Energy crisis, war in Ukraine, rule of law… The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed many topics during her State of the Union address on Wednesday…

Strong reactions after the speech in front of the European Parliament of Ursula von der Leyen

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on September 14 in Strasbourg.

REUTERS - JOHANNA GERON

Text by: RFI Follow

4 mins

Energy crisis, war in Ukraine, rule of law… The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed many topics during her State of the Union address on Wednesday 14 September.

And they did not fail to make the MEPs present in the Hemicycle react.

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It was with Manon Aubry, MEP LFI, that the exchanges were the most stormy.

After Mrs von der Leyen's speech, the Frenchwoman addressed the Hemicycle with a series of invoices sent by citizens.

And each of them testified to the rise in the prices of electricity and gas.

This crisis is not only the result of the terrible war in Ukraine and the odious blackmail of Vladimir Putin, it is also the product of an economic system whose flaws you are now obliged to recognize

", accused Mrs Aubrey.

A standoff that prompted the President of the Commission to respond: “

Ms. Aubry, the invoices you showed us, yes they are “unbearable”, it’s true.
But you know what ?
Send these invoices to Moscow, that's where the manager is

, ”retorted

Ursula von der Leyen.

She also prided herself on having presented proposals to curb soaring gas and electricity prices, in particular by restricting "superprofits

of energy groups and reducing EU consumption at peak times.

► To read also: Faced with the energy crisis, Ursula von der Leyen makes her proposals to reduce bills

"Patching will not be enough"

For Manon Aubry, it is far from enough.

“

This taxation should not be limited to fossil fuels.
It must concern all the companies that have benefited from the crisis: those in the luxury sector such as LVMH, in the maritime freight sector such as CMA-CGM, in the banking sector such as BNP... Many multinationals have made superprofits, not only in the energy

sector", she asserted, lambasting a Europe which "

is crossing its fingers so that there are not too many blackouts this winter and that people can still simply have the means to heat or light up

”.

“

Patching won't be enough.
We must freeze prices at pre-crisis levels and take energy out of the market, because it is a common good.
Lucidity, belated and partial, is not enough, Mrs. Von der Leyen, it is still necessary to be consistent

, ”added Mrs. Aubry.

Taxation of superprofits or “exceptional contribution”?

Not all MEPs were so vocal.

José Manuel Fernandes, Portuguese MEP for the EPP, believes that the measures announced by the President "

are a step in the right direction

The Member States still have to come to an agreement now.

All these measures, the Parliament also agrees, but it is in the European Council that the situation becomes complicated.

Jose Manuel Fernandes, Portuguese EPP MEP

Yannick Jadot, environmentalist MEP, also French, also seems satisfied.

Where some criticize the President of the Commission for having used many terms and not the "

taxation of superprofits

", evokes a clever maneuver: "

If Mrs Von der Leyen spoke of taxation, it would take the unanimity of the Member States to obtain a deal.
Speaking of exceptional contribution, it allows you to navigate in a system with a majority of states.

►Also read: Reform of the European electricity market: "The 140 billion is an estimate"

rule of law

Mr. Jadot remains well aware that to get here, the road is still long.

“

We can clearly see that we are a little on a ridge line.
But I have the feeling that no one wants a European blackout and no one wants to give billions of euros to import Russian gas or oil

, ”he adds at the microphone of RFI.

It is therefore the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine which dominated the debates this Wednesday in Strasbourg.

A bad thing, deplores Ernest Urtason, an environmental MEP.

“

We expected stronger words on the defense of fundamental rights.
When we see what is happening, for example, with the restriction in Hungary of the right to abortion, this worries us enormously

”, he explains,

quoted by Euronews

An opinion that does not share Nicolas Bay, French MEP of the National Rally.

He reacted after the speech to take up the defense of a Hungary which he said was "

unjustly attacked

I spoke a few moments ago in the hemicycle of the European Parliament to defend the Hungary of Viktor Orbán, unjustly attacked, once again, by Brussels.

Strong reactions after the speech in front of the European Parliament of Ursula von der Leyen

Strong reactions after the speech in front of the European Parliament of Ursula von der Leyen

"Patching will not be enough"

Taxation of superprofits or “exceptional contribution”?

rule of law

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