What Marc spoke about.

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Written Statements NL

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 16-17 December 2021 - The EU's response to the global resurgence of Covid-19 and the new emerging Covid variants (debate)

The latest COVID variant omikron boosted the stock prices of Pfizer and Moderna considerably. Pfizer saw its share close 6.1 percent higher, about $17.5 billion in additional market value. Competitor Moderna even saw its shares increase by 21 percent. A virus variant such as . This is particularly cynical. After all, it is precisely Big Pharma's patents that make new variants more likely. Patents shield vaccine technology from other countries and companies. This limits vaccine production and increases global shortages at the expense of global health. In poor countries, only 3% of the population is fully vaccinated. These vaccine shortages facilitate virus circulation and hotbeds for new virus variants. The Omicron variant shows how urgently this needs to change. A open source-approach could allow researchers around the world to work on adapting the vaccine to new variants. This would allow the activation of unused production capacity and the creation of new production units within a few months. The removal of patents has never been more urgent. This Parliament has already voted in favour of it three times. What are you waiting for? Are Big Pharma's profits really that much more important to you than human lives? Basta lockdowns. Basta pandemic. Share the technology. Save lives.

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Written Statements EN

Establishing the Act in support of ammunition production (debate)

We are asked to fast track an Act in Support of Ammunition Production. Commissioner Breton wants to give huge amounts of taxpayers’ money to extremely profitable multinational companies, but refuses any democratic debate. Let us be clear: this proposal goes far beyond supporting Ukraine – it aims at creating a European network of arms producers, a proper EU military—industrial complex. The proposal diverts funds away from economic recovery and the green transition towards arms multinationals that are already making massive excess profits because of the Ukraine war. The proposed act also explicitly undermines workers’ rights. Article 18 proposes to bypass the Working Time Directive, which imposes minimum daily and weekly rest periods, annual leave, breaks, maximum weekly working time and night work. This way it sacrifices social rights for militarisation, giving a free pass to industry to introduce working weeks of over 48 hours. The Treaty on the European Union, Article 41.2, prohibits expenditure arising from operations having military or defence implications from being charged to the EU budget. Labelling this act as an industrial project, the Commission deliberately circumvents these provisions. Let us build peace on our continent and invest in socio—economic recovery, and a public switch for the climate.

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Written Statements FR

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

You want a European sanctions mechanism, a "global" sanctions mechanism. Like the United States, you want to punish the whole world. I mean, not the whole world, just the countries that don't obey you. Countries that do not follow the policy of European imperialism. Those who do not open up to European multinationals. Because let's not pretend that human rights matter to you. You have never sanctioned Israel or even threatened Israel with sanctions, despite the country’s violations of international law. You don't want to name this Magnitsky Act mechanism, like its American counterpart, because you know that this American instrument is unfamiliar. Unfamiliar because US sanctions killed from the Middle East to Latin America. The first victims of your sanctions are and always will be workers, women, families. Your unilateral mechanisms undermine international law by circumventing multilateralism within and through UN institutions. That's enough. Peace and indivisible human rights require diplomacy, respect for international law and international solidarity involving workers, trade unions and social movements. Not by sanctions imposed by governments defending the interests of their multinationals.

20

May

2026

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Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan following the Taliban's adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts

Mr President, dear Commission, I need to get my head around this – you are inviting the Taliban to Brussels. So, for years, you told us that we cannot speak, we cannot negotiate with Russia. We cannot discuss with Putin because he occupies Ukraine illegally. True – then again, you're still friends with Israel, who also occupies a lot of countries in the region. No, but you say that the Putin regime's authoritarian – true again. Then again, many of your trade partners are as well, that never stopped you. But still, in the name of values, you said: no, no diplomacy with Russia, no negotiations, but sanctions, arms for Ukraine. Sanctions that also hit European workers and industries hard, by the way, but okay. And what do you do now in the name of these values? You invite the Taliban to Brussels, red carpet, and you want to offer them on a silver plate Afghan refugees that ran away from them – that is playing with their lives. So let me get this straight. No negotiations with Russia on peace and security for our citizens, but negotiations with the Taliban to offer them refugees and let them do whatever they want with them. Never again claim that your foreign policy is based on values.

20

May

2026

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Repression and execution of protesters, dissidents, political prisoners and religious minorities in Iran

Mr President, I must say, I am shocked about how selective this Parliament is in calling out human rights abuses. I mean, how is it possible that many of you that are now condemning human rights violations in Iran just came back from a mission to Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy? And then you have the official press statement, and it goes from the far right of Mr Tânger Corrêa to even the Greens – Ms Hannah Neuman – saying that there is a good parliamentary diplomacy with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia doesn't have a parliament! Our partnership is based on shared values. They execute hundreds of people every year! These are not shared values. And then we pretend to care about human rights in Iran. Well, it depends which human rights. But, indeed, this Parliament will condemn repression, death penalty by the Iranian Government, but refuses to condemn the illegal attacks of the US and Israel that have killed 150 school kids – 150 school kids! And this Parliament is unable to condemn them. That is a hypocrisy that makes all credibility of this House go away.

20

May

2026

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Recent proposals to fight poverty in the EU (debate)

Madam President, listen to almost 100 million Europeans at risk of poverty, one in four children – one in four! – at risk of poverty. And it is not only, we see, in the capital of Europe, people who live on the streets, but also workers for whom the salary is no longer enough for the cart, gasoline, housing. And then the European Commission comes up with an anti-poverty strategy. I'll look at the budget: 0 €, euro zero. It's still not possible. How do you want to explain that to people? And this, at a time when you find hundreds of billions for the multinational arms companies, which they then send to shareholders who put their pockets full. It's still not possible. And we need to reverse this logic, to fight effectively against the difficulties, against the social problems of the people, rather than flooding the big multinationals of this continent. Because if not, frankly, there will be a revolt and we will have a social resistance that will grow everywhere in Europe. I can promise you that.

20

May

2026

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Rule of law, fundamental rights and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia: the need for an EU response (B10-0245/2026) (vote)

Madam President, I just want to express, let us say, an uncomfortable feeling with the applause we just gave the delegation of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates. First of all, it's important, I think, to give the context. This is not a universally elected democratic assembly: it's appointed, it's not legislative, so it's not like a normal democratic parliament. Secondly, you expressed solidarity with the strikes on the Emirates, which I understand. But at the same time, they came in a context where the United States used the bases in the Emirates to illegally attack another country. But most importantly, I think, we need a context. Today, in Sudan, the Emirates are accused of the worst crimes by supporting the Rapid Support Forces. We need to make clear with our Parliament that we will not stand for this, and that this does not represent our values in international relations.

19

May

2026

Speeches FR

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Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba (debate)

Madam President, High Representative, listen, you are all talking about Cuba. I went there recently, I went to see and I met doctors who explained to me how Cuba, with its socialist system, had managed to have a cancer survival rate of 80%, comparable to that of the rich industrialized countries, but that this rate has recently fallen to 65%, which means 15% of children who could have lived, but who are now dead. Families grieving. Grief because of sanctions, U.S. sanctions that you barely mentioned, that you don't condemn. Because today Cuba is experiencing a total energy blockade. If we impose this on Belgium, frankly, we don't last two weeks. If we impose this on Estonia, she doesn't either. But Cuba resists, Cuba resists. And you say: Yes, no, but it's the government's fault. Listen, let's compare, let's compare! In the region, Haiti has a 15-year lower life expectancy than Cuba. This means that what we see in the region is not the failure of the socialist system, but the failure of your capitalism, your imperialism. So please, Mrs Kallas, a little solidarity, send oil to Cuba.

19

May

2026

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Europe's response to reduced US military deployments in Europe, particularly at its Eastern flank in the light of the latest US decisions (debate)

Madam President, High Representative, here I hear people whining a little bit because the United States is withdrawing a few thousand soldiers. However, in reality, let’s say, what we see is that gangsters are leaving. Because what was the deal? Either you come to support me in Iran by waging an illegal war – I know you have not been able to condemn the illegal war of the US and Israel against Iran, but it remains a violation of the UN Charter – or I am leaving. Basically, he said: It is the Europeans who must kill the schoolgirls in Iran. Well, fortunately, they said no to that and they came out. Second, we have champions who say: Well, as they leave, then we must massively militarize; We have to follow the American model. More weapons, fewer pensions, fewer schools, fewer hospitals. But it’s anything. We already have a lot more weapons than the Russians. And in addition, every day we read in the newspapers that the Russians are in trouble, that they no longer have tanks. They can no longer even parade in Moscow. So we don’t have to choose. Let us choose another path, the path of peace, of diplomacy. And for that, there will be a big mobilization in Brussels on June 14th. I invite you all, ladies and gentlemen, so you come out a little bit and you put yourself on the side of the people who are mobilizing for the welfare, not warfare.

19

May

2026

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EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of advanced AI systems (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, you remember this news from the Financial TimesA few weeks ago, when Israel hacked, took control of traffic surveillance cameras in Tehran and then organized the killings there? It stressed me out because I see that there are a lot of towns and cities in Europe that use Israeli surveillance cameras and surveillance technologies. To what extent can we say that we are safe if companies based in this state accused of genocide monitor us on a daily basis? The same with spyware. The European Union has funded directly, indirectly, companies like NSO, with Pegasus or Paragon, which are companies that develop Israeli spyware that is then used against our journalists, against our infrastructure. It's still unbelievable that we're financing this. Doesn't that worry you a little bit anyway? And today, we see that in France, there is the French judiciary investigating a potential scandal of interference from an Israeli company in the French municipal elections. So this is the first thing that stresses me, because it is what is already on the European territory. And I could also talk, if we want to go a little further, about Palantir. Palantir, this company that belongs to a great American billionaire, who explained to us in a manifesto that there are regressive, inferior cultures, and superior cultures, that in fact public services, hospitals, teachers, it is not so important. Above all, we have to give him all our money. And what do we do? The European armies, NATO, Europol make contracts with these companies. How do you want to be a credible minimum in the fight for digital security, if you have this kind of actors on your territory? Just because they're Americans, they're Israelis, so we don't think it's serious. There is no credibility in this, Commissioner.

18

May

2026

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European solidarity: key to securing medicine access in a shifting geopolitical era (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, the approach in Europe to guarantee production in Europe has often been to give or promise hundreds of millions to Big Pharma, multinational pharmaceutical companies, in purported exchange for production. However, we have seen that this has not prevented these large companies, in France and in other countries, from still shutting down and stopping production, even for something as basic as paracetamol. I think that if we want to take the issue seriously today, we need to look at infrastructure, public production. The studies are as follows: for less than 30 billion, we could set up in Europe a public infrastructure, a public institute of medicine that develops, produces and distributes medicines as a common good, without patents or with limited patents, that takes seriously the threats of viruses, be it the Hantavirus, the Ebola virus or others. But this obviously means putting into health what we are putting into the military today.

18

May

2026

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Negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity on the Union steel market (debate)

Mr President, first of all, I am astonished that, in a debate on the steel industry, the Commission is sending the Commissioner responsible for fisheries. I'm not sure the workers will understand that choice, I have to be honest. Secondly, the steel crisis in Europe is hitting workers hard. So you don't have to talk nonsense either. I mean, we all talk about overproduction in China, but I, when I talk to the workers, they tell me ArcelorMittal, to take an example, relocates to India. And what is Europe doing? A free trade agreement with India? Is that really anything? Thirdly, what is a real concern? This is the issue of energy prices. Since Russian gas was replaced – because it could no longer be taken – by US gas, there has been a problem of energy costs for industry. If we do not take public ownership of energy and the energy sector, we will not get away with it. Steel will have no future in Europe. You have to make things clear to people anyway. And finally, it is not with the militarisation programmes that we are going to get away with it. Because 1,000 tanks, even 1,000 tanks, is three days of production for a steel plant. So it won't save our industry.

29

Apr

2026

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New Chinese law on ‘ethnic unity and progress’ and the intensified suppression of ethnic identities

Mr President, colleagues, you want to sanction Chinese members of parliament because they voted for a law, they proposed a law on – what is it? – regional languages in the country, right? First of all, there's probably a lot that can be said about that law, but I'm convinced that most of you speaking here have neither read nor understood it. It's also a little bit arrogant, I think, because first of all, many of us come from countries in which minority languages are not even recognised at all. So we need to be a little bit careful because, before we also want to go and rule China, I think there's some modesty here. I could understand this if it were a sincere consideration for human rights, but then I ask you: why did you never ask for sanctions against India in regard to the discrimination that the Muslim population is experiencing there? Why are there still no sanctions against Israel? I think there are very clear double standards there, right? I mean, there's a very clear double standard. (In response to comments from a Member) Yes, you do not like democracy. What I'm wondering is: is it because you want to avoid more European autonomy? Because if we want more European autonomy, we do not need sanctions against China – we need to cooperate with China, with Brazil, with India and with other partners. You are undermining European autonomy.

29

Apr

2026

Speeches FR

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Escalating trafficking and exploitation by criminal groups in Haiti

Mr President, Haiti, when we talk about it here, it is often in the passive sense, that is to say that Haiti is a state that has failed, a state that is collapsing; It is a people in misery, victim of destiny, we almost want to say. But Haiti is first and foremost a glorious story. This is the story of Toussaint Louverture and, indeed, Jean-Jacques Dessalines; it is the story of a people, of the first slave revolt that succeeded; The first independent Black Republic, which dealt a fatal blow, we can say, to two European colonial empires, which helped other national liberation struggles. So today, what is happening is that this people, since then, has suffered the blows of imperialism and neocolonialism of the United States, but also of other forces. We here, as Europeans, who say that the United States is our best ally, should first point the finger at the United States to let the Haitians decide their country.

29

Apr

2026

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Sudan’s abandoned humanitarian crisis: three years of conflict (debate)

Mr President, listen, I am very uncomfortable when I hear colleagues whining at me about the situation in Sudan without being clear about the role that the Western powers actually play. Let's be clear. Because the colleagues here today say: "Ah yes, but the role of the … Emirates," they are right. But they are the same ones who, tomorrow, say: Ah! But our partners in the Gulf must be supported." Let's talk about the role of Saudi Arabia, the European Union's strategic partner. What about the European weapons that are already arriving in Sudan and therefore fuelling the conflict? Let’s talk about it – no, we don’t talk about it. You yourself say: "No, we have to send European troops." No, that's a colonial vision. Let's stop hurting already. Don't go into the "We're going to solve the case" thing – no. Humanitarian aid is good, but let's stop feeding these conflicts. Let the Sudanese decide their fate, because Sudan is not a poor country. There are hundreds of millions of euros of gold coming out of this country. Where are they going? We are plundering this country and then we come to whine, "Ah yes, it is serious the situation on the spot." Let us take our responsibilities, colleagues.

29

Apr

2026

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Situation in Lebanon: implementation of the ceasefire, support peace efforts and humanitarian access (debate)

Mr President, Israel has invaded, occupies a good part of Lebanon – another country – and the consequences are terrible: There are more than a million Lebanese on the run, we have seen that they throw 100 bombs in ten minutes on urban centers. It's really hard to imagine. They kill journalists, first by hitting the car, then the journalist flees to a house, they hit the house, when the ambulance arrives, they block the ambulance; These are unimaginable war crimes. When Russia invades Ukraine, what does this Parliament, this European Union, say? "We will sanction the aggressor, Russia, and we will support, arm Ukraine." What do we see in Lebanon? We can't even really condemn. We are not asking for sanctions against Israel, and we are even asking – the US has been very clear, it does not want the Lebanese army to be able to fight Israel – so we are actually asking the Lebanese to say: "In fact, the only right we have is to be massacred by Israel, to lose half of our country to the Israelis." This is what the European Union supports today, maintaining its partnership agreement with Israel. This is unacceptable complicity. Stop it!

29

Apr

2026

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Danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I have a concrete question: You don't want Russian artists to enter competitions in Europe, because Russia is waging an illegal war in Ukraine. But you accept without any problem the participation of Israel in these contests, and in particular in Eurovision. While Israel starves and executes children, tortures and rapes prisoners, wages illegal wars in an entire region, occupies Palestine, occupies Lebanon, occupies Syria … But you still want to dance and sing happily with the representatives of the Israeli state. Russia, no; Israel, yeah, it's okay. It is this hypocrisy that torpedoes all your credibility, Commissioner. As long as it's your friends who kill, it doesn't matter, it passes. Massacres bother you when others do it. When they're your allies, they're fine. But now, when you speak – and you too, ladies and gentlemen – of human rights, because of this double standard, citizens no longer listen to you, they hear ‘bla bla bla’, because they know that you have no values; They know you have no principles. If you want to start redeeming yourself, exclude Israel from Eurovision and boycott this contest.

29

Apr

2026

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EU strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, its implications on energy prices and the availability of fertilizers (joint debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, there is a nurse who came to see me and said: Mr Botenga, you are in Europe. Talk about it, because I do more than an hour to get to work, an hour to get home by car, and, with fuel prices, it's just more possible. He's right, because he, unlike the European Commission, doesn't have a plane, he doesn't have a private jet, he doesn't have a private driver, he doesn't earn 34,000 euros a month, but he has to get to work. The European responsibility is immense. First of all, this whole crisis, without your American ally, would not have happened. If Trump does not decide to attack Iran illegally, the Strait of Hormuz through which oil and gas pass remains open. Secondly, during this war, the big oil multinationals in Europe make 80 million euros in profits, overprofits, per day! Total, still today, has made almost 6 billion in total. It's still unbelievable. So why don't you take action? Block prices for people, tax the overprofits of these multinationals, rather than make boyfriends with them! Third, tell Trump to stop, please.

25

Mar

2026

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Imminent death penalty threats in Iran in the light of the latest executions, including on 18 and 19 March 2026, by the Iranian regime (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, every day, Iranian children are found dead or barely alive under the rubble of their homes. Every day, Lebanese and Palestinian children share the same fate. Yet their lives, their deaths, do not deserve a debate here, do not deserve a clear condemnation here. And why? Because the culprits are your friends, in Tel Aviv, in Washington. Even more so, on the very day that Israel advances a law allowing the execution by hanging of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, you are organizing a debate solely on the death penalty in Iran. Why this selectivity? Because I'm against these executions. Whether they happen in Iran, Saudi Arabia or Israel. But you close your eyes when the executioners are your friends. And it's systematic. You sanction Russia attacking Ukraine, but you support the US bombing Iran. You condemn Russia occupying Ukraine, but you support Israel occupying Palestine and Lebanon. You condemn Iran – a religious system, the fate of women, a lack of democracy – but you went to Saudi Arabia, a religious monarchy without democracy or women’s rights. You condemn Iran and its support for Lebanese Hezbollah, but do business with the Emirates, which arm genocidal militias in Sudan. You accuse Venezuela of lack of democracy, but you shut up when Qatar abolishes elections. When our allies occupy, annex, kill, there it goes, no matter, because it is for our oil, our interests, then quiet. Hell is always the others. We reproach the adversaries for what we allow our allies to do cheerfully and we will squeeze claws, all smiles, in Tel Aviv and Washington. The double standard of this Europe is not just a disgrace. It also creates a world of chaos and wars in which we don't want to live and we don't want our children to grow up. So be ashamed, because today, this Europe is not a force for good, but an accomplice to crime. That's enough!

11

Mar

2026

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Rise of political violence, notably by far-left organisations (debate)

11

Mar

2026

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Immunity of International Criminal Court officials and the activation of the EU Blocking Statute to strengthen EU strategic autonomy (debate)

11

Mar

2026

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EUCO and situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

Madam President, most of you don't condemn, even support Trump's and Netanyahu's war on Iran, yet claim to stand with the Iranian people. Now, I dare you to say that to the eyes of that seven-year-old girl, her backpack still beside her desk, that was killed when a US Tomahawk missile hit her elementary school. Dare to admit to the 167 other victims in that school that you are offering European bases to US killing machines. Tell the families of Tehran, a city of 10 million people, that you support the chemical warfare of Israel, as they poison the air with toxic fires and black rain that will cause cancers for decades. Tell the Iranian people how much you really love them, while from Golestan to Chehel Sotoun, Western bombs damage centuries-old cultural heritage. Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iraq. Your bombs never brought democracy and never will. They bring chaos, death, destruction and the unbearable silence of children who will never come home.

10

Mar

2026

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Tackling barriers to the single market for defence - Flagship European defence projects of common interest

10

Mar

2026

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Cutting red tape to enable a competitive and clean transition – the urgent need to shorten and simplify permitting (debate)

Madam President, 100% of the Belgian population now lives in a PFAS risk area, and 20% even in a high-risk area. These so-called eternal chemicals accumulate in our bodies, are in the soil, are found in drinking water and are linked to cancer and hormonal diseases. But today, the European Union, rather than protecting people, is talking about deregulation. Soon, some large companies will no longer be forced to say what toxic, chemical substances they use, or even how much. And you even want to deprive public authorities of the time it takes to look at whether a project, yes or no, harms public health. Until now, two or three years were considered reasonable, but now I see that for extremely dangerous projects, especially those related to the defence sector, we are talking about two or three months that we would give as time. We obviously can't do a serious investigation into that time. And if we don't have the means to do the investigation: tacit approval. Extremely dangerous. It's going to mean profits for shareholders and cancers for people. It will never be our choice.

10

Mar

2026

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Recommendation on enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty (debate)