Valérie HAYER

Policy topics Valérie HAYER is active on

What Valérie HAYER has said (30)

• 2026-06-17 “(09:32:09 – 09:34:30): President, minister, colleagues, this European summit is taking place against the backdrop of a peace deal between Iran and The US. It was abs an absurd war. It has had devastating effects. It has had a major impact on purchasing power. What will happen for Europe? Look at what's happening in the world. Look at Trump and Xi Jin Xi Jinping. What is happening? We have a cold war. China and The US fighting for power over the world, and Europe must not align itself with either power. We should not focus on interests that are not our own. We should focus on our own independence, energy independence, but also economic, technological independence, and thus geopolitical independence. Dear colleagues, at the next summit, we have to have foresight and vision. We still have a choice, but time is ticking. And when I talk about independence, this is what I expect from the upcoming summit. 1, we must no longer be, happy serfs. We must work with China and The US. Yes. We must trade with them. Yes. We must, defend joint interests, rare earth metals, for instance, but we must not, be under their thumb. Never. Not today, not tomorrow. Then we must also continue to support for Ukraine because our own security depends on it. 3, we must speed up our competitiveness agenda as well as our innovation agenda. This is a, key issue that came up this weekend. We know that, these kind of new technologies are, a kind of warfare between, Europe, China, and The US. We must focus on our own technological sovereignty with our cutting edge technologies, including AI and forward looking technologies. For all of this to be possible, we need money. We need a budget. The MFF must be in line with our vision, and we must truly free up European capital. Dear colleagues, you've understood it. If we want to be respected in today's world, then we must show that we speak the language of power. We must also be clear on our principles, and we must never be brutal. Thank you.”
  EU foreign policy approach
• 2026-06-17 “President, commissioner, our children are in danger. This danger is social networks. We often looked at these social networks and found them interesting, but now we must face reality. Anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, sleep disorders, and more. There's also a risk for mental health, and this has been documented among children. We know this, but we know that we must now act we must now act. The UK has said that it will ban social media for under sixteens. In other parts of the world, the same has been done. There is responsibility, and we in the EU must act. That's what Renew is asking for, to protect our children. There are some who are against all regulation under the pretext of freedom. What kind of freedom are you talking about? Freedom of algorithms, freedom for pedophiles, freedom for bullies. True freedom is for a child to grow up independently without being exposed to risks, and we know what these risks are. We must now act.”
  Age restrictions on children's access to social media
• 2025-01-15 “P-000143/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission Democracy is a core value of the EU, with free and fair elections at its heart. Member States are responsible for organising elections according to national constitutional rules, legislation, international obligations, and EU law. The Commission supports Member States and competent authorities in election matters 1 . For example, ahead of the German federal election in February 2025, the Bundesnetzagentur and the Commission organised an election roundtable 2 and a stress test 3 , with very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSEs), German authorities, and civil society organisations. Signatories of the EU Code of Conduct on Disinformation, which also contains commitments related to elections, also activated the Rapid Response System (RRS) for the German elections 4 . The Commission has opened four proceedings 5 to address risks to civic discourse and elections focusing on the design and functioning of online platforms’ systems. The Commission recently ordered the provider of X 6 to preserve documents on future changes to the design and functioning of its recommender algorithms for information on past changes and access to certain technical interfaces to allow fact-finding on content moderation and virality of accounts. The Digital Services Act (DSA) requires providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs to give researchers access to public data and more far-reaching data to identify systemic risks. For the latter, the Commission is preparing a delegated act 7 . 1 The Commission has published guidelines for providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs on the mitigation of systemic risks for electoral processes, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/guidelines-providers-vlops-andvloses-mitigation-systemic-risks-electoral-processes 2 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/digital-services-coordinator-germany-hosts-roundtable-onlineplatforms 3 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/german-digital-services-coordinator-tests-platforms-readinessunder-digital-services-act 4 Previously used in EU, French and Romanian elections, the RRS allows non-platform signatories to swiftly report time-sensitive content, accounts, or trends that they deem to present threats to the integrity of the electoral process and discuss them with the platforms in light of their respective policies. 5 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses 6 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-addresses-additional-investigatory-measures-xongoing-proceedings-under-digital-services 7 Pursuant to DSA Article 40(13).”
  Disinformation & online freedoms · Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content · Recommender systems
• “Thank you, Madam President. President. Colleagues. Finally, president, this is a document that we've been waiting for a work programme for 2026. It's positive. It's a powerful it's about independence, sovereignty for Europe. We have been able to advance, deliver for European citizens. It's high time. So, colleagues, it's going in the right directions. You have to say that we have a work program for competitiveness based on the Drudge Report. 28th resume simplification of the Single Market or the Capital Markets Union, a work Crimean to to um respond to the energy crisis. A work program for a the reinforcing the agenda of Europe and also the 20 30,000 border guards border guards that we've been waiting for, housing, protection of children and protection of children on social media and of protecting farmers against unfair practices. It's also about simplification for citizens. We have done a lot on simplification when it comes to companies. We haven't really done much for citizens and there have been proposals in the recent weeks. Thank you, president, for putting those into your work programme for 2026. It's a very important signal. So colleagues. I won't go through all the texts that lie ahead. But I'll repeat one thing. Thank you to the president for playing the game, of listening, to having listening to the renew group and for the for listening to us.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you. President. President. Minister. Colleagues. President. You know, We need investment in Europe. The MFF for the next seven years should be planning for public investment. Simplification is one thing, but if we don't have the proper framework, the proper business environment for business, then what good is it? And you know, for renew the priority is the competitiveness Fund. So thank you for including that into your proposal. The Competitiveness Fund is one that should allow us to invest in future technologies cloud and so forth to boost research and finally to focus on European products in our public purchasing. Our competitiveness is also our independence and our sovereignty. And so we won't accept any undermining of the sovereignty that we've achieved that has been achieved in Europe, which is first and foremost agricultural sovereignty that is as important as others. So we need to have a robust cap which will be President. Commissioner, your proposal was not good here. It wasn't good because national governments are allowed to decide what's for good for farmers and regions. We have achieved a good things on. On investment. But there are some areas that are not good. And nobody knows what they are outside of this Parliament and the berlemont, but the rampant corruption in Hungary or what we're seeing in Bulgaria, that's something that Europeans do understand. So renew will stand firm that we should not give a single cent from our budget to corrupt people or autocrats. Those who call into question are values should not be given commission checks. It's not good enough to merely sign checks, you have to have the funds to back them up. And as you've said, we need to ensure that we make progress on own rules, own resources, and that will be a deciding factor in our position. So, Madam President, Commissioner, as you have understood, as far as we're concerned, discussions are only just getting started. And that's something that you said we would like to approach them with a constructive but very demanding point of view.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “And Commissioner, as we've already said, many here are wondering why Mrs. von der Leyen is not here today. So. You are now the voice of the Commission regarding the working programme. But it would be more it would be very useful if Mrs. von der Leyen was here herself. This is a decisive watershed year and some symbolism counts and not just symbols. Had she come here, I think Ursula von der Leyen would have listened to us and heard that we have many questions for her in this House. And among those questions is what is the Commission's working method? Why is it that? Would it appear that some groups have more information than others when it comes to the working programme and the European Commission's ambitions? And the only majority that counts is the van der Leyen von der Leyen majority, apparently. And she needs to listen to this majority that elected her. This is the only pro-European agenda that's positive for Europeans. So yes, we'll we will play our role here. And I say to the socialists and the EPP and the Greens, their responsibility needs to come also from here, the situation is too serious for divisions, so let's find some compromises. Otherwise we will see a serious defeat. So let's all do our part.”
  Von der Leyen
• “We're worried about what Trump might do. We're worried about his policies. We're concerned about the way we will respond. Let's be honest here. If we were to use our arsenal for dissuasion, this would have considerable consequences on our economy. And therefore, what Europeans want us to do is to ensure that the rules are respected, because there's a lot at stake, and because we will not be the vassals of the US or any other foreign force. And our responsibility here is to not hesitate. It is to take action. Take a look at the way things are. Trump has been in office for a year, and what we see is a presence of the US. Who wants to subjugate us? Who wants to humiliate us? Who wants to destroy Europe? Mr. Bardella, I'm listening to you talking about Greenland. Are you happy with that? Are you happy saying what you said today whereas your group was among the first supporters of Donald Trump because you said, I quote, that a wind of freedom was blowing over our democracy with his election. So, Bourdelle, Mr. Bardella, what are we talking about today? For one year, we've seen ridiculous situation in terms of human rights action taken against a former Commission of European Union Commission president and his desire to annex Greenland today. When are we going to actually do something? When are we going to react? What else do we need for everyone here in this Parliament? And Madam President, Mr. President of Council, our heads of government, we can't afford to wait. Something has to be done and something has to be decided at the Council, at the European Council tomorrow because our credibility is at stake. Let's not be timid about this. This is a historic moment for the independence and autonomy of Europe.”
  Relations with NATO
• “President. Simplification. We have it a text that companies have been waiting for, and it is the result of a pro European majority from the jury committee, and it reduces reporting obligations by 70%. It means that 80% of companies are no longer in the scope. And we will continue to define that till our last breath, because that's a good compromise, because renew stands by the economic world. With this compromise, we have predictability and simplification, which is what businesses asked for. We also have legislation on due diligence and on reporting. And it's strong and we often forget it. The people who are producing and manufacturing our t shirts and sneakers on the other side of the world for a low salary, that continues to happen. And then these products flood our market and kill our businesses. And some people don't. Some people are perpetuating that system. So who is to blame the socialists for what they did three weeks ago? And for the EPP, who is being maximalist against Europe's interests and European business. So today we will not vote in favor of this simplification. We will vote and see, and we will see what the European Parliament's majority will be over the next four years.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Colleagues. Global warming has been invented by Finland to damage US industry. Uh, wave energy causes cancer. The Green Deal is a communist plot. Vaccine. Covid vaccines actually harm you. And, uh, it's a myth that measles is causing deaths. We need to attack universities aggressively to defend ourselves. This is the kind of thing that one can hear from Donald Trump. And his administration has declared scientists enemies of America. If you look around the world where extremes are on the rise, scientific freedom is under threat. The Choose Europe for science initiative promotes scientific freedom. We want science careers in Europe to be attractive. We want to facilitate fundamental research and taking it to market. Commissioner, Renew Europe as a group fully supports your initiative. Madam Commissioner, we want to make Europe attractive for science, and we want to stand with you to defend our identity. European democracy versus obscurantism. We want to work together to bring more resources to bear from Europe and from abroad, for science and research in Europe, to bring back expats, to bring scientists from all around the world. Please scientists around the world. Hear me. Mark my words. Choose Europe for science. We have a favourable environment. We will cut red tape. We will mobilise a budget of €500 million and we will give unconditional support to freedom and scientific excellence. We are there for you. Europe is generous because Europe needs scientists, colleagues. Without research, without innovation, we will not meet the challenges of competitiveness. This is one of the prior conditions that we need in order to ensure that Europe can stand on the world stage. We have the plan. Let's go for it.”
  Research priorities within the EU
• “Thank you very much, madam ministers. We do not mourn the, uh, Ayatollah regime and their nuclear aspirations. We hope for a better future for the Iranian people and the brave Iranian women. Everybody wants peace in the Middle East, but we are not there yet because we have a war, a war waged by Israel and the US with extremely concerning consequences for the Iranian people, for the region, and for Europeans. The Iranian regime has not fallen yet, and it retaliates. It bombards our allies and has even attacked Cyprus, an EU member state. Madam Minister, you have our profound solidarity. The EU has been mobilized since the beginning of this war. It acts to help the Member States with security in the region and Cyprus as well, sending, uh, military, uh, material, uh, trying to end the blockade in the Hormuz straits as part of international mission. Uh, we are helping our citizens as well, the EU acts, but it does not have the geopolitical influence. It should. Yes. We want to play a mediating role, but we cannot simply take whatever Donald Trump leaves us to have. We know what will happen. The US will stop bombing at some point, and then the diplomatic work will fall to us. And that's what happened to us after the 12 day war last year. Dear colleagues, I will not be the subcontractor for the United States. Europe needs to be respected. It needs to reaffirm its commitment to international law. It's not a naive thing to say. The question is simple what is in our interests? Is it, uh, might is right or is it a rule? Rules based international law system.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “Put an end to that. You have member states that are adding further layers to what we already regulate in Europe. We should put an end to this practice. I think that an EU text should apply in the same way in Warsaw, Amsterdam, Madrid. Where have you and fifth point quality jobs? If we don't protect our workers, we don't really have a proper single market, you know, spiraling downward. An approach is not the right way to go. We need to have decent salaries, decent wages and decent jobs. We have a roadmap. We have proposals. What we now need today and what we're still missing, I think is political will. Now, I know that the single market is not maybe the most romantic idea of the European Union. You quoted Jacques Delors. Madam president, allow me to pick up on that point. You don't fall in love with the big market. That is true, and that is what he said. But at the same time, this is what matters for European jobs, for our successes in our different countries and our different territories. We need to be able to create generate wealth. We need to be competitive. It is the key to that. And therefore, dear colleagues, I think we need to focus on action rather than backsliding. And it's now or never. Thank you.”
  EU regulation of cross-border and posted workers
• “Madam president, thank you. You've just heard from Nikola Cassini. Mr. Cassini is in a bit of a bind because they're divided. And then what about the Patriots? They want to bring the whole of the EU down. But what about Ukraine, middle East, Trump? Putin? Don't we need Europe in such a context? Of course we do. More than ever. Madam president, you referred to an impasse for your political group because the EPP has been making alliances of convenience with the far right. Who are your real allies in this Parliament? I would ask you. Who are your true allies you're going to have to choose. We elected a commission president. None of us have signed this motion of censure. I hope you have noted that. I would note, though, that this debate comes at an appropriate juncture. We do have comments in the Parliament on transparency and governance before giving lessons. The far right and the EPP. Your own political family, Madam President, should stop blocking the establishment of an ethics body. And it's not just transparency. We need the right institutional balance. We need to cooperate with the friends of Europe. We need to give them a response. So for green claims, play by the rules. Failing to do that was a big mistake. And these games that have been going on for a year. Need to stop. Another point, Madam President. What is Europe doing with the Draghi report with the capitals market Union protection of minors on social media, fake news and interference through online platforms. The commission is centralised. It's stiff. It's not agile. In renewal, we've defended the majority that put you in place on a pro European basis. And now there's a problem. That method has is coming into question because of ideology, because of poor calculations in the commission about the balance of power in the European Parliament. So I'm terribly sorry, but don't take anything for granted. Please put your own political house in order to get a grip so that we can work together with you to achieve what we jointly wish to achieve.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “But we were wrong. And also because our security relied too much on the US and reality. The harsh reality of the situation shows us that if we give up our power, we give up our freedom. So the time has come for Europe to shoulder that situation. And of course, we do agree with the Commission proposal for defence by 2030. We propose European sovereignty. We should control the use of our arms. We should invest more in infrastructure for the deployment of military equipment. We should have an air shield over the EU and Ukraine. We need to use the immobilized Russian assets to finance Ukraine. This is the way we're going to really produce a European In defense of policy, which is essential for our independence. Now we will only protect ourselves if we are united. Mr. Orban's Hungary has become an unacceptable threat against our interests. Now, there were revelations about a scandal within the institutions, and we know that Mr. Orban is the, uh, Troy, uh, the horse of Troy, of, um, of Moscow. But we Europeans must unite and must never give in to the threat of Vladimir Putin. Thank you.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Madam president, Madam president, president, Council and commission. Colleagues, let me begin by expressing my solidarity and support for the Iranians and the Israelis. We have seen the unheard of violence, massacres, killing. This is a regime that has to disappear, has to come down. But it's up to the people of Iran without interference from outside, especially, you know, American bombs. The EU's responsibility is huge. We have to ensure that the guardians of the revolution are taken into account in terms of being a unable to access, um, funding funding, and they should be on the list of terrorist organizations. We have to take this choice because it's based on principles that we believe in fundamental values, fundamental rights and self-determination of peoples. Let me turn to our relations with the United States of America. Appeasement isn't working. We are now lucid, aware, and it's time for political courage. Europe has to stand up to Donald Trump's America, and we have the tools necessary and we can use them. We announced that we are going to renew our agreements with the US. We need the anti coercion instrument to be leveraged. This is something we specifically voted for for situations like this one we're in today, so let us urgently take action. President, we can't just sell off our model of Europe and our sovereignty must be respected. So the DSA and the DMA must be fully implemented. We will refuse any simplification. Simplification. Now, in terms of the economy, we need to work on the dissuasion in terms of the Greenland troops. We need a European naval force to dissuade any possible threats in the Arctic, and we need to strengthen our economic and political links with Greenland. Let me just remind you that there's no doubt about the mutual assistance clause in place between Greenland and the European Union. We are worried.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “President appeasing Trump has not worked. We need to leverage our power. That is what the Americans have set out clearly in their national security strategy. They are looking to decimate our sovereignty, and they're doing so with the help of the far right here in Europe. They are looking to destroy the European Union. Everything that we have achieved. Let me be firm. Our strategic autonomy is no longer a choice. It is a necessity. We need it to ensure our independence. Honourable members in nine. In 1776, the US broke from the British colonial power and declared their independence. Now we're not looking to destroy our transatlantic relationship, but we are not going to be mere vassals at the next European summit. We need to declare European independence. We need to implement the Draghi and letter reports to bolster our competitiveness. We need a more ambitious multiannual financial framework based on own resources. We need true European defence. We need trade relations. We need to diversify supply chains. We need to defend our democracy against all threats, including internal threats. We need to modernise our institutions, strengthen European governance, ensure that we can respond in times of crisis. We can waste. No. Not a single moment. This is not about renew against another political group. It is about Europe coming together to stave off threats. The current US administration will not last forever. Others will replace it, but the problem will remain the same. We have a date with history. Let us declare our independence. European independence. Thank you.”
  EU competences on foreign affairs
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Madam president, vice President, a few days ago, I was listening to Albert Mensch, co-founder of Mistral, which is our only tech giant or AI giant in Europe. He was explaining that we have a lot of talent in Europe, but all of these people are going abroad to work abroad because the EU is too complex and because the market is too fragmented. I think that Mr. Mensch is right, dear colleagues. And what's true for start ups is also true for all of our companies an Italian SME, a Polish scale up, a German industrial entity. They have to basically navigate through 27 different regimes. We're talking about basically obstacles when it comes to providing these services within the union. That means that these are obstacles that we expect them to cross. We wouldn't expect our competitors to have to cross the same hurdles. And of course, meanwhile, in the United States, you have one regulatory framework. In China, you've got support for national champions of the industry. What about here in Europe? What are we doing? We're actually losing 130 billion in terms of growth every year. 500 billion. That's the price tag attached to our fragmentation. So yes, we've signed the roadmap. We want one Europe, one single market. That's fine. But a roadmap doesn't create jobs act, however, will. And what renew wants is something tangible and we have some priorities.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you. President, president. Minister. President. The upcoming European summit will be decisive for Europe, for Ukraine and for the credibility of Europe. We need to resolve the issue of frozen assets. For months, we've asked the council to make progress here. I'd like to welcome the work done by the commission here, the legal work done, and I'd like to welcome the work done by Antonio Costa, the president of Council and the Danish presidency. I would like to warmly thank you for the work you've done over the past six months, and the progress you've made. Let me turn to Belgium. Yes. We need to offer guarantees, ensure a European approach, but do not tremble and hesitate. Do not refuse to use the $210 billion in frozen assets for Ukraine. Our credibility is at stake. And above all, we must help Ukraine at this decisive juncture if Ukraine falls. If we do not impose sufficient security safeguards, then our own security will be under threat. Our independence will be in danger. That must be at the heart of our dealings with other powers, in particular our transatlantic relationship. The new US national security strategy has made this clear. We have a problem with Donald Trump. We have a problem because we have rules that protect our economic model, because we demand that Musk respects our laws, because we are preventing Putin and the white House from wiping out Ukrainian sovereignty. We have 27 countries that have come together to work together. We need to speak with the US on an equal footing.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Once the bombing has stopped, uh, we need to be calling for a rule of law and defense of international law. But you cannot decree respect for yourself. We need to speak the language of the powerful if we really want to hold influence, if we want to have weight in the world, if we want to be listened to, we need to become the number one economic and trade power in the world. Again, this war has emphasized what it has showed us, how much we're dependent on fossil fuels. Yes, we are right to put in place the Green Deal. We should accelerate those ambitions. It's not just climate, it's our energy, autonomy, the bills for our companies, for our citizens. It's our competitiveness. What we need to do is to end these aberrations that are such obstacles for us. We have to complete our single market. You have a work program, I know. Um, Madam President, uh, but we are losing huge amounts of money in terms of growth each year. There are so many institutional barriers we need to end this, uh, animosity. Uh, it saps our credibility on the international stage. And we see this, uh, with, uh, Viktor Orban's unacceptable blackmail over Ukraine. Madam president, what the world is facing today is, uh, a disappearing world order inherited from the Second World War. And we need to rebuild that. But a system that's still based on international law and, uh, in our interest because at the heart of our project is a rule of law defense of our freedoms and Europe needs to lead that. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “Now, don't look to your extremes. Don't stop giving them oxygen by voting their amendments. Look to the centre. That's where things are happening. Because, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we have our work cut out. We have existential urgencies at the. At the gate. There's a war in Ukraine. There's a cultural war assaulting our democracies. There's a trade and commerce war against the EU. So, ladies and gentlemen, we have to continue to stand against Putin. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder to defend our democracies. We need to stand unified to defend our competitiveness. Madam president, what we want now is action specifics results for Europeans this weekend. Once again, business leaders were asking me how come that things have gone so far? How did Mr. Trump manage to managed to do so much in a single term of office, and we only managed to implement 11% of the Draghi report in the course of a single legislature. So we want positive action. 2026 should be the year of the Draghi report, and 2026 needs to be the year of the 28th regime of the Savings Union Savings Investment Union. Investment in public procurement 2026 needs to be the year of generating a genuine European semester for the state of. Under the rule of law, we need to start discussion on the reform of our institutions. Our group, Madam President, is ready to roll out that agenda. The responsibility falls on us in this Parliament. So we cannot be blocked by Babbage, Fizeau or Orban. Let's wake up. We are at an important juncture. Either we're going to take the right path, or we're going to condemn ourselves to the dustbin of history, and real new will never accept that.”
  EU political integration
• “We need to think at the European level and act for the long term. Now, obviously, we need to change our productive model if we're actually going to do that. The ways we consume, the way we build our housing, the way we eat and renew wants to see that done in a responsible manner. But the fact is that not everyone has made the same choices even today, in spite of all the evidence, in spite of what all experts say, in spite of the demands of our citizens, there are people in this hemicycle on the right who wants to do away with the Green Deal. Apparently this is a green ideology, a pact for de-growth. That's what they say. But where do ideologies come from? I mean, those who see the reality of the world, we. They're the people we have on one side. But then on the other side, we have people who want to import Russian gas, who are the ideologists here? Because the Green Deal is far more than just environmental policy, although that's important. It's a deal for competitiveness. It's something that works for the independence of Europe. It's something that we should have been doing for 50 years, and it's something that science and technology makes possible now. Colleagues, let me now mention something else. We need to speed up the Green Deal and speed up on our energy independence. And we can only do that by working with a pro European majority. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you for presenting this commission work programme yourself. It's a strong signal of your leadership for this in particular this year, which will be an important one for the EU. Thank you for that. This is a good agenda. It's good for the Europeans and we support it 1,000%. And as colleagues have said, it will give us dynamism in this Parliament. When I say us, I'm thinking of our majority. Since our our election, there has been some problems with this majority. I've had many opportunities in this hemicycle to important to stress the importance of this majority for this agenda, for European independence to live. It's not on the far right or the far left that we should count on. It's up to us, the pro-European forces which have to implement it. So responsibility is an important word. Electors are looking towards us in our member states. Our democracies are in crisis. The Europeans think that things are escaping them, that leaders are not acting in their interests. Whether it's our countries or multinationals, this responsibility I'm talking about. It's about action. It's Europe is an essential step which are becoming for the for the problems that are too big for the member states. So the elections were a year and a half ago. Let's get going.”
  EU political integration
• “We have all the tools in the trade box to defend ourselves. That's our position without closing the door to negotiation. But the European Commission must be ready to use all the tools in that box. Everyone has to take a stand on Trumpism, including people in this chamber. Many people want a French flavored Trumpism or a European form of Trumpism. We've we've heard some of that today in favor of protectionism and closing borders. I think it's time for you people to open your eyes. It doesn't work. Look what's happening. It cannot work. What we're defending here is regulated global trade. International trade agreements based on reciprocity, which don't put our farmers or our industry in jeopardy. These are agreements which enable us to diversify in terms of sourcing natural resources. It's a guarantee of prosperity in the future. And colleagues, Europe is anything but weak. We have 450 million consumers. This is a very attractive market for all sorts of countries that want to strengthen their relations with us. We have a legislative and regulatory framework, which is reassuring to investors. So don't worry about the monsters. Europe should stay on its path, and we should lay the foundations of a new European Union fit for the future. Thank you.”
  Free trade agreements (FTAs)
• “Will it be a pro-European majority, the one that backed you, president, or will it be a union of the right, including the far right of this hemicycle? So this morning I must express the fact that I'm perplexed. We have nothing in common with extremists and populists who spread hate and division. And basically our companies need predictability. They need a regulatory framework which is adapted to their needs. And we must implement the Draghi report as soon as possible. So I turned to the EPP who is going to implement the Draghi report. You think you can adopt it with the support of the far right, who is going to establish the 28th regime, the CMU, and who is going to simplify the internal market? We are the pro-Europeans. The alliance of the centre is the beating heart of Europe. That's the way we've always worked. So if we can't get back on the path of compromise, then we will destroy the credibility of this Parliament and we will squander the time we need to establish our independence. President, you're, um. You depend on political stability. And political stability will lead to prosperity for the whole of the world, and your group has undermined that stability.”
  EU political integration
• “We need an institutional big bang in order to achieve this. And this is not to criticize, but to try to better achieve a delivery of what Europeans want. We need a big convention urgently. Sanctions, taxation issues, national lists, more power to the European Parliament, more power for you, Madam President. More power for the president of the European Commission. Direct universal suffrage elections by European citizens. All of this is doable. All of this can be done. We just need the political will to do it. One final comment, Madam President. You said the right thing today, madam. Now we need to follow through with action because we're in the last chance saloon for a European alliance. A more integrated federal Europe with strong leadership, stability and understanding amongst pro-European forces in this chamber is absolutely vital. I've had the opportunity to say this to you before, and I say this again today. We need you in my group for weeks and months. I've been trying to hold up your majority. Trying to keep it together. Trying to make sure it can work. We've been busting a gut to do that because people are watching. People are watching this. People are watching this at home and they're seeing a pathetic spectacle. So we need. To get down to action. That is the sine qua non condition for your agenda as well presented today to actually take a tangible form.”
  EU political integration
• “Elections are going to be happening, and we face the risk of interference when it comes to defending democracy. I think it is wonderful that you have talked about DSA. And DMA and said that they're not going to be used as bargaining counters. We should stand firm on that. And I urge you to continue standing firm. Madam president, there's another crucial point for me in terms of defending our values. Nobody here in this chamber has forgotten about the atrocities of the 7th of October. Nobody should give the slightest space to Hamas. But nobody is blind either, to what Benjamin Netanyahu is doing in human terms in Gaza. And young people are particularly alert to this. Young people in Europe now are facing a generational dilemma because they see what's happening in Gaza and they turn to us, and what we do will determine whether they can have faith in Europe and the European project. And what are we doing as of today? Member states are divided. Therefore, we have inaction. And that is a source of shame for Gaza, for Israeli security and for our young people's values. So, yes, Madam President, the Commission should act and we will defend you. We will defend the proposals which you put on the table this morning. And we would be willing to go further in order to end this catastrophe.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “There have been clearly proven cases of Russian interference. Putin's Russia has only one objective, and that is to drive a wedge between member states and to try and increase doubts over the essential support for Ukraine. And we have clearly identified mouthpieces for Putin here in the Parliament as well as in council. Now, the only consequence of that will be to favour Russia in its fight against Ukraine. That is why we should prioritize the defense of Ukraine. And that is why, ladies and gentlemen, this subject should be prioritized Authorities above all others. Now the challenge here is Trump, who has global leadership now. Europe has all the cards to have itself respected. We have a market. We have rules to protect us. But we must not be timid when it comes to promoting our legislative agenda. And we should safeguard our unity on Ukraine, as well as bolster our partnerships with those allies and friends who share our values, the United Kingdom in particular. And that is why, colleagues, we need to act. We need to come forward with proposals we need to advance. And we will also stand side by side with the architects of Europe. So quicker, stronger, further, we need Europe.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “Thank you very much. President. Madam president. President. Ladies and gentlemen, in the West, we are seeing old alliances under strain. And in the East, we are seeing diplomacy being supplanted, and we are seeing the foundations of our democracy being shattered. There are attempts to destabilise Europe, and Europe has to respond by standing up for its principles, unity, credibility and boldness. Unity, first of all. It is unity which makes us strong. All 27 of us. All of us fighting to be free. So that is why we have to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. And we have to apply sanctions to our hostile actors who are pitting our citizens against one another online. So we have to have unity, unity of our economic fabric and unity of our armies. And that is the way that we will be able to count for something in an unstable world. Now we have to assert our credibility because we are a world power, and we have to stand up to those who are seeking to intimidate us. Now, I want to say a word or two about our ability to defend our interests, particularly Italy. Vis a vis the new US administration, the watchwords here are unity and solidarity. The Greenlanders are being subject to intolerable pressure. Now, there are inalienable principles, and that is that people are able to speak for themselves, self-determination. They can decide on their futures.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “Thank you. President. President. Well, Europeans purchasing power is going down. We can blame Trump. We can talk about the Straits of Hormuz. But at the end of the day, we make our own choices. And what's going on in the Middle East is not an excuse because for over 50 years now, Europeans have been dependent on energy that's produced outside Europe. 50 years that we've struggled to react. Iran today, the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine. We all know that the question isn't whether there'll be a future crisis. The question is when. But we are spending 400 billion on the imports of fossil fuels at the moment. That's 400 billion that we're sending abroad. And we could be spending here. So we need to say that's enough. We need to defend our energy independence. We need to end a system that weakens our purchasing power and which boosts dictators. We need to stop feeding into populism and extremists right across Europe. But it's not enough just to talk about this. We need to act. And that's what we've been trying to get people to do since 2019. The commission is acting as well. Accelerate EU, which he presented last week. The Green Deal, it's also European preferences in terms of industry, nuclear power and renewables. Colleagues, the way to our independence is to decarbonise our economies electrification. But we really need to act. We need those reforms that are necessary in terms of our markets, our infrastructure and assistance to households.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you, Mr. President. Vice president, Minister, colleagues. We're saying goodbye to the old world, and there's a new one coming along together with its, uh, monsters. In the form of Donald Trump's trade war. This is a tremendous threat to the European Union and to our economies. It's also a political challenge, a confrontation of two models. The new American administration has its model of protectionism, brutality and populism. And then there's our model, our European model of freedom, the rule of law and democracy. Make America Great Again is a full frontal attack on multilateralism and a Europe of 27 states playing the game of cooperation. It's an attack on everything that we've built since the end of the Second World War. As an orderly, global trade is a tool of global peace. And yet, Donald Trump has decided to declare a tariff war on the whole world, with the exception of Russia and North Korea. There are three things I want to say to the American president. First of all, this trade war isn't going to help anybody. It's certainly not going to help the American consumers who are going to carry the can. Second, Europe will always be a fair and reliable trade partner, which respects international law. Thirdly, And if we are going to test our respective strengths, then let's go.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Madam president. Madam president. Colleagues. Madam president, we're losing the people of Europe. We have wealth, we have high standards. We stand up for freedom. But we're losing the Europeans. We're not taking them with us. We're weak when they want protection. Weak with Trump. Weak with Putin. Weak with China. Weak on climate. Madam president, nothing is inevitable in renew. We refuse this concept of inevitability. It's about choices. We have to make the right choices, and we have to move on to a more integrated, sovereign federal Europe, which protects. We now face an existential threat. The world is re organizing itself before our very eyes. We have Russia at our borders. Her war on Ukraine is a moment of truth for Europe. In terms of security guarantees. We have met the challenge. But we need to do more. We need to give Ukraine what it needs to defend itself and create a Europe of defence. What happened this morning in Poland with Russian drones only confirms that Ukraine's security is our security. Let us protect Ukrainian airspace. It's not just through force that we will dissuade others from attacking us, but we need to stand up when faced with a with a hostile world. It is a cultural war, a war of culture. Our way of life, our values, our freedom and our independence are all under threat. And that culture war is not only coming from the East. We are the last bastion of democracy and freedom. We have to have a strong voice in the world given these international trends, and we need concrete action on the Democracy Shield, because so much is at stake in the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal.”
  EU competences on defence