What Željana spoke about.

8

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 October 2023 - Humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause (joint debate - Conclusions of the European Council and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause)

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 fi…

17

Oct

2023

HR Speech

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2022 Report on Montenegro (debate)

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, …

3

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo (debate)

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…

3

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia (debate)

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…

3

Oct

2023

HR Speech

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European Media Freedom Act (debate)

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 info…

12

Sep

2023

EN Speech

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2022 Report on Türkiye (debate)

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 prot…

12

Sep

2023

EN Speech

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New Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean in the aftermath of the EU-CELAC Summit (debate)

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 w…

11

Jul

2023

HR Speech

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2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

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…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Lebanon (debate)

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 catastrop…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) - Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and at the Lachin Corridor

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 ongoi…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)

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 o…

11

May

2023

HR Speech

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Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries - Agreement of the IGC on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (High Seas Treaty) (debate)

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 coll…

9

May

2023

HR Speech

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2022 Report on Kosovo (debate)

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 Eur…

9

May

2023

HR Speech

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2022 Report on Serbia (debate)

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 glorific…

9

May

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Sudan (debate)

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, …

18

Apr

2023

EN Speech

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EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, EU Battlegroups and Article 44 TEU: the way forward (debate)

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 i…

18

Apr

2023

EN Speech

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EU relations with Iraq (debate)

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 i…

18

Apr

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Peru (debate)

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 t…

18

Apr

2023

EN Speech

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The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations (debate)

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 relation…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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EU-Azerbaijan relations (debate)

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 wor…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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EU-Azerbaijan relations (debate)

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 …

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU - The Windsor Framework (debate)

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. A…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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Deterioration of democracy in Israel and consequences on the occupied territories (debate)

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 a…

14

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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Response to the situation in Tunisia (debate)

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 Unio…

14

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

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?…