What Hilde spoke about.

23

Oct

2024

NL Question

Watch

Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Colleague, I have heard your speech here and I think it is a real disgrace. It's clear you're a man. You say here that the policy in Poland is an example for the whole of Europe. I don't agree with that. I'd like to tell you one thing: Suppose you are a woman, you are brutally raped and you then have to bear a child for nine months, give birth and raise it in love. How are you going to do that? I …

23

Oct

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns (debate)

Mr President, a correct approach to migration is crucial for Europe. We call for a strict but fair migration policy. We must decide who enters Europe, not the smugglers. We also know what to do: strengthen the external borders, which are now a cheese with holes, implement the migration pact and implement a European return policy, humane and humane. That's what needs to be done. We do not need inte…

22

Oct

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Question Time with Commissioners – Situation of animal health in Europe: how to prevent and prepare for future sanitary crises in agriculture

One response to the vaccine strategy. I think colleagues have already called for it. We have a single internal economic market, so we should also support a unified European vaccination policy around vaccines. Unfortunately, I did not receive an answer to my last question. I'd really like to make a plea. More than 500 farms have been affected in Belgium. These farmers have water on their lips. Wher…

22

Oct

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Question Time with Commissioners – Situation of animal health in Europe: how to prevent and prepare for future sanitary crises in agriculture

Mr President, I think a lot of colleagues have already said it: We are facing an unprecedented situation of sanitary crisis in agriculture. I would like to raise one important point on behalf of Belgium, namely bluetongue. Our Minister for Agriculture has already recognised the crisis in the sector. What strikes me, however, is that there is still a lack of European coordination in dealing with th…

22

Oct

2024

NL Speech

Watch

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs we have adjusted this budget, because we all see that the world has become a lot more hostile in a few years. Our neighbourhood is literally and figuratively on fire. For me, this budget is a first cautious attempt to meet these challenges. Additional effort in humanitarian aid, a doubling of the peace-building budget and – …

22

Oct

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this month, Europe has provided EUR 30 million in emergency aid to Lebanon. Since 2011, we have spent a total of almost 1 billion euros. But structurally nothing changes. The country has only slipped further. As long as Europe confines itself to giving money and we do not commit ourselves further politically, nothing will change. I'm sorry if I express myself a …

8

Oct

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon (debate)

Mr President, Mr Borrell, ladies and gentlemen, we have already heard it here: There is so much suffering and sadness in every corner of the region. And remember: There should never be accustomation or acquiescence to conflict or suffering. I am very concerned about what is happening in Lebanon. Mr Borrell, you said it: 20% displaced people, both sides shoot thousands of missiles back and forth, t…

7

Oct

2024

EN Speech

Watch

One year after the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Borrell, 7 October is ‘9/11’ for Israel. It has been said here a few times and I would very much like to share the words of Maoz Inon with you today. On the morning of October 7, Maoz lost both his parents: Madam President, on the morning of the 7 October, my life changed forever. On that horrific day, I lost both of my parents. The pain and grief accompany m…

17

Sep

2024

NL Speech

Watch

War in the Gaza Strip and the situation in the Middle-East (debate)

Mr President, the figures do not lie. Since 7 October 2023, more than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza. One third of them were children and babies, yet the majority of Parliament refuses to agree to the naming of these harrowing facts and to call for an end to the violence. A permanent ceasefire must be established without delay to de-escalate violence across the region. We would not be the …

17

Sep

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)

Mr President, since 24 February 2022, Russia’s violations of humanitarian law in Ukraine have become innumerable, with attacks on hospitals, thousands of deaths, executions and torture. What we are in danger of forgetting, however, is that this war has been hanging over our economy like a dark cloud for more than two years. There is an immense threat and uncertainty regarding gas and energy prices…

23

Apr

2024

NL Speech

Watch

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

Mr President, colleagues, Mr Borrell, you yourself said: The war has been going on for more than two years. For two years now, we have been discussing the use of those Russian assets for Ukraine – time that Ukrainian citizens do not have. For months, we've been asking ourselves: How far can we go under international law? And meanwhile, Putin's dictatorial regime does not care about any right whats…

23

Apr

2024

NL Speech

Watch

EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip (debate)

Mr President, Mr Borrell, colleagues, for months we have been receiving the most horrific reports from Gaza. Do we even realize how serious it is? More than a million Palestinians are malnourished, including hundreds of thousands of children. There is a risk of mass starvation resulting in thousands of deaths. And that in 2024. Hallucinant. Far too little humanitarian aid and food is still enterin…

10

Apr

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Screening of third country nationals at the external borders - European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals - Common procedure for international protection in the Union - Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 - Asylum and migration management - Addressing situations of crisis and force majeure - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, for identifying an illegally staying third-country national or stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes (recast) - Union Resettlement Framework - Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection - Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) (joint debate - Migration and Asylum package)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this is perhaps one of the most important debates we are having here at the end of this parliamentary term. Don't be fooled by the extreme left or the extreme right, who apparently found each other in a diabolical pact to plunge this necessary pact. We've been talking about this for eight years. Finally, with the vote, we will hopefully take the fi…

14

Mar

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (debate)

Yes, Mr President, that is because he is attacking me personally, of course. I don't think I should give the far right any more time to argue against women's rights. I am co-chair of the Intergroup on Children's Rights, so I am well aware of the value of a child's life. That is why we want legislation to prevent unsafe abortion, with a limit to viability. That is just as crucial, and given the res…

14

Mar

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (debate)

No, I will not take a blue-card question because I will not give the extreme right the time to talk against women’s rights here in this Parliament.

14

Mar

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Europe is a beacon of freedom and security, but also of liberal values. The right to decide about our own body is essential for our women. Access to abortion must be possible. When I hear the debate here today, it strengthens me even more. I hear conservative, reactionary forces here who want to turn back time. I tell you very clearly: Not in my Europe! When I h…

14

Mar

2024

EN Question

Watch

Inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (debate)

I hear you saying now that it’s because the elections are there that Macron will ask it. Well, I will ask you, do you know that this Parliament voted a resolution in July 2022 that we asked to put abortion in the ? Thank you very much. Because there we voted it, so it’s not about elections, it’s what the Parliament voted here.…

13

Mar

2024

NL Speech

Watch

The immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the images from Gaza of children starving to death by marrow and bone. There is a risk of mass starvation resulting in thousands of deaths. More than 500,000 Palestinians have been malnourished and more than 10,000 children have been killed. Yesterday we negotiated a strong joint resolution with a clear message. I'm making a call now: Let's unite behind that too…

13

Mar

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia (debate)

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, and above all: courageous visitors from Ukraine. I am very glad that at least you were brought back. That's what gives me the most pleasure today. Children are always the most vulnerable in war. The fact that Russia has now deported more than 20 000 innocent children from Ukraine is disgusting and criminal. There are probably many more. I heard the speaker say…

12

Mar

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Council and Commission statements - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024 (debate)

Mr President, Minister, at the last meeting you said: “Europe needs to wake up. For our freedom, for our security”. I can only agree and repeat that call. I think that, if Europe is to wake up, we must also reform Europe and give Europe the means. That is why I very much welcome the European defence industry strategy with which the Commission is coming. I think there is a big and important support…

28

Feb

2024

NL Speech

Watch

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

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the courageous Alexei Navalny was brutally murdered 12 days ago. We just listened to his wife here and we were all applauding. We're all sympathetic. But that's not what politics is all about. In politics, you have to dare to take courageous actions. Mr Guy Verhofstadt has just made it very clear: What the hell has Europe done in those 12 days? We …

28

Feb

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

Mr President, Europe must wake up, for our freedom, for our security. Ursula von der Leyen said it, well, I couldn't have said it better. Spending more, spending more together, spending better: Absolutely. Building a genuine EU defence industry: Absolutely. And that will be necessary, because remember Commissioner Breton's plan. We were going to produce 1 million grenades within the year. Unfortun…

27

Feb

2024

FR Speech

Watch

The current situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we would like to denounce once again this barbaric war that is affecting the people of eastern DRC. Indeed, since 1996 several wars have caused nearly 10 million deaths, more than 7 million displaced, not to mention women and children raped. It is obvious that voices are beginning to rise. Thus, Belgium, France and the United States asked Rwanda to withdraw i…

27

Feb

2024

NL Speech

Watch

War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, I was expecting Mr Borrell here, but good. I am – ladies and gentlemen, as you know – quite a bit critical of the Commission’s foreign policy here on a regular basis. But at last, as Parliament has done, the Member States are backing a strong and balanced position. Okay, except for Viktor Orbán, but in the meantime we have just hit that. Fortunatel…

7

Feb

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Empowering farmers and rural communities - a dialogue towards sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture (debate)

Mr President, I am actually very happy that yesterday morning and this morning we have given priority to what the citizens are asking for. The farmers took to the streets and said: “Listen to us. Our farm stockpile is no longer livable.” I am very pleased that the Belgian Presidency, together with Alexander De Croo and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, took immediate action in Brussels la…