Speeches

Dear Mr President, The war in Ukraine has been going on for almost two years, and since then you have been repeating the same empty phrases that we support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and then you leave the room and live your peaceful lives. You are burning in the fever of war, and many are turning political capital into a tragedy in which hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have lost their homes and must experience the horrors of war every day. Young people, the elderly, women and children wake up and lie down with air-raid sirens and do not know when they will lose their loved one. As a Hungarian in Transcarpathia, I see this side of the war: every day soldiers are recruited and then buried. Among them are Hungarians, and life is becoming more and more difficult. Enough of this! We need a truce and peace talks. A lasting peace as soon as possible is the only solution. And enough of the lying slander of Hungary! From the outset, Hungary has declared its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, condemning the Russian aggression on numerous occasions and helping the people of Ukraine as much as possible. We support life and the future.

Dear Madam President, One of the main reasons for the creation of the European Union was the creation of lasting peace, so that there would be no more wars in Europe. It is unfortunate that today the original ideas and actions have drifted apart. The war in Ukraine has been going on for almost two years and we could have avoided it with appropriate diplomatic and conflict prevention measures, but the EU has failed enormously. And even more painfully, despite the hundreds of thousands of victims, there are very few of us who are pushing for peace as soon as possible. The situation in Ukraine is very serious and it will take a long time to resolve the consequences after the war is over. Hundreds of thousands were forced to leave their homeland, families were torn apart, and many weapons fell into irresponsible hands. In December, in Kerecke in Transcarpathia, for example, at the municipal council meeting, a representative threw three hand grenades among his peers. Several were seriously injured and two were killed. Meanwhile, instead of peace-building, the EU is striving to increase arms deliveries, and Hungary is under constant attack for peace and for standing up for diplomatic dialogue. All wars end at the negotiating table. Time is urgent. There are already too many casualties and too many losses. We need peace as soon as possible.

Mr. President, please. Ukraine has been at war for a year and a half. National minorities, including Transcarpathian Hungarians, are also fighting to protect the country. They accept refugees and do their job with the hope of peace as soon as possible. Minority rights have been shrinking since 2017. The EU, the Venice Commission and several EU member states have called on Ukraine to guarantee minority rights under international commitments and to restore previous education and mother tongue rights. This was not achieved in the 2022 Minority Act, but the draft amendment adopted at first reading does not address the main problems either. A country aspiring to the EU cannot deprive its European minorities of running schools in their mother tongue and living as a national community. It is therefore outrageous that a minority director was unjustifiably replaced in a Hungarian school in Transcarpathia. At the opening of the school year, the use of Hungarian national symbols and the playing of the anthem were banned. It is neither European nor democratic. I hope you will do the same.

Thank you very much for your reply, Mrs Gabriel. Indeed, I also wanted to say that the voices of all young people must reach the European Commission, and my suggestion about Erasmus was that I hope that you will succeed in making a positive contribution to ensuring that Hungarians are not excluded after 24.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The European Year of Youth was a very good opportunity for the young generation to get more attention and voice their opinions. The other main objective is to improve the visibility and popularity of the European Union among young Europeans, and this is very right and very much needed. It is very important, and we also agree, that the Erasmus programme has been the most popular programme of the European Union for 30 years, in which millions of Hungarian students participated, so it is very regrettable that a discriminatory decision has now been made that Hungarian students and teachers may no longer participate in this programme after 2024. Which is an outrageous and very bad message to Hungarian students, teachers and universities. I very much hope that this will be resolved as soon as possible and that Mrs Gabriel will be able to move this decision in a positive direction.

Mr. President, please. Russia's illegal war against Ukraine has been going on for a year, and we condemn it and stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in all forums. The war has caused enormous casualties, split families, broken young people's futures and dreams in two, regardless of their nationality or their mother tongue, as Hungarians, Romanians and other nationalities living in Ukraine all suffer from Russian aggression and fight side by side for victory. Despite the difficulties of the war, Ukraine continues its European integration path. I trust that, in fulfilling the accession conditions, the linguistic and educational rights of national minorities in the country will also be guaranteed in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria. However, the minority law adopted last December does not comply with the principle of equality of rights, so it must be amended and the EU must pay close attention to this. The tragic images of the war in Ukraine have been on the news for a year, but the world must not get bored and solidarity becomes an empty phrase. What really saves lives is peace. We could not prevent the tragedy of the earthquake in Turkey, but we can do a lot for Ukraine.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The UN Declaration on Minority Rights is 30 years old, but there has not been much progress on minority rights since then. It would be important that the rights of indigenous national and linguistic minorities exist not only on paper, but also in reality. Therefore, the Minority SafePack rejected by the European Commission would have been of great importance. However, European decision-makers apply double standards, only examining the problems of certain minorities under a magnifying glass. The anniversary of the declaration is a good opportunity to pay more attention to the Transcarpathian Hungarian community living in difficult times. Transcarpathian Hungarians condemn Russian aggression, bloodshed and destruction and take part in the defence of Ukraine. Everyone suffers the horrors and consequences of war, but in the midst of blackouts, they persevere in their homeland, fight to survive, and support women and children fleeing the country's war regions. The main aspiration of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine is the same as one of the conditions for EU candidate status, that minority rights are guaranteed by a law adopted in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, and that the community wishing to live in peace in its homeland is respected.

Dear Mr President, For 224 days, the war has claimed thousands of lives, including civilians and children, and has forced more than 10 million people to flee their homes. The Fidesz Group in the European Parliament has condemned and condemned the Russian aggression, the annexation of Ukrainian territories and war crimes. From the very beginning, we stand with Ukraine, we support Ukraine's territorial integrity, and we do not accept the outcome of the Russian sham referendums. In the largest humanitarian aid programme in Hungary's history, we have already received more than one million refugees from Ukraine. We are interested in peace as soon as possible, based on respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is the only way to end the suffering of war. That's the only thing that can stop this madness. However, it is undignified and unacceptable to link a strong and united political stance in favour of Ukraine, solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and the controversial and controversial practical issue of immediate and full-scale energy sanctions against Russia.

Dear Mr President, The European Council of 23-24 June took a number of important decisions, as the enlargement process, which has been stalled for years, has finally broken the deadlock. The granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova by the EU Heads of State and Government is an important symbolic political message that I hope will play a role in promoting peace and security as soon as possible. Only peace can solve the problem of no more innocent people dying, no more destruction and no more sacrifices, so that millions of women and children do not have to flee. However, candidate status does not yet mean actual membership. In the meantime, a lot of work has to be done, as the Commission has made it clear that the accession process is based on the same criteria for all. One of the conditions for Ukraine's candidacy is to guarantee minority rights for national minorities living in the country, to guarantee them language and educational rights, and to create a new law on minorities. Transcarpathian Hungarians have always been loyal citizens of Ukraine and have supported EU integration, so I am confident that Ukraine's EU accession will also promote the enforcement of the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians.

Dear Madam President, Erasmus+ is one of the most successful mobility programmes of the European Union, which has had a major impact on the lives of more than one million young people during its 30 years of existence, as it helps young people gain employment opportunities, international experience and language skills. Hungary and young Hungarians have always been very active in the programme, so I particularly welcome the fact that Erasmus offers more and more opportunities to learners with disadvantaged disabilities, health or educational difficulties. It is good that the programme pays special attention to helping the Eastern Partnership, including Ukrainian students. I acknowledge that progress has been made to simplify Erasmus, but many obstacles remain, for example for young people and projects belonging to national or linguistic minorities. Furthermore, Erasmus+ should not become a tool of political and ideological propaganda. The inclusiveness of the programme should not be a victim of the LGBT lobby and serve as a brainwashing tool. Sexual education of children and young people is a matter for parents, we leave it to them. Erasmus is about education mobility, training and sport in Europe.

Dear Madam President, The EU's Eastern Partnership programme is one of the best tools for strengthening the Union, and the last three months have also shown that if there is no peace and security in a partner country, the security and stability of the EU is also at risk. Thus, instead of empty promises, a strong, united and credible message should be sent to the countries applying for EU candidate status, unlike in the case of the countries of the Western Balkans. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was unexpected and showed the need for further integration of the associated countries. Granting candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia could strengthen the defence and security capabilities of the EU and the Eastern partners. Peace and stability in the EU's eastern neighbourhood is important. In this context, Ukraine’s candidacy has an important, symbolic political message and could facilitate a faster post-democratisation and post-peace recovery process for the future. Among the content of the Eastern Partnership, I would like to highlight the importance of infrastructural development, especially in border regions, as we continue to see that humanitarian aid is more difficult to access because of the capacity of border crossings. Finally, I would like to emphasise that Hungary supports steps to promote peace, the Eastern Partnership programme, the EU's united stance and solidarity with Ukraine, but in the interest of the country's stability and its citizens, it does not agree with either the oil or gas embargo.

Dear Mr President, I welcome the efforts to create a European Education Area, as it is important that as many Europeans as possible have access to quality and interoperable education. I also support the recommendation on lifelong learning and micro-credentials for employability, as it is necessary to help those who need it to participate in education, training and upskilling, even throughout their lives. As skills and competences acquired in initial education quickly become obsolete due to rapid changes in the labour market, retraining or gaining experience abroad is often necessary. Micro-credentials are therefore very important and it is essential that their introduction remains voluntary for Member States, respecting their competences. The introduction of the European Education Area and micro-credentials could be a step forward in the automatic and mutual recognition of qualifications, including for students from Europe and third countries, such as those resettled from Ukraine due to the war, which would already be of great help to them in the current situation.

Dear Madam President, The war in Ukraine has been going on for more than two months, and the day before yesterday, my homeland, Transcarpathia, was attacked by rockets for the first time. How did I feel? Pain and fear when I wasn't there, I didn't experience it. We can't imagine how women feel when they flee with their children in the midst of rocket attacks and bullets in their arms, or deliver their children in a subway station while bombing the surface. Or those who come to a foreign country without knowledge of the language and try to protect their children from the traffickers who are waiting for them. The situation of women in Ukraine is very difficult. Despite this, the European Parliament is once again drafting a report that is politicised, floundering away from real problems in many places and accusing Hungary of unfounded lies, for example, which has already helped, cared for and taken in hundreds of thousands of people. Instead of playing ideological games, the EU should strive to truly help women who have experienced terrible trauma. Help them to get protection, proper accommodation, care, health assistance. Children should receive education and a decent livelihood. May 8 is Mother's Day in Ukraine. Let us pay tribute to the women and mothers of Ukraine, who stand their ground, become family supporters, and in many cases take care of the elderly and children alone. And let us also work for peace as soon as possible, because it is very terrible that (the Chair withdrew the floor).

Dear Mr President, Children are the guarantee of the future, as we say, so we must pay close attention to getting through this difficult period of war as safely as possible. More than 4.8 million people fled the war in Ukraine. Approximately half of this is children and adolescents, whom we need to pay close attention to. It is important that these children find safety in the Member States of the European Union and that they are not harmed in any way. For reasons of stability, it is essential that children be able to return to kindergarten and school education, as this gives them a sense of security. Hungary has already taken in more than 400,000 refugees and is doing everything it can to ensure that children fleeing the war are safe and receive as much assistance as possible: be medical treatment, special needs, psychological help, continue learning with access to the Hungarian education system, but for example at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, a Ukrainian-language afternoon school was also established. The European Union must also pay more attention to children in Ukraine so that help can reach them, as their daily lives have become uncertain. Due to the difficult economic situation of the country, families remaining in their homeland are also in a very difficult situation, so it is very important to help them through various programmes. I think it would be a great help if the European Union financed free meals in kindergartens and schools in order to take the burden off the shoulders of families. To date, 380,000 internally displaced persons have arrived in Transcarpathia, Ukraine's westernmost region, including 36,500 children. Seven hundred of them are orphans or have deprived their parents of guardianship. They are even more vulnerable, and it is even more important to protect them. By promoting peace as soon as possible, we can do the most for children, so that no more children will have to suffer the horrors of war.

Dear Mr President, Almost a month has passed since the war in Ukraine, which has created enormous challenges for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe. The humanitarian situation is serious and food security is already being disrupted. Most farmers in Ukraine are unable to do their job, which will result in a large food shortage. In Ukraine's westernmost county, Transcarpathia, in the shadow of the war, many small farmers started agricultural work, but food shortages are already noticeable. All the more attention must be paid to food problems and rapid help must be given to solving them, since in Transcarpathia, in addition to the population of 1.2 million, local bodies must provide care for the approximately half a million people who have found refuge from the war in Transcarpathia, and whose number is increasing in the light of the tragic events. Most of those fleeing the war continue their journey to some Member States of the European Union, but many remain in their homeland, so there is a need for continuous food supplies. The EU should provide great assistance in the delivery of durable food, fuel and medicines to the territory of Ukraine and also to areas where there are currently no combat actions. It should also support those countries, neighbouring countries, which are hosting asylum seekers from Ukraine. It is very important to help the most deprived, those in financial difficulties, but the most urgent thing is to have peace and stability in Ukraine as soon as possible.

Dear Madam President, I have been a member of this Parliament since 2014, and many people know that as a Transcarpathian Hungarian born in Ukraine, I am directly affected by the humanitarian conflict caused by the war. It is important that as few civilians as possible are killed, so the war must be ended as soon as possible. In the meantime, however, it is important that we also provide humanitarian assistance to those who are in Ukraine. For example, the Transcarpathian region has received a large number of people, refugees from internal Ukrainian areas, they are cared for there, and those seeking refuge in neighbouring countries should also be helped. Since February 24, two million people have left Ukraine, and 190,000 people have arrived in Hungary, to whom the Hungarian government and the Hungarian people will give all the help. In response to the crisis, Hungary has started one of its largest humanitarian aid operations and is also supporting joint EU programmes, despite many unjust accusations. On the weekend I visited the help points near the Hungarian-Ukrainian borders, where I saw an amazing cooperation. The Hungarian government, local governments, NGOs and volunteers are trying to help people in trouble, women, children and elderly people who have arrived in Hungary with a single suitcase. Let us make every effort for peace as soon as possible, and let us help those fleeing the war with all our might.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The security of the European Union and its Member States is closely linked to the security of Ukraine. Ukraine is an important strategic partner and immediate neighbour of the European Union and therefore the fragile situation at the Ukrainian-Russian border is of great concern. Hungary sees the de-escalation of tensions as a solution through diplomatic negotiations, and has therefore taken an icebreaker role in order to establish dialogue and avoid war. A peaceful solution is the only way forward and there is no alternative to implementing the Minsk agreements. We must avoid panic, which has already caused huge financial losses, and the evacuation of diplomats is not a good message, and we must also avoid any measures that could exacerbate the situation. Thousands of people have already lost their lives in the conflict, millions of people have become internally displaced, and unemployment, high energy prices, inflation, and the coronavirus pandemic have all created major challenges for Ukraine, the Ukrainian population, including Transcarpathian Hungarians. We must therefore do everything we can for peace and support Ukraine to become a stable, democratic, viable and independent country, both economically and politically.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Monitoring the situation of human rights and democracy is very important, so it is good that this report has been prepared and includes the protection of national minorities. The EU should monitor the guarantee of the fundamental rights of national minorities, especially in partner countries. However, the EU is responding to different violations with double standards. For example, in Ukraine, despite international commitments, the rights of national minorities have been drastically reduced in recent years, with strong assimilation taking place. The Transcarpathian Hungarian minority has experienced intimidation on several occasions, and their representatives have been subjected to atrocities. The so-called death list of the Myrotvorets website unlawfully disclosed the personal data of thousands of people, including my data. This has been condemned by the European Parliament and the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, yet the site continues to function. In addition to the positive elements, the report contains a number of unacceptable passages. These include pushing for a transition to qualified majority voting, pushing for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which imposes gender ideology, or creating new legal migration routes.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I am very concerned about the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border. In agreement with Borrel, every effort must be made to de-escalate the situation against the deepening of the crisis. We must therefore support all initiatives towards a peaceful solution to the conflict, towards the fulfilment of the Minsk agreements. I hope that the Normandy formation can be revived. As in the past, Hungary stands firmly for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The population of Ukraine has been in a difficult situation for years, so peace and stability would be important for them, as thousands of people have lost their lives, including Transcarpathian Hungarians, in defence of the country. Hungary has proven many times that Ukraine can count on its support. At the same time, it is unacceptable to reduce the acquired rights of national minorities, including the Hungarian community living in the country. Minority rights are human rights. Fundamental human rights should not be a collateral loss of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. I hope that peace and security in the region will be restored as soon as possible, as this is in the interest of all of us.

Mr. President, please. I welcome the decision to make 2022 the European Year of Youth. "The future is in the hands of young people", we say, now they must be given the opportunity to express what they want, what they think is important and valuable. This programme focuses on young people and gives them the opportunity to be more involved in public life, the issues that determine their daily lives and futures. Young people facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic need effective assistance and concrete measures to improve their living conditions and vision. It is also important to take good examples and practices from each other, such as the personal income tax exemption for people under the age of 25 introduced by the Hungarian government from 2022, such a good example that helps young people to thrive on a daily basis. Europe's strength lies in young people, and therefore youth organisations and young people themselves must be involved in the implementation of the programme. I want this programme to deliver real results, improving access to quality education for people belonging to national minorities and people with disabilities, both within the EU and in partner countries.

Dear Madam President, The tense situation on the border between the European Union and Belarus is very regrettable. The European Union and the Schengen system are common values, so we have a duty to protect them. This, in turn, requires the agreement of the Member States and the EU to provide each Member State with the resources necessary for effective border protection. The EU cannot differentiate between member states and apply double standards, as it does with Hungary and Poland. We Hungarians have been defending the southern borders against illegal border offenders for six years now. Therefore, in the interest of the security of European citizens, we fully understand the problem in Poland and express their solidarity with the Polish people. The EU has often called for solidarity with the Member States, but what is most urgent now is for Poles to be given effective help to protect the external border as soon as possible. At the same time, the EU must change its misguided migration policy and instead work to ensure that those besieging the EU's borders can return home as soon as possible and receive assistance at home in their homeland and a vision for the future.

Dear Mr President, Education and culture are Europe's most important resource and key to its competitiveness. It is therefore important that Member States provide quality and sustainable education and training that is accessible to all, and the European Education Area Programme is an important aid to this end. Everyone has the right to education. This is the basis for social cohesion Spending on education is an investment in our future and should therefore be a priority for Member States. The European Education Area can provide more opportunities, mobility and international experience, while respecting the competences of the Member States in the field of education policy. The EEA is important for vocational education and training in higher education, university cooperation, recognition of diplomas and qualifications. The change of the Hungarian higher education model, which aims to improve the competitiveness of universities and increase their funding, can serve as a good example, as it strives to create a more predictable operating environment and to provide higher quality education for students. It is a priority for universities to play a central role in research and development and innovation, and to increase the level of knowledge of foreign languages. In the context of the EEA, it is essential to pay attention to education in national minority and regional languages, as this is also part of equal opportunities.

Dear Mr President, COVID-19 has had an impact on the cultural and creative sectors and directly on artists. The cultural and creative sectors are an important part of the economy and, despite the digital solutions to the challenge, the industry needs strong support. In order to reduce the negative effects of the pandemic and to relaunch the sector, the Hungarian government has established priority sector-specific grants in the form of grants to support service providers and artists. In Hungary, SMEs in the cultural and creative sector have received significant assistance to help maintain jobs. The government has provided more than HUF 14 billion to help the cultural sector and significant regulations have been put in place to preserve jobs. It is important that the EU also expands funding opportunities for the cultural and audiovisual sectors through programmes such as Creative Europe and Erasmus+. We also call on the Commission to support individual Member States in their efforts to find the most efficient way of resolving aid at national level. It is not a question of de-competence, but of supporting the recovery of Member States.