Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. I have this deep conviction and feeling that, for the first time in a very long time here in the European Union, in the European institutions, we have responded in a real way to the challenges and expectations and needs that we hear from individual communities, citizens and professional groups in our Member States. Ladies and Gentlemen, on the occasion of this mid-term review of cohesion policy, we have taken very good decisions here together on the issue of redeployment, the transfer of this money to defence, especially when it comes to dual-use goods. These are very important measures for our companies, which will increase their competitiveness, and the money transferred to defence can be a new lever for the European economy. Ladies and Gentlemen, the second extremely important element, which we would like to highlight as a priority, is the issue of the energy transition, clean and cheap energy, safe, available at prices that will be accepted by entrepreneurs and households at the appropriate level. Ladies and Gentlemen, another issue is the recognition of the issue related to the eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, because they all face huge challenges, threats and uncertainty. I wanted to thank you very much for that. Another issue is water resilience and sustainable water management. Another priority, extremely important, taking into account all the events that we have in the European Union when it comes to floods and droughts. Finally, the issue of flexibility and simplification in cohesion policy. We must implement this law as soon as possible. We still have to vote on this in plenary so that all these very good changes come into force on 1 January 2026.

Madam President, Commissioner, Ladies and Gentlemen, European Union citizens, businesses and industry are interested in affordable, stable and reliable energy supplies. In recent years, mainly renewable energy sources have been developed. And rightly so. But the focus was actually only on generating energy, and the grid's energy management system was forgotten. The essence of this problem was shown by the blackout in Spain and Portugal, where it was based only on electrification, not taking into account other energy sources. The discontinuation of gas infrastructure financing was a mistake and should be revised. The current grid architecture requires modernisation, integration of transmission, electricity, natural gas and hydrogen systems, including through the use of a coherent management system for all energy sources. This means integrating technologies such as energy storage, demand-side management systems and grid automation. I would also like to stress the importance of cross-border connections, which make it possible to build an integrated energy market in the European Union. There will be no question of huge investment outlays, which are estimated to be even more than a trillion euros by 2040. Therefore, in connection with the ongoing work on the multiannual financial framework, we should develop new financial instruments dedicated to these goals, so that the development of modern electricity networks becomes a strategic priority.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. At the outset, I would like to emphasise that cohesion policy has been supporting rural areas in the European Union for many, many, many years. But I am pleased that today we can talk about how cohesion policy can more effectively, more quickly and at a greater level support the resolution of those problems that affect rural areas, such as transport exclusion, the improvement of road, educational, health and cultural infrastructure, support for the development of entrepreneurship, and above all this problem, which we have been facing for many years, in many parts of the European Union in rural areas, namely depopulation. If we want cohesion policy to really solve these problems, we need to make one fundamental decision, namely to trust people, those who live there today, and those who make decisions and know best what social expectations and needs are. It is they downstairs, there in their local governments, in their small homelands who know best what they should spend this money on. Let's give them that opportunity. For the first time in the history of the European Union. Mr President, I am glad that you understand these problems. Let's give them a chance to decide what they want to spend the money on. Which problems they want to solve first. They will repay, they will repay the beautiful projects, they will repay the wonderful tasks that will be accomplished for the European funds that all of us, including the Commissioner, the President, will be able to boast about. Let's trust people. Let's give them a chance to finally decide for themselves how they want to spend the money they work and work for, which goes to the common budget of the European Union.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Food prices in the Union have been rising since the beginning of 2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has destabilised the market, initially by preventing food supplies to many countries, and later by uncontrolled inflows of certain agricultural products into EU countries such as Poland and Romania. In order not to be exposed to strong market shocks and sudden price increases, Europe must be independent in this strategic area of agriculture and must strive to reduce production costs. Unfortunately, European agriculture faces many problems. Since 2005, the number of farms in the Union has decreased by around 37%. European farmers need more support, less administrative burden and high demands, as well as a fairer approach to international trade, in order to compete with producers outside the Union and make their products more affordable. EU legislation should be screened for its impact on agriculture. Otherwise, farmers may not be able to bear the burden imposed on them, which will further deepen our dependence on food.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ukraine must be independent, sovereign and democratic. Ukraine deserves our respect for how it defends itself, but it also deserves peace as soon as possible. But for a peace in which the conditions she will accept and which will be beneficial to her. And for this peace, for independence, for the sovereignty of Ukraine, we are also responsible. We must show determination by supporting Ukraine militarily and humanely. We need to rapidly rebuild the European arms industry to effectively deter Russia and prove to it that if it wants to continue this war, we will consistently support Ukraine. If the place of Ukraine is the European Union, then only after the normal passage of the entire negotiation process. Finally, I warn against excessive and too rapid liberalisation of trade with Ukraine. In the long term, this will harm both Ukraine and the European Union and will not be understood by, among others, European farmers and entrepreneurs.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The European water resilience strategy is great information, it is very much needed. If we want to restore and protect the disrupted hydrological cycle, provide clean and affordable water for all, promote the circular economy, increase the level of investment, and support agriculture and industry in water management, which build our food and economic security, then mistakes like in the ETS cannot be made. We will achieve these goals only through a system of incentives and rewards for those who pursue these goals. Commissioner, please use incentives, not penalties. The latter absolutely did not work. Let's not push the responsibility on local governments, farmers and companies. That's not the way.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Without an energy-intensive industry, we cannot talk about European competitiveness. We can't develop our defenses, we can't become more innovative. However, it is in this sector that the huge challenges of decarbonisation or the current geopolitical situation lie. It is therefore necessary to provide it with maximum support. This could be done, inter alia, by introducing a mechanism to reduce energy prices for the sector. We therefore need to revise the ETS. We also need to bear in mind that some industries, due to their specificities, cannot be fully electrified. In this context, it is necessary to maintain the possibility of using natural gas. I would like to give you an example related to the chemical industry. I am often terrified of the discussions that are taking place in this Parliament. We are talking about maybe buying some products from Russia, maybe from Africa – and if not from Africa, then from South America. However, there is no conversation, or not enough conversation, about buying them in the domestic chemical industry, building its competitiveness and building its strength here.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, In the debate on the vision for the future of agriculture, the voice of farmers should resound. Last night I asked one of them what the future of agriculture should be like, and he mentioned it to me in 5 points. 1. Shortening supply chains and strengthening the position of the manufacturer. 2. Farmers must have easy and simple rules to process their production. 3. Production costs should be reduced, including through a revision of the Green Deal. 4. Protect the internal agricultural market from agreements such as Mercosur and over-liberalisation of trade with Ukraine and further such agreements. 5. Simplify and regulate the rules in the area of agricultural activity, because farmers should work in the field, not sit behind a desk and fill in piles of documents. And from me, Commissioner: I believe that this vision you have presented lacks a possible enlargement of the European Union to other countries and the impact of this enlargement on the agricultural, European and Polish markets. Without this element, this vision, in my opinion, will be incomplete.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The current geopolitical situation in the world makes the issue of energy security one of the key aspects. In this context, accelerating the transition away from Russian gas and other Russian energy resources becomes even more urgent. It is necessary to increase investment in renewable sources, but also in nuclear energy, which will allow us to diversify energy sources and increase our energy independence. At the same time, we need to revise the Green Deal, the ETS and move away from ETS2. Otherwise, energy costs will completely deprive Polish and European industry of its competitiveness. To meet these challenges, Poland is taking a number of actions, such as the construction of an LNG terminal in Gdańsk, which will enable the collection of natural gas from various directions of the world and significantly strengthen the energy security of Poland and the region of Central and Eastern Europe.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, I must admit that in recent months I have listened more and more to the voice of European industry, especially the energy-intensive industry, which has presented a number of problems that it has to face in dealing with the enormity of environmental regulations and requirements. The fight for the environment is important and we want Europeans to breathe clean air. However, the price for this cannot be the death of European industrial production. This would benefit only the third countries that would most happily take over our domestic production, which in turn would undermine not only our competitiveness but also our security. Energy-intensive industries need urgent support to cope with high energy costs, complex regulations or unfair global competition. In order to reduce the cost pressure on our industry, we need to focus on deregulation and investment support. It is time to adapt to the changing reality in which we must now put our security and a strong economy first and postpone ETS2.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, The European Defence Union must become a reality. The European Defence Union as an economic alliance must be a new flywheel for the European and Polish economy. But for this to happen, all means must be involved, both European, national and private. We talked a lot about the private ones here today. But, Commissioner, if we do not sort out the certification and accreditation of all defence-related products in the broadest sense, unfortunately we will not be able to use this potential of private entrepreneurs in such an important matter as defence. And the second element is the issue of preferential loans that entrepreneurs must obtain, but without this bureaucracy and bureaucracy, which brings with it European funds from the budget of the European Union. If we can involve private business, private entrepreneurs, other means, I am convinced that the European Defence Union will be a real success for all of us.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, Firstly, we should warmly thank the European Commission for its response and the possibility of using European funds for the reconstruction of areas damaged by natural disasters. Thank you for supporting the citizens of the European Union, including in Poland, through these measures. Secondly, attention should be paid to all kinds of disasters that have affected the European Union in recent years, starting with the pandemic, through the consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, or recent natural disasters, fires, floods. All this assistance is implemented thanks to cohesion policy funds and it is worth remembering this in a situation where we are discussing its future. And it is worth mentioning those who question the need for cohesion policy after 2027. And the last thing, however, in this discussion about the new budget, about the new financial perspective, we must talk about such a tool that will immediately react to such events that occurred, among others, in Poland. It is December today, the floods were in September, and we are still discussing this, while people need the support and sense of agency of the European Union immediately.

Madam President, thank you very much. In today's many debates, the word "competitiveness" has been used very often. Meanwhile, energy costs are one of the factors that kill this competitiveness of companies in the European Union. How are European companies supposed to be competitive when they pay four times more for energy than their counterparts outside the European Union? They are no longer fighting for competitiveness. Today, European companies are struggling to survive. The lime industry, the cement industry should immediately start receiving compensation for the increase in indirect energy costs. Otherwise, they will relocate their production outside the European Union. How will the European fertiliser industry compete today with cheap Russian fertilisers that are flowing into the European Union, given gas prices in Russia and the European Union? Today, many words have been spoken by the new European Commission, but we will know it by its actions, not by its words. I hope that they will provide this support to all energy-intensive industries in the European Union.

Madam President, thank you very much. Data cable networks, power grids and pipelines are critical submarine infrastructures on which the stability of our economies and our security depend. Unfortunately, in the current geopolitical situation, there are more and more acts of sabotage or hybrid acts on this type of infrastructure, which also did not bypass the Baltic Sea. They are aimed at destabilizing the functioning of states and provocation. In the face of such threats, close cooperation between the European Union and NATO is crucial. I am pleased that the NATO-EU Task Force on the resilience of critical infrastructure such as transport, digital and energy infrastructure was established in 2023. Mapping vulnerabilities and assessing risks are important in this context. But what about other critical infrastructure? Ports, built and already built wind farms? We must act in advance on this type of hybrid action against the destabilisation of Europe and the Western world. And today we must say to ourselves clearly and distinctly: today the Baltic Sea, and in a moment critical infrastructure in Poland and throughout the European Union.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I must admit that I am astonished by the hypocrisy of the Law and Justice representatives who use the lectern in the European Parliament to spread untruth. We heard here today about the Polish railway company PKP Cargo, whose financial situation, among other things, threatens its further functioning. The dramatic situation is the result of a series of erroneous decisions and inefficient management of this company in recent years, i.e. those when the indivisible power in both the company and the supervising ministry was exercised by people of Law and Justice. They led to the lack of new contracts, a decrease in real revenues, an increase in operating costs, an increase in debt and a progressive loss of financial liquidity. In such a dramatic situation, the new company authorities are making every effort to provide employment opportunities for the dismissed employees in other companies. They actively support all affected employees by the previous authorities of the company and think about their future. Therefore, from this rostrum, I would expect the representatives of Law and Justice to apologize for the situation in relation to the company's employees and take responsibility for the state in which they left it.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Regions and cities play a huge role in the green transition. They also work constantly for their own development and to ensure the well-being of their inhabitants. There is no doubt about it and we have so far many good examples coming from our regions and cities. Unfortunately, we must tell ourselves frankly today that some of the challenges facing our regions and cities simply overwhelm them. I am talking here, for example, about those areas that rely heavily on economic sectors that will soon have to undergo radical changes due to the green transition. In order not to lead to a complete collapse of these regions and the problem of unemployment, adequate support is needed. Speaking about the role of regions, how important their actions are, we must also make it clear that regions are the pillar of cohesion policy and that this should remain the case. It is the regions that know best their strengths and weaknesses and are able to respond quickly to emerging challenges and needs. Therefore, our goal should be to further strengthen their role in cohesion policy and even further decentralisation, allowing decisions to be taken even closer to the citizen, for which the Structural Funds should be spent. We need to pay more attention to the specificities of individual regions and give them greater confidence in the use of European funds.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, As we speak in this room, at the same time, millions of Europeans are fighting for their livelihoods, fighting for their businesses, fighting for their crops or their livestock, confronting a ruthless and cruel element. In Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Romania, this is a horrific flood of a magnitude we have not seen in years. There are huge fires in Portugal. Many European countries, such as Spain, Italy, Poland and Greece, have also had to cope with the effects of drought. Extreme weather events between 1980 and 2021 have caused losses of up to €560 billion in the European Union, with losses increasing year by year. There is no doubt, therefore, that this is a gigantic challenge, and at the same time an extremely important test for the rulers. We need to act quickly, effectively and on a multifaceted basis. We must provide immediate support to those who have been affected by these disasters. In this respect, flexibility is needed with regard to funds from cohesion policy, the Common Agricultural Policy or the Recovery Fund in order to be able to allocate funds for this purpose.

Mr President, thank you very much. Before our eyes there is a drama of thousands of people in southern Poland, in the Czech Republic, in Austria, in Romania. Thousands of people who lose their entire lives in a matter of hours, and sometimes their lives. These people today need true support and true solidarity, not just empty words. Today, during this debate, the Solidarity Fund has been named many times. It is good that this instrument exists. It is certain that all those affected and all Member States will use its resources. But it is necessary to say clearly and honestly that this is a drop in the sea of needs. It is enough to give the example of Belgium and the floods of 2021, when losses were estimated at 3 billion euros, and from this fund 90 million euros were paid to Belgium. This situation must not happen again this time. Absolutely. It is therefore necessary to call on the European Commission to take swift and courageous decisions, as there are opportunities and sources of funding in the form of structural funds under cohesion policy. The governments of the Member States, the government in Poland and the Polish regions have financial resources that, with the consent of the European Commission, could be used for the reconstruction of these damaged areas. Also, the National Recovery Plan, which is financed by the Recovery Fund, is rebuilding Europe after the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding Europe after the consequences of the war in Ukraine. We can also rebuild damaged areas from this fund, but for this a decision of the European Commission is needed. Brave and fast. The European Commission has proven in recent years that it can make such decisions. I call on the European Commission to have that courage this time, too, and to do it quickly.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, thank you very much. Although housing is not an EU policy and is in principle a competence of the Member States, this topic is being debated today in the European Parliament. So you might ask: why? Well, because it is undoubtedly one of the priority issues for our citizens. Therefore, I believe that we in the European Union should also reflect on this topic and make every effort to ensure that the existing EU instruments and initiatives also target this extremely important objective. Of course, this is an extremely complex issue and there is no one simple solution here. We need comprehensive action at every level: local, national and European. We need not only supportive conditions for the construction of new housing on the free market, but also smart solutions for social housing and measures such as improving the energy efficiency of buildings to eradicate energy poverty, which is a real problem for many European families. Cohesion policy has a major role to play in this respect. I also see great potential in the EU Urban Agenda and the New Bauhaus programme, which are responsible for sustainable planning and developing new ideas for the future.

Mr President, thank you very much. Firstly, I would like to thank you for the presence of Polish parliamentarians and Polish farmers who are here with us today. Secondly, listening to this debate, I regret to say that we are missing the essence of the problem here. Imagine, my colleagues and officials of the European Commission, that for the next 12 months you would work and not receive any remuneration for it. Imagine that you would function by paying your bills, maintaining your families, in the hope that in twelve months you would receive some money for it. In the end, it turns out that the money you have received does not compensate for all the costs you have incurred for 12 months. Would you agree to such working conditions? Would you, Commissioner, agree? And in such conditions, Polish farmers work today, who have lost peace and predictability in conducting agricultural activity. They also want to help Ukraine, but not at their expense and not at the expense of their families and their only source of livelihood, which are their family farms. Finally, Commissioner, I am very pleased that you have admitted today, in this tragic situation, that transit through Poland was unprofitable. This means that it was known from the beginning that all this grain and everything else will remain in Poland. I'll leave it without comment.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. In the last fifteen years, since the adoption of the current Consumer Credit Directive, this market has undergone a real revolution. Consumer habits have changed, digital transformation is progressing, e-commerce is developing or automated creditworthiness assessment is increasingly used. It was therefore necessary to adapt to the new reality in order to ensure a high level of consumer protection and a well-functioning consumer credit market. I am particularly pleased with the changes regarding the improvement of the consumer information system. A person who decides to take out a loan must be aware of the consequences of his decision, including, above all, full information on the amount that he will actually have to repay, as well as he must have the financial capacity to do so. I consider it extremely important to protect consumers from over-indebtedness resulting from responsible credit practices. In addition, in my opinion, provisions facilitating access to credit for people who have had cancer are particularly important.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, While events such as the COVID-19 pandemic can never be fully predicted, many valuable lessons can and should be learned for the future. And not only in the field of health, but also in the wider field of preparedness, resilience, cooperation, management in science, economy and social life. Firstly, we already know the importance of early response and information, as well as coordination and solidarity. Strengthening the mechanism for cross-border cooperation, information exchange and joint procurement of medical supplies can help build solidarity and ensure a more effective response to future crises. For this, we need continued investment in digital infrastructure and improvements to the data sharing and exchange system. Secondly, we need a stronger European Health Union to ensure equal access to health care, to eliminate health inequalities and social exclusion, and to jointly stimulate research and development. Thirdly, we must not forget the backbone of our economy, that is, small and medium-sized enterprises, which should be supported in recovering from the crisis in the form of funds, but also in building a friendly regulatory environment, so as to lay the foundations for the long-term resilience of our economy.