Speeches

Dear Chair, European solidarity towards refugees and asylum seekers stems from the consistent application of our fundamental values. Too often, however, the inefficiencies and chaos associated with our European migration and asylum system, and we see integration, are becoming our growing weakness. That is why we have a political and human duty to take such Islamist terrorist attacks seriously, not to ignore, not to diminish. Potential perpetrators of similar attacks must be detected and deported in a timely manner and not unnoticed years after being denied asylum. That is why, in April of this year, we adopted new, stronger European rules that need to bring order and security to the asylum and immigration system. Europe now needs to be united, committed and persistent to implement such rules as quickly as possible, clearly and with adequate financial resources, so that such tragic cases do not happen again.

Two months ahead of the European elections, after eight chaotic years of wandering and thousands of lives lost, we are facing key decisions. Mass illegal crossings of thousands and thousands of unknown people, often instrumentalized in geopolitical games, have for too long brought disorder and suffering, chaos and security threats to both Croatia and Europe. What we have defended from the beginning as civilizational, as common sense, is now adopted as such, and even the most naive recognize that a greater emphasis on security is needed. Stronger border protection, wider use of biometric data and faster deportation of those who do not have the right to asylum. We have no illusion that migration challenges will disappear. The deal isn't perfect, but it's miles better than the chaos we have. Let's show European maturity that in an unprecedented era we can offer concrete solutions, not slogans or cheap emotional ratings.

Dear Chairman, we are here a few weeks ahead of the European elections, which will largely determine the future of Europe. Such a future must include, and this is why we want to confirm with these guidelines, a Europe that can support Ukraine, a Europe that can defend itself, a Europe that develops its competitiveness against some crazy economic experiments. From next year, we will significantly strengthen the institutional capacities of the Western Balkan countries, opening accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, in this context it is also of strategic importance, and with the six billion euros that we should provide through the growth plan for the Western Balkans, we want to further connect the entire region to Europe. Our financial goals must therefore reflect our ambitions, and it is therefore essential to make smart use of limited resources for the benefit of our citizens, for the benefit of our economy, for the support of numerous research projects and for the development of new technology. These guidelines are a step in the right direction.

Dear Chairman, colleague and colleague. The war on our continent, the growing aspirations of other global players, the unpredictability and instability of the world challenge our European long-term, economic and technological global position. With the agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework, we are trying to strengthen European strategic autonomy, ensure strategic investments in the field of green technology, competitiveness, but also in the field of border protection and assistance to the Western Balkan countries. On the other hand, as we heard in this previous speech, we see attempts, broad attempts, turning politics into a circus, attempts at cheap noise versus responsibility, attempts at various forms of fraud versus common sense policies that Europe needs, that will insist on security, that will insist on competitiveness, that will insist on the economy and on everything that creates concrete differences. Today, both in Croatia and throughout the European Union.

The opening of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, with favourable conclusions regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a historic moment at a time when the geopolitical environment is increasingly dangerous and unpredictable. At the same time, we urgently need adequate funding to help Ukraine, but also to invest in competitiveness, in migration and asylum reform and support to the Western Balkan countries. This is a concrete test of European civilization. Now, five months before the European elections. It is not the time for experiments, it is not the time for charlatans, for dilettantes, which we have heard in this discussion today, who have not only done nothing for Croatia or for Europe, but have not even supported the record investment package that is now changing Croatia. This is not the time for pointless outsmarts. It is time for the responsibility of all European leaders, with a common sense approach and a focus on competitiveness and security.

Dear Chairman, Prime Minister, colleagues. The Belgian presidency concludes Europe's institutional cycle ahead of the European elections at crucial moments for our continent and for the lives of Europeans. We are about to formalise a historic agreement on migration and asylum, finally taking a responsible, civilisational and common-sense approach to one of Europe's key challenges. If we want to remain the best place to live in the world, Europe needs to take investment in its security, defence and competitiveness more seriously. We need a serious revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, not least because of the importance of helping Ukraine. Do not neglect, too, the engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina and our immediate neighbours in the southeast of Europe. The European elections are approaching and will set the course for Europe in the turbulent times ahead of us. In this context, I wish the Belgian Presidency success and I wish every good thing in a demanding six months.

Year after year, the European Union faces a series of crisis situations to which European citizens expect a strong, common European response, which is at the same time increasingly difficult to achieve from the budgetary structure. Inflationary pressure is hampering not only the lives of citizens but also a number of economic sectors. The catastrophic consequences of natural disasters leave a mark that needs to be seriously remedied. In addition, this annual budget had to respond to a number of medium- and long-term challenges - security, defence, military mobility, response to migratory pressure, support for Ukraine, but also humanitarian aid where it is most needed. All these elements were important to achieve and strengthen with financial resources, and the degraded security situation Europe simply does not have the luxury of not taking seriously and we need to recognise the importance of investing in security, including in border security. Congratulations to our rapporteur, congratulations also to the representatives of the Council, to the representatives of the Commission for their constructiveness, but at the same time I think it should be clear to all of us that in the long term a single European response will be increasingly difficult without a serious revision of the multiannual financial framework and without a reform of the own resources system.

From year to year, it is becoming increasingly complex to provide adequate resources for the security of European citizens, as well as for Europe's economic and technological competitiveness. Difficult decisions, and the location of limited resources are particularly evident now in times of war and in times of pronounced strategic turmoil in the global environment. We have a responsibility to ensure that these decisions ultimately provide strong support for the strengthening of the European economy, the development of digital and green technologies, innovation, our entrepreneurs and farmers. Today, after the new victims of terrorist attacks in the centre of Europe, but also the continued pressure we see on our borders, but also what is happening outside, and the most naïve, it must become clear that the security of European citizens requires stronger financial support for border management, for the return of those who do not have the right to asylum, as well as for the fight against terrorism and radicalisation. Clearly, we must also not allow European funds to support the activities of terrorist organisations and the promotion of antisemitism. “I congratulate to our repporteur Siegfried Mureşan for the successful position of the European Parliament and I wish him all the best in the upcoming developments with the Council’ I congratulate our rapporteur, Siegfried Mureșan, for the successful position of the European Parliament, and I wish him all the best in the upcoming developments with the Council.

The Honourable Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Colleagues, we are in a time of heightened geopolitical challenges and strategic conflicts of global actors. If we want to resist this, if we want to maintain the standard of living that Europe has today in such an environment, we need to strengthen our strategic sovereignty in terms of the economy, in terms of technological competitiveness and in terms of security. Stronger public and private investment in critical sectors is essential for the transition to a digital and green technology society. Proposals such as this one, the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, are good steps to accelerate the development of high technologies and digitalisation. Above all, it is crucial that smaller, less developed countries, less developed parts of Europe have real opportunities when it comes to the benefits of STEP. Flexibility, on the one hand, as well as alignment with cohesion policy objectives, is the only way we can also ensure balanced development and encourage investment in strategic sectors across Europe, digital technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and energy. We have a responsibility and we have many opportunities that all our generations in all parts of Europe, as well as all Member States, must feel. To this end, we will have to rely, first of all, on our own knowledge, our own resources and our own agility. The fact is that today we live in a more cruel era than at the beginning of this mandate, in an era in which no one will give us anything, but we will have to fight for everything ourselves.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, colleagues, the budget is always the basis for any European action, in the Member States, in our neighbourhood and beyond. At a time of tectonic changes in a fundamentally changing world, this is more obvious than ever before. We have exhausted the multiannual financial framework, we have exhausted and we do not have the tools at our disposal for any possible future crises. The Commission recognises this. Parliament has recognised this and warned about it for some time. The Ukraine Facility is good, positive and should be welcomed. However, it is clear to all of us here that he is not and will not be enough. In political terms, all our hesitancy will be exploited from both the left and right by different extreme political groups, political groups that want to undermine Europe, political groups that do not understand European policies, but that understand citizens' concerns. The more we hesitate, the less trust citizens will have. Unfortunately, in some parts, this is already happening. Already now, we need stronger financial action on the issue of irregular migration movements, on the issue of maintaining serious ways of financing cohesion policy. It is time to return to common sense policies, it is time to return to financially sustainable policies, it is time for a serious, systematic and thorough revision of the multiannual financial... (Chair took the floor)

Dear Chairwoman, every athlete, every woman deserves equality, deserves deep respect and respect. Women's sport is like men's sport, a life of work, a life of hard work, a life of great renunciation and suffering with the aim of ultimate success: Be the first, be the best, be who you are. But for women, like men, to be able to compete with each other, to be able to win fairly, they must be women, let's say loudly, let's say openly. Throughout history, many have sought an easier path to success through cheating, doping, hormones. Today, ideological experiments imposed by some, trying to blur the line between women and men, place a new burden and new injustices on women's sport. They plant people who act like women, and then in the fields, in the pools, and in the ring, they come to life over women. This is insane and women are the ultimate victims of such social experiments that pollute sports and lead to social discord. Let's protect the dignity of sports, protect the dignity of athletes and enable fair competition free of any ideological whims.

First of all, I think that when I spoke of such moralizing tones, it was part of what, unfortunately, was heard from the left. I have also noted, and we insist on this, that the full implementation of this agreement is needed with the main aim of reducing irregular migration, suppressing any criminal networks that profit from such hypocritical, cynical exploitation of those whose desire to come to Europe we can understand at some human level, but we also have to understand that simply all the injustices of the world cannot be solved by asylum in Europe and we simply have to understand that the situation as it is today is in any case not sustainable.

The cradle of Western civilization, the Mediterranean, has for years been a symbol of a structurally unsuccessful migration policy and deep deficiencies in the protection of external borders. Criminal, smuggling networks illegally introduce hundreds and hundreds of people into European territory on a daily basis, to a large extent, from Tunisia. That is why I welcome the agreement that should focus on disrupting criminal networks of smugglers and preventing human tragedies in the Mediterranean. There is no immediate solution, but stronger external border protection with the help of third countries is a completely logical measure. We must not and cannot give precedence to some moralizing tones that we hear today in this debate, at the expense of the security of our citizens who witness on a daily basis the dramatic influx of migrants. Now we need to insist on the full implementation of the agreement and now we need to insist that we do everything to counter the uncontrolled migration flows that inevitably lead to the destabilisation of all societies. (The speaker agreed to answer the question raised by raising the blue card)

–The Honourable Chairman, the anti-civilisation Russian aggression against Ukraine, has helped Europe understand that the issue of security, the issue of defence, cannot be taken for granted or left to chance. The Ukrainian resistance helped Europe understand that today Western civilization is fought not only with words, but above all with deeds. In such a context, fostering joint procurement should strengthen the European defence industry, reduce competition between Member States, prevent fragmentation of the defence sector and improve coordination and cooperation. On the budgetary side, the funds will certainly have to be more significant in the future, but it is crucial that we have reached the basis for a broader European strengthening of our defence industry. The Multiannual Financial Framework is almost empty. That is why we call once again for a serious revision, for concrete proposals to be considered and for the European budgetary mechanisms we need to be further strengthened in an increasingly dangerous world.

Dear Chairwoman, colleagues, tragic scenes from the Mediterranean that we are witnessing remind us once again that in the absence of a comprehensive system and agreement on migration and asylum, Europe is left largely to the will of smugglers of people gambling on human destinies. The recent visit to Lampedusa, together with other colleagues from the Civil Liberties Committee, has made it fully aware once again that this island is also another, perhaps the best, symbol of dysfunctional European politics, migration and asylum. If we want to avoid the repetition of tragedies and the intensification of the migratory pressure that this island, as well as the whole of Europe, has been subjected to for years, we must approach this intelligently, boldly, without emotional blackmail and without ideology. Europe, without any dilemma, has a duty of solidarity towards those whose lives are in danger. At the same time, we must not indirectly support the various organised networks of profit-making smugglers, selling dangerous and deadly arrangements across the Mediterranean. We need to support Frontex, we need to support the Coast Guard in their challenging work, as well as the countries that bear the brunt of uncontrolled migration. We urgently need a common European agreement on the migration and asylum system.

Dear Chairman, horrific mass executions, the genocide of Srebrenica was the culmination of the crimes of the Greater Serbian Milosevic regime in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Croatia. Such a policy was defeated primarily militarily, with the courage of the Croatian Army, the Croatian Defence Council in cooperation with the Bosniak forces that managed to save Bihać from the Srebrenica scenario. This was made possible by Dayton. This enabled an independent Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it also enabled today's system of government, based on constructive peoples and the multi-ethnic character of the country. Today, unfortunately, some are dangerously denying the state, denying Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also some others, unfortunately, similarly dangerously deny the multi-ethnic character of the state through electoral legislation by which one people imposes on another people the choice of political representatives. It is encouraging progress, it is encouraging the dedicated work of the current government, but there is also much left to do ...(Chair took the floor)

The new technological era in which we live is a geopolitical ruthless era in which no one waits for anyone and in which nothing is free. In a tectonically changing world, where global players compete for the best possible position, Europe must also secure its place with this legislation. We can and must be faster in technological transformation, where chips are an indispensable component. In this way, we will secure a larger share of the global semiconductor market, but also prevent future supply crises. The more than €3 billion available to boost R&D is an exceptional opportunity for Europe, for European science and innovation, entrepreneurship, but also for all Member States. We are aware that in the long run we will need to invest even more resources, both European and national, if we really want to move closer to our strategic goals. However, this is already a big step and this is in any case a step in the right direction.

Dear Chairwoman, colleagues, starting a family, creating a new life and desire for parenthood are one of the fundamental, most intimate, but also the most sensitive areas of human life. We have also heard in this discussion attempts to justify commercially contracting pregnancy, commercially contracting childbirth with some supposedly noble goals. Unfortunately, regardless of possible noble goals in some situations, I cannot agree with that at all. Surrogate motherhood grossly violates the dignity of all involved. The most insulting is the human integrity of the surrogate mother, whose body is exploited for someone else's goals, whose body is exploited - often with a commercial background. Even when there is consent, as with human trafficking, it is often conditioned by complex life circumstances where this very financial dimension, unfortunately, sometimes seems the only possible way out of life's problems. In essence, pregnancy can under no circumstances be a service that can be purchased. The birth of a child cannot be some kind of legal service that can be contracted, and neither the child nor the body of a woman can be an object to fulfill the wishes of others. We must be extremely careful and prevent any instrumentalization, prevent exploitation, prevent ideological experimentation and the transformation of both women and children into products of the industry.

Dear Chairman, colleagues, the continuous increase in illegal crossings, the inconceivable numbers of immigrants and smugglers and the increasing migratory pressure on the Mediterranean, on the area where it was created, where Western civilization was created, once again rings alarm, once again points to the alarming situation at our common external borders. Europe still has no control. Europe still has no mechanisms and no way to stop the creation of new and new waves of migration. The asylum system with mass abuses is completely dysfunctional and countries closer to the border, such as Italy, Greece, Croatia, bear a disproportionate part of the burden. What is clear, however, even from this debate, is that the policy of verse migration has failed. The approach taken so far simply cannot be a sustainable way of managing migration and it is understood today by most Member States, as they understand the need to find an agreement between Member States, but also to find an agreement here in the European Parliament. That is why the encouraging step of last week's agreement between the interior ministers, which needs to be welcomed, is the key legislative proposals that will be crucial because it is crucial, ultimately, to find this balance between responsibility and solidarity. I think we can do this with this proposal and I hope that it will happen before the elections.

Dear Vice-President, Commissioner, colleague and colleague. As the central technology of the industrial revolution, artificial intelligence is changing our society at an incomprehensible speed and there will be no human activity that will remain intact. Like all tools, it can be used for both good and evil, for better medical diagnosis, higher quality of life, higher productivity, less uniform work, but also for dystopian scenarios, mass control or social evaluation systems. This is why we need to seize opportunities and minimise risks by putting in place clear rules. Caution and fuses are necessary, but unreasonable opposition to certain applications, such as biometric identification to find missing children, seems completely missed. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a historic act. Europe needs a trust framework, Europe needs legal certainty and Europe also needs innovation, innovation and competitiveness. This document can do that. So congratulations to everyone involved in making this. I was also pleased and I hope that with this and in negotiations with the Council, we can achieve a good, quality framework.

Dear Chair, colleagues and colleagues. Today, Europe is under increasing migratory pressure, especially from the Member States at the external border, including my country Croatia. Asylum - the international right to protection - is being dramatically abused across Europe and this is a fact. That's why we all have an obligation together and here, in the European Parliament, in other European institutions, in European society, to approach this issue soberly, to approach this issue together and to remove pressure from our borders. Today we set the rules for the future. We all need a little more togetherness, a little more responsibility, and a little less ideological passion. We need a little more strategic thinking and a little less emotional blackmail, because ultimately it is about the security of our borders. About the security of our territory and the security of the whole of Europe.

Dear Chairman, dear colleagues, the Mediterranean as the cradle of Western civilization, our civilization, as well as the directions we are witnessing in the immediate vicinity of the Croatian border are under strong migratory pressure. This reminds me a lot of the migration crisis of 2015. Clearly, along with determination at the borders, solidarity towards those most in need of protection is also necessary. According to, above all, Ukrainian refugees, but also those in need fleeing across the Mediterranean, are trying to find peace and security that they do not have in their countries. However, the situation regarding search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean is not satisfactory. It is not reasonable and sustainable to leave the patrolling of the southern sea border in the Mediterranean to NGOs. We need a new and more responsible migration and asylum system, a system that can respond to this crisis, that stands in solidarity with those who are really in need, but also unwavering towards smugglers who threaten the security of our continent. That is why I welcome the adoption of positions on key legislative proposals, the reform of the migration and asylum system in the committee responsible, and I hope that together with the Council of the European Union, we will move closer to a more responsible, resilient and normal system as it exists today. Migration is a source of concern for more than 70% of Europeans. We must not miss this historic moment, this historic opportunity, because we must remember that today we decide how we live and work tomorrow, that today we decide whether we live tomorrow in peace and order or whether we live tomorrow in chaos.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, year after year, Europe has been facing events that put our preparedness, readiness and resilience to the hardest tests. Year after year with the budget, with the budgetary procedure, we once again have an important task to set out Europe’s priorities and determine how much funding we wish to allocate in order to achieve them. The focus is not only on the challenges that are currently on our doorsteps – and there are many, but also on investments with which we need to achieve a stable future for Europe, a stable future for our citizens, primarily through digital and green transition, but also through tackling uneven demographic change and uneven development. At the same time, we cannot neglect issues affecting Europe’s security, including our capacity to deal with the growing migration flows. We need funds for better border management. We need funds for necessary infrastructure, including the humanitarian assistance, including the reception capacities, because we need them to really remain and maintain the level which will match our clear commitment for a comprehensive migration pact. The budget is much more than just a financial document, it’s a statement of our values and let it reflect the priorities and values of our citizens, and let us support a stronger and more competitive Europe.

Dear President, Honourable Commissioners, colleagues, children, family formation, parenting, but also the desire for parenthood are some of the most sensitive areas of human life, and the adoption of children is probably the noblest act of an adult human being. Unfortunately, what can be an act of fulfillment for someone else, primarily a human trafficker, can be an opportunity to gain benefits, and for the child himself, if the minimum civilizational conditions are not met, for example, getting to know adoptive parents, life trauma. That is why we have the responsibility to make the process of adopting a child from another country more transparent and legally flawless. In the process, all unknowns, all fears, first of all for the child himself, must be eliminated. The adoption of a child must not have financial motivation for either side. Adopting a child should not take children, should not treat children as an object. Adopting children is not and cannot be a cultural or ideological experiment. We have the right to help children in need, but we do not have the right to take them away from their parents. We have the right to adopt a child in need from a foreign state, but we do not have the right to exploit the institutional weaknesses of foreign states. We have the right to strive to be parents, adoptive parents, but we do not have the right to treat children as an object. Let us protect the most vulnerable among us, the children, no matter what country they are in, because their rights go far beyond all our rights and all our desires.

Dear Chairman, thank you very much. Presidents, colleagues, along with the Baltic neighbours Lithuania, but also Ukraine, and Croatia, my country, throughout its history fought against repression, fought for freedom, preserving its identity, preserving its language and preserving its culture. All this until our freedom was taken for granted and many disputed it above all, stronger and larger neighbours. Both Croatia and Ukraine have suffered aggression, Croatia has defended itself, liberated itself, and today it knows very well what Ukraine is going through. Years of prepared aggression, strong propaganda strikes, but also orchestrating and supporting internal rebellion. This is what Ukraine lives today, it survived Croatia and essentially all this was prepared, perhaps in different forms, for the Baltic states. Over the past decade, the Baltic States have experienced disinformation attacks, as well as attacks on their digital infrastructure. Ukraine also suffers the most attacks on civilian infrastructure today. Croatia, although far from any military threat, is still exposed to various cultural resettlements. Although we are different in many ways and in different historical moments, one thing is very much common to us. We know who we are, we know what our values are and we know where we belong. And that is why it is most important that every corner of Europe, no matter how far away we may sometimes seem from any war or digital battlefield, that our freedom, our security and our future is what is decided in Ukraine today.