What Davor Ivo spoke about.

20

May

2026

Speeches HR

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Repression and execution of protesters, dissidents, political prisoners and religious minorities in Iran

The Iranian regime continues to suppress its own citizens through arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances and executions. Women seeking dignity, students seeking freedom, journalists telling the truth, and religious minorities such as the Baha'i community and Christians are persecuted simply because they try to exercise their fundamental rights. The United Nations has warned of executions, thousands of arrests, torture, and persecution of minorities since the beginning of the last wave of conflict. Human rights organizations continue to warn that Iran is the country with the highest number of executions in the world per capita. Yet this tragedy is unfolding in a country whose civilization more than 2,500 years ago gave the world one of the earliest expressions of government based on justice and human dignity. I think of Kir's cylinder, it has become a symbol of respect for dignity, diversity and tolerance, and therefore I say that the Iranian people really deserve a future worthy of this heritage. Today, when we talk about Iran, we also talk a lot about respect for international law, but then we must remember that we must proceed with respect for the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, the United Nations system with a complete blockade in the Security Council did not do what had to be done to save lives in Iran, because upholding international law means not only respecting the sovereignty of every state, but also making every state respect human rights, because it is more important to respect the sovereign rights of a regime than the human dignity of Iranians? And that is precisely why it is necessary to show it with actions, and we show it with this resolution that I call on you to support it.

19

May

2026

Speeches HR

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EU–Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (joint debate)

Dear Chairman, Honourable High Representative, this agreement represents a strategic investment in our engagement in Central Asia. Uzbekistan is an important partner for regional stability, connectivity, diversification of energy sources and supply of critical raw materials. As part of the Global Gateway strategy, the European Union should further strengthen economic ties with Uzbekistan through investments in sustainable transport corridors, digital connectivity and modern infrastructure. Such cooperation contributes to more resilient supply chains and to strengthening the European Union’s strategic presence in Central Asia. At the same time, this partnership must remain firmly based on our values. In this sense, respect for democratic principles, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms are integral elements of this agreement, which, of course, must also be implemented in this respect. The situation in this area may not be perfect. The High Representative has already said something about this. However, we live in an imperfect world and we must also take into account the interests of the Union. This agreement should therefore be supported because of its strategic geopolitical importance.

19

May

2026

Speeches HR

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Recommendation on the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (debate)

In an increasingly fragmented and conflicting world, the European Union remains an advocate of multilateralism and the UN system of collective security. But we can't be naive. Such a system cannot work if a permanent member of the Security Council occupies the territory of a neighbouring state, as Russia does in Ukraine, and then some other permanent members do not do much or do nothing to stop such Russia. Parliament is therefore calling for a reform of the UN and a reform of the Security Council, but we are aware that the outcome will depend on a new reshuffle of forces in geopolitical competition among global superpowers today. So let's focus on what the UN can do today, and it can do more, for example, in the fight against poverty, in the better functioning of UN agencies and in the protection of freedom of religion. Multilateralism makes sense, but especially it makes sense when it's effective.

19

May

2026

Answers ES

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Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba (debate)

Do you know why? Because I have worked in our Committee on Development. I have worked on the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which concluded that it is bad governance that causes the misery of peoples. It is bad governance and, above all, totalitarian one-party systems that oppress peoples. And the Cuban people today are oppressed by that communist regime. And if you talk to the political prisoners who have had the opportunity to tell us about their situation in the European Parliament, you will see that the only solution is to exert pressure for a real transition towards democracy, towards freedom, in Cuba.

19

May

2026

Speeches ES

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Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba (debate)

Madam President, Madam High Representative, the communist regime is cornered. There is a humanitarian crisis and the European Union cannot be a mere observer. The regime is primarily responsible for the humanitarian crisis and is fully responsible for the systematic violation of human rights in Cuba. Parliament has therefore called for the suspension of the agreement with Cuba. I am aware that there is no agreement in the Council on that point and, therefore, I am not going to do like the colleagues on the left who, in the previous debate on the Middle East, asked you to go to the Council with proposals that you know cannot happen, because I respect your institutional function of working for the unity of the European Union, but what I do ask you to do is to use Parliament's position as a point of order. leverage, to use the political dialogue that has so far yielded no results to tell the regime authorities: Look, my Parliament is seeking suspension of the agreement. You're cornered. The way out is for all political prisoners – more than 1 300 political prisoners – to be released and for a genuine democratic transition to begin. And then yes, they will have all the help they need. And, more than that, they will have the investments so that Cuba can develop. As the European Union, we have all the instruments to pressure the Castro regime to begin the transition to democracy. The question is whether we finally have the political will to do so.

19

May

2026

Speeches HR

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Europe's response to reduced US military deployments in Europe, particularly at its Eastern flank in the light of the latest US decisions (debate)

The Honourable Chairman, part of Trump's policy is short-lived, will pass after his departure, but part is of a structural nature and will remain after his departure. What's going to happen? There will be rhetoric that, and certain measures like these that treat Europe more as an enemy than as an ally, but what will remain, will remain that the focus of the US is no longer on Europe, more, now the focus is on the Indo-Pacific and therefore Europe must take responsibility for its own security. It does not mean abandoning NATO, but it does mean building a European pillar within NATO. This means that in this way, with a European defence policy, NATO will be stronger and will be able to continue to be a credible force to deter not only the Russian threat, but any other threat and thus ensure peace in Europe.

19

May

2026

Speeches EN

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Question Time with the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - EU’s strategy to address the current crises in the Middle East

High Representative, you have been asked time and again to put forward proposals to the Council, even if you know that they will not get approval, but just to show how the Member States are voting and how they are divided. I believe that that will not show us in a stronger position. Nevertheless, I would like to ask you what other measures can be conducive – and that can also be supported by this Parliament – to getting a unified position of the European Union.

19

May

2026

Speeches HR

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EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

Dear Chairman, Europe has not been formatted as a single geopolitical entity and therefore today it has to adapt to new international circumstances, it has to adapt its policies, including enlargement policy. We're complaining that it can't go faster. Of course, we are discussing how to decide, but while we are discussing time is going and we have to do something with countries that have not yet and may not so soon meet the conditions for membership. What answer then? A much more ambitious policy of gradual integration. Why, for example, should the Western Balkan countries wait to meet all the membership requirements to be able to negotiate, for example, Schengen? If they meet these conditions now, why wouldn't they be able to access them that way? Of course, while we are discussing, I mean, there is no institutional reform that can, however, compensate for the lack of a policy for the common good, which requires agreement, not over-voting, which requires the common good, and not systemic blockages and blackmail.

19

May

2026

Questions EN

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EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of advanced AI systems (debate)

I fully agree with your assessment that we should not think in silos. In that regard, there is a question when we need also more and more affordable energy. In that sense, will you support also, from your perspective and from your group, for example, more utilisation of nuclear energy in order to achieve all these goals that you have suggested?

27

Apr

2026

Speeches HR

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Dear Chairman, there are two ways to commemorate the victims of totalitarian regimes. One is, as prescribed by this Parliament's Resolution on condemning totalitarian regimes, and the other is what we saw the other day in Donja Gradina in BiH, where the entire leadership of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska was abused by Jasenovac to actually send hate messages. Not a piety for the victims, but a hatred for other peoples, for Croats and for Bosniaks. Unfortunately, we felt an echo, a distant echo, but still an echo, of this propaganda in a letter we received today from a far-right French colleague who invited us to his event. I think we should set aside and condemn such propaganda and stick to the European Parliament's resolution on condemning all totalitarianism.

27

Apr

2026

Speeches HR

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Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2024 (debate)

The protection of the financial interests of the Union is not merely a technical matter, Dear Chairman. It is indeed a matter of trust, trust that every euro set aside by our citizens is used lawfully, responsibly and for the common good. That is why, despite the criticism we have heard today, especially after the negotiations and the adopted amendments from this political family, I think that the report warns of increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud against the European Union budget: from organised crime and VAT fraud to corruption and conflicts of interest. In 2024, the number of reported fraud cases rose to 1364 and this shows that we need to act decisively. There is a need for stronger cooperation between European and national authorities, and I would say that there is a need for more mutual trust between them.

27

Apr

2026

Speeches HR

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Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank Group – annual report 2024 (debate)

As we have heard, a good part of energy projects, especially in renewable energy sources, is financed by the European Investment Bank, but a smaller part of it goes for geothermal energy projects, for example. And I don't blame the EIB for that, in a way, the message from political institutions, especially with the Taxonomy Regulation, went in that direction to privilege maybe solar or wind projects. However, that changes. We saw last week that the Commission came out with an Accelerate EU communication where it already mentions geothermal energy as one important segment for our energy mix. We expect the Commission either at the end of the fifth month or at the beginning of the sixth month to come out with the first geothermal action plan, which will also have one risk-reduction scheme, and we expect, of course, a major role for the European Investment Bank.

26

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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Global Gateway – past impacts and future orientation (debate)

Dear Chair, a few words as rapporteur for the political strategy towards Latin America where the Global Gateway plays, of course, a very important role. In the resolution we adopted on Latin America last year, we highlighted some things that have now been repeated again in this resolution. First, the need for greater parliamentary scrutiny. I think that's the key. Secondly, partnerships with countries where we invest funds from the Global Gateway, where we need more added value and better coordination with these countries and with local communities. This distinguishes us from the extractive, if you will, exploitation model of the Chinese approach, not only in Latin America, but I will now refer primarily to that part of the world. I think this is an excellent report. Congratulations to the reporters Ridel and Bentel. I think that the emphasis on greater operationalism in the execution and implementation of the Global Gateway is a key thing that we need to emphasise today. However, it is these elements that will allow us not to replace, not to marginalise, but to improve and be more effective in using the Global Gateway, which is one of the key geopolitical instruments we have at our disposal today.

26

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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EU-US trade deal (joint debate)

Honourable Chairman, predictability is the key word both in this debate and, of course, in the vote that we will have a little later. Even the biggest critics of this agreement believe that by confirming this agreement, predictability will, of course, be greater. What would happen if we didn't pass a vote like this on this deal? Of course, there is a lot of folklore. We have heard a lot of criticism from the left, not just about the deal, but about the Trump administration in general. But that part of the left that needs to be held accountable because they're either in power or part of the majority in this house, they're going to vote for it. There's a lot of praise from the far right for Trump, but he's going to vote against it. Of course, those in power will abstain, and their governments in the Council voted in favour. Why? Because we need predictability in this time of turbulence, and that's why we need to support this deal.

25

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

35 years ago, in March of '91, the first victim of the Homeland War - Josip Jović - fell. Here, in the highest house of European democracy, we pay tribute to him and to all the Croatian defenders who have laid down their lives for their homeland. Bloody Easter was not an isolated incident. It was the beginning of the Greater Serbian aggression against Croatia. Aggressions that were carefully planned, and preparations began first with the manipulation of history, and then with a false narrative about the fascism of Croatia. This aggression was supposed to dehumanize the first victim in order to later justify this attempt to destroy the very identity of the Croatian people. The aggression was defeated on the battlefield, but the aggressor narrative did not disappear. He's been quiet, but now he's heard louder again and some want him to be heard even here in the European Parliament. It's not an accident. This is carefully designed and well funded, but we tell them: we did not fall asleep on watch. We will fight against such powerful propaganda, to which we are bound by the memory of...

25

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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Energy security, independence and supply in the geopolitical context - ensuring market stability and affordable energy for industry and citizens (debate)

Dear Chairman, I must react to the statement made in this debate that the supply of oil to Hungary and Slovakia is at risk. That's not true. It is true that the Russian oil pipeline Družba is not working, due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, but it is not true that the supply in Hungary and Slovakia is at risk because they have an alternative and they are already using this alternative, which is the Adriatic pipeline. Today, the seventh tanker has arrived from when Družba is not working to Omišalj, i.e. to the terminal in the northern Adriatic. This oil is also being shipped to Hungary and Slovakia. Therefore, it is not stated that their oil supply is at risk, but there is an alternative, and this alternative is the Adriatic Pipeline.

25

Mar

2026

Questions EN

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Energy security, independence and supply in the geopolitical context - ensuring market stability and affordable energy for industry and citizens (debate)

Dear colleague, half of the energy that we consume in Europe is for heating and cooling, and the Commission is about to publish a strategy on heating and cooling, and within that, an action plan for geothermal energy – the first action plan. What are your expectations? What do you expect from these strategic documents?

11

Mar

2026

Speeches ES

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EUCO and situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

11

Mar

2026

Questions ES

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EUCO and situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

10

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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Recommendation on enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty (debate)

Dear Chairman, we really need to look at relations with Canada in the context of changed geopolitical circumstances, because indeed, the international order that America actually created and maintained, is now changing it itself. And so we need to deepen our relations with Canada, not to be directed against the US, but to take into account all these changes, and we have common values and interests with Canada. We have, of course, Canada as an Arctic country, here we have common interests, common interests in the field of security and defence, and that is why it is good for Canada to be in the Safe program. And of course, we have trade interests. CETA, a trade agreement with Canada, has shown that trade has increased by 63% since it became applicable. In fact, the indicators show that all European Union countries, including France, have benefited from this agreement. Therefore, those who have not yet ratified it, this time I invite them to do so.

10

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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EU enlargement strategy (debate)

Dear Chairman, this is one good document, I will support it, although I do not agree with all the items. Namely, I think too much attention is given to the introduction of qualified majority voting, which in my opinion will not solve the problems of enlargement because decisions will remain in the hands of the Member States. The key question, however, is one another, and that is how to devise a more ambitious policy of gradual integration, because let's be honest, a good part of the candidates, perhaps most of them will not finish the negotiations in this parliamentary term, and we cannot leave them in some void. For a long time now, we have heard from the Western Balkans from different countries that it is not so important for them to have a Commissioner now or the right to vote, but rather to have access to the single market and Schengen. And that's an idea you don't need a priori reject, but I don't think it should replace the enlargement approach and that gradual integration must be merit-based and of course, enlargement is a geopolitical instrument of the Union and therefore every candidate must be required to have a full geopolitical alignment with the European Union.

10

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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Presentation of the Energy Package (debate)

The European Union imported more than 300 billion euros in gas and oil before this price increase due to the Gulf War. Of course, the solution is not to lift sanctions on Russia now and further deepen dependence on fossil fuels, but to reduce such dependence. Nuclear power, small modular reactors can really be part of this solution. But not just that. The Commission also committed to adopt a heating and cooling strategy in May and, as part of that, a geothermal action plan. Why is that important? Because it's a renewable energy source, we have the technology to do it, it's constant energy, and besides, this way we can cut down on really utilities, and let's not forget that half of the energy we're consuming in Europe right now goes to heating and cooling.

10

Mar

2026

Speeches HR

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Housing crisis in the European Union with the aim of proposing solutions for decent, sustainable and affordable housing (debate)

Dear Chair, if the price of square meters has increased by 55% in the last ten years, this is because demand is still much higher than supply and therefore solutions must come from the supply side. Therefore, adopt measures that will encourage more housing units in the market, that those that are on short-term lease today, but also encourage the construction of new housing units. And for this it is necessary, indeed, as the rapporteur said, to simplify bureaucracy - simplification. But we also have to deal with the cost of construction. Of course, there is also a related energy price, so the Commissioner is on track when he works, for example, on the promise made by the Commission to create a new geothermal action plan. I was recently in the Croatian town of Vinkovci. And they would switch the heat they currently have on gas to geothermal energy, so they calculated that they could halve the cost of directing. So I welcome this initiative from the Commission, but I encourage them to do so.

11

Feb

2026

Speeches HR

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Systemic oppression, inhumane conditions and arbitrary detentions by the regime in Iran

Dear Chairman, Commissioner, in today's Iran, systematic repression is part of state policy. Peaceful protesters were killed, thousands of them. Activists, journalists, members of ethnic and religious minorities are exposed to violence, degrading detention conditions and arbitrary arrests, which are increasingly used as a means of so-called hostage diplomacy towards European citizens. It is not only a violation of international law, it is also a betrayal of Iran's own civilizational heritage, as this tragedy takes place on the ground of a civilization that more than 2,500 years ago produced the Kirov cylinder, one of the first historical principles of government based on justice and human dignity. Europe must therefore stand firmly with the Iranian people in their fight for freedom and dignity, and therefore support this resolution, which calls for additional sanctions and measures against the regime, which oppresses its own people and poses a threat to the entire region.

11

Feb

2026

Speeches EN

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Post-election situation in Uganda and threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine

Mr President, the situation in Uganda is not only a problem for Bobi Wine – of course, it is for him and his family. It's not only a problem for Uganda, for the country. We've seen that last year in Tanzania. We unfortunately are seeing that in other parts of Africa. But this is also a failure for us. It's a failure of our development cooperation policy. Because I will remind you that in the UN SDGs, the 16th SDG is about good governance. And this is exactly what is lacking, for example, in Uganda. Then we are thinking, why is it the case that for every euro that we are sending in our development cooperation, there are ten times more euros that are evaporating in corruption in these countries? This is because there is no accountability, because the opposition is treated in that way, because we have presidents that are in the seventh mandate without any checks and balances. This is a failure also of our development cooperation policy.