What Dubravka spoke about.

7 Jul

2025

EN Speech

Arbitrary sentencing of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and journalist Christophe Gleizes (debate)

Watch

Madam President, honourable Members, thank you for this debate. In these difficult times when democratic principles and human rights are increasingly challenged, it is important to show that the European Union continues to uphold and promote these fundamental values. This debate also shows that the European Union has not forgotten the writer Boualem Sansal, and is now expressing solidarity to the …

7 Jul

2025

EN Speech

Arbitrary sentencing of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and journalist Christophe Gleizes (debate)

Watch

Madam President, good evening, dear Members of the European Parliament. It is with dismay that we find ourselves here again debating the imprisonment of Boualem Sansal. On 1 July, the Court of Appeal of Algiers has confirmed his five-year prison sentence, handed down at first instance on 27 March. We had hoped that during the appeal hearing, the judicial authorities would finally consider that the…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Deteriorating situation in Gaza following the non-extension of the ceasefire (debate)

Watch

Madam President, honourable Members, thank you very much for your contributions. I have been listening carefully. In my introductory statement, I already said a lot. So, against all odds, there are also opportunities with the dire situation in Gaza. As a short-term measure, we need to focus on the resumption of full access to humanitarian aid. After all, it is about the most pressing needs of the …

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Deteriorating situation in Gaza following the non-extension of the ceasefire (debate)

Watch

Madam President, Council President, honourable Members, we are very worried by the evolution of the situation in Gaza and the threats to the fragile ceasefire. We continue to call on both parties to ensure that the ceasefire lasts and that all hostages can and will be released. The first priority for Gaza currently is to resume full access to humanitarian aid. Let us recall that there are 3.1 mill…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear Members of the Parliament, thank you for your contributions to this debate. All of us know, and all of us agree, that Syria's transition is in the making, that the path to stability and prosperity is long, and that the challenges are numerous, but we should remain there. This is something I hope all of us agree on. Only a few words on the latest outbreak of violence. So we we…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria (debate)

Watch

Madam Chair, Presidency of the Council, honourable Members, thank you for having this very timely debate on Syria. The resolution that you will adopt tomorrow is the first of this Parliament after the fall of the Assad regime, and it is a vital contribution to the further shaping of the European position. When we last debated the situation in the country, here in this House in mid-December, the fo…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (debate)

Watch

Mr President, honourable Members, thank you for your interventions – I will try to reply to some of your questions. The European Union's position is clear and has remained consistent throughout the discussions with both partner countries. The Commission will not support concrete investments in mineral processing for which the origin is uncertain. In Rwanda, current European Union support focuses o…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (debate)

Watch

Mr President, honourable Members, dear Minister Szłapka, what is happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not a new crisis; it is an escalation of the crisis within the crisis. The humanitarian situation is devastating. Already before the latest developments, there were 800 000 internally displaced persons around Goma, cramped in heavily populated sites for displaced persons. Since the…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy (debate)

Watch

Mr President, honourable Members, thank you for your interventions, for your feedback and your comments, which are very useful. This debate shows clearly that the Middle East region is a very important and crucial region for Europe. But more united and active European involvement is of paramount importance. I will try to reply to some of your questions. First of all, we are not silent. This is not…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy (debate)

Watch

Madam President, Minister Szłapka, honourable Members of the European Parliament, it is an honour to be here to present the Commission's foreseen contribution to the European Union-Middle East strategy. The wider Middle East is a region of key importance for the European Union in terms of geopolitical positioning, security and stability, and economic cooperation. It is also one of the most volatil…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

Watch

Mr President, honourable Members, I have been listening carefully to all of the debates since 09:00 this morning, this being the most important one, of course, due to my portfolio. I understand that this is a political arena and all of you are speaking either from your own political background or from your party background, but I want to go back to my introductory statement just to repeat some iss…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

Watch

Mr President, Presidency of the Council, honourable Members, I am happy to have the opportunity today to discuss with you one of the most prominent challenges for our societies, demographic change, and to outline where we are with the implementation of the Demography Toolbox. It is very good that we are having this debate here in this House within the first 100 days of this Commission. In fact, as…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Uniting Europe against actors hostile to the EU: time to strengthen our security and defence (topical debate)

Watch

Madam President, honourable Members, first of all, I would like to thank Ms Strack‑Zimmerman in particular for initiating this debate. She hasn't heard me, but okay. The debate illustrates the importance of continuously strengthening our security and defence posture. This means with the financial resources, military equipment, but more importantly, with the strong will and commitment, not only in …

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Uniting Europe against actors hostile to the EU: time to strengthen our security and defence (topical debate)

Watch

Dear honourable Members, to respond to the complex threat landscape, we have made the defence and security of our citizens a top priority of this Commission's mandate. Russia's brutal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine now enters into its third year. Our adversaries are increasingly using hybrid threats to undermine and influence our democratic and economic systems and our institutions. Cyb…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Polish Presidency (debate)

Watch

Madam President, Prime Minister. Honourable Members, I sincerely thank you for this debate and your contributions to the challenges we are facing with regard to the crucial security items. They have been neatly addressed by the Polish Presidency. To a very large degree, we see a sense of shared purpose and a joint determination in this House to tackle the priorities of the Polish Presidency, and t…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Polish Presidency (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear Prime Minister, honourable Members, it won't be easy to speak now after this speech, but I will try my best. The Polish Presidency comes at a time when the Union is facing multiple challenges. We are experiencing a time of geostrategic insecurity, concrete external and internal security threats, and less predictable international relations all together. Yes, this is also a ti…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024 (debate)

Watch

Madam President, honourable Members. many thanks for this lively debate and very constructive debate. As all of us know, the world is moving fast. So must we. As has become evident recently, the geostrategic and security context is more challenging for the European Union than ever before. However, we can build on some solid ground of unity and togetherness, and we should engage constructively with…

17 Dec

2024

EN Speech

Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia (debate)

Watch

Mr President, honourable Members, I was listening carefully to all your remarks. For months, the people of Georgia have been demonstrating their undeniable attachment to democratic values and European future. The European Union will not abandon them on their journey. We will further step up our support to civil society and independent media so they can continue their work during this crucial perio…

17 Dec

2024

EN Speech

Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia (debate)

Watch

Mr President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, for almost three weeks, the Georgian people have been protesting across the country to defend their democratic and European future. The unprecedented protests followed the announcement by the Georgian authorities of their decision not to seek the opening of accession negotiations until 2028. This step is a clear shift from the policies o…

13 Mar

2024

EN Speech

Creation of a European initiative for an annual designation of European capitals for children (debate)

Watch

– Madam President, thank you, dear honourable Members, I have listened attentively to your remarks, and thank you for your visions and for your proposal. I can agree that we have to give children a voice. As a preliminary draft assessment, the Commission believes that such an initiative would require analysis, preparation, building on existing initiatives and already available funding schemes, in …

13 Mar

2024

EN Speech

Creation of a European initiative for an annual designation of European capitals for children (debate)

Watch

– Madam President, honourable Members, I want to thank you for presenting this initiative. Working on democracy and demography, we have the word , meaning people. Our work in the European Commission also signifies taking into account the views of all generations in our democracy. When it comes to children, I want to make the point that they are our agents of change. Throughout my mandate, children…

13 Mar

2024

EN Speech

Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia (debate)

Watch

– Madam President, honourable Members, there is no need to repeat what has been said here this morning. But I have to say that I would subscribe all the statements this morning but one, which was really horrible, by the pro-Russian guy, who tried to disseminate this disinformation, fake news and propaganda. To hear this was disgusting. The Commission is committed to continue supporting the work of…

13 Mar

2024

EN Speech

Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia (debate)

Watch

– Madam President, dear friends from Ukraine, dear honourable Members, dear minister, a generation of Ukrainian children has experienced more than a year of fear, loss, tragedy and violence. They had to leave life as they know it behind them. Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine is having a devastating effect on all Ukrainians, but especially on children. The European Union is not si…

27 Feb

2024

EN Speech

Driving licences (debate)

Watch

– Madam President, honourable Members, I want to thank you for this interesting debate. I took note of all your comments and also questions, and please be reassured that I will convey all of them to Commissioner Vălean. The debate shows that the views on the medical checks and the self-assessment are divergent. That is why in our Commission proposal we left the final decision to the Member States.…

27 Feb

2024

EN Speech

Driving licences (debate)

Watch

– Madam President, honourable Members, on behalf of my colleague, Commissioner Vălean, who cannot participate in this debate due to other institutional commitments, I would like to thank the TRAN Chair, Karima Delli, the shadow rapporteurs and the rest of the Committee for their quick and constructive work on our proposal to update the Driving Licence Directive. This is a historic piece of legisla…