Every September, the President of the European Commission comes to the European Parliament to discuss with MEPs what the Commission has done over the past year, what it intends to do in the coming year and its vision for the future in the State of the European Union debate. Nine months before the next European Parliament elections on 6 - 9 June, President Ursula von der Leyen outlines her Commission’s priorities from now until the end of its mandate. She focuses on a stronger and more resilient European Union, on the EU’s continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s aggression, on energy security and EU energy independence, the EU’s twin green and digital transitions, and on protecting core EU values. Extracts from the statements by the political group chairs; and extracts from the answer by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

state of the European Union 2023 (T)

State of the European Union 2023: extracts from the statements by the political group chairs; and extracts from the answer by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/72035380/1694167979519_I245531Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, We believe in the basic idea of the Green Deal. It's our generation's obligation to deliver. But we also listened to workers, to farmers, to SMEs to use producing, for example, more food, not less, is our answer to cut inflation and food prices.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, We don't want to see, as you said, Chinese electric vehicles benefiting from our ambitious climate approach. We have to think more in business, not in prohibition models for our industry. We need green jobs for Europeans. And we have to be stronger and tougher when it comes to trade. Tougher because we need to activate now our trade defence industry instruments and to avoid a second solar panel attack from China.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Our main priority now has to be to push for re industrialisation to ensure open strategic autonomy with an eye on Africa and Latin America.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&Iacute;A P&Eacute;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), And this is on the line in the face of those who are climate change deniers. We need to break the silence and send a clear message of support for the Green Deal and commit to pushing through laws on nature restoration and air quality. We are going to be scrutinising it very closely to ensure that you do indeed follow through on that.

SOUNDBITE (French), St&#233;phane S&#201;JOURN&#201; (Renew, FR), Renew Group leader, You said. Madam President, we need to find a sustainable solution for issues on migration. That's part of the text that we need to still agree on with the energy package. We need to have a European industrial answer.

SOUNDBITE (French), St&eacute;phane S&Eacute;JOURN&Eacute; (Renew, FR), Renew Group leader, The Europeans don't always meet the expectations of heeding the calls from our Polish judges, Hungarian judges, independent press and civil society. Italian prosecutors change the entries in the civil registry of children because they mothers happen to be lesbian.

SOUNDBITE (French), St&eacute;phane S&Eacute;JOURN&Eacute; (Renew, FR), Renew Group leader, We refuse the orbanisation of our continent. It's a real danger, not just in political terms, but also in economic and social terms.

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group leader, We are not above nature. Humanity is part of nature, whether we like it or not. There are limits to what our planet can take and to what it can give. Respecting those limits is not the Greens hobbyhorse. It is a question of survival

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group leader, So stand firm, Madam President. We cannot content ourselves with just implementing what that's already been decided, which in itself is not enough to meet the 1.5 degree warming target.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), ECR Group leader, To your credit, Madam President, that you initiated and continued the sanctions against Russia. But again, one cannot be all too happy. Before the invasion, the commission did not dare to do something about the German-Russian Energy Alliance. So this refusal to act, the Commission bears some responsibility for the depths of the energy crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Marco ZANNI (ID, IT), ID Group leader, Climate change is an area where the problem isn't the EU. The problem isn't European farmers. The problem isn't European businesses. The problem isn't European owners of premises. What we need to do is look at who will be the winners of the transition. The environment citizens. Will it be China?

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), The Left Group leader, You didn't say anything about the crisis and purchasing power speculation. You didn't stop that.You didn't stop the forced price rises. You didn't introduce a sustainable windfall profit tax. We're looking recent figures that say 95 million people in the EU are threatened by poverty. That is your achievement that you need to be judged by.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, If you want to have taxpayers money as investment in your member state, you have to abide by the rule of law and you have to do the reforms that are necessary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Europe's defence industry is running at maximum speed. We know this, but it is not enough because to empower Ukraine's deterrence we must step up the production of our capable capabilities, military capabilities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I am deeply personally committed to the European Green Deal because I know it is paramount for our survival, but it is also paramount for our future prosperity. If we make it and we can make it together if we stand united. Thank you very much.