President. – Dear colleagues, today marks the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution in Portugal – a moment in the timeline of European history that reverberates and inspires still. A date where democracy, freedom and dignity took back their rightful place in Portugal, and it serves as a reminder to us to never take these cornerstone European values for granted.

So the symbolism of today is all the more significant as we meet for the last voting session of this 9th legislature of the European Parliament. Let me say very quickly how immensely proud I am of all the work that we have done, of all the laws that we have passed, of all the debates that we have had and of all the challenges that we have overcome together. I think we can look back at this mandate with satisfaction in knowing that we have played our part in writing the story of Europe.

Before we go, I want to wish all of you who will not stand for elections well. Please know that there is a stone in this House that will always be yours.

To all of you who are running again and will soon be campaigning, I wish you strength, patience and success. Please keep doing what you can to bring Europe closer to the people.

This is the last voting session for many of you, including some of our committee chairs, group leaders and vice-presidents of Parliament. It is impossible to name each of the colleagues whom I would like to thank personally from here. But allow me to make one exception: Jerzy Buzek, our President, has decided not to run again.

(Applause)

President Buzek, I really want to use this opportunity to salute you and all you have done for this House and for all of us. Dziękuję.

I also want to thank all the services and the staff of this great institution. Thank you for making everything that we do possible. Thank you for making us proud to serve this Parliament.

(Applause)

And finally, one more exception: today – after 33 years of service – marks the final plenary session for Steven Wicker, who has patiently, calmly and brilliantly dealt with the preparation and conduct of the voting sessions in plenary. Dear Steven, on behalf of myself and all the former Presidents and Vice-Presidents, and on behalf of all Members whom you served so loyally, I thank you.

(Applause)

We are not done yet. Our mandate continues until 16 July 2024. We will keep on working until the last minute. We will keep delivering and we will do everything in our power to return this House stronger, more effective, more independent and better able to be the voice of all Europeans for the 10th legislature.

I will see you all in July, and now we vote.

(Applause)