Speeches

Dear President, dear colleagues, here we often talk about big topics, difficult topics, geostrategic interests, huge infrastructure projects and unfortunately often forget those most in need. We often forget our citizens of the third age, who are not very easy. And you know, it's not easy being an elderly person in one Croatia or in Sweden or the Netherlands. And it doesn't matter if you're 300 or 400 euros old or 1300 or 1400. And it doesn't matter if you wait for a doctor's appointment for a month or two or a year. And it doesn't matter if you live in a house alone or with three generations. For this reason, my request is that together with countries, cities and regions we have more projects and programmes that will encourage active ageing, that will take care of the health of our fellow citizens and that Europe once again be a coordinator and partner to the countries here.

Dear Chairman, I have already warned several times from this place about counterfeiters of honey and olive oil who put adulterated products on the shelves of shops. And then we have extra virgin olive oil, one liter on the shelf in the store for three or four euros, and the child in elementary school knows that it is impossible to produce it at that price, and the same with honey. But today I want to say that, unfortunately, this also happens with wine. We can talk about Istrian Malvasia, Graševina, Plavac Mali... So, Honourable Commissioner, I ask you to understand that geographical indication, is good, but not enough to protect the quality of our agricultural products and therefore we insist on premium label, so that our quality agricultural producers can live off their work, not have to protest all over Europe. And so a clear distinction could be made between agricultural products on the shelves. And yes, I ask you to raise awareness among the ministries of agriculture in the Member States to stop shifting responsibility and to bring order to the market in order to sanction scoffers, not producers.

Dear Chairman. So, we, here in the European Parliament, often find compromises on this or that topic, but when we talk about road safety, I think there should be no compromise at all. We, here in this directive, have a clear priority and task, which is to increase traffic safety and preserve young lives. Dear colleagues, I ask you, when voting, to think about it. And yes, there can be no compromise if we talk about it can or can't young drivers at the age of 17 drive grdosi from trucks or cars of 300 horses. Of course I can't. There should be no compromise as to whether they can have 0 or 0.1 or 0.2 alcohol in their blood. Of course it has to be 0.0. Escape from the scene of the accident - so of course you need to permanently withdraw your driver's license for this. Older people don't automatically mean they're sick. Only his doctor knows. So, in this way, I think we can save a lot of lives. And what is very important: Please do not make compromises to please different lobbies, but think about people's lives.

Dear Chairman, Dear colleagues, I do not know if you have ever experienced water reduction in your regions, but believe me it is neither easy nor pleasant. It is not easy for farmers, who cannot water their crops. It is not easy for tourism, which can not fill the pools. It is not easy for anyone who lives in these areas. And it's very difficult to look at weather forecasts and hope for rain, maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, or maybe who knows when. That is why, dear Commissioner, I want not only to have a clear strategy, but also elaborated plans on how to invest in new pipes, in the protection of drinking water sources, i.e. in water supply and water protection companies, especially in the Mediterranean. Because it is not necessary to be particularly smart and clear and know that, unfortunately, we are in the cycle of increasing temperatures throughout Europe, and consequently the arrival of new droughts. And it needs to be taken very seriously and invested and prevent new water reductions. Water that is not everything, but without which everything is nothing.

Dear Chairman, dear colleagues, there are too many deaths in traffic, too many, unfortunately, lost young lives and badly killed. We urgently need new common measures valid in all Member States to drastically reduce the mortality rate on our roads. That is why it is clear that the European Driving Licence Register works today on a voluntary basis and that is why I can say that it does not actually work. Unfortunately, this has also led us to a very different range of penalties in the Member States for the same traffic offences. I therefore consider that the European register must be binding. Also, I insist on defining the permanent withdrawal of a driver's license without the possibility of re-taking it. An example of such a violation is escaping the scene of an accident and failing to provide assistance to the victim. Dear friends and colleagues, this is unacceptable.

Dear Chairman, in parallel with the European shift towards green and digital, of course, both the way of working and the necessary knowledge of our fellow citizens are changing. And that's normal and expected. But what worries and saddens me is the fact that our society is increasingly divided and that the middle class is becoming smaller and thinner, and in less developed countries like Croatia, this process is unfortunately even more pronounced and the question is what to do to stop and reverse this process. The answer, colleague and colleague, must go in the direction of matching the needs of the economy and the education system. We have occupations that no one wants to study for today, and on the other hand high schools and colleges enroll with large quotas of occupations that are already too much on the labour market. So, the time has come to put man in focus and to answer the question of what effects on man and his salary have the trends of economy 4.0 and how more to help our man to live and survive more easily in today's modern world.

Dear Chairman, dear colleagues, lately too often I hear a question: ‘Are you fighting for the environment or are you fighting for people in the European Parliament?’ I think it's very bad and very dangerous and the answer should be neither one nor the other. So it is not there or, but it must be for the protection of the environment and for the economy, farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises, for people, for citizens. And in order to do that, it is clear that support in this must be given by the state and the European Union through funds, because only in this way will we prevent the waste of our industry, we will prevent divisions in society and we will prevent, God forbid, the Green Deal from failing. For this reason, if we want to leave fossil fuels, and we want to, I think that the public sector needs to participate more strongly because prices are rampant and of course, otherwise such questions will be asked more and more often.

Dear Chairman, Honourable, it is clear what young people need today: education, work and apartment. And here we come up with a problem, because unfortunately, prices have exploded, and the utilities and apartments and food and everything else. But today I will not talk about education, but I want to say that if a young person is employed with his salary, unfortunately, it is almost impossible to get to his apartment and we know this, and this is precisely the prerequisite for the independent life of the young person and the establishment of a family. So the solution should go in two directions. The first is to maximally unburden the salaries of young people in order to increase the amount of salary. And the second direction is the involvement of the state in affordable housing. The constitution, of course, says that states should be social and I think it is here that the European Union and states should concretely show concern for their young people. We know where and what models exist and there are plenty of stories. I think it is high time to move forward with the concrete realization of affordable housing for our young people.

Dear Chair, Vice-President of the Commission, I believe and claim that young people are the most creative, the best part of our society. And I get angry when I hear that this or that country is a locomotive of Europe, when this or this technology is a locomotive. No, I argue that young people are a locomotive for the development of our Europe. And more than that. It is clear that investments in R&D on the one hand and in the way we live, i.e. GDP growth, are directly correlated. For this reason, it is clear that young people should not be spared from investing in young researchers. And it is precisely this responsibility of the public sector, the public sector that needs to deliver the best and enable young people to show their knowledge, their creativity, their skills and that they are concentrated in work. And that's why I think there is still more work to be done, together with the Member States, so that young people can really be the real locomotive of ours. And yes, I support Horizon and all the projects and programmes that the European Commission is implementing for young researchers, but if we want to be leaders in relation to other world superpowers, I think we need to make an extra effort at this moment so that we can really enable young people to be the best part of our society, which they are.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen, Vice-President of the Commission, when someone asks us what kind of Europe we want in '25 or '30, I am sure everyone would say both green, and digital, and big expanded. And while we really have nothing to brag about when it comes to enlargement, we have done a lot for these first two questions. And why don't we have much to brag about when it comes to enlargement that we've done something in the last ten years? Well, I'd say there are culprits here and there. When I say there, I mean, of course, the non-implementation of reforms in countries outside the European Union, and when I think here, I mean everything that my Croatia has been going through with Slovenia, and what North Macedonia is going through with Bulgaria. So, always some kind of problems, not to say blackmail or blockages. But I'm a happy man today. Happy, because I think we all understand together that enlargement policy as one of the fundamental policies of the European Union is coming back into focus and that we understand that the reform of the European Union and enlargement can and should go hand in hand. Thank you for that.

Dear Chairman, Dear colleagues, we see what has been happening lately and with the rise in prices, and inflation, and the drastic decline in the purchasing power of our citizens. That is why I think that it is high time now to push for the strengthening of the social economy, which as a basic idea has the primacy of the individual over capital and implies the reinvestment of most of the profits. That is why cooperatives, the green economy, microcredits, sustainability and environmental protection, as well as the development of local markets fit ideally into the principles of the social economy. Poštovana povjerenice, u vremenima kada, nažalost, velike ribe jedu male, a običan čovjek se sve više osjeća nesigurnim, držim da institucije država, ali i Europske unije trebaju čvrsto stati iza pojedinca, građana, s idejama socijalne ekonomije. I da, treba nam jača kontrola nad državama u vezi s obavezama koje su preuzele u nacionalnim planovima oporavka i otpornosti kako koristi od toga ne bi imali samo ministri država članica financija, nego svi naši građani.

Dear Chair, colleagues, when allocating a household to housing costs reaches 40% of the household's income, this is an excessive and unbearable burden for that household, and I stress that according to the latest figures, 28% of young people in the European Union live in overcrowded housing. And this is our huge problem today, especially, of course, expressed in large cities and in tourist regions where the prices of renting or buying an apartment, unfortunately, have recently gone to the sky. Croatia is even more, unfortunately, a European record holder according to Eurostat and here, with almost 14% growth in the first six months of this year. Some will say it's not a European problem, but I'm telling you that it's one of Europe's biggest problems. This is where Europe must react, immediately, and put on the agenda of the Council to launch, together with the Member States, concrete projects to address and build housing for purchase or rent. Here Europe needs to be flexible and help finance both through the funds and through the European Investment Bank. There are, of course, good examples here, such as the city of Vienna, which puts seven thousand apartments on the market every year. And no, colleague Ilčić, these are not models of a past country that built apartments and placed them on the market on political lines, but it is a beautiful example from the heart of Europe that I want and I ask to become a wider European practice, a practice of solidarity, so that then, first of all, young people can provide a roof over their heads.

Dear Chair, a child is a child and every child has the same children's rights, the right to education, health care, food, play, etc., no matter where the child lives, who his parents are and what nationality. Moreover, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, makes this clear, and I stress that the Racial Equality Directive has been in force for more than 23 years. On the other hand, unfortunately, there are different situations on the ground and I am very sad that today in 2023 we are discussing the segregation and discrimination of Roma children in the education system. And this means that we as a society have not yet, unfortunately, passed the exam, and the goal of all of us, and especially the public sector, does not matter whether the European Commission, ministries, schools, the city, municipalities should be to learn and socialize together in the classroom and school of all children. I repeat, all children, regardless of nationality or place of birth, because children cannot choose either nationality or place of birth. Therefore, respected colleagues, we should fight school segregation most decisively and not turn our head or keep silent, because unfortunately, it often leads to such children dropping out of further education, which clearly leads to difficulties in employment, and the Roma community, respected colleagues, is the largest ethnic minority in the European Union. Dear Commissioner, school segregation is one of the worst forms of discrimination where the basic rights of the child are seriously violated. That is why I welcome and support the allocation of every euro from the EU budget made available to Member States to support inclusive and quality education, without segregation. And these commitments need to be even higher, but I believe that the Commission needs to monitor more the spending of these funds and monitor the situation on the ground, the situation in schools, because only in this way, with urgent interventions, where necessary, can we reduce segregation and improve equity and in the field of education be a bright example on the way to promoting fundamental freedoms, tolerance and non-discrimination. As President Nelson Mandela once said: ‘There is no clearer representation of the soul of a society than the way it treats its children’. And that's really the way it is. So please show that we Europeans have a soul, we have a responsibility to every child, and therefore we have a responsibility to the present and the future, because children are our most important resource.

Dear Chairman, today we are discussing a very serious topic of air quality, and tomorrow, of course, we are voting on it. Air pollution is our transboundary, very serious, common problem and it is no longer just strategies, laws, measures or directives that are sufficient, but I insist here on more frequent and transparent measurement to clearly and unambiguously see the real state of affairs on the ground. And that, of course, we need to react promptly to the polluters afterwards, but all this, unfortunately, will not have too much impact on the air we all breathe together if we do not accelerate the green transition and reduce pollution of all kinds. I'm sure these are all the topics that need us and want to unite, regardless of the fact that we are in pre-election time. Let us not lose, because of political points, days and months, and postpone the necessary actions and concrete activities, and believe us, our fellow citizens and nature will be grateful for this.

Dear Chairman, climate change is here, now, around us, and drought and floods or lack and excess water are, unfortunately, becoming more pronounced. Climate change is particularly pronounced in the Mediterranean. That is why there is a problem in both water supply and food production. The only normal question is: How to help the water supply? In two ways. First, by building water retention structures, i.e. by reservoirs and, second, by replacing old water-releasing pipes with new ones. In fact, we know that throughout Europe we have water losses of 15, 20, 30 and even more percent. So it leaks out of the pipes into the ground, and on the other hand, when we talk about agriculture, we know that agriculture today is not without irrigation. That is why, Commissioner Simson, if we want to move from words to deeds, I ask and ask that the European budget plan the items for such investments, immediately and now. Again, we need to plan more in the Mediterranean, where the soil is rocky, where the karst is. And therefore, of course, these investments are more expensive than in lowland countries. And finally, please, colleagues, remember the saying: Water is not everything, but without water everything is nothing and always has been and will be water, so life. Thank you for your attention and let's take action.

Dear Chair, the Commission proposal on geographical indications can be freely called the proposal on how large fish should be eaten by small or large countries of small countries. And by no means will I support him. Why? First of all because the rapporteur, but I see, unfortunately, many colleagues from Italy also want to ban the registration of new products that by their name resemble agricultural products that already have European protection, e.g. Croatian prosecco, Italian prosecco – two completely different wines, but with a similar name. This may, gentlemen, have to do with the political points in Italy, but it does not have to do with the European tradition and help small, high-quality agricultural producers. Commissioner, I have written to you, and now here I warn, that accepting such a proposal in dialogue could have disastrous consequences for countries that have a similar language. The countries of the Western Balkans, for example, that are waiting for enlargement but have a similar language. What about ajvar, I ask you? So do not under the guise of national interests, under quotes, allow the destruction of great agricultural products and make such insane laws.

Dear Chairman, we have a huge problem. In fact, the best products are not singled out on the market as such. We must put an end not only to the manufacturer's failure, but also to consumer cheating. An absolutely new EU label for the best and best quality agricultural products is needed because there must be a clear distinction between the best, best quality agricultural products and those of others. Whether it is olive oil, cheese, honey, wine or a fifth product. That's why I'm looking for a new tag premium the product, as the current geographical indication is not sufficient. This is why I want a new top-quality label: premium – above this existing code. And this is a great solution for both quality manufacturers and consumers who will finally know what they are buying. Croatia, like other small countries, cannot compete on the market in quantity, quantity, but it can be of quality and it is time for such quality products to be legally recognized.

Dear Chairman, Commissioner, today on Europe Day, when 73 years ago the story of progress and peace building on the European continent began, I invite the Serbian authorities if they really want changes to turn to the construction of one under the quotations of the new Serbia, Serbia which, to paraphrase Robert Schuman, will not be created at once or according to a single plan, but will through concrete achievements that will first create true solidarity. The silence, a respected colleague, that echoed the Serbian streets yesterday, of course, came here to Brussels and Strasbourg. And the message of Serbia without violence was sent peacefully and in solidarity, and it means only one thing. The Serbian people want change. For years, we have been reiterating what the Union is asking Serbia to do, from strengthening institutions, to fighting corruption, to independent media. However, the real question today is what Serbia wants from the Union and whether it wants the Union and all its fundamental values at all. Therefore, respected representatives of the Serbian authorities, take to the streets and listen first to the demands of your own people, and only then come here to sit down and talk about the future, the one that the people will define, about concrete demands and issues that will open the way for the creation of a new Serbia, a European Serbia. And this new Serbia woven on the wings of democracy and the rule of law, if it wants, of course it will have its place in a united Europe.

Dear Chairman, it is clear that when we talk about climate change, the situation is bad and we are going to get worse. And the only real question is whether we can prevent disaster. I am afraid that all the crises, namely, that we have been through so far, have been according to what follows us small or minor, primarily because of our behavior. So let's help ourselves, let's help nature, but let's also help our children, because the fight against climate change must be a priority not only for the Member States, not only for the European Union, but for the whole world. I guess we're all still so sensible together, I'd say, that we can reach a consensus on this topic. Because everything we've done so far, all the activities, all the laws, all the funding is obviously not enough. He needs more, and much more. He needs more money, he needs more activity, he needs more action, he needs more different behavior. Let us take this, please, very seriously and let us all together with happiness!

Dear Chairman, my dear people, it has been almost eight years since the Dieselgate scandal. On the other hand, now the International Council on Clean Transport says that about 77 percent of EU diesel cars produce such emissions that indicate the presence of cheating devices on emissions in cars and have, in allegation, dubious results. We know, however, that in the twelfth month of 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared such devices in vehicles illegal. And these two facts, you know, should be taken very, very, very seriously. So, if we add two plus two and add an even more important item, which, of course, is the health of citizens, and not the desire to profit from the automotive industry, then it is clear, respected Commissioner Schmit, what to do. I therefore expect very rigorous and meticulous controls on all newly manufactured cars to make sure that they are manufactured in accordance with the adopted standards. We cannot change the past, but we can influence the future and that is why I believe that today we want to know how to control and regulate all cars so that, unfortunately, some sort of electrigate does not happen to us anymore.

The enlargement policy is one of the fundamental and most important policies of the European Union, the Honourable Chair, the Honourable Colleagues. On the other hand, ten years ago, almost ten years ago, Croatia was the last country to enter the European family and the logical question arises as to what has been done in terms of enlargement in those ten years. I'd say not too much. Unfortunately, not too much. We can look for the culprits on both sides, but it wouldn't take us anywhere. What I am looking forward to, however, is the fact that the work on enlargement to the Western Balkans has been intensifying lately. First of all, I would like to say to the Commission and the Commissioner that this work, this effort, is intensified in order to use this time until the end of the mandate and to have only one goal, which is that when the new multiannual financial framework comes, I am talking about 2027, that we also have a Western Balkan country ready to join our great European family.

Dear Chairman, dear colleague Sokol, I will remind you that in life everything is a process and there is no switch 1-0, that is understood by you and I, but if we know what we want in 10 or 20 years, then with the help, above all the public sector, that, with financial assistance and laws and directives we can reach that goal, irrelevant whether we are talking about some other topics or in agriculture, but without figs in our pocket, clearly and honestly. And of course, of course, let's not just look at the price, let's look first of all at sustainability, let's look at what they will eat and how our children and look at health.

Dear President, what kind of agriculture should we, as a public sector, particularly encourage, what kind of agriculture is too small in Europe? The answer is clear. Organic, that is, organic, is something that, of course, consumers have also recognized, and that is why I think, respected colleagues, that throughout European agriculture we should take the direction that we in Istria have long taken, and that is the encouragement of autochthonous top agricultural products. Of course, this includes a strong reduction in the use of pesticides and antibiotics and the strengthening of small family farms, and it is clear that we need to give financial support to farmers so that they can switch to agro-ecological farming. But, believe me, agriculture will then be something that will be able to function on the market, and nature will be grateful to us. And not only nature, but also consumers, above all for their health. This is a trend, and responsibility must be on us, and that is why I expect the support of all of you in this kind of thinking. (The speaker agreed to respond to the intervention requested by raising the blue card)

Dear Chairman, yes, thank you for this reply and I see that this topic is really in your focus and I am pleased with it. But I have one short question, here you may know the answer. In your country, if you, as a citizen, were to install solar panels on the roof of your home and make a request to your electricity supplier to connect you, how long would that take in your country, i.e. how long would you, as a citizen, wait for a response and connection?

Dear Chairman, when we talk about energy, in the past few people, I believe, have thought about it as seriously as they do today. There was energy, the price was OK and we were not burdened much, neither the citizens nor the energy economy. I'd say we're too relaxed. This is now clear, but since 24.2 and this unfortunate war in Ukraine, we have all suddenly become aware of the importance of energy. And of course, we all started thinking about alternative sources, about solar, about energy renovation of buildings and so on. But things don't go all over the place just as fast. There are, of course, Fit for 55 documents, the Green Deal and so on, but I repeat, some states are lagging behind. Croatia is not moving in this direction so fast. That is why my question, dear Commissioner, is whether you plan to use this summer for additional controls, for interviews, for, I would say monitoring in the Member States, how is the implementation of all commitments to increase energy from alternative sources going exactly as soon as, as soon as possible, now.