Speeches

The Syrian regime has collapsed faster than anyone expected. However, the mere fact that someone fought against Assad does not mean that someone is a democrat, an inclusive and protector of human rights. The strongest group to take power in Damascus is the HTS, which can primarily be described as extremely Islamist, led by a man who has spent five years in prison for terrorism. If we add to that the fact that there are less than 300,000 of the 1.5 million pre-war Christians left in Syria today, that they were persecuted precisely by Islamist rebel groups, it is clear that this is not the time for euphoria. The EU should engage as actively as possible in the Syrian crisis and use all methods of pressure on the new government, as well as its protectors in Ankara, to protect the lives of true Christians, as well as all other minorities in Syria. Of course, if the new government shows in its actions that it wants to behave normally and civilized, it needs to be ensured that the Syrian refugees currently in Europe are returned as quickly as possible so that they can rebuild their country.

Dear Chair, Health prevention is one of the most important tools in preserving the health of citizens and reducing the burden on health systems. According to the World Health Organization, 80% of all heart attacks and strokes are preventable. In addition, between 30 and 50% of cancer cases are also preventable. These data clearly demonstrate the importance of prevention for human health. That is why, following Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, we strongly advocate the adoption of a comprehensive cardiovascular health plan. It is crucial that it contains concrete objectives, a timeframe for implementation, but also that significant funding is provided, as investing in health must not be seen as a cost, but as an investment. The success of our initiatives will also depend on educating citizens, promoting healthy lifestyles, supporting physical activity and reducing risk factors such as smoking and unhealthy diets. It is important that any activity of the European Union in this direction is firmly anchored in scientific facts and preceded by an adequate impact assessment, which is unfortunately not the case here. I would also point out that this is not a matter of binding legislation, but of a matter on which the final decision will be taken by the Member States. Thus, it is not true that the European Union is trying to prescribe and impose something binding on the Member States, as it will ultimately be the Member States who will ultimately make their own decision. In any case, it is crucial that the text where there is a lot of room for improvement is balanced. We should do everything in our power to improve public health at European level, but without excessively interfering with the individual's freedom to choose his or her own way of life.

Dear Chairman, Donald Trump has won and that's a great thing. His victory shows that it is high time for Europe to find itself again. In a world that is becoming increasingly unstable, the global order is undergoing tectonic changes. It is illusory to expect someone else to take care of us and, as a small child, to drag us by the hand. Europe must first and foremost start looking at its own interests in geopolitical, military, energy, economic and any other sense. We need to seriously increase investment in the military and our own military industry after decades of systematic neglect. It is disgraceful that Russia produces more grenades per month than the whole of the EU per year. Our energy policy must primarily be on the trail of being as less dependent as possible on any third country, especially those who sell us energy products at prices that make our products uncompetitive on the global market. Finally, we need a completely new industrial policy that will focus on those sectors that are strategically important and where the EU can compete with others with smartness and its own technology as our key comparative advantages.

Dear Chair, Member States are increasingly confronted with the problem of labour shortages, and 54% of entrepreneurs point out that there is an urgent need to address this problem. Draghi's report rightly noted that the causes of labour shortages are the mismatch of education systems with the needs of the labour market, the declining number of the working population, but also poor working conditions, which certainly include uncompetitive wages. The shortage of skilled labour remains the most important factor limiting production and hinders the strengthening of European competitiveness, and the tourism sector is particularly affected by this problem. In addition, the lack of medical staff, including doctors, nurses and midwives, has long been known and has a significant impact on the quality of healthcare provision to patients. However, importing low-skilled labour from third countries is not a long-term solution to this problem. That is why we must not take a light approach to granting work permits. Therefore, it is important to continuously work on improving working conditions, adapting educational programs to the needs of the labour market, especially in the STEM field, and designing retraining programs. Colleagues, unlimited labour imports are unsustainable in the long run. This is why the EU needs to act urgently at multiple levels. I therefore expect the new Commission to present an Action Plan to address labour shortages in the first 100 days.

According to a Eurobarometer survey, 46% of EU citizens have experienced an emotional or psychosocial problem such as feeling depressed or anxious over the past year, and 89% of Europeans believe that promoting mental health is as important as promoting physical health. However, mental health care is still a taboo topic in many environments, one that is not publicly talked about and that provokes environmental condemnation. That is why today, on World Mental Health Day, it is important to promote mental health care. This is particularly important among young people who are under the burden of financial worries, precarious affordable housing on a daily basis, but also under the burden of false values and the virtual world displayed online. After COVID, mental health has also become one of the most important topics in Brussels and Strasbourg. Today, issues such as young people's mental health, overload, Bornout at work and to protect the mental health of the most vulnerable finally speaks openly here in the European institutions. Following up on this, last year the European Commission presented a Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health. This is a good but not enough step to solve the problem. It is necessary to adopt a comprehensive strategy on brain health that will include mental illnesses. Compared to the 2023 document, it must have more ambitious objectives, more concrete metrics for measuring results, timelines and, most importantly, significantly increased funding. Colleagues, mental health is inseparable from physical health and that is why it is important to give it the attention it deserves and make it a priority in this mandate.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, the Medical Devices Regulation adopted in 2017, according to which all medical devices, e.g. ECG devices or stethoscopes, must be re-certified through notified bodies, and this applies to products already on the market. Brexit made things even more complicated as many of the notified bodies were located in the UK. As a result, the imaginary system is now not working in practice, potentially putting patients across the European Union at risk. Namely, some medical devices, including those necessary for the treatment of children, are withdrawn from the market, which can lead to shortages. The mission letter to the Commissioner responsible for health recognised the importance of this topic in terms of the need to assess the situation and implement existing legislation. However, that is no longer enough. The European Commission must act swiftly to address the shortage of medical devices we are facing. This is why it is important for the Commission to propose a revision of the Regulation in the first 100 days of the new mandate, reducing as much as possible the bureaucratic requirements that have become a threat to patients in the EU. In particular, to ensure accessibility, we need to introduce fast-track procedures for the certification and marketing of innovative medical devices. Of course, with all the necessary mechanisms to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Colleagues, health must remain a priority in the new European institutions, and the swift revision of the Medical Devices Regulation is the right way to show this.

Dear Chairman, adequate and affordable housing, unfortunately, today has become a luxury, especially for young people who want to start a family and start an independent life. Rents are too high and the creditworthiness to buy real estate is unattainable for many. According to Eurostat data, between 2010 and 2024, house purchase prices and rents increased by as much as 49% and 24% respectively in the EU. However, in some Member States this increase exceeds a staggering 200%. As a result, citizens in the European Union are exposed to insecurity, which leads to inequality and has far-reaching consequences for society. The issue of housing falls primarily within the competence of the Member States, the European Union has limited scope for action. However, by amending the Mortgage Credit Directive, we can strengthen the creditworthiness of citizens, and we can enable greater use of European funds to provide housing and adequate housing. Our society cannot prosper when citizens are faced with uncertainty about one of the basic necessities of life, that of housing. That is why we must work together to enable citizens to provide both an affordable and adequate place to call home.

Dear Chair, Vice-President, Commissioners, colleagues, the World Health Organization has declared the latest outbreak a public health emergency after a new strain of monkeypox virus, first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, began to spread to other neighbouring countries. Sweden reported the first imported case of the disease caused by a new variant of the virus on 15 August this year. This is due to the increased vigilance of all competent authorities and health systems of the Member States of the European Union. Covid 19 has shown that Europe can only respond to cross-border health threats together. We have adopted a number of laws and strengthened the European institutions, so today the EU is much more prepared for health crises than it was before. Therefore, we justifiably expect the readiness and mutual coordination of the competent European bodies. When we talk about this topic, we have to say that the situation is under control and there is no room for panic. Monkeypox is not Covid 19 and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has estimated that there is currently a low overall risk of infection for the general population in Europe. In other words, it is important that we monitor the situation and direct the measures towards vulnerable groups, whom we need to allow to get vaccinated according to their will. There is no need to vaccinate the entire population. Also, the lessons learnt from Covid tell us that we need to work to counter disinformation emerging in the public space and to strengthen prevention. That is why it is important that we, as politicians, send clear and unambiguous messages from this debate, unlike some colleagues. Ultimately, international cooperation and solidarity with countries where the disease has progressed, namely African countries, is crucial. That is why I welcome the European Commission's efforts to provide humanitarian aid and experts to support the fight against monkeypox in third countries. Colleagues, we need to ensure a robust Union response to cross-border health threats to protect the lives of European citizens. And last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Commissioner Stella for all that she has done in these five years, for the huge things we have done to make public health one of the main topics and the most important topics in the European Union. And I want to thank her for her work and for her excellent cooperation over the past five years. I can tell you, Stella, we're gonna miss you.

Dear Chair, colleagues, we are approaching the anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack in which the terrorist organization Hamas mercilessly killed more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped over 200 hostages. It was the deadliest attack to directly target the Jewish people since World War II. In its January resolution, the European Parliament took a clear position on the situation in Gaza, calling for a permanent ceasefire, but on the condition that all hostages be immediately and unconditionally released and that the terrorist organisation Hamas be dissolved. And now, unfortunately, we are witnessing an attempt to relativize the crimes committed by Hamas as an organization that still calls in basic documents for the killing of Jews wherever they are. It is therefore important that we also express our condolences to all innocent victims in this debate and support Israel's right to self-defence and survival. Hamas, which cowardly holds the Palestinian people as a living shield, has long since ceased to be just an Israeli problem and has become a broader factor of instability and insecurity, as we have witnessed in particular in recent months. Unfortunately, in the European Union too, its supporters, Islamists in turn, but also the extreme left, spread hate speech in the hearts of European cities. Therefore, it is important to prevent the relativization of Hamas crimes and say a lot about the equalization of guilt, but also to support Islamism in Europe, which is a growing and growing threat to the European way of life.

In this mandate, the European Commission has tried to strike a balance between achieving energy security and often irrational and harmful, extreme green policies. The share of Russian gas in EU imports thus decreased from 45% in 2021 to 18% in 2024 and wind became the second largest source of electricity, behind nuclear. Yet, as the Draghi Report rightly notes, European companies continue to pay multiple energy prices compared to US companies, which is unsustainable in the long run and is the most important security issue in Europe today. This is why we need to continue our efforts to diversify supply routes and invest in building infrastructure, interconnections between Member States. We need to preserve existing nuclear capacity and invest in the construction of new power plants. Nuclear energy is CO2 neutral and must be part of the energy mix of the European Union and beyond. The closure of nuclear power plants today, in a situation of such energy insecurity, is absolutely insane and suicidal policy and it is something that we should not do in Europe at all. Only by acting together on the global market can we strengthen our bargaining position and achieve more competitive prices for consumers and businesses. Finally, I would also like to point out that it is now clear how correct the decision of the Croatian Government to build an LNG terminal on Krk was, despite opposition, by which the Republic of Croatia has become a regional energy hub, and this is an example of good practice that others should follow. Only a common European approach, sound policies and a mix of different energy sources can save Europe from disaster. Therefore, let us promote common sense and not irrational, harmful and dangerous ideologies.

The creation of a Digital Single Market, and in particular one that guarantees consumer safety online, is not an easy task. That is why with the adoption of the DSA, we have not only adopted rules on the removal of illegal content from the Internet, but we have gone a step further. To protect the most vulnerable among us, children and minors, we have banned targeted advertising to them. Furthermore, with the Digital Services Act, we have obliged online platforms to scrutinise in detail the traders whose products they offer on their websites. In addition, it is important to point out that the DSA has provided us with mechanisms to fight against the spread of fake content online. Disinformation can be extremely dangerous and used by foreign powers to spread their influence in Europe, and unfortunately we see this every day. However, we have to be very careful here. The fight against fake news must not turn into a curtailment of freedom of speech and a confrontation with ideological dissent. No political option, not even the left one, has a monopoly on truth. The DSA must therefore not be used to censor those who think differently and it is our task in this, in the application of the DSA, to find the right balance between one and the other. Therefore, in order to avoid undesirable side effects of the new law, we need to work on its correct implementation. A step in the right direction is therefore the formation of a DSA team, with representatives in each Member State. With the entry into force of the DSA, it is essential that we now ensure its correct application and thus ensure the safety of users online.

A few decades ago, Europe had a leading position in health research and innovation, but today, despite some exceptions, the vast majority of innovation and innovative companies are elsewhere. We need to reverse this trend and bring innovation back to Europe, creating an environment that attracts and does not create barriers for manufacturers of new medicines. Patients’ access to medicines in the EU and security of supply are also growing concerns. This calls for an in-depth reform of the current legislation, which last changed more seriously 20 years ago. The main objective of the reform is to ensure that all patients in the EU have equal and faster access to effective medicines, regardless of where they live. This is why we have shortened the time it takes to get medicines authorised by the European Medicines Agency. We also ensure that medicines can be delivered to patients at any time, no matter where they live in the EU. The new medicine will now have to be placed on the market of all Member States that request it. It is certainly worth mentioning the fight against antimicrobial resistance, as pharmaceutical companies are further encouraged to develop new antibiotics, combining different measures that include vouchers, but also public subsidies. In the regulation I have been working on in recent months, we have also adopted provisions to facilitate research into the development of orphan medicines, an area where research is most needed and investment is most risky. This is especially important for 95% of patients with a rare disease for which there is no cure today, which we absolutely need to change. I would also like to point out that we are expanding the scope of the so-called Bolar exemption, which will allow generic medicines to enter the European market much earlier than hitherto, which is extremely important for our citizens. Measures to encourage early entry into the generic market strengthen competition, provide easier access for patients and reduce costs for healthcare systems. Ladies and gentlemen, with this reform, we are strengthening European industry, facilitating access to innovative medicines, but also generic medicines, and making it possible for all patients to have the same status and for no one to be second-class citizens. For these reasons, I ask you to support this reform.

Dear Chair, the agreement reached on asylum and migration allows Member States to effectively protect the external borders, but also to fight human smugglers. Whether some like it here or not, Member States, rather than smugglers, will decide who can and who cannot enter the European Union. Under the new rules, it will be assessed at the border whether asylum applications are unfounded or inadmissible, and this will prevent the asylum procedure, as has been the case so far for the most part, from happening deeper in the territory of the Member States. It should be made clear that irregular migration poses a security threat to European citizens and that the European Union cannot take into its territory all those who want to reach the EU simply because it is better lived there. That is why it is important to prevent frequent abuses of the asylum system and to distinguish between economic migrants and refugees, as it does with this pact. It should be mentioned that a group of colleagues from this left-wing parliament once tried to illegally cross the state border of the Republic of Croatia and thus provoke an international incident, in which some of their Croatian colleagues defended them. Such irresponsible politicians make it important for Europe to have strong and clear rules on the protection of European citizens.

Dear Chair, the experience of working in the European Parliament has shown that the topic of abortion is used by those who, in the absence of substantive policies, want to attract the attention of voters to ideological topics. They do so in a systematic and targeted manner, seeking to impose their own life beliefs on others, and we are witnessing this today when we discuss the inclusion of the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union on their initiative. The sovereign position of the left and activists is quite clear that there is no fundamental human right to abortion and of course there is no such place in EU law. The issue of abortion is not a matter for the European Union, but for the Member States. It is the right of each sovereign state to define its own policy on the protection of life in accordance with the national constitution, tradition and social values, respecting the principle of subsidiarity as one of the fundamental principles of European Union law. The motto of the European Union is united in diversity. Respect this and stop imposing your own ideology on those who do not want it and who put life first. Unborn children have a right to life.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, colleagues. It is undisputed that European companies must be an active participant in building a sustainable society and that they must contribute to the achievement of climate objectives through their operations, which is the objective of the Due Diligence Directive. However, the noble objective of protecting the environment and human rights has clearly turned into an instrument that imposes an additional administrative burden on companies, makes it difficult to do business and ultimately makes them less competitive globally. The fact is that even three months after the political agreement was reached, we still do not have the final text of this law that we could analyse in detail, and this in no way contributes to the growth of a positive entrepreneurial climate in the European Union. In addition to providing for additional reporting obligations on environmental risks, the December agreement also sets out that compliance with the Due Diligence Directive should be considered as a criterion for the award of concession contracts. This raises particular concerns for undertakings that do not know exactly what is expected of them when it comes to complying with the Directive. As a result, the Council is now unable to reach the required majority to confirm the political agreement. Overall, in circumstances where the European Union is at risk of deindustrialisation and is slowly but surely losing in the global competitiveness race, it is important that we provide European entrepreneurs with stability and predictability in their business. I therefore call on all stakeholders to make every effort to ensure that the achievement of the noble objectives does not jeopardise the competitiveness of European entrepreneurs. And with all these commitments that we impose persistently, persistently, still, and still, with this mighty administration coming from the European level, we will certainly not make the European Union and European industry more competitive on a global scale.

According to Frontex data, 274 404 irregular arrivals were recorded in 2023, the highest number since 2016. It is clear that the European Union is facing a heavy migratory burden, with Member States protecting the external borders of the European Union bearing the brunt of this pressure. Following years of negotiations, we have recently agreed on a European Pact on Asylum and Migration, and the main novelty it introduces is a mandatory border procedure to quickly assess whether asylum applications are unfounded or inadmissible. This should result in the asylum procedure no longer taking place deeper in the territory of a Member State. However, by agreeing on asylum and migration, we unfortunately do not solve the problem of returning migrants who are already illegally staying in the European Union. In this regard, it should be noted that only one-fifth of those who refuse asylum are returned to their countries of origin. This is why the priority for the European Union, once an agreement on asylum and migration has been reached, must be to put in place instruments for the forced return of irregular migrants. This is a multifaceted problem and for its solution the European Union will have to resort to foreign policy instruments, and if necessary make the provision of development aid to third countries and visa liberalisation conditional on the admission of irregular migrants. The issue of protecting Europe's borders is a matter of preserving the European way of life, and unfortunately many NGOs are encouraging migrants to enter the European Union illegally. This is why we need to ensure that such organisations do not benefit from the European budget. Finally, the European Union is not obliged and cannot accept into its territory all those who want to live here simply because this quality of life is better. That is why I call for strict application of the rules of international law and a clear distinction between refugee status and migrant status.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, during the adoption of the legislation on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, most political groups ignored the EPP warning of excessive bureaucracy and insisted on measures that went beyond what was necessary; mainly through the creation of notified bodies of organisations designated by Member States for the conformity assessment of devices. Namely, under this legislation, all medical IVD devices manufactured in Europe must be re-certified through notified bodies, and Brexit has further complicated the matter since many notified bodies were located in the UK. The result is that the imaginary system now does not work in practice. On several occasions, we have therefore postponed the application of certain provisions in those legislations. In 2022, we had 36 notified bodies that were supposed to certify around 23,000 medical devices and issue the same number of certificates. The certification deadline was therefore moved to 2027 and, for some devices, to 2028. We therefore need a systematic review of the legislation on medical devices; and in vitro diagnostic medical devices and it is necessary to remove all rules that do not bring safety for patients, but only bureaucratic problems. I therefore call on the Commission to assess the specific needs in the sectors, in particular paediatric and orphan medical devices, and to propose the legislative changes necessary to ensure the continued supply to these patient groups. Colleagues, it is unacceptable that unreasonable administrative requirements endanger patient safety and the health of European citizens.

Dear Chairman, With the Digital Compass, the European Commission has set ambitious targets, making key public services fully accessible online by 2030. It would not be possible to achieve this objective without establishing a European digital identity. That is why, as rapporteur for the digitalisation of public services, I have strongly advocated for the establishment of a reliable digital identification system in the European Union. The fact is that, for the use of different applications, citizens create new digital identities each time or sign up through large digital platforms, where, mainly on foreign private servers in third countries, they store personal data. This is why it is important that, by creating a European digital identity, citizens will have more control over their personal data. In other words, fewer personal data of European citizens will end up in third countries. In addition, EU Digital Identity Wallets will allow citizens to prove certain personal data, e.g. age, without having to fully disclose their identity or other personal data. I therefore welcome the adoption of this regulation, which comes at a time when we are finalising the negotiations on perhaps the most important law in the field of digitalisation, the one on the creation of a European Health Data Space.

Dear Chairman, the enlargement of the European Union must not be used as an excuse to abolish the right of veto of Member States in the Council, which is exactly what this report is trying to achieve. Under the guise of increasing the Union's efficiency, this report advocates the introduction of qualified majority voting in the Council in key areas such as the rule of law, the MFF, the launch of accession negotiations and the opening and closing of negotiating individual clusters. The claim that enlargement is impossible without the revocation of the veto right is simply incorrect. In 2004, when the right of veto was even more widespread, there was the largest enlargement of the European Union in history. How was it not necessary to introduce a qualified majority at that time? Moreover, the speed of decision-making has only increased in the European institutions since then. Under the rules of international law for the accession of new states, ratification by all existing members will always be required. What is the point of revoking individual member states when opening and closing negotiations when, at the end of the process, they will again have to unanimously agree to the enlargement and ratify the enlargement treaty? Colleagues and colleagues, it is quite clear that the abolition of veto rights and the introduction of overvoting would negate the fundamental dimensions of sovereignty, increase divisions in the European Union and threaten its very survival.

Dear Chairman, Christians are the most persecuted religious community in the world. That, ladies and gentlemen, is true, as much as it may not be politically correct to say today. Armenia is the oldest country to receive Christianity and preserve it in extremely unfavorable circumstances for almost two millennia. Already in 2020, after the reconstruction of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, enormous damage to Armenia’s historical and cultural heritage was recorded, and after Azerbaijan’s recent military intervention, it became clear that the destruction of religious monuments was part of a systematic policy of eliminating Armenian identity. This is why Europe, whose foundations are Christian, however much some deny it, must be more seriously engaged in the protection of Christian heritage in the Caucasus than it has been so far. The result of recent Azerbaijani military action is a mass exodus of Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh. It is estimated that over 140,000 refugees have been forced to find safety in Armenia, and most of them are unlikely to return to their homes. Today, Armenia is surrounded by mainly hostile neighbours, and we must provide it with strong economic, but also any other, assistance. No figs in your pocket. Otherwise, this ancient civilization is threatened with extinction.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, colleagues. In its January resolution, the European Parliament took a clear position on the situation in Gaza, calling for a permanent ceasefire, but on the condition that all hostages be immediately and unconditionally released and that the terrorist organisation Hamas be dissolved. It is quite clear that there is no survival and security of Israel without the complete destruction of Hamas. Hamas' basic documents still today call for the killing of Jews wherever they are. In other words, Hamas must simply disappear, along with all those who support it. Unfortunately, many on the left still relativize the crimes committed by Hamas and try to equate guilt for the war to which Israel is forced. At the same time, the fact is that Hamas terrorists perfidiously continue to hide behind women and children, which they persistently use as a living shield, contrary to all the rules of international law and the custom of war. Ladies and gentlemen, Hamas has long ceased to be only an Israeli problem and has become a broader factor of instability and insecurity. Especially in the European Union, where its supporters, namely Islamists, spread hate speech in the hearts of European cities. So let's say enough the relativisation of Hamas crimes, the equalisation of guilt and the support of Islamism in Europe.

Dear Chairman, the geographical indication is a guarantee of the quality and authenticity of agricultural products for which Europe is known, and one of them is Croatian Prošek. It is a traditional sweet dessert wine, which is completely different from the Italian Prosecco by its colour, smell, price and way of consumption. However, some groups tried to use the amendment of this Regulation to deprive Croatia of its legitimate right to protection of the traditional name prošek, but despite strong lobbying, this failed. Contrary to the European Parliament’s report containing harmful provisions prohibiting the protection of Prošek at European level and against which I voted, the final text of the Regulation allows the protection of Prošek. This wine has an invaluable meaning in the centuries-old, historical and oenological tradition of Croatia, which has every right to protect it as its traditional product. I recall that the European Commission has previously taken the view that homonymity, that is to say, similarity in a name, is not in itself a sufficient factor to reject an application for protection and that two similar names can coexist, and I am glad that this is now also adopted here. I therefore call on the European Commission to grant the protection of the traditional term for Croatian dessert wine Prošek as soon as possible. And I support the adoption of this Regulation.

Being a teacher is not just a job, it's also a life vocation. Teachers not only teach, they educate generations of young people for the challenges of the modern age. Being a teacher is not easy. There are many challenges that the educational staff faces, and I personally saw it as an assistant to the Minister of Education. Difficulties in finding a permanent job, inadequate income and slow career progression are just some of the problems to be warned about. However, what is particularly worrying is that teachers are increasingly faced with a surge of violence in schools, both verbal and physical. Every now and then we are witnessing news of violence against teachers, which requires a systematic approach to strengthen the position of teachers and protect their integrity. In addition, teachers are often exposed to pressure from parents who unrealistically insist on excellent grades of the child, which threatens the independence of teachers and degrades the rating system based on excellence, as shown, among other things, by the results of PISA tests. I therefore call on the European Commission to consider models that will help Member States to improve the working conditions of teachers, ensure the protection of personal integrity and independence in the work and application of the assessment system.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, law enforcement authorities in the European Union need reliable and effective tools to tackle crime effectively. We will all agree that the common interest and responsibility of all Member States is to successfully tackle criminals. In this regard, cooperation and exchange of information are the most powerful means of combating crime. Existing legislation allows law enforcement authorities to consult other Member States’ national databases with regard to DNA information, fingerprints and vehicle registration data. However, this law goes a step further in expanding the categories of data to which automated exchange can be applied. In other words, once the updated law enters into force, police authorities will be able to use instruments to search facial images and search police records. This will greatly contribute to the detection of criminals, which is extremely important in circumstances where the European Union is experiencing increased migratory pressure and is facing the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorist threats. The safety of European citizens is priceless and it is up to us to protect our European way of life through better cooperation between criminal authorities.