Speeches

Dear Chairman, colleague and colleague, Commissioner, today I would like to stress the importance of volunteer firefighters. Namely, at our home in Croatia, in Istria, the firefighting system was built on the full joint activity of professional and voluntary firefighters. In their synergy. And it works perfectly, great. And we should all bow to them, but also find ways to further reward and help all volunteers who selflessly give their energy, time, and often have, of course, material costs in this business. Without them, the state of public security would certainly not be as good as it is today. Not to say it would be absolutely in jeopardy. Therefore, Honourable Commissioner, with thanks to all these wonderful brave people, I expect a step forward in terms of legal regulation of their status. I expect our legislation to give more impetus to volunteering in general and to such excellent examples as volunteer firefighters, and to thank them in this way too, although, of course, we will never be able to do enough.

Dear Chairman, colleagues, in order to ensure that the development of cycling in Europe in general has the same funding and development opportunities as other forms of transport, it is first necessary to acknowledge the importance of this branch of transport in Europe. The importance and potential of about a thousand small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in the production and development of bicycles and e-bikes should first be recognised. It is necessary to understand all the benefits and advantages of cycling in large cities, as well as to know how much tourist regions and countries mean a branch of tourism called cyclotourism. That is why I think that, unfortunately, too little importance and funding is given to European cycling, especially if we are talking about such an important and necessary infrastructure. Because without infrastructure in cities and without cycling infrastructure in tourist regions there is no development of cycling. And that's clear. That is why the strategy we are talking about today should immediately move to concrete projects and activities, such as strengthening the cycling component in the revised TEN-T network, which is currently in operation, so that in addition to railway or road infrastructure, cyclo- or cycling infrastructure can be promoted and financed. In this way, safe cycling trails would finally be built, and existing great projects, such as Parenzana in my Istria, which connects Croatia, Slovenia and Italy as a country, so with its route, would be further improved. And so it would be primarily our citizens, but also tourists through investing in their health. This is a great example of a win-win project.

Dear Chairman, very briefly. So, I'm glad to hear, of this, your plans, your ambitious plans for the Western Balkans. But I would like to hear concretely, since you and us have about a year and a half left in office, with what would you be really pleased to do in that year and a half, or with what you can boast after a year and a half from today that it has been concretely done regarding the progress of these countries towards the European Union?

Dear President, thank you for your words today when we celebrate St. John the Baptist. Valentina, Valentine's Day, when we celebrate love and the 33rd birthday of my IDS. Dear Commissioner, it has been almost ten years since Croatia entered the European Union as the last country. And when we look at that European Union today, it really looks like a big American doughnut with a big hole in the middle. In those ten years, all sorts of things happened, of course. There were different choices, different pro-European governments came, others in the European Union. Likewise, everything has happened - from the new methodology to, I would say, one slowdown of the whole process. But you have to be honest and honest in life, so I ask you to look honestly and honestly at those ten years. Are you satisfied as Commissioner for Enlargement with what has been done in ten years? 'Cause it's mine fealing, it is my impression that one of the primary geostrategic policies, one of the key policies of the European Union - enlargement policy, we come to the secondary or tertiary, which is by no means good, enlargement policy. What is your opinion? Please talk about it.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, investment funds place their money in interesting and profitable projects and asset classes in order to make a profit. Of course, this is logical and legitimate, however, does not mean that these investments are always in line with the goal of the overall society, i.e. the wider community, which is sustainability and the achievement of common long-term goals. Therefore, one should look at the broader picture and encourage those investments, those projects, those activities that are our focus and for which the public sector is committed, such as green policies, digitalisation, while, of course, safeguarding the social rights of citizens. Hello, we have discussed here on many occasions the negative aspects of this unfortunate war in Ukraine, but in addition to the fact that Europe is more unique today than ever, this war has another positive consequence that will certainly be reflected in the next five to seven years and will be very visible, which is the reindustrialization of the European Union. Of course, in a sustainable and independent, self-sustaining way. We have realized that we need to turn to ourselves, to strengthen production in Europe, agriculture, so that we are less and less dependent on different regimes, leaders or monopolists. And here, and in the future, I see the important role of capital and funds. Therefore, with these facts in mind, we need to work on regulatory measures so that funds, in addition to the public sector, invest in sustainable projects that will restore the strength and leadership of a European economy based on sustainability, green and digital. Unfortunately, often profit has a short-term logic. And that, unfortunately, unsustainable business and investment often has a higher profit than sustainable, but that is why we need to look at the effects of investment on the environment and the overall society. Not just today, but in the long run. And all that I have mentioned is even more pronounced for the area of Central and Eastern Europe, where investment in sustainable projects that will contribute to the fight against climate change, unfortunately, is still extremely small. So, knowing that many economic activities in Europe are still a major source of carbon emissions, I think we need to be aware that without major investments in the energy sector and a sustainable economy, Europe will not achieve its Green Deal objectives, and that would be unforgivable. That is why, Honourable Commissioner, I think it is high time we clearly define and say that sustainability is ahead of short-term profit. And it needs to be clearly regulated.

Dear Commissioner, who essentially confirms everything I have said, and I would like to ask you, here is a very brief, concrete answer to the question whether the fight against inflation, especially in relation to basic food items, will be your priority in this '23. year and if so, with what concrete measures?

Dear Chairman, Dear Commissioner, if inflation in the European Union is a problem, then in my Croatia, it is a super problem. Inflation is over 13 percent in the last two months, and if we talk about the price of food, then this is a super mega problem for a simple reason because in addition to inflation, which is a common European phenomenon, in Croatia, we are 1. 1. [2023] also introduced the euro and only then prices exploded in the past two weeks. Yes, someone will say it was the same in other countries - in Italy, in Slovenia in 2007. Three or four times the number was lower than it is today. For this reason, I ask the question: Are you aware of this problem, this common, synergistic problem of inflation and rounding up because of the euro in Croatia and, if you are aware, can you help with some controls, measures, activities to stop this unfortunate trend so that the most vulnerable citizens can live, I would say normal, not sink into poverty?

Dear Chairman, dear colleagues, we are at the end of a difficult year, a difficult year in 2022. At the same time, namely, a year ago, we looked with optimism at this year 2022 and planned it and hoped for a full recovery after the corona pandemic and better days. Unfortunately, these hopes were extinguished on 24.2. when this unfortunate war in Ukraine began and when the rampage of energy prices and inflation consequently began. It turned out that Europe was not ready for such a brutal energy war. Unfortunately, and with all the measures of the European Union, the highest price is paid by our citizens and the economy, which is not at all easy. That is why, Commissioner Gentiloni, I believe that in the coming year, the priority of the Commission's work should be to stop inflation, strengthen renewable energy sources and simplify paperwork for citizens and the economy, as well as further assistance and subsidies from the Commission and the Member States to the most vulnerable groups. Many investments can wait, but what I'm talking about is not if we want a better, happier and more enjoyable year 2023.

Dear Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the digital transformation of our society and economy? Yes, yes. Digitalisation? Absolutely yes. But we must not forget the impact of technology on man. Man must always be at the center of all programs, and constant education of people is a priority in the years ahead of us. Unfortunately, we are aware that excessive use of digital devices and digital addiction are part of our daily lives, especially among young people. That is why, Commissioner Breton, I call on the Commission to strengthen and financially help and strengthen education programmes, especially for young people, in order to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead in a proper and healthy way and should never be spared. Digitalisation and digital transformation, in fact, will only be successful and meaningful if this digitalisation, this technology, is used by healthy and happy people, both at work and at home.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen, I have never been happier prouder of this rostrum and hardly ever will be. Happy and proud that my Croatia is at the door of Schengen, and that my Istria, of course, will from 1. 1. Be a true European borderless region in 2023. It is clear that we are finally becoming part of the most developed, most elite club. And this is absolutely deserved for all Croatian citizens, for the Croatian economy. And finally, waiting at the borders of our carriers, workers, tourists, carriers and so on is decreasing. In fact, the losses generated by these delays are being reduced. Hello, tomorrow is a very big day for Croatia, but also for a strong, strong, unique Europe. So vote right, for Croatia, for Schengen, for Europe, for a Europe without borders. And thank you to everyone who helped us along this path, and I'm sure the future will confirm that all those who will vote for tomorrow were on the right side.

The process of enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans has taken too long and is very slow. We all agree on this, of course, but now it is clear that the countries of the Western Balkans are no longer waiting for Europe, but the opposite is true. Europe is waiting for the countries of the Western Balkans. Europe, which is both the largest financial donor to these countries and, of course, the largest trading partner. Europe is waiting for these countries to clearly say what they want - to clearly and unambiguously define and do all the necessary actions and processes on this demanding path. No figs in your pocket: sincerely, decisively and courageously; and before that solve their bilateral problems because Europe no longer wants to import the bilateral problems of a couple of countries. Unfortunately, he has enough of his own problems. That is why from this place I can only wish all the countries of the Western Balkans that rapprochement and accession to the European Union be at the top of their governments' priorities and that we do everything together to shorten and speed up this path to the European Union.

Dear Chairman, Schengen is one of the greatest successes of the European Union, and the strengthening of the Union is not done by tearing down the existing elements, but by adding and upgrading them, and it is clear that Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria are missing in the mosaic called Schengen. And do you know how much the so-called non-Schengen costs us? Every additional hour of waiting at the border between Croatia and Slovenia costs our bus drivers about one hundred euros per hour, and our bus drivers an additional 50 euros per hour. If they reintroduced, God forbid, border controls in all 27 Member States, they would lose between 2.5 and 5.1 billion euros, and by abolishing Schengen, for example, the average Slovak would lose 100 to 350 euros per year. And don't forget that waiting at the border is also the reason why a tourist doesn't want to go to a tourist destination. So, please, let's stop closing and I am very looking forward to January 1st 2023 and extending Schengen to Croatia so that I can come here to the European Parliament from my Buzet, without anyone at the border asking me anything.

The Honourable Chair, Honourable Colleagues, it is clear that the European Union, for citizens, for citizens, for the economy, gets its full meaning when that Member State enters the Schengen area. Of course, the precondition is the clear fulfilment of all strict technical requirements and, of course, the political will of the other Member States in the Council to support this. I want Bulgaria and Romania to do so as soon as possible. And today, here, I want to express great happiness because I am convinced that my Croatia will be 1. 1. become a member of the Schengen area in 2023. Thank you, dear colleagues, to all of you who have expressed such a clear will and I am sure that such a decision will be made in the competent committee, and here at the plenary session, in order to give the citizens of Croatia and the economy of Croatia so much desired, but also deserved gift for the new '23. And all those who presented flat-rate and inaccurate information about Croatia here today, I ask that they calm down, that they apologize, that they do not shout in this area and that they do not divide the citizens of Europe into first and second-class citizens for their internal political points.

Thank you for this specific question. Yeah, the answer is yes. I think we need to rely more on nuclear power, on our facilities, on strategic autonomy in all segments, and especially on energy. Yes, yes. Of course, with the highest safety standards.

Dear Chairman, a good day for your Commissioner, colleague and colleague, to survive today we all need to be able to adapt quickly. This is especially true for our industry in this turbulent period. If we had talked about the same topic here three years ago on this day, surely the keywords would have been green and digital. And we insisted on it, and let us, we still will. But, of course, after this terrible coronal crisis, with this unfortunate war, I think it is necessary to insist even more on a partnership between the European public and private sectors – partnership and cooperation. Here I think above all of help both with energy prices and with supply chains and with the purchase of rare materials, an educated and skilled workforce and so on, and so on. That is why I believe and think that this partnership between the public and private sectors is the key word that must dominate the European industrial strategy if we want, and I believe that we all want European, I would say 4.0 industry, to be successful, to be competitive, to be sustainable in the global market. (The speaker agreed to respond to the intervention requested by raising the blue card)

Dear Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Colleagues, I am really glad that today we are here to discuss and discuss the cycling strategy of the European Union because cycling is becoming more and more popular on our continent and it is absolutely very, very good because we know all the benefits of cycling, i.e. the use of bicycles. However, I would like to stress here the big problem that we need to solve if we want to develop and encourage cycling. This, of course, is a cycling infrastructure. I think primarily of bicycle paths because we know that both old and young people cycle. And that, of course, is good. Unfortunately, there are too many accidents in which cyclists are killed. That is why, dear Commissioner Simpson, I invite you to play an important role in the strategy of building bicycle paths, especially in tourist places, such as my Istria and Croatia. In this way, we will raise safety, and thus the number of people who will cycle.

–The Honourable President, the Honourable Colleagues, the new circumstances require, clearly, new answers from us and new answers, and we always need to think and act in a way that we think and act, I said, a few steps, that is, a few years ahead. Therefore, in response to new geostrategic opportunities and circumstances, I say that connecting is more important to us than ever before. Yes, it is important to connect energy, but also transport, because transport is the bloodstream of the economy of a country and the movement of citizens. Hello, there is an ongoing revision of the European Transport Corridors, the so-called TEN-T network, which must be a European response to new circumstances. That is why, Honourable Commissioner, I invite and ask the Commission, but also all 12 Member States of this laudable ‘three seas’ initiative, to connect the port of Rijeka to the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor. Namely, due to the important role that Rijeka and Croatia play towards the countries of the Western Balkans, I invite you to give Rijeka the role and status of the entrance door to this corridor in the upcoming revision of the corridor, thus making Europe even more successful and even more connected.

Dear Chairman, I am glad to hear all this, I am glad to see that there is a strategy, that there is good will. What I would like to ask you is very concrete operational plans. I am sure that you will have the help, partnership, synergy of cities, municipalities, counties, states, different sea research centers. And then on the basis of the profession, on the basis of all of them and the joint reflection that we go together to make very concrete projects: From the ones you're talking about, raising the sea to protecting different pollutions. I look forward to such projects and believe that they are necessary, necessary and urgent.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, the climate is changing. There's no need to be a genius to say this, but what I think we need to know is the fact that this climate impact also has an impact on various fundamental resources. Basic resources are air, yes, it is land, but for those of us who live in the Mediterranean, it is absolutely water, that is, the sea. That's why I have feeling that we are a little less concentrated on the sea and a little more concentrated on pollution in the air and the earth and I want this to be corrected. For this reason, and since we see that biodiversity in the sea is changing, especially in the Adriatic Sea, new species of fish are coming and so on and so on... I ask you, is the Commission aware of this and what will the Commission do to address this problem? And it's urgent.

Dear Vice-President of the Commission, dear colleagues, we are living in difficult times and we all know this. Energy prices, no matter if we talk about oil, gas or electricity, growth, commodity prices are rising, food prices are rising. As a result, of course, the cost of living and doing business increases. We have never higher inflation and it is logical that companies, crafts, people, citizens manage in all kinds of ways, but this is by no means and must not be a justification for non-compliance with the law and for illegal logging, for the destruction of forests. Profit and short-term solutions, that is, earnings should never be above sustainability and the law, but unfortunately in many cases today only profit has become important. That is why I propose that the Commission, together with the Member States, together with the regions, but also with the cities, bring order to the space together. Irrelevant, whether we are talking about illegal logging or, for example, illegal construction, especially in Mediterranean countries, which again irreversibly destroys the most important resource, which is, of course, space. So the principle is the same. The law must be respected, and Member States and regions, I am convinced, want to solve this problem together with the Commission. And I repeat, we need to act synergistically, whether we're talking about illegal logging, or we're talking about illegal construction. And that is why I propose to use the resources of states, regions and cities, and these are primarily people, these are above all mechanisms and their knowledge of the situation on the ground in order to respect and enforce the laws. In this partnership or synergistic effect, it will be easier to detect these places of non-compliance with the law. It will also be easier to sanction offenders, and most importantly, in this way, preserve both nature and the environment for future generations in the long term.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Colleagues, Honourable Commissioners, we know that the most affected sectors in the Covid pandemic were and are transport and tourism. Unfortunately, the situation is recurring now because of this unfortunate war in Ukraine. Namely, the fear of travel due to the uncertain future, due to inflation, due to the rampant energy prices strongly affects the recovery of the European economy, and in particular the transport and tourism sector. And it is clear that if the economic situation is not good, our citizens will not travel on holidays. That is why I would like to see immediate action, primarily through legislation, but also through tax cuts, and only in cooperation with the sector, i.e. the transport and tourism sectors and the Member States. It is these sectors, transport and tourism, that know very well what is troubling them and where we can help, what measures and what activities. So, please, Commissioner, let's do it.

Dear Chairman, Commissioners, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am really pleased that today, on World Health Day, we are talking about mental health because there is no health of any person without mental health. We know that mental health can simply be described as a condition in which every person can successfully cope with everyday stressful lifestyles. And it is clear that it depends on the influence of the environment, but also on socio-economic circumstances, and they are, we all know, in these last two years everything but simple and light. That is why, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that national health policies should do much more attention and concrete activities to promote the importance of mental health and concrete work on it. Of course, this is particularly important for children and young people, and I hope that both Member States, national governments and the relevant ministry understand this, as well as the European Commission, in order to make positive progress on this important issue together. Thanks for the attention.

Dear Chairman, a strong and united Europe, a Europe without borders, a Europe that despite this unfortunate war in Ukraine, implements its strategic decisions and realizes its goals – only such a Europe can survive and only such a Europe can prosper in the future and only in such a Europe without borders can citizens feel the meaning of the European Union, and Croatia is technically ready for Schengen. This is what the Commission and the Council say. Dear colleagues, when you talk to people in Croatia today, Schengen is not just a matter of connectivity and faster border crossing for them. Today, in the context of this war in Ukraine, it becomes a question of whether we are all the same European family or not. For the citizens of Croatia, this becomes a security and existential issue. Only those who hope that Europe is shaken, wounded, weak and quarreled would benefit from postponing such a decision of Croatia's entry into Schengen. And that's why we're going, let's prove that's not the case!

Dear Chairman, if we look back, our colleagues, we see that in fact the European foundations are based on energy. We can talk about the European Coal and Steel Community and then the European Atomic Energy Community and so on. But today, Europe is more dependent on Russian energy than ever before. And, of course, the main question arises: Can Europe survive without Russian gas? It is clear that the European gas-free economy cannot, but what it can do is minimize its dependence on Russian gas. From 24.2 to the present day, we have witnessed tectonic disruptions in European energy. Changes that will certainly accelerate our Green Deal, better interconnections, but also regional cooperation in our near future. And we can't solve overnight, of course, something we haven't been able to solve in decades. And that is why, in addition to savings, ladies and gentlemen, and new directions, we need a financial fund that will mitigate the financial shock to the European economy and citizens. People, let's help all of us, the economy and citizens in the short term, and let's think and act in the long term and green. Thank you.