What Sander spoke about.

9

Sep

2025

EN Answer

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Gaza at breaking point: EU action to combat famine, the urgent need to release hostages and move towards a two-state solution (debate)

Of course I have read the document, and we should not make international law into a political instrument, as you do, because, as you know, we have seen acts, as I have said: food deliveries, evacuation of Gazan children through Eilat to Italy. That's what Israel is doing as well. And genocide requires genocidal intent to be proven. So you think that evacuating Palestinian children to Italy for tre…

9

Sep

2025

NL Answer

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Gaza at breaking point: EU action to combat famine, the urgent need to release hostages and move towards a two-state solution (debate)

This is the typical left-wing extremist discourse. If a few scientists launch a claim, that is not yet a scientific consensus. There is no international consensus, there is no ruling of the International Court of Justice on this. And again, why don't you talk about Sudan? I do not hear anyone talking about the 150 000 deaths in Sudan, the 11 million displaced people and the 26 million people in ac…

9

Sep

2025

NL Speech

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Gaza at breaking point: EU action to combat famine, the urgent need to release hostages and move towards a two-state solution (debate)

Mr President, high representative, Commissioner, colleagues, war is horrific. War crimes against journalists, mosques, churches and aid workers are unacceptable. Yet a ruthless counter-guerrilla against terrorists who abuse civilians as human shields does not yet make genocide. We must not erode international law. Where is your proof of genocidal intent? Israel supplies food and has sick children …

9

Jul

2025

EN Speech

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Urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus

Mr President, the suicide bombing of the Mar Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in Damascus killing 25 innocent worshippers and wounding over 60 is a vile act of terror which must be condemned with the strongest possible words. Religious minorities in Syria – Syriac, Aramean, Armenian, Chaldean Christians, Alawites and Yazidis – face increasing violence and existential threats to their ancient ident…

17

Jun

2025

NL Speech

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European Ocean Pact (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, it is not only the ocean that is at a crossroads: The same is true of our fisheries. The Ocean Pact should recognise fisheries and aquaculture as cornerstones of the blue economy. These sectors are essential for food security, food sovereignty and the resilience of the European Union. We must ensure that fishing is not further displaced by offshore wind energy. Fair mar…

6

May

2025

NL Speech

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The European Water Resilience Strategy (debate)

Water is life. Freshwater storage and flood prevention are indispensable. But nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are also vital as building blocks of plants. Europe depends on imports from mining and CO2-intensive production. Farmers want to use these nutrients more sparingly; they want to improve crop uptake and prevent further leaching by closing cycles. However, the current strategy for water r…

3

Apr

2025

NL Speech

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110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide

Mr President, Commissioner, 110 years ago the Armenian genocide took place. 1.5 million Armenians were murdered because of their identity and faith. Also Arameans, Pontic Greeks, Chaldeans. This is not a completed past tense. Even today, Christians, Alawites, Yazidis and other minorities in the Middle East are being expelled and massacred. In Nagorno-Karabakh, as in recent years, Armenian Christia…

11

Mar

2025

NL Speech

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The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, thousands of alawites have been murdered by jihadist militias linked to the new rulers in Syria. Women and children have been driven into the mountains. Whole families have been massacred, including Christians. Yet the European Union is inviting this new Syrian regime on Monday as if nothing had happened. That, like the European foreign diplomatic service's press statem…

11

Mar

2025

NL Speech

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Clean Industrial Deal (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, the Commission is finally acknowledging the problems of our ailing industry. However, the Clean Industrial Deal should not become a clean out deal for our industry. Highly innovative plans, but without pragmatic solutions in these unconventional times. A 90% CO2-A 2040 reduction target of €1 600 billion per year is not green growth, it is economic self-destruction. Euro…

11

Mar

2025

NL Speech

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Presentation of the proposal on a new common approach on returns (debate)

Mr President, Europe is finally regaining some control over its borders. Stricter return options and the option of deportation centres outside the EU are steps in the right direction. But let's be honest: This is just the beginning. It still deserves tightening up. What we need is a decisive and effective return system that does not slow down, but actually ensures return. This means better coopera…

10

Mar

2025

NL Speech

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Cutting red tape and simplifying business in the EU: the first Omnibus proposals (debate)

Mr President, it is positive that the Commission is finally slowly recognizing that the Green Deal has pushed us through some elements, that there has been too much regulatory burden and that our competitiveness is suffering from this. But let us not forget that this proposal can only be a first step. It has just been emphasised by other colleagues that we need to move forward. We'll have to recon…

12

Feb

2025

NL Answer

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US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organisation and the suspension of US development and humanitarian aid (debate)

Mrs. Strolenberg, we need to reconsider. I just said: EUR 1 570 billion in expenditure for a modelled temperature reduction of 0.00135 degrees. Farmers do not notice such a difference.

12

Feb

2025

NL Speech

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US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organisation and the suspension of US development and humanitarian aid (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, the United States has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. In the meantime, the European Commission wants an interim CO2setting a 90% target for 2040, an ideological air castle. As of 2030, no less than EUR 1 570 billion in expenditure will be needed each year, almost 10% of our European GDP for a temperature reduction of 0.00135 degrees. Who bears the burden? Farmers, c…

12

Feb

2025

NL Question

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Commission Work Programme 2025 (debate)

Mr. Gerbrandy, you were just talking about threats and a lack of realism. I think that there are major threats from the fact that some parties, including yours, do not want to go back on the wrong path. Those who need a compass for competitiveness have lost their way. How are you going to sell that we will have to spend 1570 billion euros per year from 2030 on the CO2‐to meet the 2040 target and r…

23

Jan

2025

DE Question

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Combating Desertification: 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention (debate)

Mr Everding, I'm here, up here. You have just spoken out again against factory farming, as you call it – and wrongly! Do you know that your policy of expelling farmers from Europe and our increasingly sustainable livestock farming are contributing to deforestation elsewhere in the world? People continue to eat animal protein. So how do you actually do holistic politics? Or is it actually Not-In-my…

22

Jan

2025

NL Speech

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EU financing through the LIFE programme of entities lobbying EU institutions and the need for transparency (debate)

Mr President, it appears that the European Commission has spent years with taxpayers' money on environmental activists. Through secret subsidy clauses, a green lobby had to influence the European Parliament to support Mr Timmermans' Green Deal. The bottom stone must be turned upside down in this green lobby scandal. Parliament's democratic legislative process may have been unduly influenced by the…

22

Jan

2025

EN Question

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EU financing through the LIFE programme of entities lobbying EU institutions and the need for transparency (debate)

Ms Mendes, do you agree that we do not debate on financing of NGOs as such, but about the integrity of EU laws made in this House by this House? That executive power has been financing lobbyism towards us as a controlling power? Do you know what the trias politica means?…

22

Jan

2025

NL Question

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Links between organised crime and smuggling of migrants in light of the recent UN reports (debate)

Mr Diepeveen, I fully endorse your point. Many polarising statements have been made, including by your group. We're always catching each other's fleas. Can we solve this problem by reaching out and working together on innovative solutions, including the concept of safe third countries, to counter this type of illegal migration and human smuggling?…

21

Jan

2025

EN Question

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Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration (debate)

I just wanted to ask Mr Waitz whether he distances himself from the extreme utterances made this morning and allegations about Musk being a Nazi and using a Nazi salute, because that's not helping the US‑EU alliance either. And that does not help to bring down the tone of the debate. So how does Mr Waitz see this? Because he's making new allegations against many oligarchs, against political groups…

21

Jan

2025

EN Question

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Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and biased algorithms (debate)

I just wanted to ask you: you once again reiterated the false or too-early claims that Mr Musk made a Nazi salute yesterday. The protection against defamation is also one of the rights we have to protect in this House. So I would like you to distance yourself from your accusation that Mr Musk made a Nazi salute. Let's await his explanation first, before these left-wing groups make false accusation…

17

Dec

2024

NL Question

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Misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, such as TikTok, and related risks to the integrity of elections in Europe (debate)

Mr President, I am actually shocked. I have heard demands here from the left and the green groups to turn off social media. That's the wrong way! The lack of digital and social platforms from Europe was just highlighted. This is due to our legislation, the GDPR legislation. And then, at the same time, we have a European Commission that has launched influencing campaigns aimed at citizens of my cou…

17

Dec

2024

NL Question

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Misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, such as TikTok, and related risks to the integrity of elections in Europe (debate)

Mr President, I would like to ask Mrs Ballarín Cereza what she actually thinks of the fact that it has now come to light that the European Commission itself, based on politics and faith and in violation of existing legislation, has carried out a targeted campaign of influence in the Netherlands, on Dutch citizens, for its own legislative proposals. Quod licet iovi, non licet bovi. Do you not mind …

16

Dec

2024

NL Speech

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Right to clean drinking water in the EU (debate)

Mr President, drinking water is vital for every citizen. Drinking water requires a good quality of drinking water sources, in the ground and on the surface. Let us honestly name the historical and current sources of pollution upstream and in deltas. Everyone has to do their part. Substances of very high concern should be prevented, as should the increase in human medicine residues. Where is EU sup…

25

Nov

2024

NL Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

President, ‘Biodiversity, hunting and rural areas’. That is the name of one of the oldest and most valuable intergroups in our Parliament, which has existed since 1985. We need to work harder over the next five years for a better European policy on biodiversity, hunting and rural areas. Countryside, good wildlife management and conservation of nature are high on the agenda of citizens. These citiz…

25

Nov

2024

NL Speech

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Outcome of the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 in Cali, Colombia (COP16) (debate)

Mr President, the UN Biodiversity Conference was concluded without agreement on Saturday 2 November. An early exodus of delegates left this UN conference without a quorum for decision-making. The recognition of indigenous peoples and traditional environmental knowledge in future decisions on international nature conservation, all of which deserves support. The recognition of the great value of bio…