What Ilhan spoke about.

18 May

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, thank you all for your strong commitment to the European path of North Macedonia, and thank you for your certainly positive contribution. I couldn’t agree more with the Commissioner that the accession process provides the best way to secure the rule of law, high democratic standards. Certainly – answering to Madame Zovko – the rights of minorities should be at the fo…

18 May

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

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Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, let me start from a geopolitical point of view. There is no doubt that North Macedonia demonstrated the best democratic transition record across the Western Balkan region, in full alignment with the EU’s foreign policy, in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the government of North Ma…

18 May

2022

EN Speech

Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law Report (debate)

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Madam President, I’m happy to listen to this lively debate. Indeed, it’s an important topic to be discussed, and I would like to congratulate the rapporteur and the colleagues for taking a very strong stand on the rule of law issues. I do believe that the progress reports, the annual reports on the rule of law, undoubtedly added an important instrument to the European Union’s toolbox in reflecting…

3 May

2022

EN Speech

The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Vice-President of the European Commission, dear colleagues, I echo those colleagues, saying that the Conference was an enriching exercise of democracy. I couldn’t agree more with that. But a bigger question is what is next? What kind of change? Because we all mentioned the need for change. First of all, we would like to start with implementing the citizens’ proposals. Certai…

6 Apr

2022

EN Speech

Increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexey Navalny

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(start of speech off mike) ... Putin’s barbaric aggression against the people of Ukraine has been a wake-up call for all of us. But for years now, our friends in Russia, democratic forces and Alexei Navalny have been warning us that this will happen. Some were called warmongers for talking about the possibility of a Russian invasion. I believe they deserve an apology. We have to listen to the voic…

6 Apr

2022

EN Speech

Cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe (topical debate)

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Madam President, friends of Putin can be found in every single Member State. Let me start from Marine Le Pen in France to Matteo Salvini in Italy and Nigel Farage, the Europhobic UKIP party. And for what purpose? Of course they both want to divide us and to destabilise European democracy. But Putin’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has had the unplanned consequence of putting Europe’s populi…

5 Apr

2022

EN Speech

Outcome of the EU-China Summit (1 April 2022) (debate)

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Mr President, dear High Representative, dear colleagues, I am convinced that we all in this room want China to be our partner and to continue a dialogue on key areas, including deepening our trade and investment relationship, especially in this severely aggravated atmosphere of war on the European continent. Unfortunately, the reality is different. There are many concerns, which require us to be v…

8 Mar

2022

EN Speech

The situation in Bosnia Herzegovina (debate)

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Mr President, thank you so much for your clear message on putting a conditionality under these difficult circumstances. I think we should act. We should act now. It’s time for the EU to send a very clear signal. First, we must strongly condemn the divisive ethno-nationalistic rhetoric. Secondly, we must strongly condemn moves to undermine State institutions. And thirdly, we must be prepared to iss…

8 Mar

2022

EN Speech

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

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Mr President, we speak to them, to the refugees, in numbers. But behind the numbers, there are thousands of families split apart. Difficult goodbyes between fathers and their children. Bitter tears. Shattered dreams and peaceful lives left behind. I am pleased to see that this time around, Europe is responding in accordance with the values of humanity and compassion. That people escaping war have …

1 Mar

2022

EN Speech

Russian aggression against Ukraine (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, we have a war in Europe on a scale and of a type we thought belonged to the history books. And let me be clear, this is not the war of Russian people. This is Putin’s war. Putin’s regime is the one to blame for waging the war, killing civilians, destroying country’s infrastructure. Putin has attacked the democratic values and European aspirations of the people of Ukr…

16 Feb

2022

EN Speech

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

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Madam President, Ukraine is Europe, and Ukrainian security is European security. High Representative, unity among Member States is most important for us, but we cannot have unity if we have Orbán going and negotiating alone with Putin. Common action within NATO, and full support for Ukrainian independence, territorial integrity and strategic choices should be supported by us. This is the only way …

15 Feb

2022

EN Speech

A statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations (debate)

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Mr President, I would like to start by thanking the rapporteur, Sergey Lagodinsky, for his very progressive approach. Indeed, the report rightfully stresses the essential role of civil society, which contributes to a number of crucial areas – promoting democracy, protection of minorities, healthcare and social services – while understanding that their cross—border work and financial efforts have i…

15 Feb

2022

EN Speech

Human rights and democracy in the world – annual report 2021 (continuation of debate)

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Madam President, while some world leaders push hate, vote against rights, ignore horrific crimes against humanity, let inequality and suffering go on, the European Union reaffirms its role as a leading global proponent of the promotion and protection of human rights. I am glad that during 2021 we continued to oppose firmly any unjustified restrictions of rights, freedoms and silencing of dissentin…

15 Feb

2022

EN Speech

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2021 (debate)

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Mr President, I would like to thank both rapporteurs, Ms Loiseau and Mr McAllister, for their accurate report. Indeed, the world of today is rapidly shifting – geopolitical trends, in addition, the fragmentation of the multilateral order forces, the EU to confront its own position in international affairs. The current volatility shows us the need to have a strong and united European response on t…

19 Jan

2022

EN Speech

Situation in Kazakhstan

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Mr President, I would like to pass on my congratulations to Madam Commissioner. The European Parliament always stands for democratic values. We cannot ignore the tragic events that took place in Kazakhstan earlier this month. Kazakhstan is a strategic partner in Central Asia, and we have always welcomed positive developments in this country. But, at the same time, we act rightly to any violations …

19 Jan

2022

FR Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the French Presidency (debate)

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Madam President, dear Mr President, ‘revival, power, belonging’ is the motto of the French Presidency of the European Union. It defines the needs of today’s European Union, facing the health crisis, the rise of aggressive powers and climate disruption. A Europe that relates on unity to lead through these difficulties times. You mentioned a war of priorities, but I want to focus only on building a …

14 Dec

2021

EN Speech

Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, I would like to congratulate Lukas Mandl for his timely and accurate support. The fight against crime has been on the top of the agenda of the Western Balkan governments for almost a decade now. Organised crime is a problem of such magnitude that it could limit the democratisation and development of the Western Balkans as a whole and could undermine the European integration of every …

14 Dec

2021

EN Speech

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

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Madam President, we have imposed a series of sanctions, but the truth is that those measures have failed to deliver results, and the current situation shows that we have failed to learn the lessons. We cannot underestimate this threat, because the number of Russian troops and equipment being brought to the border is huge. Six years after the Minsk II Peace Plan was signed to stop the fighting in U…

23 Nov

2021

EN Speech

Situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (debate)

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Madam President, there was an emergency agreement necessary to stop war. But today, we see the consequences – a real prospect for a third conflict. It is time to admit the truth. This is the greatest existential threat of the post—war period in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU should guarantee the territorial integrity of the country, as well as the maintaining of the functionality of the state inst…

21 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The proposal to build a ‘single market for philanthropy’ (debate)

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Mr President, speaking about Europe means speaking about solidarity and about potential. Potential we constantly need to free up, to watch, to maintain. This can mean, for example, making private resources available for the public good, informal financial means. But the nations are unaware of what the term ‘philanthropy’ refers to: it is about time resources, expertise and network. Europe’s succes…

21 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The outcome of the Western Balkans summit (debate)

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Mr President, I welcome the past EU—Western Balkans Summit and its conclusions not only because the most important historical lesson for Europe is investing in integration of the continent, but because such public expressions of solidarity are more important than ever, as disinformation campaigns attempt to create divisions have recently been very strong in the Western Balkans. It shows that any h…

20 Oct

2021

BG Speech

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21-22 October 2021 (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, undoubtedly the most important issue to be addressed by the forthcoming European Council is the high electricity prices in Europe, which are on the verge of having disastrous consequences for the European economy. The numbers are shocking. In some Member States, electricity prices are three times higher than they were a year ago. It is our duty now to prote…

4 Oct

2021

BG Speech

EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero" (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, the statistics are staggering: nearly 23,000 road fatalities every year in Europe. Unfortunately, it has not seen much improvement in the last few years, and behind these figures are broken human destinies and shattered dreams. This is an unacceptable and unnecessary human cost to mobility. My colleagues in the Committee on Transport and I have worked on the recommendatio…

16 Sep

2021

BG Speech

United States sanctions and the Rule of law (continuation of debate)

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Madam President, let us focus the debate a little on Mr Aguilar's specific issues, which definitely deserve attention. Undoubtedly, the United States is the European Union's most important partner. This also applies to my country, the Republic of Bulgaria. They are a strategic partner. There is no need to explain exactly what the role of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms is in confirming this s…

6 Jul

2021

BG Speech

EU global human rights sanctions regime (EU Magnitsky Act) (debate)

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Madam President, it is worth the effort to review the scope of the European Magnitsky Act, especially in the context of its geopolitical influence as an important part of the European foreign policy toolbox. But it is equally worth saying that the European Magnitsky Act must not become an instrument of over-repression and violation of human rights and freedoms. Contrary to the fact that the US Mag…