Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 28 November 2019 - Strasbourg

7. Appointment of the European Data Protection Supervisor

  President. – I would like to welcome you, the representatives of 500 million European citizens, to today’s plenary session. Let me start with an announcement.

Pursuant to Article 53 of the Regulation of the European Union 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018, the Conference of Presidents, at its meeting of 28 November 2019, following the deliberation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, approved the joint appointment by Parliament and the Council of Mr Wojciech Wiewiórowski, as European Data Protection Supervisor. The President will sign the appointment decision together with the President-in-Office of the Council.

  Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, the European Union cannot be silent to what is going on in the current days in Malta around the investigations into the assassination of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and certainly not this Parliament, who’s press room has her name. This week, two ministers and the Chief of Staff of Prime Minister Muscat resigned over the recent shocking developments. All these people appeared in the investigations of Daphne Caruana Galizia before she was killed. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Muscat has protected them all this time and defended them again and again, while attacking those who wanted to expose them.

The situation in Malta has consequences for the entire European project. I think this Parliament needs to point out, now more than ever, to the Maltese authorities that the assassination of journalists with clear political links must have clear political consequences. I have always seen this Parliament raising its voice very high to claim the respect of rule of law and of the freedom of the press to several governments in Europe. Today, it’s time to do the same in the case of Malta. Let’s raise our voice together.

(Applause)

  Iratxe García Pérez, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señora presidenta, el Grupo S&D siempre ha estado, está y estará al lado del Estado de Derecho. Siempre. Sin elegir al lado de quién nos ponemos cuando nos conviene o nos deja de convenir. En cualquier caso, quiero decir una cosa clara. El Estado de Derecho funciona cuando se detiene a los sospechosos y se abren los procesos judiciales. Eso es lo que ha ocurrido la pasada semana en Malta. Se ha detenido a un sospechoso y hay abierto un proceso judicial.

Este Parlamento debe respetar los procesos judiciales y no interferir en los mismos, y, en cualquier caso, quiero aclarar que este Grupo siempre está del lado de la verdad y de la justicia. Otros deberían saber y entender que no se puede elegir cuándo se está del lado...

(Protestas)

Les molesta. Pues, no me voy a callar. No me voy a callar. Hay gente a quien le pueda molestar que yo esté clarificando aquí una cosa.

La verdad y la justicia no se eligen. Siempre hay que estar del mismo lado. Y somos dueños de nuestras palabras y debemos ser coherentes. El Partido Popular hoy, aquí, ha dejado clara una cosa. Espero que durante los cinco años siempre esté del lado del Estado de Derecho, sea donde sea, en el país que sea, gobierne quien gobierne.

(Aplausos)

  Sven Giegold (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, I would only like to make clear that it is crucial to the situation in Malta that this Parliament sends an urgent mission in order to fact-find what’s happening. I thank Mr Weber for his words. It’s overdue that the prize in Malta which has been decided by the last Parliament is finally installed for the freedom of journalism. And this Parliament has never taken side in politics in Malta but searched for the truth and justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. This is what this is about and nothing else.

(Applause)

  Sophia in 't Veld (Renew). – Madam President, I can be very short and I am speaking as the Chair of the Rule of Law Monitoring Group, which met this morning. We are planning a visit to Malta, but we will be very clear: there will not be any political interference or taking sides. We are not going to interfere in any police investigation or proceedings, but we will make sure that the European Parliament keeps the pressure up so that justice is done and the truth will come to light. And in that spirit, we will decide when and how to travel to Malta.

(Applause)