Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! By signing the UN Charter, all countries commit themselves in Article 2(4) to refraining from violence in international relations. Article 51 reinforces the right of states to self-defense. For me, the situation is absolutely clear. We support Ukraine in its right to self-defense. As Greens, it is still somewhat difficult to communicate, but it remains important to strengthen Ukraine militarily. For we have the right to live in peace and the right to defend ourselves when our lives and this peace are under attack. Every tank, every drone, every cartridge we provide to Ukraine saves countless Ukrainian lives. Any support, whether financial or military, is an investment in the security of Europe. If Ukraine falls, more countries will fall. The world as we knew it before 2022 no longer exists. Putin chose war instead of peace, confrontation instead of cooperation, imperialism instead of a rules-based order. In this new world where the Stronger wants to be right, we cannot afford the luxury of being unarmed and not protecting our allies. Slava Ukrajini.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Armenia is a remarkable European country surrounded by foes, geographically isolated, and struggling with an armed conflict, losing lives every day, and still its democracy is thriving. However, Armenia’s bright future will be built on the shaky ground of its tragic past and a difficult present. As an eye-for-an-eye leaves everyone behind, there is no other option for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict but a peaceful solution. We cannot abandon the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh who are under constant threat of ethnic cleansing. Atrocities of the past can never justify atrocity in the future. Armenians and Azerbaijanis need to relearn how to live peacefully, and the EU is here to help to rebuild bridges and trust. Armenians understand perfectly that the Russian led CSTO only serves Russia and nobody else. It isn’t in Putin’s interest to see a peaceful Caucasus. All he wants is a military excuse to keep his boots on the ground in Armenia and Azerbaijan. If peace is in the Caucasus is what Putin is afraid of, then it is peace he should get. Thank you very much to our rapporteur and all the shadows who had contributed to this report.

Mr President, the Kremlin’s playbook is as rigged as it is predictable. If you cannot win the hearts and minds of the people in a neighbouring country, threaten them with a war. If blackmail fails, destabilise the country from within. The ploy disclosed by the Moldavian Government has Putin’s fingerprints all over it. It is an old KGB trick to take advantage of social hardships of the people. Send in groups of trained titushkies and orchestrate an overthrow of a democratic government. Because there’s nothing Putin is afraid of more than a democratic, pro-Western government next door. High energy prices have hit the people of Moldova hard and that discontent is more than relatable. This is why the EU stands with them and their government in words and in deeds. The multi-million euro support that the EU provided must be followed by credible steps, including abolishing roaming tariffs and accelerating the membership path, so that the people of Moldova can benefit from all freedoms that other Europeans enjoy as soon as possible.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, all masks are finally off. The government of Georgia is determined to sabotage the country’s European path. Thankfully, the people of Georgia are not taking it. There is no way back to the Russian swamp. There’s no way back to the curtailed freedoms and autocracy. There’s only one way forward: to Georgia’s European future. The people of Georgia are so unlike their government. Everyone took to the streets to make their voices heard in Tbilisi, in Brussels and especially in Moscow. Those in the streets of Tbilisi, Batumi or Kutaisi spoke on behalf of over 80% of Georgians. You cannot wash away the European identity with water cannons. Burning the EU flag will not burn Europe from the Georgian hearts. Violence is futile against those who fight for freedom. The Constitution of Georgia is sacred, and its Article 78 demands the government ensures the full integration of Georgia into the EU and into NATO. Yet the government has put the interests of one oligarch and the Kremlin above this constitution. When those in power betray their people, those people will demonstrate their power. It is time to take a cue from Georgians and fight for the European future. The people of Georgia deserve to be in the EU, even if their current government does not.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Belarusian dictator Lukashenko is just as brutal as Putin. Both are from yesterday, one with nuclear weapons and one without. No one is surprised when Lukashenko allows Russian troops to use Belarus as a staging ground against Ukraine. Why should he have more mercy on Ukraine than on his own people? He has been terrorizing and torturing his civilian population in his own country for over 27 years. To ensure his power and survival, Lukashenko has already ceded everything to Russia – the army, the economy and the independence of the country. That's the price the dictator pays to maintain his own power. But the people of Belarus can hardly be more different than the representatives of the regime – Ales Bjaljazki, Andrzej Poczobut, Maryja Kalesnikawa, Svetlana Alexievich, Raman Bandarenka and many thousands of other freedom-loving Belarusians opposed the regime in peaceful street protests. They are the champions of another Belarus, who have planted the seeds for a democratic restart. Every evil empire falls at some point. Every dictator reaps what he has sown himself. Lukashenko and Putin are no exception. Your own people will make the judgment. Belarus and Ukraine share a dark history. For this reason, both strive for a bright future, free from tyranny and violence. Shywe Belarus! Slava Ukrajini!

Madam President, HR / VP Borrell, President of the Commission, dear colleagues, a year ago, I stood here warning Putin that the attack on Ukraine would be the end of Russia as we know it, that the imperial overstretch would doom Russian hopes of regional domination. The war that Putin aimed to last three days has been now waging for a year. A dying empire is desperately trying to destroy the Ukrainian state and identity but all this is in vain because the brave people of Ukraine are fighting not to conquer but to defend, not for domination but for survival. The unimaginable price Ukrainians are paying for freedom keeps us all free, because Ukraine is defending us and every democracy, because the freedom that some take for granted is never free, it is paid for by the sacrifice of brave men and women. We do not need to be convinced: Ukraine is Europe. And we will all continue supporting the bravery for as long as it takes and with all we have.

Madam President, dear colleagues, we have now watched 12 months of Russia’s brutal war and 12 months of Ukraine’s brave resistance. Against all odds the people of Ukraine prove to the world that they can and will win this war. For their victory, Ukraine needs our continued support. We must increase the pressure of sanctions on the Russian economy and provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs. The morale and motivation of Ukraine defenders, combined with our Western support, is what truly terrifies Putin. But winning the war alone will not be enough for an EU membership. Other fundamental steps need to be taken, the sooner the better. Even during a war, Ukraine is fighting corruption. This progress should now be made structural and accelerated tenfold. Societies in Europe need assurance that oligarchs pulling dirty schemes, governmental officials stealing from the army, and judges robbing the country will all be brought to justice fairly and transparently. Media freedom cannot be compromised, not even during wartime. Democracy is strong when power is shared, not monopolised. This is what sets apart Ukraine from Russia. Ukraine is a European state with a European future. Its people will not walk the European path alone. They have the entire democratic world behind them.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Until Xi took office, there was hope that cooperation with China would be a win-win situation for everyone involved. Since 2012 at the latest, however, China's desire to massively import resources for its own economy, similar to other countries, has been unmistakable due to a different self-image and a new anchoring in world politics. Emerging hunger for resources, presented in the New Silk Road and in the role of an active geopolitical actor – China has been acting frankly ever since and is also entering into partnerships in the EU and in our immediate neighbourhood in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, which have since turned out to be a poisoned gift: Debt traps, infiltration of the media and public space with misinformation, cyber and industrial espionage are the particularly striking problems that many states are now facing. It was overdue for the EU to finally respond to Chinese investment offers with the Global Gateway initiative. The EU is late, but not too late, to protect its own security of critical infrastructure, as well as in the EU neighbourhood and beyond. It should be in our and global interest to extract and use existing raw materials in a more sustainable and socially acceptable way.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, violence only promotes more violence. The best time to end the century—old hate in Nagorno—Karabakh was 30 years ago. The second best time is now. Why should the Caucasus be a land of hostility when it can be a land of prosperity? Imagine all the possibilities. A train running from Baku to Yerevan and beyond, old friends who became enemies becoming friends again, investments flowing freely and fairly and prosperity built on the solid ground of cooperation, not hate. For this to happen, 120 000 Armenians who endure an inhuman blockade must be allowed to live in peace and without fear of ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijanis who were too forced to flee should be allowed to return to their homes peacefully. An honest peace deal can never be brokered by Russia. Russia creates chaos only to benefit from it. Instead, the EU can and should bring sustainable peace to both countries, because it is our European value and interest to see a peaceful and prosperous Caucasus.

Madam President, colleagues, and also a big thank you to you, Madam Commissioner, for your warm words regarding the unbearable tragedy which we have seen today in Ukraine. But of course, the war we are facing now is affecting our work and our life everyday. It’s not easy to come back to this rather technical topic now regarding the annual report of the EIB’s activities in 2021, which was very detailed and which reflects the challenges of that year still in pandemic mode and with the institution expanding. However, there are areas where the Greens have been repeatedly calling on the EIB to take decisive actions. Firstly, we want to underline the importance of green and sustainable investment – it was mentioned. While the EIB has increased its support for renewables and an energy efficiency project, it still provides significant funding for fossil fuel investments. This is concerning, as the EU has committed to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Mainstreaming of green investment and not spending money on anything that has a negative climate impact must remain a priority so that the EIB becomes truly the EU’s climate bank. The report also fails to provide sufficient information on social and environmental effects to the EIB’s investments. It is of the utmost importance that the transparency of use of public funds clear (sound ends abruptly). Action. While the EIB annual report highlights some positive developments, it is clear that there are also areas for improvement.

Madam President, colleagues, Commissioner, in a yellow kitchen, an apple bowl sits on the dining table and a father is waiting for his family to return – a picture that could be from any house, even yours or mine. Except that this is not a regular kitchen anymore; it belongs to the family of Mykhailo Koronevsky. It is now buried under the rubble of a Dnipro apartment block. A Russian missile has hit it. The screams of shocked people echo from under the rubble. Firefighters in despair dig in tonnes of debris with their bare hands to save the few still alive. These devastating pictures depict man-made atrocity made by one man and his country. Putin brands himself as a defender of Orthodox Christian values. Yet Putin, in the most cynical terrorist attack, destroyed the lives of over 40 civilians on Orthodox New Year, in a city where the majority still speaks Russian. This cowardly attack can never be forgotten. I want to ask those still insisting that sending tanks to Ukraine will escalate the war – escalate to where? What red line has Russia not yet crossed? Russia has committed unspoken evils and reached the bottom of civilisation. This regime only understands the language of unity and force. It interprets a compromise as a weakness. We need to deprive Russia of everything it can use to wage the war, and we must give Ukraine everything it needs to defeat this regime. Slava Ukraini!

Mr President! We talked about it here today: The brutality of the Russian regime is almost unimaginable. What Russia has not yet done with military power has first tried with hunger, then they have tried with energy, now they are trying with freezing to death. They want the people, the civilians, to freeze to death. But if you're talking to Ukrainians right now, you'll hear one thing: They will not give in, they will survive this winter, they will do everything to defend their homeland and their region, their cities. They deserve not only our admiration and understanding, but also our genuine, hard support. We are already doing a great deal here from the European Union and also from the Member States. But it is precisely this support, this help, this support that we need to increase. We need more anti-aircraft defenses that actually take the bombs out of the sky. We need the tanks to liberate the regions. We also need more generators. And in the end, if that is not enough, we have to open our doors and actually have to take in even more Ukrainians in our countries.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, it was acorns and pigeons that Vasyl Sieber’s family had to eat to survive the winter; he was six. Olesya Sunopol was 10; she remembers people eating tree bark, frogs and even earthworms. Fedir Putyanskyy remembers a boy admitting to eating the flesh of his own mother, who died of starvation. They were just children when the man-made famine killed millions of Ukrainians. The Holodomor is not a tragedy of one or two families. It is an attempted extermination of an entire nation by the Soviet regime. Stalin’s brigades pillaged Ukrainian villages in search of remaining grain. They were filled with hate towards Ukrainians, fuelled by Soviet propaganda. We in the European Parliament say ‘never again’ to the horrendous crimes of the 20th century. Russia tried to write history; 90 years later, Putin is now trying to repeat it. The historic parallel is uncanny. Just like 90 years ago, Russia is stealing the grain from Europe’s breadbasket, trying to break the Ukrainian spirit. Just like 90 years ago, war on Ukraine’s national identity is fuelled by hateful propaganda and Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s word. 90 years ago, Ukrainians died on the very edge of Europe and Europe didn’t even notice it. The world didn’t even notice it. Today, we have the choice to take notice and act fiercely to avert a tragedy which future generations will never forgive us for. With today’s resolutions, we call on the Russian Federation to recognise the Holodomor as a genocide and apologise for the crimes committed. Slava Ukraini!

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Admittedly, we do not earn badly in the European Parliament. Why is that so? Why do taxpayers give us this relatively generous amount? So that we are incorruptible and do not have to keep ourselves afloat with third-party funds. Incorruptibility is a great asset in politics. Trust in women politicians is the basis for our mandates, the foundation of our work for our citizens and our voters. But when the European women here see that their direct democracy is threatened, bribed and shamed from the outside, this trust is broken. We have been talking here in our committee for a long time about corruption and attempts by countries such as Russia, China or Qatar to influence our democratic processes. New attempts should not surprise us. That is exactly why we created the INGE Committee. But that these new attempts are successful is shocking. That mustn't happen. We need to be better prepared internally. As an institution, we need to make a statement. And in my opinion, we should constitute the INGE 2 special committee as a permanent committee and thus really continue our educational and investigative work in the next legislature.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, it is hard for me to admit but Georgia, once a poster child of the Eastern Partnership, is now a captured state. Democratic backsliding continues to accelerate. The justice system is ruled by clans, while prominent cases are politically motivated, like the unjustified imprisonment of Nika Gvaramia. The government has borrowed a page or two from Putin’s disinformation handbook. It is spreading lies against the EU, the US, and even against NATO. It is nothing but a shameless lie that the West wants to drag Georgia into the war. Media freedom is deteriorating while pro-Russian radicals are allowed to unleash violence on the media and minority. The root of this democratic decay is none other than the biggest oligarch of the country, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ten years ago, he promised an amazing democracy but delivered a captured state. Because of all this, Georgia did not get the candidate status. The EU integration is in Georgia’s constitution. And those who fail will have to answer to future generations. And, of course, we need to free Misha for humanitarian reasons.

Mr President! Transparency, integrity, anti-corruption, fairness, human rights: We have been discussing these issues for months, especially in connection with Qatar. First it was about FIFA and football, now it's about our democracy in Europe. But the demands are the same. We must stand up for our values here together. As an institution, we must fight against external influence and now we must take the magnifying glass into our hands. We have to live up to our accountability here. Billions for sportswashing, Greenwashing with FIFA, now 25 million for socialwashing with the ILO. It's only a matter of time before we find more receipts. Qatar has money and wants to buy a better image. However, the EU is not for sale and there will be consequences for all those who are even more attached to a price tag.

What consideration is given to new technologies that do not yet fall into the category of sensitive research? You may be able to comment on this again.

Mr President! What does an unattended child do in the confectionery store? It makes use of quite unabashedly. And that's exactly what China is doing right now in the European Union: It has been greedily stuffing its pockets for years. Here the port of Piraeus, there the Portuguese shares of the national transmission system operators and then a Finnish antibody manufacturer. Today it says: the same procedure as last year. In 2021, Parliament debated dependence on Russian gas. Russian gas seemed to have no alternative at the time. Have we learned from this? Hardly. And that's fatal. China's influence is vastly greater. It covers much more than a single area of European infrastructure. Espionage, extortion and loss of independence are the new reality of tomorrow. On the other hand, the EU's sharpest weapon at the moment is the screening mechanism for foreign direct investment – a blunt sword, as only 1% of investment was blocked last year. Artificial intelligence and robotics are among the bestsellers. My question: How can the Commission ensure that the FDI screening mechanism Is it really applied uniformly and more effectively by all Member States?

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! It is important that, despite Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, we do not forget the situation in Belarus, because the fates of these two countries – Belarus and Ukraine – are closely linked. Only when Putin is defeated will Lukashenko's rule come to an end. Just like the people of Ukraine, the people of Belarus are true fighters. They have long fought for freedom and democracy, for a better future for their children, for a future free of terror and oppression. For these basic values, which also correspond to ours, they pay a high price. Tens of thousands were arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Lukashenko's henchmen. More than 1400 Belarusians – ordinary citizens like you and me – are now held in prison as political prisoners. Like Ukraine, Belarus is occupied by Russia. Lukashenko allowed Putin free access to Ukraine from his territory. The betrayal by Lukashenko's regime is something that Ukrainians and the rest of the world will never forget. The world will never forget hundreds of missiles and drones fired from Belarus, which have an infinite number of innocent lives in Ukraine on their conscience. But the world will not forget the names of the dead in Belarus, such as Raman Bandarenka, Alexander Taraikowski or Vitold Ashurak and many others. History teaches us: Sooner or later the regime will fall – either before the International Court of Justice or at the end by its own people. Lukashenko will be no exception.

Madam President, How many people have to die to spoil the fun here? How many hidden accidents, desperate families, how many suffering migrant workers, how many suicides are okay? FIFA President Infantino said three people had died. According to Amnesty International, 15,021 people have died. But isn't every life lost just so we can cheer on our teams one too many? Whether three, 30 or 3 000 dead, everyone has the right to life, the right to a dignified life. Lack of wages, lost passports, windowless rooms and not even the freedom to change jobs – all this was waiting for migrant workers in Qatar, a country where human rights virtually do not exist. A country where women cannot report rape as it is considered evidence of extramarital sexual intercourse – a crime punishable by imprisonment, flogging and stoning. A country where one's own World Cup ambassador describes homosexuality as harm in one's head. A country in which journalists are arrested for photographing and threatened with a fine in the event of a statement critical of the regime. This World Cup is a disgrace. Sports and football are so important, they can do so much good. But this World Cup will forever remain a black spot in the sport due to FIFA and the conditions on the ground in Qatar.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! In one survey, 64% of Ukrainians surveyed had named Taras Shevchenko, the national poet and founder of modern Ukrainian literature, as the most outstanding figure of all time. This shows quite impressively the importance of cultural identity and cultural heritage for the self-image of Ukrainians, especially and despite the war. The entire cultural ecosystem is under threat. Cultural sites and cultural institutions are deliberately destroyed and cultural goods are illegally transported abroad. Among the dead in the war are many artists. Countless people have had to flee the war, try to work abroad, or collect donations, organize aid transports and are tireless ambassadors of their country. Many, however, remain on the ground and continue to try to play their important social and social role, somehow restoring a touch of normality. The cultural sector urgently needs our short-term crisis assistance. Cultural assets must be protected, war crimes against them documented, and for the independent cultural scene it is about securing livelihoods. We should support art projects that will focus in particular on social reconstruction in the municipalities, including by coping with trauma. It is essential that the cultural sector be considered for reconstruction, especially where it can make an important contribution to the sustainable and transformative and inclusive future of Ukraine. In this sense, Ukrainian artists have expressed to me the hope that they too will contribute to this project. rebuild better and hope that, with the support of the EU, a reform process of the Ukrainian cultural sector will gain new impetus.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Viktoria and Bogdan, a young couple from Kiev, were expecting their first child. Both were killed two days ago along with their unborn child. The drone that hit her house probably came from Belarus. So on the subject: Lukashenko and Putin are in no way inferior in their crimes. You have to deal with them by the same means. Lukashenko is terrorizing his own people. He brutally crushed the democratic protests in 2020, imprisoned thousands, tortured and killed many. He also betrayed his country and completely surrendered it to Putin's regime in order to maintain his own power. Against the declared will of the people, he allowed Russian troops and missiles in Belarus, only to terrorize and murder the Ukrainian people. At the same time, Lukashenko is also a coward. His army is not actively involved in the war against Ukraine. But not for moral reasons, but because he is afraid that the Belarusian army could direct its tanks at Minsk itself in the event of a march order to Kiev. And Lukashenko is also a notorious liar. He claims to have won the elections two years ago, not to participate in the war and to want only the best for his people – all lies. In the end, Lukashenko and Putin will hopefully share the same fate and face the same court. The sooner, the better.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! 2022 brought enlargement back on the agenda. That's good news for now. We have even promised EU membership to other countries in the East. But how realistic is this perspective? In the end, it must be said that enlargement has become a pure farce, and many are to blame for this. We have deceived, deceived, deceived all those in the Western Balkans who we basically promised to join the EU more than two decades ago. We are not even able to really start the accession talks with North Macedonia, even though the country has accepted painful compromises. We do not even manage to grant the citizens of Kosovo the freedom to travel, even though their country has long since fulfilled all the criteria for granting visa-free travel. Which of them will still believe that we are serious when we talk about EU enlargement? Yes, the subject is back, but we lack credibility. We must therefore prove to the countries of the Western Balkans that we want them in the EU. Otherwise, it is an empty promise for everyone. At the same time, we must cut resources from those who do not respect our common values and who also do not respect our foreign policy. Instantly!

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! First of all, congratulations also from our group to the new President of the European Court of Auditors. We are very pleased about your choice. With the NextGenerationEU recovery plan, we have practically double the budget. However, these two parts of EU spending – the MFF on the one hand and the recovery plan on the other – follow completely different rules. Unlike the multi-annual EU budget, which is based on reimbursement of costs and compliance with conditions, the recovery plan pays Member States to achieve pre-defined, very general objectives. We understand the urgency of additional investment. But if we work with two households and apply very different rules, the funds are not subject to standardized, strict controls. Let's play with it, with this simplified rule, not possibly rent-seekers Take Viktor Orbán for example. In addition, we also need absolute transparency in the use of EU funds, including in the list of those who receive cohesion and agricultural funds. For example, former Minister Babiš and his company Agrofert have misused millions of agricultural funds for their non-agricultural business. How many of these agroferts are there across the EU? We need transparency, accountability and, above all, standardised handling of EU funds. The goal must be that every citizen can see at any time how much money has been spent on taxes and for what purpose.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Terrorism is, I quote: the unlawful use of violence against civilians to pursue political objectives. Nothing describes Russia's actions in Ukraine better than the word terrorism. Terrorism is when hundreds of Ukrainian civilians are tortured, raped, murdered and thrown into mass graves in Irpin, Butsha and Isyum. How else will we call it when Russia confiscates millions of tons of Ukrainian grain in the ports and then blackmails the international community with famines? What else does it mean if Putin arbitrarily bombards Ukrainian families with missiles and drones just because his army is failing militarily? And of course, it is also terrorism when Russia threatens Ukraine and the rest of the world with nuclear destruction. We shouldn't be talking around the hot porridge anymore. Putin's Russia, as a state, finances terror worldwide, and we must deal with it as we deal with other terrorists.