What Milan spoke about.

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SL Written Statement

State of the Union (continuation of debate)

The state of the Union is mainly characterised by societal changes dictated by the planned industrial and economic transition to balance or adapt European production and consumption to planetary boundaries. In this respect, the EU has taken an essential step with the adoption of the Climate Law and the comprehensive climate, environmental and energy legislative package, paving the way towards the …

24 Apr

2024

SL Speech

La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe (debate)

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Mr President. We are facing a turning point and it is in the hands of citizens to decide where the European Union is going. The latest opinion poll, in which more than a third of people say that the EU must tackle poverty and social exclusion, confirms that the direction we socialists and democrats have taken is the right one. This is also recognised by the leaders of the Member States, who, toget…

24 Apr

2024

SL Speech

Surface water and groundwater pollutants (A9-0238/2023 - Milan Brglez) (vote)

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Madam President. Unfortunately, water has become a repository of artificial chemicals that threaten not only ecosystems and nature as a whole, but also our health and even lives. We are too often or too little aware of this, because for the majority of our society, clean and drinking water is almost a matter of course. The report before you essentially updates the lists of substances and their lim…

23 Apr

2024

SL Speech

EU’s response to the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip (debate)

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Dear President! The unscrupulous brutality of armed conflicts and the most serious international crimes in Gaza, which has lasted for more than six months, calls into question our collective humanity and the existence of international law. According to Save the Children, more than 200 humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the conflict, the highest number of humanitarian casualties in moder…

23 Apr

2024

SL Speech

European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities - European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities for third country nationals legally residing in a Member State (joint debate - Disability cards)

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Dear President! Thanks for the word. Freedom of movement is one of the fundamental freedoms and the way of European life enshrined in the Treaties of the European Union. Unfortunately, for more than 101 million people with disabilities in the European Union, freedom of movement cannot be taken for granted, as they face additional obstacles in their daily lives when travelling to another country. T…

14 Mar

2024

SL Speech

Healthy lifestyle and active ageing in the EU (debate)

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Madam President. Dear Commissioner, colleagues. We in the European Parliament need to talk about ageing because no one can avoid it and because the European population we represent is getting older. We must make better use of the benefits of a long-lived society, while at the same time fighting the cult of eternal youth and age discrimination or ageism. Older people are not an obstacle to society,…

13 Mar

2024

SL Speech

The immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

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Mr President. Israeli attacks and humanitarian aid deliveries have been described by UN Special Rapporteurs and UN Human Rights Council experts as a massacre under the conditions of an imminent threat of starvation. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy rightly refers to Israel's use of hunger as a method of warfare. The long-lasting humanitarian situation of the Pales…

12 Mar

2024

SL Speech

EU climate risk assessment, taking urgent action to improve security and resilience in Europe (debate)

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Madam President. The European Environment Agency's report on climate risk assessment is an additional red signal to the forbearance policies of collective climate and environmental action, which are strongly advocated by the right side of this Parliament. Such irresponsible political behaviour already costs us nine billion euros annually due to the remediation of the damage of increasingly severe …

28 Feb

2024

SL Speech

The extradition and prosecution of Julian Assange and implications on freedom of the press (debate)

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Madam President! Dear Commissioner, Colleagues! I welcome the plenary debate on the extradition and prosecution of Julian Assange. Despite her late hour, she needs to wake up the public, because she is important not only for him, but for the human rights of all of us. I hope that Assange's extradition, in accordance with the highest international legal standards, will be decided on the UK before t…

27 Feb

2024

SL Speech

War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (debate)

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Madam President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues! Exactly a month ago, in the case of South Africa against Israel, the International Court of Justice ruled, among other things, that Israel should take immediate and effective measures to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza, and that it should prevent and punish any actions by its own forces that co…

26 Feb

2024

SL Speech

Need to overcome the Council deadlock on the platform workers directive (debate)

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Mr. President! Digital platforms, which grew mainly during the pandemic, have reduced the time from provider to consumer, but often at the cost of losing all social and legal security for workers. Food distributors, taxi drivers, cleaners and other platform workers often work without employment contracts or are forced to open s.p.s. Instead of following the instructions of their superiors, they pe…

7 Feb

2024

SL Speech

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred (debate)

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Madam President! Dear Vice-President of the Commission, colleagues! The escalation of the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas is creating new hotspots in the region, while also posing a serious threat to social cohesion, democracy and human rights in Europe, with a rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. In the EU strategy against antisemitism and in the EU anti-racism action plan, the E…

6 Feb

2024

SL Speech

Quality traineeships in the EU (debate)

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Mr. President! Dear Commissioner, Honourable Colleagues! In 2021, the President of the European Commission promised young people that next year would be theirs and that quality jobs and training opportunities would reward their sacrifices during the pandemic. 2022 has passed and the legacy of the Year of Youth in the field of traineeships is not something to brag about, even though Parliament has …

6 Feb

2024

SL Speech

Water crisis and droughts in the EU as a consequence of the global climate crisis and the need for a sustainable, resilient water strategy for Europe (debate)

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Mr. President! Dear Commissioner, Honourable Colleagues! Parliament has repeatedly shown that water management is a political priority for it. This includes the adoption of strengthened rules to control pollution of rivers, lakes, groundwater and drinking water sources, which were approved by Parliament in its proposal for the revision of the Water Framework Directive in September last year. The F…

17 Jan

2024

SL Speech

Quality jobs in a competitive future-oriented social market economy (topical debate)

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Mr. President! The European Union is an attractive place to live because of its values of well-being, working in a safe and healthy environment, a fair wage that allows workers and their families to live in dignity, and social security from birth to old age. Past crises, especially the misguided responses to the financial crisis, have perhaps only taught the right and liberal spectrum of European …

16 Jan

2024

SL Speech

Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire and the risks of regional escalation (debate)

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Dear President! I am on the side of international law. I believe that this should also be the European Union and the European Parliament. I therefore support South Africa's action against Israel before the International Court of Justice regarding the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza, the request by the United Nations General Assembly f…

15 Jan

2024

SL Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Mr. President! It is not only my duty, but also my moral duty, to join my colleagues in drawing the attention of this plenum to the inadmissibility, disproportionality and absurdity of certain prescribed working conditions for our staff. Assistants in the offices of Members of the European Parliament are the pillar and driving force of our work and an irreplaceable support in realising our politic…

15 Jan

2024

SL Speech

The role of social award criteria in public procurement in strengthening social rights, good working conditions and inclusive labour markets (debate)

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Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues! All individuals, and especially the state, which is the custodian of social policies and manages public money, can and must influence the behaviour of companies through their consumption. A socially oriented and socially responsible economy, with good working conditions, decent minimum and other wages, and the promotion of collective bargaining, w…

14 Dec

2023

SL Speech

Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28) (debate)

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Dear President. From Dubai comes news about the success of climate multilateralism in light of the severity of the climate and environmental challenges we face. Despite the diversity among countries, world leaders have only managed to unite in a commitment to move away from fossil fuels, supporting a decision based on scientific knowledge. There are many reasons for optimism, but tomorrow is a new…

12 Dec

2023

SL Speech

Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)

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Mr. President! There is no justification for the crimes committed by Hamas and the Israeli army. But Hamas is not all Palestinians, and the Israeli army is not all Israelis. International law is clear – the rules of armed conflict, the rules of persecution and punishment of terrorism, the rules applicable to the occupying power and the rules applicable to crimes under international law are clear. …

22 Nov

2023

SL Speech

Revised pollinators initiative - a new deal for pollinators (debate)

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Madam President. Dear Presidency. Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Colleagues. Europe and the world are facing an alarming decline in the number of wild pollinators, on which 35% of global food production depends. This poses serious risks to food security, human health and quality of life, as well as to the functioning of natural ecosystem services. Four out of five crop species depend at least…

20 Nov

2023

SL Speech

Children first - strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption - Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (joint debate – International Day of the Rights of the Child)

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Madam President. Vsem otrokom, vse pravice. The theme of this year's International Day of the Rights of the Child is far from reality in the face of numerous conflicts and crises, including in Europe and its neighbourhood. We cannot go beyond the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the suffering of children as a result of the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, in particular in Gaza. Cri…

18 Oct

2023

SL Speech

The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza (debate)

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Mr. President! I unconditionally condemn the terrorist acts committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians. I condemn unconditionally Israel's crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. There is no excuse for these crimes. Hamas terrorism cannot be justified by the long-standing Israeli occupation and the systematic repression of Palestinians. Israel's crimes against Palestinians cannot justify H…

17 Oct

2023

SL Speech

Water scarcity and structural investments in access to water in the EU (debate)

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Mr. President! I am pleased with today's debate because we are paying increasing attention to EU water policy and water security. However, I think that a central part of this debate should also be the issue of pollution of Europe's rivers, lakes and groundwaters, where, with the revision of the Water Framework Directive, we have the opportunity to strengthen EU regulations to control this pollutio…

5 Oct

2023

SL Speech

Urban wastewater treatment (debate)

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Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues! A common water management policy at Union level has shown good results over the last 30 years. Nevertheless, our work is only just getting off to a good start, as pressures on water resources are increasing and climate change is contributing to further tightening of the water supply situation. I therefore welcome the Commission's initiative to rev…