What Petras spoke about.

19 Oct

2023

LT Speech

European Citizens' Initiative 'Fur Free Europe' (debate)

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Thank you, President of the sitting, dear colleagues, first of all, to all the conscious European citizens who have voted in favour of this important initiative. Europe is free from the torture of fur animals. I could not call this initiative otherwise. And I am convinced that the institutions of the European Union must now respond quickly to those voices of millions of citizens, to their opinions…

18 Oct

2023

LT Speech

A true geopolitical Europe now (topical debate)

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Mr President, honourable High Representative, President-in-Office of the Council, colleagues and colleagues. Europe does not have the privilege of living by ignoring the radically changed geopolitics. The Western political and security system is faced with direct and dangerous challenges, which represent a change in the conditions of play and life. The European response must not be based on initia…

17 Oct

2023

LT Speech

Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, even after eleven months of sanctions, after the eleventh package of sanctions, convertible currency is flowing into the Russian budget. Every euro has enabled Russia to continue its war against Ukraine, to kill and to destroy. Greek tankers willingly serve Russian oil exports. Lithuanian carriers do not refuse cargo to Russia, Belgian diamond makers do…

16 Oct

2023

LT Speech

Establishing the Ukraine Facility (debate)

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. – Dear President of the sitting, Commissioner, dear Ukrainians, colleagues and colleagues. Today marks 600 days when Russian aggressors are systematically destroying the country's infrastructure, killing the Ukrainian people and committing other terrible war crimes. The war launched by Russia against Ukraine and its cost is enormous. It will take decades for the country and its economy to recove…

4 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Human rights situation in Afghanistan, in particular the persecution of former government officials

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, let me start by welcoming Ahmad Massoud, a leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, present with his delegation here in this hall. I am saluting you as a son of the great Ahmad Shah Massoud, a great leader and guerrilla leader of Afghanistan decades ago. Thank you. Despite the announced general amnesty by Taliban, many former Afghan Gover…

3 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Taking stock of Moldova's path to the EU (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Commissioner, Council Representative, dear colleagues, the Republic of Moldova’s future is closely linked to full membership of the European Union. At this point in time, it is essential, on the one hand, to continue and complete the reform of state institutions and to strengthen them, and, on the other hand, to increase Moldova’s resilience to threats from Russia. In particular I…

3 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Commissioner, Council representative, dear colleagues, everyone would agree that for too long Nagorno-Karabakh has been associated with military conflict, deportations, human suffering and non-compliance with numerous ceasefire agreements. The Soviet dictatorship's tradition of red pencil borders and Russia's policy of regional domination have fundamentally disturbed and cro…

13 Sep

2023

EN Speech

The case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, imprisoned in Azerbaijan

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Madam President, Madam Commissioner, Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, a prominent academic, civil activist, and campaigner against corruption and for democratic reform, was forcibly arrested and detained with limited access to a lawyer on 23 July this year. Mr Ibadoghlu is also the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Movement. Because he challenged the kleptocracy, he now faces 12 years in pris…

12 Sep

2023

EN Speech

Relations with Belarus (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, thank you, first of all, to all of you who spoke out in favour of a different Belarus – one that is sovereign, democratic and European. That is our common goal. I agree with the call to continue our unconditional support for the Belarusian democratic opposition and civil society, which are best placed to influence change, to provide independent informatio…

12 Sep

2023

EN Speech

Relations with Belarus (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, in preparing this report on the EU’s relations with Belarus, we had a solid consensus with representatives of the main political groups. I thank you, my colleagues, the shadow rapporteurs. This report reaffirms our shared commitment to a democratic future for Belarus. The founding values of the European Union are incompatible with the policies of the…

12 Sep

2023

EN Answer

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

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Dear colleagues, I do share your legitimate concerns, since Ukrainian grain primarily is not oriented to be transported and sold on the EU markets. It is clear, but I do see a lot of technical possibilities to monitor this situation, to use the most advanced GPS or digital monitoring systems along the transport corridors in order to bring Ukrainian grain from Point A in Ukraine to the ports of the…

12 Sep

2023

EN Speech

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

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–Madam Chair, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Ukrainian grain has been and continues to be a lifeline for many people in third countries increasingly facing food insecurity and hunger. Grain exports are also a vital part of the revenue for the Ukrainian budget. While the Black Sea grain initiative was in place, Ukraine supplied the World Food Programme with more than 80 % of all its grain. Ukrainia…

12 Jul

2023

EN Speech

Crackdown on the media and freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan

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Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, Kyrgyzstan’s political landscape remains turbulent and volatile, with deteriorating democratic standards and human rights. The government’s ambitions to control and influence and ultimately silence the independent media and critical voices are growing frighteningly repressive. We urgently call on the Kyrgyz authorities to release all detained human rights de…

12 Jul

2023

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular the recent developments in the war against Ukraine and in Russia (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Russia’s unprecedented aggression against Ukraine, which has been going on for more than 500 days, will not end on its own, without the necessary and resolute action from the West. Russia must not only experience the full impact of the economic sanctions, but also the pre-emption of their circumvention. The additional financial resources urgently needed…

14 Jun

2023

EN Speech

Torture and criminal prosecution of Ukrainian minors Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov by the Russian Federation

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Russian occupiers in Ukraine do not feel safe, for understandable reasons. Their suspicion and aggression overshadow everything and encourage reckless repression against innocent civilians, including children. In the Russian occupied city of Berdyansk, two Ukrainian minors, Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov, were detained, interrogated and t…

13 Jun

2023

EN Speech

Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)

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Mr President, Madam Minister, Mr Commissioner, Dear colleagues, Ukraine and its people are heroically fighting for their civilian future. They also defend our shared values and freedoms. In resisting Russia’s destructive aggression, Ukraine needs not only the help of all of us, but also our backing to become a full member of the Euro-Atlantic community, a deserving member of the European Union and…

31 May

2023

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, my proposal is for this mini—session, but there might be a compromise for June.

31 May

2023

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, dear colleagues, on behalf of the Renew Group I would like to have the following debate added to the agenda for today, with the session therefore being extended: ‘Council and Commission statement on the reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro—Atlantic community’, with a resolution to be adopted in the June plenary. Dear colleagues, awaiting the Commission’s assessm…

10 May

2023

EN Speech

Belarus: the inhumane treatment and hospitalisation of prominent opposition leader Viktar Babaryka

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, former Belarusian presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka was illegally arrested a month before the August 2020 presidential elections and sentenced to 14 years in prison. A 14—year prison sentence is one fifth of the average life expectancy of men in Belarus, which currently has more than 1 500 political prisoners. The Lukashenko regime does not stop ta…

10 May

2023

EN Speech

Ukrainian cereals on the European market (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, dear colleagues, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has an important economic dimension in addition to the direct military one. Ukraine simply has to finance its defence forces and withstand the brutal aggression of Russian imperialism, spending almost half of its national budget on this. It is understandable that economic activity, including trade …

19 Apr

2023

EN Speech

Repression in Russia, in particular the cases of Vladimir Kara-Murza and Alexei Navalny

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, opponents of Putin’s regime are stopped in three main ways: by being killed, forced to emigrate or imprisoned. Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for criticising Putin’s war against Ukraine. Such so-called crimes are normally awarded with distinguished prizes, including the Nobel Peace Prize. But Russia is an outlier of the civil…

19 Apr

2023

EN Speech

The crackdown on the right to education and education rights activists in Afghanistan, including the case of Matiullah Wesa

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the return of the Taliban has plunged Afghanistan into the Dark Ages. At least half of the Afghan society, Afghan girls and women have been deprived of basic rights and freedoms. They have been excluded from public life, confined within the four walls of their homes, which are tantamount to prison. By denying girls and women an education and replacing m…

19 Apr

2023

EN Speech

Children forcibly deported from Ukraine and the ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin (debate)

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Mr President, Madam Commissioner, Presidency, dear colleagues, war crime perpetrator Putin is determined to destroy Ukraine’s sovereignty, the lives of Ukrainian people and the future of Ukrainian children. The Russian occupation authorities have forcibly and fraudulently deported or, to be more precise, kidnapped more than 20 000 Ukrainian children. These innocent children are being illegally ado…

16 Mar

2023

EN Speech

Resumption of the sitting

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Mr President , dear colleagues, today we are to vote on the resolution concerning the situation in Cambodia. And may I invite you to welcome the delegation led by Sam Rainsy of the Cambodian National Rescue Party and his delegation present today in this house?…

15 Mar

2023

EN Speech

Cambodia: the case of opposition leader Kem Sokha

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Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, let me, on your behalf, most heartily welcome Sam Rainsy, leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and his delegation visiting the European Parliament today. You are most welcome Mr Rainsy to our House. Dear colleagues, the 27-year sentence for Cambodian Opposition leader Kem Sokha was shocking news to Cambodians and the democratic community …