Speeches

Madam President, thank you for your wise words. I also do believe that after many crises, the EU is stronger than before. And also it is thanks to your leadership, to the first action and also our ability to cooperate. Nowadays, many countries want to join the EU and we know that Ukrainians are even dying for this goal. Our European response to the criminal Russian aggression was strong and we should continue with this approach. We significantly limited Russian income from the EU, but still there is gas and nuclear fuel, which should be included into sanctions. Madam President, I was really very pleased with your words about making business easier and with the objective to reduce administrative burden by 25%. We need to do it for our SMEs and for our competitiveness. But still there is one more goal which should be achieved and this is the completion of our single market. This objective does not require any resources, just political will and it is feasible and achievable. It is the same with, for example, the Energy Union, the Defence Union and the Capital Market Union. I do believe also that the improvement of our competitiveness will result in the improvement of quality of life of all citizens.

Madam President, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, SMEs create more than 100 million jobs in the EU and they create also half of European GDP. And also we have to recognise that half of them are family businesses. So family, it is not only a cornerstone of our social life and our development, but also it is the place of work and growth. However, the current state of SMEs is not very positive. European competitiveness is lagging behind other developed economies. European SMEs have faced significant challenges and hardships due to the pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. SMEs are facing difficulties in accessing finance, also expressed by declining willingness of banks to lend credit to SMEs. We have to see also that one out of four bankruptcies in the Union are due to invoices not being paid on time. Another challenge is high inflation, unstable energy prices and lack of skilled work on the market. What can we do? Firstly, we need to revise the Late Payments Directive and urge for a quick procedure. Secondly, we have to increase efforts for the Capital Markets Union and unlock access to credit for SMEs and for Europe’s growth. And thirdly, last but not least, we need to remove at least 25 % of administrative burdens, complete single market, simplify cross-border cooperation, boost participation on public procurement and improve access to labour, skilled persons and digitalisation processes. So, dear colleagues. SMEs play a crucial role in fostering economic growth, job creation and social cohesion. That is the key message of this resolution. And I do hope that everybody who cares about our future will support it.

I will vote against this text because it goes beyond the proposal originally intended by the European Commission. And when you ask if companies have knowledge of their suppliers, of course they do. But not all companies in this form can adhere to what is proposed. This Directive is not enforceable. I have met many investors who invest in the European Union and say that they cannot control all those who comply or do not comply with such regulations with as few parts as possible. This directive is simply unenforceable, it creates additional administration, additional burdens, and I believe that, on the basis of my personal experience, responsible business is an honour and that the firms we have in the European Union, the vast majority, boast of responsible business, that it is their privilege. But responsible business cannot be enforced by the administration. Responsible entrepreneurship is something that is natural, and with such regulation we are deteriorating the position of entrepreneurship and deteriorating the position of small entrepreneurs in particular, who create the most jobs.

Mr President, responsible entrepreneurship is important not only for the creation of new jobs, but also, by way of example, for the development of society as a whole. Many companies began to follow the principles of responsible business based on their own decision. I believe that responsible business is not achieved by the administration, nor do we need additional statements, reports or regulations for it. We cannot enforce respect for human rights by increasing red tape, which is already a huge burden, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The legislation should clearly define which areas are really risky. Companies cannot be held financially liable for damages that do not affect or replace the role of the state. The main basis for success must be clearly defined roles, responsibilities and scope of this legislation. Without such adjustments, it will become an instrument that is difficult to implement and an obstacle to responsible business conduct rather than its promotion. (The speaker agrees to answer the question raised by raising the "blue card")

Madam President, our common European market, the 30th anniversary of which we are celebrating this year, is one of the most successful European projects. This is also because we place great emphasis on consumer rights and protection, becoming the number one on a global scale. But even here, with the advent of new technologies, we need to innovate our legislation. An integral part of a responsible approach to the planet is the economical use of products and raising awareness of the importance of such an approach. Recent Commission studies show that up to 80% of consumers say that it is difficult for them to find information on how easily a product can be repaired. The new legislation strengthens the consumer's right to access important information on product durability, reparability, appropriate maintenance and available software updates. All this aims to lead our consumers to make a sufficiently responsible purchase decision, thereby also contributing to more sustainable consumption. At the same time, the new rules strengthen fair and transparent relations also between firms and end customers through a stricter ban on unclear and false product information from a sustainability perspective. I am therefore convinced that it is this proposal that can help us to manage the resources at our disposal more efficiently and also to develop our market in a sustainable way.

Madam President, this regulation is very important because it simplifies the current situation also. First of all, it reflects the situation on the market, it reflects the consumer needs, but also the potential needs from small and medium entrepreneurs, which is very, very critical. So I am very happy that after a long, long trilogue we came to the conclusion, because there were many, many technical trilogues, altogether 19 trilogues. I am very thankful to all the colleagues and all the shadow rapporteurs for support, and I would like to ask you, dear colleagues, for supporting this file, which is very important for our consumers and also entrepreneurs.

Mr President, dear colleagues, there is a clear learning from current international development, and that is that democracies should stand together. And this learning is even more applicable towards China. China’s growth means really an economic opportunity, but China’s growth means also a serious threat in terms of military, in terms of critical raw material, in terms of its growing influence in international organisations. What to do? The answer is definitely European unity towards China’s expansion and our close cooperation with the US. The most important European actions should be firstly to protect Taiwan; secondly to strengthen and modernise our defence capacities, particularly in terms of cybersecurity; and thirdly, to secure our supply chain of critical raw materials. Ladies and gentlemen, the world is changing and we are able to shape it only based on our European unity, our cooperation among democracies and our position towards autocracies.

Madam President, 35 years ago, a very important event took place in Bratislava that changed the history of Czechoslovakia and Europe. This was the Candle Manifestation. Thousands of people peacefully protested against communist tyranny by praying with lit candles. At that time, the communist government brutally suppressed this peaceful assembly with water cannons, batons and arrests. The European Parliament then adopted a special resolution condemning this brutality and calling for respect for the human rights of Christians. This significant event led to the Velvet Revolution and the fall of the Iron Curtain in Europe. Allow me here, today, to welcome with us the direct participants of this important event in our history and thank them for their courage, which contributed to the freedom of Europe.

Madam President. Digitalisation is changing and will change our lives. Therefore, in order to improve the entire digital landscape in the European Union, we need, above all, to improve the infrastructure, digital skills and the right digital framework for working with data. And that's what this important Data Act is about, as we will process data more and more. Access to data will be crucial for new ideas and their implementation, especially by the small businesses that create the most jobs. If we want to remain competitive in the world and reflect the evolution of digital realities, we need to learn how to make effective use of available industrial data, especially when it comes to sharing it. The Data Act is a comprehensive complex that offers opportunities to work with data to make the most of it while maintaining European standards for data protection. Today, we only use 20% of industrial information, and we expect the new rules to enable industrial data to be used and improved to contribute an additional 270 billion to European GDP. I consider it important: firstly, removing barriers to data sharing, secondly, improving transparency and thirdly, clear conditions for private data sharing by the public sector. Working with data will determine our economic development, and the right legal framework can make a significant contribution to this.

Mr President, we are all aware that transforming our economy into a sustainable form is essential. Today we are facing an important vote. Reducing emissions is our self-evident goal, but Europe's transformation must be managed sensibly, especially with regard to the sustainability of our jobs and the development of new technologies. It is good that we set ourselves ambitious goals for the protection of our environment. But it is also important that we maintain technological neutrality. We can't predict the future precisely because we don't know what we'll learn tomorrow, and we don't know what innovations and improvements are waiting for us. It is therefore important to give a chance to all technologies, and in the automotive industry this applies not only to electric, hydrogen or hybrid drives, but also to the development of conventional combustion engines and the development of their new fuels supporting our climate goals. We need a clear focus on a real, effective solution that also delivers the desired results. I do not consider the complete shutdown of internal combustion engines to be the only possible one. Our goal is to decarbonise, not deindustrialise Europe. It makes no sense to completely shut down our know-how and the decade of development in which we are world leaders. Let's give a chance to all technologies and ideas that can deliver the same, sometimes better, results. Let us not detract from Europe's heritage and trust in the ability of Europeans to deliver effective solutions and innovation.

Madam President. In Ukraine, the future of Europe is being decided. The question is whether we will protect life, protect the rights of the weaker and democratically decide our future, or whether the other side will win – disrespect for life, lawlessness and arbitrariness of the dictator. Ukrainians defend our space, defend freedom and democracy across Europe, and it is our moral duty to help them and increase not only economic, humanitarian, but also defensive military aid. This is important for the future of Europe, and there has long been talk of defending Europe, of a European army. Today, we see that we already have this army. It is the Ukrainian army. We are talking about a peaceful European project, but no one has done as much for peace in Europe as the Ukrainians. That is why it is important that we help them on their European journey, and that we also give concrete expression to this journey at the new summit starting tomorrow, by talking about extending economic cooperation, extending the roaming call zone or cooperation in the field of energy. Such a shift in these areas will help not only the citizens of Ukraine, but also all citizens of the European Union.

Mr President. Video games are one of the fastest growing industries in the cultural and creative industries. The market size in Europe is estimated at over €23 billion, more than in the music or film industry. More than 90,000 jobs are related to the sector, and this number is growing steadily. It is therefore essential that we also pay sufficient attention to the sector and set balanced rules for it, ensuring that the video games market operates in a clear and secure way so that it can benefit from job creation, culture and innovation. It is also important to note that 73% of children between the ages of 6 and 10 and 84% of teenagers actively participate in video games. At the same time, therefore, we need to create sufficient protection mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable. On the one hand, against inappropriate content, and on the other hand, against the threat of addiction. It is good news that this proposal also represents a balanced compromise for the safe development of the video game industry.

Mr President. I believe that the common market is the most successful European project. It has contributed to millions of jobs, to a higher standard of living for citizens in the Union and to peace and cooperation between countries that have struggled with each other for centuries. Today, after thirty years, the single market faces multiple challenges at the same time. It is the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine, the disinformation wars, the disruption of global supply-customer chains, and the growing protectionism of the US. And this only increases the importance of our common market. If we want to remain globally competitive and maintain jobs in Europe, we must continue to strengthen the powers of our common market. Freedom goes hand in hand with responsibility. The same is true of the common market. Today's challenges remind us that democracy and economic growth are not a given. And we must not, therefore, relax in our work with citizens and remind them of the importance of this project. We must not only protect the common market, but also continue to deepen it. We need to complete it in services, build a common digital market, but also a common energy market. That's the most important thing today. At the same time, we need to implement a Capital Union to improve access to finance for small businesses, ensure mutual recognition of qualifications, and uniform electronic standards. All of this will help create even more jobs and add another €300 billion to the current benefits of €269 billion. Ladies and gentlemen, let us use today's reflection to celebrate the common market for 30 years, and let us also look back at why the EU was created, and let us also focus as much as possible on helping our citizens by consistently implementing and developing our common European market.

Madam President, both the success of the economic level of the whole Union and the level of life of our citizens depend on the level of digitalisation. In my view, three areas are important. First, it is the level of infrastructure. We need to invest more in digital infrastructure. We need to incentivise private investors to invest in digital infrastructure, and this goes hand in hand with our legislative work to incentivise as much as possible for better investment, for better internet accessibility. To make the internet more accessible and affordable for citizens and businesses. Secondly, it is the legislative level. We have adopted many laws in this House and it is good that we are setting global standards for digital legislation. Thirdly, it's a skill level. We need to invest more and more in digital skills, including with European money. Small businesses, which employ the most workers, are also an important topic and their level of digitalisation will also determine our success. I believe that the ambitious targets of having all documents online with public administrations, public institutions, all health records online by 2030 are achievable, and I believe that we will also raise the standard of living of citizens by the level of digitalisation.

Madam President, the situation on the energy market shows us that the consequences of Russia's criminal aggression are being borne by all of us in the European Union, especially through higher prices for energy and goods. All the more we need to stick together, all the more important are common European solutions, all the more important is a functioning European energy market. This is also important for better energy security and better energy prices. Today, more than ever, we need to reduce demand in order to reduce prices. Let us be aware that all austerity measures, all austerity measures are important, and with every saving we contribute to lowering the price. On the other hand, we need to increase demand. Energy prices also need to be freed up by relaxing the rules for those who make up energy, small-scale energy producers, especially from renewable sources. This applies to small businesses, especially households when installing photovoltaic panels. Today, more than ever, we need to remove barriers in the common market, invest in energy infrastructure and have new market rules to separate gas prices from electricity prices. Shopping together, of course, can help. The situation is rapidly changing. Dependence on Russian fossil fuels is diminishing, which is good news, and today's times really need to be used to make a difference for the benefit of citizens, the competitiveness of companies and better nature conservation.

Madam President, the current situation in Iran is extremely concerning. In the last three months, thousands of people have been arrested and more than 600 of them have been killed. And they’ve been killed just because of their fight for a free country and for their fundamental rights. Let me express my deepest admiration to all of the Iranian citizens who continue to protest despite the horrible situation, mass arrests and extreme violation of their fundamental rights by the regime. Six of the arrested people have even been sentenced to death, and many others may face the same fate. This uprising covers the whole country. While a brutal Iranian regime supports and supplies weaponry to the criminal Russian aggressors, all age groups and all sectors of society are now united in protest against the autocratic regime, together side by side. It is therefore time to act, to express our full support and call for the protection of those whose only sin is a desire for democratic values of their free country. We should not call the current situation a protest; it is really a revolution.

Madam President, dear colleagues, the findings of the Court of Auditors are very important. As a matter of fact, the results have shown that the usage of European funds has not been improving. In 2021, 15 cases of suspected fraud have been identified and reported to the European Anti—Fraud Office. Consequently, five investigations have already been opened. The suggestion coming from the comparison with the results of 2020 annual report, where only six cases were reported to OLAF, it really worries me. On the other hand, this report also shows positive outcomes. It shows that the Court of Auditors has been doing its work very efficiently and therefore I would like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude for the hard and honest work. Moreover, the report also emphasises the high importance of the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Nevertheless, when it comes to EU financing, we need to increase the powers of controlling mechanism. EU funds are, after all, assigned to European citizens for improving their quality of life and simplifying their lives, not for enriching individuals.

Madam President, due to the Russian invasion and therefore emergency situation on the energy market, we are in an extraordinary situation and therefore we need extraordinary measures to deal with it. New measures can be a useful step for market stability leading to the necessary price drop. We can overcome the current situation only by common European solutions. Common purchases, combined with solidarity mechanism, can be really crucial steps for having enough gas for reasonable prices. New market rules are welcome, but we need also to split gas price from the electricity price. It is particularly great news for my country Slovakia – as it was our proposal – that we can use unused funds from the period until 2020. I appreciate the opportunity to use this European money for those who are the most affected. I do believe that these proposals, together with supporting supply and reducing demand on the energy market, will be leading to the stability and much—needed price reduction on the market.

Mr President, Matúš and Juraj have become victims of a young extremist and our thoughts are still with them and with the survivors. It is shocking that today we are witnessing terrorism against a minority. It is shocking that the killer promoted racism and hatred with impunity on social media and it is shocking that he threatened society as a whole, especially elected officials. Let's just remember that even on the day of the crime, this killer was waiting for the prime minister. The 19-year-old murderer, by the way, a student of an elite school, published a manifesto prior to his terrorist attack expressing hatred for people of a different race, a different religion, a different sexual orientation, and his admiration for mass murderers. We are all different, we all come from somewhere, we all have our opinions, our beliefs, our ideas, but what unites us is the ability to listen and to tolerate ourselves. It is also necessary to talk about the role of schools in education, the irreplaceable role of the family in education, the non-proliferation of hatred on social networks, but also respect for democratically elected representatives. What we need today is tolerance, tolerance for one another, tolerance for another religion, tolerance for another sexual orientation, only in this way can we defeat the evil of extremism, hatred and intolerance.

Mr President, dear colleagues, current demonstrations in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini have been going on for almost 20 days now. These protests, which have spread to all Iranian provinces, have been brutally repressed by the Iranian regime and so far led to 400 deaths and many injuries of people, including college and university students. In reality, the number of deaths could be much higher. I am also very concerned about the fate of more than 20 thousand detainees where there is no guarantee that their fundamental rights are respected. This reminds me of the brutal suppression of the protests in November 2019. We all know that the Iranian regime is responding with severe brutality but despite this, the Iranian people are still on the streets. So I do believe that the European Union should act now and call on President Raisi to stop the push back against the protesters immediately and free the political prisoners. People in Iran deserve freedom and respect of basic human rights.

Madam President, I am pleased to welcome this report, which aims to help the 87 million inhabitants of the European Union and to help them overcome, on a daily basis, the common obstacles that we healthy people often take for granted. The establishment of the Centre will have the challenging task of sufficiently mobilising and connecting practitioners with the different national authorities responsible for the implementation of European accessibility policies. However, often not only enough expertise, but above all a lack of political will makes it difficult to solve the problems of this group of people. However, disabled citizens do not mean any lesser value for society, it does not diminish the value of a person. Our goal must be to help improve its quality and the possibility of full participation in society. That is why I am glad that the report also thinks about the conditions of the labour market and mentions the report on the Digital Decade, on which I have worked specifically and incorporated the conditions of people with disabilities. New technologies can be a great tool and help for the development and application of this group of people. Ladies and gentlemen, let us help people with disabilities to have equal opportunities. I also want to encourage the active involvement of the national authorities, because this will not happen without their active and open cooperation. I will be happy to be instrumental in this implementation process at all levels.

Madam President, the importance of digitalisation is constantly growing, and with it the importance of the devices we use on a daily basis. Whether it's phones, laptops, or speakers. We all know them, and we all know the charging devices. These facilities must serve and make life easier for people. That is why this proposal is very important and I am glad that I was at the origin of this initiative. It is important that digital devices serve people to make life easier for people when using them. It is important that we reduce costs, it is important that we improve environmental protection, and all this is ensured by this proposal. As we know, this can save more than 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year. It is good news that the scope of this regulation also covers laptops, which was a proposal from the European Parliament from the outset. It is good news that we will have a unified USB-C charger in two years, and it is good news that every five years, technological developments will be reviewed. A single terminal does not imply a limitation of wireless charging. Clearly wireless charging is a worldwide trend and it will go forward, but at the same time, of course, it is clear to all of us that the need for wired connectivity will be there for some time to come. Therefore, this proposal is necessary and crucial in particular to facilitate the work with computer technology, save resources and, of course, improve environmental protection. Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure that it is with this measure that we are setting a global trend. Thank you all for supporting this initiative.

Madam President, in the last three years, small businesses have been facing really difficult tests. First it was a pandemic, and then it was a break in supplier-customer relations, a rise in prices. Now the rise in energy prices, mainly caused by Russia's criminal invasion of Ukraine. The situation is not easy, as we know, small businesses employ the most workers and create the most jobs. Thus, helping small businesses is helping the whole economy. Especially after the pandemic, those priorities focused on improving access to capital, reducing administrative burdens, improving the quality of the workforce. But today, aid to small businesses must focus primarily on lowering energy prices. That is why I very much appreciate what the President of the Commission said from this place just yesterday, when she announced the SME package and when she addressed energy prices. This is what we now need to address precisely to improve the situation of small businesses. And we need to deal with it really quickly. Separation of the price of gas from the price of energy, possible capping of gas prices and also transfer, redistribution of those extraordinary profits from energy companies to those in need. These are also small businesses. We also need to address their liquidity, reduce the administrative burden and not forget the completion of the common market, especially in the area of services. Completing the digital market and building a genuine Capital Union. Aid for small businesses. This is really helping citizens, helping families, so thanks to all those who are doing so.

Madam President, the topic of energy prices is, of course, a primary topic not only for all of us, but also for the whole, for all European citizens. We must not forget that this topic is primarily caused by the criminal Russian war invasion. Therefore, the long-term solution is, of course, not to finance Russian war crimes and cut off these energies. We need to diversify energy sources, diversify suppliers. As in the pandemic, we need common European solutions today. The long-term ones are, of course, in closer cooperation in building better energy infrastructure, cooperation on energy reserves and also joint purchases. But today the situation is extraordinary and we also need extraordinary solutions to implement the European regulatory framework as soon as possible. And we also need to talk about the role of gas in the formation of electricity prices, and the discussion should also concern the capping of energy prices, and gas in particular. Last but not least, it is important to talk about energy savings and also about the extraordinary revenues of energy companies and their redistribution to those who really need it. Our citizens are rightly waiting for this.

Madam President, I am pleased that, after many years of negotiations, we have on the table today a mechanism that is balanced and that will simplify public procurement on the one hand and help protect our entrepreneurs from unfair practices from outside Europe on the other. It is important to be aware of the strength of the single market and the importance of competition. That is why we are the leader in the volume of publicly tendered tenders, which are open not only to European operators but also to bidders from third countries. On the other hand, it is often very difficult for our entrepreneurs to reach markets in third countries and the volumes offered represent only fractions of our volumes. That is why it is so important to put in place a mechanism to help protect our bidders from companies from countries that are not open to fair competition. As rapporteur in the Internal Market Committee, I was responsible for a number of exclusive competences, in particular in the area of Article 12, which speaks of exceptions. These, after negotiations with the Council, have been set up in such a way that we do not increase bureaucracy, but that we clearly name these exceptions, that they are targeted and simple. Let me also take this opportunity to thank my colleague Daniel Caspary and his team for a huge amount of work for the success of these rules.