Sixty years on from the birth of the European Union, our continent and the world have achieved spectacular progress, while still battling some global challenges. What we have always aimed for - that the life of every citizen is better, more secure and longer - will become a reality if the European Parliament can find the right solutions to the issues that threaten our welfare and safety.
That is why it is a privilege for me to chair the ENVI committee, which has tremendous responsibilities in ensuring a sustainable future for our citizens and industries and in setting standards for public health and ensuring the safety of our food supplies.
We aim to build a viable pathway, in which all citizens can benefit from a cleaner environment, created in a fair partnership with all the relevant stakeholders, including both the citizens and the industry sectors.
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Looking at the impressive track record of the ENVI committee over the first half of this parliamentary term, I am immensely proud of the work already achieved.
Take for instance the Paris agreement, an unprecedented global commitment to bring global warming to a halt. We are committed to supporting EU member states in creating their chosen roadmaps and achieving their objectives.
I am also very proud of the important work carried out in often very complex regulatory areas, such as the emissions trading system, medical devices or the circular economy package.
Furthermore, significant action has been taken on wildlife trafficking, the curbing of antibiotics use in farming, and the setting of air quality caps. I intend to continue these efforts and to make sure that the ongoing negotiations with the other European institutions safeguard Parliament's position and the best interests of our citizens.
Together with the Maltese presidency of the European Council, we are working on a number of important priorities, such as combatting the effects of climate change and finalising the circular economy package. We also aim to focus on the 2030 sustainable development agenda.
Moreover, we remain committed to our work on the Arctic region, aiming to strike the right balance between protection of the High North and drilling necessities. The investigation and regulation of car emissions are also high up among our priorities.
Not lastly, we are working on new provisions for the use of pesticides. We are closely considering, together with our relevant agencies, the growing antibiotic resistance in humans, which can pose significant threats to public health. For all these aims to come to fruition, we very much need the input and cooperation of EU member states.
In the context of Brexit and the upcoming general elections in several European members this year, we remain committed to the EU environmental legislation and food safety standards. What the United Kingdom chooses to do in this regard will be a matter of national competence, but I am convinced the only way forward for our relationship is to find a good bilateral deal, that will benefit all our citizens.
The Dutch, French and German elections are important moments for the EU project. Given the added value of European legislation in the areas of environment, health and food safety, I see no danger regarding a possible reduction of standards in the upcoming elections in France and Germany.
However, Europe's previous tendency to over-regulate on environment policy, has had an impact on both our citizens and our industries' perceptions of EU law.
That is why I find the Refit exercise and the reduction of the European Commission's legislative output particularly welcome. It is extremely important to look over what we did right, eliminate what we did wrong and focus on necessary, impactful legislation.
The previous Commission had a mantra of promoting legislation after legislation on the environment, often bringing more red tape and less of the intended results of creating a sustainable framework for pollution reduction while ensuring a prosperous economy.
Thus, I am particularly happy with the reasonable approach taken by this Commission, making sure that any legislation proposed is necessary, carefully discussed with all stakeholders and future-proof.
On our side, in the European Parliament, we also hold regular meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, such as industry players, environmental NGOs, patient associations, health industry professionals, citizens and consumers' organisations.
The aim of these meetings is to listen to all points of view and to exchange opinions on important dossiers that are going to impact several sectors of the economy and society.
I would personally like to see a higher level of involvement from citizens themselves in the debates about the future of this continent. And here I am referring in particular to the younger generations, because Europe's youth will have to live longer with the decisions we are taking here on the future of our environment and healthcare systems.
We have a packed agenda of legislative initiatives and negotiations ahead and I am looking forward to delivering the best results and to reaffirming the EU's added value in citizens' daily lives.