Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The problem of poverty in the European Union is an extremely serious one and it would seem that the left side of the political scene should show sincere and genuine concern. But when we look at the actions of the left and the extreme left, we see that they do not see the consequences of their actions, because it is the left and liberals who are pushing to implement a very restrictive climate policy, which then translates into an increase in energy poverty in the European Union. You are not aware of the consequences of the programs that are forced here. And since the left is so interested in the situation in Poland, I think you will be pleased that during the rule of Law and Justice the minimum wage in Poland increased by 146%, and the level of unemployment in Poland is one of the lowest in the European Union with the highest GDP growth. Learn from us, learn from Poland.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, There is no doubt that the so-called Environmental Directive is not a perfect tool, as it does not adequately take into account local and regional circumstances. This can be seen in the example of the wolf population. Thanks to strict protection, although the wolf population has been rebuilt, there are regions where they are overrepresented. There are attacks by wolves on pets. This argument should lead the Commission to adopt a more flexible approach giving local authorities the right to differentiate wolf protection status. It cannot be that wolves attacking farm animals have full protection, and a desperate farmer does not have effective tools to protect his own farm and his own achievements. We must manage the wolf population wisely.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Unfortunately, the climate policy of the European Union is an example of the victory of ideology over reason and reason. It is absolutely necessary to make climate and energy policy a reality so that it becomes an instrument for strengthening Europe's security and economy. Unfortunately, the left-liberal mainstream wants to de facto deindustrialise Europe. You want to increase energy poverty, which already affects 40 million people, and mobility proposals will lead the European Union to become dependent on China. According to the International Energy Agency, nearly 90% of photovoltaic components come from China. That doesn't bother you. The same goes for electric batteries. You have learned nothing from the situation brought to us by COVID. After all, COVID has clearly shown that long supply chains can be blocked and cut at any time. We must take care of the security, including food security, of citizens, and you also want to strike at this sphere. I have good news for you – Europeans will defend themselves against your madness, they will show this ideology a red card in the European Parliament elections next year.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Surrogacy undermines a woman's human dignity because her body and reproductive functions are used as a commodity. Surrogacy is the de facto signing of a contract for human life. A woman becomes an incubator and a child becomes a commodity. The body of a woman in difficult living conditions, most often living in poverty, is used for commercial purposes. It's nothing but human trafficking. I would like to point out that surrogacy is incompatible with the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty. Also in the 2015 European Parliament resolution, we condemned this practice by stating that the practice of surrogacy undermines the dignity of a woman because her body and reproductive functions are used as a commodity. And today's discussion, especially on the left, goes in such a direction that a child can be ordered, a child can be bought. I can afford it. Why can't you do that? Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, this is inhumane, unethical and inhumane. It is not possible to treat both women and children in this way.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Every child deserves a safe and joyful childhood, not exploitation and forced slavery. Today is World Day Against Child Labour. We bring up this terrifying data. I note with concern that, for the first time in two decades, the number of children forced to work has increased. 160 million children are forced to work, which is one in ten children. These children are harmed not only physically, but also mentally. Without the right to education, they are denied the right to a better future. Africa, Asia and the Pacific together account for 9 out of 10 child labourers. In the light of this data, our actions must have an external dimension. Therefore, zero tolerance for forced child labour must be enforced when concluding trade and partnership agreements. Banning products made with forced child labour from the European market is a necessity, a challenge and a test of our responsibility. Are we strong only in words or in deeds? I urge the Commissioner to take action on this issue.

Mr President, thank you very much. We are once again discussing Hungary, and that is why I would once again like to ask the European Commission not to exceed the powers for which it was established. As for the resolution itself, I would like to point out that the ECR's position on this issue is clear. We do not agree with extending the competences of the EU institutions. I have therefore tabled several amendments. In the first, I call for the rejection of politically motivated attacks and financial blackmail, while stressing the need to respect the competences and equal treatment of all Member States. In the second, I recall the limited competence of the EU institutions to protect values and stress that the disbursement of EU funds must not be made conditional on changes in the areas of exclusive competence of the Member States. In the third, I call on the Council to conclude the ongoing Article 7 procedure, as it has not yielded any results. In addition, I believe that the discussion about removing the Hungarian Presidency is absolutely inappropriate and inappropriate and will not serve the European Union well.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. We need an effective migration and asylum policy. But what can we expect from both the left-hand side of Parliament and the proposals of the European Commission? Let's look at the situation in Poland, which received over 9 million war refugees in the first months of the war. How has the European Commission behaved? What kind of support did she give? In addition to the touching words and stories of how much the President of the Commission and Commissioner Johansson are touched by the situation of war refugees, Poland has not really received adequate and adequate assistance to meet the basic needs of war refugees. Let us look at how the European Commission, the President, manages the allocation of Commissioners to the relevant debates. Commissioner Wojciechowski faces criticism today? After all, this is the responsibility of the head of the European Commission, to whom he dedicates the debate. This shows that Ursula von der Leyen is not even in control. Therefore, the criticism of the German Members of the EPP with regard to the Commission's management is also fully justified in this regard.

Mr President, thank you very much. Statements denying the need to support Ukraine are scandalous. Putin's barbarism has no limits. We, who live in close proximity to Russia, know how dangerous this country is. Times change, but the essence of the brutality of Russian imperialism does not change. And you have to be extremely immature not to notice it. As far as the proposal is concerned, I am, of course, in favour of supporting the production of ammunition. We must support Ukraine and Ukraine cannot lose this war. The impact of the adopted proposals will mean potential development changes in industry. It is advisable to make every effort to ensure that the actions actually reflect the expectations of the Member States. However, this proposal goes too far with regard to the powers of the Commission, for example when it comes to the possibility of prioritising and sanctioning operators in the performance of contracts. Parliament must therefore strike the necessary balance between the Commission and the Member States by applying an accelerated workflow. Let us stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Of course, we all know very well that climate policy is the main policy of the European Union. We all want a clean environment, but at the same time we pay attention to the fact that the costs of the climate transition must be bearable for society. Therefore, it was at the Katowice Climate Summit that the Declaration on Just Climate Transition was adopted. And it is the methane regulation we are discussing today that fulfils the hallmarks of such a just climate transition. Therefore, I would like to thank all those who participated in the preparation of compromises that are acceptable from the point of view of the Polish mining and energy industry. Certainly, it is also necessary to emphasize and point out the involvement of the social side. This social voice of the trade unions was also heard. That is why I would like the Commission to be guided by this principle of a just climate transition, because the text presented by the Commission was absolutely unacceptable.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Little or nothing is worth this motion for a resolution prepared by López Aguilar, and the statement made by the Commissioner is not worth much either. Why is that? You are not referring to the biggest corruption scandal that has hit the European Parliament. Socialists, on the other hand, still believe that they have the right to instruct Poland. Let's look at who created the documents that were the basis for the debates about Poland. Well, then, Fight Impunity. Where is the President of the Foundation? He's in custody with allegations of corruption. Where's the information on Eva Kaili? This was all happening, ladies and gentlemen, here in the European Parliament, because it was allowed for the socialists to instruct everyone around them with their own impure hands. Is there a reference in this report to the corruption scandal? No, not a word. Is there even one word in the Commissioner's speech about how vaccine prices were negotiated by the head of the European Commission? Not a word. So this report is not worth anything.

Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to ask you a question specifically related to this directive. You have just said that this directive will make it more transparent, that women will get a better chance. You are elected in Poland. You know very well that Poland is one of the lowest wage gaps in the European Union. We did without that kind of regulation. We have very equal wages when it comes to men and women. Are you concerned that this regulation will...

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, In October last year, the Parliamentary Research Service released a summary of a report promoted by Panzeri on the state of impunity in the world in 2021, written by Antonio Panzeri, Maria Arena and Mark Tarabella, among others. This report presents Poland as an undemocratic country. And this study, ladies and gentlemen, as it is written here, is intended to serve as a source material for Members and staff of Parliament. It was on the basis of this type of disinformation that debates were held, reports were created about the allegedly broken rule of law in Poland. Which ultimately, Commissioner, led to the blocking of funds from the RRP for Poland. Parliament ignored the words of the former U.S. ambassador to Poland, who said that lies about Poland were rooted in Russian disinformation. It is obvious that Putin's criminal regime will do anything to harm Poland, which is a front-line country where war refugees from Ukraine have found refuge. Poland, which is an ambassador in the world of support for Ukraine. And as you can see, unfortunately, in the European Parliament and other EU institutions, Russia has many helpers.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Madam Minister, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, We need to answer the question of what kind of migration policy the left-liberal majority wants. Is there a policy that does not respect EU regulations that state that the external borders of the European Union should be guarded, that appropriate regulations regulate the crossing of the external borders of the Schengen area? It is necessary to answer this question clearly, because I have the impression that this left-liberal majority would like everyone to enter the European Union when and how they want. I believe that asylum policy should be dedicated to asylum-seekers – and we are dealing with asylum-seekers in Poland. In the first weeks of Russia's war in Ukraine, after February 24 last year, more than nine million war refugees entered Poland. How has the European Union supported the Polish state in securing the basic needs of war refugees? In other words, Poland was blocked from accessing the necessary, necessary measures under the RRP. This shows your deep hypocrisy and misunderstanding of the real problems.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Yesterday we discussed corruption in the European Parliament, which has hit the left very hard. Today we are talking about the rule of law in Spain. In fact, today this discussion boils down to the fact that we are exposing double standards. It was the Socialists who most ardently, most ruthlessly attacked Poland and Hungary on every charge, very often against Poland, one hundred percent always under false charges, accusing the allegedly broken rule of law. So let's see, Commissioner, how it is with these milestones. Are Spanish milestones included or have you made sure to improve the issue of the National Judicial Council in Spain? Is it written that access to EU funds will be restricted if Spain does not increase penalties for corruption? In Spain, the penalties for corruption have been reduced. Penalties for rapists have been reduced. Did President Barley get outraged and say that Spain should be starved because of the lowering of penalties for sexual offences in Spain? No, I don't. Today, this discussion is about double standards. And it is the socialists who show that they have a mouth full of clichés. And when it comes to real things, it turns out... (The speaker took the floor)

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Inflation-related rising living costs are the biggest social problem in Europe today. The increase in poverty is a phenomenon that we have not seen in Europe for a long time. It emerged at the end of the COVID-19 crisis and increased significantly during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In fact, the European economy is facing a recession, which will certainly lead to an even greater increase in unemployment, to growing areas of poverty. The reason for the sharp increase in inflation is not only the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, but also the consequences of implementing imprudent, imprudent climate policies, moving away from fossil fuels, as well as the consequences of a false transition leading to the European Union’s dependence on Russia. I would like to draw your attention to our discussion – stop the speculation. I would therefore like to ask the Commissioner why other financial institutions have not been excluded from the emissions trading market so far. In 2017, a tonne of CO2 allowances cost five euros, in February 2022 - 100 euros. Ladies and gentlemen, the left side is so sensitive to this poverty. Allegedly, you are sensitive because you support this horrendous, idiotic climate policy that leads to an increase in energy poverty. It is time to redefine climate policy. In the face of growing poverty, will the European Commission respond to those people who do not have the right to heat, to pay bills, to purchases necessary for life, that we must pursue the idea of a green deal? That's what people are supposed to fill their stomachs with, that's what they're supposed to keep warm? It's time to think and reflect. And take real, prudent and necessary measures to combat poverty.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Today, García Pérez talks about defending the honor of the Socialists and Democrats after the detention of an influential member of S&D. For years, it was S&D that brutally trampled on the honor and dignity of Poland, regardless of facts and circumstances. So today many people in Poland ask whether these unjustified attacks on Poland were sponsored? The corruption scandal in the European Parliament reveals hypocrisy and double standards that cannot be tolerated. It reveals double standards also in the Commission and the European Commission must finally face this problem. It is therefore necessary to set up a committee composed of representatives of the Member States to examine the functioning of the Union institutions. Particular attention should be paid to cases of lobbying and high-level corruption not only by Qatar but also by Russia. In cases such as the implementation of the Nord Stream gas pipeline or climate policy, it is necessary to increase the control of the Member States over the EU institutions.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Any form of violence is a crime. Whether it's physical violence, whether it's psychological violence, whether it's sexual abuse, whether it's economic violence, or the violence we experience most often, cyber violence. Forced marriages of young girls in the European Union are still the norm. Has anything been done since the last debate last year, Commissioner? Turns out not. There are situations like this. We don't even protect little girls. Have we made significant progress when it comes to banning forced female genital mutilation? Neither is it. In addition to lofty slogans and loud declarations, little is happening. In the meantime, I would like to tell you that this discussion should be a form of exchange of good practices. Well, I want to tell you that in Poland, which you are so interested in, there is an obligation to immediately separate the victim from the perpetrator of violence. I think that this Polish solution should be applied in every Member State.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Seven million Ukrainians crossed the Polish border. Women and children stayed in Poland. There are now almost 2 million of them. Poland bears the biggest costs of helping migrants from Ukraine, people who fled the Russian aggression. In addition to what you all say here, how touched you are, how much you need to help the Ukrainians, one must ask oneself: How is the European Union helping the country that bears most of the burden of this great wave of migration from Ukraine? This help is illusory, Commissioner. You were at the border. You know what Polish aid to Ukrainian refugees looks like. We opened our hearts to them. We opened houses for them. The Polish state finances the education of Ukrainian children. Polish citizens provide shelter. It's time to take action. We need concrete, measurable, financial help.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am surprised that the applicants for today's debate are so shameless. In the face of rampant inflation in the European Union, high energy prices caused by the European Union's energy dependence on Russia and the war in Ukraine, you are constantly dealing with Hungary month by month. In Hungary, citizens have decided to entrust their homeland to the Fidesz-Orban party, and this is their decision, this is their choice. But you believe that there are violations of rights and freedoms, and the mechanism of conditionality is also violated. You are already threatening Commissioner Hahn to be dismissed because he does not meet your expectations. You want to starve Hungary! Let's starve Poland! The President of the European Commission also allowed herself to be tied to the Italians. Before the Italian elections, the Italian Brothers party had high ratings. Ursula von der Leyen said that it would also be possible to make it more difficult for them to function in the European Union. Today, the key debate should be the debate related to the violation of the principles of EU solidarity when it comes to the situation on the gas market. Ladies and gentlemen, Germany is blocking the introduction of a Europe-wide gas price cap in the Council. Also in the European Parliament, the German EPP delegation blocked the call for a cap on gas prices. It was Germany that made the European Union's energy policy dependent on Gazprom... (The Chair took the floor)

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, The original purpose of the Washington Convention was to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants did not endanger their survival. Today, we know that survival is too modest an ambition, and we should ensure appropriate transport standards and storage conditions for animals to reduce their stress and suffering. I therefore appreciate the text of the joint resolution on the Panama Conference. I think our voice should be strong and unambiguous. We must not only seal and harmonise the law against illegal trade, but also ensure that legal trade is monitored very precisely and that there is no violation of the law. I would particularly like to draw attention to the trade in wild animals and, above all, to the transport of live animals across the internal borders of the Union. These boundaries must be very transparent and stable. There must be a control framework so that rogue traffickers can no longer justify their ignorance of the different procedures and abuse the administrative simplification offered by the Schengen area. The European Union, where environmental and well-being standards are among the highest, today has a role to play as a teacher and promoter vis-à-vis third countries.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 2 million Ukrainian citizens have been deported deep into Russia. Ukrainian civilians are being held in filter camps, in fact in gulags, where they are tortured and have no access to food. The process of filtration that takes place in the camps is the same as in Stalin's times. It is systematic, premeditated and aimed at the destruction of the Ukrainian people. Putin wants the destruction of Ukrainian identity and the Russification of children. Russia has kidnapped more than 200,000 Ukrainian children, which is close to 6% of Ukraine's child population. We strongly condemn the forced deportation of civilians and the abduction of children and the illegal adoption of Ukrainian children. We believe – we all agree here – that we are witnessing the genocide of the Ukrainian people. The most important thing is that we are not mute, that we do not end up with declarations, words of support, words full of emotion. And there are children kidnapped from their homes, abducted, unaccompanied, without help and without hope. Today, Ukraine needs the support of the European Union, of all Member States, such support as Poland gives. We have given shelter to Ukrainian citizens, but Ukraine needs weapons to protect its citizens. God bless Ukraine.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I do not share the satisfaction of the Commissioner, who said that he was pleased with today's debate. I do not share this satisfaction, because today the European Parliament and all the EU institutions should face the biggest challenges facing the European Union today: Putin, inflation, the energy crisis or the war in Ukraine. In the meantime, we are once again dealing with Hungary. The Commissioner was kind to say that the European Commission is the guardian of the Treaties. Commissioner, I think you have not fully read the treaties, because the report we are discussing today criticises Hungary for organising the judiciary. So let me remind you that this is a matter for the Member States. Hungary is also criticised for its electoral law, which is also a competence of the Member States. The same applies to religious freedom, media freedom, health protection or the protection of children from pedophilia. Please know the measure of things. Today, the European Union should respond to the challenges it faces, not plunge itself into such barren discussions, and it is... (The Chair took the floor)

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I would like to thank the colleague shadow rapporteurs very much for their cooperation. We have worked really hard to create a comprehensive position of the European Parliament that will feed into the European Union-Interpol agreement negotiated by the European Commission. I would also like to thank the advisors, the LIBE secretariat and the assistants for their support. The result of our good cooperation is an own-initiative report, which was adopted almost unanimously at last week's LIBE meeting. Today, terrorism and organised crime remain among the most important and at the same time most serious security challenges. These are transnational, global phenomena, characterised by extremely dangerous dynamics and taking advantage of the state-of-the-art achievements of technology and digitalisation. Therefore, there is a need for an uncompromising response and more effective, coordinated cooperation between the European Union and international law enforcement bodies, such as the International Criminal Police Organisation – INTERPOL. Such cooperation is intended to ensure security and create the necessary framework for the fight against international crime. The European Union is already cooperating with Interpol. However, there are areas where this cooperation can be strengthened and, above all, formalised, as Interpol has not yet signed such a cooperation agreement with the Union. The own-initiative report is a list of recommendations for the negotiation of a cooperation agreement with Interpol. The key ones are: granting Union agencies access to Interpol’s databases, guarantees of compliance with European data protection rules when transferring data between the Union and Interpol, a call for reform of the red notice procedure. Since the processing of red notices is not transparent enough, there is ample evidence pointing to the abuse and use of this procedure by countries that want to persecute, silence and repress their opponents abroad. And the last point, but not least, is the exclusion of Russia from Interpol and the exclusion of its access to databases. The Russian aggression, the unauthorized invasion of Ukraine, where Russia commits the crime of genocide, is a sufficient reason to exclude Russia from Interpol. In addition, Russia is one of the main issuers of politically motivated red notices. Law enforcement cooperation must be based on trust and must be maintained. Therefore, Interpol should take immediate and decisive measures to exclude the Russian Federation. I hope that in tomorrow's vote you will support the report.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Poverty in the European Union has a woman's face. The female dimension of poverty is due to many factors. This includes not only lower wages and pensions, discrimination on the basis of age, employment in low-paid industries and precarious conditions, but also economic violence, unpaid work at home and single motherhood. 85% of single parents are women. One in four children in Europe is at risk of poverty. Women are said to be poverty managers, manage the household budget, look for opportunities, additional forms of employment, cut expenses. Therefore, working for and investing in women is an investment in their families, especially their children. Women are the future of Europe. It is up to them – it is up to us – to develop their demographics. But in the context of the ageing of European societies, it is also worth remembering that they play a key role and dominate quantitatively in the health and care services sectors. Thank you, rapporteur, for your constructive and good work.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Commissioner! The new Digital Services Act sets new standards, provides a new framework to counter the spread of illegal content online and gives individual users the opportunity to challenge arbitrary decisions by platforms. There is hope that we will have better control over the use of our data by online platforms and large tech companies, because they have a big impact on users and a number of response options. That is why I think we can demand much more from them. From the perspective of the FEMM Committee, in which I am the author of the opinion, we have paid particular attention to the situation of children who are very often victims of abuse in the online environment, as well as to improving the situation of women through commitments to internet service providers to combat discrimination, combat violence and respond to user signals. The most important thing on the Internet is the user and the protection of his rights, which is why we must strive to strengthen his position.