What Tonino spoke about.

19 Jun

2025

HR Speech

Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges (debate)

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The geopolitical situation in the world is a good argument in favour of the continuation of the enlargement policy. However, that does not mean deviating from the ‘Copenhagen criteria’, on the contrary - they must be implemented consistently in practice. The European Union should only support real, not fictitious, reforms and react immediately when the criteria are met. Although enlargement is onc…

18 Jun

2025

EN Speech

Upcoming NATO summit on 24-26 June 2025 (debate)

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Madam President, High Representative, colleagues, the upcoming NATO summit is happening in much different circumstances than a year ago. Now, more than ever, we must show our commitment and responsibility for the future of this alliance. Within these commitments, we will pursue the new spending target for defence. However, defence is not only about percentages. No other global player currently fac…

17 Jun

2025

HR Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Montenegro (debate)

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Dear Chairman, Mrs. Commissioner, first of all congratulates our colleague Šarec on creating a good document that we are discussing today. Montenegro has been leading the Euro-integration process for years with the ambition to join the European Union as soon as possible. On this path, internal problems were often more challenging for Montenegro than negotiation chapters. I recall the uneven pace o…

7 May

2025

EN Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia (A10-0072/2025 - Tonino Picula) (vote)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, the reason for this oral amendment is the need to change a sad fact. Unfortunately, instead of 15 victims of the tragic event in Novi Sad, today we have to count one more: a young man, Vukašin Crnčević, left us in the meantime. So paragraph 23 now reads: 'Expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the 16 victims who lost their lives and to those who were…

7 May

2025

EN Speech

EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, the European Union has to keep playing an active role in supporting peace in Ukraine, which would be based on fair grounds and not as a quasi solution leading to an unjust frozen conflict. I believe this position is shared also among our like-minded partners. We used to once again stress our respect for international law and for Ukrainian territorial integrity. We must not forget …

6 May

2025

HR Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia (debate)

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First of all, thank you to all for your speeches, ideas, support, but also to those who have a completely different opinion. Of course, I would particularly like to thank my fellow shadow rapporteurs and assistants for the excellent cooperation and work they have done to enrich the content of this report. I would just like to point out that Serbia's path towards the European Union is extremely com…

6 May

2025

HR Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia (debate)

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Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Colleagues, I am pleased to welcome you at the end of the months-long process of drafting the European Parliament's annual report on Serbia, which I present for the first time as a standing rapporteur. On the personal side, I must say that this was a very challenging duty, which, unfortunately, included non-diplomatic practices, unfounded accusations, manipulat…

6 May

2025

EN Speech

Protecting Greenland's right to decide its own future and maintain the rule-based world order (debate)

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Madam President, Madam High Representative, dear colleagues, the sound of the US walking away from the long-term partnership is loud and clear. These provocative statements about Greenland coming from the Trump administration are not part of the summer ranting at a rally. On the contrary, these problematic messages reach global audiences. Some say disregard the rhetoric, just look at executive ord…

6 May

2025

EN Speech

A unified EU response to unjustified US trade measures and global trade opportunities for the EU (debate)

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Mr President, as the global order is under serious pressure, relations with our key ally are becoming one of the most important challenges we must address. It is clear that President Trump is using tariffs as a tool for blackmail. We must be prepared to respond to them equally. If he backs off, we can de-escalate, respecting our trade and digital services laws. It's not just about the trade in goo…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

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Madam President, Madam High Representative, colleagues, both documents are a complex reflection of a very challenging, uncertain and changing international environment, requiring constant updates as we wake up every morning with the new uncertainties. The indispensable importance of transatlantic partnership should be enhanced with the more realistic approach after all the threats and offensive st…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

White paper on the future of European defence (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, four years ago, many expected that NATO would be back to business as usual, and that Trump was a one-time incident. We also had the strategic compass drafted. Unfortunately, the turbulent developments of today’s world show us how that expectation was wrong, and how we cannot take things for granted anymore. Strengthening our collective defence to res…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

European Council meetings and European security (joint debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, I welcome the proposal to strengthen European Union defence capabilities with ReArm Europe, and I call on Member States to proceed forward. I also believe that this House will support an even more ambitious position. It goes without saying that the transatlantic disruption caused by the new US administration has brought us long-term geopolitical changes. We must n…

11 Feb

2025

HR Speech

Political crisis in Serbia (debate)

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Mrs. Chairman, Mrs. Commissioner, dear colleagues, the tragedy in Novi Sad has sparked civil protests that have grown into a broad social movement. The reasons for the discontent are related to the rule of law situation, respect for democratic standards and financial transparency in Serbia. I once again express my support to all young people who peacefully and with dignity demand a better future f…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (debate)

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Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, three years after morning news that changed the world, we can only echo our full support and commitment to Ukrainian people and their heroic fight against the Russian aggressor. The war against Ukraine is now in its critical phase. While the situation remains uncertain in so many ways, it is important to stress that no negotiations can result vict…

21 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration (debate)

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Mr President, unfortunately, all the worrying expectations were confirmed during yesterday's inauguration day. The United States stepped into the new era of transactional politics, where merits, facts and values mean little and international law is not a standard. It's all wisely masked under many labels to gain larger public support. After the super election of 2024, we have entered the super unc…

18 Dec

2024

EN Speech

Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit (debate)

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Madam President, the Western Balkans Summit is coming up in the middle of the busy enlargement week. As enlargement policy becomes again mainstream, it is crucial to uphold the merit-based process based on all of the Copenhagen criteria. Lack of consistency from the EU leadership, mixed with the particular interests of Member States, affects our credibility. We can rebuild trust in the European Un…

17 Dec

2024

EN Speech

Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, Madam High Representative, dear colleagues, I would like to start my speech by strongly condemning Russia's persistent disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine. Why does Russia use disinformation and falsification? Because their actions have no justification under international law. Most probably, this debate will enable a number…

26 Nov

2024

EN Speech

Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia (debate)

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Madam President, during 1 000 days of war, EUR 122 billion available for assistance and, finally, one million artillery shells delivered. European perspective step by step became a reality. As Europeans, we can be proud of our actions, but we must continue. On the other side, direct involvement of North Korea and the new nuclear doctrine, warmongering and war crimes. More support to Ukraine and st…

13 Nov

2024

EN Answer

EU-US relations in light of the outcome of the US presidential elections (debate)

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Of course, thank you for the question. Reality, facts show that the US and EU economy combined matters 40 % of world GDP. I do not think that President Trump will do anything which might hurt American business interests. So I do hope – and I believe that there will be a rational approach towards the European Union – that he will not be very harsh in planning his next moves. If you don't know, I wo…

13 Nov

2024

EN Speech

EU-US relations in light of the outcome of the US presidential elections (debate)

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Madam President, High Representative, dear colleagues, the election of Donald Trump most probably will have enormous repercussions. It will not affect only EU-US relations, but it will also define what we want from our Europe. It will face us with many challenges, economic, trade, military and defence-wise. That is why we need to be more prepared than we were eight years ago when 'Trump Part 1' ha…

13 Nov

2024

HR Speech

Signature of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 81)

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Dear President, dear colleagues, on November 1st this year there was a terrible, tragic incident in Novi Sad in the Republic of Serbia when a concrete canopy collapsed at the main railway station in the city. This unfortunate event resulted in the loss of fourteen lives. The railway station has been under reconstruction for the past three years. Investigations into the causes of the collapse are c…

22 Oct

2024

EN Speech

State sponsored terrorism by the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the recent attacks in Europe (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, blasts in Stockholm and Copenhagen, as well as the verdict of the court in Düsseldorf two years ago, should be convincing arguments for the European Union to take decisive actions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. While we fully respect the heritage of the JCPOA agreement, our relations with Iran are multifaceted and more complex. Women's and human ri…

8 Oct

2024

EN Speech

Strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, fighting interference and disinformation does not stop at our borders, as all sorts of authoritarian regimes are increasing their activity in our immediate neighbourhood. Russia, with its ongoing military presence in Transnistria, is a destabilising factor per se, meaning that the hybrid warfare to put Moldova under the Kremlin's control should be unacceptable for all pro…

17 Sep

2024

EN Speech

Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, in the last two and a half years, the European Union supported Ukraine substantially more than many would have predicted. However, our to-do list is still very long. The start of the new legislative mandate is an opportunity to live up to the existing commitments, but we must continue to improve the efficiency of our sanctions and our military and economic support. T…

24 Apr

2024

HR Speech

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (debate)

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More than 200 days after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel, the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza will clearly need to be further addressed by urgently de-escalating new conflicts erupting across the region. The chronic desperate situation in the Middle East is putting increasing strain on the involvement of Iranian proxies operating in countries such as Lebanon and Yemen. But what can r…