Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for this exchange for being productive. I would like to inform you that I am also invited to report on the initiative in the European Council. It is very, very important that we do this in cooperation with the Member States as Team Europe. But let me say one more word to the right side of Parliament, because they simply did not understand Global Gateway at all. I have said very clearly that European companies, including German companies – a high low – receive support if they want to go abroad. The single market is good, but German jobs are also secured by export opportunities. This is also supported by Global Gateway. I would like to explain this to you again, but for this you have to work in the European Parliament. And if ECR never comes to the deliberations, then unfortunately we cannot include the input either.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear Chloé, dear colleagues! What could South African President Ramaphosa, Congolese President Tshisekedi, President of Colombia, Prime Minister of Armenia and Prime Minister of Grenada have in common? anyone? They all, and a few other Heads of Government and Ministers more, attended the second Global Gateway Forum in Brussels last October and met with the President of the Commission and the whole group of external Commissioners to discuss existing and new Global Gateway projects, to establish new partnerships and deepen existing ones. This shows what I have learned during my travels and in many conversations: there is a great interest in working with the European Union, in particular and explicitly also with European companies, training institutions, investors and experts, in order to create jobs and value on the ground, in order to achieve economic development, industrialisation and integration into international supply chains. The President of Namibia, together with you, Commissioner Síkela, gave us this very impressive message in person during our last visit last September. At the Global Gateway Forum last October, however, two other things took place that are important for the points on which we, as Parliament, are tackling with our proposals for improvement: the establishment of an investment hub as an investment hub. One stop shop for businesses and, unfortunately, a rather catastrophic meeting of the Global Gateway Board, bringing together representatives of Member States and financial institutions. Here is the main problem we need to solve: the involvement of the private sector and the mobilisation of private capital is absolutely central to the initiative. This means that we need to respond more closely to the needs of the private sector. This in turn means faster and more transparent decisions, clear priorities, predictability, adapted financial instruments. In our view, the Global Gateway Board in particular needs to work much more operationally: more frequent meetings, decision-makers need to be brought to a table, flagship projects and our narrative need to be clearly identified so that they are perceived as real lighthouses by our partner countries and also by our competitors. It applies: Get out of the silo and top-down thinking. It is important to ensure the coherence of our policies as an EU and to clearly articulate our interests. In a time of high geopolitical tension, this means that we are clearly putting the goal of economic resilience in the foreground in our external relations as well. Dear colleagues, dear citizens! Economically, the EU is a highly sought-after partner. If we implement the reform proposals for the Global Gateway initiative that we present to you today, we have what it takes to truly deliver: more opportunities for our European companies globally and a much more stable network of partnerships worldwide. Only sky is the limit.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the main concern of European and Western leaders and the focus of the media is the economic impact of the war between Israel, the United States and Iran. When and how the Strait of Hormuz will reopen and when oil and gas production will resume. The Iranian regime, in contrast, is waging war abroad and using the death penalty as a tool of terror at home. On 18 and 19 March, the 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi and two others were executed following grossly unfair trials. Human rights organisations warn this is only the beginning of a new wave of executions. The factual leader of Iran may no longer be a cleric, but Mohammad Ghalibaf, the key figure of the Revolutionary Guards, continues to implement a policy of executions, repression and intimidation against his own people. Women and young people are at the forefront of those targeted. So I ask whoever now seeks to strike a deal with the Iranian regime must demand an immediate halt to executions, the release of political prisoners, an end to sham trails and torture, and access to detainees and prisoners and medical care. I would like to point out that Donald Trump has an astonishingly good record of getting prisoners free. I ask every European politician meeting with representatives of the Iranian regime to carry a list of names of those sentenced to death for the mere crime of protesting for freedom. My list carries the names of Mohammad Amin Biglari, 19 years old, sentenced to death for so-called enmity against God, together with six others: Shahin Vahedparast Kolor, Shahab Zohdi, Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, Amirhossein Hatami, Yaser Rajaifar, Ali Fahim. Also, and again in continuously in the focus, minorities like the Baha'i Peyvand Naeimi. Our eyes – those of the European Parliament – continue to be with the terrorised people of Iran. We will not forget you.

Madam President, no, I would like to stick with the very clear focus of the debate. I propose that we put the urgent human rights situation in the middle of our debate.

Madam President, dear colleagues, I would like to request the urgent inclusion of a Commission statement on the imminent use of the death penalty in Iran. This matter cannot be postponed until April. Executions are not a distant risk; they are happening now and they are targeting the brave protesters of February. Only last week, the 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi was executed. He was subjected to severe mistreatment, his confession extracted under torture. With these executions, implemented and planned, the regime – even if there might be new people – is sending a signal: 'We continue to oppress relentlessly those who ask for freedom and democracy.' Colleagues, we stated that we stand on the side of the Iranian people. Let's send this week a clear signal back to Tehran that we do not turn a blind eye to the further murdering of civilians; that we watch; that we condemn; that we call their names.

Madam President, dear colleagues, let me be very clear from the outset: the EPP Group fully supports the objective of the proposal of colleague Bert-Jan Ruissen. The recent attacks in the Netherlands and Belgium are deeply alarming. These incidents occur more and more often. They are more and more violent. In the meantime, many Jewish citizens in the Netherlands and in Belgium fear for their lives precisely because the situation is so serious. Debating it leads to attention. Exposing violent antisemitism and debating countermeasures needs daylight, not late night. Therefore, since the agenda of this plenary is extremely packed, the EPP proposes to take this item up in the April plenary to ensure that a comprehensive and impactful discussion is guaranteed.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to draw attention to the extraordinary momentum that our cooperation with Canada in the field of raw materials policy could take if we do it right. Canada has announced its strategy these weeks, which can only be described as maximally offensive in terms of defense and raw materials. The current government is doing nails with heads with a clear commitment to new raw material projects and the mobilization of double-digit billions for them. While maintaining environmental and social standards, Canada wants to restart mining as an industrial sector that supplies the defense sector, which is also to be massively strengthened. Dear colleagues, this is a huge opportunity for us, because everything is right for us with Canada: geopolitics, the free trade agreement, the policy priorities – including recycling, for example – and the complementarity of our markets. In order to stay on an equal footing with Canada, it is now important that we also invest, that we think in supply chains and that we continue to integrate our markets and not engage with each other. Buy-European‑ or Buy canadian‑Claims are obstructed.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Three things about Iran. Firstly: credibility. It cannot be the case that there are only ten Member States in the Council that want to list the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. In the face of more than tens of thousands of murdered people, other arguments such as benevolence for nuclear talks must be left behind. I find it really regrettable that we do not have a representative of the Council here today. Secondly: Honesty. We need to check: Do our sanctions work? Where can we steer? How can we increase economic pressure on the regime? And thirdly: Expectation management. In my view, the mullah regime will only be overthrown by a broad and well-organized alliance of Iranians in the country. External support, in this case most likely from the US and Israel, would have to be closely coordinated with the opposition and genuinely aligned with the goal of sustainable development. Regime changes be dedicated. Unfortunately, and I say this with great regret, the EU cannot even contribute to supporting the democracy movement with a satellite link. But we owe sustained political attention, at least to those, dear colleagues, to the Iranian people.

Mr President, dear colleagues, first and foremost, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to anyone who has lost a family member, a friend, a brother or sister in faith at Bondi Beach on Sunday. My prayers also go out to those who were injured and who are still struggling for their lives, and to all those whose memories of Hannukah celebrations will, from now on, be tainted by the sentiment of horror. I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the Jewish Chabad community and the non-Jewish citizens of Sydney for their strength and resilience, gathering again and again after the attack at Bondi Beach, standing united, continuing to spread light and hope. This, as well as the many blood donations since then, is an enormous sign of moral strength and devotion to humanity. But, colleagues, for politicians like us, members of parliament – and even more so for ministers and prime ministers, it is not enough to light candles and express condolences. Our words matter. Our decisions matter. We must ask ourselves, 'do our words incite hatred or empathy? Do we bring upon solutions or are we stuck with stereotypes and mantras?' Has the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not been instrumental for other political purposes in the meantime? Getting dangerously out of hand, threatening our Western societies and values. It is high time to be honest about that, colleagues. The future of many, many Jewish communities is currently at stake, and with it, the model of civilisation as it is laid down in our European treaties. Unfortunately – and we have to be very clear about this too – there are people who do subscribe to the cult of death, who do fuel their lives with violence, sealing off their hearts from human values and judgement. For our own safety, for our physical and mental safety, we have to counter the propagandists and executors of this ideology with the full strength of our security apparatus, ensuring that our children, relatives and neighbours will never be infected by it. The battle against anti-Semitism and against the ideology of death will always continue. We have to fight it courageously every single day.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The 232 deaths in Valencia due to massive rains and floods were unfortunately not a single phenomenon in Europe, but they are a new reality, which in their cruelty can now strike everywhere at lightning speed and from which we urgently need to protect our citizens. In an emergency, crisis mechanisms must be reliable. There is no question that this is the most important lesson from the ‘Dana’ flood for the future. But the implementation of preventive measures is also important, especially for cities, such as the transformation into a sponge city, which we started with EU funds in my hometown of Berlin in 2016. This conversion costs a lot of money and even more time, and it requires a good involvement of the population. European cities can certainly learn from each other in this way. This was demonstrated in particular by my discussions with the experts and representatives of the Committee of the Regions and local authorities. I therefore very much welcome the fact that the Commission is inviting a first Water Resilience Forum at the beginning of December, from which we can all hopefully derive new ideas and support for significant improvements in practice.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, No more development aid from the watering can, but real cooperation through long-term and strategic partnerships between Europe and Africa – this is the new offer that the EU makes to African countries as the main trading partner. To this end, the President of the Commission has taken the initiative to: Global Gateway started. As the European Parliament, we are currently in the process of developing and improving this strategy in terms of the companies involved, their strategic orientation and awareness, their decision-making structures and their financial instruments. The Global Gateway Summit In Brussels last week, my talks on the ground in Africa with companies on both sides have shown that there is a strong interest in working together for real mutual benefit. We have to deliver now. After 25 years of partnership between the European Union and the African Union, it is high time to do so – two Unions, one vision. The upcoming summit in Angola is a great opportunity to bring new dynamism to our relations. Good luck to all involved!

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, what if Hamas refuses to lay down its arms? That's what I asked in the last plenary, referring to the frequently mentioned notion of High Representative Kallas: that there is no military solution. And this is exactly the situation we face today. Hamas has released the living hostages and Israel has withdrawn to the agreed yellow line, enacted a ceasefire and released hundreds of prisoners. The next step should be the disarmament and withdrawal of Hamas from Gaza. Any guess who's not fulfilling its part? The moment Israel withdrew, Hamas fighters returned, executing civilians, rearming, attacking IDF positions. All the pressure must now be on Hamas and its main sponsors, Türkiye and Qatar, to uphold the deal. My recommendation: travel the region instead of giving Hamas the illusion that Europe will help rebuild their terror state. There can be no European money for reconstruction as long as Hamas remains in power. Full stop. There can be no vacuum either. The next diplomatic tasks are clear: establish the peace board and international oversight for Gaza. We need guarantors, verifiers of the ceasefire and credible non-terror-affiliated Palestinians to help form new governance structures. According to the UN declaration you signed, elections in the PA-controlled territories are due within a year – time to accelerate the process. Please convey to the High Representative: she is the EU's top diplomat. There are a dozen urgent diplomatic tasks ahead, and in all of them, Israel must play a key role. So please come up with new messages beyond sanctions or the EU will still be marginalised.

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, now or never. A genuine diplomatic breakthrough is on the table, shaped by President Trump and broadly backed by the Arab and Muslim world, including those with the most influence on Hamas. The plan demands something from both sides, even if it is hard to accept that terrorists sit at the table at all. The plan puts strong emphasis on what matters most to us: better humanitarian aid delivery. Every day counts for civilians in Gaza and the hostages. Therefore, both sides must be pressed to agree quickly. I welcome those European leaders, including Germany, who are engaging to help finalise the plan. For the EU, the plan is also a wake-up call. While Brussels talks about sanctions and cutting trade, the plan creates economic incentives, a special economic zone, lower tariffs and investment opportunities – for everybody. And what has become the pet project of many here – a Palestinian state under PA rule – is mentioned only as a potential result of a long process. The plan, rather, establishes a board of independent Palestinian experts and, in general, international oversight over Gaza. High Representative Kallas often likes to state that there is no military solution. But if Hamas refuses to lay down arms – what then? Should Israel live under permanent threat? And in conclusion – especially today, on the second anniversary of 7 October – I really wish that our European institutions showed the same empathy for the traumatised Israeli people and the unsettled Jewish communities worldwide as they show for the Palestinian cause.

I would now reply in German. This is what I stand for: We recognize that the Israelis are a democracy in which they choose their government, in which they make their decisions. And so I also find it difficult – as many in the room do – to criticise the military action in Gaza, in Gaza City, because we have no better advice, militarily, from any defence minister. They say that the crisis cannot be solved militarily. It's in the room, so to speak. The Israelis are now solving this crisis militarily by eliminating the last cells of Hamas. And I believe that this is also a correct approach if we want to make sure that we really have a future without Hamas' military arm. Let me just say that we are hopefully coming to an end soon, we are already at 40/50 % of Gaza City, and I hope – yes, then I will just stop.

Madam President, dear Vice‑President, dear colleagues, after more than 700 days of war, Israel and Gaza may be entering the final phase: the complete defeat of Hamas's military wing, and hopefully the liberation of the last 20 hostages, including at least 7 Europeans. The EU has no boots on the ground, no role in the ceasefire talks and no seat at the table for Gaza's political future, but we do have a responsibility where we can act, and this is on improving the humanitarian situation. More aid is needed. Humanitarian zones must be real and all actors must cooperate politically. We must set clear boundaries: no deportations, no annexations, no new settlements, but a chance for a terror‑free and prosperous Palestinian state. And finally, we should help Israelis and Palestinians rebuild trust: something we as the EU know from our own history of peace after war.

Madam President, dear colleagues, I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for, hopefully, the broad support for this report on the future of biotechnology and manufacturing in Europe. With this report, we are a big step ahead of the European Commission. We are defining the criteria for our European biotechnology act, which will see the light only in a year's time. Not least, the swift development and production of COVID vaccines in Europe has shown us the strong performance, the innovation potential and the huge productivity of this sector. But biotechnology is not only about pharma and life science. Thank you for subscribing, hopefully, to the broad scope we are advocating for in this report. This report is about a growth strategy for Europe about further igniting, but also about faster commercialising, innovation, about securing supply and value chains, about smarter financing, about globally compatible and lean regulation, and about speeding up our internal procedures. Thank you, colleagues, for sending – in the first year of our mandate – this clear signal of willingness to be competitive in one of the strategic future industry sectors, which provides solutions for our economic and food security, for sustainability and for public health. Let us now make sure that the Commission follows up closely, and I hope to see you all back full of energy in September.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, If China wants it, the bands in Europe stand still. This is how clearly we need to define reality. China is using its rare earth monopoly and our dependence as a strategic weapon – through export restrictions, lengthy licensing procedures and, more recently, the requirement to disclose sensitive corporate data. This delays deliveries, makes production more expensive and jeopardizes our technological sovereignty and security. Rare earths are irreplaceable for our industry, from smartphones to solar systems to defense technology. So far, Europe has hardly any mines or processing facilities of its own. We are now changing this with the implementation of the EU Raw Materials Act. But the current situation shows: We need to act faster and more decisively, including with measures that are effective in the short term, such as better collection, targeted recycling and, if necessary, our own export stops. Economy, politics and finance – everyone must now work together. In commodity diplomacy, we need to shift one gear higher. I ask you, Madam President, to clearly identify the unfair practices at the EU-China Summit and to make every effort to put an end to them. At the same time, we need to move faster in Europe at all levels, with our own projects, new strategic partnerships, targeted stockpiling and more innovation. China is very strategic. We have to do that too. It is high time for the EU to take responsibility and ensure a reliable supply of raw materials for our industrial base, so that Europe's prosperity will continue to exist tomorrow.

I realize that you don't give me anything at all (incomprehensible words) Speaking to Serbia. And I am not answering illusory questions that have nothing to do with the debate here. I am not going into this strategy.

Dear Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Enlargement of the European Union is not an end in itself, it is a strategic offer for peace, democracy, the rule of law and economic development. Accession negotiations begin with a first, welcoming political decision by the EU, but they are not a technocratic automatism; They are based on clear conditions and political will. When it comes to geopolitics, we must not hide behind the individual negotiating chapters. In the Western Balkans in particular, trust is a scarce commodity. If we lose it, we endanger the European perspective of this region. The example of Serbia shows how difficult the balance is. On the one hand, the Serbian leadership's course towards Russia and Kosovo is in direct contradiction with our European values, on the other hand, geostrategic considerations suggest that Serbia should be more closely tied to Europe, for example as a potential partner in the area of critical raw materials. But it is precisely in this sensitive sector that functioning, independent institutions and the trust and support of the population are crucial for the success of joint projects. The EU should be much more decisive in this regard. It could gain a lot of prestige in the eyes of the population if, through the lever of the accession process, it clearly pushed for the fight against corruption, freedom of the press and the rule of law, which are also crucial for genuine, healthy economic development and thus for the country's future viability. We need to show willingness to act, credibility and strategic reliability – only then will we be perceived as the partner we want and need to be.

Without knowing exactly how many skilled workers are still in the queue, so to speak, you also know the initiatives in the European Union regarding legal immigration. We have also set up a talent pool where employers can network with potential employees. I think this is a good initiative, and I am completely with you: We need legal immigration of skilled workers.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Power outages – this is a scenario that, fortunately, is currently extremely rare in the EU thanks to stable electricity grids. However, the energy demand is increasing every day as grid expansion comes to a standstill, not only because of a lack of planning, but increasingly also because cables and transformers are missing. According to the Energy Agency, it now takes up to four years to procure large transformers. Delivery times have almost doubled since 2021, and this is no coincidence. Demand for copper and aluminium will continue to increase by one third by 2050; Without secure supply chains and strategic raw material partnerships, the network will not be expanded. That is why I am also very, very active as a parliamentary representative on the EU Raw Materials Board for a better and secure supply of raw materials. At the same time, we finally need targeted measures to address the shortage of skilled workers. By 2050, more than 2 million additional jobs will be needed in electricity distribution alone. We therefore need a new training offensive, technology-oriented, practical and with more women in the energy sector. Electricity grids are not just infrastructure, but a strategic overall project – industrial policy, raw materials policy, education policy. Thank you to the rapporteur, and now it is time for implementation.

Madam President, High Representative, dear colleagues, since 7 October, we have debated Gaza nearly every plenary. No one here denies the suffering, but despite massive media coverage – often based on Hamas-supplied sources and political theatre across Europe, including university occupations and unilateral recognitions of Palestine – has any of this eased the humanitarian crisis? No. And suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, as loudly demanded by the S&D leader yesterday again, will not deliver a single kilo of food more to those in need. As Chair of the EU-Israel Delegation, I have tried to be an honest broker. I warned early: Israel's break with UNWRA was serious. I also told Israeli partners: if you cut ties, you must propose alternatives. I have tabled amendments in this House to reflect that need. Now is the time to act. Israel, the UN and aid groups must cooperate with one basic condition: that terrorists do not cease the aid. That should be obvious, and yet we cannot agree about it. Why? Because of some 'disdebate'. It's not about solutions. It's about hatred towards Israel. Let me be clear: under international law, genocide is one of the gravest crimes imaginable. It requires mass suffering and proven intent to destroy a group as such. That threshold is extremely high. The International Court of Justice did not find Israel guilty of genocide. It called for humanitarian steps, but it did not confirm the accusation. On the contrary, the court's president, Judge Julia Sebutinde, clearly stated, and I quote, 'no plausible basis for finding genocidal intent'. She called the case 'essentially political'. So I ask the colleagues on the left, why do you keep on repeating this claim? Words matter. False accusations fuel hatred, violence and antisemitism. Some respected members of the Berlin chapter of your party have left it, rather than remaining silent in the face of the anchoring of this toxic narrative. Let us be united as Europeans and all choose truth over ideology, clarity over chaos, and collaboration over boycott.

Mr President, High Representative, dear colleagues, let us speak plainly about who is truly escalating and destabilising the Middle East. Israel, a democratic state, has been fighting for its very existence since 1948. Its core policy objective has remained consistent – to survive, to defend its citizens fleeing from persecution globally, and to live in peace with its neighbours. Peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt, and more recently the Abraham Accords, are proof. On 7 October 2023, Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas and simultaneously assaulted by Hezbollah and the Houthis, terrorist organisations and shadow armies of Iran with one goal – the destruction of Israel and the extermination of its people. Let us be clear, instability in the region, first and foremost, stems from the Iranian regime proclaiming openly 'Death to America!' and 'Death to Israel!'. Unfortunately, the shifting posture of the United States under President Trump is another source of insecurity that we cannot ignore. The US solely has the attributes of a global stabiliser, and we Europeans have often seconded upholding the rules-based international order. But today, our coordination and cooperation is clearly insufficient, whether on Afghanistan, Ukraine, China or Iran. This lack of unity ...

Madam President, dear colleagues, in the plenary of 1 April, I said that 'the moment for realpolitik has come'. And this is what happened. Israel is fighting a total war against Hamas, because it poses an existential threat to its bare existence. Make no mistake: defeating Hamas is not a crazy idea of a right-wing government; defeating Hamas is a goal widely supported by the Jewish people. And, colleagues, unfortunately, I don't hear it clearly enough from the European foreign ministers and Kaja Kallas. It is also in the European interest that Hamas is defeated. With an active and strong Hamas, there will be no peace, no future, no two-state solution. I repeat: we as the EU must share Israel's strategic interest to defeat Hamas. But we also see that the trauma of 7 October and the fact that Israeli hostages are still kept has led to a blind spot in Israel with regard to the destiny of Palestinian civilians. Of course, there can be no deportation, no cutting-off of basic humanitarian and medical aid. We need real, safe spaces for civilians while the military action against Hamas is ongoing. Colleagues, now we need more – not less – collaboration with Israel to make sure that humanitarian aid which has been obtained really reaches those in need ...

Madam President, dear colleagues, the battle to drive Hamas out of Gaza is getting more and more intense. For the first time, Palestinians themselves have also taken to the streets against Hamas. I think we all hope that Hamas, this terrible oppressor of the Palestinian population and huge threat to innocent Israelis, will be defeated once and for all. That is still missing – living hostages will finally be liberated of Hamas tunnels and see light, food and love again. It has been 543 days. We, as the EU, as we all know, do not play a role in the current negotiations. But we could and should start to engage ourselves in the competition of ideas for the day after. I recommend that we do this in close cooperation with the Arab neighbours and the key players in the region. We should initiate and support any kind of process which leads to political emancipation from Hamas and to de-radicalisation. We, as the EU, have insisted that the Palestinian Authority engages in reform and becomes an independent, terror-free Palestinian state, potentially also including Gaza. What we need now are fresh, creative and politically grounded ideas. I would like to invite you, our new high representative, to engage with the Parliament in this regard and to continue visiting the region and testing solutions, together with regional actors, open to our values and respected by both of the conflicting parties.