Speeches

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Russia is not only a terrorist state, but also a thief and plunderer. All Central and Eastern European countries have experienced this in the past. Cultural goods, industrial infrastructure or natural resources in countries dominated and occupied by tsarist, Soviet and now Putin's regime have been stolen and exported for decades. Romanian gold is one of the most spectacular examples of such a robbery, which has never been settled. What we are seeing today in Ukraine is the effect of Moscow's impunity, which the world has allowed for centuries. Russia, which together with Nazi Germany triggered the Second World War, should bear the same moral and financial responsibility for this conflict as its 1939 ally. Otherwise, we will destroy, kill and rob further, also in Western Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. The European Union's climate ambitions have a specific price, and it is quite high, which in the end will not be paid by Commission officials or climate activists, but by entrepreneurs and citizens. Transport is one of the most important sectors of the economy. Not only does it create jobs and generate profits on its own, it also secures supplies for industry and commerce. For Poland, it is one of the key sectors of the service sector. The new emission standards for trucks and vans are primarily a cost that can be deadly for small and medium-sized companies forced to replace their fleets. Older Euro 6 vehicles will certainly be charged extra and pushed out of roads and cities. This also applies to passenger cars. The effectiveness of this type of legislation is also questionable in itself, as proved by the dieselgate scandal and what we see, moreover, on the other hand, in a climate in which the desired changes obviously do not take place. Today, we already know that behind the façade of the Green Deal there are huge costs. The economic crisis and Europe's dependence on products from ... (The Chair took the floor)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Mr President, thank you very much. Artificial intelligence is changing our reality. Its capabilities are constantly growing, and the areas in which it can be successfully used are constantly growing. However, there are risks involved that we cannot ignore. We need not only clear criteria for assessing the safety of products and services that use AI, but also a list of prohibited uses of this technology, especially where it is used by public institutions. The long work on this regulation has succeeded in taking into account the ECR's priorities, such as an exemption for the R&D phase, fewer requirements and burdens for small and medium-sized companies, strengthening the role of regulatory sandboxes, and real guarantees for the protection of citizens' rights and privacy. Whether these rules will be effective now depends on the competence and commitment of the Member States and the authorities that will implement them. Europe cannot only regulate, but must educate, invest and innovate. I hope that AI Act He won't mind.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, War is always proof of the failure of diplomacy, for which civilians pay the highest price. Even a small armed conflict with limited territorial scope has consequences for the whole world. Today, when there is a real aggressor at the door of Europe who wants to lead to chaos and destruction, which leads to chaos and destruction, we should show that even the most difficult disputes can be resolved through dialogue. We do not want to impose concrete solutions on our partners in Armenia and Azerbaijan, but to encourage them to seek an agreement. If we can help, we can help. If we can advise, we will advise. However, we do not have the right to pass judgments and indicate who is guilty, because Europe itself has too much on its conscience to be a credible arbiter in any dispute. Russia feeds on conflicts in its neighbourhood, feeds them, plays them out and uses them for its own purposes. Let's not give her that opportunity.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. European innovation will not come out of thin air. A friendly legal and regulatory environment is needed to make it easier for small and medium-sized companies to create modern products, for example in the area of the Internet of Things. Easy access to standard essential patents is one of the conditions for an equal share of the benefits of the digital revolution for the European economy. This is very important for Polish companies. The current rules on access to SEPs are not entirely transparent, and their owners often take advantage of their position and create obstacles that need to be resolved in court. Many small and medium-sized enterprises have neither the time nor the means to get involved in such litigation. This regulation will remove many barriers and ambiguities. Nor, of course, can this call into question the system of protection of intellectual property. We need a reasonable balance between the interests of all market players. In the ECR Group's view, Mrs Walsmann's report is a compromise worth supporting that meets these conditions.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. We all want to make travelling in Europe by car or truck comfortable and safe. We also want to effectively encourage young people to choose the profession of driver in the road transport of goods. The revision of this directive is a good opportunity to achieve both objectives. However, this does not mean that we should agree to impose new administrative burdens on drivers, which may be discriminatory, e.g. on grounds of age. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, Member States should have the right to choose such tools as they deem appropriate to test fitness to drive. Too far-reaching harmonisation will be costly and ineffective. For many people, a car is sometimes the only means of transport that is a guarantee of independence and independence. Drivers are already bearing the huge costs of the climate policy imposed by the European Union. Do not put further burdens on them.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Today, the Internet has become the main place of public debate. Social media has ceased to be just a source of entertainment, but has become a space for expression, a source of information and a tool for communication between politicians and citizens. There is no doubt that content that promotes or calls for violations of the law should be removed. However, under the pretext of combating so-called hate speech, we often have to deal with the fight against views, opinions or beliefs that are incompatible with the narrative that Europe wants to impose on the left on all possible issues, starting from the definition of the family, through the threats associated with illegal immigration, to climate protection. An attempt to censor or restrict freedom of expression is always a step towards undermining democracy and the values on which it is based. In this way, authoritarian states manage the Internet, removing and blocking content that is not in line with the main ideological line of power. The European Union cannot use similar methods.

Dear Commissioner, Dear Ms Ombudsperson, Madam President, I'm sorry. Recent years have been a series of scandals that have already shaken the European Union's already disastrous reputation as an institution requiring decisive action, including by the European Ombudsman. Your commitment to clarifying the ambiguities surrounding the Commission's purchase of vaccines is commendable. The Katargate Affair is another side of the same coin. Its settlement is a condition for the European Parliament to regain its credibility. We expect you not to let go of the negligence that led to it. I would also like to draw attention to Brussels' agreement to the shameful process of taking power by the new government in Poland. Ignoring the constitution and laws, liquidating public media and, most outrageously, imprisoning opposition MPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik for political reasons defy the rules of democracy. I hope you will find the courage to speak out on hypocrisy, double standards and the extreme politicisation of the European institutions.

Dear President, Commissioner, I'm sorry. The agreement with Ukraine is justified. Unlocking exports, including grain, was beneficial for both sides, and facilitation of arms supplies or humanitarian aid was an important element in supporting Ukraine's war effort. However, we know that not all elements of this agreement work properly. Carriers from Poland, but also from Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, complain about discrimination by the Ukrainian authorities. There is also a reasonable suspicion that carriers from Ukraine carry out unauthorised operations in the internal market without being subject to the restrictive requirements of the mobility package. This is unfair competition. We expect the European Commission to listen to carriers' complaints and to carry out a detailed analysis of the impact of this agreement on the European transport sector before extending it for another year. If changes are needed, such as reintroduction of permits or additional controls, then this should be done. If we do not respect our companies, Ukraine will not do so.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, The scope of the exclusive competence conferred on the Member States is clearly defined in the Treaties. Compliance with this division is fundamental to the smooth functioning of the European Union. One such area is family policy, which cannot be shaped by Brussels. There are no exceptions to this rule. There are different national constitutional orders that result from the historical, legal and political experiences of sovereign nations. Attempting to interfere with these orders, imposing definitions of concepts such as parenthood, family or marriage, is a lack of respect for these traditions and the value system of individual societies. And when it comes to the issue of free travel for children, European Union citizens can travel freely within the Union because they are Union citizens, not because they are or are not someone's children. EU citizenship is sufficient. It is enough to care for an adult, even if it is an adult rainbow.

Dear President, Ukraine was brutally attacked by Russia. The European Union has opened up its transport market to it. Before the war, Ukrainian companies carried out 67,000 transport operations in the European Union, in the last year it was 700 thousand. The market is open without any conditions. Ukrainian carriers do not meet these conditions, which must be met by European carriers. Someone loses, someone gains. European entrepreneurs, especially from Eastern Europe, are convinced that they are the ones who lose the most. We therefore ask for a debate. What is the opinion of the European Commission, we would like to know. We would also like to know whether the European Commission also intends to extend this agreement without any conditions.

Dear President, Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The global economy has undergone major crises in recent years, including for European businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. It was a period of rising operating costs, reduced production, and a struggle for survival. We are now in the midst of a laborious process of rebuilding our potential. We need to re-establish strategic autonomy in many sectors, where we have moved production to third countries over the years, lengthening supply chains. However, this requires a reduction in the number of regulations and detached emission reduction targets that have pushed jobs out of Europe. Also in the sector of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, we must leave more room for innovation, which we create very little of in the European Union. The legislation we are currently working on must encourage research and development. Excessive administrative burden is a recipe for even greater dependence on technology imports from outside.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. There are growing voices in Europe that the pace of the climate transition imposed by the Commission is too fast and that the social and economic costs of moving away from fossil fuels without building an equally efficient alternative will be enormous. Instead of listening to these criticisms, Parliament continues to tighten its course. This report, as well as other elements of the package Fit for 55, does not take into account technological realities or negative effects on the economy. It also ignores the disastrous state of infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles in many Member States. We should take greater account of transitional and low-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen from all possible sources. More flexibility is also needed in terms of deadlines and targets, for example for small and medium-sized companies or local governments. Instead, we have another example of an ideological approach to issues where profitability and a fair balance of profits and losses should decide.

Currently, the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in medicines produced in the European Union come mainly from China and India. Also, a significant proportion of all medicines sold in Europe come from the above-mentioned countries, which lengthens supply chains and causes sudden shortages and price increases in the event of transport problems. Any such crisis is a serious threat to public health. We still have not seen the right initiatives at EU level to encourage manufacturers to invest in API production in Europe. We need dedicated solutions, such as in the case of the microprocessor market. We have a strong pharmaceutical sector, also in Poland, which would be ready to cope with this task with appropriate support. Does the Commission plan to adopt a separate strategy for the relocation of API production to the European Union, taking into account regulatory changes, more flexible environmental standards and financial resources for pharmaceutical companies wishing to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients in Europe?

Mr President, thank you very much. Artificial intelligence is a topic that has become a subject of discussion and debate not only in the circle of specialists or scientists, but in principle in every possible forum and in every sector of the economy. We all understand that this is a turning point in the digital transformation process, the consequences of which will be very serious and global. When designing rules and standards in the area of AI, we must remember that Europe is important, but only part of a huge market dominated by companies from third countries. Developing a common position among democratic countries around the world on the creation of trustworthy generative AI is therefore essential to effectively protect European consumers, their privacy or data. Thanks to this, European creators will also have the right to fair remuneration in a situation where the effects of their work will be copyrighted and used to train fundamental models. Much of the work in building such an international agreement on AI has already been done by the OECD, which is an excellent forum for debate between experts, governments and companies from the most developed countries. That is why, when preparing the Artificial Intelligence Act in the European Parliament, we were eager to benefit from the achievements of this organisation. Building a strategic partnership and mutual trust in AI between the European Union and the United States is particularly important. In order to encourage our overseas partners to follow our lead in regulating AI, we should also be open about our concerns about the dominance of several Silicon Valley companies in this very young market. At the same time, Europe must be open to investment and knowledge transfer from third countries, which must not be hampered by administrative or legal barriers. I hope that the Commission will continue its regulatory dialogue and consultation with non-European governments and companies to create clear guidelines on the application of EU AI regulation.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Small and medium-sized enterprises are the strength of the European economy, which is threatened by unnecessary bureaucracy, barriers to cross-border activity or poorer access to finance. The crises that have hit our continent in recent years, such as the pandemic or war-induced inflation, have been particularly costly for small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, the ambitious pace of the European Union's energy transition or the requirements of the digital revolution require continuous investment, for which entrepreneurs often lack funds. The Commission should pay more attention to creating exemptions and facilitations for small and medium-sized enterprises, including those in the new technologies sector, in the proposed rules and regulations. Access to the digital single market, especially in e-commerce, is a huge opportunity for many small and medium-sized enterprises. We must consistently remove any barriers that prevent them from offering products and services in the Member States.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Digitalisation can be an effective remedy for many of the challenges we face as humanity. Artificial intelligence opens up new opportunities in many areas of life and economic sectors, but like any drug, it also has side effects. Therefore, we must use this technology consciously, understanding the risks and threats associated with it, but also recognizing that its development and use can bring much more benefits than problems. To achieve this, we need not only EU regulation, but also a robust global partnership to create trustworthy AI that is safe and ethical. For the ECR, the most important part of the work on this regulation was to strike a balance between new administrative obligations for businesses, especially European small and medium-sized tech companies, and an adequate level of protection for consumers and citizens. I thank the rapporteurs for their efforts to find this delicate compromise and my colleagues and experts who have supported me throughout the negotiations. Artificial intelligence is already with us, so we need these rules as soon as possible to control and understand it. I hope that tomorrow we will take another step in this direction.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Data is the fuel of the digital economy, fuelling innovation and creating new business models. The European Union generates a huge amount of information, which should be easily and cheaply stored, exchanged and used for economic purposes. Only a well-functioning market for competitive cloud services can provide this. However, a better balance is needed between cloud providers and cloud users, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which are most exposed to unfair practices or unfavorable contracts. The vast amount of data about us collected and processed by connected devices needs to be better protected. Providing access to IoT products to independent service points will reduce repair costs and extend the cost of living of equipment. From the point of view of the development of European technologies, such as artificial intelligence, these rules are crucial. Europe needs to make better use of the potential of the data we generate, ensuring the maximum level of protection.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Oh, Mrs. Spokesperson! Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The European institutions are in a serious crisis. To the democratic deficit and the lack of transparency of many of the decisions taken in Brussels, we can add further serious problems destroying the credibility, the credibility of the European Union, such as the corruption that has shaken the European Parliament in recent months, and the unclear procedures on conflicts of interest in the European Commission, as discussed today. The pandemic, which has been the main challenge that Member States and the European Union have had to respond to in recent years, has also exposed a number of weaknesses and omissions that need to be thoroughly explained. The process of negotiating, purchasing and supplying vaccines still raises questions about the limits of access to public information and the efficiency of public spending. We count on your activity and relentlessness in finding answers to them. I would also like to thank Ms Anne-Sophie Pelletier for the report that we will support.

Mr President, thank you very much. Dear Commissioner, Europe needs a strong digital sector, of which the gaming industry is an essential part. Our companies, including Polish ones, have great experience and successes in this area in the world, which we must show and support. Video games are not only a business, entertainment or art form, but also a huge community of conscious users of technology that has its rights and expectations. Unfortunately, this report largely ignores this fact, exaggerating the importance of negative phenomena and suggesting more bureaucracy and more supervision as a solution. A number of existing regulations also apply in the gaming industry. The proposal for new sectoral legislation is redundant and can be very costly for businesses and for players themselves. We are talking about gender balance Of course, among game developers, it's absurd. Strong, creative and innovative European companies will not be created by new rules, but by education, investment and enthusiasm of young people, including game developers. Let's not kill that enthusiasm by accepting reports like this.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The European Union is above all an organisation with economic objectives, whose single market is one of the most important achievements. However, trade in goods and services, free of unnecessary barriers, is still an ideal that we must continue to strive for. In my report, which Parliament adopted last year, we point to problems that require a special and urgent commitment from the Commission. The pandemic crisis or inflation that has affected us all can reinforce protectionist tendencies that have been clearly visible for years. The free movement of services is challenged by unnecessary controls, inadequate penalties or difficulties on the part of local administrations in conducting business by foreign companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Also in the Digital Single Market, and especially in online commerce, there are barriers that make life difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises on the one hand and consumers on the other. I hope that this anniversary will be an opportunity to reflect constructively on what else we can do to make the Single Market work better and more uniform.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ukraine needs our support for many reasons: as a neighbour, a victim of aggression and a partner who should become a member of the European Union in the near future. The war unleashed by Russia generates enormous economic costs that we all feel. But it is the victim of this barbaric aggression who suffers the greatest losses. We must not allow Putin's plan to succeed, and a country that is economically ruined and politically unstable will remain at our borders. We should continue to be an arsenal of democracy and peace, supporting the functioning of Ukrainian public institutions, which are facing an ever-increasing humanitarian crisis. Russia deliberately destroys and devastates infrastructure, schools and hospitals, hoping that the next wave of refugees will weaken our determination. Financial support for Kiev will be the best proof that such a scenario will never become real.

Mr President, thank you very much. In war, fighting disinformation is as important as destroying enemy tanks or planes. For years, Russians have been using the opportunities offered to them online to influence European public opinion. Unfortunately, many journalists, politicians or artists in the Member States more or less consciously support Moscow's narrative. We are still unable to counteract this effectively. We could also see this in Poland during the artificial migration crisis, when attempts were made to sabotage the decisive actions of our government in defending the borders of the European Union. Criticism of such projects as the canal through the Vistula Spit, the Baltic Pipe pipeline or the expansion of the Polish army also serves exclusively Putin's interests. In the information war, each of us is a soldier, but as we have seen recently, one ill-considered tweet can have the power to blow up an atomic bomb.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Europeans have more and more portable electronic devices in their homes, pockets or backpacks. These are not only smartphones, but also tablets, e-book readers or laptops. By harmonising the charging standard, using them will be easier, cheaper and will reduce the production of electro-waste and the consumption of rare metals. From the outset, the ECR supported this project and supported the extension of the list of devices that will be equipped with a USB-C port. We also pointed out that consumers must be properly informed that a common charging port does not mean that the same charger will be ideal for every device. The graphical indication system we propose, which the Commission is to design, will help to acquire the charger that best suits our needs. We also wanted customers to be able to choose as long as possible whether they want to buy a new device with or without a charger. We also understand that research into more efficient charging technologies, including wireless charging, must continue, and we expect the Commission to follow and support innovation in this regard. And Mr Alex Saliba deserves a very special thanks.

Madam President, I'm sorry. We all agree that small and medium-sized companies are the backbone of the European economy in almost all sectors – including digitalisation, which we often forget when we think of these big companies. It is also a huge number of family businesses that deserve special attention on our part. Unfortunately, despite the declarations that we can often hear in this Chamber, the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises after the pandemic, as well as in the face of rising energy prices, is constantly deteriorating. Moreover, their activity in the Single Market is limited by unnecessary non-tariff barriers and protectionism, especially when it comes to transport companies or small service companies. Many entrepreneurs do not cope with the bureaucracy and the overly complex mechanism of obtaining European funds, which prevents them from quickly adapting to the requirements of the digital economy. When designing new legislation, we need to pay more attention to these issues. Small and medium-sized enterprises will create innovative products and services if we create the right conditions for them. When working on the AI Act or Data Act, we should especially bear this in mind and keep administrative requirements for small and medium-sized companies and the resulting costs to a minimum.