Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! As someone once rightly said: Russia is actually a gas station posing as a supermarket. For far too long, the world has fallen for the myth of Russian military power. Hopefully this will end soon. For 600 days, the brave Ukrainians have been defending their country in Putin’s ‘three-day war’. They gradually liberate – and above all their sea accesses. Odessa's ports are almost freely accessible, grain is exported, the Russian fleet is submerged. Ukraine, of course, defends its own freedom, but also our freedom in the EU. Every penny we invest in Ukraine is well-invested money in democracy and our security. The new Ukraine Facility – a €50 billion assistance – will help Ukrainians not only survive but also rebuild the country. It should be better and greener. The Ukraine of the future will be a model for everyone else. We have made sure that Ukraine of the future is determined by its people, who are represented by their government, parliament, civil society and communities. It is the people who decide what the Ukraine of tomorrow will look like. Since European taxpayers should know how their money is spent, we have provided the Ukraine Facility with full transparency. This ensures that every penny invested in the country can be accounted for. The Ukraine Facility is also a precursor to Ukraine's EU membership. It offers a perfect synergy between reconstruction and reforms. With our joint efforts, free, united democratic Ukraine will be the green engine of the European future. Thank you to the two rapporteurs for the good cooperation!

Madam President, colleagues, the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, stood here five months ago, making a strong case for her country’s European future. President Zourabichvili does what the Georgian Government refuses to do: to bring her country closer to the EU. The president – who just like her people, is European through and through – strictly follows Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution: ‘Take all measures to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union.’ For these efforts, she is now being punished by an oligarch and his officials. Dear colleagues, I must alarm you that Georgia – once a beacon of European hope – is fast driving towards an authoritarian pro-Russian rule. The judiciary and the rule of law are broken and are now being weaponised in a farce called impeachment. We cannot and we will not give up on Georgia. We will not leave over 80% of pro-European Georgians alone against this captured regime. Georgia will once become the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, with its young, hard-working population, natural resources and rich history, Uzbekistan has everything it needs to become Central Asia’s success story. However, its people are struggling, its resources and land are eroding, and China and Russia – its autocratic neighbours – have turned it into their personal playground. The EU cannot decide to engage in more trade while turning a blind eye to the human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. Sure, working conditions in the cotton fields are improving, child labour is largely outlawed, but there is still a long way to go. Water resources are being mismanaged, cities are covered in toxic dust and the country is partly being turned into a desert. An ecological disaster looms over the 35 million people in Uzbekistan if these processes are not reversed. The next EU enlargement will bring Uzbekistan much closer to the EU. Its people deserve a democratic alternative to China and Russia. The EU must be more present in Central Asia so it can do more for improving the lives of people and protecting its unique ecosystem.

Mr President, Commissioner, Council, dear colleagues, the brutal attack on Kosovo police in Banjska is a stark reminder that we cannot take peace for granted in the Western Balkans. The shot at the police officer on duty, Afrim Bunjaku, was a shot at peace, a shot at security, a shot at the normal life in the north of Kosovo. We must clearly condemn such act of violence and call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The ties of Milan Radoičić, former Vice-President of Srpska Lista, with officials at Belgrade, are more than obvious. Serbia must unconditionally cooperate in the investigation and hold each and every one who is responsible accountable along with Radoičić. Serbia must immediately remove all its troops from the border with Kosovo and commit to the peace process. Yet, we must act too. The EU, along with NATO, must come up with a containment plan for the north of Kosovo. Reinforcement of NATO-led KFOR troops is crucial. Nothing will deter better than NATO’s presence on the ground. I call on Germany and other EU Member States to follow the UK’s example of sending additional combat troops to KFOR and EUFOR immediately. This will be the key for our relevance and our success to preserve peace, not just in Kosovo, but on the entire Western Balkans.

Mr President, Commissioner, representatives of the Council, ladies and gentlemen! First, an overdue reminder: Putin has not abandoned his original plan to take Ukraine completely and then invade Moldova. This is what his propagandists and allies in Belarus tell us, and this is shown by his actions. That is why we must remain vigilant. The Kremlin's script is as macabre as it is predictable: If you can't win people's hearts and minds, threaten them with war. Even if this blackmail fails: Destabilize the country from within. Because there is nothing Putin fears more than free citizens who choose their own government. Thus, he sends thugs, threatens an energy supply stop, spreads evil disinformation, launches cyberattacks, initiates economic blockades, leaves greedy oligarchs off the leash and incites separatists against the government. Russia has tried everything, and the Republic of Moldova has repelled everything. His democratic, pro-European government remains strong and protects the country's future. In any Russian attempt to destabilise the country, our response must be ‘more Europe for Moldova’: more support to reduce inflation and the cost of living, more support for democratic processes, more incentive for the economy. We offer a European market to entrepreneurs and roaming to Moldovan citizens. The progress made by the Republic of Moldova on the new recommendations needs to be recognised. The opening of accession talks is the only logical next step. Moldova has earned it by withstanding unimaginable pressure and hosting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. Republic of Moldova: Welcome back, home in Europe!

Mr President! More than 100,000 Armenians, exhausted and starving, have now left their homes. This is almost the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh. How often will the world say: "Never again!" and then turn a blind eye to ethnic cleansing in our neighbourhood on the edge of Europe? To say that we cannot do anything because it is Azerbaijani territory is to ignore the suffering of innocents. To say that the Armenians did it first is to say that twice is wrong once is right. Armenians flee because they distrust and fear the Aliyev regime – the regime that spread hatred and threats for decades, which celebrated an axe killer who built a hateful trophy park in Baku. How long do we want to sit idly by? Until Aliyev bombs the Armenian border again? Until he annexed Armenian land to get to Nakhchivan? Appeasement never works, nor does surrender before extortion with gas. We have learned this lesson. It is time to act now to protect Armenia and end the violence.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! No means no. Ursula von der Leyen also stressed this in her State of the Union address yesterday. When Luis Rubiales kissed soccer player Jennifer Hermoso in front of running cameras, she had no chance to say no. In 2021, thousands of athletes said they had experienced violence as minors in sports. They weren't old enough to say yes. Almost always violence does not follow the sanctioning of the perpetrators, but the intimidation of the victims. In the case of Rubiales, Mrs Hermoso was lucky: Massive public pressure led to his resignation. In this parallel world of international sport full of systemic problems, where corruption, cover-up and sexism rule, a fundamental reform is needed. A secure international contact point with a strong mandate to protect female athletes and sanction offenders is needed. Of course, the sports organisations do not want this and use the autonomy of sport to protect their officials. Also in politics – unfortunately – far too many prefer to look the other way than to mess with the powerful sports officials. We need to protect female athletes and finally do more to restore the integrity of the sport. That's why I'm fighting here with you, along with you, on the side of female athletes for an international anti-corruption agency.

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, imagine a European country on the edge of this continent, placed between the highest mountains and the vastest lake, endowed with talented people and blessed with natural resources. The country whose constitution proudly states in Article 24: ‘Human dignity is protected and respected’. Now imagine the same country ruled by an autocrat who brutally suppresses critical voices, imprisons the opposition, physically attacks journalists, blackmails activists, and rattles weapons. The peoples of Azerbaijan deserve better. They deserve to live in a country where natural resources are invested in education and not in luxury villas in Dubai or Zurich. A country where people like Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, who expose corruption, are rewarded and not thrown in jail. A country that does not use gas for geopolitical blackmail, but for cooperation and peace building. A country that is faithful to its constitution, where human dignity is truly protected and respected. This is what Azerbaijan could be – a democratic law-governed, secular and unitary republic as demanded by its constitution. Azerbaijan, that frees all political prisoners, does not threaten over 100 000 Armenians with ethnic cleansing, blockading the Lachin corridor. In this case, can we all, not just the President of the Commission, call Azerbaijan without hesitation, a trustworthy partner?

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, exactly three years ago, Masha Kalesnikava was arrested by Lukashenko when she tore up her passport and refused to leave Belarus. For more than seven months, Masha’s whereabouts remained unknown. Maksim Znak, Ihar Losik and many other political prisoners have also disappeared without trace. Lukashenko’s Belarus has now over 1 500 political prisoners – many of them are being tortured and held under complete inhumane conditions. Mikola Statkevich, Palina Panasiuk, Ales Pushkin, Artsiom Kasakouski, to name but a few. The list is painfully long. But what are we doing while Lukashenko turns the country into a modern gulag in the heart of Europe? Instead of sanctioning all the judges and special forces who enable the bloody regime, we give them visas to tour through Europe. Imagine being a political prisoner and bumping into your former oppressor on the Acropolis. This is exactly what has happened. Instead of cutting off the regime’s sources of income, some here daydream about Lukashenko’s red potash mountains, ironically the same colour as the hands of the dictator and his enablers. There is no way back. We cannot negotiate with terrorists and murderers without losing our values. There is only one way forward: to do everything possible to end Lukashenko’s inhuman regime – the sooner, the better for everyone.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Russia has withdrawn from the grain agreement, bombing Ukrainian silos and threatening to sink any ship in Ukrainian waters. Russia is and will remain a terrorist state. His daily attacks do not surprise me. What surprises me is the lack of solidarity of some EU members to help Ukraine and prevent a global famine. Those who say yes to solidarity with Ukraine and no to Russia's continued blackmail must do everything they can to help Ukraine export its grain. The Commission was right to quickly establish solidarity corridors for Ukraine. Nevertheless, their success currently depends on election campaigns in Poland or populist sentiments in Hungary. There are no solidarity corridors without solidarity. Ukrainian agriculture deserves our 100% support. It must generate revenue from grain sales in order to survive. That is why we, especially Poland and Hungary, are called upon to prevent anything that could make it more difficult to export and sell Ukrainian grain.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, in 1991, Kyrgyzstan is newly independent with a vibrant civil society and free media. It is the most democratic state in Central Asia, but it is not 1991 – it is 2023. Today, democratic standards and human rights have deteriorated. Journalists are illegally arrested and expelled, and freedom of media and expression are suppressed. The so—called ‘false information and foreign agent bills’ are just another tool for the autocratic elites to intimidate and silence opponents. They will help them consolidate their rule and persecute journalists and human rights defenders. President Japarov has never hidden his dislike of independent NGOs. This bill spill over effect will be disastrous for the region, plunging Central Asia into even deeper autocracy. And what are we doing? What is the EU doing? Oh, we are extending lucrative GSP+ deals to Kyrgyzstan, allowing the ruling elite to enjoy generous trade preferences, and don’t forget the complete elimination of tariffs on 66% of all products exported to the EU. Colleagues, our market power should go hand in hand with our normative power. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are not for sale, especially considering the growing autocratic influence from China and Russia in Central Asia. Trade benefits must be based on a minimum standard of democracy. We can and we must do better. Let’s do better together for Kyrgyzstan and for Europe.

Madam President, Vice-President of the Commission, ladies and gentlemen! The EU is only as strong as its weakest institution, and nothing weakens our institutions more than corruption and infiltration by foreign actors. These can be states, but also interest groups or individuals who want to manipulate us. Just because Qatar has been caught here does not mean that many others do not want to harm democracy. Hosts of lobby groups, agents and activists romp around the European Parliament and try to influence it, partly with money. Unfortunately, with more than 700 MEPs, there will always be people who are guided by greed and not by their political mandate. Unfortunately, not all members of this House follow the same high ethical standards. In this sense, we need strong, transparent institutions to keep those who betray their mandate and voter confidence at bay in the best possible way. Our mission is to thoroughly investigate every case of corruption, to punish the offense exemplarily. Parliament should be a real example of transparency. This is the only way to protect the integrity of the EU and its democracy.

Mr President! Mr President Hoyer, thank you very much again from my side! After all that we've heard here, that was really exclusively or almost overwhelmingly positive about your personal work, but also about how you set up the bank. We have discussed all the problems here, and it seems that you have worked your way through the crises, and that you have not perished with the crises, and that is not a matter of course in this day and age. I think it's good that you put the focus on it again. You said we needed one, and that's exactly the point. We must now get to the point where we can get out of Europe with all the requirements that we bring from our policy fields – the support of small and medium-sized enterprises is one thing, but above all it is about climate policy, inclusive policy, the Citizen approach-to implement policy in such a way that, in particular, we focus on Ukraine in such a way that this reconstruction can succeed. I think most people in this room agree: This requires a strong European Investment Bank, united forces, a lot of political will and, hopefully, a willingness to cooperate on the part of the Commission and the European Council, which, if we have listened between the lines, is not always as close to where we need it. I would also like to ask you to cooperate well with the other European institutions, such as the EPPO, OLAF and the ECA, perhaps to support them even more, to bring out the synergies even better than in the past and, for example, as rapporteurs, to get the final figures when we finally submit the discharge report. This was not possible in this case, but otherwise, I think you have shown over the twelve years of your presidency and also before that – we already know each other from the German Bundestag – that you have done well with your experience of this bank. I hope it stays that way for the future. Thank you for your cooperation, and in this sense a hopefully peaceful retirement.

Madam President, President Hoyer, Commissioner, dear Colleagues, as the rapporteur for the annual report on the control of the financial activities of the EIB for the year 2022, I can say it was indeed an important and very challenging year. Thank you to the Secretariat and my shadow rapporteurs for their cooperation. I also look forward to continue working with the EIB. The EIB annual report focuses on three points for the bank. First, the crisis response following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Second, the launch of the EIB Global. Third, the green transition. We all agree that Ukraine needs our support for as long as it takes. This support includes financial aid and reconstruction for the country for which the EIB as the EU bank is, and will be, the key stakeholder. I commend the EIB on its proven record of prompt crisis responses. Whether it regarded the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic or Russia’s war on Ukraine, the EIB has done a great job in mobilising and deploying the needed funds and loans. However, I would like to stress potential risks that lay ahead of us. The financial support given to Ukraine must come with robust supervisory and protective measures. It is fundamental to ensure that those funds are spent in line with its originally intended purpose of rebuilding the country and helping the Ukrainian people recover from the tragedy of the invasion. We must implement an active distribution process that ensures the money for Ukraine’s reconstruction is not misallocated, but that EU taxpayers’ money benefits all, supports democracy and transparency, and sets Ukraine up for a successful and sustainable future in line with our EU values. The second point is the launch of the EIB Global in January 2022, which is vital to increase our presence outside of the EU. EIB Global is central to the better implementation of our EU policies, priorities and objectives, particularly in the context of potential future EU enlargement. EIB Global will provide additional funds for the Western Balkans in four key areas: digitalisation, telecommunication, infrastructure and the energy transition. The pledges to the EU climate bank are nice, but the bank needs to put its money where its mouth is. For me, the priorities here are the aspects of sustainability, climate, biodiversity and environment. The EIB decision to no longer invest in fossil fuels related projects was a first great step. Yet I urge the EIB to be consistent here as the bank is still financing previously approved projects such as the Balkan Stream gas pipeline. We welcome the fact that in 2022, the EIB achieved a total level of green financing for over 36.5 billion, which is 58% of total financing volumes, exceeding the original target of 50%. Lastly, for the year 2022, I was pleased to note that the financing was distributed to key areas such as innovation, digital and human capital, sustainable energy and natural resources, sustainable cities and of course, SMEs. I look very much forward to all of your remarks and an interesting exchange.

Madam President, Once again, this House reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine and its full support for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The fact that all political groups have unanimously agreed on this text, which supports Ukraine's accession to the Convention on Recognition and Enforcement, is a clear indication of this. Ukraine has also demonstrated its commitment to EU integration by ratifying this agreement last year. The establishment of binding legal relations between the EU and Ukraine will lead to better cooperation and more effective support for Ukrainian citizens and also for businesses in the EU by removing legal uncertainties. Conversely, it will also be more attractive for EU companies to operate in Ukraine as legal risks are mitigated. Investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine by the private sector will become more attractive; they will strengthen further alignment through the rule of law in Ukraine and enable the transfer of legal practices. We therefore welcome the positive assessment by the Commission and the Council and support Ukraine's accession to this Agreement.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Russia is and will remain a terrorist state. Mass executions in Butscha, bombing of maternity clinics in Mariupol, burning down entire cities, child abduction thousands of times. We expect nothing but atrocities from Putin's regime, but even that expectation exceeds it every time. The blasting of the Kachowka Dam is another new low point of the murderous tyrant. However, Ukraine and our intelligence services have warned us against this. This also applies to the videos in which Russian military bragged about the installation of explosives in the dam. Since the beginning of the invasion, the Russians have controlled the dam alone. The seismic station has detected an explosion inside the structure, not through external projectiles, as Russian propagandists claim. Contradictory, incompetent, cowardly – in short, this crime clearly bears Russian fingerprints. Kakhovka is the continuation of Russia's ecocide in Ukraine. Russia's imperialist instinct dictates: If I can't have it, you shouldn't have it either. The Russian occupiers are massively and illegally cutting down Ukrainian forests to finance their bloody war. They have destroyed Ukrainian industrial plants, releasing toxic substances into soil, water and air. They used phosphorus and other chemical weapons to destroy flora and fauna. They have mined thousands of square kilometers of land and sea. They have inflicted suffering and death on countless wild and farm animals. In the Kachowka Zoo alone, more than 200 animals have drowned. The occupiers are panicking. They've blown up the dam because they're retreating. Their only goal now is to leave behind burnt earth. This is the beginning of the end. If their lines of defense crumble, Putin's regime will collapse as well. Russia will be held accountable for all crimes, including ecocide. In the meantime, Ukraine will not only prevail, but also flourish again – not only because the national football team almost won against Germany yesterday. Ukraine will certainly be a win for the EU and NATO. This day will come.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, first I would like to thank our rapporteur, Sandra Kalniete, for her overall very good cooperation. Over a year ago, I stood right here praising the report that should have become the EU blueprint for combating disinformation. The fact that we needed a second report to reiterate says everything. Playing catch-up during a huge digital transformation risks rendering the EU irrelevant. We have countless examples of how modern wars are fought not only with guns but also with disinformation. If you are threatened by tanks, everyone knows what this means and why we need to protect our citizens. Hybrid threats are much more sophisticated. Democracy should never be taken for granted. It must be defended. Malign actors compromise our democracy by interfering in our elections, co-opting our officials – our Chair has mentioned that, acquiring our critical infrastructure, spreading disinformation. Russia and China choose these methods only because they have high payoffs and low punishment. This equation finally needs to change. To prevail over foreign interference, we need three core qualities: unity, commitment to democratic principles and resilience. First, unity is our strength. Malign foreign actors have an interest to divide us, because together we are too strong. In this line our group regrets very much that some colleagues attempted to use this report for their own political agenda, which might lead to cracks in our unity. Second, we must be aware of dangers of gazing into the abyss. Our democratic principles should be the guiding light. We should not compromise on freedom of expression, media, assembly or scientific research in this process. Let us win this fight without betraying our democratic DNA. Lastly, resilience is our guarantee for prevailing. It is based on critical thinking, highly educated citizens, and on our resourcefulness. United, resilient and equipped with democratic principles we will triumph over those who wish harm to our democracy and to our societies.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. The opening line of Viktar Babaryka’s presidential campaign in 2020 was ‘We don’t choose the time we live in, but we can choose our own path’. For this path, along with millions of brave Belarusians, Babaryka has chosen a free Belarus, a country where everyone is respected and has a freedom to build their own life stories. He himself was a boy with a poor sight, grew up into a clear-sighted leader, and transformed his extraordinary sense of responsibility towards Belarus into extraordinary courage to fight the tyranny. And because this courage is so contagious, it inspired others like his son, like Mariya Kalesnikava, 1 500 political prisoners, tens of thousands of detained Belarusians, millions of peaceful protesters. ‘I would like to die in the homeland that I am proud of’ Babaryka said during his campaign. And because Belarus is not yet a country he would be proud of, dying is not an option. The fight against dictatorship continues, and like every tyranny, it will fall so those who fought it can enjoy living in a free Belarus.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! I fully understand President Zelensky's anger. Those who say yes to solidarity with Ukraine must also say no to the ongoing blackmail by Russia. And that's clear: We must do everything we can to help Ukraine export its grain. It has been part of Russia's warfare from the outset to eliminate Ukraine as a major global grain supplier. This was due to the brutal attacks on the infrastructure and the blockade of Ukrainian ports. To ensure that Ukraine's last revenues, namely the sale of cereals on the world market, do not dry up, the EU has reacted quickly and started building solidarity corridors by land. This is important! Ukraine has also been allowed to import grain into the EU duty-free. This is not illegal, it is legally compliant. It was precisely these steps that were needed to support Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. A blockade, as we have now seen at the borders in Poland and at the other border locations, is not only a breach of EU law, but it also violates above all the solidarity with the Ukrainian farmers who so urgently need these revenues. Without a fast and comprehensive export of Ukrainian grain stocks, it will not only be more difficult for Ukrainian farmers to sow and order crops, but in the end, important storage capacities will also be lacking. If you now drive through Ukraine, you will see the kilometre-sized parcels of unharvested sunflower and corn fields. Therefore, in a nutshell: Ukrainian agriculture deserves our 100% support. It must earn income from grain sales for its own survival. That is why we and the border states in the European Union have a duty to do our part.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! This was a very lively and very stimulating debate, and I think it is significant that today on Europe Day we are talking about the most pro-European country on the European continent. It is good that we are critical of the country, even if Mrs Daly does not see it that way. But Kosovo really deserves all our support, and that is why it is important that we finally do our homework not only on visa liberalisation, but also on all the other issues mentioned here today in the debate. It is important that we continue to exert pressure on Spain, Romania, Cyprus, Slovakia and Greece to finally take the step, because for stability on our continent it will be important how we behave towards our neighbours in the Western Balkans. Of course, we need to bring the dialogue to a reasonable conclusion, but that's not all. The important thing is that we also revise our history, and I know that this can be said as Germans, because we have actually done much of this revising of history. The countries in the Western Balkans must do the same in order to achieve this stability, this sustainable, peaceful stability. Much has been said and I would once again like to thank my shadow rapporteurs for their very constructive cooperation. It was incredibly enjoyable to work with you and with you because we agreed. We quickly agreed on everything that unites us here when it comes to supporting Kosovo. It is about supporting the EULEX mission in the north of the country and in Kosovo. We need to build the rule of law. It is about continuing the fight against corruption and organised crime. It is a matter of course that we also need to build a private sector and support for the youth, for the next generation. We must not allow the young, the well-educated, to be recruited by us and to go to the other countries, to the Member States of the European Union. We need to ensure that prospects are created in Kosovo, and we have made a good contribution to that today with our report.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues and dear citizens of Kosovo, I am very much honoured to present this year’s European Parliament report that looks at the reforms and achievements of Kosovo and the reforms which are accomplished. I was giving these speeches on Kosovo reports every year since 2019, hoping I can finally say ‘happy freedom of movement’. It is not a request or hope anymore; it’s a reality. As of January next year, Kosovo citizens will be able to travel across Europe without any visa requirement, invitation letters, costly procedure and queuing in lines. Europe is finally open its doors. Last year was a challenging one for everyone as we saw the horrors of war returning to Europe. Kosovo’s government, knowing well these horrors, demonstrated full solidarity with Ukraine by aligning with EU sanctions and even hosting Ukrainian journalists, for which I would like to deeply thank them. Our report only touches the surface of challenges and issues that are ahead of Kosovo. Yet it clearly underlines successes and what needs to be undertaken in the areas of democracy, fight against corruption, organised crime, energy and the environment. So, I will only outline three major processes: the rule of law, freedom of the media, EU—led dialogue and the energy transition. Kosovo keeps proving its democratic capacities by having a pluralistic political landscape, which is demonstrated on free and fair elections. The media landscape is diverse also compared to other states in the region, but still it is important that journalists remain independent. Significant results have been achieved in the areas of the fight against corruption and organised crime across Kosovo. Rule of law reforms need to be continued in line with the Venice Commission opinion and EU standards. Yet, the rule of law means equality for all. That’s why the international community has repeatedly asked the government of Kosovo to implement the Constitutional Court judgment regarding the Visoki Decani monastery. Dear colleagues from Kosovo, an essential element on Kosovo’s EU integration path is certainly the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which conditions the EU membership of both countries. The signing of the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements in March this year and the subsequent declaration on missing persons are excellent signals, but we expect the implementation of these previous agreements. It is particularly important to keep the dialogue at the highest level in order to secure that the situation in the north of Kosovo remains stable. I ask the Kosovo Serbs to return to the institution and the government of Kosovo to offer an open hand and start a dialogue with its citizens in Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavić and Zvečan. Here, EULEX rules in the last month was the crucial guarantee for peace and security in the north. And we need EULEX reinforcement for the prevention and protection until the full return to institutions and police occurs. Finding a way to accommodate the dialogue obligation within Kosovo’s legal order will lead one big step closer to the end of the dialogue and finalisation of the process with mutual recognition. Finally, environmental protection must become a priority for Kosovo. Without the full integration of the Western Balkans in our green and energy transition plans, our CO2 goals won’t be accomplished. This must be a clear priority for the EU and that is why we have created the green agenda for the Western Balkans. Now we should work on the implementation of the long—awaited energy strategy, which should lead to the decarbonisation of Kosovo’s energy. I wish to see the fruits of our joint efforts in the future, since Kosovo’s citizens deserve to live in a country that enjoys full international respect and a clear European integration perspective. In that respect, I warmly welcome the start of the admission procedure to the Council of Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, let me also start with paying homage to all the innocent victims of the recent mass shootings that have profoundly shaken us all. It is indeed unprecedented in Serbia’s history, and we all feel terribly saddened by that. The EU stands with you in this difficult moment, and I am convinced that the government will ensure that every person can feel safe and secure again. Dear colleagues, I have often been in Serbia and unfortunately, despite many efforts, Serbia is not much more democratic than it has been before. It’s a country that still lacks genuine democratic standards and fair elections, as well as freedom of expression and political culture. I would like to remind Mr Vučić and the Serbian government to deliver on two things: one, the domestic reforms. Nothing else can replace our request for reaching the highest European standards, rule of law, media freedom, free market competition and the fight against corruption. This is the key, not because Europe asks for that, but because the lives of Serbian citizens will improve. Two, the dialogue with Kosovo. It needs to be centred on the people, from finding all missing persons to ensuring that Kosovo Serbs are not the puppets in anyone’s hands. Serbia needs to close the Kosovo chapter and move on from the past. These two points are crucial for Serbia to become a true EU candidate that can join the Union. There are indeed progressive forces in Serbia fighting firmly for our common values. Our task is to make sure that they are heard, protected and have international support, as they are the guarantee of a European Serbia.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, President of the European Court of Auditors, the 2021 Commission discharge was a special one, as we start looking for the first time at how one EU Member State spends its Recovery and Resilience Fund. Despite the volume of the discharge, as we look at the spending of EUR 170 billion, it is more a dialogue of the deaf rather than a constructive exchange. Error rate is still above the 2% target, and for the 27th time the Court of Auditors is unable to grant a positive statement to the implementation of the EU budget. The financial sustainability is at risk. The outstanding budgetary commitments are now more than EUR 340 billion. Yet not everything is in the numbers; key issues for us are transparency and rule of law. That is what we owe to our taxpayers. It is the Commission’s primary task as the guardian of the Treaties to protect these norms and values. To put it simply: no EU money if no EU standards. The Commission never seriously used its tool to uphold the rule of law across the Union. If we compromise on the fundamentals, then the whole European House will fall apart. The first step against Hungary must not become the fig leaf for inaction excuses, but a booster that will strongly show our determination. No EU money if no EU standards. Then we have another crucial occurring challenge: the list of all final beneficiary. The Commission needs to set up a system that allows to see the complete list: who gets how much and how often. That is how to find conflict of interests, land grabbing, misuse of agri and cohesion funds as we witness the growing oligarch structures abusing EU funds in some of the Member States. It is not in the interest of either us here in the European Parliament or taxpayers’ interest to create the next oligarch generation with the NextGenerationEU money.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, There are not many people in Russia who are publicly critical of the war, who name the facts and, above all, who declare their solidarity with Ukraine. Vladimir Kara-Mursa is one of those few. He is a special politician and publicist who has shown extraordinary courage, but not only that. He has given up his relatively safe and comfortable life and, despite multiple threats, has returned to Russia because, like his father and even his grandfather in Soviet times, he is driven by the desire to create a better state with his own actions. His goal, like ours, is a free Russia. Putin is currently accused of discrediting the Russian army. But no one discredits the Russian army more than Putin himself. The so-called three-day special operation, which has already cost the lives of nearly 200,000 Russian soldiers in over 14 months, is undoubtedly the biggest failure for the world's self-proclaimed second-largest army. For pronouncing this obvious truth, Kara-Mursa received the unimaginable sentence of 25 years in prison. Nothing frightens Putin and his accomplices more than the truth. It therefore remains hopeful for all of us and for the upright people of Russia that Putin's regime will fall much earlier than the prisoner of Kara-Mursa and the many other political prisoners in Russia. I can only agree with Kara-Mursa's words: Russia will be free, and that means Slava Ukraini and Žyve Belarus.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Genocide is defined as the violent transfer of children from one group to another. Russia has displaced more than half of Ukraine's children and killed many. Those who managed to escape the missiles, but did not escape Putin's killers, were taken hostage and forcibly deported to Russia. Some were released to forced adoptions as if they were a trophy and not human beings. Others were put in re-education camps, entirely in the Russian genocide tradition. The children who survived Putin's new child gulags reveal Russia's entire inhumanity. They were brainwashed, mentally abused and beaten regularly. And yet these children were almost lucky, because the cruelty of the Russian soldiers is limitless. The disgusting video confession of a Wagner fighter is proof of this. I quote: ‘She was screaming, a little girl. I don't know if she was five or six years old," he admits, "but I shot her. A controlled shot in the head.” We in the EU have repressed the possibility of such inhumanity. Putin and his murderers will pay a heavy price.