Speaker: Philippe LAMBERTS (Belgium — Ecologistes Confédérés pour l'Organisation de Luttes Originales)
Political group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
Date: 2022-12-14
Debate: Preparation of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022 (debate)

  Philippe Lamberts,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, good morning, everyone, this time I think I’m going to speak English because I want first to thank Mr Bek and congratulate the Czech Presidency. It’s the second time that your country is leading the work of the European Union for six months, and I must say that you have already brought quite a number of important pieces of legislation across the line and also helped not solving – because it is not solved – but at least moving forward on the conundrum posed by the Hungarian Government because indeed, a few weeks ago, I was afraid that indeed the Council would succumb to the blackmail of Viktor Orbán and this was not the case. Actually, in a subtle way, you reminded Viktor Orbán that we can circumvent his vetoes. Of course we didn’t have to go there, but the threat was enough for him to basically bow, and indeed the funds put on hold have been reduced, but not by a significant margin.
Je voudrais juste dire à Stéphane Séjourné, qui a un art consommé de tirer la couverture à soi, que dans l’affaire hongroise, le président Macron n’était pas du côté de la rigueur; il était de ceux qui voulaient lâcher la bride à Viktor Orban. Je pense qu’il faut aussi mettre au jour ce double langage. 
Now I’d like to focus a bit on what you said, Madam President, because there’s a lot I agree with on what you say, starting with the point that no, we Greens do not dream of a continental European Union deprived of industry. I’m an engineer by training. I think industry is a key part of our economy. But then again, everything will be in the execution, and in the details. Because what I hear from industry often times is ‘Not too much pressure please! Not too much pressure and please, a lot of subsidies’. Why is that? Well because to be honest, when I look especially at large European companies, I see that we have moved from a capitalism of entrepreneurs to a capitalism of rent seekers, and they prefer to channel profits into bonus and dividends rather than into productive investment because these will generate profits down the line. 
This is why we are saying, in order for European industry to lead the transition, we need to put them under pressure, and that’s the targets that we adopt, that’s the whole Fit for 55 package. We need serious pressure and that includes on the nature protection package because if you want innovation, you need pressure. 
Then, if support is needed, I would just take up what you have said about support to the citizens with high energy bills – support must be targeted, targeted to the companies who really need it, who really need public support to bridge the transition because, yes, transition is difficult and requires investment. But, quite frankly, we have deep pockets in some Member States. We have very deep pockets in some corporations as well, and they don’t need an inch, a cent of support. 
So that’s what I would urge you, is to find the right balance. But all in all, when I look at the architecture, your four points, I think that we can agree with that. So with that, I wish you also a good Christmas recess and look forward to continue working with you.