President. – We now come to the order of business. The final draft agenda, as adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 26March pursuant to Rule163 has been distributed.
With the agreement of the political groups, I wish to put to the House the following proposals for changes to the final draft agenda.
First of all, today's sitting, Monday, is extended to 23:00.
For Wednesday, the debate on the 'European oceans pact' is moved to the second point in the afternoon after the topical debate.
A Commission statement on the 'Threat to freedom of expression in Algeria: the five-year prison sentence of French writer Boualem Sansal', with one round of political group speakers, is added as the seventh point in the afternoon, before the debates under Rule150. As a consequence, the sitting is extended to 23:00.
If there are no objections to this, then the changes are approved and we will move to changes requested by political groups.
First of all, for tomorrow – Tuesday. The Greens Group has requested that a Commission statement on the 'Recent judgement by a French court on large-scale misuse of EU funds by former MEPs' be added as the fourth point in the afternoon. As a consequence, the sitting would be extended to 23:00.
I give the floor first to Daniel Freund to move the request on behalf of the Greens Group.
Daniel Freund, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – MadamPresident, just today, the court in Paris ruled on what has been so far the biggest fraud case in the history of the European Ϸվ. EUR4.6 million were embezzled. This was not the doing of an individual, but the court actually speaks of an organised system, so things that you usually read in Mafia case rulings.
I am sick and tired that those that scream the loudest about the corrupt Eurocrats are actually themselves the ones that are the biggest fraudsters in this House. We propose a debate where we can say loud and clear, once and for all, that we, as the European Ϸվ, won't stand for that.
President. – I have also received an alternative title from the PfE Group, which will be presented by MrGarraud later: 'Attacks on democracy and the will of the people in Europe'.
But I will first give the floor to MrTobé to speak against the Greens' proposal.
Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, dear colleagues, as was mentioned, this court ruling came today, only a couple of hours ago. The EPP Group, we are clear in our commitments to the rule of law and democracy, and we fully support the work of our European courts.
Let me also point out that this week, here in Strasbourg, we will have a debate on transparency and anti-corruption policies in the European Union. But I do not think that this Ϸվ should make a habit of adding additional debates on specific court judgments, especially not on the same day that they have been made. I think this has been our position in the past. It will be our position also for the future. Therefore, we are against the Greens' proposal.
President. – First I will ask MrFreund, do you agree with the alternative proposal from the PfE Group? I see the answer is no.
So I will first put the request of the Greens Group to a vote by roll call.
(Ϸվ rejected the request)
MrGarraud, do you want to keep your proposal?
I will now read the PfE Group's proposal, which is: 'Attacks on democracy and the will of the people in Europe'. I now put the request that I have just read out to a vote by roll call.
(Ϸվ rejected the request)
The agenda remains unchanged.
For Wednesday, The Left Group has requested that a Commission statement on the ‘EU's response and preparedness for Trump's tariffs on the European automotive industry’ be added in the afternoon after the debate on recent legislative changes in Hungary.
I give the floor to Martin Schirdewan to move the request on behalf of The Left Group.
Martin Schirdewan, im Namen der Fraktion The Left. – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Sie haben ja alle mitgekriegt, dass Donald Trump in der letzten Woche angekündigt hat, dass ab dem 2.April, also ab diesem Mittwoch, auf europäische Automobilexporte in die Vereinigten Staaten 25% Strafzölle fällig werden. Diese Zölle treten also diesen Mittwoch in Kraft.
Nach der Ansicht meiner Fraktion ist es deshalb dringend notwendig, dass sich dieses Haus mit dieser Situation – mit dem durch Trump eskalierten Handelskrieg –, mit der Situation der europäischen Automobilindustrie und vor allem auch der Situation der Beschäftigten in der Automobilindustrie befasst.
Wir beantragen deshalb eine Änderung der Tagesordnung und schlagen vor, am Mittwochnachmittag eine Debatte hinzuzufügen, Herr Kollege; die nennt sich „Commission Statement on the EU’s response and preparedness for Trump’s tariffs on the European automotive industry“. So kann dann auch die Position der Abgeordneten dieses Hauses von der Kommission dabei berücksichtigt werden, wenn sie ihre Antwort hoffentlich klar und deutlich formuliert. Vielen Dank für die Unterstützung!
President. – I give the floor now to Jörgen Warborn to speak against.
Jörgen Warborn (PPE). – Madam President, we, the EPP, will vote against this proposal from the Left. And the reason is that it is not only about the tariffs on cars at the moment.As you are aware, on Wednesday, Trump will announce even further tariffs on other products. And the Commission is, of course, expected to present its countermeasures in mid-April.
The most important aspect for us now is to respond to this trade conflict with President Trump in a unified way. However, we are still not in a position that we have clarity, and therefore we think we should have a broader debate on this topic for the May plenary, and that would give us time to analyse the situation fully, not least on the tariffs introduced this week, but also on the EU responses.
That is why we would like to vote no for this proposal from the Left.
President. – I put the request by The Left Group to a vote by roll call.
(Ϸվ rejected the request)
The agenda remains unchanged.
Now the agenda is adopted, the order of business is thus established. Have a good afternoon.