Speeches

Dear Chair, the success of enlargement depends on four key factors: the political will of the Member States, the will of the candidates, the absorption capacity of the Union and the administrative capacity of the candidates. The situation here is different and therefore the approach must remain individual. In the case of Ukraine, we are facing the problem of decision-making in the Council, and its membership probably also requires the adaptation of some European policies such as agriculture. But the EU would make a strategic mistake if it did not see that despite the war, Ukraine is showing capacity for EU reforms and showing commitment to the European idea every day on the battlefield. Moldova also shows strong political will, while the process with Georgia had to be halted due to a complete lack of political will on the part of the authorities. In Serbia, the problem is also in political will, but in this case it would be counterproductive to stop the negotiations. But we must be aware that for the time being Serbia itself does not want to meet the key criteria, especially in foreign policy and in the area of the rule of law. Therefore, instead of grandiose statements and unrealistic expectations and subsequent frustrations, it is much better to accept the reality that Serbia is a country that does not want to be classified with the European Union, and even the opposition does not offer a clear alternative. And therefore, on the basis of this reality, we must pragmatically shape our relationships. But at the same time, the EU must do more to ensure that such a non-aligned Belgrade policy does not negatively affect BiH, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia and their European path. Finally, it is important to continue the new pace of negotiations with Albania. She is becoming a leader in the process and should insist on the criteria here, but remain ambitious to complete the negotiations in this mandate.

Dear Chairman, thank you. High Representative, happy birthday. Many years ago, as a doctor, I served as a Croatian diplomat in NATO and it was almost inconceivable that the Americans would support the development of a European pillar within NATO. Why? NATO remains, of course, the backbone of European security, but America is increasingly considering, of course, the Indo-Pacific as its priority. The security of the European continent must remain a priority for us. America will continue to provide an umbrella of nuclear deterrence, intelligence, but it is clear that European allies are expected to take the primary responsibility for the security of their own continent. And that is why it is necessary to build this European pillar within NATO, to have European strategic autonomy, not against America, but together and in alliance with America, no matter who is currently a tenant in the White House.

Mr President, Madam High Representative, the attack on the presidential candidate, Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, was not only a vile attack on his life, but also an attack on democracy in Colombia. It was an act of violence with which we want to force the country to return decades ago: the terror of the eighties, of the nineties, of Pablo Escobar, of drug trafficking, of the anti-democratic guerrilla inspired by the Castro dictatorship. Today, the violent again raise their heads in a context of strong political polarization in the country and these violent are also strengthened by the links with the dictatorial regime of Nicolás Maduro in neighboring Venezuela. In the face of this threat, the response must be to strengthen the rule of law and respect for democratic institutions. Above all, the highest authorities of the country have the responsibility to ensure security and avoid divisive and polarizing discourses, betting instead on moderation and concord. We in this Parliament will continue to support Colombian democracy, including with an observer mission in the upcoming elections, but also by demanding from the Commission and Council authorities a firm position with those who undermine the constitutional order, promote violence and are financed by drug trafficking. Finally, we raise our prayers and express our solidarity with the senator, but also with the thousands of Colombians who demonstrated peacefully, demanding justice, rejecting violence, defending peace, coexistence and democracy in Colombia.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Moldova today is Europe's frontline of resilience and determination. Despite relentless hybrid attacks, disinformation campaigns and economic pressure from Russia, the Moldovan people have reaffirmed, through a constitutional referendum and the presidential elections, their firm choice for a European future. This report rightly recognises Moldova's progress in judicial reform, anti-corruption, energy independence, CFSP alignment areas where the EU support, including through the Reform and Growth Facility, is making a tangible difference. But this path is not without risks. As we approach Moldova's parliamentary elections, the EU must stand ever firmer – strengthening the EU partnership mission, countering malign interference, deepening Moldova's integration into the single market. Our message must be clear: Moldova belongs in the European family, and its place is not to be decided by Moscow, but by the will of its citizens. Let us honour their courage with unwavering solidarity and concrete support.

Dear Chairman, this report is in support of a sovereign and pro-European Montenegro. Our ambition for Montenegro to join the European Union, and for this it is necessary to fulfill all reforms and eliminate the forces that drag Montenegro into the so-called Serbian world with all the problems that this anti-European, anti-Western concept presents. Part of the government in Montenegro is still moving in the direction of the so-called Serbian world, which is very precisely identified in this report, and while Chapter 31 will remain open because we do not want a Trojan horse in the European Union, but it is also important to say that part of the government, part of the opposition and a large part of the citizens want Montenegro in the European Union and that is why we will support the closing of Chapter 5 at the next intergovernmental conference. Montenegro can succeed, we want it to succeed, that Montenegro can succeed not be influenced by Belgrade, but really be a sovereign independent European Montenegro.

Dear Chairman, Commissioner, the Commission has adopted this roadmap to stop importing Russian gas and Russian oil and I welcome it. However, a month before this roadmapa Hungary and Serbia have agreed to build an oil pipeline to increase Russian oil imports. You know that Hungary has an exemption because it does not want to use the Adriatic pipeline under the pretext that tariffs are too expensive, although this is not true. However, he now wants to build an oil pipeline that would bring Russian oil not only to Hungary, but also to Serbia, where Serbia's oil industry is still owned by the Russians. This is a question that the Commission has to address. He was president of the Costa Council recently in Belgrade, tomorrow is High Representative Kallas and I think that this issue must also be put on the agenda and resolved in order to be able to achieve these goals that are in the roadmapu adopted by the Commission and welcomed by me.

Dear Chairman, colleague and colleague, the war in Gaza must be stopped. The suffering of civilians, the death of children, all these horrors really have to stop. Humanitarian aid to Gaza is necessary and urgent. It should also be stressed that the hostages must be immediately released, as we must not forget that this all started with the terrorist attack of Hamas on 7 October 2023. And I am sorry that perhaps this is not the same at the beginning of this session and in this debate sufficiently stressed because Europe must remain the voice of reason and responsibility in these moments. The objective must remain a two-state solution that can only ensure stability and security for both sides. Long-term peace requires political courage, but also concrete steps towards restoring trust and that is why the EU must play an active diplomatic role, not break the channels of dialogue, but use them more effectively in the service of peace.

The abduction of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation is not only a serious violation of international humanitarian law, it is a systematic attempt to erase the Ukrainian identity and dismantle a people through the most vulnerable part of its society, namely children. Children are not just numbers, they have names, families, and homes waiting for them, and instead face forced adoptions, granting Russian citizenship, and policies imposed assimilation. Russia’s 2022 presidential decrees make it legal, but it will never be legitimate. We cannot and must not remain silent while implementing a strategy that according to the Genocide Convention can represent exactly that - genocide. Therefore, it is our duty, as the European Parliament, to stand clearly in defence of fundamental values and therefore we call for the immediate, unconditional return of all children. This issue must be a priority in any future peace process.

Madam President, on 28 April I was at Chamartín station in Madrid when the blackout occurred, and I was there for about six hours. I wanted, first, to pay tribute to the Spanish citizens for their proof of civility, there was no desman. My admiration for the Spanish people and, obviously, my solidarity with the relatives of those who died because of this blackout. Now, what can we learn from him? First, the importance of cash in these situations. Therefore, all these ideas of eliminating cash should be discarded. Second, we need to invest more in power grids. Then there's the renewable energy debate: Yes, they are good and necessary for Europe's strategic autonomy, but the right energy mix must be found to reduce the risks, and, in that sense, nuclear energy is part of the solution, but, also, within renewable energy, geothermal energy is the one that gives stable energy and, therefore, Commissioner, we should change the taxonomy and stop discriminating against geothermal energy.

Mr President, let me begin by congratulating Riho Terras for his report, which is fully in line with the recommendations approved by Parliament's delegation at the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee with Kosovo. It is particularly timely to stress today that in 2010, at the request of Serbia, the International Court of Justice concluded that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate international law. Therefore, it is misplaced to use the case of Kosovo as an alibi to justify Putin's actions in Crimea or in the Donbas, or to compare it to secessionist forces in Europe, frequently also backed by Putin's Russia. The EU should also fully embrace this ICJ conclusion and finally grant Kosovo candidate status. Moreover, it's time to end the European Union's unbalanced and unfair approach towards Kosovo – it is time to lift the sanctions. At the same time, we expect Kosovo to form a new government after the elections on 9 February and to implement the obligations assumed at the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements. In addition, the protection of all minorities should be a priority. As I heard during my visit to the small Croatian community in Janjevo, it is important to avoid assimilation and rather promote the integration into Kosovo's society. Dear colleagues, Kosovo is a young democracy – a young democracy that we should support. We should support this excellent report.

Dear Chair, the EPP Group will support this report, which presents precisely and objectively Serbia's achievements and shortcomings on its path towards the EU. The report thus notes macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline in the country, GDP growth and foreign investment coming most from the EU, as well as obtaining the first investment credit rating. Serbia's border management agreement with Frontex is also welcomed. However, key and major problems remain in the area of rule of law, normalization of relations with Kosovo, good neighbourly relations and the geopolitical orientation of Serbia. Serbia ranks 105th in the Corruption Perceptions Index, well below the EU average. Corruption undermines citizens' trust in institutions, preventing much-needed social dialogue. Student mass protests indicate the depletion of one model of government. The fight for the rule of law is necessary, but the authorities, and also the critics of the authorities, are expected to clearly and unequivocally reject the dangerous geopolitical concept of the so-called ‘Serbian world’, the conclusions of the ‘Serb Parliament’, which undermines the sovereignty of neighbouring countries. Relations with Kosovo are also expected to be fully normalised. Alignment with the EU’s foreign policy is also needed.The EU’s doors are open, but no one will wait or beg. I want to be very clear here, no official from a Member State or an EU candidate should go or in any way support Putin's parade in Moscow. In particular, politicians from the European People's Party should not be allowed to do so. To make it clear to everyone, I will eventually move on to English. Serbia's future is in the EU, so our message to the Serbian authorities is very clear: on 9 May, let's celebrate Europe Day, not Putin's parade.

As I said, the problem of the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus remains and if you had heard better, you would have noticed that comment as well. So, our position is that we need a pragmatic cooperation, but without abandoning our values and our geopolitical interests, and this, of course, means defending the interests of our Member States, including Cyprus.

Turkey is an EU candidate country, but it has been widely perceived as a regional power in the Middle East for years with growing geopolitical engagement in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Africa. Turkish authorities do not see the country as part of the West and its values. Unlike Russia, however, they do not intensify the conflict with the West. But there remains, of course, the problem of the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, and especially relations with Muslim brothers. Thus, with neo-Ottoman politics, Turkey is not part of the West, but it is also not in open conflict with the West, and in such a gap our value differences, but also the possibilities of cooperation, are manifested. In this sense, this report genuinely and precisely points to violations of human rights, democratic principles, but also leaves room for dialogue. In short, today's Turkey, although it is not and does not want to be part of the West, does not necessarily have to be in conflict with the West. This opens up space for pragmatic cooperation, but without giving up on our values and geopolitical interests.

Honourable Chair, Honourable colleagues, Honourable Commissioner, more than 900 executions in 2024 alone. That's no justice. It's state terror. The recent confirmation of the death sentences of Behruz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, following torture and mounted trials, is another flagrant violation of human rights. The European Parliament must not remain silent as the regime in Tehran continues the relentless persecution of political activists, ethnic minorities and women’s rights defenders. We therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, the cessation of executions and the abolition of the death penalty. Moreover, we call on the Council to finally designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and to extend European Union sanctions to those responsible for these crimes. The Iranian people's fight for freedom must be supported. This is our moral responsibility.

You've mentioned geothermal. I just wanted to know whether you also support for the Commission developing a standalone action plan for geothermal, not just for cooling and heating, but also for the production of electricity. I would like to know your views about that.

Between 12 and 15 February, more than 70 Christians, including women, children and the elderly, were brutally murdered in a church in Kasanga, North Kivu province. And it's not a crime that's an isolated case. Sadly, since early March, at least 47 Christians have been killed in the northeast of the country. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Christians are increasingly targeted and harassed precisely because of their faith, because church leaders know and criticize power and armed groups. Therefore, the European Union must take decisive steps. We must support initiatives that promote inter-religious dialogue and in this regard the foreign policy committee of this Parliament has launched a pilot project. I now expect the European Commission to support it. We must do something for Christian communities and for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in general.

Madam President, I have asked for the floor precisely to refer to what Mrs Montero has said about the State of Israel as a genocidal State. I think it's a very serious accusation. Because one can accuse an individual of the worst crimes. That individual, then, has to be prosecuted and judged. A government can be accused of the worst crimes. That government has to be censored, changed, has to pay reparations. But if an entire State is accused of being genocidal, that is, by its nature of being a genocidal State, then that State must be destroyed. And to say that the State of Israel must be destroyed is an anti-Semitic stance. Therefore, be careful when using these types of concepts. I think we have to be very clear when we use criticism of what can be the policy of a government or an individual. It is all very well to defend the rights of the Palestinian people, but it cannot be accepted that it is said that the State of Israel must be destroyed, even indirectly that such a position is being supported.

What we know is that both Serbia and Kosovo have accepted obligations under the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements. Kosovo has its part of obligations with the Association of Municipalities in the north, and Serbia has voluntarily accepted the obligation not to block Kosovo's membership in regional and international organisations. What we are asking both countries is to fulfil the obligations they freely accepted.

Madam President, I'm glad that the CFSP report begins with the Western Balkans, because if there is a place where the EU is expected to have a leading role in fostering peace, it is exactly in this region. Our ambition is to integrate all the six countries in the EU on an individual and merit-based approach. As the biggest of the six, Serbia has an important position, but the Commission and the Council should be much clearer and firmer in conveying the message that progress depends on the full alignment with the EU's CFSP, the respect of the rule of law, as well as the implementation of the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements for the normalisation of relations with Kosovo. It is also time for the EU to lift sanctions to Kosovo and accept its candidacy. We welcome the progress made by Albania and encourage it to strengthen the rule of law. We strongly support the EU aspirations of Montenegro, and we caution about the forces wanting to undermine its sovereignty. We look forward to the constitutional changes that will allow North Macedonia to unblock accession negotiations. And we strongly condemn the separatist policies of Milorad Dodik and support the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the equality of its three constituent peoples and all its citizens, and we urge it to make the final steps to open accession negotiations.

Dear Chairman, colleague and colleague, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs peace, security, a European perspective, not divisions and the undermining of the constitutional order. It is not the time to raise tensions, but to respect the constitution and institutions of BiH and solve political problems through dialogue. This dialogue must, of course, be substantive, effective and with the clear purpose of respecting the independence and sovereignty, the territorial integrity of BiH as a state of three equal constituent peoples and all its citizens. BiH is a candidate for membership in the European Union and the focus must be on reforms related to the European path, and these include the reform of the electoral law as a priority issue. Negotiations need to be opened, this is crucial for peace and security. The EU, the US and NATO have shown these days that they will not allow the destabilization of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also expect Serbia to abandon the concept of the Serbian world and condemn the separatist policy that undermines the sovereignty and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr President, dear colleagues, if the question is 'What is the legal basis for seizing the frozen assets of the Russian Federation?' let me draw your attention to one of the resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. All our countries are members of the Council of Europe. That was adopted actually here in this very place in June last year. I know it because I was the rapporteur there. And in paragraph 15.3, we explained why the seizure and repurposing of Russian state assets would constitute lawful countermeasures under international law against the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine and explained why is this proportionate and how it all works. So, the legal basis is there. Obviously, it is then a political decision whether to activate it or not. But at a time when we are discussing what is the role of the European Union in seeking a just peace for Ukraine, I think this is giving us the leverage we need to pursue that path of a just peace for Ukraine.

On 15 January, the first phase of the ceasefire began, allowing 33 Israeli hostages to be exchanged for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The second phase, namely the second phase of the ceasefire, has not started, but the conflicts have not escalated, at least not to the intensity that existed before 15 January. However, 59 hostages have not yet been released. Perhaps most of them, unfortunately, are no longer alive, but it is necessary for Hamas to release all hostages immediately so that peace has a chance in the Middle East. Hamas started this chapter of the conflict in the Middle East with a terrorist attack on 7 October 2023 and therefore Hamas can and must immediately close this chapter by releasing hostages.

The Honourable Chairman, Mrs. Commissioner, colleague and colleague, Syria had a regime maintained by the support of Russia and Iran. He now has a transitional power maintained by Turkey's support. Syria's GDP remains less than half of its 2011 value. The infrastructure is of course severely damaged, and most Syrians still live in poverty. The cost of rebuilding the country could range up to 200 billion euros. The European Union and its Member States have already mobilised more than 35 billion, but of course the question now is what will be the priorities of our action. This, of course, is peace, security, the unity of the country, the protection of all minorities, but the situation of Christians is particularly worrying. By 2011, there were about a million Christians living in Syria, and today there are about 300,000, and they fear for their own safety every day. So all minorities are important, but if Europe does not stand up for Christians, then no one will. Therefore, we must not forget them.

Madam President, dear colleagues, I think that we need to acknowledge that today the US has a different assessment of Russia and the threat it poses to European security. At the same time, we also need to acknowledge that we are cooperating well with the United States in promoting, for example, peace and stability in the Western Balkans, and that we need to keep that cooperation. But in both cases, I think that we will be stronger allies and we will be a more secure continent by investing more and investing better in our defence. And that's why the ReArm Europe was necessary. We need to support it. It's probably not enough, but it's a decisive step in building the European defence capabilities. And that's why we also look forward to the white paper to be delivered next week, to see the ways how to spend not only more, but also to spend better and to produce more in the European Union. We knew that we need to assume more responsibilities for our security. Now, that is not a choice. That is a necessity.

At a time when world trade is fragmenting, it is strategically important for Europe to secure trade partners with whom it has contractually regulated relations. In such circumstances, the MERCOSUR agreement is gaining a new geopolitical weight for our relations with Latin America. Although history and culture bind us together, without this agreement Europe will not be able to cope with the increasing competition from global players. Present in Latin America. And not just the present. China is already the first trading partner for a large number of countries in the region. Therefore, there is no doubt that this agreement is necessary, yes, for European industry, but also for the European economy in general. But it is also true that there is a need for dialogue with farmers. For the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture, three sectors are sensitive. Cattle, poultry and sugar industry. This is why it is important to communicate that the agreed quotas for imports of these products range from only 1.2% to 1.5% of the total consumption on the European market. In addition, these small quotas will be introduced gradually. Thus, the European market will not be flooded with agricultural products from South America, but, yes, the Commission must prepare a package of compensatory measures that could be activated if necessary. So MERCOSUR is not a threat, but it is an opportunity for Europe to be competitive on the global market.