Speeches

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.

Madam President, we have been witnessing Russia's criminal aggression in Ukraine for more than a hundred days. For more than a hundred days, brave Ukrainians have been defending themselves. They defend their homeland, defend freedom and the whole of Europe. Today it is up to us to decide on the future shape of Europe, whether brutality, non-freedom and injustice will win or whether respect for law, freedom and courage will win. I'm sure peace is achievable. I am sure that courage and freedom and right will win. Therefore, our aid to Ukraine must not go unnoticed until it has control over its entire territory. Our help must not go unnoticed also because Ukrainians are fighting for freedom and democracy, and no one deserves a European perspective more than they do. That is why I am sure that we have a duty to offer them a full chair in the family of European nations. Full membership of the European Union. We must also talk about the reconstruction of this country, because freedom and democracy are directly linked to prosperity. That is why it is important that we also help the economic recovery of Ukraine. And I am pleased that this resolution also specifically makes reference to the international tribunal, because this genocide against terrorist Russia must not only be investigated, but also punished. Finally, let me thank all those who help people in need.

Mr President. For the third month, brave Ukrainians have faced criminal Russian military aggression and defended freedom not only in their homeland, but throughout Europe. A few weeks ago, I also had the opportunity to visit Kiev, Bucha, Irpin at the initiative of my colleague Andrius Kubilius. I saw the horrors of war on the spot. For example, in Bucha, where there is not a single military object, Russian criminals have attacked civilians since the first day of the invasion. I saw mass graves, I saw children's toys in front of bombed houses, holes in houses after Russian missiles, just horrors that cannot be forgotten. And it is shocking that Russian military criminal Putin honored these throat-cuts for these crimes. What is heroism for the Russians is a primitive crime for all normal people. Crimes are not to be punished, they are to be punished. I therefore very much welcome the European Commission's decision to include these crimes from Bucha and their authors in the next package of sanctions. I also welcome the inclusion of Russian disinformation channels in this package of sanctions. We have done nothing against Russian propaganda for years and it is time for us to be active. But we have to go further. We need to derust ourselves to protect life in Europe. Let us not be afraid of this, it is necessary to cut ourselves off from Russian energies, although some countries are very dependent on them, including my country, Slovakia, and I understand that concern. But the solution is in a common European approach, in building an Energy Union, in coordinating storage facilities in joint purchases. There are solutions. We must protect the freedom, life and dignity of the human person today, just as the Christian Democrats did in Europe. That's more valuable today. Today we need to help the Ukrainians, who are our role model in dedication. When we help them, we help ourselves. Life is worth more than any money.

Mr President, many attribute responsibility for Russia's military invasion of Ukraine only to Putin and the Kremlin. However, we forget that this perverse ideological machine maintains its position mainly thanks to the support of millions of Russians, and many Russians even support the criminal invasion further west. Opposing repression, intimidation or being able to distinguish between fake news also requires courage and sacrifice. Russia started its war before the criminal invasion of Ukraine. Many years ago, misinformation spewed, and for a long time we underestimated it. In addition to this, there is also an information war. We also have to win, which is why it is important to provide real and truthful information to the Russians as well. I therefore welcome this resolution, which aims, among other things, to help the Russian opposition, intelligence and academics, their work and support the transition of the regime to a democratic one. Russia can only be our partner if it turns into a truly free country that respects the fundamental principles of democracy and freedom, including religious freedom.

Madam President, the criminal Russian invasion of Ukraine has been going on for four weeks now, and for four weeks now, the Ukrainians have been bravely defending not only their homeland, but also freedom, democracy and Europe. I am absolutely sure that we must stop all, indeed all, commercial relations with the aggressor, who directly or indirectly finance the Russian war. Such a decision is not only logical and economic, but also moral. Economic sanctions against the aggressor not only make it difficult to function, but also increase our security. A common European approach to energy, cooperation on energy storage facilities and joint purchasing of energy are guarantees that, as in the pandemic, we can manage the situation together in this insane Russian war. Our support for the brave Ukrainians is ongoing at all levels. Today, President Zelenskyy is the leader in protecting life and freedom of thought, not only in his homeland, but throughout the world. I am sure it deserves our support, as well as our highest award, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Thank you for your support.

Mr President, the number of refugees from the escalating Russian aggression against the civilian population is steadily increasing. According to today's data, more than two million people have already left Ukraine. Mostly to Poland 1.2 million, to Hungary more than 190 thousand, and to Slovakia more than 140 thousand people. These numbers do not include refugees migrating within their own country and people who would like to leave their homes but cannot do so out of fear for their safety. It is precisely the failure to respect the ceasefire in establishing humanitarian corridors that is the biggest acute and fatal problem of Ukrainian refugees. It is here that there is room for all of us to exert all diplomatic and economic pressure on the aggressor to guarantee the safety of humanitarian corridors. However, real assistance to refugees takes place primarily at Member State level. Within the Union, I want to pay special tribute to the activation of the European Directive on the temporary protection of refugees from Ukraine. Today, we also need to redirect EU funds to help refugees and mobilise additional funds for this purpose. We owe it to them because it is the Ukrainians who are fighting and dying on the front line for our values of democracy and freedom. In addition to investing in basic humanitarian aid for human beings and their immediate future, we also need to strengthen the infrastructure of municipalities and regions and Member States. Allow me also from this place, ladies and gentlemen, to thank all the people of good will who show a great heart with all their strength and help the brave Ukrainians. I thank you with all my heart for your help and dedication.

Madam President, the brutality of Russia's criminal invasion of Ukraine has shocked the whole democratic world. I am sure that at least three new challenges arise from this situation. The first is the need to do everything possible to help the brave Ukrainians who today are fighting for freedom and democracy across Europe. Ukrainians today teach the world about patriotism. And I believe that I will live to see their representatives in this House. The second challenge is defensive. We must inevitably improve the defense of our eastern border, because today it is an aggressor who haunts nuclear weapons. A special category is defence against cyberattacks, and we must not forget disinformation and senseless propaganda. The third challenge is energy. It is important that we do not fund the aggressor and achieve energy independence from Russia as soon as possible. We need to work together to build energy infrastructure, joint purchases and the development of renewables. No one knows how long a war criminal will attack innocent Ukrainians. But I am sure that we will meet these new challenges, free people will defeat the mad dictator, and there will be peace in Europe. Democracy and a functioning peaceful European project are the best guarantee.

Madam President, what is going on today is nothing other than just the conflict between authoritarianism and democracy. The Kremlin is testing our unity. During the last years, the Kremlin invested a huge amount of resources just to destabilise our common project – our common project, which brought peace to Europe and prosperity to our families. I am sure that a peaceful solution cannot be reached through inaction. Our position must be clear and strong. In case of any forced attack, stronger sanctions, that will practically cut the aggressor from the developed world, should be our weapon. At the same time, we have to show a friendly face to Ukrainians. I welcome the EUR 1.2 billion package and I do hope we will see more Ukrainians also studying at European universities and to intern at the European institutions. We should continue to empower the EU-Ukraine cooperation at economic level, by reducing burdens at our markets for goods, services and labour. Today we have to show our unity to the dictator and we will not only win, but we will emerge from the current situation even stronger.

Mr President, our common European market is the best proof of our European integration, and it is the pandemic that has shown how important it is, but also how fragile it is. The restrictive measures imposed by many countries, whether for fear of spreading the virus or protecting their interests, have disrupted trade and supply relations, as well as causing enormous economic damage. We are also witnessing today that many small and medium-sized enterprises in particular have to face a number of barriers in the Single Market. When implementing European rules, Member States often use so-called "gold plating", meaning additional unnecessary administration. Ultimately, such action translates into burdensome and costly bureaucracy, misapplication of European legislation, disproportionate sanctions and unjustified actions by national audit authorities, often without adequate appeal possibilities. Simplifying legislation and reducing administrative burdens is therefore a clear solution. This is the best way to help those who create the most jobs - small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. Today, when the digital market is developing the most, it is important to identify all barriers to the development of e-commerce and to remove them effectively. Let us therefore bear in mind not only the necessary completion of the common market, but also the removal of unnecessary obstacles that ultimately make life more expensive for all of us.

Mr President. We are in the midst of a digital revolution that is fundamental to our daily lives. According to analyses, within three years, up to a quarter of global economic activity will be made up of the digital sector. In one decade, this ratio will double. As a result, the digital market is developing faster and faster, it is important to develop not only digital infrastructure and digital skills, but also digital legislation. This is key, and from this point of view, the Digital Services Act is such a ground-breaking piece of legislation that we can talk about a year zero for digital rules. They are so important that when properly set, these European standards will be global standards. These rules must not only protect citizens, consumers, but should also help create new jobs, especially by small firms, which have traditionally created the most jobs. Not in the form of absolute bans, restrictions or an increase in bureaucracy, but clear rules that are operational and set clear rules and obligations for all its participants. Of course, in such an important design there are a number of friction surfaces. In particular, rules to regulate illegal content need to be carefully calibrated so that regulation does not become an instrument of censorship. What is illegal in the offline world must also be banned online. I am aware of the serious societal impact that disinformation has on society's development, and we need to create sufficient room for an informed assessment of individual applications so that we do not achieve the opposite effect. I also understand the media's concerns about a number of provisions when they are concerned about worsening conditions for their work. But I would like to remind you that this is horizontal legislation, which is important and which will be further developed. I also consider the protection of our greatest value to be crucial, so I support the idea that advertisements cannot be targeted at those who cannot yet give their informed consent, that is, our children. I believe that this proposal is indeed crucial. I thank all those who contributed to it and I believe that with this approval we will contribute to fairness, transparency and better protection of citizens in the digital world.

Mr President, the fight against the pandemic is, of course, dominating all other topics today. Today, more than ever, we are aware of the importance of European solidarity, solidarity and cooperation. Therefore, a big thank you goes to everyone who fights the pandemic on a daily basis, especially frontline health professionals, but also to citizens who get vaccinated and follow the measures honestly. I also want to thank scientists and leaders who are not afraid of the necessary and often unpopular measures. We do not know what mutations and viruses will threaten us, but we know that we will win only by respecting scientific knowledge, vaccinations and following the rules. As we know, at the beginning of the pandemic, many countries also engaged in lockdowns within the Union. Let us therefore bear in mind that the functioning of our common market is at the heart of both our economic functioning and our economic recovery. Let us also bear in mind the situation of small businesses in particular, who, because of measures protecting public health, are often unable to carry out their activities, and this is particularly true of the situation in tourism and, in particular, in the gastro-industry, which is one of the most affected sectors. Let us also bear in mind the consistent use of common European funds in the Recovery Fund as a key tool for our economic recovery. I also appreciate that our European aid has already been channelled to one hundred and fifty countries of the world. However, I want to stress in particular the help for our democratic allies, such as Taiwan. This country gave us millions of protective masks at the beginning of the pandemic, and today it has a shortage of vaccines. I am therefore sure that it is our reciprocal assistance through vaccines that is the most correct and useful activity today. Democracies must stand together. I wish you happy, blessed Christmas holidays in your families.

Madam President, today we are all feeling more and more how important the digital world is. This is why I am delighted that today we are dealing with the Digital Markets Act. It sets the rules ex ante and therefore clarifies the necessary rules. Large companies have taken over the online space and we often see abuse of this attitude and market distortion. We must protect fair competition and what is illegal offline must also be illegal online. If companies have access to information about users, they must also be responsible for their content. Advertisements on the Internet must be transparent, it must be clear who the sponsor is and who implements them. The data that is collected must be more closely guarded, and everyone must have the right to ask for it to be completely deleted or refused. The Digital Markets Act also modernises and clearly defines competition. It is crucial that fair competition works, and small businesses in particular have access to information, but also the possibility to reach their customers in a targeted manner. Today we come up with a proposal to create rules not only for big players, but above all to protect users of digital platforms, and not burden small businesses. Many thanks, Andreas, for such a proposal and a huge commitment. Ladies and gentlemen, by approving this proposal, we will introduce standards that have the potential to become global standards for the benefit of citizens.