Speeches

Madam President, let me make three remarks on this important subject. Firstly, the Russian criminal invasion of Ukraine shows us that the Union must do much more for the defence industry than before and must do so in a more coordinated manner with the Member States. Secondly, it is clear that our defence depends on a viable defence industry, which must be able to respond to our changing immediate but also long-term needs to defend our values and our prosperity. Thirdly, financial support to the defence sector has long been undersized in Europe, including access to public but also private capital for businesses. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular suffer the most from this. I therefore place emphasis on publishing, as quickly as possible, the proposals for a regulation on the European Defence Investment Programme, as well as the European defence industrial strategy, in such a way that small and medium-sized enterprises are at the centre of both initiatives. Since the defence industry has long been built on the basis of mainly large firms, I consider the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the defence strategy and in the defence industry to be crucial not only in terms of meeting our defence needs faster, but above all in view of the innovativeness and competitiveness of the entire defence industry.

Mr President, justice and equality before the law are under threat in Slovakia today. Prime Minister Fico began his exercise of power by attacking independent media, as well as independent institutions and anti-corruption bodies. The government is proposing to abolish the Special Prosecutor's Office, which is a key institution in both the fight against corruption and the protection of European financial interests. The government is proposing to substantially reduce punishments for corruption, and government officials are intimidating investigators. Who would be affected by the closure of the Special Prosecutor's Office? Here are just a few defendants: police ex-president Tibor Gašpar, ex-ministers Žiga and Kažimír, Martin Kvietik, oligarch of the defendant for bribes in the redistribution of European resources, Marian Kočner, former neighbor of Prime Minister Fico accused of ordering the murder of Ján Kuciak, and many others. It is clear that this abrogation effort is instrumental in helping ‘their people’. This term has become popular in Slovakia and represents a symbol of inequality before the law. Let me remind you that in the European Parliament we have acted after the murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnierová, and we have also acted on corruption suspicions with European agricultural resources. In both cases, the Special Prosecutor’s Office played a key role. Therefore, we will not remain silent if we are to lose an important ally in the anti-corruption fight, which is the Special Prosecutor's Office. Allow me to thank all the citizens of Slovakia from this place, who also spoke on the topic yesterday with protests in many cities of my homeland. None of us want Slovakia to take the Hungarian route. We are saying clearly not the abolition of a key anti-corruption institution, not the system of ‘their people’, and not Prime Minister Fico’s arbitrariness. Yes, he is in favour of maintaining a special prosecutor's office, yes, he is in favour of supporting real brave people, and yes, he is in favour of justice and equality before the law. The parents of the murdered Ján Kuciak wrote to me: “Please do everything you can.” My yes belongs not only to the brave Kuciaks, but also to all citizens of Slovakia. You're not alone. Thanks to everyone who cares about Slovakia.

Mr President, dear colleagues, our European Union is, as a matter of fact, the largest investor in Taiwan with current amount of more than EUR 40 billion in foreign direct investment, representing 28% of all foreign investments in Taiwan. As it is our strategic partner, not only in economic terms, definitely we need to send a positive signal to our investors that we take it seriously. We need to improve our trade relations, because Taiwan is a key partner of our industry when it comes to semiconductors, artificial intelligence and competitiveness general, particularly in the digital field. We need to set conditions for our new EU-Taiwan free trade agreement, which will create preconditions for further development of our cooperation. Taiwan is significant partner also in terms of protection of democratic principles, in terms of fighting against misinformation and propaganda. Also, I learned personally a lot visiting Taiwan recently. Also, nowadays we are facing a global fight between totalitarian and democratic regimes, and therefore democracies should stand together, I do believe. Taiwan deserves more than ever to be part of WHA and other international organisations, where they should play inevitable role on paths to strengthen global democratic trends. I do believe this topic should be also among our priorities of the upcoming EU-China summit.

Madam President, dear colleagues, the current Iranian Government has not only ignored the voices of change but has intensified its crackdown, detaining numerous activists and exerting oppressive force against peaceful dissent. The tragic case of Armita, a schoolgirl of only 16 years old who has been in a coma since 1 October, following a confrontation with metro officers over mandatory hijab regulations, is a really horrible reminder of the grim reality in Iran nowadays. Such incidents are intolerable in the 21st century and must not go unaddressed. Therefore, I really urge the European Commission to intervene without delay, calling also on President Raisi to cease the suppression of protesters and release political prisoners. Failure to do so may lead to the imposition of targeted punitive measures on those responsible. Together, let us stand in solidarity with the Iranian people and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom, dignity and human rights.

Madam President, I am pleased that we can talk about reducing the regulatory burden, because this is an important topic for improving the business environment and for improving our competitiveness on a global scale. First of all, from my point of view, we need to talk about using the resources we have. And the main means is our common market. We not only need to use it, we need to complete it, and we need to remove those barriers that we still have in the common market to make it even more profitable for businesses and, above all, for citizens. Next, it is important to talk about law enforcement and better access to financial resources. From this point of view, I very much welcome the Commission's initiative with regard to the Late Payment Directive, because we need to improve discipline and we need to improve it, especially to help small entrepreneurs. Hand-in-hand with the reduction of regulatory burdens is also the use of digital technologies. It is important that we not only apply the legal framework that we have created here, but also develop digital skills and, above all, improve access to the internet. This is also related to regulatory burdens. I very much support our common goal of reducing administrative burdens by 25%, but it is important that not only new regulations are not created, but goldplating is avoided, so that they are not further regulated in individual states. So I believe that together we will innovate more than regulate.

Mr President, legislation on packaging and packaging waste is an important milestone towards a sustainable packaging economy in Europe. It affects almost every producer, every distributor and therefore every consumer. What is key, however, is to emphasise a level playing field and a level playing field. This legislation extends the obligations for producers of beverages, especially non-alcoholic beverages, but it is crucial that it does not discriminate against one at the expense of the other. Packaging is packaging, no matter what is in it, and it is important that there is a level playing field. The target of 10% renewable packaging or reusable packaging by 2030, 25% by 2040 is achievable and all bottlenecks can be exploited during this period. I therefore believe that we should respect a level playing field, especially at this stage, and I thank all those who share such a vision and support such a proposal.

Mr President, as President of SME Europe, a support organisation for small and medium-sized enterprises, I am following very closely the development of the situation regarding the new European Innovation Agenda. I am particularly interested in how the €10 billion package from Horizon Europe will be used to stimulate the innovation potential of European small businesses. Innovation is a prerequisite for maintaining global competitiveness and employment in the European Union market. I welcome the information that 20 countries have already joined this project with more than 169 successful projects. I hope to see a Slovak candidate among them soon. I would like to ask the Commissioner on this occasion how the regional perspective of applicants is taken into account when assessing applications for project funding, as we know that sometimes investors have a problem precisely because they are located in regions where they need more support because of less developed infrastructure, which makes it difficult to access capital.

Mr President, only recently have new rules for the online space come into force that bring better protection to consumers and their fundamental rights online through better transparency and a clear liability framework for online platforms. In addition, the Digital Services Act also creates space for innovation, growth and competitiveness within the common market. Based on my own experience, even recently from last week at the Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan, I know that this legal framework is being followed and to some extent envied by the whole developed world. Regulating the online environment is a necessity at all for preserving democracy. Especially at a time when a critical mass of the population is exposed to narratives of propaganda and disinformation from various professional channels. Freedom of speech is limited by responsibility. Other reports I am working on, such as the report on addictive content by online platforms, have also allowed me to draw on this fact and to build on it with further recommendations, particularly in the area of the necessary protection of children online. I appreciate the action taken by the Commission against the social network X, where the dissemination of violent content and hate speech is suspected. What is illegal offline must also be illegal online. Otherwise, we will increasingly witness events such as this week's terrorist attack in Brussels, but also the one whose first anniversary we commemorated a few days ago in Bratislava.

Mr President, sanctions against the Russian aggressor not only make sense, but also have a significant impact. The figures show that bilateral trade with Russia has fallen below 2 percent. Imports decreased from 9,6 % to 1,7 % and exports to less than half. If anyone claims that Russia has not been harmed by the sanctions, we should ask why they are buying weapons from a country like North Korea. If anyone claims that there is no end to the country, we can all answer that the defense operations of the Ukrainians, even with our help, have already liberated almost half of their territory from the Russian occupiers. If we want to help weaken the Russian aggressor as effectively as possible, we must not only rigorously implement the sanctions, but also extend them, especially to gas, nuclear fuel and diamonds. The task is also to monitor compliance with these sanctions and to find tools for early detection of possible circumvention. Let us not forget that the money sent to Russia ends up in the hands of the Kremlin aggressor, who has the blood of innocent people on his hands.

Mr President, with the growing trend towards the use of digital technologies, the proportion of financial contracts that our citizens conclude online is also growing significantly. Whether it's car insurance, pension insurance, or just opening a current account with a bank. This also opens the way for the development of new and innovative services and projects. However, due to the rapid development of modern digital technologies, we can observe a certain information asymmetry in the conclusion of distance contracts, precisely to the detriment of the consumer. New technologies are paving the way for new unfair practices that can also negatively affect consumer decision-making. I therefore welcome the update of this directive, which contains important tools to strengthen consumer protection and limits the use of unfair marketing practices, through which consumers often commit to various services that they are not even interested in. I consider it equally important to introduce a right of withdrawal, which must also be visible and accessible when the contract is concluded. Often, seniors, who may not have enough trust or experience chatbots when concluding a distance contract, will certainly appreciate the introduction of the right to consult a contract with a person, also for a better understanding of this product. I also particularly appreciate the simplification of the legislative burden, which is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises in the financial sector, and will certainly support the development of innovation and digitalisation.

Madam President, after the fail – on 22 November, when the Council denied agreement on an updated text – of the Energy Charter Treaty to become more compatible with the Paris Agreement and Green Deal, it’s final time for Europe to coordinate its withdrawal from this treaty. Now we should concentrate on building a new, much more efficient and competitive energy system that prioritises and protects renewable energy investments. However, the Commission should bear in mind the ‘sunset clause’ with 20 years of protection of existing investments as well as fossil fuel projects. Breaking the contracts can lead to the situation that EU—based companies should start filing claims against Member States in case of harm. In terms of money, according to the last study by Investigate Europe, the value of fossil fuel infrastructure protected by the treaty is estimated to be worth EUR 344 billion across the EU, the UK and Switzerland. Therefore, it is really important that the Commission and the Spanish Presidency find the adequate way very soon, with a proposal that will protect companies as well as Member States and not slow down transition to sustainable energy mix within the EU market. As we know, the energy transition is key also for our economic growth.

Madam President, Commissioner, several Member States have long faced problems in the education of Roma children. It has been several years since the European Commission launched a breach of the Racial Equality Directive against several Member States, including Slovakia, as the Commissioner mentioned. The fact that segregation of Roma children was indeed taking place has also been confirmed by decisions of national courts. Our common goal must be to do more to address persistent discrimination, including antigypsyism, and to improve the inclusion of Roma in education. However, Roma children are often placed in special schools for pupils with mild mental disabilities. Member States are also inconsistent in the implementation of pre-primary education for five-year-olds, which will provide children across social strata with the same starting line in primary school. Children's school clubs full of diverse activities and school leisure centres are also an excellent tool in the educational process. Children will be given the chance to develop even more and prepare well for the next school day. At the same time, the theme of desegregation in education is part of the recovery plan, as mentioned above, which also contains the first-ever methodological material providing concrete solutions without segregating schools. This material has also been developed with representatives of the European Commission and it is important that every child is given an equal chance of success in school and in life. It is important that these objectives are indeed met from this plan. Digitalisation is a new way for pupils from marginalised Roma communities, opening their doors to the future. Working with digital technologies is a necessity nowadays, and it also offers an opportunity to exploit or discover the potential of young people, regardless of their social circumstances. If the digital transformation is to succeed, it must also be fair and its benefits must be equally accessible to all. Our future depends on the quality of education, which must be based on equal opportunities without exception. Thank you all for supporting solutions on this topic, and especially my colleague Peter Pollák for the initiative that we can talk about it here.

Madam President, dear colleagues. I do believe it’s time to express our deep concerns about current developments in the area of human rights and its violation in Bangladesh. The mass arrests of more than a thousand opposition representatives, the excessive use of force against protesters and persecution of human rights defenders, union workers and journalists, it is the current reality in this large South Asian country. Dear colleagues, current situation there resulted in the reduction of trust of citizens in democracy and less respect and partnership on the international level. The Government of Bangladesh should restore a safe environment for NGOs, human rights defenders, activists, religious minorities and uphold the country’s international commitments, notably under the ICCPR. Particularly the Odhikar case is a regrettable step backwards. Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan, two leaders of Odhikar, have been faced for more than 10 years with various legal cases against them. Government should investigate allegations of forced disappearances with permission to international observers to attend court hearings. All of this can be achieved only when the ruling government will initiate a dialogue with all major political parties to find out a sustainable and democratic solution to the ongoing crisis. Basis of these equal conditions should be represented as well by guarantee access to the best possible medical treatment for the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia. Especially in the light of the upcoming 12 general elections in the country in the beginning of 2024 you must bear in mind that the right of the people to choose their representatives is yet to be determined, as no mechanism is in place for acceptable elections. This is a problem as riggings, manipulations and non-attendance of the voters marred the 10th and also the 11th parliamentary elections. Independent internal and international observations mission from EU, UN and other institutions should be ready to help achieving this goal. Dear colleagues, we believe that EU has strong reasons to stand with the people of Bangladesh as the country is our long-time partner in the trade and development cooperation. Therefore, I consider this resolution as an important call for improvement in the above-mentioned areas. Thank you very much for supporting this resolution, thank you for defending human rights and democracy, and thank you for supporting people in Bangladesh.

Mr President, we are all aware that small and medium-sized enterprises are key to success in terms of economic growth, employment or the transition to innovative and sustainable solutions in an increasingly challenging competitive environment. As President of SME Europe, which brings together small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe, I am also very sensitive to the need for a number of reforms that are necessary. After the pandemic period, business chains are disrupted today, we are not sure about energy prices, Russia's aggression is raging east of us. Small and medium-sized enterprises must be at the heart of European policies, and the impact of individual legislative proposals must be particularly sensitive to their functioning. Access to capital is a top priority. The Late Payments Directive is a very good start, but it is also important to continue by stimulating the banking sector to facilitate access to business credit. The aid package must also not lack measures to address the urgent need for affordable and secure energy supplies. Less administrative burden or reporting obligations are also a matter of course. I also very much appreciate today's initiative by the President of the Commission to reduce the administrative burden by a quarter. Equally important is the topic of skills, as many entrepreneurs face a shortage of skilled labour. By focusing on education, new skills, improving access to finance and reducing administrative burdens, we can improve the environment for small entrepreneurs, the most important job creators, and this will certainly translate into living standards.

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.