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Thank you, Thank you.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

I congratulate you for condemnation of the horrifying scene from the state funeral of a convicted butcher from Skbria and Srebrenica at Komladic.

The European Union needs enlargement of the Western Balkans as a strategic priority, but the message was sent,

and it is clear the Union does not trade with its values.

All victims and their families deserve truth and justice and compassion.

This includes the truth about 1,725 people still missing in Croatia.

Following Serbia's aggression against Croatia,

it also includes the missing Croats from Bogoino and 8 Croatian children killed in Vitez in Bosnia and Herzegovina for which no one was held accountable.

The Irish Minister mentioned the late John Hume, our former colleague who was instrumental in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

I hope that we will be remembered in this House by fully implementing the Dayton Paris Peace Agreement and finally guaranteeing.

We need equal rights for all three constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

and for that we need the United States of America to keep working with our strongest transatlantic relations and indeed a strong trading partner,

and I welcome Canadian Association membership. It's good to have Canada on board.

It's good to have a Canada that our people have built and our diaspora, including my late. Who is buried there.

Finally, I welcome your call for a European firefighter fleet,

but we must support the firefighters who carried out heroic work this summer in Croatia and across Europe,

from Brad to Amish to all over. We need them in our sleepless night. They cannot fly.

They are on the ground, and we need to support them.

We need to give them the means to keep on fighting a blue card. Will you take it? Mr. Musar go ahead. Yeah, go ahead.

Madam, you mentioned some essential historical events in your contribution.

In our union, the rule of law, human rights are considered essential,

but today, Greece, for instance, has not received reparations from Germany.

No provisions have been made, no compensation has been paid out.

The situation is, I think, somewhat similar in Poland, in fact,

and therefore I'd like to ask you about this dialogue between Poland and Greece in Berlin. What do you think? Should we start this dialogue?

In this group, we have an intergroup for historical memory.

I think part of this historical memory includes many issues undiscovered communist crimes, totalitarian regimes, and many of the issues that we offer a platform for discussions,

and I invite colleagues to join that we continue discussing,

and many people who are still grieving, leaving their land. Thank you very much Ms. Next, Nicola Zingaretti. Thank you.

In order to relaunch Europe, we need more peace and justice.

7 digital companies from the US account for or are worth more than the EU's GDP. There is no balance here.

Wealth is still, is becoming more and more concentrated. It's not being distributed to the people.

Big digital platforms are paying the minimum 15% in corporate tax, while SMEs,

our craftsmen are paying almost double, and young people are paying a lot too.

This is unjust, it's unfair, and democracy has to fight against injustice, but politicians are not doing anything. Thank you, Europe has to act.

You didn't say anything about a digital service tax announced in 20.

20 you stopped, but then you stopped, and we're still paying oligarchs.

We have to we have to invest in health, schools and hospitals, but words are not enough.

We have to move forward because of a sense of justice,

a sense of justice that we have to honor for our young girls and boys. There's a blue card. Do you accept it, Mr. Zingaretti? No, OK, one minute. Mrs. Von der Leyen.

I was wondering, your Commission, what planet does it live on exactly? What world does it live in?

You're talking about guaranteeing borders, but You know just a couple of weeks ago,

80,000 irregular migrants, you know, came into our territory through the border with Ceuta.

You want to protect our borders, but at the same time we're talking about an influx, or rather we're talking about increases in energy prices,

gas and electricity have soared in terms of their prices, and you know there's also the question of climate contributions.

You also want a mega budget, more than €2 billion more EU taxation. It's always the same story. Everything is becoming more costly, more expensive. It's always the same, the same thing.

You repeat the same mistakes and you expect different results.

I think that Europe needs a different policy.

You know, we need to approach this with common sense, Mrs. Von der Leyen.

At some point in time, you know, we have to call a stop to this. Citizens will have had enough. One minute.

Ms Ursula von der Leyen, you have put this continent in danger. Your Greer Deal is wrecking food security.

Businesses beg for relief, yet the regulatory monster you built keeps growing,

even as you now try to scrap your own rules.

You lost the race in AI and space. You close working power plants.

You will kill combustion car factories in 2035.

You celebrate achievements while Europeans drown in living costs.

Few have ruled Europe as long as you.

For most of that time, Russia's illegal war has raged,

and when illegal migrants arrive, you demand solidarity. Greer ideology has been your compass.

With the EPP you formed an unholy union with Socialists.

Equal misery, socialism failed in Cuba, the Soviet Union and the European Union.

Only a nationalist landslide can still save this continent.

I give the floor next to Romana Tom 1.5 minutes. President of the European Commission, dear colleagues.

When we speak about the future of the European Union, we mostly talk about competitiveness,

economic growth, the Greer Deal, and, of course, our security.

However, very often we forget that the basis of everything are demographics.

Demographics are not just a question of how many Europeans will live in Europe tomorrow.

It's also a question of how the European Union will look like tomorrow.

It is a question of Social affairs, economics, and it is a test of our future.

In the European Parliament, we have a very important role here.

The Working Group for Demographics is very active and engaged.

This is proof of the fact that demographic challenges are broader than political alliances.

The predictions say that in some years or maybe a decade,

the European Union will only have 400 million inhabitants.

At the same time, our population is aging.

In a few years, every third European will be above the age of 65.

That means less people working and taxes will have to be raised due to contributions to our pension and health systems.

This is the reality we are facing today, and we should face those challenges today so that we can prepare for the future.

Demographics need to become a bigger priority for our politics and our budget.

It needs to become a clear part of the pillar of our social policies. Thank you.

Thank you, Last year in your speech you mentioned that Europe is suffering under a huge housing crisis.

More and more people, especially young people, are asking, Can I even afford a house?

And it's one of the biggest social questions of our time.

We need to act at the European level as well.

The Affordable Housing Act from Dan Jørgensen is a very important first step in that direction,

but it's not just about implementing the Act, but thinking further,

more investment in affordable and social housing and clear rules against speculation. I call to the Commission. This needs to be a central issue.

Affordable housing needs to be a focus of the coming years because an affordable home is not a luxury.

It's the basis of a good self-determined life everywhere in Europe. Mr. Serge Christiane, go ahead.

President You talked in your speech about, and I quote, affordable housing.

The question is why are the houses in Europe right now are not affordable.

The policies the Eurogroup is promoting policies that are coming from Ursula von der Leyen and her Commission is making the prices in Europe of everything higher. So what is your solution? Affordable pricing, that's just a statement.

What exactly is your group doing and what are you asking Ursula von der Leyen to do to lower and to make sure that the prices are affordable?

I think we have to invest more in affordable housing, which makes housing available for the middle class, but we have also to see where.

Failure, like short term rentals or empty vacant houses for speculation overlooking of secondary homes,

and this is also what we try to take the invited to vote in favor. Ms von der Leyen.

There isn't more of a racist than you in Europe. You've proved it. We're full of illegal immigrants.

We have so many taxes and red tape.

Our farmers, our fishermen are on their knees.

You're closing European factories and thousands of jobs are being lost. You destroyed the nuclear famine.

You are ramming the woke agenda down our throat, the Islamization of Europe.

You are using money in our pockets to pay the millions of migrants that have destroyed our neighborhoods,

they're murdering, they're raping, and at the end you give them the right to vote, but you gave us. Paper straws, tethered caps and gay pride. Not only are you Mrs.

Merkel's best pupil, you've done better than her.

You are involved in scandals, Pfizer gate, SMSs that have disappeared,

and you have said that you won't be under scrutiny. The Socialists are backing you and Mr.

Weber is backing you, they've got your back, you've destroyed things, Mrs. Von der Leyen. Thank you, President of the Commission, Council, colleagues.

An associated partnership with Canada which goes beyond just free trade,

I think that that is really a good acknowledgement of what we need going forward, and I welcome it very much so.

We as Europeans need reliable partners and we want to be reliable partners for the world. It works both ways.

We want reliability on both sides and I therefore very much welcome this initiative,

and I hope it's going to be a strong, close-knit community and partnership, Thank you.

You held a good speech before this chamber and I would like to thank you because you were quite realistic in assessing the situation.

You addressed a number of very important points.

Thank you for that our security, our competitiveness here in the European Union,

you have proposals as well as to how we deal with AI going forward, the media, digital media, etc. Olof that is very important and good. But these are announcements.

They need to be followed up by acts.

That's my point, because citizens are asking us what exactly are you doing for us.

So I'm really pleased to have heard you talk about a kids act.

I think it's important to put children center stage.

I also welcome the fact that competitiveness has become your top priority.

There are thousands and thousands of jobs being lost in our EU member states every day, I'm afraid, and people feel very insecure.

That's why we need to boost our economy, our businesses.

We need to create fair conditions for work.

So yes, absolutely tackle gold plating, absolutely turn to the member states with that.

But also the Commission itself needs to bring down the red tape that it has at present. Would you take it? OK, now Marta Temido, one minute. Thank you, the.

Thank you, we need to build a prosperous European Union.

But we cannot forget that we need to protect health and the environment.

Since the beginning of this term, we've seen in this we've seen in this Parliament the dismantling of the provisions of the Greer Deal,

the measures against deforestation being watered down,

the monitoring of European forests commitments have not been met, as you've said.

Thank you, when Europe is divided, nothing can change.

So we would ask you not to forget the commitment to the European Union of health,

which goes beyond competitiveness.

Many Europeans are still getting ill and dying from avoidable. Diseases, we need an agenda for prevention. Speaker is interrupted.

I think that You have a blue card. Madison. Mrs.

First of all, you said that in the last few years, Ms von der Leyen has changed his course about the Greer Deal.

I just remind you that 2 years ago we had elections and the voters said in Europe clearly that they would like to see a more realistic approach to the climate ideology,

because that's why the Conservatives just said a lot of things to the Socialists.

But, just realistically, if we go on with the Greer Deal and so on, we have climate change, what is your approach?

Currently we are Importing about 80% of the minerals from China and from Africa controlled by the Chinese.

How are we going to guarantee that everybody will have electricity without fossil fuels all over Europe? How are you going to guarantee that.

I didn't say that she had failed to follow that deal.

I said some in this chamber had, and secondly, we need to recall. That Petrol prices have increased.

And that means that that's a good reason to pursue decarbonisation.

Thank you, I must say that I have prepared another speech, but your speech has really made me angry. More than 30 years I have been.

Serving the public, and I have held political posts, but what I saw today is unacceptable for me. I might surprise you now.

I believe in Europe too, but in a completely different Europe to yours.

A strong Europe doesn't mean more regulations, more limits, more restrictions. A strong Europe is discussion.

It is a plurality of opinions, it is seeking compromise. A strong Europe is. 27 strong member states.

A strong Europe is respect for others, to their specificities.

A strong Europe is accepting the election results. A strong Europe is not propaganda. It is not labeling.

It is not the only right opinion and building cordon sanitaire.

A strong Europe is not a strong European Commission.

The European Commission is not the government of Europe, and you are not the Prime Minister, fortunately. Esteban González Pons, Vice President, 1.5 minutes.

Thank you, on the 4th of August, a drone with explosives appeared at Leipzig Airport.

Yesterday from Putin's inner circle, people, warned Poland that it wouldn't exist in 23 days' time,

and in July, in just 2 nights,

thousands of people, 80,000 people crossed the border.

And that cannot happen if the country that they're coming from doesn't allow them.

So, three areas, but one method,

hybrid attacks don't distinguish between the Baltic and the Gibraltar.

They're looking for the cracks and they want us to consider the crack to be a local problem,

but, CETA is. The state of the Union.

It is a city that is bearing on its shoulders what a whole continent should bear.

More than 10,000 people are walking down the streets in Ceuta without Morocco accepting to have them back.

Spain isn't less an EU member state than Germany or Poland.

The hybrid threat from the south isn't less dangerous, less serious,

and those who organizes hybrid attacks from the south shouldn't be punished less than those who do it from the east. They shouldn't get less sanctions.

They're looking for these craps, but those who are doing this are not in Ceuta.

They are in this chamber,

and they will be in this chamber when we think that Leipzig is a German problem and CETA just a Spanish problem. I congratulate you, Thank you, for your speech.

Thank you for your strategy against the hybrid warfare, but please don't forget the southern flank. I give the floor tom one minute. Mr. Thank you.

Today we're talking about the state of the European Union, which is well illustrated by what happened a couple of weeks ago in Ceuta.

80,000 people who were able to force their way into Europe. We have a crisis.

We've been able to control that crisis and most of these individuals have now gone back to Morocco,

but of course the far right is making the most of the situation. There's a letter addressed to the president.

Rather a question Has a letter been sent to Spain to offer aid support? No, quite the opposite.

Instead, we're weaponizing this crisis and the left is being blamed for everything.

A couple of weeks ago also Poland border with Belarus, you know, we have Loukachenko on the other side, and we were faced with a threat.

The European Union did provide support, did provide help, and Spain deserves exactly the same kind of help and support.

Do we want a Europe of solidarity or do we want a two-speed Europe?

Are we going to play into the hands of the nationalists?

No, we want a Europe that is based on democracy and solidarity. Thank you, the real you. Today cannot be disputed.

We feel them all, as do the citizens we represent.

We talk about security and competitiveness, about a strong Europe.

For Romania and eastern Member States, security threats are not abstract.

We see Russian drones every day, but Europe's security also means food security.

Yesterday, Romanian farmers took to the streets, and I'm looking towards Mr. Várhelyi to give them some hope.

The voice of those farmers is the voice of European farmers.

They want the chance to be able to continue working after a hot summer marked by drought and floods compounded by fertilizer and fuel crisis.

Farmers are struggling against challenges they simply cannot overcome on their own.

That's why we need to stand by them.

Jean Monnet said that Europe will be forced into crisis and will be the sum of the solutions adopted to overcome those crises.

Today, European farmers need us to fulfill this principle.

By taking care of the agriculture of Europe, we take care of our future. Mr. Commission President, colleagues. European success recipe is quite simple.

The single market, single market, single market, and what the single market needs is investment and unified regulations,

freedom and the protection provided at the European level.

Ms von der Leyen, the omnibuses have failed.

They are piecemeal and they do not take a unified approach. They weaken building standards.

They weaken our position as a standard setter. We don't need deregulation.

What the omnibuses have done have divided your majority in this house.

What we actually need is more unified legislation, building something together.

We need an EU inc where there is more freedom for founders and the protection of workers and employers being treated by the same set of rules.

We need to ensure that taking this approach can ensure our position. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Commissioner. Today I'm speaking in Polish.

You mentioned Poland in your speech, in a specific example that is a source of satisfaction,

and I'm very happy to see that a Polish idea took off and became successful and helped build trust in Europe.

The Protecting the Polish Belarusian border is extremely important.

We've got to stop illegal migrants, all illegal migrants.

It's not just about physical protection, but a more overall protection. The example of Ceta speaks volumes.

Of course we want security in Ceuta, and of course we want a secure European border.

We have to protect our borders efficiently and effectively. At the moment, the challenge is security. There's a real threat against our borders.

Airports and it's not just hybrid hybrid threat,

it's a very palpable threat and we need to join forces.

We have to be decisive and determined, stand united. That's what our citizens expect of us. So I appeal to Olof you here.

We are wrapping up this debate, but we have to reiterate our support for the community of Europe,

and that includes, of course, Canada outside Europe.

We need to work together so that there is security and Politically we need to build a coalition of forces because there are those in here that want to split us,

that want to drive a wedge, and we want, we do not accept this coalition of terror.

If you want to be a real patriot, work for unity and not division.

Thank you, citizens want to feel safe, they want good jobs, better opportunities,

and they want Europe to deliver, but some politicians want Europe to achieve more with less. It will not work.

You cannot ask Europe to compete, to protect its borders and strengthen its security while cutting the EU budget,

and we cannot build a stronger Europe by leaving regions behind.

Cohesion is at the heart of the European project.

Social Europe is the definition of what we stand for.

Children The future should not depend on the postcode where they are born.

This is why the next EU long term budget is a defining choice.

Europe has to invest more in creating better jobs, health and education. We need to invest in people first.

This is what Europeans, this is what Romanians expect.

We must also recognize the specific challenges faced by Eastern countries that require urgent solutions.

If we want Europe to deliver, we must give Europe the means to act. One minute.

Thank you, Europe was always a pioneer in regulating technology,

and we have to do the same when we protect minors.

I'm a father, and I know that many of you want to protect your children,

and parents are afraid of what digital technology is going to bring upon us.

We need to look forward to the proposed act on children.

Big tech have placed on our markets addictive products, doom scrolling, for example.

We have to reduce the time we spend in front of our screens.

Our kids are paying the high price for this.

Technology is not secure and therefore we need to have a minimum age to access social media.

All consumers need digital platforms that are secure and just and fair,

and therefore we want. Digital act to leave an impact.

We need to stop dark patterns that manipulate our choices.

We need to eliminate the use of dynamic pricing that eats away at our consumers' way of life.

We need big tech to be responsible for their actions,

and we need to be strong when we reinforce our regulations. Now we will catch the eye.

I have many requests, but we'll go through them quickly first. Mr.

Thank you of the European Commission, the information communicated today.

This information Really Aims to prepare the European Union for its defense.

It's geared towards that, and this is really important, a new security strategy.

It's a reality and we have to face it here in Europe, and this new reality, this new paradigm requires a new approach.

We need to have more power, more strength to defend ourselves.

There are threats, strategic threats from the Russian Federation, and we need to stand strong. You talked about an EU Security Council.

Indeed, political decisions need to be taken, and they need to be taken where they are required.

And also of course we want to maintain cooperation and partnerships with our strategic partners at the same time.

This should be in line with Article 42 of the NATO agreement we want to prepare this European defense. The answer has to be European. The platforms shoulder responsibility.

It's not families and minors that are responsible. We're talking about the European Kids Act.

So we're not just talking about what, children are doing with social media,

but what the social media is doing to children and young people. We have an answer.

No social media under 13, and then certain measures between 13 and 15, 1 hour per day.

We have to make these choices and then more autonomy, but on safe and secure platforms.

And you also talked about disinformation and fake news. You said that we need.

European digital sovereignty,

we need transparent algorithms in order to fight against fake news and protect our digital space.

And to do so,

to protect our digital space is to protect European democracy and the right that everyone has to form their own opinion without manipulation. Thank you. We've got used to this, haven't we?

When the Commission under Ursula von der Leyen's leadership hasn't actually completed the previous program, they replaced it with a new program.

Today we heard about 40 new measures, initiatives, incentives, and that's all well and good,

but you don't want to talk about the substance, the fact that for instance because of your actions in the past, energy. Have gone through the roof.

People are paying maybe 4 or 5 times more than our competitors elsewhere for their energy costs,

and the European Union has actually restricted the ability of member states to purchase energy in different ways,

and we can see the consequences. European industry is in the decline. Look at Volkswagen. Of thousands of jobs being lost. That's just one example.

And then the president of the European Commission says, we actually dealt with the crisis better than we thought.

Well, quite frankly, what planet do you live on?

You know, have you been to a petrol station recently? This is really an abandonment of Europe. It is betrayal. Very much. Next is.

I will speak in Greek Thank you, I applaud what you said.

In other words, that Europe should have its own Article 4, like NATO, underscoring the fact that Europe will defend.

Every last square mile, but you say this, but Turkish fighter jets and Russian drones are in our airspace in Cyprus,

Larnaca Airport, Paphos, they're using the occupied territories in Cyprus in order to cause problems for passenger planes.

Passenger planes, let me repeat this,

one actually had to change its A direction so that there wouldn't be an on-air collision and this saved the lives of innocent people.

Are you going to still call Turkey a partner and not look at these threats, or are you going to turn words into action?

We've had enough of hypocrisy, enough double standards.

Europe has to defend each member state in practice. Interruption by the president. Mr Thank you.

You have said that it's about acts not words.

In Austria we pay more than in Germany for products, but we're supposed to have a single market.

So when are you doing something about that? Secondly, democracy Shield, you talked about this. We've had a great committee.

Now it's about implementing this, the resilience center.

I'm expecting this Parliament and this committee to make progress on that. Please make sure that happens.

Thirdly, foreign policy, we have a representative for common foreign and security policy.

What can we do to ensure that it is actually implemented so that your words do become actions.

An Austrian extreme right person said the EU is in the darkest hours of its history.

I find that offensive because with our history in Austria, I find that offensive.

You can't build anything with these far right people. Thank you.

President von der Leyen, you talked about electrifying the European continent by 2040, but what we need today,

and you did refer to the tragedies that unfolded this summer, what we need is a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. Let me give you an example.

In the city of Rome, we have an incinerator, a big incinerator planned.

And then you also talked about the situation in Israel and Gaza.

You said that you want to invest 1 billion in reconstruction, but before we rebuild Gaza, we have to stop destroying it.

The only way of doing that is to harness the instrument that Russia, excuse me,

that Europe has, and that is sanctions against Israel to put an end to the genocide.

Finally, you talked about Ukraine, and I have a question.

Why don't you look at yourself in the mirror one day and say to yourself,

I am Mrs.

Von der Leyen, and I want to harness diplomacy and convene around a peace table. Thank you, Palestine is a name. The name of the country is Palestine.

The European Union cannot send humanitarian aid to Palestinians without defending or standing up for a two-state solution. Israel's genocide is unfolding. It is underway.

You have agreements with Israel and they have not been suspended. We are funding their research.

We have all our programs and we make them available to them. You made an announcement.

You talked about an associate member status for Canada in order to fight authoritarianism.

Very well, but let's not forget the elephant in the room, and the elephant in the room is Israel.

You haven't actually pronounced a state of the European Union speech, but a hypocrisy speech.

Thank you, You said that you will defend every last square meter of European territory,

and I welcome this.

You talked about Greenland, you talked about Ukraine, but you didn't talk about Cyprus.

I have a question and I want a direct answer.

Any hostile action against Cyprus or Greece by Turkey, will it be seen as an attack against European territory? Yes or no? Simple question, simple answer.

Will you be invoking Article 42 7, and will there be an immediate European response?

We're not asking for a favor, we're asking for what should be glaringly obvious.

If we want to talk about the State of the Union, let's look at the state of our water and climate this summer.

A farmer watches his harvest disappear,

workers face extreme heat while doing their job, families without clean, affordable water.

This is the state of our Union today.

President von der Leyen, a year after the water resilience strategy, you announced today a new water initiative,

and I hope that you have changed your mind and will not destroy the Water Framework Directive.

This Parliament has already presented to you a more ambitious approach last year climate adaptation integrated into water and land use policies,

investment needs for resilient infrastructure, data monitoring for leakage, preparedness for the nuclear.

Thank you, when you propose today a new set of different non connected strategies and initiatives,

I tell you, listen to this Parliament, work with us, help us deliver for our people.

Our people have suffered enough this summer. See our rivers, lands and critical infrastructures. We need one single.