What Petras spoke about.

22

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022, including the meeting with Western Balkan leaders on 23 June - Candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia (debate)

Mr President bless you, Madam President, Commissioner, Mr Minister, dear colleagues, Europeans have every reason to be proud of and confident in the project of a united Europe, guaranteeing peace, security and prosperity. Our Eastern partners – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia – have chosen and proven that they deserve the European path. We must now walk this path together and finally consolidate the …

8

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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Violations of media freedom and safety of journalists in Georgia

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, a free and independent media is an integral part of Georgia’s EU candidacy. However, such unacceptable actions as the silencing of critical journalists, restricting their access to information, and openly threatening and prosecuting them are moving Georgia further away from this ambition. The European Union, as a guardian of fundamental freedoms…

7

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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Security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the common security and defence policy (debate)

Madam President, the continent of Europe is no longer divided into Eastern and Western Europe. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine was a uniting factor, which brought us to the need for strong and reliable common security and defence policy. The EU must draw conclusions from unprovoked Russian military aggression in Ukraine. The EU must further strengthen the political and operational dimen…

19

May

2022

EN Speech

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The fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, dear Ukrainian colleagues, the war of aggression launched by Putin against Ukraine is primarily directed against Ukrainian civilians, making them the main targets – an instrument of aggression. The Russian leadership and soldiers have become the perpetrators of genocide and face responsibility. It is only a matter of time before justice is delivered. We must do every…

18

May

2022

EN Speech

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Prosecution of the opposition and the detention of trade union leaders in Belarus (debate)

Madam President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, Dictator Lukashenko, a vassal of the Russian world, wants to erase Belarus’ statehood and independence. Civil society, human rights and political pluralism have no place in Lukashenko’s vision for the future of Belarus. The result of his almost three decades of rule: free—thinking and pro—European Belarusians are forced to seek refuge abroad. Havi…

4

May

2022

EN Speech

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The continuous crackdown of political opposition in Cambodia

Madam President, a year ago, I stood at this very same spot and noted with regret that a strong European Union response to the political prosecution and human rights violations in Cambodia was long overdue. I called for an immediate review of our relations with Cambodia. If you don’t trust me, ask the Cambodian opposition representatives seated in this hall and observing our discussion. Ask those …

3

May

2022

EN Speech

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EU preparedness against cyber-attacks following Russia invasion on Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, Russia’s military and hybrid aggression against Ukraine only confirms the global nature and importance of cybersecurity. Russia’s direct and indirect attacks against Ukraine have also increased the impact of the ongoing ‘Cold hybrid war’ on the West. Deterring cyber threats emanating from Russia and its allies, such as Belarus – don’t forget that – requires immediate attention to str…

7

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexey Navalny (RC-B9-0181/2022, B9-0181/2022, B9-0185/2022, B9-0186/2022, B9-0188/2022, B9-0192/2022, B9-0214/2022) (vote)

Mr President, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, responding to a request that he intervenes with Russia’s leaders, with whom he is in a very close partnership, to end the war in Ukraine, accused the West of disregarding Russia’s security concerns and stoking tensions between the two countries in a bid to weaken Russia. He blessed the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine later. Any religion can serve…

6

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation (debate)

Madam President, High Representative, Commissioner, dear colleagues, after his failed attempt to turn Ukraine away from Europe, Putin finds himself haunted by a question: What must Russia do with Ukraine? And his answer? I quote: ‘We do not need a Nazi, Banderite Ukraine which is an enemy of Russia and a tool of the West used to destroy Russia’. These lines are taken from an article by Ria Novosti…

5

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Situation in Afghanistan, in particular the situation of women’s rights (debate)

Madam President, while we’re sitting here women and girls in Afghanistan are being erased from all parts of society. Women and girls are effectively no longer able to receive an education, participate in public life, or no longer have full access to their bodies, their voice and their future. It is difficult to comprehend. Seemingly overnight, the Taliban has undone over 20 years of progress in th…

5

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, the war of aggression launched by the Putin regime against Ukraine is primarily directed towards Ukrainian civilians, especially women and children. The brutal and criminal acts of Putin’s war amount to ethnic cleansing and genocide. Putin is seeking to expel Ukrainians from their homeland, to seize their land and property. Atrocious war crimes committed by Russian soldiers increasin…

9

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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Debate with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas - The EU's role in a changing world and the security situation of Europe following the Russian aggression and invasion of Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, Putin’s plan to steadily expand aggressive Russkiy Mir has turned into a brutal war against Ukraine, a human tragedy and become a litmus test for the EU and the West in general. Let us recognise that Ukraine is a welcome candidate to our family. Let us help repel the aggressor and let us give them all the support they need. Let us provide a safe haven for Ukrainian women, children…

8

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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The deterioration of the situation of refugees as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, Putin’s war against Ukraine is first and foremost a war against civilians, against women, against children, against all the Ukrainian people. The barbaric actions of the Russian military, which qualify as war crimes, are destroying Ukrainian towns and villages, killing and injuring Ukrainians. There is no safe place in Ukraine today and no guarantee of security for the future to a…

8

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU (debate)

Madam President, authoritarian regimes and dictatorships are based on lies and deceit. They have mastered these weapons and have now turned them against us. Expertly crafted misleading news undermines civic engagement and creates a parallel reality. For example, the Kremlin has launched a full—scale war against Ukraine and has succeeded in convincing the Russian public that this is just a ‘special…

1

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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Russian aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, Madam President, High Commissioner, dear colleagues, dear Ukrainians, today we are back to 28 in the European Union again. Ukraine has emerged as a great member of the European family. Ukraine is bravely fighting for European values and freedom for Europeans. Let us give Ukraine its due: providing a candidate status now and then accepting it in the European Union. Every day that pass…

16

Feb

2022

EN Speech

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EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, may this be clear to all: Ukraine is part of the European family, as is Belarus. Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security, and it’s of concern to all of us. The military threat posed by Russia to Ukraine only confirms the hopelessness and aggressiveness of the Kremlin. I very much hope that the West has seized the opportunity to learn the lesson of unity, solidarity and common respons…

15

Feb

2022

EN Speech

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Corruption and human rights (continuation of debate)

Mr President, corruption is the economic, political and psychological aspect of human rights violations. It distorts socio—economic realities, hinders access to public goods and quality services, and creates artificial hierarchies that impose additional costs on citizens and entire societies. The EU needs real Magnitsky sanctions that include corruption as a sanctionable offence. Our democratic al…

19

Jan

2022

EN Speech

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Situation in Kazakhstan

Mr President, I would like to congratulate you on your debut in this position and I wish you all the best. Commissioner, dear colleagues, for decades, the ruling elites in Kazakhstan have been used to winning elections for with nearly 100% of the votes, but never felt safe facing people’s anger. Political instruments like Leader of the Nation gave them access to unlimited personal wealth and the i…

19

Jan

2022

EN Speech

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Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong

Mr President, in recent years, the situation in Hong Kong went from complete neglect of the Joint Declaration as an international agreement to systematic dismantling of the well—functioning democratic system. Strong dominance of the Communist Party of China led to growing political persecution of opponents and systematic disablement of the democratic structures. China’s policy of unilaterally impo…

16

Dec

2021

EN Speech

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Continuous crackdown on civil society and human rights defenders in Russia: the case of human rights organisation Memorial

Madam President, when the development of civil society and a democratic state with the rule of law becomes a state-prosecuted crime, organisations such as International Memorial are liquidated. It’s a well-known and a very sad fact. The plain truth is that Putin’s regime perceives the dissolution of the former USSR as a tragedy and the collapse of historical Russia. It’s all about the empire of ev…

15

Dec

2021

EN Speech

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The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus based on article 78(3) TFEU (continuation of debate)

Mr President, the state-sponsored instrumentalisation of migrants against the EU Member States and its partners has some history, as Russia used it some years against Finland and Norway, and recently, Lukashenko’s Belarus against Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Weaponisation of desperate migrants and organising human trafficking becomes a political tool of non-democratic countries to influence democ…

14

Dec

2021

EN Speech

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Situation at the Ukrainian border and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, the Russian bear angrily roaring on the European borders, tries to scare and impose on us the rules of the jungle. On the other hand, the Russian-speaking bear keeps the permanent member seat at the Security Council of the United Nations, the global forum of international cooperation. Compatible? Shocking? Acceptable? Continuous Russian Federation actions by the threatening and desta…

25

Nov

2021

EN Speech

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Human rights violations by private military and security companies, particularly the Wagner Group

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Russian private, military and security companies constitute a major means of strategic deception which they call Maskirovka. Using legal loopholes, information denial and multilevel state apparatus support, those companies – in particular Wagner – became an important factor in hybrid warfare of the present Russian Federation. Russian PMSEs, well-…

23

Nov

2021

LT Speech

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Situation in Belarus and at its border with the EU and the security and humanitarian consequences (debate)

Dear President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, 15 months after the falsified elections. It seems that it should have become clear to everyone that the dictator Lukashenko, who has illegally seized power, is in illegitimate power and can only be stopped by united, strong and timely action by the European Union. This is what civil society in Belarus expects and expects. Today we can summarize someth…

10

Nov

2021

LT Speech

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The escalating humanitarian crisis on the EU-Belarusian border, in particular in Poland (debate)

Lukashenko, who is illegal, violates international law and cynically lies, has set up a state system of trafficking in migrants. Pre-deceived third-country nationals are offered a very expensive ticket to the European Union – to the future, to a better freedom. The international criminal scheme, led by the state institutions of Belarus, is an example of the exploitation of people of the 21st centu…