Speeches

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 prison. We must demand that the Azerbaijani authorities stop persecuting Dr Ibadoghlu and release him immediately. His unlawful detention, as well as the ongoing persecution of civil rights activists, journalists and opposition politicians in that country must be considered the main obstacle to the development and deepening of EU-Azerbaijan relations.

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 information and the necessary support to the people of Belarus wherever they are. I do not know how long this struggle will take, but we have no right to become tired or despondent. I call on the EU institutions and Member States to continue to increase the pressure on the Lukashenko regime through extension of sanctions, through the personal financial pursuit of those who enable the regime and through the detailed preparations for the international tribunal for war crimes against Ukraine. Let us develop a genuine political dialogue with the Belarusian democratic forces on the European perspective of Belarus. Let us prevent further ambitions of Russian imperialism. I thank you all, and I wish to turn our words into deeds. To our freedom and yours.

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 Lukashenka regime and its ruthless repression of opponents and drivers of change. Our common goal is to maintain the unconditional support of the EU and its Member States for the Belarusian democratic forces currently mainly based abroad and giving the people of Belarus hope for a different future. Let us not give up the fight for the human rights of the Belarusian people, because in doing so we confirm our own values. The fiercely persecuted political prisoners, who have been subjected to torture, humiliation and oppression, and their families, must continue to receive support from the international community. Let me just remind you that Belarus remains one of the few countries in the world where a Nobel laureate is imprisoned. Ensuring that persecuted people are able to leave for safe countries is not a matter of choice, but of our unconditional commitment. The struggle for the democratic and European future of Belarus is also taking place in Ukraine, where Belarusian volunteers are fighting shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainian defenders against the Russian oppressor. They are kind of the 21st century rebels of Kastus Kalinouski’s struggle for freedom. They need our recognition and support. The way forward for Belarus is Europe, breaking free from Russia’s grip and building its national identity. I congratulate all Belarusian enthusiasts who, since the beginning of 2022, have consistently pursued the path of European choice and tried to awaken genuine European ambitions among their fellow citizens. I believe that the democratic Belarusian opposition, in building a vision of a European Belarus eventually integrated into the EU, will follow the path of collective cooperation and will exorcise the ghosts of historical revisionism. The Sakharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament in 2020 to the democratic opposition in Belarus is a commitment between us to inevitable change. I sincerely believe that this European Parliament report will empower all the EU institutions and Member States to take a unified course and, ultimately, lead to democratic change. We are witnessing a global struggle for an approach from Lisbon to Minsk. That is Europe’s challenge to the dictators of the East today. Let us help the democrats of Belarus to return to their homeland and to create in it a part of Europe that we all share and cherish. (The speaker used a slogan in a non-EU language)

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 export destination. It is so easy. That’s why I wish to abstain from sending a very negative message to Ukraine by prolonging restrictions and it’s why I wish to work on more bilateral basis. I am sure Poland will be a good partner in this regard.

–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. Ukrainian grain reached Afghanistan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, and more. Ukrainian grain, destined primarily to the third countries, must be transported via EU Member States in an orderly manner with digital monitoring in place. I therefore call on the European Commission not to prolong the restrictive measures and to address the infrastructure and monitoring of Ukrainian exports in cooperation with the relevant EU Member States and international organisations. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question)

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 defenders, journalists and media workers, and to stop the ongoing crackdown on independent media and free expression. Such actions in no way strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s statehood. We urge the Commission to assess the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan when evaluating the trade preferences granted by GSP+. The Kyrgyz authorities need to be reminded of the fulfilment of their international commitments.

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 to help Ukraine must come from expropriated Russian assets. Such a step is not only a proportionate response to aggression, but it is also fully justified from the point of view of universal self-defence. Finally, let us recognise that Ukraine’s integration into the political, economic and defence systems of the Euro-Atlantic community is a necessary step. That is why EU negotiations with Ukraine must begin at the end of this year.

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 tortured in order to extract alleged confessions of sabotage against the Russian military authorities. Now they face a risk of arrest and imprisonment of up to 20 years. The fate of these two minors and other prosecution and torture victims is important to all of us. By supporting Ukraine’s efforts to liberate its occupied territories, we are helping to extinguish the environment of impunity and lawlessness that allows the Russian occupiers to use moral, psychological and physical violence against Tihran and Mykyta. Putin’s regime has returned Russia – and subsequently the occupied territories of Ukraine – to a time of violence and totalitarian oppression. But it will not last. An hour of justice for war crimes will come, and it will therefore be important to record all the human rights violations committed by the Russian occupiers in Ukraine. I would like to thank and express my solidarity with Tihran and Mykyta and their families and to convey my sincere gratitude to all human rights defenders who act in Ukraine.

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 NATO. Euro-Atlantic integration is not a compensation to Ukraine for the suffering it has endured and the reforms it has undertaken. By helping Ukraine to achieve membership in the Euro-Atlantic community, we are strengthening ourselves and we are reconfirming our own policy based on building alliances among likeminded democracies in general. 2023 must be a turning point because time is precious. Uncertainty and delay can become synonymous with war crimes in Nova Kakhovka. To avoid this, Russian aggression should be deterred and defeated by our joint and coherent policies. Finally, we must allow Ukraine to make its membership contribution to the security and prosperity of the Euro-Atlantic community.

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 assessment regarding Ukraine’s progress implementing recommendations, also in July NATO will hold its summit in Vilnius. It is important to reiterate our unwavering and standing support for Ukraine for full Euro—Atlantic integration and therefore send a very clear signal to the brave people of Ukraine. Colleagues, I do understand, because our session is overcrowded, that this might happen in June, but I wish to have full clarity and solidarity with this decision.

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 taking revenge on its rivals, even after imprisonment. Political prisoners are completely isolated. They are cut off from contact with other prisoners and with the outside world. They are constantly terrorized and abused. Already four prisoners have died, and Viktar Babaryka was hospitalized with traces of beatings that necessitated surgery. There is no information about his state of health for the time of being. The crimes of Lukashenko regime must be investigated by the international tribunal. We must broaden our sanctions as soon as possible and sanction those responsible for illegal imprisonment and inhumane treatment of political prisoners in Belarus.

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 in agriculture products, is needed to supplement the budget. By maintaining these solidarity lanes for Ukraine to trade its agricultural products with third countries and extending the EU’s tariff-free trade with Ukraine, we are providing an important opportunity for Ukrainians to maintain their economic viability and jobs. I am confident, dear colleagues, that European consumers will mobilise their support and solidarity with Ukraine to purchase and consume Ukrainian agricultural products, especially if their national producers cannot satisfy the demand. After all, ‘buying Ukrainian’ sounds very European.

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 civilised world, systematically trampling on common human norms and must therefore face our sanctions and embargo. I’m strongly convinced that the future of Russia will be determined by Vladimir Kara-Murza, Alexei Navalny and the other many politicians who are currently being brutally persecuted. We must do everything we can to preserve this hope and their lives.

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 modern, secular education with religious training for boys, the Taliban are depriving Afghanistan of its future. I call on the European Union to continuously raise the issue of education of Afghan girls and women in all international forums. I also call on joint action with Islamic countries to hold the Taliban accountable and to lift bans that violate the rights of Afghans and are incompatible with Islam. The future of Afghanistan is shaped by people who value education and are not afraid of women’s emancipation, such as Matiullah Wesa, Rasul Abdi Parsi, Noorayel Kaliwal and Mortaza Behboudi.

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 adopted on an accelerated basis and re-educated into Russian citizens. The Russian Government, which is still a member of the United Nations Security Council, unfortunately, is falsifying personal stories of Ukrainian children, changing their names and erasing their identities. None of us would like to find ourselves in the shoes of the parents of these children. I call on the European Union and the international community to use all possible means to locate, identify and return Ukrainian children to their families, as well as to their homeland, Ukraine.

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?

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 worldwide. The Hun Sen regime disregards the basic norms of an open society and suppresses the opposition in the run-up to this summer’s parliamentary elections. I call on the Commission and the External Action Service to take immediate actions to further reduce preferential trade with Cambodia unless, I emphasise, unless all charges against Kem Sokha are dropped and he is immediately released. I call for individual sanctions against regime officials if parliamentary elections are not held in a free and fair manner. The officials responsible for the most serious human rights violations, such as Generals Hing Bun Hieng and Kun Kim, should be among the first ones added to the EU Magnitsky list.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, I would like to start by congratulating the people of Georgia who, by their active stance, have stopped the government’s intention to adopt a Russian—style foreign agent law. I also reiterate our solidarity and appreciation to the civil society in Georgia. Fulfilling the European will of the Georgian people, the Georgian authorities must fully implement the 12 recommendations of the European Commission, bearing in mind that the health and life of the poisoned and imprisoned Mikheil Saakashvili is an integral part of the EU requirements. Europe will not open the door to any form of political revanchism. I regret that the EU flags were burning in Tbilisi today. It is a sad day for all Georgia’s friends in the European Union. Nevertheless, I believe that the historical wisdom of the people of Georgia who remember the horrors of totalitarianism will take over.

Madam President, in the course of the last 12 months, we have approved many resolutions: just to recall 21 resolutions concerning Ukraine, and rightly so. In the resolution from 23 November 2022, we made a very clear reference concerning the isolation of the Russian Federation. So let me ask you for permission to make a reference to that resolution and to insert the text, I quote ‘Calls on the EU and its Member States to take further action to continue international isolation of the Russian Federation, including with regard to Russia's membership of international organisations and bodies such as the United Nations Security Council’.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Lukashenko’s Belarus is a textbook dictatorship – dissidents are enemies of the state, they must be destroyed, otherwise their independent and critical voice will become a threat to the monopoly of power. Lukashenko’s courts have set out to imprison the head of the Viasna Human Rights Centre and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ales Bialiatski, and his deputy, Valiantsin Stefanovic, for 12 years each, and the journalist Andrzej Poczobut for eight years. Looks like ten years behind bars is Lukashenko’s standard answer to his opponents. There are currently around 1 440 political prisoners in Belarus. Next week will mark 1 000 days that Belarusian Social Democratic leader Mikalai Statkevich has been held in prison under extremely difficult conditions. In the same week, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visits Minsk. I wonder whether he will demand the release of political prisoners. Perhaps Minister Szijjártó could react to this question? I call on the EU and the Western coalition to put pressure on the dictator Lukashenko by united means and to avoid the mistakes of the past. Zhyve Belarus!

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Putin’s war against neighbours and so-called internal enemies is increasingly reminiscent of the Stalin repressions and the rise of totalitarianism. In an environment of growing repressions, no one feels safe. The opposition is silenced by the prevailing fear, and the Kremlin itself is gripped by the sense of uncertainty about its future. A policy of repression and intimidation in Putin’s Russia has imprisoned political opponents with trumped-up charges and life-threatening prison conditions. Those who had a different vision of Russia – Navalny, Kara-Murza, Yashin, Dmitriyev, Gorinov – were accused of high treason and of activities dangerous to society. It must be acknowledged that Putin does not understand the European language, so only the language of sanctions and united pressure remains possible. This is the only way to protect political prisoners and remnants of civil society in Russia.

Madam President, Council and Commission representatives, dear colleagues, Russia’s imperial chauvinism has triggered war in Ukraine, fuelled tensions and instability, and condemned the Ukrainian people to unprecedented suffering. For a whole year we have been hearing lies, slander and threats from Russia, whose intentions remain unchanged – ready to continue the war in the near future. Stopping an aggressive Russia means defeating it on the battlefield in Ukraine, providing the Ukrainians with everything that will enable them to achieve victory, to shorten the war and the suffering it has caused. Dear colleagues, no one here wants to discuss a resolution on two years of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine, so let’s help Ukraine with everything that is necessary, let us continue weakening Russia’s and Belarus’ war capacities and let us punish the guilty according to their unforgivable crimes. It’s a great historical moment and chance for Europe to emerge stronger, more united and less dependent on authoritarian regimes.

Madam President, Council representative, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the current Georgian Government claims to be pro-European and wants closer ties with the West. At the same time, society is deeply polarised and there is a fierce political struggle that ignores elementary political culture. Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian President who awakened Georgia and changed the country beyond recognition, has been languishing in prison for 16 months. Is this retribution for political rivalry or a return to the past? I call on President Saakashvili to be granted the right to go abroad for medical treatment without any delay, preserving his life and the country’s chances to maintain its European face.

Madam President, Council representative, Commissioner, dear colleagues, as a project for peace and cooperation, the European Union has withstood many historical challenges, and remains highly appreciated and enjoyed by its citizens. Ukraine’s aspiration to join our Union is an understandable logical and right choice. For Ukraine, European Union membership means choosing between democracy and Russian authoritarianism, between freedom and occupation. The granting of candidate status to Ukraine has justified the EU’s nature as an open and forward-looking geopolitical actor. Our trusted partner – which continues democratic reforms while resisting Russia’s war of aggression – needs to be invited to start accession negotiations now. Such a decision will not only testify to our commitment to our neighbourhood policy, but will also strengthen Ukraine as a state, raise the spirits of Ukrainians and give them hope. For those who hesitate, allow me to encourage you with the words of Robert Schumann, spoken on the day of signing the Schuman Declaration: ‘World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it’.