividad y la innovación, dar oportunidades a los jóvenes, cumplir el pacto migratorio y proteger a agricultores, ganaderos, pescadores y autónomos, para que ninguna familia se quede atrás.
El Partido Popular Europeo hemos sido el motor decisivo de los grandes avances de Europa y, como miembros leales de la familia popular europea, apoyamos firmemente a esta Comisión liderada por Ursula von der Leyen.
Somos profundamente europeístas porque somos españoles. Ustedes saben que nos duele España. No callaremos cuando el peor Gobierno de España de nuestra democracia está sumido en una deriva de corrupción, populismo y vulneración del Estado de Derecho que también nos afecta como europeos.
Teresa Ribera ha desaparecido de España en lo peor de una tragedia que se llevó la vida de 220europeos. Teresa Ribera ha sido la vicepresidenta de un Gobierno que señala a jueces, intenta silenciar a la prensa crítica, utiliza al fiscal general, imputado por el Tribunal Supremo por maniobrar políticamente contra una presidenta regional, y está envuelto en un escándalo de corrupción que puede afectar a onceministerios, entre ellos el de Teresa Ribera. Ribera llega a Bruselas con demasiadas cuentas pendientes en España y muy poco crédito en Europa.
Así que nosotros —la delegación española del Partido Popular— nos mantenemos firmes, decimos sí a la Comisión y no a Teresa Ribera, por principios, lealtad y justicia.
(La oradora se niega a que Petras Gražulis y Cristophe Clergeau le formulen preguntas con arreglo al procedimiento de la «tarjeta azul»).
Javier Moreno Sánchez (S&D). – Señora presidenta, señora presidenta von der Leyen, la delegación socialista española votará a favor del Colegio de Comisarios y Comisarias tras el acuerdo alcanzado entre las fuerzas europeístas de esta Cámara.
Me alegra que el Partido Popular Europeo haya vuelto al redil europeísta con la declaración política conjunta y espero que no vuelva a rendirse ante los cantos de sirena de la extrema derecha de esta Cámara.
Me alegra también que el Partido Popular Europeo haya apoyado a su vicepresidenta primera, a Teresa Ribera, y haya abandonado en la más fría soledad al Partido Popular español con su ruido, sus bulos y su fracaso. Señor Weber, va por buen camino.
Señorías, tiene que arrancar ya la nueva Comisión Europea. En un contexto geopolítico convulso, frente a una extrema derecha en alza, tenemos que cumplir nuestros compromisos con la ciudadanía europea, para garantizarle la paz, la democracia y el bienestar social y también para convertir a la Unión Europea en un líder mundial competitivo que proteja el planeta. En esta labor, señora presidenta, cuenta usted con un referente mundial: su vicepresidenta primera, Teresa Ribera.
António Tânger Corrêa (PfE). – Senhora Presidente, Senhora Presidente da Comissão, Caros Colegas, hoje quero expressar aqui a minha preocupação com o estado do processo de nomeação dos membros da Comissão Europeia que compromete a credibilidade da nossa União.
O que deveria ser um exemplo de transparência e meritocracia tornou-se um palco para jogos políticos. Esta politização mina a confiança dos cidadãos nas nossas instituições.
Por um lado, as políticas prosseguidas pela anterior e pela atual Comissão fazem-nos ficar extremamente preocupados. UmGreen Deal que cada vez mais se transforma num Black Deal, com inaceitáveis consequências. Por outro lado, a liberdade concedida à imigração, sem qualquer controlo, preocupa todos os estados europeus, os cidadãos da Europa e todas as sociedades que estão a ser por essa imigração destruídas.
Finalmente, gostaria de dizer uma coisa, Senhora Presidente, é que nós somos a favor da liberdade e contra o totalitarismo. E é isso que nos faz mexer e é isso que nos faz lutar.
Charlie Weimers (ECR). – Fru talman! När väljarna nu vänder sig bort från Europas socialdemokrater kan vi se sorgens fem faser utspela sig: Förnekelse, när vi gjorde upp om att stötta oppositionen i Venezuela så lämnade socialdemokraterna förhandlingen. Ilska, den gruppen var inte glad när vi införde realism i klimatpolitiken. Och nu ser vi förhandling, nu vill socialdemokraterna gå i avtal med de borgerliga för att slippa känna av konsekvenserna av väljarnas dom.
Min fråga till er borgerliga är: Varför agerar ni terapeuter åt socialdemokraterna? Varför inte göra gemensam sak med oss på högersidan för att minska byråkratin och öka konkurrenskraften, införa en realistisk klimatpolitik där kärnkraften byggs ut, säkra gränserna, återvända Illegala migranter? Använd högermajoriteten.
Istället präglas nu de politiska direktiven till kommissionen av mer av samma. Det är inte proeuropeiskt, det är prostagnation eller, som fru von der Leyen själv säger,managing the decline.
Dan Barna (Renew). – Doamnă președintă, este o dovadă de responsabilitate și maturitate față de cetățenii europeni că negocierile politice au ajuns la rezultatul în care putem spune astăzi că avem o comisie și că aceasta își va începe mandatul pe 1 decembrie. Arhitectura electorală după 9 iunie nu a fost deloc și nu este una simplă, așa că vă felicit pe toți negociatorii pentru anduranța de a obține un rezultat în acest moment. Acum însă, doamnă președintă și doamnelor și domnilor comisari, a sosit momentul să începem să îndeplinim așteptări și să furnizăm rezultate. Acum, nu peste 2 ani, nu peste 5 ani.
Cer de la acest pupitru al Parlamentului o preocupare adevărată pentru statul de drept. Cer o aplicare strictă și clară a legislației privind rețelele sociale. Cer mecanisme mai dure de combatere a dezinformării și măsuri mai eficiente de răspuns la războiul hibrid, care, iată, vine din ce în ce mai mult peste noi. Altfel, alegerile democratice, așa cum le știm și le dorim în Europa, s-ar putea să devină istorie. Suntem o uniune a oamenilor, nu a algoritmilor, așa că cer acestei Comisii ca o operațiune precum cea de la alegerile de duminica trecută din România să nu mai poată fi posibilă. Trebuie să acționăm. Acum.
Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE). – Madame la Présidente, MadamevonderLeyen, en choisissant de nommer RaffaeleFitto à un poste de vice-président, vous entamez votre second mandat à la tête de la Commission européenne de la plus triste des manières.
Votre choix, Madame, n'est pas celui du compromis, mais de la compromission avec l'extrême droite. Et c'est une faute, car la situation politique n'exige ni complaisance ni confusion, mais au contraire de la vigilance et de la clarté. Mes amis italiens, qui sont là et qui affrontent au quotidien l'extrême droite modernisée de GiorgiaMeloni, vivent la nomination de MonsieurFitto comme une insulte. Relisez Reconnaître le fascisme du grand UmbertoEco et vous comprendrez que, même recouvert d'un masque de respectabilité, le fascisme demeure le fascisme.
Je veux ainsi relayer ici la voix des millions d'Européennes et d'Européens qui refusent le chemin du déshonneur. Aucun calcul politicien ne peut nous exonérer de notre devoir de vigilance. L'Europe doit rester un espace de lutte contre le repli nationaliste, qui porte l'idée de la confrontation permanente des peuples. Face à l'extrême droite, à cette extrême droite xénophobe, complotiste et climatosceptique, nous devons résister, résister et résister encore. C'est ce que feront les écologistes.
Mais vous, MadamevonderLeyen, après avoir installé l'extrême droite à la tête de la Commission européenne, que ferez–vous?
(L'oratrice refuse une question carton bleu de Francesco Torselli)
Irene Montero (The Left). – Señora presidenta, la Comisión Europea que hoy se vota es una herida posiblemente mortal al proyecto europeo. Sus prioridades políticas son la guerra, la austeridad y el racismo criminal en las fronteras. Se van a gastar ustedes en armas el dinero que la gente necesita para escuelas, para hospitales, para viviendas, para ciencia o para hacer frente a la emergencia climática.
Además, el pacto que hace posible esta Comisión convierte a la extrema derecha de Meloni y de Orbán en socios estables, no solo de la derecha, sino también de la socialdemocracia. Los socialistas, señora Ribera, hoy votan a favor de la extrema derecha y gobernarán juntos en Europa. Es inmoral, dice la señora García, pero ustedes lo van a hacer.
Señora von der Leyen, ¿qué va a hacer para que Europa cumpla con la orden de detención de Netanyahu? Alemania, Italia y Hungría ya han dicho que van a proteger a los genocidas. ¿Va a mirar usted para otro lado mientras Europa pisotea el Derecho internacional? La realidad es que Israel no podría llevar un año de genocidio sin el apoyo de Europa. Su complicidad con los genocidas es criminal, señora von der Leyen, y nosotras nos oponemos a este proyecto de guerra, austeridad y genocidio. Vamos a trabajar para que, igual que hace quinceaños, frente al austericidio, los pueblos de Europa, por su propia supervivencia y en defensa de su dignidad y de sus derechos, también de la democracia y de la paz, les dijeron «Basta», se lo vuelvan a decir ahora.
Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (ESN). – Pani Przewodnicząca! Chcecie poznać najbardziej niedemokratyczną i niepraworządną instytucję w Unii Europejskiej? To jest właśnie nowa Komisja Europejska, której szefem po raz kolejny będzie Ursula von der Leyen. Komu Pani służy, Pani Ursulo? Na czyim Pani jest pasku? Globalistów, chińskich lobbystów czy wielkich korporacji? Bo jedno jest pewne – nie są to Europejczycy i nie są to Polacy.
Europa, którą Pani tworzy, to kontynent hipokryzji i udręki dla zwykłego człowieka. Olbrzymie ceny energii, zakaz wjazdu samochodów do miast, kobiety i dzieci będące ofiarami imigrantów, którym opłaca Pani hotele i zasiłki z naszych pieniędzy. Na komisarza do spraw imigracji wybrała Pani kogoś, kto kompletnie nie ma pojęcia na temat funkcji, jaką będzie sprawował. Patrzę na skład Komisji i widzę eurokomunizm w najgorszym wydaniu. Zielone szaleństwo, zero konkurencyjności, dożynanie rolnictwa umową z Mercosur, ograbienie nas z tożsamości narodowej. To skończy się katastrofą. Zamiast zerowych emisji będziemy mieli zerowy wzrost gospodarczy. Papierowe słomki i nakrętki przymocowane do butelek – to jest Pani plan na Europę.
Thomas Geisel (NI). – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Ich befürchte, mit der Kommission, die Frau von der Leyen zusammengestellt hat, wird die Bedeutung Europas weiter zurückgehen. Sorgen bereitet mir vor allem, wie sich die Kommission außen‑ und sicherheitspolitisch aufstellt. Verantwortlich hierfür sind Frau Kallas und Herr Kubilius. Sie vertreten eine Außenpolitik, die sich klar gegen Russland richtet. Das mag mit Blick auf ihre und die Geschichte ihrer Herkunftsländer nachvollziehbar sein, für Europa ist es verhängnisvoll.
Russlands Präsident hat ein Nachbarland unter Bruch des Völkerrechts angegriffen. Das ist verwerflich, darf aber nicht zum Anlass genommen werden, alle Brücken zwischen der Europäischen Union und Russland, immerhin dem größten europäischen Land, auf Dauer abzubrechen und die Gräben immer tiefer werden zu lassen. Statt den Krieg in der Ukraine mit immer mehr Waffen weiter zu befeuern und Europa immer mehr aufzurüsten, bedarf es einer neuen Ostpolitik der Europäischen Union, die die Spaltung Europas überwindet und so die Voraussetzungen schafft, dass Europa im Konzert der Weltmächte überhaupt noch eine Rolle spielt. Europa muss für Frieden in Europa sorgen. Wir dürfen das nicht den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika überlassen.
Siegfried Mureşan (PPE). – Madam President, President von der Leyen, welcome back to the European Ϸվ. We have 26 members of the European Commission who have successfully passed the hearings in the European Ϸվ with large majorities. Today we are giving – with a large pro-European majority of democratic forces – the support and the vote to this European Commission. We are going to work together as the European Ϸվ with the new members of the European Commission.
We will bring Europe forward. We will deliver. We will construct. We heard what the people have expressed at the European elections. We heard people on the 9 June saying they want Europe to protect them; they want a Europe that protects, a Europe that concentrates on security, on defence, on protecting our borders.
We will build a Europe which will be more competitive with a stronger economy, because competitiveness means safe jobs and this is essential to safeguard our high social standards in Europe.
We will accelerate the transition to the digital economy. We will continue the transition to the green economy but with the industry not against, with the farmers not against.
And we will strengthen our neighbours, our neighbouring countries, because we can only be safe in Europe if our neighbouring countries, many of them EU candidate countries, can be safe.
And one of the best instruments to deliver will be the budget of the European Union. We will have a budget which will be clearly aligned in the next years with the priorities of the Union: safety, security, competitiveness, agriculture and supporting our neighbouring countries. A budget that will be easier, simpler, less bureaucratic, and a budget which will be in line with our values. Whoever wants to receive European funds has to respect European values. The rule of law will matter. This is what we will do: a budget as an essential tool to help citizens in good times, but also in times of crisis.
To achieve all this, we are going to give – with a large pro-European majority – the vote to this European Commission now and we will start the work.
René Repasi (S&D). – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissionspräsidentin! In der von Ihnen vorgeschlagenen Kommission darf erneut jede Regierung einen Kommissar stellen. Daraus aber zu schließen, dass Sie in diesem Spektrum frei die Mehrheiten wechseln können, ist ein Trugschluss. Das degradiert dieses Haus zu einem Notar der Kommission. Eine Selbstentleibung, die wir bei den Anhörungen bereits erleben mussten. Wer lieber knappe Mehrheiten mit den Rechtsextremen bildet, anstatt mit uns stabile proeuropäische Lösung zu erarbeiten, der darf sich nicht wundern, wenn wir unsere Unterstützung irgendwann verweigern.
Vor dem Sommer hat die SPD Ihnen einen Vertrauensvorschuss gegeben, damit Sie eine Kommission entlang der sie tragenden politischen Kräfte aufbauen. Mit der Beförderung von Herrn Fitto zum Vizepräsidenten und der seitdem von Ihrer Parteienfamilie, der EVP, praktizierten Mehrheitsbildung mit Rechtsextremen gegen die Parteien Ihrer ursprünglichen proeuropäischen Mehrheit, ist für uns ein Punkt gekommen, an dem wir Ihnen sagen müssen: Das geht zu weit, nehmen Sie das ernst.
Klara Dostalova (PfE). – Paní předsedající, dámy a pánové, dnešním dnem končí Hra o trůny. Bohužel však místo triumfu zdravého rozumu znovu zvítězily zákulisní dohody a mocenské hry. Winter is coming. Najděme odvahu tuto Komisi nezvolit, nejen ve jménu institucí, ale ve jménu lidí, kteří Evropu tvoří a kteří nám – na rozdíl od Komise – dali mandát. Odvaha ale bude zřejmě chybět, proto alespoň vyzývám novou Komisi, aby přestala být továrnou na normy a stala se architektem přehledného a funkčního systému. Komise musí přijmout pravidlo nulového růstu regulací, žádné nové normy, dokud nebudou ty stávající zjednodušeny, zpřehledněny a přizpůsobeny potřebám moderní doby. Komise musí zajistit větší transparentnost. Evropané si zaslouží vědět, co jednotlivé legislativní návrhy přinesou a jaké budou mít dopady na jejich životy. Vyzývám proto Evropský parlament, aby se zapsal do dějin jako tvůrce přehledné a silné Evropy, nikoliv jako správce nesčetných svazků pravidel, která nikdo nechápe.
Alexandr Vondra (ECR). – Paní předsedající, dámy a pánové, tady „okopávali“ paní předsedkyni za to, že navštívila Izrael. Tak to ne, to já jí z celého srdce děkuji, že vyjádřila jménem Evropy solidaritu. Stejně tak se nepřidávám k tomu brutálnímu „okopávání“ zleva nebo od některých úplně napravo, to není můj styl. Z druhé strany, doba se změnila. Úplně jiné, daleko těžší časy nás čekají, volby v Americe, deglobalizace, obchodní války, mocenská real politika v celém světě. A to samozřejmě díky za Draghiho zprávu, ta analýza, kde jsme, je vynikající. Ale musím říct, že slyšení, která jsme tady poslouchali, mě nenaplnila příliš důvěrou, že někteří lidé v rozhodujících funkcích jsou takříkajíc up to the job. Co mě ale naplňuje nadějí, že je tady trochu jiný poměr sil, než tomu bylo před pěti let. Takže budeme mít příležitost skutečně opravit některé věci tak, abychom neztráceli konkurenceschopnost a ve světě obstáli.
Marie-Pierre Vedrenne (Renew). – Madame la Présidente, chers collègues, aujourd'hui marque l'aboutissement d'un processus démocratique unique en Europe: auditionner des candidats et les élire afin de donner à la Commission européenne la légitimité d'agir, en concertation avec nous. Pas pour hésiter, mais pour avancer, vite et fort.
Au nom de la délégation L'Europe Ensemble, que je préside, chère Ursula, j'avais évoqué avec vous, lors de notre échange, nos trois priorités. La souveraineté: face aux menaces de Moscou et vu le retour de DonaldTrump, l'Europe doit assumer sa propre sécurité et avancer sur sa défense commune. La prospérité: alors que des plans sociaux se multiplient, nous devons soutenir massivement nos entreprises et investir pour des emplois de qualité et d'avenir. La compétitivité: face aux États-Unis et à la Chine, l'Europe, qui n'est certes plus naïve, doit défendre ses industries avec force et sans complexe.
Madame la Présidente, nous voterons pour ce collège de commissaires. Constructifs, nous vous assurons notre soutien. Nous serons des partenaires, mais des partenaires exigeants, parce que l'Europe reste l'une des plus grandes réalisations politiques et historiques. Mais l'Europe doit inspirer, elle doit surprendre, elle doit s'imposer. Alors, ensemble, travaillons pour cela.
Damian Boeselager (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, dear colleagues, even a failed German Government started with a happy photo at the beginning. But when I look around here, I see that the coalition is already fuming. And that is because, Mr Weber, you chose to strong-arm the social democrats and the liberals into a coalition with Meloni, and because you decided on reforestation and budget votes with the German AfD. What a great start.
Why are you so afraid to accept the Greens into a formal coalition? Why are you so afraid? I can tell you, I sit with them for five years now: they don't bite. Mr Weber, stop choosing the far right over the Greens and Volt.
Dear Commission President, looking at the US, Ukraine, Germany and France now, and even Romania, we really need a strong European government. We at Volt will therefore stay pragmatic, and we have asked for the group to stay pragmatic, because we need this government to be strong.
But please, don't accept the Union as it is. Advance it, reform it, so that European citizens and this House can nominate and vote for the European government.
Kathleen Funchion (The Left). – A Uachtaráin, after all the drama and the delays, the deal is done and we will have five more years of Ursula von der Leyen. President von der Leyen, you are unacceptable to us on the left, and you are unacceptable to the Irish people, as an enabler of an ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
What's more, your Commission is hell bent on passing the Mercosur Agreement – an agreement which is bad for farmers and for our environment. Your vision of the EU is one where workers rights and solidarity are just footnotes to your main agenda of militarisation and centralisation of powers in Brussels' hands.
I want to speak directly to the Irish MEPs of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party. We see you and the Irish people are watching you very closely. It is not too late to do the right thing and vote against this Commission. The people of Ireland do not want this agenda – shame on any Irish MEP who supports it.
Zsuzsanna Borvendég (ESN). – Tisztelt Elnök Asszony! Egy zseniális magyar költő már 1937-ben megírta, hogy a jogállamban a pénz a fegyver, pedig még nem is ismerhette az Európai Bizottság működését. Önök állandóan kioktatnak bennünket demokráciából és jogállamiságból, miközben befagyasztják a nekünk járó pénzeket, ha nem követjük a nemzetellenes diktátumaikat. Eddig is tudtuk, hogy nem igazi demokraták, de a biztosjelöltek szakbizottsági szavazásain ezt már nem is próbálták titkolni.
A demokrácia addig van itt működésben, ameddig a szavazás az Önök által elvárt eredményt hozza, máskülönben egyszerűen elhalasztják azt. Csak azok lehetnek a Bizottság tagjai, akiket a föderális globalista körök jóváhagynak. Ellenvélemény kizárva. A Bizottság elnökének tisztségére is csak egy súlyos korrupciós vádakkal terhelt jelöltből lehetett választani. A fejétől bűzlik a hal. Tudják, honnan ismerjük mi ezeket a módszereket? A sztálinista személyi kultusz idejéből. Most már nem csak az világos, hogy Európa legkorruptabb szervezete a Bizottság, hanem az is, hogy egyben a legantidemokratikusabb.
Tomas Tobé (PPE). – Fru talman! Mer än fem månader efter Europavalet så behöver en ny kommission komma på plats. Europa behöver ledas. Nu är inte tid för plakatpolitik, utan det är faktiskt dags att börja jobba. Men det vill uppenbarligen inte ytterkanterna till höger eller till vänster i det här huset. Det är viktigare att posera och obstruera istället för att faktiskt få någonting gjort.
Vi moderater och EPP kommer nu att fokusera på att leverera, ta tillbaka kontrollen över invandringen, stärka vår konkurrenskraft och med full kraft bekämpa den organiserade brottsligheten.
Vi måste stärka vår säkerhet i Europa och vår försvarsförmåga, och vi ska inte vika en tum i vårt stöd för Ukraina. Vi behöver ett starkare Europa i en orolig omvärld. Därför kommer jag att rösta ja till den här kommissionen.
Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D). – Madame la Présidente, chers collègues, il y avait une coalition pro-européenne pour vous soutenir, en juillet. Pourquoi, dès lors, intégrer Fratelli d'Italia au groupe des vice-présidents qui pilotent, politiquement, la Commission? Rien ne vous y obligeait et nous ne l'acceptons pas. Et pourquoi le PPE s'allie-t-il à l'extrême droite la plus radicale pour démanteler la directive sur la déforestation?
La politique démocratique, vous l'avez dit, est un art du compromis. Mais ce n'est pas un art de la compromission. Alors, pour soutenir massivement la résistance ukrainienne, pour construire l'Europe de la défense, pour défendre le pacte vert européen, pour défendre la souveraineté économique de l'Europe, développer une politique industrielle, renforcer les solidarités, avancer sur le chemin de l'égalité, nous serons à vos côtés.
Mais à chaque fois que se reformera cette coalition contre-nature, mêlant les héritiers supposés d'Adenauer avec les forces les plus anti-européennes de ce Parlement, eh bien, nous serons là pour lui tenir tête et pour résister.
Paolo Borchia (PfE). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, meno male che questo dibattito ha riscaldato un po' l'atmosfera in Aula, perché questa mattina ho visto un'atmosfera freddina, sfiduciata, dove ogni gruppo applaudiva i propri commissari. Diciamo un segnale di debolezza. Una maggioranza sfilacciata non è un buon modo per iniziare questo percorso.
Io penso che chi vota questa Commissione si accontenti di un'Europa ridimensionata a livello internazionale, che abdica il suo ruolo agli Stati Uniti e alla Cina. Ecco, tranne poche lodevoli eccezioni – faccio un in bocca al lupo ai commissari Fitto, Várhelyi, Zaharieva – mi spiace dire che ci sono troppi commissari che sono stati nominati non per merito ma per compiacere la voglia di comandare di partiti, partitini e gruppi politici.Ecco, tutti preoccupati di apparire vincitori piuttosto che di trovare i profili migliori per il futuro di questa Europa.
Pensando agli imprenditori, agli agricoltori, ai giovani, con onestà e con tanta coerenza, la Lega ribadisce il suo no al bis di Ursula von der Leyen.
Gheorghe Piperea (ECR). – Doamnă președintă, chiar în acest Parlament, doamna von der Leyen a făcut o declarație în iulie, pronunțând un clișeu: „nu vom lăsa pe nimeni în urmă”. Primordial, asta ar însemna că Uniunea Europeană ar trebui să aibă grijă în primul rând, primordial, de cetățenii Uniunii Europene care trăiesc la limita sărăciei. În 2019, săracii europeni erau în număr de 100demilioane, iar, în 2023, de 102milioane. Dintre acești oameni care au fost lăsați în urmă, 6,5milioane sunt cetățeni români. Au contat mai mult mirajul schimbării climatice, războiul, afacerile companiilor farmaceutice, bancare și tehnologice, inclusiv vaccinurile inutile, cu emblematicul Pfizergate în frunte – există un dosar penal cu acest nume.
În noua sa formulă, Comisia Europeană se îndepărtează tot mai mult de proiectul originar al Uniunii Europene. Noul colegiu al comisarilor a rezervat un tren special pentru elita neofeudală a Uniunii Europene. Cetățenii obișnuiți vor fi lăsați pe peronul gării. De aceea, votul meu este contra învestirii acestei Comisii.
Martin Hojsík (Renew). – Dear Madam President, dear College-designates, the new Commission steps in in a time of great challenge. We need the green transition to ensure that our planet remains inhabitable. We need socially just solutions which lead to prosperity while building a resilient and competitive Union on the global stage. These are no small talks, and the eyes of Europeans are on you to deliver.
At the same time, we must ensure that the Union remains safe and secure, standing strong against those who threaten our values or seek to divide us. We all want peace. Peace – not to surrender to the aggressor, not to surrender our freedoms and liberties.
And finally, and above all, you have a responsibility to protect liberal democracy. To protect and enforce the rule of law, protect strong civil society, protect independent media, not to appease or compromise with those who threaten them, because we can lose our democracy in a moment.
Dear College, the work ahead is massive. We are ready to work with you, but also control you and hold you accountable for the delivery of your commitments.
Gordan Bosanac (Verts/ALE). – Poštovana predsjednice, poštovana predsjednice Europske komisije, u srpnju ove godine dobili ste podršku ovog Doma većinom zastupnika iz redova proeuropskih grupacija.
Danas je pred nama odluka o sastavu nove Komisije i više je nego jasno da su se stvari dosta promijenile. Danas će glas za ovu Komisiju dati i oni koji ne vjeruju u ideju demokratske i snažne Europe. Dat će glas oni koji uporno negiraju klimatske promjene. Dobit ćete glasove onih koji ne poštuju vladavinu prava. Dobit ćete glasove onih koji su skloni napadati prava manjina i ne vjeruju u rodnu ravnopravnost, koji šire teorije zavjere, kao i onih koji ne vjeruju u sekularnu Europu.
Danas će se dogoditi ozbiljan presedan, a to nije trebalo biti tako da ste pokazali veću mudrost i hrabrost.
Moj glas protiv, kao i dobrog dijela kolega iz moje grupe, poruka je otpora ovom ozbiljnom presedanu.
Iako smatram da u sastavu nove Komisije ima kvalitetnih povjerenika, kao što u najavama programa prepoznajem neke važne poteze, hvatanje ukoštac s krizom stanovanja, nastavak rada na borbi protiv klimatskih promjena, ja nisam uvjeren da, upravo zbog koketiranja s antidemokratskim snagama, prijedlozi politika koji će dolaziti od Vas će biti u smjeru boljeg života za sve u Europskoj uniji.
Paradoksalno, moj glas protiv je ujedno i glas za. Za sve one koji su spremni boriti se za očuvanje europskih vrijednosti na kojima smo do sada gradili ovu Europsku uniju. Nema predaje!
Romana Tomc (PPE). – Gospa predsednica. Danes odločamo o ekipi, ki bo v naslednjih letih skrbela za dobrobit Evropske unije. Česa se pri tem bojim?
Bojim se, da bi Komisija kljub drugačnim napovedim in obljubam še vedno nalagala nova in nova bremena ljudem, kmetom in podjetjem.
Bojim se, kakšna bo prihodnost Evropske unije in ukrajinska prihodnost, če bodo zanjo skrbeli komisarji, ki so bili informatorji tajne komunistične policije in jih je predlagala proruska vlada.
V tej ekipi je tudi 14 komisarjev iz moje politične skupine. To ni le velika moč, to je tudi velika odgovornost in računam na vas.
Kaj od Komisije pričakujem? Da boste zaščitili evropski način življenja. Da boste zaščitili naše evropske meje. Da boste odgovorili na to, kako bo Evropa preživela v mednarodni, ekonomski in demografski bitki. Da boste pri svojem delovanju transparentni, odgovorni in zavezani presojanju po enakih kriterijih. Ne razočarajte nas!
Dan Nica (S&D). – Doamnă președintă, doamnă președintă von der Leyen, delegația română din Grupul S&D va vota pentru dumneavoastră și colegiul comisarilor astăzi, pentru că noi credem într-o Europă puternică și unită, dar nu este un vot în alb, ci este un vot condiționat de îndeplinirea câtorva criterii foarte clare și precise pentru noi, dar și importante. Vrem o Europă socială, vrem ca să avem facturi la energie pe care oamenii să le poată plăti fără să renunțe la cele necesare și vrem să avem locuri de muncă bine plătite și o industrie europeană competitivă. Și mai vrem ceva, doamna von der Leyen. Duminică au avut loc alegeri în România și vrem să știm cine s-a amestecat cu brutalitate și în mod grosolan în alegerile prezidențiale din România. Cine sunt acele entități străine? Cine sunt acele companii care au cumpărat pe bani mulți și au influențat în mod brutal democrația?
Această intervenție a dumneavoastră și a colegiului comisarilor, dintre care îi știu pe mulți, trebuie să arate că în Uniunea Europeană, în România, nu se poate cumpăra democrația și că vrem să știm cine sunt aceia care au dat bani, pentru că ce au luat ei știm. Ei au luat TikTok, Facebook și Instagram. Dar cine sunt aceia care au dat bani? Pentru că dacă acum nu sunt luate cele mai dure măsuri pentru cei care au încălcat legile europene – legile naționale sunt treaba noastră – atunci înseamnă că în Uniunea Europeană orice și oricând poate fi cumpărat, iar democrația nu trebuie să fie niciodată de vânzare.
Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE). – Señora presidente, señora von der Leyen, esta Comisión nace herida de muerte. Para los españoles esta Comisión se ha sellado sobre la muerte que cabalgó los cauces desbordados en Valencia. Tuvimos la oportunidad de tumbar la Comisión von der LeyenII diciendo no a Ribera, pero ustedes han preferido el deshonor, el compromiso y la indignidad.
Socialistas y populares son la cara de una misma moneda. Es la moneda del fanatismo climático, los derechos de emisión de CO2, la censura en las redes sociales, la persecución del que disiente, los despidos masivos, los acuerdos de comercio injusto, la economía financiera sobre la economía real. Es la moneda que destruye paisajes colocando granjas de paneles solares y turbinas eólicas donde antes estaba el hombre, la que desmantela presas y deja que la naturaleza crezca salvaje, arrasando todo lo que encuentra.
Ustedes serán responsables de cada empresa que cierre. De cada inmigrante ilegal o falso refugiado que asalte una iglesia católica, ejecute un pogromo antisemita o queme una bandera de España, Francia o Alemania. Ustedes (dirigiéndose a Ursula von der Leyen y los comisarios propuestos) son la Comisión del lodo y ustedes (dirigiéndose a los diputados) son responsables.
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR). – Voorzitter, collega's, de hele gang van zaken rond de benoeming van de nieuwe Commissie verdient voorwaar geen schoonheidsprijs. Het hele proces werd gedomineerd door partijpolitieke overwegingen, terwijl we de nieuwe commissarissen toch primair op hun bekwaamheden moeten beoordelen.
We zagen dat heel duidelijk in de hoorzitting met de heer Várhelyi. Hij liet zien dat hij zijn dossiers uitstekend kende, maar omdat hij zich niet expliciet uitsprak voor abortus, heeft het Parlement nu een deel van zijn portefeuille afgepakt. Triest, dieptriest: een ander woord heb ik daar niet voor. Als je laat doorschemeren dat je ruimte wilt laten voor de lidstaten om het kwetsbare ongeboren leven in de moederschoot te beschermen, dan word je door dit parlement – en mevrouw vonderLeyen accepteert de hele gang van zaken – in de verdachtenbank gezet. Dergelijke dubieuze deals die de bescherming van het ongeboren leven ondermijnen, kan ik onmogelijk steunen.
Voor mij is dat een van de redenen waarom ik niet met de benoeming van deze Commissie kan instemmen.
Daniel Caspary (PPE). – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Ursula von der Leyen hat heute aufgezeigt: Das Programm der neuen Kommission ist ein Programm der politischen Mitte für die Breite der Gesellschaft und für die Bürgerinnen und Bürger in Europa. Nun sagt die deutsche SPD, dass sie gemeinsam mit AfD, BSW und Linken diese Kommission nicht unterstützen wird. Das zeigt die ganze politische Unaufrichtigkeit, Verantwortungslosigkeit und auch Zerrissenheit der SPD. Es reiht sich ein in das Zaudern und Zögern des SPD‑Bundeskanzlers, das die europäischen Partner immer mehr zur Verzweiflung treibt. Sie fühlen sich scheinbar im Pro‑Putin‑Anti‑Europa‑Camp heute wohler als andere, und es ist gut, dass die deutsche FDP und die deutschen Grünen gemeinsam mit uns Christdemokraten– anders als Sie– an Bord sind.
Dann begründen Sie Ihr Verhalten mit dem italienischen Kommissar. Selbst die italienischen Sozialdemokraten werden heute für die Kommission stimmen, während Sie mal wieder es besser wissen und sich damit in der eigenen Fraktion isolieren. Ich kann deshalb nur alle aufrufen: Wir brauchen dringend Handlungsfähigkeit in Europa. Wir brauchen die starke Kommission, die Ursula von der Leyen vorgestellt hat. Glück auf, damit wir Europa für die Zukunft gut und erfolgreich aufstellen.
Marta Temido (S&D). – Senhora Presidente, a votação neste Colégio de Comissários é, para muitos de nós, uma dura prova.
Não fomos nós que escolhemos ignorar o princípio da paridade na sua composição. Não escolhemos atribuir uma vice-presidência à direita radical. Não escolhemos entregar pastas centrais para os europeus e que atingem os direitos das mulheres e raparigas europeias a quem por elas nutre apenas indiferença.Mas sabemos entender a excecionalidade dos tempos que vivemos.
Compreendemos as ameaças que a União Europeia enfrenta externamente, como compreendemos as ameaças que a minam por dentro, do crescimento dos nacionalismos ao contágio de uma recessão económica. Vamos hoje votar um Colégio de Comissários, que em muitos casos não seria o nosso, mas que deve trabalhar com todos e para todos. Num contexto em que das instituições se espera que sejam capazes de resolver problemas e transmitir confiança aos cidadãos.
Recordo que as expectativas dos europeus são altas e que no passado mostrámos que somos capazes. Habitação, emprego, ambiente, energia, competitividade, defesa, Estado de direito, ordem internacional baseada em regras.Se não estivermos à altura destas expectativas, será o projeto europeu que fragilizamos. Isso implica implementar, sem hesitações nem recuo, o acordo de cooperação assumido entre os europeístas.
Senhora Presidente, o nosso escrutínio do trabalho do Colégio começa hoje, após a votação. Mais do que nunca, desejamos-lhe boa sorte.
Marieke Ehlers (PfE). – Madam President, the hearings of Commissioners‑designate have veered into the troubling territory of politicisation. Instead of concentrating on qualifications and vision, they are increasingly influenced by partisan rivalries and secret political deals. This not only undermines the integrity of the process, but also the trust of our citizens and the very principles of democracy we seek to uphold.
Member States have the exclusive right to nominate Commissioners. Ϸվ's oversight role is vital, but cannot negate the role of the Member States. To allow bias against certain national governments to influence our decisions is to betray the trust of the European people.
We must also address the glaring lack of transparency. Postponing evaluation meetings, holding closed‑door sessions and excluding key stakeholders from the process flies in the face of our commitment to accountability and transparency.
We must commit to a Europe where the sovereignty of Member States is respected, and where transparency and accountability are non‑negotiable. The future of Europe demands nothing less.
Paulo Cunha (PPE). – Senhora Presidente, o orçamento é a base do futuro da União Europeia. Sem um orçamento ambicioso, não temos como responder aos desafios que enfrentamos, nem como garantir o crescimento sustentável e equilibrado entre todos os Estados-Membros.
Precisamos de um orçamento forte e focado na competitividade. Um orçamento que preserve políticas como a Política de Coesão e a Política Agrícola Comum, fundamentais para fortalecer a convergência regional e a competitividade europeia.
A competitividade da Europa não pode ficar refém de orçamentos limitados. Devemos explorar novos recursos próprios e o investimento privado deve ser incentivado.E mais, a competitividade requer um compromisso claro com a inovação, os avanços tecnológicos e a transformação digital e verde. Mas também precisamos de combater a burocracia que sufoca as nossas pequenas e médias empresas.
O orçamento é mais do que números. É o motor da competitividade europeia. Sem ambição, não há coesão nem liderança global. Mas, com visão, há modelo social e um futuro para cada cidadão.
Heléne Fritzon (S&D). – Fru talman! De kommande fem åren här i Europaparlamentet kommer sannerligen att bli en utmaning, det visar sig redan nu inför dagens val av kommission.Det är en provokation att ordförande von der Leyen föreslår en högerextrem kandidat från Italien att vara hennes vice ordförande. Vi riskerar en svagare kommission än den förra.
För oss svenska socialdemokrater är det avgörande att de moderata och konservativa krafterna står för sina löften till oss när vi nu väljer att ta ansvar och stödja kommissionen, för vi väljer ju tillsammans ett brett samarbete i den breda mitten med Europavänliga partier. Vi gör det för demokrati och säkerhet, för klimatet och miljön. Vi gör det för jobben och jämställdheten. Vi behöver ett starkt EU som fortsätter att ta ledarskap i en tid av krig och kriser, och vi gör det för våra barns och barnbarns framtid. Nu är det upp till bevis för den tillträdande kommissionen.
Tom Vandendriessche (PfE). – Voorzitter, het signaal van de kiezer was overduidelijk. Onze mensen willen meer koopkracht en minder migratie. Maar die politieke elite, die doet gewoon verder alsof er helemaal niets gebeurd is. Deze Commissie‑VonderLeyen is dan ook gewoon meer van hetzelfde. Meer migratie en meer klimaatwaanzin. Deze Commissie is niet alleen volledig losgekomen van de bevolking, maar ook van de realiteit. De rest van de wereld gaat immers helemaal niet mee in die GreenDeal, die opengrenzenpolitiek of die krankzinnige oorlogsretoriek van Ursula von der Leyen.
Nog voor ze gestart is, behoort deze Commissie daarom nu al tot het verleden. Want overal kiest het volk voor een andere weg: die van vrede, die van welvaart en die van het gezond verstand. En dat is de weg van de nationalisten. En daarom zijn wij de eersten van morgen en is deze Commissie‑VonderLeyen de laatste van gisteren.
Karlo Ressler (PPE). – Poštovana predsjednice, poštovana predsjednice Komisije, kolegice i kolege, Europa nema vremena za lamentacije, Europa nema vremena za gubljenje. Za osigurati mir, prosperitet i napredak, morat će biti snažnija i dinamičnija nego danas.
Imamo dužnost donijeti i provesti teške odluke, pogotovo oko našeg proračuna. Veća i pametnija ulaganja u obranu i sigurnost, uključujući i sigurnost granice, smanjiti regulatorni teret, osobito za male i srednje poduzetnike, povećati konkurentnost i produktivnost, kroz digitalni sektor suočiti se s teškom demografskom zimom i kroz kohezijsku politiku ubrzati proces proširenja i razvijati partnerstva, osobito na Mediteranu, za što će biti zadužena hrvatska povjerenica Šuica.
U ključnom trenutku za naš kontinent imamo dužnost biti na razini zadatka, dužnost prema biračima, ali i prema budućim generacijama, osigurati da se nakon izbora ne nastavi sve po starome, dužnost vjerovati u vlastitu snagu i zdravorazumske politike koje su Europu i uzdigle u jednu od svjetskih sila.
Hvala vam i sretno na tom putu!
Alex Agius Saliba (S&D). – Madam President, we must act now, for Europe and also for European people. More than ever, in the current challenging geopolitical context, we need stability, a properly functioning Commission and progressive European agenda and cooperation.
Alex Agius Saliba (S&D). – Ninsab kburi li l-kulleġġ li jmiss se jkollu Kummissarju Malti b’portafoll li jirrefletti l-prijoritajiet progressivi tal-politika tagħna, rwol uniku li se jġib ideat u perspettivi ġodda madwar il-mejda.
Malta u l-Ewropa se jkollna mhux biss l-iżgħar Kummissarju li qatt kellna inkarigat mill-portafoll taż-żgħażagħ iżda wkoll l-ewwel Kummissarju Ewropew għall-ġustizzja interġenerazzjonali li se jitkellem għan-nom tal-ġenerazzjonijiet preżenti u dawk futuri.
Il-Kummissarju Malti se jkollu r-rwol importanti li jiddjaloga maż-żgħażagħ sabiex jagħtihom vuċi fil-futur tagħhom. Se jkollu rwol sabiex imexxi 'l quddiem prijorità, li hija prijorità importanti għall-grupp poliitku tagħna, dik illi il jitlob għal żmien twil, dik li ż-żgħażagħ jitqiegħdu fiċ-ċentru tal-aġenda u t-tfassil tal-policies tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
Se jaħdem ukoll sabiex jipproteġi l-iżgħar membri tas-soċjetà – it-tfal tagħna – billi jimplimenta l-istrateġija tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar id-Drittijiet tat-Tfal, pass kruċjali sabiex niżguraw il-benesseri u l-futur tagħhom.
L-aħħar iżda mhux l-inqas, se jqiegħed il-kultura, l-isport, is-saħħa mentali u s-cyberbullying fiċ-ċentru tal-portafoll tiegħu, u b’hekk jiżgura li dawn l-aspetti importanti tas-soċjetà tagħna jingħataw l-attenzjoni u r-riżorsi li jixirqilhom. Awguri Glenn, awguri lill-Kummissjoni kollha.
Reinhold Lopatka (PPE). – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissionspräsidentin! Es ist gut, dass Sie am 1.Dezember mit Ihrer Kommission starten können, und es ist auch notwendig, dass Sie den Schwerpunkt auf Wettbewerb und Wirtschaft legen. Das war die Erfolgsgeschichte der Europäischen Union, und das muss die Erfolgsgeschichte bleiben. Nur mit starken wirtschaftlichen Leistungen können wir auch unser europäisches Lebensmodell für unsere Bürgerinnen und Bürger finanzieren. Weniger Bürokratie, mehr Innovation und Forschung, auch ein umfassender Kapitalmarkt sind hier unbedingt notwendig. Diese Kapitalmarktunion ist hier eine Grundvoraussetzung.
Gleichzeitig müssen wir aber auch unsere Anstrengungen verstärken, um unsere Sicherheit zu gewährleisten. Von Putin‑Russland geht hier eine große Gefahr aus. Wir brauchen hier mehr für unsere Verteidigung. Wir brauchen aber keine Freundschaftsverträge, wie sie die Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs mit der Partei von Putin abgeschlossen hat. Und wir brauchen nachhaltige europäische Lösungen bei der illegalen Migration. Unser EU‑Kommissar– aus Österreich kommend, Magnus Brunner– braucht ja auch die Unterstützung der 27Nationalstaaten.
Ein letzter Punkt: Die Europäische Union wird auch dann gestärkt– wirtschaftlich und sicherheitspolitisch–, wenn der Westbalkan hier bei uns seine Heimat findet – in der Europäischen Union.
Christel Schaldemose (S&D). – Fru formand! Fru Kommissionsformand! Jeg stemmer for den nye Europa-Kommission i dag. Er Kommissionen og dens politik perfekt? Nej! Flere spørgsmål om vores klima og vores klode, for eksempel, mangler stadig svar. Men vi er lykkedes med at presse Kommissionen til at give vigtige politiske indrømmelser. Jeg gik til valg på at sikre tryghed for børn og unge online, for problemerne der er alvorlige. Det har den nye Kommission lovet at gøre noget ved. Vi vil også gerne have forbedrede krav til offentlige indkøb. Den kamp bliver ikke nem, men Kommissionen har lovet at kigge på det, så vi kan få bedre regler for lønmodtagere og for miljøet. Nu skal vi i gang med arbejdet. Et samlet Europa er vores stærkeste forsvar mod trusler udefra og vores allerbedste våben mod klimaforandringerne. En ny Europa-Kommission er kun begyndelsen på de næste fem års hårde arbejde og slid for at sikre et tryggere, et grønnere og et mere retfærdigt Europa. Lad os nu komme i gang!
Luděk Niedermayer (PPE). – Madam President, we are almost at the end of the debate, so let me just say two remarks. The first: in the debate, I guess we learned how people interpret the democracy, how they interpret the elections and how they think about the future of our common Europe. And this was very sad. It shows how much the responsibility is lacking on parts of the politics in the 21st century.
And the second comment, to you, Madam President: I guess we do not need to tell you that the times will be very difficult. You have experience with that, and we should learn how we managed the severe crises in the past few years. We must keep focus. It is not time to do, nice to have. We must really focus on things that deliver, do them well and do them quickly. You can count on that, on my support and the support of my colleagues from my delegation. So I wish you good luck, to all of us.
Angelika Niebler (PPE). – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissionspräsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen, liebe Kollegen! Wir brauchen eine handlungsfähige Kommission. Die Herausforderungen, vor denen wir hier in Europa stehen, sind gewaltig, sind heute schon vielfach angesprochen worden: Seit über 1000Tagen Krieg in der Ukraine, die Trump‑Administration wird am 20.Januar ins Amt gehen, viele Regionen schotten sich ab, erheben Zölle, unserer Wirtschaft geht es schlecht, Unternehmen bauen in ganz Europa Tausende von Stellen ab. Deshalb kann ich nur alle Kolleginnen und Kollegen noch einmal auffordern, heute die Kommission zu unterstützen, heute die Kommission zu bestätigen und sich damit auch klar zu einem starken gemeinsamen Europa zu bekennen.
Liebe Kolleginnen, liebe Kollegen! Wir können im Nachgang zu der Bestätigung heute der Kommission jeden einzelnen Kommissar und jede einzelne Kommissarin kritisch unter die Lupe nehmen, wenn ich das so sagen darf. Es ist ja noch nicht vorbei mit der Bestätigung, aber heute bitte ich Sie, wirklich noch einmal in sich zu gehen, all diejenigen, die noch Zweifel haben, mit Blick auf das, was in der Welt vor uns liegt und wie wir in der Welt wahrgenommen werden. Bitte geben Sie heute der Kommission mit Ihrem Votum die Bestätigung, die wir brauchen. Danach werden wir weiterhin unsere Aufgabe machen, kritisch hinterfragen, anmahnen. Wenn die politischen Schwerpunkte, die wir uns in der neuen Kommission wünschen, nicht kommen, dann werden wir sicher unsere Arbeit leisten. Aber heute muss ein Signal der Geschlossenheit und der starken Unterstützung für eine starke Kommission und ein starkes Europa von diesem Parlament hier ausgehen und darum bitte ich alle Kolleginnen und Kollegen.
Catch-the-eye procedure
Michał Szczerba (PPE). – Szanowna Pani Przewodnicząca! Pani Przewodnicząca Komisji! To bardzo ważny moment dla bezpieczeństwa Europy. I to jest kluczowa i historyczna chwila, że powołujemy komisarza ds. obrony. Dzisiaj premier Tusk jest w Szwecji na spotkaniu premierów krajów nordyckich i bałtyckich. Rozmawia o bezpieczeństwie, bo przygotowujemy się do polskiej prezydencji w Radzie Unii Europejskiej.
Co jest ważne, Pani Przewodnicząca, to przede wszystkim odnowienie dialogu – co Pani już w tej chwili robi – między Unią Europejską a NATO. Musimy być silni. Musimy być razem. I to jest strategiczne partnerstwo o kluczowej wartości. Ale również wyzwaniem, które będzie wyzwaniem polskiej prezydencji, jest odnowienie i sformalizowanie dialogu z Wielką Brytanią, naszym kluczowym partnerem NATO-wskim w Europie w obszarze bezpieczeństwa i obrony. Jakie są plany w tym zakresie? I czy Pani gabinet jest w stanie dzisiaj potwierdzić ten kierunek, o którym mówiłem?
Nils Ušakovs (S&D). – MadamPresident, the previous mandate of the European Ϸվ and the Commission began with Brexit, and municipalities located at the western border of the European Union were particularly affected by the departure of the United Kingdom As a result, a special financial instrument was established, providing up to EUR5 billion in support for these municipalities.
This mandate starts with the continued war in Ukraine and municipalities at the eastern border of the European Union, like Latgale, in Latvia and now literally living by the wall, bearing significant economic and social costs. When you are forced to construct anti-tank infrastructure in your region, private investment obviously tend to avoid those areas. Eastern border regions currently receive no support comparable to what the western border regions have been granted. This glaring inequality must be addressed by the House and by the new Commission that will be presumably elected today.
Silvia Sardone (PfE). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, con orgoglio diciamo un deciso "no" a Ursula von der Leyen. "No" a questa maggioranza, "no" a questa Commissione europea.
Lo diciamo perché il mondo sta cambiando direzione ma l'Unione europea, inspiegabilmente, insiste su politiche sbagliate che la stanno indebolendo. Negli Stati Uniti, con la vittoria di Trump, si punta a fermare i conflitti, a porre fine alle follie politiche climatiche, a snellire l'opprimente macchina burocratica e a ridurre il peso fiscale.
A Bruxelles, al contrario, si spinge per alimentare le guerre, per moltiplicare politiche green disastrose e per imporre una regolamentazione ossessiva che soffoca imprese e famiglie. Si sta portando avanti la rovina di interi settori, come l'industria europea dell'auto, che è già in ginocchio.
Abbiamo già vissuto l'esperienza von der Leyen e si è rivelata un fallimento, come confermato dagli stessi elettori. L'Europa merita di meglio. L'Europa deve cambiare strada. L'Europa deve cambiare ora.
Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR). – Arvoisa puhemies, Euroopalle on nyt tarjolla uusi komissio, joka tätä maanosaa lähtisi luotsaamaan vaikeassa tilanteessa. Kysymys on nyt siitä, että luotammeko me luotsitaitoihin. Olen tehnyt arvion ja minun vastaukseni on, että en luota.
Mitä Eurooppa nyt tarvitsisi kaikkein kipeimmin? Ukrainan paljon voimakkaampaa tukemista, siirtolaisvyöryn torppaamista ja rajojen suojaamista, Eurooppa-myönteistä ilmastopolitiikkaa sekä sääntelyn purkutalkoot. Mutta tulemmeko näkemään kaikkea tätä? Kun katson kulunutta viittä vuotta, niin mistään näistä en anna komissiolle puhtaita papereita. Joissain on jopa katastrofaalisesti epäonnistuttu.
Mitäs nyt sitten? Puikoissa jatkaa sama johtaja eikä suuria tarvittavia linjanmuutoksia todistettu kuulemisissa. Vaikuttaa siltä, että olemme saamassa jatko-osan. Toivon, että jatko-osa ei ole edeltäjäänsä huonompi, kuten monesti on, koska silloin olisimme todella pulassa.
Hilde Vautmans (Renew). – Voorzitter, voor u staat een overtuigde liberale Europeaan die vandaag toch heel gelukkig is, mevrouw vonderLeyen.
U heeft twee klemtonen gelegd waar wij al heel lang naar vragen. Eén: u heeft de focus gelegd op jobs en economie, en er de nadruk op gelegd om de jobs in Europa te houden. Twee: de focus op veiligheid. Eindelijk een Europese commissaris voor Defensie en een ongelooflijk sterke vrouw als onze hoge vertegenwoordiger van de Unie voor buitenlandse zaken en veiligheidsbeleid. Daar zijn wij als liberalen heel erg blij mee.
Alleen moet ik u eerlijk zeggen: u heeft u hier getoond – en daar ben ik ook blij mee – als een echte Europese leider, een leidster. U zocht naar een breed draagvlak. U zorgt dat Europa verenigd is. En dat gaan we moeten zijn. Als we kijken naar de dreigingen die op ons afkomen, is er misschien één klein minpuntje: u heeft niet gesproken over een Europees leger. U weet, ik zal dat hier blijven herhalen tot we daar naartoe kunnen werken. Ik denk wel dat u zich bewust bent van de urgentie. Zorg nu ook dat die woorden daden worden. U heeft onze steun.
Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, il 19 luglio Lei ha avuto una larga maggioranza con i voti contrari dell'estrema destra.
Adesso una incomprensibile svolta in coalizione con l'estrema destra, con gruppi sovranisti, con pulsioni liberticide e avverse a processi di pace, diritti, giustizia ambientale e sociale, in aperto contrasto con le ragioni fondative dell'Europa democratica, antifascista e inclusiva.
Voterò "no", come tanti, per evitare che venga legittimata un'estrema destra, inaccettabile e pericolosa per l'Unione e per i singoli Stati membri.
João Oliveira (The Left). – Senhora von der Leyen, o voto contra esta Comissão Europeia significa a rejeição do seu programa político.
Os povos precisam de paz, de cooperação. Precisam de coesão social, de melhores salários e pensões, de acesso à habitação, à saúde, à educação, à proteção social, de resposta aos problemas ambientais.
A Comissão insiste em políticas de militarismo, guerra e confrontação; em políticas que negam direitos sociais e laborais e que transformam em negócio todas as condições de que depende uma vida justa e digna para quem trabalha ou trabalhou uma vida inteira.
Os povos precisam de economias orientadas para a satisfação das suas necessidades, do aproveitamento dos recursos produtivos e o desenvolvimento nacional. A Comissão insiste em políticas da designada competitividade, com mais liberalização de mercados, mais privatizações e ainda maior favorecimento dos grupos económicos, das multinacionais e dos bancos.
Os povos precisam de mais democracia, progresso social e desenvolvimento. Afirmando essa alternativa que serve os povos, rejeitamos a Comissão e as suas políticas.
Diego Solier (NI). – Señora presidenta, voy a dejar unos comentarios y unas preguntas.
Primer comentario: en Valencia el sistema ha fallado. Por mucho que usted y Sánchez digan, lo único que ha funcionado han sido los ciudadanos que han dado un paso al frente.
En cuanto al tema de la brecha tecnológica: o empezamos a dar un giro de 180 grados o con la regularización que tenemos de la tecnología no llegamos a alcanzar ni a los Estados Unidos ni a China. Estamos viendo la situación de nuestro tejido industrial, muy mala, a la que nos han llevado las políticas realizadas en los últimos cincoaños. ¿Vamos a seguir por ese mismo camino?
Y ahora varias preguntas. ¿Cómo podemos tener una comisaria en su equipo que es responsable directa de lo que ha pasado en Valencia? Señora Ribera, ¿por qué dio la orden de desembalse de agua y no alertaron a las autoridades locales, en forma y tiempo, para que se prepararan? ¿Por qué no ejecutaron los proyectos en el barranco del Poyo que tenían en el cajón desde hace tanto tiempo? ¿Qué le debe Sánchez a usted para ponerla como comisaria, para darle este premio? ¿Dimitirá si la imputan en España? ¿Cómo es posible que Sánchez condicione las ayudas directas a Valencia a que se aprueben sus presupuestos anuales? ¿No vamos a hacer nada para pararle?
(la presidenta retira la palabra al orador)
Maria Grapini (S&D). – Doamnă președintă, doamnă președintă von der Leyen, aveți o echipă nouă. Vreau să le urez succes tuturor. Pe mulți îi cunosc; cel mai bine, evident, pe Roxana Mînzatu și vreau să aveți încredere, este o persoană foarte bine pregătită. Doamnă președintă, vă rog să nu mai repetați greșelile din mandatul trecut. Consultați mai mult Parlamentul. Ați spus aici că piața unică este atuul și totuși nu avem în denumirea unui portofoliu piață unică, piață internă. Am sărbătorit recent 30 de ani. Dacă aceasta este piatra de temelie a Uniunii Europene, cred că trebuia să avem un portofoliu cu această denumire.
Mai vreau, în plus, să vă mai spun despre un eșec al dumneavoastră: cinci ani n-ați reușit să nu mai fie fragmentată piața internă, să avem și România, și Bulgaria în Schengen și poate reușiți acum, în acest nou mandat. Aveți comisari bine pregătiți, trebuie doar să puneți în aplicare. Sunteți un dirijor. Orchestra cântă bine dacă și dirijorul dă semnalul. De aceea vă cer, doamnă comisară, să spuneți, așa cum ați spus...
(Președinta a retras cuvântul vorbitoarei)
Anna Maria Cisint (PfE). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, questa Commissione è un grave tradimento della volontà manifestata dagli elettori, che hanno chiesto invece una svolta delle politiche europee che hanno emarginato il nostro continente nei mercati globali, messo in ginocchio la nostra agricoltura e le nostre produzioni tipiche, alterato i valori identitari e occidentali con politiche permissive e la tolleranza verso tutti gli integralismi delle culture islamiche.
Mentre si tenta di emarginare il terzo gruppo per rappresentanza politica, quella dei Patrioti, si ricostruisce l'ambiguità di una Commissione che sin d'ora mostra i limiti della precarietà e della volontà di continuare sotto la pressione dei socialisti e delle sinistre.
I programmi di quel Green Deal, peraltro con un commissario, la Ribera, addirittura più integralista del precedente, e l'azione di snaturamento delle basi di convivenza civile, ignorando le istanze per un'Europa più vicina ai cittadini.
Per questo la stima verso il commissario italiano Fitto, che ha ben condotto in Italia la difficile partita del PNRR, e il commissario ungherese Várhelyi non possono essere l'alibi per avallare questa operazione, che va contro gli interessi dei cittadini a tutela dell'ideologia.
(La Presidente toglie la parola all'oratrice)
Carlo Fidanza (ECR). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, non so se davvero questa sarà la Commissione più a destra della storia, come sentiamo dire da una sinistra nervosa, dai verdi nervosissimi.
Me lo auguro, francamente, ma lo vedremo, lo vedremo alla prova dei fatti; lo vedremo se sarà capace di riportare pragmatismo nel Green Deal, nonostante la signora Ribera, se saprà sostenere le nostre imprese, se saprà controllare le nostre frontiere e aumentare i rimpatri.
Su questi temi vedremo anche quali maggioranze si creeranno in questa Aula, al di là dei comunicati e della forma – quello che si voterà qui e chi lo voterà – e ne vedremo delle belle, ne sono convinto.
Quello che è certo è che il governo italiano guidato da Giorgia Meloni ha offerto a questa Commissione europea una persona capace e competente, permettetemi, la più capace e la più competente per gestire un portafoglio importantissimo come quello della coesione: Raffaele Fitto, che è un conservatore. E lo ha fatto grazie a un mandato democratico dato dai cittadini italiani con milioni di voti al governo guidato da Giorgia Meloni e dal centrodestra.
Questa è la democrazia, vi piaccia o no.
Estrella Galán (The Left). – Señora presidenta, hoy Europa no tiene nada que celebrar. Hoy se aprueba aquí una Comisión que abraza a la extrema derecha, señora von der Leyen. Y, además, le otorga usted una vicepresidencia, que no es cualquier cosa. ¿Tanto les deben para darles un cargo tan importante?
Nosotras vamos a votar «No». Y será un «No» rotundo y claro, porque no vamos a ser cómplices de una Comisión que está blanqueando a los herederos del fascismo y de la historia más negra de nuestra Europa.
Hoy van a aprobar una Comisión cuyas prioridades se alejan mucho de las necesidades de la mayoría social.Votamos «No» a una Comisión que blanquea a quienes niegan la crisis climática, a quienes consienten el genocidio en Gaza mientras suenan tambores de guerra en nuestras fronteras, a quienes no defienden los servicios públicos, a quienes fomentan el odio, el racismo y la xenofobia, a quienes criminalizan al colectivo LGTBI y, además, niegan la diversidad y la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres.
Hoy, los trabajadores y las trabajadoras de Europa, los ciudadanos y las ciudadanas que soñamos con una Europa más justa y verde no tenemos nada que celebrar.
Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Señora presidenta Metsola, señora presidenta von der Leyen, en su discurso de investidura del mes de julio, al aludir a migraciones y asilo —de lejos, el asunto más sensible y divisivo de la agenda europea— subrayó usted las palabras «firmeza» y «seguridad» y aludió a soluciones imaginativas, como un aparente subterfugio para la externalización de las fronteras, además de las migraciones y de las solicitudes de asilo.
Sin embargo, hoy, en su discurso, ha introducido usted «responsabilidad compartida» y «solidaridad», además del compromiso con los derechos fundamentales, que es exactamente el objeto del Pacto sobre Migración y Asilo, por el que tanto trabajamos en la legislatura anterior.
Quienes nos disponemos a votar favorablemente al Colegio de Comisarios vamos a exigir de la Comisión entera un compromiso activo con su papel de guardiana de los Tratados y del Derecho europeo, para que demande de los Estados miembros —de los veintisiete— un compromiso eficaz y riguroso de cumplimiento de las obligaciones contraídas con la legislación que hemos puesto en vigor —el Pacto sobre Migración y Asilo— y, por supuesto, con perfecto respeto de los derechos fundamentales de los migrantes y de los solicitantes de asilo.
Luke Ming Flanagan (The Left). – MadamPresident, there are so many reasons to vote against this new Commission.
We start with the President, von der Leyen. You enabled genocide in Palestine by giving unconditional support to Israel.
Christophe Hansen, you were very clear in your support for Mercosur. You also have no ambition to increase the CAP budget, no public money for the Nature Restoration Law.
Michael McGrath, from Ireland, you are responsible for the rule of law, yet when it comes to EU market surveillance laws, your government has done everything but protect this rule of law. Then there's the two self-proclaimed fascists.
It didn't take Manfred Weber long to get back into bed with Viktor Orbán. All your words about disgust, about him, and still you put one of his friends in as vice-president.
I'll finish by quoting the leader of the S&D from her speech today, 'you cannot build Europe with those who destroy it...'
(The President cut off the speaker)
Lukas Sieper (NI). – Frau Präsidentin, sehr geehrte Frau Kommissionspräsidentin in spe von der Leyen! Als wir das letzte Mal miteinander gesprochen haben, habe ich Ihnen gesagt, dass ich aufgrund einer basisdemokratischen Entscheidung meiner Partei nicht für Sie gestimmt habe, und äußerte die Hoffnung, dass Sie uns eines Besseren belehren würden. Ich würde Ihnen für diese Kommission eine 6 von 10 geben. Nicht schlecht, aber mit Luft nach oben, insbesondere im Hinblick auf einzelne Kommissare. Unbeschadet dessen freue ich mich nun, den künftigen Kommissarinnen und Kommissaren in die Augen zu blicken, und wünsche ihnen das Allerbeste für ihre Arbeit und werde auch für diese Kommission stimmen.
Ich möchte Sie aber zuletzt an eine Sache erinnern: Sie sind mittelbar, aber nicht unmittelbar demokratisch gewählt. Die europäische Bevölkerung hat nicht direkt für Sie gestimmt. Wie ein Kollege aus Frankreich, der sonst den eher intellektuell-kreativen politischen Kräften angehört, es gesagt hat: Sie kennt sie auch größtenteils nicht. Es ist nun Ihre Aufgabe, durch eine transparente Arbeit, starkes Engagement in den klassischen und sozialen Medien und umsichtiges Regierungshandeln den Menschen in Europa zu zeigen, dass Sie Ihren Posten auch verdienen.
(End of catch-the-eye procedure)
President. – Before moving to the votes on the motions for resolutions and the election of the Commission, we will take a very short break, and then we will have one last round of political group leaders in reverse order, for two minutes each.
Written Statements (Rule 178)
Jüri Ratas (PPE), kirjalikult. – Euroopa Rahvapartei fraktsiooni liikmena on uues komisjonis minu jaoks võtmetähtsusega julgeolek ja kaitse, et tagada Euroopa kaitsevõime; rändepoliitika, et kindlustada Euroopa piirid ebaseadusliku rände vastu; ning konkurentsivõime, et elavdada majandust ja luua kvaliteetseid töökohti.
Kui Euroopa kulutab keskmiselt 1,9% oma SKP-st kaitsele, siis Venemaa kulutab 9% SKP-st. Mul on hea meel, et komisjon plaanib tegutseda otsustavalt: suurendada kaitsekulutusi, arendada ühist kaitsetööstuse turgu ja parandada sõjalist liikuvust. Tähtis samm on ka esimese Euroopa kaitsevoliniku ametisse nimetamine, mis kinnitab, et Euroopa mõistab praeguste ohtude tõsidust ja tegutseb vastavalt.
Lisaks julgeolekule on hädavajalik, et Euroopa oleks tugev ka majanduslikult. Euroopa peab investeerima innovatsiooni, konkurentsivõimesse ja majanduskasvu, et tagada kodanikele kvaliteetsed töökohad, õiglane sissetulek ja kindlustunne tuleviku ees.
Bogdan Rzońca (ECR), na piśmie. – Przedstawienie składu nowej Komisji Europejskiej oraz jej programu to moment kluczowy dla przyszłości Unii. Jest to czas, by wyciągnąć wnioski z błędów ostatniej kadencji i podjąć działania na rzecz naprawy europejskiej gospodarki. Niestety, błędne decyzje podjęte przez Komisję Ursuli von der Leyen, szczególnie te związane z Zielonym Ładem i Fit for 55, przyczyniły się do utraty konkurencyjności UE względem światowych rywali.
W raporcie Maria Draghiego jasno wskazano, że koszty energii w Europie należą do najwyższych na świecie, co osłabia nasz przemysł. Zielony Ład, choć może miał szczytne założenia, wdrażano zbyt szybko i bez uwzględnienia rzeczywistych konsekwencji gospodarczych. W rezultacie obywatele płacą wyższe rachunki, a europejskie firmy przegrywają w globalnej rywalizacji.
Nowa Komisja musi zmienić kurs. Potrzebujemy realistycznej polityki klimatycznej, która nie niszczy naszej gospodarki, oraz skutecznej ochrony interesów rolników, w tym odrzucenia umowy z Mercosurem. Kluczowe jest także wsłuchanie się w głos obywateli, którzy w ostatnich wyborach wyrazili swoje oczekiwanie na zmiany.
Nie możemy poprzeć programu, w którym kontynuuje się szkodliwe polityki. Wzywam Komisję do odpowiedzialności i reform.