What Tonino spoke about.

3 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia (debate)

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Madam President, nine months of blockade of the Lachin corridor were a clear warning of what, unfortunately, followed last month. We should denounce in strongest terms Azerbaijan’s use of military escalation, preceded by deprivation of essential goods as a means to force the exodus of the local population. This unfortunate course of events also uncovers the Russian peacekeeping forces’ real politi…

2 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, dear colleagues, on behalf of the S&D Group, I would like to request the addition of the resolution to be voted on in October II linked to Tuesday’s debate, Council and Commission statements: recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo. Colleagues, you very well know the recent developments, even during the pa…

13 Sep

2023

EN Speech

Opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals (debate)

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Mr President, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, I support the opening of the negotiations on this agreement while fully underlying the questions that have been formally asked as an introduction to this debate. I commend the Commission for its efforts and results, and hope that all the existing EU acquis on trade, development and forced labour will be entirely respected with this agreement. Furthermo…

12 Sep

2023

EN Speech

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

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–Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, we are witnessing yet another form of blackmail, yet another stunt by the regime in Moscow. The so-called facts that Kremlin propagandists forge are false, but keep serving its manipulative narrative, thus disseminating disinformation. Putin’s recent actions in Africa are particularly important in this context. As usual, he accuses the West of everything…

12 Jul

2023

EN Speech

Recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption (debate)

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Madam President, our House definitely is not the same place since Qatargate arrests and revelation took place. It is up to us to make a better place, not only European Union or world, but European Parliament in the first place. The damage has been made, but we must learn valuable lessons from it. On the other hand, foreign interference, changed geopolitical circumstances and all disinformation hap…

12 Jul

2023

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular the recent developments in the war against Ukraine and in Russia (debate)

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Mr President, it was a Council meeting of strategic importance on how we see the role of the Union when facing emerging global threats and challenges. On Ukraine, our commitment continues strong, and we have shown in practice that we stand for Ukraine politically, militarily and economically. One million rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine before March 2024 is a welcomed and concrete commit…

11 Jul

2023

HR Speech

2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

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28 years ago, there was a genocide in Srebrenica. Victims should never be forgotten. Justice must catch up with all criminals, and politics must prevent such a crime from happening again anytime and anywhere. But today Milorad Dodik denies the genocide in Srebrenica with the same ease as the existence of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state. He persistently provokes to divert attention from the legal…

13 Jun

2023

HR Speech

Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)

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Dear Chairman, Dear colleagues. Russia again proves that it does not choose the means to achieve the objectives of its aggression against Ukraine. A kada su ti ciljevi ugroženi, njihove zločinačke akcije imaju sve brutalnije posljedice. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, with its humanitarian, social and economic consequences, is accompanied by an environmental disaster. That is why they ar…

9 May

2023

HR Speech

2022 Report on Serbia (debate)

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Dear Chairman, first of all, my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in last week's armed attacks. Tragic events are a reminder of the chronic problems of Serbia, the personal power of one man, the occupation of the state and its institutions, the glorification of war criminals and the toxic media scene. Key democratic indicators confirm that Serbia is stagnating, stagnati…

19 Apr

2023

EN Speech

Children forcibly deported from Ukraine and the ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin (debate)

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Mr President, of course it’s of great importance to address this revealing topic today. We continue to witness horrendous war crimes executed by the Russian forces as well as continuously forced deportations of thousands of Ukrainian children. Officially, 16 000 Ukrainian children were abducted, but the true number might be even higher. We had a resolution on the special tribunal for the crime of …

18 Apr

2023

EN Speech

The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations (debate)

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Mr President, the key question today is, what is our common position on China? We witnessed weekly visits of Member States’ and institutional leaders to China, but we certainly lack coherence. Our relations with China should not become another issue that creates internal divisions. One does not prove strategic autonomy by being autonomous from other Member States, and institution leaders should th…

15 Mar

2023

EN Speech

Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, we are all aware of our long-standing problems in defence: duplication of resources, lack of coordination and collective action, and low speed of developing them jointly. For a long time, there was no real need nor political will. Now there is a both but we have institutional obstacles that prevent us from doing it at the needed speed. The inability of the …

14 Mar

2023

EN Speech

The challenges facing the Republic of Moldova (debate)

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Mr President, the European Parliament will remain a strong supporter of all of the reform processes in Moldova. With a change of political context following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and pro-European orientation of the country, Moldovan efforts should be acknowledged in many ways. We should do more. We cannot forget that part of Moldovan territory has been under Russian occupation for a long…

14 Mar

2023

EN Speech

Situation in Georgia (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the only positive element about the political situation in Georgia is that the law on the transparency of foreign influence is withdrawn. Copying wrong solutions is never a good practice. Citizens did the right thing by standing up to it. It’s good that their pressure had a positive outcome. The similarities with the original law in Russia are as evident as …

14 Mar

2023

EN Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) - Strengthening the Trans-Atlantic ties in an ever challenging multilateral world

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My second question is related to the fact that we are days away from very important presidential elections in Montenegro, following almost three years of political instability and no progress on their European Union path. How much is the US involved in fixing instability concerning the Montenegrin Government, fighting disinformation and external influence and trying to get the country back on trac…

14 Mar

2023

EN Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) - Strengthening the Trans-Atlantic ties in an ever challenging multilateral world

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Mr High Representative, welcome to the House. It is very timely that we met and discussed our global cooperation with the USA today in the deteriorating security environment at our borders and with a number of security challenges arising across the world daily. EU Member States have stood by Ukraine throughout Russia’s war of aggression with every means possible, including through military support…

15 Feb

2023

EN Speech

One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Commission President, Mr High Representative. The ongoing political crisis in Moldova shows us that Russia is not limiting its assertive actions only to Ukraine. Through disinformation and foreign interference, Russia is trying to provoke a political crisis within the European Union and along European borders. With one year since the start of the Russian aggression, what are…

14 Feb

2023

EN Speech

Question Time (Commission) - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

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I would like to remind the Commissioner that I also asked about the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative, about your stance on it – what’s your take on the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative?

14 Feb

2023

EN Speech

Question Time (Commission) - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

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Mr Commissioner, I reflect on two subjects from your portfolio: Montenegro and the rule of law. As the former leader in accession progress, Montenegro, alongside Serbia, is the only country that did not progress on the EU accession path in the last year. We have witnessed almost two years of political instability and we still do not have a new government in place. Nor is there any decision on the …

13 Feb

2023

HR Speech

EU response to the humanitarian situation following the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria (debate)

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Dear Chairman, Mr Commissioner, I extend my deepest condolences to the citizens of Turkey and Syria. This is an unimaginable tragedy of immense proportions and endless sadness. I want the survivors to have the strength to rebuild their lives from the ruins, not to be overcome by despair, however difficult it may be. I call on the European Union to provide all possible assistance to alleviate the s…

2 Feb

2023

EN Speech

Preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit (debate)

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Madam President, I welcome this initiative to gather in Kyiv to witness the extraordinary courage and resilience of Ukrainians and show our support. Yes, this is the first European Union summit to be held in the country where war is raging, so its historical significance must meet tangible results with clear guidelines and plans for immediate future. The key message of the summit must be that we s…

17 Jan

2023

EN Speech

EU response to the protests and executions in Iran (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, we must not stay silent on what is happening in Iran. People are dying fighting for freedom, and the actions of the Iranian regime are twilight of humanity. That punishment and torture are weaponised on people that are exercising their basic rights. The Iranian regime is brutal, cynical and barbaric. In their desperation and increased isolation, the regime is even…

17 Jan

2023

EN Speech

The establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, I wish to start by giving my full support to establishing a tribunal of crime of aggression in Ukraine. In this House, I have been calling for it since May. Last week’s attacks on civilians in Dnipro are the most brutal reminder of why we need to establish this court without delay. The ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor of the ICC into the situa…

17 Jan

2023

EN Speech

The EU’s response to the appalling attack against civilians in Dnipro : strengthening sanctions against the Putin regime and military support to Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, the recent attack against civilians in Dnipro is a stark reminder that the European Union must take decisive action in response. Following that attack, the number of civilian victims surpassed 7 000, and we are still missing the data on missing persons. It’s good that we have this discussion today, and it will be even better if the next package strengthening sanct…

17 Jan

2023

EN Speech

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

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Mr President, Mr High Representative, first of all, congratulations to the colleagues who worked on these documents. The brutal war in Ukraine marked the past year and exposed several of our shortcomings that we need to address and in many ways we reacted in a positive, unprecedented way. Despite many challenges and some countries regressing, I am particularly content that the enlargement policy i…