Speeches

Mr President, we are faced with problems which have been created or aggravated by the responsibility of some who today remembered the solutions. The worst part is that, judging by Mrs von der Leyen's absence, they do not want to hear and learn. Defence spending has decreased. A typical example is Germany; The defence minister, Mrs von der Leyen, accounted for 1.2% of gross domestic product. Common European defence was not promoted. The European Commission's minimum budget has also been reduced over the past five years. Some have invested in energy dependency on Putin. Remember Nordstream II. Today they themselves remembered energy security with a delay of years. We relied too much on the US guarantees for Ukraine. Now they turn out to be non-existent. We covered Netanyahu in all phases: moving away from the Oslo Accords, corruption, authoritarianism, working with far-right religionists, humiliating Palestinians. So we lost all credibility in the global South. Many big mistakes and how to correct them when decision-makers, such as President von der Leyen, have not learned to listen?

Mr President, in Greece we have had an unpleasant start to the campaign for the European elections. Ms. Asimakopoulou, MEP of the ruling New Democracy party, tried to gain an advantage by massively violating the personal data of Greek voters abroad. This is a particularly negative development that is being investigated by the Personal Data Protection Authority in order to safeguard the rights of citizens who complain by hundreds about the arbitrary use of their personal data. I addressed a question to the European Commission in order to intervene and help put an end to the personal data breach for reasons of electoral expediency. The problems with the rule of law in Greece are well known. It is highly likely that this case will be covered up as well. We must not, in my view, allow the creation of a digital jungle policy in the run-up to the June European elections at the expense of citizens' rights.

Madam President, Netanyahu is not just razing Gaza. It also undermines our strategic interests. It causes division in the Democratic Party of the United States, increasing Trump's chances of re-election. With Trump back in the White House, NATO's cohesion will be tested. As the number of casualties in Gaza grows, so does Putin's communication, political and war crimes charges. It is leveling Ukraine by demonstrating the levelling of Gaza and our indifferent stance. In the Global South, Netanyahu's rejection of politics is almost universal. It includes the tolerance shown to it by European governments. This widens the rift between the European Union and the Global South. With Netanyahu's policy, the chances increase that the showdown will expand and continue over time. This scenario is particularly negative for us. We must react to Netanyahu's policy, not only because he is corrupt and immoral, but also because he is seriously harming us.

Madam President, I believe we are doing a lot to support Ukraine in economic, budgetary and military terms. Nevertheless, the needs of Ukraine are not defined by us, but by Russia, which is conducting an aggressive war against Ukraine. During the months that we have been discussing the Ukraine Facility, Russia intensified the destruction of the Ukrainian economy and basic infrastructure. Russian occupying forces advanced further in Ukraine. The USA stopped supporting Ukraine due to the political confrontation between the Republicans and Democrats. Finally, according to President Zelenskyy, the EU is falling behind in fulfilling some of its obligations towards Ukraine. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve and support Ukraine promptly and in an even larger scale than we are discussing.

Mr President, a year after the train accident in Tempi with 57 dead and 85 injured, nothing substantial has been done in the direction of cleansing, vindicating the victims and their families. The newspaper Kathimerini, sympathetic to the Mitsotakis government, underlines in its main article: The House Committee that was set up to investigate the case was again consumed with a game of impressions, insultingly shallow for the families of the victims, but also for the public opinion that demands answers. The main article of Kathimerini concludes: Let the State show in practice that it is learning from its failures. Relatives of the victims have already collected 700 000 signatures in favour of cleansing and holding accountable those covered by the government. The European Parliament quite rightly included the unacceptable handling of the Tempi tragedy in the resolution on the deterioration of the rule of law in Greece under the responsibility of the government.

Madam President, I believe we keep making a mistake of strategic importance in our approach to Ukraine. We define the level of our support according to our preferences and compromises and not according to reality. During the past 12 months, Putin has successfully completed the militarisation of the Russian economy. The Russian occupiers gained additional ground in Ukraine. The Americans stopped supporting promptly and effectively Ukraine due to the endless quarrelling between Republicans and Democrats. The probability of Trump returning to the White House increased considerably. Therefore, the level of our support to Ukraine is insufficient due to changing conditions. In my view, we have to try harder and better.

Mr President, the recent report by Transparency International is of great interest. It shows a significant drop in Greece's rule of law issues. At the same time, he points to a rise, among Greeks, in the perception that this is a country with a corruption problem. Essentially, the report links the non-respect of rule of law rules to an increase in corruption. When the state becomes partisan, when media freedom is restricted, when the independence of the judiciary is restricted through interference by the executive, when independent authorities are weakened and the parliamentary majority is used to cover up scandals, not only does the rule of law deteriorate, but corruption also increases due to less transparency and limited democratic control. For this, we need consistent adherence to the rules of the rule of law.

Madam President, I was expelled from the ruling New Democracy party in February 2022 because my criticism of the government was supposed to discredit the country. Three days later, based on the official file, the government was ordered to intercept my phone through the National Intelligence Service because I was officially considered a threat to national security. In December 2022, I appealed to the Independent Authority for Telecommunication Privacy, which documented the interception of my phones using parastatal methods. Justice was not directed against those who were following me, but against the president of the Independent Authority, Mr. Rammos, who documented my follow-up. All this sadness is a practical denial of the European rule of law. Politico has rightly awarded the "Lives of Others" award to the Greek government for using methods that refer to the Stasi. I am sincerely ashamed of the attitude of colleagues in the European People's Party who applaud those who have watched, even when I was a member of their political group. You have to put an end to your political downhill.

Madam President, almost all of us support the value of preventive diplomacy, particularly in managing frozen conflicts. I think the Zovko report is very good and we all support it. However, we find that in many cases we are overwhelmed by developments. We made energy openings to Putin while he was preparing for the second phase of the invasion of Ukraine. On the issue of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, we had started negotiations, but we could not prevent the war. On the subject of the new crisis in the Middle East, we were also unprepared. To bridge the gap between the good theory, which we all subscribe to, on preventive diplomacy and the policy we implement, we must strengthen European defence cooperation, promote the timely signing of trade and economic agreements, showcase soft power and even the possibility of military intervention. Only in this way will we reach the level of the policy we describe and on which we all agree.

Madam President, the Belgian Presidency and the course of the European Union in 2024 will, in my view, be judged largely on the battlefield in Ukraine. Recently, Russian troops have been stabilizing or even strengthening their positions. Putin has militarized the Russian economy, procured weapons from Iran and North Korea, seems determined to do anything to prevail. On the contrary, the European Union seems to be lagging behind. We are always with Ukraine, but we are delaying the fulfilment of the obligations we have undertaken, while we do not want to take on any additional obligations, for Ukraine to withstand the increasing pressure from Russia. In my view, no matter how much the necessary additional assistance to Ukraine costs, the cost of Putin's eventual dominance will be multiple for the European Union.

Mr President, at the time of the outbreak of the pandemic in Greece, as in other European countries, there was a large increase in femicides. This is a complex social phenomenon that is constantly being analyzed by experts, but there is no doubt that gender-based violence and its most extreme expression, femicides, tend to become part of a new distorted norm. How can we react? I think we need to develop, of course, and finance, a European information campaign on the root causes and dimensions of the phenomenon. We also need to promote legislative changes, a legislative harmonisation at European level, based on the good example of Member States of the European Union, whose Criminal Code includes a definition of femicide and stricter judicial treatment. Let us begin to face the great step-by-step challenge at European level.

Mr President, this proves in practice that sanctions, with their shortcomings and detours, do not deprive Putin of the possibility of financing the war of aggression against Ukraine. In Cyprus, if measures are taken to remove Russian funds, which is obviously fair and necessary, these will unfortunately go mainly to the occupied areas and to Turkey, which does not apply sanctions with the understanding of the European Union and NATO. Even the application of sanctions leads to controversial situations. Italy's largest refinery, to get out of control of a Russian company, ended up in control of an energy group controlled by a French-Israeli billionaire, who has been convicted of fraud in Romania and Switzerland. He took over Italy's most important refinery, while the Greek and Cypriot courts refused to apply a European arrest warrant issued against him by Romania. Investor in his company and partner of the niece of Greek Prime Minister Alexia Bakoyannis. Efficacy, consistency and ethos are called for.

Madam President, despite the difficulties mentioned in the very good report, with which I agree, Montenegro is one of the least difficult cases in terms of the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans. Think of Serbia with Vučić, Putin's fan, or dysfunctional Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have visited the country twice on presidential election observation missions. Public opinion is pro-European. The economy works with the euro, although, obviously, the country does not participate in the eurozone. The level of freedom of SMEs is, according to international reports, much better than that of some Member States. Montenegro is also aligned in its foreign policy with the European Union. However, the prolonged political misunderstanding that prevents the formation of a stable pro-European government to make decisions, make institutional changes, reform, advance negotiations is the big problem. Montenegro must overcome this obstacle or it will risk losing the great European opportunity. We're supposed to have news in the near future. Hopefully it will be positive.

Mr President, the quality of our democracy is threatened by the misuse of malware. Member State governments distort the concept of national security and turn against their political opponents. In Greece we had surveillance of socialist MEP Nikos Androulakis, who currently leads socialists in Greece, with a mixture of Predator malware and traditional wiretapping by the National Intelligence Service. In my case, we've been under surveillance for 18 months with traditional interceptions by the National Intelligence Service. I was considered, like Androulakis, a danger to national security. The government covered up the case with the help of the supposedly independent judiciary. He even took care to neutralize the Independent Authority that protects the confidentiality of telecommunications. Many in the European institutions pretend that they did not see, that they did not hear, in order to support the ruling party in Greece. This behaviour undermines the European rule of law that we all invoke. Finally, I have no words for the Greek Commissioner, supposedly responsible for the European way of life. He seems to think that wiretapping is part of the European way of life. Or for EPP colleague Mrs Vozeberg, who mocks Androulakis and myself for the non-existent contribution of the Greek government to strengthening our democratic rights. They'll be watching us and we'll thank them extra.

Madam President, sanctions are important and rather effective, but they produce results mainly in the medium and long term. They are not going to solve the problem of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia is in a position, and will remain so, to finance its aggressive war. First, we created a huge energy dependency. We decreased this dependency, but Russia was able to cover its financial needs in 2022 and 2023. Second, there has been a global shift in favour of major economies like China and India that have increased their collaboration with Russia. Third, the Russian private sector, the oligarchs, was able to react rather effectively to the challenge of sanctions. Sanctions are important and should become more effective. But the only way to move forward decisively is by helping Ukraine to win the war and not just survive the Russian aggression.

Mr President, since 2014 in the European Parliament I have been voting on proposals to address the refugee-migrant issue. Almost nothing is implemented. Let me remind you of the relocation of 150,000 refugees and migrants that we voted for under the Juncker presidency – a very good proposal. Unfortunately, the Commission does not have much influence on the situations we are interested in. Look at the behaviour of Tunisia's president-dictator: he did not allow a mission of MEPs to go to Tunisia and nothing is wrong. He sent two hundred boats to Italy; It's all right again. Declares that it is indifferent to aid from the European Union because it regards it as almsgiving; Isn't anything wrong again? We would like an agreement with Tunisia, but that does not mean that there is an agreement with Tunisia. At the moment, all we have is approach manoeuvres by von der Leyen, the EPP and Meloni. It is a pity that Mr Weber did not hear my point of view, because he had an opinion on all the other political groups at the beginning of the sitting. We are all talking – and well done – about the Lampedusa drama of the 400 drowned. The 700 drowned in Pylos, just last summer, why aren't they mentioned? Don't they have a soul? Or did they fall victim to the censorship of the Greek authorities? This loses dignity and credibility in the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the constant increases in key interest rates are to a large extent the cost we pay for the devaluation of inflationary risk and the slow reaction of those responsible. The European Central Bank is now pursuing the necessary deflationary policy in difficult circumstances. But a necessary policy must not become unfair and provocative. This is because of the huge difference between high lending rates and low bank deposit rates. This difference increases the financial difficulties and magnifies the profits of the banks. Just as monetary policy needs appropriate supplementary fiscal policy to deliver, so the increase in key interest rates must be complemented by interventions, firstly, to close the interest rate gap, and secondly, to tax what the Commission calls sky-down profits. And, of course, with the proceeds being financed policies in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises and the housing of young people.

Mr President, we are lagging behind in the competition with China. The criticism we make of the Chinese is justified, but of course we are also responsible for wasting time. I have two questions, whether we can cover this year with various alliances, and first of all microchips which are of strategic importance. The world champions are not the Chinese, but the Taiwanese. The question therefore to the Vice-President of the Commission is: Is there a European Union-Taiwan cooperation project on research, investment and joint efforts relating to microchips, which play a huge role, particularly the highly developed ones? And the second: as Global Gateway has lagged behind Belt and Road but the Japanese have their own programme, which is more sophisticated than ours; Is it possible to cooperate on these issues, namely Global Gateway, with the Japanese?

Madam President, congratulations to my colleagues and Commissioner Jourová on the good work. We are taking an important step in favour of freedom of expression. But we have a mountain to climb – I tell you as an MEP elected in Greece, the country that has the biggest media restrictions in the 27 European Union, according to Reporters Without Borders. I am telling you as an MEP, former journalist and publisher who, as soon as I disagreed with the Greek government over the persecution of journalists and the control of the media, cut me off from television and the National Intelligence Service intercepted my telephone communications for 18 months. What I say is not addressed by turning a blind eye for partisan and governmental reasons. It makes no sense to point to A to cover B. To move forward together in the spirit that united us in the Media Freedom Act.

Mr President, Erdogan, in my view, is weakening our policy in favour of Ukraine. It does not apply economic sanctions against Russia. Turkey is taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the European economy, while the regime and oligarchs are making money by breaking the embargo. With his expansionist policy against Cyprus, coupled with the understanding shown to him by European governments, Erdogan is also undermining our struggle for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity. In practice, these European governments accept that what we rightly demand of Putin for Ukraine may not apply to Erdogan in relation to Cyprus, a member of the European Union. This makes it more difficult to defend effectively the principles we invoke.

Mr President, the climate crisis is hitting Greece particularly hard, as are other Mediterranean countries. This requires the implementation of policies of the best possible environmental protection and the most effective civil protection. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Greece. The flood defences, which were planned after the 2020 disasters in Thessaly, were never built, with the result that extreme weather events caused an even greater disaster days ago. In addition, the government has begun to implement laws passed before the elections that legitimize tens of thousands of arbitrary buildings and encroachments on public land, even in forested areas, thus strengthening the financial incentives for their destruction. Such policies magnify the consequences of climate change. The threat is serious, so we must be responsible and effective.

Madam President, the deadly shipwreck off Pylos highlights two realities: There is the reality of the European Parliament, which advocates the organised and safe reception of refugees and migrants. But there is also the reality of some governments and parties using the situation for political reasons. In Greece, the prime minister has already drawn his conclusions about the maritime tragedy off Pylos: No responsibility for the Greek Coast Guard, and even distinguishes behind international investigations and testimonies people who have a bad mood towards Greece. Do not expect anything from the politically controlled Greek judiciary. Here he buried the wiretapping scandal, where I was targeted along with my colleague Androulakis. They will not deal with this problem, which is much more complex, i.e. who was responsible for the maritime tragedy. We need, of course, an independent European investigation, which, of course, the Greek authorities will not accept. Characteristics of Hypocrisy: British Brexiteers left the European Union because they held it responsible for 360,000 migrants and refugees a year. In 2000 the number of migrants and refugees in the UK increased to 620,000. They also took advantage of an international issue they were supposed to solve.

Mr President, we have done a lot supporting Ukraine, but the level of the required engagement is still dictated by the opponent. So it is obvious that we have to do a lot more. First, we have to give more financial assistance to Ukraine and there is no room for creative statistics and lengthy European processes; more and faster. Second, we need more effective sanctions against Russia. Russian GDP fell 2-3% in 2022 and will probably stabilise in 2023. This is almost business as usual. We need sanctions with short-term, not medium- to long-term, effects. Finally, our military support has to become more important than USA support. Otherwise, you could face a very delicate situation before and after the American presidential elections. After all, we are dealing with a European war.

Madam President, I must tell you that I do not share the optimism of most colleagues. In my view, the biggest obstacle to the accession of Albania, like other Western Balkan countries, to the European Union is the creation of personal regimes that suffocate public life. Rama, who is reminiscent of Vucic in domestic politics, fortunately not in foreign politics, controls the media, wants control over justice by replacing Berisha's control, handles issues of the Greek minority, such as Beleris, without respect for its rights, has created an alliance of interests that controls the country's economy, tolerates the role of organised crime. The European Union must not compromise with these practices, some of which are also gaining ground in Member States. I am concerned, for example, that Reporters Without Borders' annual report assesses the level of media freedom in Greece a little worse than Albania's very low. I agree, enlargement is necessary from a strategic point of view, but it necessarily goes through democratisation and respect for the rule of law, without discounts.

Madam President, two of the issues mentioned in the Commission's report on Greece have caught my attention: One relates to problems with the functioning of the media. The other has to do with the political, essentially governmental, dependencies of justice. I agree, because I've been through both. I disagreed as a former journalist and publisher with the government's media control policy and was expelled from the government party. Because of course I did not compromise, I was declared, under the prime minister's responsibility, a danger to national security and I fell victim to telephone tapping by the National Intelligence Service for 18 months. Then, instead of turning on those responsible for the wiretapping, the judiciary turned on the president of the independent authority who documented the unacceptable surveillance of a Member of the European Parliament. All this is completely outside the framework of the European rule of law.