Speeches

Mr President, congratulations for your birthday today. My birthday is next week and Ursula von der Leyen gave me the best news by saying that Bosnia and Herzegovina will open negotiations agreement. So thank you, Ursula, our candidate who is leading European Union through these volatile times. Thank you, Andrej Plenković, for leading Team Europe with Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen to Sarajevo in order to explain how important for peace and security Bosnia and Herzegovina is. Thank you, Borjana Krišto, for arranging these historical changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last seven months, like they’ve never been in the last 10 years. It means when Croats lead the Council of Ministers and when we have a member of the presidency – hopefully, we will have one soon with changes of electoral law reform – that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a beacon of stability in the Western Balkans. And it should be the first country to enter the European Union because Bosnia and Herzegovina is the bridge in the Western Balkans – a bridge that started after a difficult war, that people have endured the troubles, and it will be the bridge that will stop Russia, will stop all the other malign influences in the Western Balkans, and it will mean peace and security for our borders.

That is why, at the beginning of my speech, I said that I was not sure in which language I was going to speak, because you are lost in interpreting my speech. I say that the diaspora helped to build modern Chile today, at a time when Croats were not in the same position, like the Italians you may now represent, when Croatian agriculture in Dalmatia suffered severely from imports. I must not change my words, and you can look for the transcript of my speech.

Mr President, it’s very difficult to choose the language here because I’m talking to a Croatian diaspora who built Chile end of 19th century when Croats were not so competitive, and their agriculture and Dalmatia was suffering under high influence of import from Austro-Hungarian and Italian wine. And they couldn’t also adopt their shipyard. So, they have to go to look for another paradise and to work, and they went to Chile. They built Chile, they built wine industry and now they’re coming back. They’re coming back because they built this excellent country. That is a perfect example of how we should build our future relationship with someone who was chased from Europe at the time they were not competitive. So, thank you very much, Commissioner. Thank you for doing this after New Zealand to have and to build the bridges. And thank you, Gabriel Mato, for including our amendment that recognises the key role of Croatian diaspora and of all diaspora that was poor at the time and that the competitiveness was not a tool that we could have used, that we are using nowadays in order to have an equal position in the joint market. So let’s not be selfish, let’s vote for this agreement and let’s also provide the historical chance to allow everyone to be competitive and to have a like-minded partner in the future alliances that we need. (The speaker agrees to take a blue-card question)

Dear Chairman, First of all, I would like to congratulate rapporteur David McAllister on the excellent report covering all aspects of foreign and security policy, which was extremely challenging in the previous year. The war in Ukraine, the pogrom of Jews and the hostage crisis in the Middle East, geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific and growing tensions in the Western Balkans are all challenges for our borders and internal stability, as well as the security of European citizens. Let me also thank the rapporteur for including my amendment, essential for peace and security, which includes the importance of the principle of separation of powers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the government was agreed for Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, through a fair electoral law that respects judgments of the Constitutional Court, the only body interpreting the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement on legitimate representation, and judgments of international courts. A report on preventive diplomacy was recently adopted. These amendments are also included in this report on the Common Foreign and Security Policy, where the international community is asked to reflect on lessons learned, not to quell conflicts, but to prevent them.

Mr President, as a standing rapporteur for Azerbaijan, I welcome continued engagement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach an agreement on the landmark peace treaty that would end decade-long conflict and bring peace and stability to the South Caucasus. The recent agreement on the exchange of prisoners, bilateral meetings held in Munich, and the upcoming peace talks in Berlin are steps in the right direction to normalise relations. But the key to a peace agreement lies in negotiations under the auspices of multilateral bodies that can help, and with our help and help from our transatlantic partners, act as an honest broker in this process. Now, it is important that we insist that both sides respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are deterred from aggressive rhetoric and provocation that could destabilise the region. The agreement on the delimitation of borders is an important aim to achieve during this process in order to put these issues behind us. We call on Azerbaijan to refrain from any unilateral actions and allow the presence of international European monitoring missions from its side of the border. The EU monitoring mission to Armenia today plays a strong role in that regard and I welcome the recent increase in the number of EU observers in the country. I also welcome the conclusions of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council that show that our relations are developing on a positive track. Armenia has our continued support and we respect its strategic choices about its future.

Dear Chairman! The coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the energy crisis have left a profound mark on our economy, in particular on the rise in food prices, which we must continue to fight persistently and vigorously against. Croatia can serve as an example in this fight to other EU member states, since our government, led by Prime Minister Plenković, is recording one of the best, fastest recoveries after the pandemic in the past four years. The adoption of an effective package of measures and assistance worth over EUR 7.2 billion that the Government used to protect the economy and limit the rise in food prices was a state move in these times of crisis. Unfortunately, we are still seeing an increase in harmful trading practices and we are witnessing attempts to profit from unsubstantiated increases in food prices in the midst of inflation. That is why we are working to ensure a competitive Europe that drives economic growth, creates quality jobs and strengthens prosperity and social justice for all its citizens.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, I welcome the recent adoption of a comprehensive agreement on a new Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and New Zealand that will bring mutual benefits in trade and investment. New Zealand is our key partner in the Indo-Pacific with which we share strong historical, cultural and economic ties. I am proud to point out that more than a hundred thousand descendants of European immigrants, especially Croatians who founded the wine industry, have played a key role in shaping the economy and society of New Zealand over the years. That is why this Agreement is important, as is the agreement with Chile, where the diaspora played a key moment. And we have included this in this Agreement as one bridge builderbetween our continents. I am delighted to have been able to negotiate this act on behalf of the Group of the European People's Party due to the fact that New Zealand shows how important it is for Europe to rise above closures for major trading partners and to open up to like-minded people and those who share the same values. I underline the importance of the existing security cooperation between the European Union and New Zealand, in particular in relation to operations and missions in the European Union’s common foreign and defence policy. Equally, New Zealand’s support for Ukraine, including the provision of assistance and the imposition of sanctions against Russia, demonstrates our shared commitment to justice and the international order. Finally, I would like to confirm my colleague Ehler's commitment to the need for transparency in our cooperation, with regard to Horizon, and this will be a milestone that will have a significant impact on the progress of relations with the European Union. And I thank the Commissioner for her commitment to show this transparency and the Commission’s openness to Parliament as soon as possible.

Dear Chairman, Vice-President Schinas, we are here discussing antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment. What will you say to the situation in Mostar, where students of the Croatian university were forced, because of the propaganda of using the Old Bridge and the poster that did not have enough minarets to satisfy the other side, they had to cancel the summer school of international politics? One university and young people live in fear of propaganda that makes them feel threatened in their city, in their midst. And that they feel threatened, that they can not use the image of the object, means the bridge that is inscribed on the list of world heritage. I also enrolled it in 2005 as a symbol of reconciliation of three peoples, three cultures, reconciliation that was supposed to bring peace and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. What will you say to Željko Komšić who attacks the Israeli ambassador and calls her a fool because he asks him to mourn all the missing and all the murdered young people in the attack that took place on October 7th?

The discovery of Russian interference in our democratic processes, unfortunately, is no surprise. We have already had an organized trade in influence, which originated in a group of socialists and under the famous name QatarGate, has put us in an awkward position to defend the reputation of the Parliament. We are now facing a former member of the Greens Club, who, along with some well-known members of the far left, used this house to destabilize European unity through Russian propaganda. Dear colleagues, I speak to you as a witness to the era of communism, the propaganda of that totalitarianism is like a poisonous snake. That is why, throughout my work, I continuously call for the opening of the archives of UDBA and KOS, crucial to the historical truth of the former Yugoslavia, which someone is still glorifying, in order to finally shed light on this dark age of history. It is time to confront and recognize everything that makes us vulnerable to manipulations by the greatest living communist dictator Putin, who skillfully plays as puppets with all activists of ideology, which still leaves millions of victims today. That's what Stalin would have envied him about. People may be able to buy themselves, but the truth is not for sale. The path to it is thorny, but it is the only path that leads to peace in this world.

Dear Chair, I welcome the latest decision of the European Council to grant assistance to Ukraine and the conclusion of the trilogue that took place last night here in Parliament on the mechanism of this assistance. For years, Ukraine has been courageously bearing heavy sacrifices for its decisions to embark on a European future. Croatia and all its citizens are well acquainted with the challenges posed by the fight for freedom and European democratic values. Our defenders, led by President Tuđman, faced numerous obstacles and lack of support from then weak Europe. Croatia has not only managed to defend itself, but to prevent further massacres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to lead to the Dayton-Paris peace agreement, the liberation of Croatian territories and the peaceful reintegration of the Danube region despite all the ‘unfaithful tomas’ that we now see here. The European future of BiH is at the opening of negotiations and support in the fight against autocratic regimes and those who are looking at Putin's path thinking that it will easily pass due to the hesitation of conformists. We must therefore remain with Ukraine, together with our transatlantic partners, until the end, and not let history judge us for our conformism.

Dear Chairman, Commissioner, the elections in Serbia are behind us. It is still early to draw conclusions on their regularity until we have received the final ODIHR report. In the meantime, it is essential that all complaints are taken into account in accordance with the rules governing the conduct of elections. At this point, it is essential for Serbia's path to work on further steps towards the democratization of the country and the electoral process, and above all public discourse. We also expect a faster formation of power given the indicators of the party's high representation in power in parliament. What worries me primarily, as a representative of Croats in the European Parliament, wherever they may be, is that Serbia shows reciprocity in the approach and treatment of the Croatian minority and that they are part of the government when they have not already entered the parliament because of the electoral system. It is also important to open a dialogue on the issue of non-discriminatory use of the Croatian language and respect for the Croatian cultural heritage and tradition in Serbia. And finally, above all to resolve the situation and finally come to reconciliation, to resolve the missing from the Homeland War. At these crucial moments of geopolitical change and the erosion of the international rights-based system, Serbia is at a historic crossroads. What matters is the decision they will take, and the way through it goes through truth and reconciliation.

Madam President, I would like to thank the Commissioner for his kind words and to thank all the colleagues for contributing to this very, very rich debate. This is the beginning of our rethinking about what the European Union should do in order to have a more unified voice, in order to maintain its economic and diplomatic strength globally. First of all, we need to rethink our foreign policy-making and invest more in the prevention of the challenges that we are facing. The European Union must seek to prevent conflict before a crisis emerges or violence erupts. This must be a constant and high priority for all EU diplomatic engagements. it is not only when CNN cameras are around that the main people should come. But we must resolve the conflicts, and as my colleague Nacho said, it is very important to address, to understand cultural and historical background and to have people listened to and to have respect. I remember many years ago the late President Chirac told me – I was ambassador in Paris – the main thing is respect, listening and respecting people. He was one of the key people for signing the Dayton-Paris Peace Accord. So in order to prevent and to keep peace, we must understand others and we must invest in peace. Because this, as you rightly said, the whole investment in peace and prevention, pays off – but it pays off because history will ask us where we were when this investment and this human effort was made.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, this report is calling for lessons learned where we have made some progress and is also keen to rethinking our policies in order to be better prepared, more coordinated and more focussed on preventing future crises. First of all, I would like to thank my colleagues, shadow rapporteurs from other political groups for their serious and constructive approach during the negotiations on this report. With the Russian war against Ukraine, we have a war that is threatening our countries as well. The war in the Middle East and the situation in the Red sea are a clear reminder that we have set aside all these conflicts without addressing the consequences that we have to be dealing with – from Ukraine to Venezuela, from the South Caucasus to the Western Balkans, crises are popping up and seeking immediate response, for which we need strong coordination in this current, weakened, multilateral world. Ten years after the establishment of the European External Action Service, discussions are still ongoing about the lack of a single voice related to the EU’s external policy and the European Union’s global role. Political leaders have still not found the visionary approach to start building that railroad to prevent conflicts, to fully align and act as a caretaker of the tragedies that we are facing in this volatile world. The global order is changing rapidly. Emerging powers are confronting traditional players. New technologies and further global globalisation are leading to increased international competition. In recent years, our achievements have deteriorated, our presence weakened, and our actions left without concrete results. Just think about the Western Balkans, Africa, the South Caucasus, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and the Middle East that encouraged other actors to take advantage of our lack of interest, putting themselves in an active and malign role in our own backyard. Dear colleagues, we have to ask ourselves the question why has the EU failed on preventing violent outbursts throughout the years? Exactly this thought was on my mind when I initiated this parliamentary report in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, with the intention of launching a ‘lessons learned’ exercise on the European efforts in preventive diplomacy over the years. The report is based on the need to improve the visibility of the European Union in this field of analysis, with six main areas that can be upgraded and improved for the prevention of conflicts around the world. It emphasises the importance to learn from missed opportunities and draw lessons from past experiences. The text also reiterates that the key focus should be on strengthening the EU early warning system, advocating proactive risk analysis and continuous evaluation to improve effectiveness, underscoring the need for interventions tailored to specific contexts. The report highlights the importance of aid responding to countries’ unique cultural, historical and political contexts. It points out that it is crucial to take into account the local cultural and historical background when appointing EU special representatives and envoys to avoid controversies in conflict areas and their role as impartial mediators. Furthermore, the need for a thorough evaluation of their work is emphasised, including the European Parliament’s supervision of their initiatives, results and contribution to preventive diplomacy. Despite being the largest donor of development aid, the results of this investment in public diplomacy are almost insignificant and often overridden by false narratives presented by other major powers present in developing countries. The adopted text also emphasises that international coordination in conflict prevention is crucial and calls on the EU to strengthen cooperation with other organisations on this issue. My hope is that all these recommendations will bring the European Union one step closer to becoming a more visible actor in conflict prevention and resolution worldwide. The fear of conflict is easy to be put to flame again if the seed of hope does not replace the flame of hatred that is left behind, and rebuilding bridges and finding solutions for frozen conflicts and unhealed grievances is the seed for preventing future wars and tragedies. I count on your support.

I will not contribute to the electoral campaign in South Africa, but about the civilian victims, what I can say, I always said Hamas is keeping Gaza and holding people as their hostage, not only hostages that are taken from Israel’s side, but they are held as human shields that they are using in the war on terror, they are hostages and they are victims of this war. So we should discuss how these people should be saved and not be used as a human shield from the Hamas terrorists. I’ve been in a war, and I know what they are doing.

Mr President, on 7 October, I was in Cyprus visiting and seeing the situation which Cyprus, a member country, is living – and 7 October was a day that will always stay in my memory. It’s something unimaginable that could have happened: the atrocities, the kidnapping of poor young people, and still their families don’t know their whereabouts. It’s a reminder of how cruel we are. Not many of you mentioned the hostages. Hamas is not only keeping the hostages in Gaza, they are also keeping hostage whole peoples, trying to get sympathy to divide Europe and to divide the world. Whoever is praying for voters based on a campaign, and dividing the people of Europe on this issue, has not lived through the war. We have a saying that whoever advocates for war and divide and conflict, let this war be in his or her house. The sad story about hostages and their families that are still waiting for the loved ones to return home should be the theme of this debate. To all of those that are using harsh words, I would just like to remind them: one day, history will call upon them and ask them, ‘Where were you, where the war was on the verge of our homes?’ One the last point: I just want to say that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Komšić is using this for his campaign. He was not fighting and he was not a true man. He is sitting in a chair that was provided by peace and reconciliation. So let him shut up and let’s start reconciliating people in Europe and abroad. (The speaker agreed to respond to a blue-card speech)

Mr President, High Representative, I would like to thank the rapporteur on his constructive approach and good cooperation during the negotiations. Well done, Mr Picula. Since the last recommendation on the future of EU-US relations that we adopted in 2021, our relations have reinvigorated significantly. The United States is not only a partner, but also our closest ally, with whom we need to coordinate our approach in crucial foreign policy areas. That includes our immediate neighbourhood, Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, in the Indo-Pacific and the Arctic. During the negotiations, I successfully included my amendments on the need to continue our strategic partnership in the Western Balkans in order to secure stability in the region, security of European external borders. Transatlantic coordination in the region is crucial in supporting the countries on their path to European integration and assisting them in addressing the issues in the region, that includes the electoral and constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue that are key for a European future of the region. As the rapporteur for the report on preventive diplomacy, we have included preventive diplomacy actions around the world, and the visible need that we have on joint actions in preventing future possible conflict. Mr High Representative, we should not be firefighters. We should be, and play, a part, because the world is now in dire need of preventive diplomacy, and especially with our US partner. I remember when the Dayton Peace Agreement was done it was unjust peace, but it was still a peace. And we should not be afraid of a future Congress. I remember Republican Congressman Bob Dole was the one who initiated the actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We should work hand in hand with the future and with the present legislatures on the overseas. We should forget about ideological divides. We should work and build the peace around the world. The world needs Europe and the world needs the United States strong and visible in the arena, otherwise we are all doomed to fail.

Mr President, High Representative, two months after the despicable terrorist attack by Hamas, we still have 128 Israeli people held hostage by this terrorist organisation, among them women, elderly and children. Every second is one second too long for their loved ones, who are in terrible anxiety for their safety and well-being. Hamas and like-minded terrorist organisations hold civilians in front of the world’s public, but they also hold fellow Palestinians as human shields in perpetual attack on Israeli territory. I sympathise with Israel and its people, including governments whose citizens are being held captive, in their joint endeavour to bring back the hostages, and put an end to this source of evil that nourished and incited the heinous crimes committed on that day that will stay forever in our memories. I call on Palestinian politicians to spare their people from being sacrificed, including their youth, indoctrinated with the ideology of hatred. The Middle East and Palestinians need at this moment leaders who put peace and future above the ideology of hatred, and release civilians.

It has been 30 years since the Copenhagen criteria were met by the Honourable President, the Honourable Vice-President. In those ‘93 years, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were under aggression, and the war caught up in an unprepared Europe. Two years later, it was signed in ‘95. The Dayton Peace Agreement. Austria, Sweden and Finland joined the European Union. During that time, ‘93. Belgium received the Constitution, where all three language groups were represented, finally with an equal share of power through federalization. In 2004, there was a major wave of enlargement, which affected Eastern Europe, and in 2005. The Republic of Croatia was granted candidate status alongside Turkey and North Macedonia. The Republic of Croatia enters the last year of 2013. Only the war in Ukraine opened the story of peace and security, enlargement in a realistic way. Gentlemen, Rome was not built in a single day, and so the treaty reforms have neither been nor will be changed, nor are they necessary to achieve enlargement. Enlargement is necessary in order to physically defend ourselves against the threats that come from those who in the meantime use the vacuum that we have left behind. In the end, open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, from it everything began.

Dear Chairman, once again I congratulate the people of Ukraine, the people of Moldova, the people of Georgia, and to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina once again I say: Croatia stands firmly behind you. Congratulations to Mrs. Borjana Krišto for her dedicated and courageous work, what she has done in this little time, congratulations to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for fighting until the last for Bosnia and Herzegovina to get such a conclusion as she has got, congratulations to Dragan Čović for everything she does - but I can't do it alone. I say to Dodik, I say to the Bosniaks: Sit down and make a deal. If the Dayton Peace Agreement could be drafted in a few days, all this can be fulfilled, Bosnia and Herzegovina can start negotiations. You have this obligation to the peoples you represent. You have an obligation to make a final agreement. Sit down, arrange and give Andrej Plenković a chance to finally cross this last bridge for you and put Bosnia and Herzegovina on the forehead where it belongs.

Madam President, as someone who was in the war in the 90s, in 1992, I’m going to remind you of the episode, when the Croatian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, when they were encircled by the Serbian forces, they took from Jajce 30 000 civilians and then they returned and stayed and fought for seven months until Jajce fell. The difference between soldiers and terrorists is that soldiers protect first the lives of civilians. The Croats knew how to do it. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They are putting the rockets next to the kindergartens, next to the mosques, next to the UN buildings and trying for sympathy. They should be brave guys, let the hostages from Israel that they took, they should set them free. They should take care of their civilians and not hold hostages from Palestine and from Israel in Gaza. This is not about brave men. These cowards should stop, get out and fight as a real men.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, I would like to thank the Rapporteur Tonino Picula for including my amendments in his report and for the comprehensive report he has made. This text shows great support for the country's European integration. The text also touches upon, as I pointed out in my amendments, the Croatian community and its traditions in Kotor. Also, with what is sacred for Croatia, and that is its cultural heritage and what is the Adriatic, which means for Dalmatia. The return of the Adriatic means good relations, the return of the Adriatic means the return of history and I think it is high time for Montenegro to do this one friendly act and to finish more with this story. Also, I would like to thank you for the inclusion of the amendments and the vote at AFET, and I believe that we will also vote tomorrow, for the opening of the archives of the secret files of the former Yugoslavia UDBA and KOS. Without it, we can't solve the story of history or historical heritage, criminal networks and everything that drives us to move on. I encourage Montenegro to work on good neighbourly relations, to solve border problems, to shed light on war crimes and to investigate the fate of the missing. This country needs a pro-European government. Do not let us return to that carousel where some of the most advanced ones return to the beginning. Montenegrins will know how to standardize this and I also hope that we will leave the list for some future times when the passions in Montenegro calm down.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, I strongly condemn the attack by an armed terrorist group against Kosovo police officers near Banjska Monastery, which left one police officer and three attackers dead. My deepest condolences to the family of the Kosovo police sergeant killed on the line of duty. In order to deescalate the current situation in northern Kosovo, Serbia must take immediate and decisive steps to reduce both political and ethnic tensions. That includes the immediate withdrawal of its remaining forces from the border region of Kosovo. In that regard, I welcome the decision by NATO to strengthen KFOR to address the situation in Kosovo and to deter Serbia from further escalation. These actions by Serbia cannot remain unanswered and require our clear and strong response.

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, as the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Azerbaijan, I strongly condemn the pre-planned and unjustified military attack of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh’s people. I call on the EU and Member States to immediately offer all necessary assistance to refugees and to deal with the influx of refugees and to help Armenia in the subsequent humanitarian crisis. Azerbaijan remains fully responsible for ensuring the rights and security of the remaining Karabakh Armenians, including the fundamental right for those displaced to return to their homes. We need tangible international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh to monitor the situation on the ground and the independent investigation into alleged crimes committed against the ethnic Armenian community. Furthermore, I strongly urge Azeri authorities to grant an unrestricted access to the UNESCO mission to the heritage site to establish the current state of the heritage that we have of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. We remain committed to supporting the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and welcome the next high-level meeting scheduled for 5 October in Granada within the framework of the European Political Community. However, any attempts by Azerbaijan to exploit this situation to destabilise Armenia or engage in military actions on its territory will be deemed unacceptable. In the event of such actions, we will conduct a true re-evaluation of our relationship with Azerbaijan, and I call then to impose restrictive measures.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, we are voting here on the European Media Freedom Act and I would like to thank rapporteur Sabine Verheyen who has also included my amendments in this extremely important act that will finally allow for the editorial independence of European media, improve the rules for greater transparency of media service providers, which Member States will have to respect, and also information on advertising costs that must be available and public advertising non-discriminatory and transparent. We must remember that media independence is under serious threat in some Member States. In the end, I just want to pay tribute to a great man who we forgot during the war in the Republic of Croatia. J.P. Mackley taught me everything I know about respect for media freedom when the Yugoslav media out there spread falsehoods about the war in Croatia and lies. J.P. Mackley and the American Croats created the Foreign Press Bureau and brought journalists to war lines and where we created, essentially, the truth to reach people. Today we see that it is completely different. Europe protects the media, Europe protects the truth. No authoritarian state will ever be able to control the media again.

Mr President, dear representative, Commissioner, I want to congratulate Nacho Sánchez Amor for his work on this report and for including my amendments in the final text. I extend my condolences to the families affected by the recent tragic earthquake in Türkiye. Our European response was swift, compassionate and the largest ever search and rescue operation was carried out through the EU civil protection mechanism. Dear colleagues, Türkiye is not just a neighbour, it is a key partner in various aspects of our shared interests, including security, trade and migration management. In the complex geopolitical landscape that we find ourselves in today, Türkiye still stands as a vital strategic ally within NATO. However, the threats and aggressive rhetoric are still present in the agency in the East Mediterranean. Upholding shared European values is essential for its progress in the EU accession. We aim for strong relations based on equality and mutual respect. Let us work together for a better and shared future.