Speeches

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, the general experience of the scientific reports show that we live in a time of unprecedented religious intolerance globally. Unfortunately, in 2021, as many as 40 countries of the world people have been killed, abducted for their faith. At the same time, since 2019, the Commission unfortunately hesitated for three years with the appointment of the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of the freedom of religion outside the EU. This undermined, clearly – this is my own experience – the EU’s international credibility. Dear colleagues, around 84% of the global population identifies with a different kind of religious group, according to the Pew Research Center. The basic human right of the freedom of religion is still not fully integrated into EU diplomacy. We’ll still need to set milestones in dialogue with the churches, religious communities and their organisations active in this field in the EU and the third countries. According to Article 17 of the EU Treaty, the EU institution conducts substantial and transparent dialogue with the religious communities, either. In reality – we know it very well, however – it is not structured dialogue as such prior to any substantive EU decision-making. It is not a legal framework that is missing. Rather, the EU leadership refuses knowledge of the decisive impact of religion in individual society. Without this, decision-makers are unable to understand the importance of religious freedom. A visible result, today, is that we hold this debate in the very end of the plenary session, on Thursday afternoon. We need the presence of the colleagues, of course. Thanks for everybody who is present. I think it is really a simple shame. Let me recall the free expression of religion is not a matter of religion, but it is a human right. In fact, it is even deeper – it is one of the anthropological question.

Thank you for your reply, Commissioner, and I absolutely agree with him, and in these endeavours I believe that the Commission has always been supported by my group. I would like to stress that Africa has all the opportunities - and we must underline this here - that make the continent the 21st. It can make it the leading region of the century, Europe's number one strategic ally. But one thing that needs to be emphasized is that an extremely young and fast growing population is an opportunity that needs to be taken advantage of. This requires that young people in Africa receive adequate education and vocational training. It will be up to the next generation to make the strategic decisions that will make Africa a true winner in the 21st century.

Mr. President, please. More than three years have passed since the Commission published the EU Strategy for Africa. It promised a partnership for the green transition in Africa, digitalisation, job creation, peace and migration management. The question rightly arises: Have we fulfilled our promises? Is Africa a safer place? Have we been effective in tackling the root causes of migration? Today, 15 of the world's 20 most unstable countries are in Africa. Since 2020, our strategic partners such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Nigeria have been stranded in or on the brink of civil war. Madam Commissioner, what can we do to bring the work of the last five years to a truly tangible conclusion next year? What can we do to ensure that young Africans can contribute locally to the development of their communities instead of emigrating?

Mr. President, please. As Head of the 2022 EU Electoral Mission, I have been able to follow political developments in Lebanon closely to this day. Allow me to make two statements about my experience: It is a false promise that the European Union will be able to solve Lebanon's problems. Lebanon does not need a European education, but it needs a great deal of cooperation, but it needs to happen on both sides. For this to happen, however, the Lebanese political elite elected last year must finally complete their task. The first step is the presidential election, after a year's delay. Those who block this process and stand in the way of much-needed vital reforms must have the means – and the constitution – to prevent it. Dear fellow Members, The resolution of the situation of Syrian refugees is an issue that cannot be postponed for a long time, as it appeared here in the conversation. The European Union must help refugees to return home, but today neither the political nor the humanitarian situation in Syria is suitable for this. But we must be clear that Turkey and Lebanon will take action on this issue sooner rather than later. It is therefore better for us Europeans to sit at the table and not on the menu. Let's get thematic, let's not let them get thematic.

Mr. President, please. Disabling an entire country and ten million EU citizens simply cannot be a political goal in any way. This motion for a resolution attempts to do so, albeit indirectly. It radically interferes in the negotiation process between the Hungarian government and the European Commission, thus rejecting constructive dialogue and compromises reached. The real unscrupulous political cynicism is that, despite the progress made, they demand that Hungary should not receive EU funds under any circumstances. It is a particular tragedy, of course, that in this political depression Hungarian companions were found. They also question Hungary's ability to hold the presidency in 2024, thus attacking the Council's institutional system. It is fortunate that this is not decided by the European Parliament because of its lack of competence. The plan makes any kind of confidence building even more difficult, almost impossible. It seems that there are always politicians who use Hungary to increase their political recognition, and here we can say that they are making false statements. How much sobriety is there in this House in the face of an increasingly excluded, dissociative madness? Because it's crazy. Actually, that's the question today. We need to find a solution, ladies and gentlemen. Hungary has endured a lot of things so far, and it will endure this too!

Mr. President, please. The ever-increasing tensions undermine trust between the countries of the Great Lakes region and undermine much-needed cooperation. We Europeans know exactly what the bloody consequences of wars over raw materials are. The founding fathers created the European Union to put an end to these conflicts. This is a lesson that we need to share with our African partners. We must see that the conflict that is unfolding on the border between Congo and Rwanda is the result of a decade-long security vacuum in the Eastern Congo region, unaddressed by the international community. The Kinshasa government is simply unable to secure a state presence throughout the country. This is especially true in conflict-affected areas. This allows armed militias to fight for the rights to extract essential metals such as cobalt, lithium and tantalum with a wide variety of uncontrollable foreign subsidies. The establishment of regional peace and stability is also hampered by hate speech and violence against the Tutsis in the Congo. We have seen with the neighbouring country exactly what the consequences of such incitement may be. We must not go down this road again. The European Union, in cooperation with the Member States, should provide technical assistance to Congo and Rwanda, as mentioned by the Commissioner, including strengthening state institutions, fighting corruption and, in short, establishing stable governance. In addition, all diplomatic means should be used to help resolve the situation. Reconciliation policy and economic opportunities need to be explored at regional level, with the involvement of regional leaders, but above all it needs to be assessed whether the European Union can really be a factor in reconciliation. We have to face this honestly. The European Union must decide whether to promote reconciliation or to fight an ideological struggle in Africa.

Mr. President, please. Now, a week after the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, we must first of all thank those who have been fighting for those in distress, at the risk of their physical integrity, over the past week and at these moments. Respect to them! It is our job to support your work in every way. Allow me to highlight in particular the humanitarian situation in Syria. Here assistance began in an extremely difficult security and political situation. However, much more comprehensive engagement is needed to ensure that local humanitarian actors can effectively carry out their tasks. After the disaster, I contacted one of the country's largest aid agencies, the St. Ephrem Patriarchal Development Committee, as well as the Italian humanitarian agency AVSI and other non-governmental partners in Syria. The internationally recognised organisation, which works closely with the EU, says that sanctions on banking transactions, electronic equipment and machinery for cleaning up rubble are severely hampering humanitarian action. We must therefore find a way to remove the obstacles to reconstruction after a period of saving lives, without abandoning the political objective of sanctions. This can only be done to help the Syrian people directly. It's time! Dear Commissioner, On this issue, you can count on my personal support and the support of my group, the European People's Party.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The European Parliament has the authority to be at the forefront of human rights. Thank you for the rapporteur's work. It is therefore to be welcomed that the report stands up for the rights of national, ethnic and linguistic minorities. Equally forward-looking is the recognition that the root causes of migration need to be tackled locally. However, the report now threatens the credibility of the European Parliament. It contrasts the free exercise of religion with the interpretation of human rights for political purposes. It simply, let's say, comicly calls on thousands of years old religious communities to recognize the right to atheism, abortion or sexual orientation. Instead of religious freedom, restrictions on religious freedom come to the fore. This is no less than a violation of various denominations and ecclesiastical autonomy throughout the world. My fellow Members, it is not our job to reinterpret human rights, let us not let the idea of freedoms rooted in natural law lose its meaning.

Dear Mr President, First of all, I would like to thank my colleague, fellow Member Charles Goerens, for the very complex work he has done on this report. The European Union spends EUR 70 billion a year on international development, but we are facing increasing difficulties. Nearly 700 million people live in extreme poverty, 350 million are starving, 31 million are war refugees in Africa in a single year. We need to see that the lack of security and education in Africa undermines a good part of EU investment, strengthens the migration impact, and has ultimately hampered sustainable development. Together with EU development banks and private investment, the European Union is mobilising €500 billion for development projects. However, meaningful results require more effective coordination between the European Investment Bank and international development actors in the Member States. The Investment Bank should engage in a direct, genuine dialogue with its African partners. In addition, clear objectives are needed: safety, education and the workplace.

Dear Madam President, We are finally able to conclude a long and difficult negotiation. The Hungarian Government and the European Commission are approaching the end of a constructive dialogue. Now, on the threshold of an agreement, the left of the European Parliament is launching yet another attack. From the outset and consistently, the Commission's expectation was to improve the use of EU funds. As expected, the Hungarian government has made 17 comprehensive commitments and created the legal environment for them. Reforms have begun and institutional changes have been made. I would like to nullify the results so far. There is nothing less at stake than that ten million European, European Hungarian citizens should receive the billions due to them. Dear fellow Members, You are now in a decision-making position: do they support the results achieved, or do they put their perceived individual and party political interests at odds with the interests of Hungarian citizens? This isn't the time to mess around. Yes or no? Leftist denial only helps extremists by rejecting dialogue in Europe. It is useless to say that they attack a government, and by their decisions they put a country, its nearly ten million inhabitants, in an impossible situation. Yet why and how should the otherwise pro-European Hungarians and, subsequently, the millions of European citizens trust the European Parliament? Many of you are still singing at various party events today that this fight will be the final one. Now, that's what I'd like to hope for.

Dear Madam President, Commissioner, The Horn of Africa is a region of strategic importance for Europe. Not only from a commercial and economic point of view, but also from the point of view of the security of our continent. EU action in the region must therefore be effective, targeted and respond to real local challenges. In the current situation, in the midst of the food and energy crises, clear priorities are needed, not vague referrals. It is a mistake to assume that economic growth in the region, curbing migration and strengthening democratic processes can be achieved without security. Security is a prerequisite for sustainable development. We have to accept this principle quite simply. Despite economic investment, the fight against climate change, the lack of security undermines state government, creates an unpredictable economic environment and ultimately frustrates the expected development. As the Commissioner will undoubtedly agree with this, in addition to safety, there is an urgent need to lay the foundations for quality education and vocational training. In addition to quality education, the existence of qualified teachers is also a key issue. The sub-Saharan region will need 15 million new teachers by 2030, and we need to see multiple returns on EU investment in education, and teacher training in particular. Building on this, we can create real opportunities for young people to overcome poverty by investing in local jobs. Placing migration as a real solution is simply false. We need to recognise the links between security, education and job creation, and emigration. Ignoring all this is worrying not only for European security, but also to mislead young Africans with false promises.

Dear Mr President, Commissioner, We last had a debate here in February on the situation in Burkina Faso, but then Commissioner Dali, on behalf of the Commission, said that the EU would respond to the changed situation in Burkina Faso, encourage a return to democratic order and give priority to countering terrorism. You must be madam. Let's face reality. EU action to date has produced very little results. The intention was there. In June, religious extremists carried out an attack in Pansy that killed 100 people, resulting in thousands fleeing the region. Last week, Captain Ibrahim Traoré's successful military takeover of Ouagadougou overthrew the previous coup d'état. It's worrying. We must see, however, that this is not specifically Burkina Faso's problem. It is the seventh successful military takeover in West Africa since 2020. The series of coups undermines the stability of the entire sub-Saharan region, allowing religious extremism, including the local Islamic State organization, to flourish. Let's recognize: the real potential for EU action is the coordination of the TTT, which is a multiplier for action by Member States and international organisations, as well as local partners. Again, the alignment. The European Union cannot deal with the situation on its own. Dear Madam High Representative, Dear Commissioner, What opportunities do you see for this coordinated action? How do you know, do you think, that the EU wants to credibly coordinate the actions of the various international, EU actors in the current situation in Burkina Faso?

Dear Madam President, What is Religious Freedom? It is a fundamental human rights issue, not a religious one. The UN human rights treaties and our EU legislation include freedom of religion among human rights. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the free choice and, very importantly, the exercise of religion as a fundamental right. Our report, adopted on 15 January 2019 by the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion outside the EU, is also about the international enforcement of this fundamental right. It is a disgrace for EU decision-making that the Special Envoy has not been appointed by the European Commission since then. All this sends the wrong message, the European Union does not show solidarity with the disenfranchised. The EU will be truly credible if it assigns a meaningful mandate to the post. In our report three years ago, we explained this clearly and in detail to the Commission. I repeat: Until the appointment is made with the appropriate authority, the Union will spread a culture of indifference to the suffering.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The persecution of Catholic Church representatives in Nicaragua has been going on for years. It is time for the European Parliament to take action against the religious persecution of the atheist regime. There is no room for further misrepresentation. The arrest of Bishop Alvarez and the arrest of eight priests is a clear message that has been expressed in various ways. During his European tour in 2019, Bishop Alvarez asked us to continue to support his Church without fear, because in doing so they give life and hope to others. Those who are persecuted and suffering must know that we do not turn our backs on them, and that is why we, as Europeans, have a moral obligation to stand up for persecuted Christians in the strongest possible terms. This is what we would have expected during the decades of communism. There is a need for action on the part of European foreign policy. We demand the release of Bishop Alvarez and his associates. We must also assist in the restoration of damaged churches and the social activities of the Church. The example above illustrates: it is imperative that the European Commission finally appoints a Special Envoy for Religious Freedom outside Europe after more than three years.

Madam President, I'm sorry. It takes a minute and a half to react to the latest developments in a political debate that has lasted for more than ten years. The mix of facts, presumptions and half-truths in a European document is so confusing, let us say it calmly, and I have not seen it in the last twenty years. Completed with doctoral thesis. This, beyond the previous ones, is simply a Hungarophobic collection. You don't have to be a biased party politician or a political scientist to see clearly: The increasingly radical European left wants to put Hungary under guardianship. In my country, Hungary, a government was re-elected with an overwhelming majority just a few months ago. On the other hand, the authors of this document present to the Hungarian electorate, in one way or another, the topos of the disbanded opposition. This is a political pamphlet without objectivity, a declaration. Unfortunately, they also make the role of the European Parliament in front of the European electorate frivolous. All this in the midst of war, unemployment, food crisis. For years now, you who have written this paper have been sending a message to millions of Hungarian voters, and at other times to tens of millions of other countries: You don't matter if you don't step in with us at the same time. This is not about the infallibility of the Hungarian government. The Hungarian government is wrong, as are the decision-makers of all other countries. However, it must be seen that Hungary has always been ready for compromises in order to reach an agreement. Believe me, as a Hungarian I know perfectly well that Hungary cannot and will not be placed under guardianship. To conclude, I have a suggestion: Feel free to establish a hungarophobic circle of friends, yes, hungarophobic circle of friends. That would be a really honest speech.

Dear Madam President, Those of us who are sitting here are standing. We know what happened in Owo, Nigeria. First of all, I must say, Commissioner, that the attack on the Feast of Pentecost – and not by chance – was directed against the Christian faithful. The mass murder cannot simply be explained by decades of conflict between farmers and nomadic animal keepers. Immediately after my statement about the attack, my local friends asked the public for help. I learned through the volunteer doctor in the area, Dr. Réka Fodor, that the hospital of the Archdiocese of Onitsha in the neighboring federal state offered fifty beds for the injured. The churches were the first to respond, but assistance is severely hampered. By the way, the price of gas oil in Nigeria, which is extremely rich in crude oil, has doubled as a result of the war in Ukraine. This means that the wounded, insulin cooling, CD equipment cannot be operated in the hospital. Although the Nigerian central government is doing everything it can to contain the terror, it does not know that it has not been able to guarantee the safety of the population of the country's Christian and other religious minorities for decades. The attack has been carried out in the peaceful southwestern part of Nigeria. This is a sign of a deteriorating security situation, which undermines the need for our development policy efforts. We need effective action to show solidarity. Passive discrimination caused by indifference must be stopped here, in this House. We must work to ensure that the European Parliament is able to fight mass persecution after many years. It's the sufferers themselves who ask us to stand up. It was read in a newspaper article this morning, very simple, when we read the cry for help of the civil Nigerian Catholic Council. We are really tired of words, we want leaders to take urgent action against the perpetrators of evil deeds. We have a shared responsibility.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The EU-Africa Summit is a long-awaited, postponed event. Since the publication of the African Strategy in March 2020, the pandemic has confronted us, our African partners, with global interdependence. While COVID-19 has rearranged current needs, the fundamental challenges of our partner countries remain: growing instability, educational inequalities, investment and trade difficulties, lack of jobs, difficulties in agricultural production, the effects of climate change, weak governance systems. We need to see that these are the factors that are increasing the exodus of young Africans. Whatever we do, creating security and eliminating the root causes of migration must guide our action. The EU must recognise that we can only make progress where our African partners are open to change. Dear High Representative, Africa's leaders do not expect, nor can they expect, the EU to use aid to combat growing deprivation. Our partners call for the EU to support the continent in its ability to overcome its own challenges. The EU should support our African partners in taking full ownership by supporting good governance.

Dear Madam President, Dear House, For the first time in my life, I saw a person wearing a mask because of the coronavirus in Lesotho in February 2020. Today, vaccination coverage in Europe exceeds 66%. In Africa, however, only 16% of the population has been vaccinated so far. It's a tragic difference. We must recognise that the general problem in Africa is the lack of security itself. Without safety, the delivery and storage of vaccines cannot be guaranteed, just as the mere supply of food cannot be guaranteed. In addition to providing security, only the expansion of manufacturing capacities in Africa can provide a sustainable solution. A good example of this is Rwanda, where the vaccine is expected to start production. Hungary has so far supported its African partners with more than 1.5 million doses of vaccines. In addition to building local capacity, we should encourage such pledges by Member States by all means. We need to take into account the factors that hinder the increase and development of vaccination coverage in developing countries. Vaccination also requires trained healthcare workers and adequate storage infrastructure. Increasing vaccination coverage in Africa is not only a humanitarian duty, but also a well-understood interest of Europe. In the countries of Africa, Europe increases trust in the partnership with every decision it makes. But be careful, because with promises that cannot be fulfilled, this can be completely undermined.

Dear Madam President, The Taliban takeover has the potential for a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Already 18 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, it is simply a question of credibility not to leave these people alone. It is irresponsible to deceive those in need by accepting them in Europe without control, instead of helping them locally. The EU must assess its own capabilities, and our action must serve the interests and stabilisation of local people. The first priority should be to help those in need within the region and in neighbouring countries. To this end, it is essential to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and to take full account of the needs of countries hosting refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey when planning support for EU development policy. The EU needs sanity, capacity and capacity to respond in order to avoid a repetition of the events of 2015. The European Union must make a serious sacrifice to keep refugees' help within the region.

Mr. President, please. I think it is important to say at least once in the debate what we should talk about, the title of the law: “on taking tougher action against paedophile offenders and amending certain laws to protect children”. It is only on this basis that the subject can be discussed calmly. Instead of inciting political hysteria and electoral propaganda, let us talk – at least try – about the facts. The best interests of children are paramount and parents have the right to raise their children according to their own convictions, as affirmed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Parental choice is the decisive factor in the child's sexual education, and no one can oblige parents to provide children without their consent with sexual education that has not accepted them. Mathematics teaching also requires a teacher's qualification, and we cannot entrust the sexual education of children to activists in any way, in any way. One example: point 1 of the report is simply not specifically true. The Hungarian Minister of Justice was given a one-week deadline and submitted his report on time. It is literally not true what is written. Honourable Members, allow me to ask you one question. I'm not waiting for an answer. Have you really read the law? Most of what is said here simply cannot be read. Please do it retrospectively. If the law really attacked the rights of homosexuals, I would be one of the first to take action against it.

Mr. President, please. Just two years after Prime Minister Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Ethiopian government began an armed forces operation in Tigray, which, as we have already mentioned, has resulted in 2,500 civilian casualties so far. Every day, new reports of the atrocities of Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers are published. The failure of humanitarian organisations to reach Tigray for months contributed greatly to the ordeal of the population. We have to say: the military action of the Addis Ababa Government has led to a humanitarian catastrophe. But the biggest threat right now is food shortages. Two million people are starving, 5 million people, 90% of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. The armed conflict and the one-sided Ethiopian decisions on the ‘Renaissance Dam’, without agreement with Sudan and Egypt, threaten the stability of the whole region. The ceasefire announced by the Ethiopian government provides a very limited but very important opportunity to react. All obstacles to the delivery of aid must be removed. It is in Europe's fundamental interest to act quickly and effectively. The further escalation of the conflict must be prevented, so all bilateral relations and the opportunities offered by the UN must be used to bring the opposing sides to the negotiating table. Do you see a concrete opportunity for European action, joint action, to facilitate peace negotiations?