Speeches

Mr President, dear Commissioner, today we stand at a critical crossroad in our relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. In recent years, our engagement in this region has weakened, allowing other negative influences to gain ground. The need for renewed focus became evident during our participation in the EuroLat Assembly in Madrid. I welcome the new agenda to strengthen the EU partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Global Gateway initiative, which will increase investment, trade and cooperation. This is a bold step forward: a testament to our steadfast dedication to revitalising and modernising our relationship in this vital region. The recent EU-CELAC summit in Brussels reaffirmed our shared determination to relaunch our partnership. The connections we share, thanks to our diaspora, including culture, history, language, religion and our unwavering commitment to principles such as democracy and human rights, naturally align us as likeminded partners and strategic allies. Let us not underestimate the significance of this aspect as we embark on this renewed momentum with the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dear Chair, Commissioner Várhelya, thank the rapporteur Paul Rangel for this year's extraordinary report and his latest report on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The past year has been historic for the country in terms of European integration. I congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina on the long-awaited and obtained candidate status and welcome the swift formation of the Council of Ministers and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, who is leading Bosnia and Herzegovina on the accelerated path to the European Union. The European Union has set a clear expectation on all political actors in the country. Efforts to fulfil constitutional electoral reforms must be stepped up in line with the European Commission's fourteen key priorities. The current crisis in BiH, and regarding the Constitutional Court, once again brings us back to the basic issue of problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina that we have been dealing with in our resolutions since 2014. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a category of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which established it as the highest instance of preserving the constitutional structure of the country. If all decisions of the Constitutional Court without discrimination are not applied and respected, the issue of Croats who have been waiting for a legitimate presentation for so many years will not be resolved in an equal way. The international community must insist on the implementation of the decisions of the Constitutional Court regarding legitimate representation and the adoption of an electoral law that will ensure that all constituent peoples and other citizens feel equal. We must not allow selective access to the decisions of the Constitutional Court or selective access to peace and justice.

Dear President, Commissioner Lenarčič, Lebanon finds itself today at a critical crossroads, facing a complex web of social, economic and political crisis. Years of political instability have left the country with hyperinflation that has pushed so many below the poverty line. Lebanon, known for hosting the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, is on the verge of humanitarian catastrophe. The absence of a president and the functioning government hinders economic recovery efforts because critical economic, fiscal and monetary reforms and investments in reconstruction are delayed. I call on Lebanon’s political leadership to act swiftly and elect a president who can unite the country and enact the necessary reforms to rescue the economy from this long crisis. Lebanon’s leaders must prioritise the interests of their country and people over personal ambitions and self-interest.

I think everything has been said, and as rapporteur for Azerbaijan, my role is really ungrateful. High Representative, we are trying to play as European Union equidistant role in the conflict situation. Have you considered maybe discussing with different parts why the European Union’s role is not accepted as observer in Nagorno-Karabakh? Because we don’t have proper information. Is there any ongoing discussion to maybe have acceptable mission that could give us a true account of what is going on on the ground, because we cannot assess properly the situation unless we have this information?

Mr President, as we enter the 465th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, our support and commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine remain firm and unwavering. The ongoing intensity of this conflict reminds us of the challenges faced every day by Ukraine and its people. I condemn Russia’s destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, which has displaced thousands of civilians and caused a humanitarian crisis and also brought menace and nuclear danger to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. This not only constitutes a violation of international law, but also has caused an environmental catastrophe that will leave long—term consequences in the region. I welcome the help of the EU civil protection mechanism, which serves around the world as a true ambassador of EU values. We help with solidarity. Russian public diplomacy is distraction and that. While the EU is already contributing substantially to help Ukraine’s ongoing resilience, it is clear that more support will be needed in the future to rebuild the country. The country will always have ... (The President cut off the speaker)

Dear Chairman, I have only one question for the Commissioner. I'm going to Split today, to Dalmatia. Dalmatia is a place where everyone goes to rest, to tourism, preserved cultural and historical heritage and enjoy the beautiful gastronomy caught by Dalmatian fishermen. Dalmatian fishermen. There is no Dalmatia, there is no Croatia without fishermen and do not work against fishermen, and also colleague Matić, meaning, there is no goldfish that will fulfill your wishes if Croatia does not preserve its fisheries. And I invite the Commissioner to come to Dalmatia to talk to the fishermen before he does some plans that will work only in the interest of third countries and imports and will work against the strategic autonomy of the European Union, food security and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, I congratulate rapporteur Viola von Cramon and shadow rapporteurs on the report. I am pleased that my amendments on the issue of the status of minorities in Kosovo and the need to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia for progress in their European integration have been included in the final text of the report. Kosovo's recent application for membership of the European Union has confirmed the pro-European orientation of its citizens and a great desire to join the European family, and the long-awaited decision on visa liberalisation has further strengthened our relations with each other. Today is also a special day and I would like to congratulate Janjevaci, the Croatian national minority in Kosovo, which celebrates the 720th anniversary of the first mention of Janjeva. I call on Kosovo to step up its efforts and improve the status of its national minorities, and to protect and promote their cultural heritage, languages and traditions, and above all security. Equally, at this moment it is crucial to continue the dialogue with Belgrade in order to increase mutual trust, overcome international divisions and normalize relations between the two countries.

First of all, I would like to express my condolences to the families of the victims of the recent violence that has struck Serbia and affected all those who see it in this act and in these days in which Serbia mourns its children the time for change. A time for change, a time for reflection and a time to think when violence will stop, when the glorification of violence will stop, when the glorification and rhetoric of violence will stop. I would like to congratulate my colleague Vladimír Bilčík on this demanding report. I would also like to thank the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs for including my amendments in the final text of the report. Serbia is progressing on its European path, but significant challenges still need to be addressed. This concerns in particular the alignment with our Common Foreign and Security Policy regarding the sanctions regime against Russia. It is very worrying that the level has fallen from 65% last year to 45% today. We want Serbia to be part of the European family, but it must show willingness to adhere to its values. The normalisation of relations with Kosovo and the resolution of all ongoing bilateral issues with neighbouring countries are also important factors for Serbia's progress. (The President interrupted the speaker.)

Madam President, thank you, Commissioner, a few months ago, we were with the Foreign Affairs Committee in Sudan. It’s quite heartbreaking to see all these pictures of the recent events. The ongoing crisis in Sudan has caused immense suffering for the Sudanese people and threatens the stability and security of an already fragile region. It has forced more than 100 000 persons to leave the country, and the involvement of third countries has aggravated the violence and obstructed the de-escalation efforts. I call for immediate ceasefire and urge all parties to commit to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Such a resolution would enable unimpeded humanitarian access, ensuring the safety of aid workers and providing relief to those in dire need. It is vital that the European Union, the African Union, the UN and the international community work together to find a sustainable solution and support Sudan’s transition to democracy. Only a civilian-led government could address the huge political, economic, security and humanitarian challenges the country is currently facing.

Madam President, Commissioner, the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity is one of the most important commitments presented as a part of the Strategic Compass in March last year. After our experiences in Afghanistan, it was clear that there is a need for EU capacity for crisis response in various operational scenarios, including evacuation, initial entry and phased stabilisation operations. This flagship initiative will offer a quick and effective response to the immediate crisis. We need to ensure that this new capacity is designed to reflect the new geopolitical context with its permanent operational headquarters, adequate funding, personnel, infrastructure and integrated secure communications. In that regard, I welcome the findings of the first annual progress report on the implementation of the Strategic Compass that stated that the conceptual development of the Rapid Deployment Capacity has progressed. Once operational, it will allow us not only to be a stronger ally within our EU-NATO cooperation framework, but it will also be an important step towards becoming a real and a credible actor in the world.

Madam President, Commissioner, the European Union and Iraq have a long-standing partnership that has helped promote stability and security in the region. The European Union has been one of the largest donors to Iraq, providing significant financial and technical assistance worth over EUR 1 billion since 2003. This aid has been instrumental in supporting Iraq, in addressing the complex challenges it faces, including security threats, economic recovery and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. This includes the European Union Advisory Mission, which still plays a key role in assisting the Iraqi authorities in implementing the civilian security sector reform. I welcome the recent third meeting of the Cooperation Council of the European Union and Iraq, which reaffirmed our commitment to support Iraq’s efforts towards political reform and economic rehabilitation. Iraq now stands at a political and economic crossroads. We are ready to deepen our cooperation and to work with Iraq on ensuring peace, stability and the development of the country.

Mr President, dear High Representative, dear colleagues, the recent events in Peru have demonstrated that democracy is fragile and can be threatened at any moment. Last year, the constitutional transition of power has helped to protect Peru’s democracy and the rule of law. But the country still faces significant challenges. The political crisis caused months’ long protests that are destabilising the country and having a negative impact on Peru’s already struggling economy. I strongly urge all parties to respect and safeguard the right to peaceful protest and condemn any use of violence or excessive force. It is now essential that all actors engage in inclusive national dialogue in order to find a compromise that ensures political stability and addresses the social and political issues that have led to this crisis. Peru is a close partner of the EU and we remain committed to supporting the rule of law and constitutional order in the country. We are ready to offer our assistance and to be an honest broker in order to help Peru overcome the crisis.

Dear President, dear colleagues, today we are at a crucial juncture in our relations with China. While we acknowledge China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival, our bilateral relations have become increasingly challenging in recent years. China’s recent assertive actions in the Strait of Taiwan and its ambiguous stance on the Russian aggression in Ukraine have further affected our relations. In this geopolitically volatile world, the European Union must take a unified position on China while working closely with our transatlantic and Pacific allies. I welcome the recent visit of President von der Leyen to China as it underscores our commitment to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with China. Nevertheless, even as we seek to build stronger relations with China, we must remain steadfast in highlighting human rights abuses, maintaining a rules—based international order, and promoting fair trade and investment practices. The economy is important, but above all it is crucial that we stand behind our values.

Madam President, thank you very much, and thank you very much once again Commissioner. I took on board all the speeches by my colleagues. Once again, thanks very much to the shadows and for their, once again, constructive speech. I think this is a very critical report. This is a report that deals with Azerbaijan as a whole, as a country, and what needs to be improved. The European Union should work on human rights and respect for media freedoms, and respect for women – that’s the most important thing. Women are the ones who will change that society. That society will change either way, but women are the force that will change it, regardless of whether they prevent the marches on International Women’s Day. Tomorrow, we have a very important speech on that, really, most important celebration. So, thank you. It’s not easy: the European Union can play a really honest broker in this, in the South Caucasus; if we don’t play it here – where we need both countries on board and we need to take both countries from malign influence, from Russia, from Türkiye, from Iran and from all these countries that will never contribute to the democratisation of the societies – then we will not succeed anywhere else. So this report is a first step on this. Thank you once again, and I hope that you will support the report tomorrow at the plenary vote.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, this is the first comprehensive European Parliament report on EU-Azerbaijan relations since 2018, and it comes at a crucial time for our mutual relations. Given the current geopolitical uncertainty, the report sheds light on the state of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan. As Azerbaijan is a strategic supplier of fossil fuel energy, it is essential that EU and Azerbaijan work on enhanced cooperation outside the energy sector. It is in the EU interest to build on the strategic cooperation and economic integration with Azerbaijan, but we should also continue to promote human rights and democratic standards in the country. Respecting freedom of speech and the rights of minorities also contributes to the peaceful coexistence and security of everyone in the South Caucasus. The current negotiations on the new bilateral comprehensive EU-Azerbaijan Agreement should follow this approach. I welcome the increased diplomatic activity of the EU in the region and encourage the EU to prioritise preventive diplomacy as an honest broker in the region, including through promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. The EU should not repeat the mistakes of the past, when other malign actors took advantage of our passivity to gain influence in this region, which is crucial for European security and stability. It is vital that Azerbaijan and Armenia come to a timely agreement on a sustainable peace treaty while respecting the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. The report also highlights the importance of the rights and security of the Armenian population residing in Nagorno-Karabakh and the prompt and safe return of all refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes. We call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to address all concerns relating to the functioning of the Lachin corridor through dialogue and consultations. Therefore, plenary amendments welcome the recent talks between Karabakh Armenians’ and Azerbaijani representatives. Border demarcation and delineation are also critical components covered in the report. The report denounces the destruction of cultural, religious and historical heritage since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Urgent action is required and we call for a UNESCO mission to the region. Building strong relations with our neighbours is crucial, and this report can serve as a framework for future cooperation. Finally, let me thank you, the shadow rapporteurs, for an excellent cooperation.

Madam President, it’s very strange, after so many years being a student in the UK and after Erasmus also, to discuss this famous agreement that has been reached, the Windsor Agreement. Well done, Commissioner Šefčovič, to you and your team, and I hope that we will continue on this path with the other files that we have on microstates, because everyone is looking to what we are doing with the UK. After so many years, it’s quite sad that we are also discussing the peace agreement, the Good Friday Agreement, and well done to all those who contributed so that we no longer have to fear a hard border. I lived in London during the years when this instability caused many fears, and I think this is the greatest achievement that President von der Leyen has achieved with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This is something that we should praise at the European Parliament after the sad fact that the UK has left us. So, on behalf of the Cult Committee, we will be doing and assessing the damage that has left on all those who are not privileged and who were beneficiaries of Erasmus exchanges. And we need to build bridges in the future with the UK, with their students and also with our young people. These damages in the future can be enormous if we don’t return to Erasmus. That’s something to be discussed in the future.

Mr President, High Commissioner, Israel has been a democracy in the last 75 years. Actually they are having many elections, they had three elections in last four years and they have quite a heated debate. And as we gather today to discuss the recent protest in Israel, my sincere hope is that the Israeli society will come together to find a compromise on this debate. I would like to take a moment as well to address the ongoing escalating wave of violence not seen in the last 15 years. With the greatest sadness, we are continuing to witness the loss of innocent lives in both Israel and Palestine. We need an active diplomacy and it’s quite urgent, and dialogue to end this conflict. I commend the effort of the US, Jordan and Egypt in trying to de-escalate the situation through the Aqaba Communique of 26 February 2023. The EU can also play an important role as an honest broker in this process. Countries in the region and the conflicting parties should continue to work towards de-escalation to achieve long-lasting peace and prevent more unnecessary deaths. Please. That’s the task for the EU and we can really play a constructive role in this.

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, over the last year and a half, the political-economic situation to Tunisia has deteriorated. After shutting down the parliament in 2021, the president has changed the constitution, seized control of the independent electoral commission and the judiciary, and held elections with a historically low turnout of only 11 %. Tunisia is a key country for the European Union in the southern neighbourhood, especially in terms of cooperation in the area of migration. We are committed to supporting the people in Tunisia in overcoming the financial and economic crisis, but stand firm on the need to improve the respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights. I call on President Saied to start an inclusive national dialogue to overcome the crisis and return to the path Tunisians set in 2011.

Yes, could I just ask Mr Commissioner, are you aware of the knowledge of the constitutional framework of the people who are representing citizens here in this building? And that without cutting the funds – if we cut funds for one part of the country, Bosnia Herzegovina will not receive anything. So can you just let us know is there any pedagogy that the Commission will try to use in the future?

Thank you very much. Dear Commissioner, thank you once again for your really good and compassionate behaviour when we were negotiating IPA III. In my last legislature, I was really worried why all this money that was used for migration waves was taken away from Bosnia and Herzegovina, because Bosnia and Herzegovina, at that time, I got the answer, didn’t have the absorption capacity to use the money. Bosnia and Herzegovina got candidate status. Thank you for that. But I recently had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; he’s a good guy, who will side with European affairs, with European policies, and not with Iran, like the last minister. So I want you to support the new government. I want you to help Bosnia and Herzegovina get this absorption capacity and not lag behind all the other countries in the Western Balkans. Because now we have Ukraine, we have Georgia, we have Moldova, but we do not have a bigger IPA. So until that time, Bosnia and Herzegovina will be like an orphan left alone and be a political tool in this Parliament for the people who do not have a clue what people need in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They need the young people to use this money and to get the country away from the interference of third countries and into the European Union.

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, we should not close our eyes after our retreat from Afghanistan and forget about the peacebuilding efforts of the last decades. We should not let apartheid against women flourish. With the takeover by the Taliban, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has severely deteriorated, and I deeply deplore the recent ban by the Taliban of all the activities of female aid workers. In a humanitarian crisis, women and children are the most vulnerable, and it is often female aid workers that can deliver the highly—needed assistance to these groups and reach the most remote communities. I call on the EU diplomatic service therefore to work on the removal of these restrictions and to make further humanitarian aid conditional on lifting this ban. Furthermore, more needs to be done against the threat posed by terrorist groups that reside, train and operate in Afghanistan. While the international engagement in Afghanistan was exactly to fight against terrorism, these groups are getting stronger again. They form a danger for Afghani people, their neighbouring countries and the wider world. Mistakes from the past should not be repeated. Security should be safeguarded.

Madam President, High Commissioner, I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs for the CFSP and CSDP reports, Mr McAllister and Mr Vandenkendelaere, for their excellent work. They managed to cover a very challenging year from a foreign and security perspective. Our security has been directly challenged. A new war has emerged in our neighbourhood. China continues to play an assertive role in the Pacific. As the report rightly states, we need stronger EU-NATO cooperation and updated European Peace Facility and a boost for our relations with international partners. Regarding the Western Balkans, the EU stepped up its engagement on the enlargement agenda and I very warmly welcome the decision to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a peace and security decision as well. However, this candidate status is not the end of the ride, but should stimulate the domestic leaders to speed up the reform process. Because even after the welcome change of the electoral law last October, Croats still don’t have their elected representative with the Presidency – and that affects the voting. Don’t forget the voting in the UN when they abstained on a crucial European security issue and the vote against Iran, damaging policy. As mentioned in the CSFP report, it is time to show the principles of equality and non-discrimination for all citizens and constituent people as enshrined in the country’s constitution. That is a major security issue, Mr High Representative.

Madam President, the EPP has decided to withdraw from a debate on the urgencies and negotiations. But after a meeting of the Conference of Presidents, an agreement was reached on all the urgencies: the procedure will go through your office to check that the rule of 500 words is being respected. We understand that we reached the agreement on this issue, but unfortunately we have not tabled our proposals for these plenary sessions. And it’s quite sad and strange that, as a rapporteur for Azerbaijan who is preparing a report that will be voted in AFET in forthcoming sessions, we will reduce the serious issue of the Lachin corridor only to 500 words. And I think it’s these urgencies that will be debated and discussed this session. I ask all our colleagues to be a bit more serious about the issue and ask for a full debate. I do not know if this can be changed, but this issue requires a full debate at these plenary sessions because the humanitarian situation there is dire.

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, in the light of the ongoing criminal investigations into a corrupt network of some individual Members, former MEPs and assistants in the European Parliament, the EPP Group is extremely concerned about the integrity of the foreign policy positions of the European Parliament, as expressed in the urgency resolutions and procedures as foreseen in Rule 144 of the House. Before we can establish with certainty that the integrity of the procedure and the network does not remain compromised by third countries like Qatar, we should stop all work on the urgency resolutions. We simply cannot continue with our business as usual. We must take bold and radical decisions to stop the damage of this corrupt network of individual Members, former MEPs, and assistants from spreading further into our parliamentary work. The EPP Group has therefore decided that it will not sign any urgency resolution, not take part in any preparation, negotiations or plenary debates in the context of the urgency resolutions.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, I fully subscribe to the conclusion of the Commission’s 2022 report on the rule of law that states that independent and free media are the watchdogs of democracy and are key for the rule of law. Free media is helping to inform and empower citizens and allow them to contribute to the democratic debate. Therefore, I underline the importance that both local and national media reflect the cultural, linguistic and social diversity of our societies. Unfortunately, journalists and other media actors continue to face violence, threats and harassment in the European Union. Recent legislative reforms have limited these abuses in our Member States, and I welcome supportive action by the Commission in this regard. But more needs to be done. We need to safeguard transparency of ownership and funding of media providers. We should establish actions that help in the fight against disinformation and provide measures for the prevention of corruption. Journalists deserve to operate with a free mind and without external pressure.