Speeches

2022 started with a setback for freedom and democracy in Kazakhstan. We saw and heard horrific scenes of the repression during the protests – security forces shooting unarmed people, arbitrary arrests and disappearances, torture, internet shutdowns... the list, sadly, goes on. On top of this was a show of force from Russia, which brought back chilling memories of ‘external assistance’ in countries such as my own. This is all happening in a country with a partnership and cooperation agreement with the EU. We must step up our engagement with Kazakhstan, and show that if concrete advances in human rights and democracy do not take place, there will be consequences for the agreement and sanctions to those violating human rights. High Representative, the events of these weeks have brought suffering, fear, and instability. The people of Kazakhstan want change and a better future, and we must be there for them.

Madam President, dear Presidents, dear Prime Ministers, dear Ministers, dear colleagues, 24 years ago Václav Havel addressed this Parliament and spoke about European identity and enlargement. He spoke of turning Europe’s turbulent history into one of a profoundly fair and peaceful order, based on the principle of equality and cooperation by all sides, where understanding and general consensus guide Europe. Four years later, he lived to see his dream fulfilled with the enlargement to the Czech Republic and nine other European countries. My country joining the European Union was one of the proudest moments in my life. The barrier between the East and West – gone. Yet the discussion continued after enlargement: new versus old Member States, EU-10 versus EU-15, east versus west. Twenty years on, I am truly glad that there is no longer an ‘us’ or ‘them’, but only a ‘we’. We still have national interests, but we are all equal members of the same club. We are one European Union. Twenty years on, we must not give in to those that wish to take us back. We must not give in to those who speak of Brussels or Strasbourg as something to fight against. If you don’t like it, then reform it – but we must refuse to go back to nationalism. We must refuse to go back to the divided Europe of our parents. Havel’s dream didn’t end with enlargement 20 years ago. He dreamed of the continent as a whole being united. Now is the time to continue his dream, and I look forward to welcoming more members to our club, where dialogue replaces hate and wars. I am a proud Czech and I am a proud European. Twenty years on, I am proud to be both at the same time, and for this I will always be grateful.

Mr President, Madam Vice-President of the Commission, it is now two weeks since we heard the name of Voice of Europe. An investigation by Czech authorities revealed that it was a pro-Russian influence operation in Europe. The huge amount of content it created using elected officials as mouthpieces have been seen as a credible source for months. It is scandalous that, despite Voice of Europe being shut down by the Czech Government, its content was still available for days afterwards on YouTube and elsewhere, that other Member States, including those hosting large platforms, have taken little or no action. It’s clearly a bad signal if one Member State sanctions an organisation for disinformation and we, as the European Union, are not able to follow up quickly. In this cyberwar with Russia, we need to act as one and act quickly.

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of its next sitting. If there are no objections, I shall forward the resolutions adopted at today’s sitting to the persons and bodies named in the resolutions.

I should like to inform you that, pursuant to Rule 47(2), the President has declared admissible a proposal for a Union act on the repeal of legislation derived from the European Green Deal, submitted by Jorge Buxadé Villalba and three other Members. This proposal is referred to the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, and to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, for opinion.

Mr. President, Rocío San Miguel, Hernández Da Costa, Juan Freites, Luis Camaro, Guillermo López, Emil Brand and many more are in prison only because they think differently from the dictatorial regime or simply because they worked for presidential candidate María Corina Machado. These are just some of the many examples of the brutality of Nicolás Maduro's regime. The European Union must respond firmly to this new wave of repression and, at the very least, first adopt new sanctions against those responsible for these crimes. And secondly, to call for these human rights violations to be included in the investigation of the International Criminal Court. Now more than ever, the European Union must stand by our friends the Venezuelan Democrats until the end.

We thank you, Commissioner. I have received one motion for a resolution to wind up the debate1. The debate is closed and the vote will be held tomorrow. (The sitting was suspended at 10.12) _____________ 1 See minutes.

The next item is the debate on a Commission statement on the creation of a European initiative for an annual designation of European capitals for children (2024/2621(RSP)). I would like to inform Members that there will be only one round of political group speakers, therefore no catch-the-eye procedure, and no blue cards will be accepted.

The next item is the debate on Council and Commission statements on the need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia (2024/2620(RSP)).

Before we start the debate, I would like to warmly welcome the special guests today who are in the gallery: Valeriia Halych, who was deported to Russia and, thankfully, returned to Ukraine, her mother Nataliia Halych, as well as Andrii Chernousov from ‘Voices of Children’ and Olga Pustovit from the ‘Center for Civil Liberties’ in Ukraine. (Applause) They are here with us as a testimony of Putin’s brutal policy towards Ukrainian children, and they are also to follow our debate on the need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia. A warm welcome. Thank you for being with us.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the need to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products to the EU and to ensure stability of EU agricultural production (2024/2657(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the Oral Question to the Commission on the adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for 2023 (2024/2573(RSP)).

Mr President, Mr Commissioner, AI is the future. It will be the next industrial revolution, as we use it to innovate and to make lives better. We only have to look to the fight against cancer to see the great benefits that AI can bring to our society. 61 % of Europeans feel the same. We need AI innovation in Europe. We need to embrace this tool and not hold it back out of fear. There are risks, but there are risks with every innovation. In general, our lives are safer today than ever in the past, and I am sure AI will make them safer tomorrow. The AI Act establishes the guardrails for AI development, but it does not and must not stand in its path. It gives guidance and limits, but it does not and must not tie the hands of our companies. Europe must not miss this opportunity.

Madam President, Commissioner, more than a thousand political prisoners, social violence, 88% of families living in extreme poverty, thousands of Cuban doctors and professionals forcibly working abroad, the systematic and unpunished violation of human rights: that's today's Cuba. Six years after the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and Cuba, whose key point was the improvement of human rights on the island, Europe cannot continue with its eyes closed. We need to act: suspend the current Agreement and start a new policy towards the island based on support for civil society and respect for human rights. I want to send my message of support to Cubans struggling to improve the future of their country. You're not alone. We will support you until Cuba is a democratic country.

The next item is the debate on the report by Nacho Sánchez Amor, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2023 (2023/2118(INI)) (A9-0424/2023).