Speeches

Dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, The EU is a very strong trade power globally. We have a lot of trade agreements with many countries, world-wide. Trump is arrogant and unpredictable, and it is his weakness, but you, commissioner, are reliable and experienced, and that is your strength. We trust you. A deal is possible, the EU goal is to reintroduce tariff levels, explore commercial opportunities, but we can‘t accept any negotiations on our legislation, on our high food safety standards and on our issues related to digital technologies. Our strength is „reciprocal“ tariffs, WTO rules and our trade agreements, with new global partners.

Mr President, Commissioner, I am really pleased with the points you have made that you want to strengthen the promotion of female entrepreneurship in rural areas. And in particular, I would like to thank the rapporteur, who is indeed a very topical subject. I would like to remind you, Commissioner, that it would be good to take into account the requirements of the European Social Pillar, the LEADER programme, the STEAM programme, which could indeed provide for a whole package of measures to promote female entrepreneurship in rural areas, where it is particularly difficult for women. Both in terms of labour, infrastructure, digital services and access to financial support. It would be good to really reflect on which additional line of the Social Fund would specifically support women's entrepreneurship in the countryside. This would be a very constructive package. We look forward to your actions.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, you have recently visited Lithuania. Together we got acquainted with the situation of Lithuanian agriculture, especially with the livestock sector. Indeed, dairy farming and pig farming in Lithuania are going through unspeakably dramatically difficult times and it is clear that we really need to think even about the sectoral points of the individual livestock programmes of the Member States, which could be recommended to the Member States in order for us to preserve the viability of the livestock sector. It is undoubtedly one of the major segments of the strategic food industry. This undoubtedly requires the segment to be integrated into the circular economy, into environmental diversity, conservation, etc., and animal welfare standards must be based on science-based criteria and not on pressures to the detriment of animal breeders.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. Indeed, Sudan must be placed much more widely and deeply on the agendas of the Member States, national parliaments and the European Parliament. What is happening there is not being said in any words – I am a doctor, I can say it with courage. We can even call on the citizens of the European Union to make their own contributions, supporting all international humanitarian organisations, the Food Programme, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF. A large number of SOS requests ‘Donate now. Donate now’. We will also mobilise our civil society to contribute to the catastrophe that is lacking in words. Thank you for the Berlin conference. And, of course, genocide. In the European Parliament, we must agree that the United Arab Emirates should also be condemned for what they are doing with their arms exports.

Honourable President of the sitting, Honourable Commissioner. I think that if we put the definition of the aggressor, the definitions of military crimes and aspects of the application of international criminal law on the table now, and try to assess the actions of the Netanyahu government both in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank and Lebanon, and also look at the parallels between the aggressive criminal actions of the Putin regime, I think you will not even find any ten differences between them. It is therefore quite obvious that I fully understand what you are in today's difficult situation, when we practically confirm from our side what you are thinking in essence. And it is quite obvious that the suspension of the Treaty between the European Union and Israel is so justified that there is no doubt about it. The other thing is to convince the Member States, the Council and once again to press, but the European Union must stand firm.

Dear President of the meeting, Commissioner. Let us all begin with the very important legacy of Pierre de Coubertin: ‘Oh in sport, you are peace!’ This makes it very clear that both sport and culture are the arena where peace flourishes and where peace calls people, but in no case does the aggressors come there. Putin's aggressive regime has, in fact, sufficiently destroyed all international law. We perfectly see when Russian athletes can participate without the flag of Russia. There are rules when it is possible to invite those people who are not associated with the regime, who have condemned the regime, who defend their civic position and can speak correctly about peace and mission. And applying double standards is a huge problem, and we have to talk about both Israel and those regimes that are also criminal and aggressive.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues. We are all fully aware that the budget presented by the European Commission is not sufficient. 1.27 % of the GDP of all countries is the minimum. The minimum that we must defend here in Parliament. Of course, separating debt service, which must not be included in that total budget amount. Obviously, we cannot fail to say that the European Union's obligations must be met. The Polish Commissioner is well aware of the problem of direct payments to farmers. This is solidarity. I would not like to talk about the fact that Draghi, Heitor, Letta and Niinisto – the four authors – offer a great perspective on what we need to do, how we need to integrate our investments in biotechnology, in health. The EU4Health programme shall be separate. Equally, investments must be made in pan-European ecosystems to ensure the direction of science, innovation, investment in health.

Madam President, we have now all seen the very important roadmap on 'One Europe, One Market'. We absolutely need to strengthen the single market and create a resilient, economically secure Europe that is able to respond to new world realities. Increasing our competitiveness is a huge part of it, but we cannot see competitiveness as a narrow sector‑specific issue. We are now working on the Biotech Act, which is part of this competitiveness agenda. But it has to become much more than just a tool to boost European manufacturing. We have to think about the people first: about the patients battling rare diseases, the participants of clinical trials and the people waiting for more affordable generic or biosimilars or personalised treatment. We have to increase the ability of Member States to work in close cooperation together, so that no patient is left behind. We have to enable our agencies, our scientists, our state‑of‑the‑art technology valleys to connect into a wide pan-European ecosystem that would allow them to act. The 28th regime for multi-country clinical trials is vital. We have to work together to ensure this is set in the regulation and to secure the necessary financing. We cannot afford to think small.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. First of all, I really want to thank Lídía Pereira. Thank you, very timely and very detailed directions. We definitely need to make an effort to have national education programmes at different levels and for different social groups in all 27 countries, so that these are some minimum common standards that can be applied by the competent authorities in all countries to increase financial literacy. We need to pay particular attention once again to the great tragedy that people – older people, young people, young families – face when they are tempted by the terrible pyramids of finance, easy enrichment and effective platforms for influencers. And we must also criminalise the spread of false information and fraud on a European scale.

Mr President, Commissioner. I believe that everyone will agree that the Global Gateway initiative is a truly enormous example of the implementation of European Union projects. But I would like to point out that it should focus much more on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular on those Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 3, health, etc., education, local community development. We really have a lot to do to strengthen the Global South in particular: in primary health care, in primary universal education, to strengthen skills development among these people, because job creation without skills, without strong health services will be difficult to understand. Therefore, I propose to draw attention to dimension 3 of the SDG in this Global Gateway project.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear Valdis, we all know about what we are just speaking. Of course recent United States behaviour and events have only added carelessness and uncertainty. The threat to invade Greenland, coercion against Spain, the Supreme Court ruling declaring the reciprocal tariffs illegal immediately followed by new tariffs, threats towards European legislation and so on. Of course we all know very well that we now need to have a predictable answer, and the European Parliament proposal, Bernd Langer's report, is an excellent example to protect us and to improve those six 'S's – it means a very important toolkit which should be used by the Commission also. And please keep in mind, Commissioner, we are not all speaking about steel and aluminium – it's about biotech, about medicines, about pharma, about our research and possibilities to invest. This is a very important time now to defend our sovereignty. Not only keeping in mind steel, but research and investment also.

Madam president, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, this debate is a political choice. Let us name it clearly: once again, the conservatives have joined forces with the far-right to amplify an industry narrative before we even have independently verified evidence. That is not responsible law-making; that is political theatre on behalf of industry interests. So this debate is about who should pay for the environmental harm: polluters or taxpayers? Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are responsible for most of the micropollutants that require wastewater treatment. Yes, we must examine carefully any real risk to medicine supply, especially for the generics. I am calling on the Commission to carefully assess those claims and present updated, independent data. After, we can talk about improving the implementation where needed, but the 'polluter pays' principle must remain intact. Clean water is a public good and public money should not be used to clean up private pollution. It is absolutely clear for all of us. That is the situation. Let's see. Let's go into deep analysis and then, after, discuss what should be improved, how can we change and where we have real data. It is not about supply-chain shortages. It's about an absolutely necessary situation to defend people's health. Because 'One Health' requires one approach to people, to the environment, to water, to all of us.

Madam President, Commissioner, of course, we know very well how dangerous it is. Don't call it conversion therapy. It has nothing to do with therapy – nothing. Only in eight of 27 EU Member States have they implemented nationwide bans on conversion practices. But there is significant variation in what the legislation covers. It is very important to know that even where banned, enforcement varies between Member States. A very, very difficult question: why? Because many practices occur in private or religious settings, making tracking very difficult. We need, first of all, to say very clearly: it's about fundamental human rights. The EU can introduce a ban in all European Union space because it is defending fundamental human rights. I am very, very much with those who argue for a ban.

Madam President, Commissioner, it is time to recognise obesity as a chronic, relapsing and separate non-communicable disease within the European Union Health Policy Framework and as a gateway disease to many other NCDs. Addressing obesity at the centre of NCDs as an integral part of the European Union cardiovascular health plan will reduce the overall NCD burden and will improve outcomes for people living with obesity. Action on obesity must address the entire disease spectrum and life course. Addressing obesity throughout the life course is key to improving population health and reducing related chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and others. Prevention of obesity and care for people living with obesity must go hand in hand.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, The European Union's eastern border region, countries bordering Russia and Belarus face persisting security threats, heightened pressure, economic strain and declining investments. At the same time, these regions are expected to strengthen their security, maintain social cohesion and keep economic development. These countries have already committed substantial national resources to reinforce external borders and strengthen their defence While necessary, these changes inevitably limit investment in long-term regional development and competitiveness. The Commission has proposed initiatives to help, but the scale of the challenge, especially today, is above what national budgets or current instruments can provide. That is why the next MFF must provide for increased and targeted EU-level support to ensure that strong eastern border regions continue to support a safe and resilient Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner. It is indeed necessary to have a directive and to provide for liability issues from the first contractor to the subcontractor. And that issue of responsibility must be clearly qualified, so that those who have started subcontracting do not ‘wash off’ the responsibility by transferring it. And in that chain of seventeen contractors, it is quite clear that this is a model in which much is interlinked, i.e. the shadow economy is the best example for us. This is all the more so because it also distorts the social market and creates problems for exploitation and exploitation. And it is also especially bad when we do not have any registers of mediators to see what is. The need for a directive is therefore obvious, the issue of responsibility must be very clear and, above all, responsibility in that chain for those who start that chain and then in a proportionate way... then those who hire will know that they are primarily responsible.

Madam President, colleagues, the first far-right claim: 'This endangers the Schengen Area'. Those who are granted a residence permit are authorised to travel to other Schengen countries only for a short days. They do not have the right to live or work in other EU Member States without meeting that specific country's immigration requirements. The second far-right claim: 'This will be a pull factor'. There is no pull factor, because the measures are retrospective. The third claim: 'This legalises criminals'. A clean criminal record is a prerequisite. Any applicant with a criminal history is not eligible for regularisation. Commissioner Brunner, you can see the impressive neo-fascistic spectacle from the far right. Adolf Hitler would be proud – many followers. It's shame to listen to those speeches.