Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 14 September 2022 - Strasbourg

State of the Union (debate)

  Frances Fitzgerald (PPE). – Madam President, Europe today is facing crisis with war once again on our continent. But Europe has increasingly responded well to crisis, and our determination to do so again is unwavering. People and governments are looking to the EU, now more than ever, to see how we can tackle those global problems. We know what they are: energy prices, climate change, cost of living, inflation, job creation. Announcements are important, but now the EU must act decisively. Thank you, President, for your leadership. But we now need a commitment from all our Member States to implement all of these issues without delay. Use the funding, as the President has said, that is there.

I welcome the supports that have been announced for families and SMEs. SMEs are at the heart of our economies. We know they are the job creators in our Member States. Only by working together, EU and Member States, can we ensure that the worst impacts of Putin’s winter can be avoided. This should not be about a battle of competencies, but a commitment to deliver. Our citizens are waiting.