Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner. Jimmy Lai does not only represent a two- or three-digit number of people who are likely to remain imprisoned in China for life because they have fought for fundamental rights, for the fundamental rights of freedom. We see that in Hong Kong, within a few years, a complete annihilation of all kinds of fundamental rights has been carried out. People who grew up in freedom with Western values have gotten up overnight and are deprived of all freedom in a few years. I warn all of us - and this is the great danger - that China will become a chair against our value system. I also call on the Commission to do everything possible to ensure that this is not fashionable and that this is not exported, because I see the great danger there. Apple Daily was a normal newspaper, and for the publication of a normal newspaper you are imprisoned for life. We as the European Union can do that, but so can the European Commission and the Member States. It's not enough to just go to China and preach it all the time. I firmly believe that we must finally put this inhumane system within its limits and show the Chinese that the system they have built is not exportable to the Western world. I believe that this can only be done with a lot of passion and not only with Sunday speeches, because it endangers the freedom of all of us.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you very much to the rapporteurs for this report. As a fiscal and budgetary politician, I am well aware that it was certainly not easy to draw up the budget of the European Union and that, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and, ultimately, this devastating war of aggression against Ukraine, it is also a major challenge for the Commission. In spite of all this, a warning voice is needed throughout this round. I stick to that, Article 310 clearly enshrines it: The European Union is not allowed to make any debts, and debts have been made with the Recovery Fund. Now you're surprised that interest will eventually have to be repaid, and you're surprised that interest rates may still rise. For me, as a financial and budgetary politician, this is not a big surprise. But yes, I can live with the fact that we are introducing our own resources; The FTT is certainly a first approach to this. But I am firmly convinced – I also lack that here, I lack the handwriting here: The will to save is not visible to me. I firmly believe that we should have deleted the SURE programme, and I also firmly believe that, even if it does not mean the world: It would not have been wrong to send a signal, only one seat of Parliament, to save money and CO2 emissions.

Mr President, Madam Minister, Commissioner! Our currencies are in international competition, and it is therefore important that they can operate in a performance-oriented and politically uninfluenced manner. Because we are competing for our currency, we have to go with innovation. The innovation step of the digital currency is coming, and we as a European Monetary Union must not close ourselves there. This means that we must have this courage, the digital euro, to take this path together, Commissioner. But I also listened very well to your speech. You have said five or six times in your speech, Commissioner, that we do not want to ban cash. The important thing is that politicians do what they say. And I do not understand – and it is simply not in the context – when a cash ceiling of two to three thousand euros is discussed on the other side. After all, that's exactly what people out there fear, namely that the cash ban will come. It is useless to stress here again and again that we want to get the cash because there is a political majority for it, but we must stop wanting to restrict the cash in the other place, so to speak. After all, what is today's two-thousand-euro cash cap on the many mistakes Mrs Lagarde has made in inflation? What can you buy today for 2000 euros and what can you buy perhaps in ten years still for 2000 euros, if these errors are not finally fixed? And that's why: Stop with the cash limit!

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, It must not be the case that multinational operations are hindered because the material of the participating EU countries is not compatible with each other. It must not be that there are missing routines, because there are no common and realistic exercises. It must not be the case that joint troops are never deployed because some European Member States exercise their right of veto. This sad reality of EU battlegroups must be a thing of the past. We are committed to this by the soldiers, their relatives and Europeans. We must not allow common military structures to exist in the current geopolitical situation: EU Battlegroups – but which are not available for defence or use. For this, we now need the fast European forces, and I firmly believe that the 5,000 that are earmarked for this can only be the beginning. We must gradually expand this in order to live up to our responsibilities.

– Madam President, Commissioner! Under President Xi's rule, China has regressed massively over the last decade in terms of human rights. In the recent development, he has now also allowed himself to be elected for life. It would take hours to enumerate the barbaric human rights violations in China here, be it in Tibet, be it in Hong Kong or be it the horrific crime against the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. What is causing us to look the other way is what we are seeing in Ukraine. We have no other choice, it is our duty to look at these terrible human rights violations in China and to warn them clearly and show them the right way. The human rights violations in the Xinjiang region include already systemically the action in the destruction of the people of the Uyghurs. That is why it is very important that we, as the European Parliament, take a close look at all the demonstrations taking place in China and support the people on the ground with everything we have, even if that is unfortunately very limited. China exploits its power, equips without external threat, ignores international law and ultimately builds a secret police force in the European Union. I therefore call on the Commission to do everything it can and, together with the Council, to ensure that we become independent of the Chinese dictatorship as soon as possible. And that should be our common goal.

Madam President, Commissioner Hahn! Today we are discussing the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and there is no doubt that we need to adapt it. But the clarity and truth also includes the fact that, although Brexit came about, it is unfortunately the highest budget to date. That is, we have already drawn from the full here. Even in terms of adaptation, we have already raised 750 billion for the Reconstruction Fund at that time. This means that the budget has been adjusted and we must now adjust again. But one thing is clear: The truth and clarity also include, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Hahn: All the money we want to increase here, we take it away from the Member States, and they will take it away from their citizens, it will lead to more taxes and more burdens. I think that's the wrong way. I strongly believe that we need to start with truth and clarity. I also do not know what crisis is to come after the war in Ukraine, after Corona, after the crisis of cheap money, the frenzy of consumption, that we are finally starting to save with us. Why don't we take courage and say: A seat for the European Parliament? Why aren't we brave and say: We are reducing the number of Commissioners – all that is in our hands?

Madam President, Mr Gentiloni, Mr Bek! We've been seeing the price increase for months, that's for sure. But it's important to look at how the price increase is changing every month. Now, especially this month of November, it is very clear that high food prices keep inflation very high in the Member States that have the euro. This means that we have to focus on food prices in the discussion this month and, so to speak, also change in the discussion and not stick to old topics forever. Mr Gentiloni, I noticed - I looked at this - that the Commission itself says that 10% of food in the European Union is thrown away. This means that we do not have to discuss forever what we can constantly increase and change, but we must clearly change existing structures and see that we no longer throw away 10% of these foods. This would be a discussion, for example, about the fact that liability is changed at the best-before date of food. In Germany, for example, the manufacturer is liable until the expiry date and from the expiry date of the seller. Here we have to get a discussion of the specialist politicians and, if necessary, change the liability so that the food is no longer thrown away by the companies.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Today we discuss culture, values and identity. Russian warfare is increasingly unrestrained in Ukraine and deliberately targets civilian actors. It was with dismay that we discovered that Yuriy Kerpatenko, head of the chamber orchestra of the occupied city of Kherson, was murdered in his apartment. He refused to attend a Russian propaganda concert. He paid for this steadfastness with his life. This is further evidence that Russian soldiers are deliberately killing civilians. The aim is to destroy Ukraine's cultural heritage. Now it is up to us to put a stop to this inhuman behavior of the Russians, so to speak, and to support the cultural sector. Therefore, we need not only humanitarian support and comprehensive military support, but also targeted support for Ukraine's cultural sector. The aim is to document, digitize and protect the cultural identity of Ukraine.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Because of Putin, people have been dying every day in Ukraine since February. And, of course, as an EU, we are not looking idly at it. We are the global peace and freedom project and will never stand idly by. Sanctions are the minimum we can do to stop funding this warmonger. However, these sanctions are called into question. It is clear to us that Putin has been investing money in his propaganda machine in the EU for years. Putin’s helpers, who are openly ordinarily standing by his side here, whether here in Parliament or in national parliaments, are not our primary problem. Our primary problem is Putin's disinformation campaign on social networks and in the media. We need to be very clear about this and take action against it. Therefore, these hidden channels must be uncovered and combated. We have to be better than Russian propaganda. We must be better at educating the people of the European Union and, most importantly, Putin must not win this war, either in Ukraine or in our information space.

Madam President, Commissioner Vestager, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen Today, we set the USB-C standard as a charging cable not only for smartphones, but also for other devices such as tablets and e-reader devices. This is a small thing, but with a very, very big impact: more than EUR 100 million, which will no longer be wasted, more than 100 000 waste, which will no longer have to be produced in order to protect the environment, but also an efficiency for the economy that will produce this, which will reduce prices for consumers. I am very pleased that we are able to do this here as a Parliament. And I am also very pleased that we will be able to achieve this in such a short time with the new majority in the Commission and Parliament, and the ten years that many colleagues have put in place here – it must be said that sometimes good things also need a political majority. We now have this political majority for more real policy in this Parliament. And, Commissioner, with this majority, let us continue to improve the lives of people in the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner! We are discussing human rights violations in Tajikistan today, and it has become a model among autocrats. What happened? A civilian died in police custody after being arrested. People who are oppressed use this as an outlet, take to the streets, demonstrate for their human rights. Among these people are journalists. Autocracy has no other solution but to shoot into the crowd with live ammunition. Civilians are dying, journalists are dying, and we are watching. Dear Commissioner, I would like to ask you to: It cannot become a model for autocrats to shoot at crowds with live ammunition. If there is anything we can do, please include it in your agenda. Take it with you to the Council. At least the use of rubber bullets would be a first solution to say to the autocrats, so to speak: You don't have to shoot people who are fighting for their freedom. This is not the solution to the problems, but it helps the local people. That would be a small symbol. A request to you: Take this with you. Bring that into the conversations.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the Commission's representative! The arrest of 90-year-old former archbishop Cardinal Zen for alleged violations of the controversial national security law is a sad day and proof of the persecution of Christians in China, which is likely to be intensified. It is becoming increasingly apparent that China is unwilling to respect human rights, which are universal. We are witnessing the end of "one country, two systems", the end of Hong Kong and the freedom of the people of Hong Kong. We see China dealing cruelly with its own population in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, and we have powerful concerns about Taiwan. We must not allow these human rights violations in China to continue to expand. We must now do everything possible with all national representatives to bring about the release of 90-year-old Cardinal Zen, to give hope to the people of Hong Kong and the world that there is a place, Europe, where they can live in peace and freedom.

Mr President, dear representative of the Council, dear Commissioner! Today, we are discussing random gains or over-profit taxes, whatever you want to call it. I would like to say quite clearly here: Anyone who discusses tax increases in the current situation of inflation above 8% is discussing a further increase in inflation. Because one thing is clear: Tax increases are priced in by companies and only lead to further cost increases of products. With all the annoyance, with all the worries, with all the uncertainty, we as politicians must not panic and go for simple vote-gathering and suggest to the citizens that increased taxes cause prices to fall in inflation. Those who believe this have not paid attention to the market economy in the eighth or ninth grade. What we need now is a serious discussion of interest rate hikes, a serious discussion of tax cuts. People need more net of gross in order to be able to afford more.

Mr President, dear representative of the Council, Mr Bek, dear Commissioner Schmit! Today we are talking about the cost increases within the European Union, the monetary union. And, of course, this also has something to do with the devastating war of aggression of the Russian ruler Putin against Ukraine. But part of the truth – and that is why we need to talk about it today – is also the ECB’s total failure. Because inflation has risen from four to eight percent because of the war, but without this war we would still be at four percent, Mr. Bek. And that means twice as much inflation even without war in the European Union, a clear failure of the ECB. That's what we need to talk about here. We need a system that does not promote inflation and we need to talk about reforms in the European Union. Of course, we need to talk about what we are doing with the crisis winners now. But why don't we even discuss what we can do here in Parliament? Why more and more redistribution, more debt, which leads to more burden? Why don't we really discuss here in Parliament why we spend more than 200 million euros every year to come here to Strasbourg? These are finances, these are euros that are spent unnecessarily, regardless of the many millions of tons of CO2 that we burn for it. Therefore: We need to talk about reforms that we can do here, and not just reforms over people's heads.

Madam President, Commissioner Dombrovskis, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen! Even if one claims for over a century that the Earth is a disk, it will not be. Thus, it never becomes the truth when the Chinese dictators claim that the closed camps in the Xinjiang region are educational institutions that are then voluntarily visited. A mockery when you look at the current evidence. Through the extensive leak we got two weeks ago, we have evidence. We have images of clear language. We see mental as well as physical violence being carried out. We see torture. We see assault rifles. We see shooting orders on people, in reports. These images and evidence will never, ever be erased from the history of humanity and also from the history of China. In our century of freedom, the Uyghur people are systematically oppressed in an experiment. Forced sterilization attempts to insidiously exterminate the Uyghurs. This is barbarism and inhumane. This is a creeping genocide in our century. It's unimaginable if we can't get it stopped. Inconceivable if these machinations of the dictators in China become a blueprint for more dictators on our earth. And that's why I appeal to you all: Vote for our joint urgent resolution tomorrow!

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen! Yes, what we are discussing here is really the most necessary time. We should have done it much earlier. The economy has changed, corporations are changing. That is how politics must change. This is the time of things. Today, we are discussing the minimum taxation of international corporations at 15 percent. And there is hardly a voter in my home country Germany who does not want to do the same. Now it is the case that we Free Voters and I are not friends of taxes and that I rather believe that the state should keep its taxes more economical. But what we are doing here is really very important, and I am very happy that we are getting a great deal of unity here across party borders, across nations. I hope that everyone in the Council also understands the importance of introducing this minimum tax of 15 percent here. We all know that these corporations use our system in the European Union, which generates costs, investments that the state has to make, and ultimately everyone has to contribute to these costs. We must not allow countries in the world to erode our system and then make it more difficult for us to avoid taxes here in the system. If we take this big step with 15 percent now – and I think it's really good – I should like to ask the Federal Government in Germany: It would be nice if we could also move taxes in Germany towards 15 percent for medium-sized companies, so that we are competitive there, so to speak.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, As if everything wasn't bad enough, we have to discuss a really bad topic today, and that is organ trafficking or the forced removal of organs from people living in China. There are first and second class people in China – like many classes, I don’t want to know. The Chinese dictatorship has set itself the task of better representing the people of the first class, so to speak, and therefore forcibly taking organs from the people of other classes. In particular, the Uyghurs, who are already suffering from the genocide, are suffering again – another atrocity here. Signs are increasing, and there is already evidence that there is international tourism to China. People from all over the world who get cheap organs transplanted in China. We have to discuss this here today and clearly show that this cannot be the world of values in which we want to live. And here we have to show China clearly, so to speak, that it must not go on like this.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, here in the room! Disinformation is the seed of evil with the aim of eating into people's hearts. Disinformation is nothing new – a very old tool that is more than 2000 years old. Digital platforms are something new – not older than 20 years, that's something new. And where these digital platforms have led us, we now see. We see that it has led to radical parties spreading throughout the European Union, communicating with each other, spreading the same seeds. We see that in a gigantic catastrophe like COVID, our society is not closed, but divided into different radicals. We see Brexit coming, and we see a brutal war of aggression by Putin against Ukraine in the middle of Europe. We need to fight this cancer by taking responsibility for the digital platforms. They earn excellent sums with their work and can also invest these sums in stopping this division of society.

Madam President, Madam Lagarde, Commissioner! Today, in our report, we give the European Parliament's assessment of the ECB's policy, and that is also very important, because monetary policy is relevant. The citizens of the eurozone have certainly noticed this in recent years, and they notice it every day when they stand at the pump or go to grocery shopping. Last summer, the ECB revised its strategy. So it was really important, it was a very, very important process. And on the important subject of inflation, on the inflation framework, complicated communication has been set from close to two percent to just two percent. I can't welcome that, but I think it's right and easier to predict when you're talking about flat two percent inflation now. However, if you consider what that means for wealth – ten times ten in just ten years – then that is a case. What was not quite clear last autumn, when we negotiated the report, is how inflation is now in December and January. We had a really good climate in the negotiations in committee. I want to thank you for that. That is why I welcome the EPP requests and we will take them into account and support them. Inflation jumped to more than 5% in December. Dear Mrs Lagarde, I would really like to ask you: Take inflation seriously, it won't go away on its own. And we are also aware of the pressure that fed It is based on the increase in interest rates that this is not a game where we set the rules of the game, but that the currency is in international competition. And we have to show people that we're serious.

Dear Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Let's talk about the essentials here! We have had unrest in Kazakhstan, and again, as almost every month, significant crimes against humanity have occurred on this globe. In Kazakhstan, protesters were shot without warning, and over 200 have died. Yes, right, many thousands of these demonstrators, Commissioner, have been peaceful demonstrators. Plunderers have also mingled among the demonstrators – we know that, as we see in the pictures. And perhaps even a small fraction of the demonstrators were violent. But what is not possible is to shoot at a population with live ammunition – another violation of the red line. Commissioner! The Parliament, the Council and the Commission must forcefully persuade Kazakhstan here, but also not drive Kazakhstan into the arms of China and Russia. We must work together to show Kazakhstan a path to freedom and democracy, and that is the task we must tackle now.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, First of all, I would also like to thank my co-authors for the good cooperation on this text. Once again, as a Parliament, we are proving how determined we are on the issues of China. The freedom of the people of China and Hong Kong is being withdrawn bit by bit. Closed contracts are not respected by the government in China. In the last elections in December, we were able to prove this again. The National Security Act has arrested lawyers, politicians, journalists and active citizens. Part of the opposition was able to flee abroad to avoid arrest. In addition, only 20 of the 90 seats were freely selectable at the supposedly free elections in Hong Kong. This resulted in a voter turnout of only 30 percent. Looking at this negative spiral of government in China, we are forced to speak out politically – see Hong Kong, see Tibet, see the Uyghurs or Taiwan. If treaties and international human rights no longer have any value for the Chinese government, we must be vigilant and determined at the latest now. China is already influencing freedom of expression in the European Union. The minimum possible, namely the political boycott of the Member States at the Olympic Games, was not possible – the minimum that we could set as a sign, as a symbol. It is therefore all the more important that our well-written text here be sent to the Chinese government with a large majority, with great determination and as a symbol, and I ask for your consent.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, What we are currently experiencing on the Ukrainian border is an active threat of war from the Russian government. Well over 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine, heavy weapons of war, and also the medical infrastructure for the treatment of soldiers is being built on the Russian side. It can happen at any time that Ukraine is attacked again. As early as 2014, there was a border shift on the European continent. This is already jeopardising our peace and security infrastructure on the European continent. Therefore, we must find a diplomatic solution together with our NATO partners as soon as possible with all our strength and determination. We now need to build diplomatic relations and channels of dialogue as quickly as possible to solve this problem. It seems that the Russian government wants to prevent Ukraine from exercising its right of self-determination, perhaps becoming a member of NATO or not. We do not need another spiral of sanctions, but now – very quickly – the greatest possible deterrent potential with economic and political means vis-à-vis the Russian government.

Madam President, Commissioner Gentiloni! We have heard many passionate speeches today about the rule of law, and I must say: Everything we've heard about it is right. Unfortunately, the European Union has been in debt for the first time since its inception, that must be said. And yes, it is absolutely true that not one euro of these debts, which are made for the first time, will be paid out to Member States that do not comply with the rule of law – no doubt. Mr Gentiloni, but what we also need here is a discussion of how the money is invested. For the first time, the European Union is in debt, which is about 0.8 percent of the wealth distributed across the continent. 0.8 per cent – that is, we have over 99 per cent of the assets in the European Union, which is not invested. And here's the mistake. What we need is a discussion about the wealth that lies in the European Union, on this continent. We need to discuss this. How can we ensure that this money, which is in private households, is invested and does not continue to lead the European Union into a spiral of debt? We need to discuss how tax breaks are made for people who want to digitize, for companies who want to digitize. And we need to discuss how tax breaks or depreciation options are made to stop man-made climate change. We need to talk about this as much as we do about the rule of law. This is just as important, instead of making life harder for people in the future through debt, additional burden.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, The reality is that the numbers of refugees arriving in Brandenburg via Poland are increasing daily and the reception camp in Eisenhüttenstadt is now overloaded. The regime is organizing flights from Iraq to Belarus to escalate this hybrid form of war against the European Union. It uses migrants as a weapon against the European Union. Immigrants have also died. Our Commissioner is absolutely right when, for example, she now supports Poland in protecting Europe's external borders. But it is also clear in any case that we must help the people who are now on the run and not leave them there alone to their fate if they have fallen for this regime. But it is also clear that we must make it clear to the Lukashenka regime that we are not idly watching here. I therefore very much welcome the fact that the Commission wishes to suspend the visa agreement with the Lukashenka regime with regard to officials. And I also very much hope, Commissioner, that you will get a majority in the Council for us to introduce further sanctions here.

Madam President, Mr Borrell! After the attack with more than 3,000 deaths from 87 countries, it was right and important that we defend ourselves, that we tracked down and destroyed the terrorist cells in order to prevent any further and worse attacks. In the 20 years of the operation, more than 3,500 soldiers and over 85,000 Afghans have died. History in Afghanistan is now being written by the victors. Whether the country will once again become an international threat will prove in the future. But from the dilettante withdrawal and the failure of the government, Mr Borrell, we must now draw concrete reforms in the European Union. Firstly: the deepening of the Common Security and Defence Policy. Secondly: Not every country in the European Union has to provide any military offensive and defence. And thirdly, Mr Borrell, we must look at the relationship between NATO and the European Union. Battlegroups coordinate, clarify and see that our Battlegroups become operational. If we have achieved this, we must see whether a European army is also possible in the coming decades.