What Dubravka spoke about.

12 Dec

2023

EN Speech

Defence of democracy package (debate)

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– Madam President, dear Members, first reply to some of your comments. First of all, this is not a foreign-agents law. We are not asking for any labels to be assigned to anyone. In fact, we are including safeguards against such actions. We are not limiting who can participate in the European public space, and we are not prescribing any penalties or limitations for those who receive funding from fo…

12 Dec

2023

EN Speech

Defence of democracy package (debate)

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– Madam President, dear Members, as Vice-President Jourová has said, this is a diverse and rich package which aims to strengthen and defend our democracy from threats wherever they may come from. She has spoken to you about two aspects of this package, while I will present how we are working together to strengthen the resilience of our democracy from within. I was not born in a democracy, as all o…

23 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Young researchers (debate)

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– Madam President, it is evident that the substantial amount of work done to strengthen research careers in Europe needs to be adequately implemented at all levels, if we want the real improvement of careers on the ground. The support of the European Parliament will be paramount in this respect. The Commission is fully committed to further strengthening the initiatives undertaken within the Europe…

23 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Young researchers (debate)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss with you the important issue of young researchers or early-stage researchers. Allow me to begin by mentioning the specific actions that the Commission is undertaking in the European Research Area, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders. We have made a proposal for a Council recommendation on a Europe…

23 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Digitalisation of cross-border judicial cooperation - Digitalisation of cross-border judicial cooperation (amendment of certain directives and framework decisions) (joint debate – Judicial cooperation)

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– Mr President, thank you very much for this fruitful debate. Allow me to thank you again, and not only for the debate, but for the work that Parliament put in on this new digitalisation of justice package. It is a key step to achieve the digital transformation of judicial cooperation in cross-border cases. It is also a crucial piece of legislation to ensure an uninterrupted access to justice to e…

23 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Digitalisation of cross-border judicial cooperation - Digitalisation of cross-border judicial cooperation (amendment of certain directives and framework decisions) (joint debate – Judicial cooperation)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, I am pleased to be with you today for this debate about the new regulation and directive ‘digitalising judicial cooperation and access to justice in cross-border civil, commercial and criminal matters’. I am replacing Commissioner Reynders, who unfortunately could not be here today. Let me start by expressing the Commission’s appreciation for the swift conclusio…

23 Nov

2023

EN Speech

International day for the elimination of violence against women (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, we heard many different and shocking stories this morning, but also we heard figures, which makes us even more alert. This international day is an important occasion to take stock of what has been done to end such violence, but, more importantly, it gives us the opportunity to assess what still needs to be done. The immediate and long-term physical, sexual and m…

23 Nov

2023

EN Speech

International day for the elimination of violence against women (debate)

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– Mr President, dear honourable Members, we mark this international day on 25 November annually as, unfortunately, violence against women and girls remains a pervasive violation of human rights in the European Union and around the world. Violence against women and girls remains one of the least prosecuted crimes, and it is a key barrier to progressing on women’s rights and to safeguarding the comm…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

The killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen, by Russia’s occupying forces in Georgia

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– Madam President, honourable Members, this year marks 15 years of Russia’s illegal presence in Georgia, since the war in 2008. The European Union’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia is as strong as ever. We condemn Russia’s continued military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which violates international law and the commitments undertaken by Russia. Local commun…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

The unlawful detention of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger

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– Madam President, almost four months after the coup in Niger, President Bazoum is still detained, with his wife and son, in the presidential palace in very difficult conditions. He has not resigned as the junta leaders would like. The EU should continue to pay tribute to his courage and perseverance. Since the beginning of this crisis, the High Representative has been very clear. On many occasion…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Latest attacks against women and women's rights defenders in Iran, and Iran's arbitrary detention of EU nationals

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– Madam President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, this year’s Sakharov Prize shows the European full support for human rights and the respect, protection and fulfilment of fundamental freedoms, in Iran and elsewhere. We were all impressed and moved by the extraordinary courage of women and men in Iran following Mahsa Amini’s death in September last year. The decision of the Nobel C…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Revised pollinators initiative - a new deal for pollinators (debate)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, a few months ago, in March, we had a rich debate about the European Citizens’ initiative ‘Save bees and farmers!’, which was mentioned by some of you this evening. That debate clearly indicated how European citizens have great expectations for European policies in support of pollinators. I want to thank you for your efforts to build on that, and for the stron…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Revised pollinators initiative - a new deal for pollinators (debate)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, it is a great pleasure to see the support from this House for the EU pollinators initiative. All of us know that we cannot live without pollinators. Without them, our food security, livelihoods and nature are seriously undermined. Right now, bee, butterfly and hoverfly populations continue to collapse, with many on the verge of extinction. Hence, the Commissi…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, I would like to thank you for sharing your views on enlargement policy and for further stressing the importance of the Copenhagen criteria. But before thanking and concluding, I would like to reply to a few questions. First to Mr Mariani, who unfortunately left, and to Ms Konečná, on Ukraine. Only a few words. The question was: has Ukraine received special treat…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, 30 years ago the Copenhagen Criteria were established by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 and strengthened by the Madrid European Council in 1995. They set clear benchmarks on the basis of which aspiring European Member States’ accession paths could be assessed. The Copenhagen criteria are the following: First, stability and institutions guaranteeing demo…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Cyprus Confidential - need to curb enablers of sanctions-evasion and money-laundering rules in the EU (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable members, dear colleagues, I want to thank you for your views and for your comments. Before I start concluding, may I reply to Ms in ‘t Veld, to Mr Georgiou, to Mr Fuglsang. I will repeat, the European Commission opened an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to Cyprus on 14 July this year, on the grounds of its incorrect transposition of the curren…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Cyprus Confidential - need to curb enablers of sanctions-evasion and money-laundering rules in the EU (debate)

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– Mr President, the Cyprus Confidential investigation has made serious allegations of sanctions circumvention and money laundering in Cyprus. According to the investigation, there may also have been instances of tax avoidance or even tax evasion involved. We note that the Cypriot authorities have already announced that they will investigate these matters. We are raising these issues with them too.…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Destruction of judicial independence and the persecution of democrats in Hong Kong (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, this debate shows that Hong Kong matters to the European Union. We have strong economic ties. The European Union remains the largest foreign business community in Hong Kong. Some 1 600 companies are in business in Hong Kong. The last year, the European Union was Hong Kong’s third largest trading partner in goods, after mainland China and Taiwan. At the same time…

22 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Destruction of judicial independence and the persecution of democrats in Hong Kong (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong over three years ago, in June 2020. Since then, we have witnessed the rights and freedoms that the people of Hong Kong enjoyed in the past decline rapidly and dramatically. Hong Kong has changed fundamentally. The political opposition in Hong Kong is now effectively muted. Most independent media outlets closed…

21 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)

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– Mr President, dear honourable Members, I was listening carefully the whole afternoon. This was a very interesting debate, and as Executive Vice-President Šefčovič already underlined, I would like to thank Parliament and the co-rapporteurs. Mr Verhofstadt, Mr Simon, Madam Bischoff, Mr Freund, Mr Scholz, I would like to thank all of you for this report and for the impressive work you have done in …

20 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Children first - strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption - Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (joint debate – International Day of the Rights of the Child)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, once again, we thank you for your support for the European Child Guarantee. We take note of your calls for strong governance and adequate funding. There were several questions and I will try to reply to a few of them. Madam Jongerius and Mr Andrews ask about how to further invest in children. So, we agree that we have to further invest in early childhood educ…

20 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Children first - strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption - Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (joint debate – International Day of the Rights of the Child)

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– Madam President, honourable Members, exactly 34 years ago, on November 1989, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is in commemoration of that milestone event that we celebrate World Children’s Day today. It is a reminder that children’s rights are human rights under any circumstances and everywhere. The four guiding principles of the United Nations Convention …

5 Oct

2023

EN Speech

The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) (debate)

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– Madam President, we heard a lot. I want to thank you for this rich debate. Let me comment on some of your comments. Many of you mentioned cyberbullying, and just to clarify, with the entry into application of the Digital Services Act, the European Union now has powerful new tools to tackle mental health risks online, in particular for minors and young people. Many of you mentioned the risk to ps…

5 Oct

2023

EN Speech

The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) (debate)

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– Mr President, honourable Members, thank you for putting this important topic on the agenda today. As you said, children are digital natives. They play, they create online, they learn, they interact. The time children spent online almost doubled between 2010 and 2020 in many countries. A majority of children report to use their smartphones daily or almost all the time. One in six children are rep…

5 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Urban wastewater treatment (debate)

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– Mr President, Members, we were listening carefully to your contributions and I want to thank you. It is clear that all of us value clean waters and that we all understand the crucial role this sector plays. Your interventions show diverse views on the level of ambition and on extended producer responsibility. There are concerns that deadlines are too tight, that the ambition is too high, or that…