What Tonino spoke about.

15 Dec

2022

EN Speech

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine due to Russia’s attacks against critical infrastructure and civilian areas (debate)

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Mr President, together with several colleagues, I visited Kyiv two weeks ago. Horrific numbers we hear about victims, destroyed objects and missiles targeted at civilian targets become truly real once you see it first—hand. Russia did not succeed with its military plans, so it is now targeting critical and civilian infrastructure. Over 65 000 destroyed objects and 17 000 airstrikes Ukraine endured…

14 Dec

2022

EN Speech

Defending democracy from foreign interference (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, our identity is under attack and some wrongdoings will have serious consequences for institutions’ reputations. Probably the most expected outcome of the latest corruption allegations is that the ones who profoundly threaten democracy within the EU, and from outside, will use this case as an alibi. So far, we have been more focused on the pride of holding the torch o…

22 Nov

2022

EN Speech

New EU strategy for enlargement (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, thank you all once again all of you for your remarks and contributions. I want to thank first of all the shadow rapporteurs for our excellent cooperation throughout the process. Of course, thank you all colleagues who took part in the debate with ideas, contributions, hopes and in some cases scepticism. As my introductory remarks were mostly focused on what the EU…

22 Nov

2022

EN Speech

New EU strategy for enlargement (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, thank you for the opportunity to present recommendations of the House on the new enlargement strategy. Thank you also for entrusting me with this important task at a time when enlargement becomes geopolitically strategic policy after 10 years of fatigue. The Russian aggression in Ukraine has had a tectonic impact on many of our policies. We all agree…

22 Nov

2022

EN Speech

EU response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, after the horrific tragedy of 22-year old Jina Mahsa Amini we are continuously witnessing inhumane actions in the Iranian regime. Iran is trying to suppress the fundamental right to protest in the most brutal way, including by issuing death sentences. More than 400 protesters have been killed and around 17 000 have been arrested by the security forces. News coming…

22 Nov

2022

EN Speech

EU-China relations (debate)

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Madam President, Mr High Representative, yes, it’s high time we debate our relations with China, which are essential for the European Union, our role as a global actor and our future development. The most essential task is to unite the position of Member States on this, and we continue to see individual actions that affect us all. We should simultaneously work on our industry redeployment as we wo…

9 Nov

2022

HR Speech

Full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in Croatia (debate)

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–The Honourable Chair, Mr Commissioner, Colleagues and colleagues, the Republic of Croatia fully deserves entry into Schengen as it has fulfilled all the required conditions, both technical and political. Croatia has the longest external land border of the European Union and wants to contribute to greater security on it, and the European Union hereby proves the functionality and attractiveness of …

19 Oct

2022

HR Speech

Outcome of the first meeting of the European Political Community (debate)

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The European political community must first prove what it is not. It must not in any way slow down the process of further enlargement of the European Union, let alone become an alternative to full membership of the European Union. In the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and far-reaching geopolitical shifts, we must indeed not water down the renewed interest in enlargement policy after a…

19 Oct

2022

EN Speech

Lukashenka regime's active role in the war against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, there are so many evidences of an active role of the Lukashenko regime in the Russian aggression on Ukraine since day one. Belarussian troops may not have been involved in the conflict; still, dozens of thousands of Russian troops were deployed to Belarus. Belarussian airspace was used for launching attacks against Ukraine. The supply of weapons for Russian armed …

19 Oct

2022

EN Speech

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, enlargement policy is not only about political and economic unity – it is founded in our values too. Following the common foreign policy might not be defined as key criteria, but it becomes today as one of the critical indicators of the commitment of the candidate countries. It cannot be dismissed or treated as a side issue that will gradually be aligned. Our posi…

19 Oct

2022

EN Speech

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October 2022 (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, Russian aggression against Ukraine and its multiple consequences remains our focal point, as it should. The most urgent remains energy prices. Taxation of excessive profits, joint purchase, and reallocation of unused EU funding are valid proposals. We need fast, innovative, and common solutions. But we should apply the same strategy and decisiveness to our foreign…

5 Oct

2022

EN Speech

Countering the anti-European and anti-Ukrainian propaganda of Putin’s European cronies (topical debate)

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Mr President, Mr Commissioner, it’s really hard to say what is worse, Russian war of aggression or Kremlin long—term propaganda. There is a clear political agenda to boost disinformation, propaganda, stimulate regional tensions to destabilise, while supporting radical and populist political options all over Europe. Pro—Russian political options come from the extremes, from populist backgrounds, an…

5 Oct

2022

EN Speech

Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, more than seven months since the start of its aggression, things are not going as planned for Russia. What was supposed to be a quick special military operation turned into a long battle, where Ukrainian forces showed exceptional bravery and even started to advance. The pipeline that was a significant source of financing for Russian aggression is sabotaged. In desperation the Kremlin…

14 Sep

2022

EN Speech

Economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU: the 8th Cohesion Report - EU border regions: living labs of European integration (debate)

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Madam President, first of all, congratulations to the rapporteurs for their excellent work. As a shadow rapporteur for the second report, I will focus my intervention on the border regions. The border regions’ importance goes beyond statistics. As the report’s title said, the border regions are living labs of European integration. Given the specificities of their positions and the challenges they …

13 Sep

2022

EN Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) The state of play of the war in Ukraine

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Thank you for your response. My second question will be a follow—up related to the Russian influence in the Western Balkans, and its effect evidently and for the long time has surpassed disinformation campaigns. Are there any new ideas and proposals, possible consequences, being considered in the case of the Western Balkans, in particular related to the countries and stakeholders where Russian inf…

13 Sep

2022

EN Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) The state of play of the war in Ukraine

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Mr High Representative, six months into an unjustified and illegal Russian aggression on Ukraine, we are encouraged very much by the resistance and successful counterattack by the Ukrainian army. Ukrainians pay the highest price of this war and they need, depend on and deserve our support. However, political, economic and social consequences of the war are felt globally. International reactions to…

6 Jul

2022

HR Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022 (continuation of debate)

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–Dear President, first of all, I would like to thank the Council and the Parliament for their support for the introduction of the euro in Croatia. The Council also recognised the changed geopolitical circumstances and finally sent a clear political signal on the readiness of the European Union for further enlargement. The European perspective has been confirmed for the three countries that deserve…

4 Jul

2022

HR Speech

US Supreme Court decision to overturn abortion rights in the United States and the need to safeguard abortion rights and Women’s health in the EU (debate)

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Thank you, Mrs. Chairman, the decision of the US Supreme Court to overturn the right to abortion is a dangerous precedent and evidence of ‘trumpism’, unfortunately, has not disappeared with his mandate. That is why we must do everything to prevent similar initiatives in our societies that are inspired by this humiliating decision. In these traumatic and never simple situations, women must be able …

22 Jun

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on Montenegro (debate)

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Madam President, I would like to thank all colleagues for tonight’s debate but above all, my colleagues the shadow rapporteurs for their great contribution to this report and for excellent cooperation. Tonight, the European Parliament once again showed its full support for the European future of Montenegro. I am more than convinced that Montenegro has the capacity to overcome the current problems …

22 Jun

2022

HR Speech

2021 Report on Montenegro (debate)

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Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Colleagues, it is honourable to present the report on Montenegro for the second time, this time for 2021. At the beginning, I would like to highlight two key facts. Montenegro is the furthest away on the Eurointegration path and has opened all chapters. And almost 80% of Montenegrin citizens support the country's accession to the European Union. Mont…

22 Jun

2022

EN Speech

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022, including the meeting with Western Balkan leaders on 23 June - Candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia (debate)

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Mr President, the summit this week is of historical importance that we cannot miss to use. Enlargement policy should cease to be a side policy but part of the EU’s mainstream again. We have to grant candidacy status to Ukraine and Moldova as a sign of our clear political support and our recognition of their commitment. Georgia deserves the same, but has to follow up on the clearly determined condi…

7 Jun

2022

EN Speech

The EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a reset and tectonic shift in many political attitudes and policy responses. One of the main lessons is that the common foreign, security and defence policies of the Union can no longer be the weakest link in our integration. We all agree to condemn Russian aggression in the strongest possible terms. By defending itself, Ukraine defends us too, …

6 Jun

2022

HR Speech

EU islands and cohesion policy (debate)

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Dear Chair, Mr Commissioner, I congratulate the rapporteur, Mr Omarjee, and welcome the debate on this important report. For several years now, in the European Parliament, we have been continuously fighting for European islands and islanders, almost 20 million of them on 2,400 inhabited islands, but we can do more and better at both European and national level. The methodology and all relevant Com…

6 Jun

2022

EN Speech

The EEAS’s Climate Change and Defence Roadmap (debate)

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Mr President, I would like to congratulate the rapporteur, Mr Waitz, because I believe the report is timely and shows that this House is a leader in topics that will shape our future. The world has changed since 24 February, and so the view of many on our defence. We need more cooperation between our Member States and with our partners, through a set of actions. I believe in importance to prepare …

18 May

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

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Mr President, congratulations to the rapporteur, Mr Kyuchyuk, but it’s another report on North Macedonia where we, unfortunately, cannot welcome an intergovernmental conference and the start of the accession negotiations with the European Union. North Macedonia did everything it was requested to do, and yet we still do not know the date the country deserves. They underwent substantial reforms, inc…