What Petras spoke about.

21 Jan

2026

EN Answer

Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania (debate)

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Thank you, colleague, for indeed a very current question. You know that the Lithuanian economy is already in the fifth or sixth year of economic growth. There is no fiscal reason to, you know, limit the budget of the public broadcaster. The reason is a political one: you freeze financing, you put some ceilings, you give a very clear political message. So that's why I would call it a kind of politi…

21 Jan

2026

LT Speech

Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues. This cold winter, tens of thousands of people gathered for mass protests near the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. Their sole aim was to protect the Lithuanian public broadcaster, Lithuanian Radio and Television, from imminent political capture. The protesters held banners that proclaimed ‘Away from free speech’. Despite a strong public reaction, the …

20 Jan

2026

EN Speech

CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) (joint debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, in light of the significantly deteriorating security environment, the European Union has no alternative but to increase its defence capacity and effective deterrence policy. While I am very pleased to see the numerous political commitments made to boost European defence capacity, I am still looking forward to their full and timely implementation. In the face of existing a…

20 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Brutal repression against protesters in Iran (debate)

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Mr President, dear High Representative, colleagues, for five decades, Iran has been ruled by religious fanaticism. During this time, the Mullahs' regime has engaged in the endless repression of internal opponents and Iranians demanding change. It has also supported international terrorism and partnered with totalitarian regimes. Ayatollah Khamenei's vision for Iran has resulted in endless death se…

16 Dec

2025

LT Speech

Continuous Belarusian hybrid attacks against Lithuania (debate)

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16 Dec

2025

EN Speech

EU Defence Readiness (joint debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, I thank all of you who expressed your supportive views concerning the military mobility report and more. I expect that this report, to be voted on tomorrow, will receive cross-party, cross-group support. We need unanimity. We need a strong will and understanding of what we do. Indeed, now is the time not only for reports, but for the implementation of r…

16 Dec

2025

EN Speech

EU Defence Readiness (joint debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner honourable colleagues, ensuring a safe and stable future for Europe and its citizens requires concrete solutions. We must do everything possible today rather than leaving it until tomorrow. The geostrategic situation determines where, when and to what extent military capabilities must be deployed. Military mobility is not just about moving our troops and assets. It is es…

26 Nov

2025

LT Speech

EU response to the continuous airspace violations and sabotage of critical infrastructure in the EU originating from Russia and Belarus (debate)

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26 Nov

2025

EN Speech

EU position on the proposed plan and EU engagement towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Russian leadership aims to destroy and subjugate Ukraine, removing it from the political map of Europe. The Kremlin is pursuing these aims through military aggression and by imposing preconditions in various negotiations. No other alternatives are seen from Moscow. We must understand that Russia's aggressive intentions also affect the Euro…

22 Oct

2025

EN Speech

The need for a united support to Ukraine and for a just and durable peace concluded on Ukraine's terms, with Europeans and without surrendering to Vladimir Putin's conditions ahead of the foreseen Budapest summit (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, Council representative, colleagues, the de facto leader of the terrorist Russian state, Vladimir Putin, has stated that wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, it becomes Russian territory. Indeed, Russian imperialism has become the enemy of civilised Europe. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian capitulation as a condition for any negotiations. For years, we have witnesse…

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Stepping up funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction and defence: the use of Russian frozen assets (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, Europe must finally move beyond the frozen stage of consideration regarding the use of Russia's state assets in the West. For four years, we have been going around in circles on this issue, neglecting our legal, political and moral obligation to support Ukraine. Europe, just do it! Having crossed the Rubicon of international law and humanity, Russia must …

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, significant geopolitical shifts and security threats in Europe and around the world must be harnessed to unify Europe, strengthen the European project and bolster the European Union's standing as a geopolitical actor. Our shared vision for Europe encompasses political unity, securing of the continent, economic growth and a competitive single market. This req…

9 Oct

2025

EN Speech

United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (RC-B10-0419/2025, B10-0419/2025, B10-0421/2025, B10-0422/2025, B10-0423/2025, B10-0424/2025, B10-0437/2025) (vote)

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Madam President, colleagues, on behalf of Renew Europe, I would like to propose an oral amendment to paragraph one. The aim is to include two Member States, namely Lithuania and Latvia, among the countries to which we express full solidarity. This is to correct a technical mistake, not a political one. I read the text of paragraph one with the amendment. I quote: 'Expresses its full solidarity wit…

8 Oct

2025

EN Speech

EU strategy with regard to Iran’s nuclear threat and the implementation of EU sanctions resulting from the snapback mechanism (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, colleagues, the Tehran regime has deceived the West, including the European Union, by misleading and pretending to be a partner in negotiations regarding its nuclear program. Last month, Khamenei acknowledged that the uranium enrichment activities began 30 years ago. We must remember that without the initial revelations of the MEK and NCRI, the regime would…

8 Oct

2025

EN Speech

United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, colleagues, Europe cannot allow itself to become a testing ground for Russian hybrid attacks, drones and provocations that undermine our security and economy and spread fear and terror among our population. We must not surrender our democratic space to those who encroach upon it. We must act decisively and in unity. Let's recognise that we are lagging far b…

9 Sep

2025

EN Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Ukraine (A10-0154/2025 - Michael Gahler) (vote)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, let me move the following oral amendment based on factual events and happenings: 'Welcomes the European Court of Human Rights judgment of 9 July 2025 in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, which held Russia responsible for widespread and flagrant human rights abuses in Ukraine – including the downing of MH17, torture, the use of rape as a weapon of …

9 Sep

2025

EN Speech

Ukraine (joint debate)

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Madam President, dear Kaja, dear Marta, dear colleagues, Russia's unprovoked and illegal aggression against Ukraine, which has been ongoing for 42 months, has undermined the foundations of European security. To stop Russia, we must create a security and defence mechanism which is stronger than its militaristic ambitions. To deter the aggressor, Europe has no choice but to extend the European secur…

9 Jul

2025

EN Speech

Case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Ryan Cornelius, a British national, was convicted of alleged financial crimes in 2008 and is set to remain in captivity in the United Arab Emirates until 2038. In total he will serve 30 years. Given his dire and unattended health situation, it is unlikely that he will live that long. In 2022, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concl…

19 Jun

2025

EN Speech

Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, history has shown us the value of European unification and the importance of preparing EU institutions to address emerging challenges. Although managing a union of 30 or more members may seem challenging, these are the same concerns we had 20 years ago, prior to the big bang enlargement. However, improving the EU's institutional functioning and politica…

18 Jun

2025

EN Speech

Upcoming NATO summit on 24-26 June 2025 (debate)

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Madam President, dear Kaja – I wish you a happy birthday, and I wish you strength, dear colleagues, clearly the forthcoming NATO summit in The Hague will not be a mere celebratory meeting. It must address issues of collective security of the utmost importance. We must ensure the safety and unconditional security of our societies and population. Security comes at a price, but peace is priceless. Al…

16 Jun

2025

EN Speech

The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression: the situation of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war, and the continued bombing of civilians (debate)

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Mr President, Minister, Madam Commissioner, autocratic Russia is waging an aggressive war to destroy Ukraine's sovereignty and the whole Ukrainian nation. As well as committing unspeakable war crimes and ecocide, Russia is illegally detaining and deporting Ukrainian civilians, including children. The appearance of those who have been returned from Russian captivity best reflects what Ukrainians ar…

7 May

2025

EN Speech

Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, there are many aspects to Russia's open aggression against Ukraine and Ukrainians. Unfortunately, one of them is the theft and forced deportation of Ukrainian children to the aggressor country or temporarily occupied territory. Russia is trying to inflict as much damage as possible on Ukraine, its people and all future generations. Kidnapping childre…

7 May

2025

EN Speech

EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, Madam President, Minister, dear colleagues, Russia's illegal, unprovoked, unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine is an existential threat to the whole of Europe. Solidarity with the candidate country, Ukraine, and ensuring our own security requires systematic action by us. The main aim is to preserve our and Ukraine's sovereignty, to end the war and to create a stable post‑war…

2 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Execution spree in Iran and the confirmation of the death sentences of activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani (debate)

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Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Iranian mullahs' regime continues to carry out executions to maintain its close grip on power and stifle dissent. In fact, the number of executions in Iran has doubled in the past year. In the climate of fear and severe repression, attempts are being made to silence the opposition, the rights of women and minorities continue to be trampled on,…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

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Madam President, Madam High Representative, dear colleagues, more than ever before, Europeans have clearly and highly rightly made the EU's foreign and security policy an existential priority, making it a central theme in the last European Parliament elections. We must respect this and respond without undue delay. Let us not forget that those who have challenged our way of life have not changed an…