What Martin spoke about.

23

Nov

2021

DE Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 21-22 October 2021 (debate)

Mr President, I'm glad you're back. Dear colleagues! About a month ago, the Commission President ruled out EU funds being invested in barbed wire and fences. And then you, Mr Michel, travel to Warsaw and announce, together with the Polish Prime Minister, that you can imagine, on the basis of a legal opinion drawn up in your house – i.e. the European Council – building barbed wire and fences precis…

19

Oct

2021

DE Speech

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The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law (continuation of debate)

Mr President! The debate has clearly shown how deep the crisis of the rule of law and democracy is now spreading in the Member States and also here in the House and how much the unculture of anti-democratic thinking and corresponding political action has already spread in the Member States and here in the House. The method is always the same: It is distracted from the topic, fog candles are thrown…

19

Oct

2021

DE Speech

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The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law (debate)

Mr President! Mrs von der Leyen, you spoke at the beginning of your presidency about trying to resolve the existing conflicts with Poland in dialogue. At that time, a rule of law case was already under way against Poland for attacks on the independence of the judiciary. Unfortunately, little has happened since then, and the debate today shows that the conflicts have only escalated further. This pa…

6

Oct

2021

DE Speech

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Banking Union - annual report 2020 (debate)

Madam President, In the EU, the cost of bailing out banks as a result of the great financial crisis was a whopping €1.7 trillion, and at that time it was highly and sacredly sworn that taxpayers would never again be asked to pay to save the monstrous gambler bonuses and megabanks. That was the birth of the banking union, and since then a lot of water has flowed down the European rivers. But not mu…

15

Sep

2021

DE Speech

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State of the Union (continuation of debate)

Mr President! Thank you for the discussion, Madam President of the Commission. What remains of this debate on the state of the European Union? Lots of buzzwords, lots of wishful thinking, but not a convincing idea. And I'd like to help you with that. My idea or proposal for an idea would be that we develop the European Union together into a safe haven, a social safe haven. Three examples: You ment…

15

Sep

2021

DE Speech

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State of the Union (debate)

Madam President, Mrs von der Leyen, you have presented us with a lot of self-praise today, but unfortunately we owe a lot of answers and, above all, a convincing idea for the further development of the European Union. This parliament, 140 former heads of state and Nobel laureates, over 100 countries worldwide are now jointly calling for the suspension of patent protection for the corona vaccines. …

7

Jul

2021

DE Speech

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Review of the macroeconomic legislative framework (debate)

Madam President, The European debt brake prevents the necessary government investment to make EU Member States crisis-proof and future-proof. And in fact, esteemed rapporteur, we also agree that the EU must finally leave the existing debt rules behind. A more active fiscal policy is needed to deal with the pandemic and its consequences and not to shift the costs of the crisis back to the broad mas…

6

Jul

2021

DE Speech

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Presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Presidency (debate)

Mr President, Mr Prime Minister! Now that the political right has spared you very much in the debate, but you yourself are known for fighting with the sword rather than with the foil, I will not withhold from you the joy of a political debate. Your government is taking over the Presidency of the Council at a difficult time for the EU. The EU is still struggling with the pandemic and its consequenc…