Speeches

Dear Chair, one in six young people is exposed to cyberbullying. Violence through digital platforms is spreading rapidly and has long-lasting consequences, especially on children and young people. Despite existing regulations in European countries, the level of cyberbullying continues to rise. The differences between Member States in defining and sanctioning cyberviolence unfortunately lead to uneven protection of victims. In other words, security must not depend on which country we are in. At the same time, we are facing new and increasingly complex forms of abuse, from non-consensual sharing of intimate content to the misuse of artificial intelligence. These challenges transcend borders and require a common European response. Urgent action is needed at European Union level to better apply existing legislation, apply strong sanctions for cyberbullying, restrict internet access for children, and invest heavily in the prevention of cyberviolence. Education, digital literacy and awareness-raising must become our key tools in the fight against this scourge. A secure digital space is not a privilege, but the right of every individual, no matter where he or she lives.

Under conditions where U.S. companies account for up to 85 percent of the European digital market, it's hard to talk about some sort of European autonomy and sovereignty. This is confirmed by the fact that of the 10 000 online platforms operating in the EU, only the seven largest generate 69% of revenue. Today, key segments such as search and social media are dominated by foreign platforms, which is unsustainable from the perspective of European security and competitiveness. The Digital Markets Act must allow European companies to finally start seriously competing with American and Chinese giants. The rules on interoperability, access to data and non-discrimination of European companies must be applied in practice and not just remain a dead letter. At the same time, Europe must invest in the development of its own digital databases for data storage and create the conditions for their growth. Without a strong European digital sector, there is no real competition, no data protection, and no digital sovereignty for the European Union. That's why we must resist foreign pressure, especially from Washington, and finally start defending the interests of our citizens, not Chinese and American. big tech a corporation.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, Europe is increasingly facing shortages of medicines. This is a clear signal that we need to strengthen our pharmaceutical competitiveness, strategic autonomy and bring medicine production back to European soil. In this context, the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive is a shot at one's own leg, as passing on a huge part of the costs to the pharmaceutical industry carries the risk of producing the opposite effect and leading to further shortages of medicines in Europe. Industry representatives warn of serious deficiencies in existing assessments. For example, according to the European Commission's assessment, four drugs are considered responsible for as much as 58% of the total toxic load. However, laboratory data show that their actual share is less than 1%. Such a discrepancy between the assessment of scientific evidence cannot and must not be the basis for making far-reaching decisions. In addition, a key problem lies in the lack of reliable data on the actual impact of its implementation. Different analyses and assessments produce conflicting results, which means that at this point we simply do not know what the consequences of applying the Directive will be. Honestly, this excessive flexibility that we've heard a lot about today certainly doesn't help security and long-term planning. Such uncertainty is particularly dangerous in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, where even the smallest disruptions can lead to shortages. In short, too many unknowns to start implementing the Directive. Indeed, the more consultations there are, the more new unanswered questions. Because of all the above, we insist on introducing a one-year moratorium on the implementation and conducting an objective, science-based study of the impact on the supply of medicines in the European Union. It's a too serious topic to blindly introduce something that can have severe long-term consequences.

Honourable Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Colleagues. Obesity is one of the most serious public health problems in the European Union. According to Eurostat, more than half of the adult population in the EU is overweight. Unfortunately, statistics show that Croatia, the country from which I come, is the country with the highest proportion of overweight people in the European Union. 65% of adults in Croatia are overweight, and the fact that around 35% of children face the same problem is particularly worrying. This means that we are facing this problem from an early age, which in the long run increases the risk of many health problems and puts an additional burden on health systems. Obesity is directly associated with a number of chronic diseases; from cardiovascular and neurological to certain types of cancer. In addition to health consequences, it carries significant social and economic costs as it increases health care costs and reduces quality of life. Therefore, we need to look at this topic in the context of European policies focused on heart health and the prevention of chronic diseases that we are actively working on. The key is to invest more in prevention. We need to promote a healthy and balanced diet more actively, such as a Mediterranean diet based on olive oil and quality and minimally processed foods. It is equally important to work on educating citizens, especially children and young people, in order to develop healthy eating habits from an early age. In this context, I also look forward to the European Commission's proposal for a mandatory and uniform front-of-pack nutrition label that will make it easier for consumers to identify and choose healthy products. Consumers must receive full information about the food they eat, which, unfortunately, is not the case today. In addition to proper nutrition, regular physical activity is equally important. By promoting a more active lifestyle and increasing the availability of sports content, we can significantly reduce the burden of obesity-related diseases and improve the quality of life of our citizens. Colleagues, it is time to address this topic more seriously, because investing in prevention means investing in a healthier, more resilient and stronger Europe.

The enlargement of the European Union to the countries of Southeast Europe is necessary, but not at all costs. Each candidate country should only be considered individually and admitted to membership once it fulfils all the conditions that the existing Member States had to fulfil. There is no collective entry into the EU, and especially there is no entry across the line. The report on the enlargement strategy commends Montenegro and Albania for the progress they have made on their European path. However, the report is insufficiently critical of Serbia, which remains the main factor of instability in Southeast Europe. The spread of Greater Serbian influence is particularly visible in Montenegro, where Belgrade, with the help of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the ruling coalition, has an increasingly strong influence. Pro-Serbian forces in power through recently passed laws on internal affairs and ANB are doing everything to take full control of the security apparatus in Montenegro. This is an extremely dangerous situation in which Serbia and its proxy Montenegro is becoming a major security threat to this part of Europe. I ask the European Commission to finally snap and stop this madness until it's too late.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, colleagues. The Single Market is the foundation of our economic strength and our most important comparative advantage in an ever-increasing global struggle, especially vis-à-vis the US and China. Thanks to the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, we have created a space of almost 450 million people that stimulates innovation, investment and economic growth. Unfortunately, the single market is still not truly unique. This is particularly evident in the services sector, which constitutes the largest part of the European economy, but remains burdened by fragmentation, regulatory divergence and administrative barriers between Member States. If we want a stronger and more competitive Europe, we must finally eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and allow the economy to finally breathe. Furthermore, the strengthening of the single market must go hand in hand with the fight against unfair competition. European companies operate to the highest standards, unlike a large part of international competitors. We must not allow foreign corporations, which do not have to meet even the approximate health and safety standards as European ones, to destroy our producers, industry and farmers. Inflation, in particular the rise in food prices in poorer Eastern European countries, remains a major problem within the EU. The same products are often twice as expensive in the same supermarkets as soon as the border is crossed, as is the case in Croatia. One of the causes is obviously the cartels of large corporations. This is why I call on the European Commission to take this seriously by improving the application of the existing rules and revising the rules on unfair trading practices. There is no single market while there are first- and second-class citizens depending on which country they live in.

Dear President, Commissioners, colleagues, targeted deportations of Christians to Turkey under the pretext of national security are another in a series of systematic attacks on Christians, who are today the most persecuted religious community in the world. While Nigeria kills thousands of Christians and destroys hundreds of churches every year, in other parts of the world they face different but equally serious forms of persecution: administrative bans, deportations, closure of churches and denial of legal protection. This is exactly what we see today in Turkey, where hundreds of foreign Christian pastors, missionaries and members of their families have been deported via N82 and G87 security markings without evidence, without trial and without a real possibility of appeal. Such practice constitutes a serious violation of freedom of religion and fundamental legal standards. The radical Islamization of society that has been carried out for years to the detriment of Christians has become a worrying trend that requires a clear and decisive political response. The European Union cannot speak of human rights and at the same time remain silent when Christians face violence in Africa or administrative persecution in our immediate neighbourhood. Our credibility is measured precisely by our willingness to consistently defend freedom of religion everywhere and without double standards. That's why I'm saying three clear things today. First, Turkey must immediately stop arbitrary deportations of Christians and abolish administrative security features used without transparent procedure and judicial oversight. Secondly, the European Union must work uncompromisingly in political dialogue with Turkey, but also globally, to protect Christians and freedom of religion. And third, it is time for the EU to finally appoint a Special Envoy for the Protection of Persecuted Christians in the World to systematically monitor the persecution of Christians, include international agreements and make the fight against it an integral part of our foreign policy. Colleagues, the European Union must not remain a passive observer because the day Europe stops defending persecuted Christians, it will cease to be the Europe we know.

The report on the implementation of the Common Foreign Security Policy underscores the strategic importance of South East Europe and the need to stabilise this space. One of the most important countries is Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order for BiH to seriously move towards European integration, equality of all three constituent peoples is necessary. Unfortunately, this is not the case at the moment. Unitarist Sarajevo policy denies the fundamental postulates of the consortia of federalism, which are the foundation of European multiethnic states, such as Belgium. When we add to this the strong Islamist influence on many authors in BiH, including those who present themselves as urban and progressive, it is clear that there are many reasons for concern. Therefore, it should be made clear today that without the electoral reform, which will ensure the legitimate representation of Croats at the level of the Presidency of the state, Bosnia and Herzegovina will face a new political reality that includes three federal units. Colleagues and colleagues, without urgent electoral reform there is no stable BiH, and without the stability of the European Southeast, there is no stable European Union.

Thank you very much, thank you for the very broad support for this file. On the basis of Rule 60(4), I would like to ask you to refer the file back to the Committee for Interinstitutional Negotiations.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Colleagues and Colleagues, the Critical Medicines Act makes it clear that the health of European citizens must not be harmed by naive faith in the good will of foreign powers. This law strengthens the production of medicines in Europe, introduces strategic projects and joint procurement that puts security of supply ahead of the exclusive logic of the lowest price. This protects patients and strengthens the health systems of all Member States, regardless of their size or bargaining power. It is particularly important that we introduce a clear obligation that those who use European money to build production capacities must primarily supply medicines to European patients. Solidarity must not remain a mere principle, and therefore we establish mechanisms for coordination and, where necessary, mandatory dispatch of medicines to countries suffering from shortages. In particular, I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs for their constructive cooperation, open dialogue and willingness to compromise, as well as all the staff who contributed to this report through their professional and selfless work. Voting on the report tomorrow, we make the political decision that Europe will no longer yield to blackmail and depend on the arbitrariness of foreign powers, but actively strengthen its own industry and health system for the benefit of our patients. Therefore, for the end, I ask you, both sides, do not allow that due to unconnected issues and ideological conflicts, which have nothing to do with the topic, we endanger the adoption of this extremely important law.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, Vice-President, colleague and colleague, the current international order is dead. We have entered a time when the stronger wins and only the naked force is seen. If Europe does not become independent in key strategic areas, such as food, medicine and weapons production and energy, it will turn into a failed and marginal part of the world. Trump's policy best illustrates what I'm talking about. While he redefines prices blockbuster drugs in America, making agreements with Big Pharma About tens of billions of dollars of investments in the US, Europe is as late as ever. We are increasingly dependent on the import of generic drugs from India and China, and Trump is threatening to make us dependent on the import of expensive innovative drugs from America. It is high time that we take something seriously and the Critical Medicines Act is therefore of enormous importance. This law strengthens the European pharmaceutical industry as a strategic industry. Our goal is to strengthen the production of medicines on European soil through clearly defined strategic projects that will have the regulatory, administrative and financial support of the European Union. These projects should stimulate the opening, expansion and modernisation of production facilities, stimulate research and development and provide stable and predictable conditions for investment. This is exactly what we propose in this report, both to build infrastructure for the production of critical medicines and to build production capacity for medicines of common interest, such as those for rare diseases. It is high time for Europe to once again become a desirable destination for the production of medicines. Joint procurement of critical medicines and medicines of common interest is an essential part of the report. It creates a strong tool to prevent and address shortages, but also strengthens the negotiating position of small Member States, giving patients timely access to medicines, regardless of the country in which they live in the European Union. In doing so, we clearly stipulated in the report that the price should no longer be the only condition for the award of the contract. Security of supply, resilience of supply chains and manufacturing of medicines in the European Union must become clear and mandatory criteria for the award of joint procurement contracts. This is why companies producing more than half of medicines – active ingredients in Europe – will be given priority when purchasing them within the EU, creating a strong incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to invest in manufacturing in Europe instead of in the US or China. Furthermore, if we build and strengthen production capacities with European money, then it must become a clear obligation for medicine manufacturers towards European citizens. That is why the report makes it clear that users of European funds must primarily supply medicines to the European Union. Colleagues, medicine shortages are today one of the biggest challenges for European health systems. The problem is further deepened by uncoordinated stockpiling in individual Member States’ warehouses. At the same time, we do not have accurate data on how many medicines are currently missing in the European Union. We do not know how real stocks of azithromycin or other critical medicines are, so the establishment of a European storage coordination mechanism is necessary. I am particularly proud that the report establishes a mechanism of mandatory redistribution of medicines to countries experiencing shortages, as a last resort, so that solidarity between Member States is real and operational in the event of a crisis. As we are in the process of agreeing a new Multiannual Financial Framework, I want to seize the opportunity and strongly advocate for sufficient health funding and a separate health budget line. That's why the report creates a safety fund for critical medicines. Colleagues, in this dramatic moment of fundamental changes in international relations, the European Union must strengthen its own production, but also build strategic partnerships with reliable international partners. Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation, but smart cooperation. Therefore, the Critical Medicines Act is not just a technical regulation. It is a political decision for Europe to take responsibility for its own resilience, the strengthening of its industry and the health of its citizens. This law sends a clear message to patients that their safety and availability of medicines are at the heart of European policy.

The new consumer agenda for 2030 must be a strong response to the challenges that European consumers face on a daily basis. During my work in the European Parliament, I have taken part in a number of initiatives that have a clear direct objective of strengthening consumer protection in the European market. The common charger, new rules on honey labelling, stricter rules on consumer credit and the right to repair are just some of the initiatives we have worked on that bring better protection to citizens. While European consumers already enjoy one of the highest levels of protection in the world today, we cannot stop there. Our ambitions must remain great. I believe that there is significant scope for the consumer agenda to be more ambitious by 2030, especially when it comes to unfair commercial practices by large international companies. In a time of generated inflation, which directly reduces the purchasing power of citizens, we are witnessing increasing abuses of market power. Of particular concern is the practice of selling the same products in different Member States at substantially different prices. In some cases, including Croatia, prices are two to three times higher than in neighbouring Member States, in particular for food products. Such behaviour must be put to an end. That is why I call on the European Commission to address this issue clearly and decisively as part of the consumer agenda and to revise the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive as soon as possible. There must be no first- and second-class consumers in Europe.

Dear Chairman, Commissioner, colleague and colleague, the current international order is dead. The brutal geopolitical struggle for world domination is manifested in an increasingly intense global struggle to attract investment in the pharmaceutical sector. Medicines are Europe's most successful export product and the pharmaceutical industry is the sector with the highest added value and level of technological sophistication. However, the European Union is highly dependent on imports of active pharmaceutical ingredients. 80% of active ingredients for generic medicines are produced outside the European Union, mostly in China and India, making our supply vulnerable and directly jeopardising the availability of therapies for patients. Europe may not understand the importance of drug manufacturing and think only sometimes in the auto industry, but Trump understands the situation very well. While we're debating here, the U.S. government is signing contracts with individual big pharma companies about tens of billions of dollars of investments in the US, while Europe is on the margins. It is also pushing them to radically lower the prices of medicines for the US market, which can very well have an impact on prices in Europe. Today, in the Public Health Committee, we passed the Critical Medicines Act. Europe must put its interests first and the Critical Medicines Act does just that. Through the ‘buy European’ principle, we create a strong incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to invest and produce on European soil. Also, by defining strategic projects, we will enable faster and easier construction and modernization of production capacities in the European Union. It is the most concrete European response to the protectionist policy of Washington so far. Ultimately, there must be no first- and second-order patients in Europe. Access to medicines must be guaranteed for European citizens, no matter in which part of the European Union they live. This is why, through joint procurement, we will make it possible for patients from all interested EU countries to procure medicines earlier and at more favourable prices than before. Ladies and gentlemen, preserving our own production of medicines is one of the key issues for the survival of the European Union. So let's finally put our own interests first and stop acting like vassals of foreign interests.

Dear Chair, when this report calls on the Commission to ensure universal access to gender-responsive healthcare, this opens the door to the possibility of enabling children to change their gender. When the report asks the Commission to apply sanctions against countries where there is limited access to abortion, it advocates abolishing the right to conscientious objection of doctors and other medical staff as a basic right that is protected by many Member States’ legal systems. When the report calls for the non-existent right to abortion to be included in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, it directly calls for a violation of European law. Colleagues, the issue of termination of pregnancy is not a competence of the European Union. This is the exclusive competence of the Member States, which decide on this matter themselves in accordance with their constitutions, traditions and values. The European Union does not have the power to impose views on states on abortion, nor should it do so. That is why I invite you to vote against this ideologically extreme report and show that life, not the culture of death, is being promoted in the European Parliament.

Dear Chairman, health is a sector of strategic importance for the European Union, as also stated in the Draghi report. Quality health systems mean a productive population and lead to GDP growth, and the pharmaceutical industry is the most important export segment of the European economy. A few years ago, the European Health Union was proclaimed with great publicity and then it seemed that health would indeed become one of the top priorities of the European institutions. Unfortunately, we see that this is not the case, and the best indicator is the proposal for a new seven-year budget. There is no longer a specific EU4Health programme and health is mixed with other priorities, so we do not know how much money will really be allocated to it and everything is left to the discretion of the Commission, which is unacceptable. Europe needs strong and ambitious, secured funding for health and biotechnology, including strategic projects provided for in the Critical Medicines Act. Lessons learned from the poor experience of reducing health spending during the MFF review, this time we have to act differently. Investing in health care is not a cost. It is an investment in our resilience, in our economy and in the very future of Europe.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, colleagues, breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in Europe. Regular screening and early diagnosis can reduce mortality by up to 30%, for which Croatia is a positive example. However, too many patients still do not have access to quality screening programmes. This is why prevention and early detection must remain the cornerstone of our public health action. The EU has adopted an ambitious Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. Clear funding, investment in health systems and above all equal access to healthcare in all Member States are essential for its further implementation. In some EU countries, 46-48 new oncology medicines are available to patients within a year, and in some Eastern European countries only three new medicines are available. This is unacceptable and that is why it is important that we finally solve this problem by reforming the pharmaceutical legislation. I am pleased to start working on a report on the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan in the Public Health Committee. This is an opportunity to strengthen the monitoring of its application, to identify shortcomings, but also to demand ambitious and protected health funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. We must also follow the good example of the Consumer Credit Directive, which, for the first time at European level, codified the right to be forgotten for cancer survivors, which we now need to incorporate into other regulations. No one should be discriminated against simply because they have or have had cancer. Europe must show not only that it has a plan, but also the means, determination and ambition to implement it. Investing in prevention and screening today means saving lives tomorrow.

The tragedy in Novi Sad was not an isolated incident, but a reminder of the moral and political crisis in which Serbia finds itself today, which shows us that it does not belong in the European Union as it is today. Vučić is an autocrat and the main implementer of Greater Serbian ideology together with the Serbian Orthodox Church. If it wants to be credible, the Serbian opposition must clearly distance itself from such a policy. The experience of recent protests, unfortunately, shows that the spirit of Greater Serbia's ideology is still felt in the ranks of those who call themselves change. As long as this is the case, any serious transformation of this country will remain only an empty phrase. Today, Belgrade is, unfortunately, the main source of instability in the region. This is best seen in Montenegro, where patterns are visible in Serbia, such as bringing in satirists who are critical of part of the government. The long-term survival of a sovereign Montenegro is at stake, and this is something that is extremely dangerous for the whole of Southeast Europe. Ladies and gentlemen, until Serbia passes the deep catharsis and renounces the destructive Greater Serbia policy of joining the European Union, it is not considered.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, health, biotechnology are key sectors for the European Union. It's not my invention, it's clearly stated in the Draghi report. It is the EU's most competitive, powerful export industry based on advanced technology without which we simply cannot. That is why it is no coincidence that Trump has placed the spotlight on it, and after a unilateral agreement to impose 15% tariffs, he is putting enormous pressure on the relocation of this strategic industry to the United States. What are we doing? The Critical Medicines Act is a step forward, but it is not enough. We need an urgent biotechnology law that will create the conditions for the development of the biotech industry in Europe and make us independent from China, India and the US. Unfortunately, the biotechnology law has been moved to the second half of 2026 by when all major biotech companies will sign agreements on hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in the US. We will see the consequences of this in ten years when we will become completely dependent on the import of drugs from the outside. That is why I ask you that the biotechnology industry and health care on the priority list start to occupy the place at the top that belongs to them. On the other hand, we deal with topics that we do not need to deal with. Thus, the LGBTIQ strategy states on page 15 that the European Commission will support gender recognition based on self-determination without age limits. Does this mean that children will be able to choose their gender on their own without the involvement of their parents? It's absolutely unthinkable to me and I want to believe that I've misunderstood something. That's why I'm asking President von der Leyen for an explanation.