Speeches

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the biggest global recession since the Second World War. European countries have been particularly affected and without doubt, the travel and tourism sectors have been hit harder than others. Thanks to the European Commission to act in December 2021 that the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) would be valid for nine months without a booster shot, several EU countries – including France, Italy, Denmark and Malta – decided to shorten the validity of vaccination passes for national use to seven or three months. A number of countries have also introduced additional testing requirements that apply to vaccinated/recovered EU travellers, going against the current Council Recommendations. In Hungary there are approximately 2 million citizens who were vaccinated with vaccines that have not yet received EMA’s approval. The Commission position is under the current rules, the certificate of a person who has received an EU-approved vaccine as the latest dose, be it during the primary vaccinate series or as a booster, must be accepted by other Member States, even if a vaccine not (yet) approved at EU level was used for previous doses. I urge the Commission to communicate this towards the Member States and the public.

Careful eyes, throw it at Janša! Slovenia has taken over the rotating presidency of the European Union, and the programme for Slovenians is being evaluated today by the plenary of the European Parliament. Undoubtedly, it is spicy that a political adventurer, Prime Minister Janez Janša, has been leading the European community for six months, who holds Orbán, who is engaged in an illiberal war against the EU, as one of his role models, and his background country has a thousand dark ties to the Fidesz oligarch network. It is particularly interesting that, according to its own programme, the Slovenian Presidency will pay particular attention to the values on which the European Union is founded, including the rule of law, but they also want to give priority to media pluralism, for example. This would be credible if the Slovenian Prime Minister, on the basis of an Orban recipe, did not lead the fake-news industry to the top, derail his political opponents by all possible means, subjugate the public and unwillingly attack members of the independent judiciary. We expect a lot from the Slovenian EU Presidency, but we expect little. We know from Janez Janša's political mentor that it is not what he says that we should pay attention to, but what he does. Personally, I will pay particular attention to how the Slovenian Presidency will react, for example, to the implementation of the European Health Union, which I have initiated and partially developed, and which has been positively said so far: The question is, when words have to be turned into deeds, what will remain of populist phrases? So, watchful eyes, throw it at Janša!

Madam President, I'm sorry. I support any global strategy if it is in the interest of European citizens, in this case the security of public health care and equal access for all European citizens. This picture, which I show you and I know that it is not very visible, this picture is a small retaining wall, a small chair without a back wall in a children's hospital in Budapest. No, not 400 kilometers from the capital of Hungary, in the countryside, but in the capital. A small chair where a mother has to spend days, because there is no opportunity, money to get more, more normal, quality care. I can't believe it's true that if it wasn't for my own wife's photo of yesterday when she was in the hospital with our toddler for days. I demand that there be a minimum health service in the European Union that ensures safe and equal conditions for all citizens. This requires a stress test in the European Union, and I look forward to the Commission's partnership. Thank you very much, Madam President, let us continue to work for a European Health Union.

Mr. President, please. Yesterday in plenary, we listened to beautiful words about the 30th anniversary of the EU single market, which is indeed important, but as if it had not yet caught up with European citizens in the area of health services and products. I had to start this morning by hunting a blood glucose sensor, looking for it in three pharmacies, which in Germany is a subjective right for diabetics, and in Hungary none of it is available, even here it is difficult. I take a teenage boy home from here every month. Is that normal? Is it normal that there is no minimum health service in the European Union that all European citizens, wherever they live, are entitled to the same? This is why we need a European Health Union, a minimum health standard, a stress test that maps healthcare services in all countries, including the pharmaceutical market and medical services. And we know what we are facing because every citizen of the European Union needs the same, minimal, good healthcare. It should not be fashionable, for example, to talk about health at European level in the event of a pandemic, but to deal with it equally actively before and after the pandemic.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I am one of many Hungarian family members. Secondly, he is a European citizen and, by the way, a social democratic politician. But in all three of my capacities, I share the same view that in the European Union, including in modern times, the issue of the nation or the protection of national minorities is of particular importance to us. I am proud to speak my beautiful and special Hungarian language in this house. This is due to the millennia-long struggle of the Hungarians for their survival, and now to the fact that we are members of the European community. But what happens next will largely depend on whether we respect national issues. European values often seem abstract, each interpreting them according to their own taste. One thing is for sure, respect and acceptance should be fundamental questions about each other's culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender. But this list is not complete without nationality. That is why I must point out that we cannot allow national issues to be captured by populist nationalism. A patriot defends national interests and does not exploit them for political ends.

Dear Madam President, 100 years after the discovery of insulin and some 10 years after the parliamentary debate that preceded it, I consider it a success that we have now been able to bring this issue to the plenary. But what will make the lives of people with insulin resistance and diabetes in the European Union better? In Hungary, more than 1,300 out of 10,000 people are affected, more than one million to one hundred thousand people. And the question is whether such a debate will bring them something new, something easier to live, or those who will fall into this disease in the future. This is why we created the European Health Union. That is why we are talking about the fact that, while health is a Member State competence, there must be a European level of coordination, support and policy coordination for European health. For me, the most important thing is that all European citizens have the same chance of access to care, prevention, treatment, medicines and equipment. This is what the Health Union is all about, not only in terms of diabetes, but also in terms of other diseases.

Dear Madam President, The only thing that interests me is the interests of the Hungarian people and the Hungarian families. I can only look at the current situation through these glasses. Are Hungarian families interested in the fact that the government, for example, is now lying about what we are arguing about out of a billion euros a year? Are Hungarian families interested in the fact that the rule of law has ceased to exist in Hungary? No, it's not in your best interest. It is a fact that EU subsidies are due to Hungary. It is also a fact that, because of the Orbán regime's corrupt, rogue, blackmailing and aggressive policies, we are not getting them at the moment. It is also a fact that support for Hungarian families and the Hungarian economy will arrive if the Orbán government is willing to make a change. Dear Hungarian Elector, This is what we are arguing about, when and how we can force the Orbáns to steal less or nothing, and to abide by the rules that must form the rule of law for the benefit of the Hungarian people. This is the only question, and as a Hungarian MEP, I will continue to fight for our resources in the coming period. But they should not come to Hungary for Orbán's sake, but for the sake of Hungarian families.

Hungarian society fought for Hungary's membership in the European Union. Back in the early 1990s, when I was a teenager, we campaigned for us to be hired and for Hungarian society to decide by referendum on joining Europe. Two-thirds of Hungary's society is clearly on the side of the European Union, even the majority of Fidesz voters. For us, for Hungarian society, for the Hungarian people and for our children – I say this as a father of six – only the European Union can ensure stability, peace and a predictable future. This is Europe for us and it is for this that the basic values must be adhered to.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I am first and foremost a proud Hungarian family member. Secondly, he is a Social-Democratic Member of the European Parliament and, in both my capacities, I am deeply saddened by the situation in my country. The galloping inflation that appeared before the war, the historical depression of the forint, the amazing depth of overhead costs, while other countries are helping their citizens, they are withdrawing overhead subsidies from our citizens. The situation of pensioners, the situation of young people fleeing, our teachers in education, health care, patients and workers: The country is in a terrible state. And in the meantime, we have a lying government. A lying Fidesz both here and at home, because it's always different: Soros was wrong, Juncker was wrong, the migrant was wrong, the movement promoting gender reassignment surgery in kindergarten was wrong, the European Union is always wrong, and of course I, as a non-Fidesz politician, was wrong. Balázs Hidvégi said in a political debate that I hate my nation: I'm asking for it! I stand here because I am defending the interests of the entire Hungarian community, not the system that you, the one you serve at home, are guilty of. Because I know that the ‘who is at fault’ question can be answered very simply after twelve years of government. The inadequacy of the government, the dismantling of the rule of law, the immeasurable state corruption and, indeed, the serving of Putin as a vassal: These are the problems of the Hungarian society. I am saddened to be back in this situation. You'll be treasonous at home, and I'll have to say it again: I represent and defend my country. We are entitled to the money, the Hungarian society is entitled to the EU funding, but not for the Orbán government to steal it. And let me quote you again, I have made your last written proposal in the European Parliament, in which you said in 2009 that we were often in a position where the interests of Hungarian citizens were represented by Brussels against the Hungarian government, and that Hungarian democracy is in great need of control, of being able to hold democratic governance to account, Fidesz's campaign said in 2009. That's what's happening now. (The speaker is willing to respond to a blue card intervention)

Madam President, I'm sorry. The Recovery Fund is a revolutionary and good tool, I support it. As a Social Democratic representative who is particularly sensitive to the problems of Hungarian society, I am very happy about this because Hungarian society must have a vision in which the European Union can help it and we need European funds. In addition, we are entitled to this money, because our children and grandchildren are also part of this common system, so they also bear the burden. It is for us, but is it for the purpose for which the European Union intends it? The problem is precisely here, because it walks, but it does not get where it should, because the pro-state, pro-Orban system absorbs it, steals it, uses it for its own purposes, so that I can put it clearly. Dear Committee, once again the Orbán government is making a fool of you if, after six months of negotiations, you suddenly say that everything is all right, the Orbán system can get this money. While the government at home says it is lying that the European Commission wants LGBTQ activists to promote non-alteration surgeries in kindergartens, we know that this is about corruption, the judiciary, the building of the state party. Let me ask you a question very quickly: Why don't you answer me when I ask the Commission what exactly are the negotiating points with the Hungarian government? We have a right to know. I sent you a letter about this three weeks ago. They didn't answer. Put it on the table, exactly what the details of the trial are, that's how we'll decide.

Madam President, I'm sorry. There is a lot of devastating information about tourism. I do not need to return to these now, but behind the data there are human destinies, companies and businesses, which is why I would like to confirm to you that, as Vice-President of the TRAN Committee and authorised ambassador of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, I have recently visited partner organisations and civil society organisations. Just recently, I was negotiating with the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation in Malta. It's a big problem! The biggest problem is instability, the inability of entrepreneurs and workers in the profession – not to mention travellers – to calculate what follows and where the rules are. The Thomas Cook bankruptcy was here, followed by the pandemic. Today, the bankruptcy of small businesses, the loss of confidence, many factors that, by the way, show the need for a long-term sustainable strategy for tourism. Not to mention the fact that here is the Green Deal, which must include tourism, but if we set out in the Green Deal obligations at European level that will destroy some of the players in the industry, we will not help anyone. Coordination is needed! The Commission and Parliament have done their part. Commissioner Breton has personally done a lot for the COVID certificate and vaccination in Europe. But I would like to know that tourism is among the fourteen in the industry strategy, what will this mean in the Single Market instrument, how will there be and how much money will be for tourism? And my second question is, on the model of the European Health Union, Commissioner, why don't we make the European Tourism Union? A common programme that promotes coordination and common policies, but obviously does not take competence away from national governments. But we need coordination at European level, let's do it together, you and us, the European Tourism Union, just as the Commission and Parliament have done the European Health Union programme.