What Urmas spoke about.

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ET Written Statement

EU global human rights sanctions regime (EU Magnitsky Act) (debate)

The adoption of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime is an important complement to the EU’s human rights and foreign policy instruments and strengthens the Union’s role as a global human rights defender by enabling it to adopt restrictive measures against legal and natural persons involved in serious human rights violations worldwide. Among other things, the list of specific serious human r…

7

Jul

2026

ET Speech

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EU-Mexico (joint debate)

Dear Mr President, Dear colleagues, With a population of one hundred and thirty-three million, Mexico is a strategic partner of the European Union and the second largest trading partner in Latin America. EU-Mexico relations have thus far been very important. However, there is still untapped potential. That is why it is also important to approve the agreements that deepen relations between the Euro…

20

Jan

2026

ET Answer

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Territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark: the need for a united EU response to US blackmail attempts (debate)

Indeed, as we all know, for thirty years Europe, the European Union, the countries of the European Union did not contribute enough to their security and defence. But as we have seen in recent years, first and foremost because Russia once again attacked Ukraine, the way of thinking has changed in many countries and Europe has finally taken its defence and security seriously. Without such a politica…

20

Jan

2026

ET Speech

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Territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark: the need for a united EU response to US blackmail attempts (debate)

Dear Mr President, Dear colleagues, Over the past ten years, the European Parliament has adopted several resolutions saying that much more attention needs to be paid to the Arctic. I have stressed the same as the rapporteur for the Arctic. And, unfortunately, the European Parliament has been right. The situation in the Arctic has become increasingly complex and problematic. Of course, the future o…

16

Dec

2025

ET Speech

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EU Defence Readiness (joint debate)

26

Nov

2025

EN Speech

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EU response to the continuous airspace violations and sabotage of critical infrastructure in the EU originating from Russia and Belarus (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, a couple of examples of Russia's activities in EU countries over the past few weeks: the EU and NATO central hub, Brussels Airport, had to halt operations on several evenings due to drones; there was an explosion on one of Poland's busy railway lines; Vilnius Airport has been repeatedly closed because of balloons and so on and so on. Russia is consistently endange…

25

Nov

2025

EN Speech

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EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic (debate)

Madam President, we all remember how quickly the things may change – also in the northern part of Europe, when, for instance, Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO, although for decades and decades, the majority of these societies said that it was not necessary. But then the events happened – Russia attacked once again Ukraine and public opinion changed dramatically. One of the aims – why we nee…

25

Nov

2025

EN Speech

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EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic (debate)

Madam President, today we are discussing Europe's role in the Arctic – a region that is no longer distant, no longer abstract, and certainly no longer frozen in time. It is home to more than four million people, vibrant cultures, and ecosystems that are among the most fragile on Earth. And today, the Arctic is also where climate change, authoritarian aggression, and global power competition collid…

21

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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Stepping up funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction and defence: the use of Russian frozen assets (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, perhaps a decision will finally be made to use the frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction. It has taken far too long to reach this point. It has been sad to hear arguments claiming that such a step cannot be taken because it would undermine the European Union's credibility as a trusted guardian of criminals' money. In reality, what damages the EU's c…

9

Sep

2025

EN Speech

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European Social Fund (ESF+): specific measures to address strategic challenges (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, Europe faces unprecedented strategic challenges. Our security and resilience depend not only on political will, but on the ability to make funds quickly and efficiently available for defence, training and critical industries. Bureaucracy cannot slow down Europe's response to evolving threats. The amendment to the ESF+ provides exactly this flexibility. It allows reso…

9

Jul

2025

EN Speech

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2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia (A10-0110/2025 - Rasa Juknevičienė) (vote)

Madam President, dear colleagues, I will move the following oral amendment to paragraph 16, so that the last sentence of the paragraph will be: 'Reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mzia Amaglobeli and the withdrawal of all charges against her, which are politically motivated, expressing deep concern over her critical eyesight deterioration in detention and urging urg…

6

May

2025

ET Speech

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Protecting Greenland's right to decide its own future and maintain the rule-based world order (debate)

Dear President, Dear colleagues, Greenland is a unique and very important part of Europe. The debate on Greenland reflects the changed situation in international relations, as well as the rapid changes taking place in the Arctic. All of a sudden, all of the world's major powers have become interested in the Arctic. However, decisions on the future of Greenland are first and foremost made by the pe…

1

Apr

2025

EN Speech

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CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

Madam President, dear High Representative Kaja Kallas, we have Russian war against Ukraine, hybrid war against Europe, strong turbulence in the relations between traditional allies. What else needs to happen for Europe to finally put itself together and to contribute adequately to its own defence, to the realisation of its international potential and to the development of its own economic space? I…

11

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, the European Union is committed to lasting peace in the Middle East, supporting a two-state solution and halting Iran's destabilising actions. However, the EU's ability to influence the region has been limited by the need for consensus among all Member States, resulting in a fragmented approach. This lack of unity has prevented the EU from fully leveraging its for…

21

Jan

2025

ET Speech

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Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea (debate)

Dear President, ladies and gentlemen, A day before Russia launched a new wave of attacks against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, many key analysts said they believed that Russia would not attack Ukraine. But he attacked. The analysts were very wrong. In recent months, several ships have repeatedly broken underwater electricity and communications connections in the Baltic Sea. The last time was on Chr…

8

Oct

2024

EN Speech

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The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, when I visited Georgia – which was under Russian invasion – in August 2008 and walked in the empty city of Gori, I hoped for a quick withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia and for a clear future of Georgia in Europe. Unfortunately, it did not happen that way. Russia still occupies part of Georgia, and Georgia is currently moving away from Europe. But the majority …

23

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, by adopting the foreign agent law despite huge protests from its citizens, the Georgian Government uses Russian tactics to oppress civil society, opposition and anyone critical of the government’s doings. This law is only the latest in a series of recent actions that include the persecution of journalists, political opponents like Saakashvili, spreading disinforma…

23

Apr

2024

ET Speech

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The use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction (debate)

–Dear President, Dear colleagues, In addition to killing and maiming Ukrainian people, Russia has massively destroyed Ukrainian cities, settlements and infrastructure, as well as Ukrainian property. And this destruction continues. Ukraine needs to be rebuilt. Both justice and justice say that this must be done first with the money of the aggressor and the destroyer, that is, Russia must pay for it…

28

Feb

2024

ET Speech

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The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia (debate)

Dear President, ladies and gentlemen, With the killing of Alexei Navalny, Putin's regime once again sent a threat to Russian society that anyone who opposes or even hesitates in the regime would be destroyed, and that trials and prison would only be a play before the opponent was finally destroyed. In doing so, Putin continues to consolidate a fear-based social order in Russia, as has repeatedly b…

16

Jan

2024

ET Speech

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Role of preventive diplomacy in tackling frozen conflicts around the world – missed opportunity or change for the future? (debate)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is now of primary importance for the European Union that Russia does not get what it wants in Ukraine and that Ukraine does not become another country under direct Russian influence. We continue to see what the Russian-made conflict zones in Transnistria, Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia mean for the fate and future of these countries, as well as the constant…

18

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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A true geopolitical Europe now (topical debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, if the European Union is serious about being an influential geopolitical figure, it needs to step up its efforts on several issues. The liberation of Ukraine and its future are of particular importance. The European Union must finally make the sanctions against Russia work, and this will only happen when the back doors are closed for Russia. And it is not acceptab…

17

Jan

2023

ET Speech

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The establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Dear colleagues, An international tribunal for the legal condemnation of war crimes committed by Russia and for the prosecution of criminals must be established. The European Union and other countries that continue to attach great importance to international law must join forces so that no crime goes unnoticed and the perpetrator goes unpunished. I have no illusions that such a tribunal could be s…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, since the Russian aggression against Ukraine is the most important foreign and security policy issue for the European Union, all other foreign policy issues must also be viewed through the prism of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. In other words, how the EU’s relations with third countries can contribute to the end of Russian aggression. Regarding trade and deve…

18

May

2022

EN Speech

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EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova (debate)

Mr President, Moldova is in a very difficult situation due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which is why the European Union must give Moldova its full support. Moldova is a very important recipient of Ukrainian refugees. There are more than 100 000 refugees in the country, mostly in Moldovan homes. That is why Moldova needs EU financial support to help these people. At the same time, Moldov…

9

Mar

2022

ET Speech

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Debate with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas - The EU's role in a changing world and the security situation of Europe following the Russian aggression and invasion of Ukraine (debate)

Dear colleagues, dear Prime Minister! I am very pleased that today the European Parliament is facing the Prime Minister of Estonia, who has been clear and principled in expressing Estonia's and Europe's principles and shaping the positions of the European Union and NATO. But in Ukraine, dozens of children have already been killed and hundreds injured. Residents of Mariupol and other cities are tra…