Speeches

Mr President, in 2020, the EU failed to meet its target of spending 3% of GDP on research and development. Recent figures on private investment are very alarming: 80% in the US and China compared to less than 5% in the EU. The strategic relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be denied. The EU must therefore show greater ambition to boost AI and provide opportunities for European companies. We need to attract talent to keep pace with the US and China to prevent the brain drain to the US and to grow and unlock new technologies for our citizens and businesses. On behalf of Geert Bourgeois, who is shadow rapporteur for this report, I would like to thank rapporteur Voss for the good work he has done. We support efforts to create a legal framework for safe, accountable, ethical and trustworthy AI. In doing so, we must adopt a reasonable and proportionate approach that focuses on high-risk systems and allows us to remain true to our standards and reach our full potential. Currently, too much EU funding goes to small, short-term and often overlapping projects. The EU should focus on the long term and on cooperation between Member States and make targeted investments in a number of strategic areas. Moreover, the EU should not sideline itself by adopting overly rigid regulations and should be aware of the need for international cooperation. The risk of bias and discrimination posed by AI should also be addressed. However, the main focus has been on fundamental rights and regulation rather than on the whole. Finally, data access and sharing are crucial for the development of AI. The GDPR was established before AI appeared on the radar and is currently leading to too much uncertainty among companies, as it is not progressive enough. We call for a pragmatic and progressive no-nonsense approach, as we believe it will lead to growth, innovation and open strategic autonomy. On the other hand, too much and too rigid regulation will deter companies and keep us from becoming a frontrunner on the world stage.

Mr President, certain parties have continued to cobble together with Putin's Russia, even when it was clear that Putin had already partially placed himself outside the international legal order with the annexation of Crimea, the destabilisation in Donbas, the interference in the US elections and the poisoning of opponents. A party from my Member State, Vlaams Belang, has been instrumentalised to legitimise Putin's dubious claims to eastern Ukraine. She sent observers to the so-called independence referendum in Crimea in 2014 and to the elections in the Donetsk region in 2018. They did not travel at the expense of the OSCE, but traveled on behalf and at the expense of the shadowy pro-Russian NGO Eurasian Observatory for Democracy and Elections. My question now is what relationship certain parties in Europe have today with Putin or the Russians. Are parties in Europe getting money? That needs to be investigated. But the spectrum of this debate could also have been wider. We also see quite a few far-left organisations and parties doing some bends about their attitude towards Russia. It was also found that Russian money flowed to environmental groups and parties to stop shale gas extraction and keep the EU dependent. I want the truth about this. The Commission has work.

Madam President, you know today my teenage daughter chose my outfit for me for this speech. She’s 14 years old. For her it’s just an outfit. But for me it’s a costume of freedom. Women in Afghanistan cannot dress like this – their legs out and their hair wild – or smile in public. When the Taliban say that at age 11 girls can no longer go to school, we all know what this means for them. Dear colleagues, we can trust the Taliban as much as we can trust Putin. They promise many things, but at the end of the day they marry off children. Since these Taliban took over Afghanistan, the all—male interim government introduced a stream of policies that rolled back women rights that were achieved twenty years prior, that limit women and girls in their most basic rights and needs, such as the ability to work, the ability for girls to go to school beyond sixth grade, as well as their ability to travel inside or outside the country without a male chaperone. We are in 2022! But Afghan women resist, Afghan girls resist. They fight for their body and freedom, just like Zelenskyy is fighting for Ukraine, but with bare hands. By holding this debate today, we are telling each Afghan woman and girl: ‘we see you’. This is what we must continue.

Mr President, Switzerland has bomb shelters for its entire population. Good. But they also have and provide financial shelter for those who make us need bomb shelters: Russian oligarchs evading EU sanctions. The investigative report showing that Switzerland’s second bank, Credit Suisse, harbours dirty money from, among others, Russian oligarchs, reminds us that we have to be alert for Swiss loopholes that can undermine EU sanctions against Putin’s friends. Oligarchs installed not before, but after Russia started its insane war in Ukraine, although Switzerland joined these sanctions. According to the Financial Times, Credit Suisse sent letters to investors requesting them to destroy documents linked to the securitisation of assets. These documents show for example that Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov – identified as ‘one of Putin’s favourite oligarchs’ and subject to an asset freeze and EU travel ban – is linked to about 27 secret corporate accounts. We must review Swiss banking and money-laundering practices. Behind the Russian soldiers shooting at Ukrainian children and committing war crimes in Ukraine right now, there are those Swiss banks and the oligarchs they support. They are all accountable. To quote the Ukrainian soldiers: ‘they should all go fuck themselves’.

Madam President, has anyone recently looked into their mother’s eyes? When I look into my mother’s eyes, I see the scars and our failure to protect women. When I look in my daughter’s eyes, I see the promise we must keep for the future, as lawmakers. As lawmakers, we do have the power to change things, to build a world where all women are free. I’m honoured to be standing here today on International Women’s Day, but I wish this day was no longer necessary. As I stand here, I think of the women we know and those we do not know. I think of us and the power we have to drive change. We must consolidate the rights that we have acquired and build more, because equality is unfinished business, because freedom is in danger. The Ukrainian women who hastily had to kiss their husbands goodbye and walk away, alone and torn apart, know this. This war is a shame and a failure for the West. They have so much courage. When I listened to you today, Ms Zabuzhko, I didn’t know what to say anymore. To be honest, I could have walked over here and just given you a hug because sometimes words are not enough. But this would not be appropriate and would also not help you for anything today. So what I want to say is, know that we see and hear you. Thank you for coming and speaking to us. Your courage and your authenticity remind us of what we are fighting for. We must fight for people like you, but we must also fight for all other women, women of today and women of tomorrow, destroyed by war against their country or by war against their person. This year, several women were killed also in Europe. Everywhere women have to fight to survive. In February, Madeleine, 44 years old, was trying to escape her ex-partner in Belgium, who was strangling her. Eventually, he killed her son, who was trying to protect her. This is not a single story. But together we are stronger.

Mr President, Commissioners, this is the European Parliament and I am speaking here today as a Fleming and as a European. Like someone who wasn't always free. As someone who knows the value of citizenship and the power of protection it brings to each of us. But I don't forget the responsibility that goes with it, and I embrace it. To become Flemish and European, I have learned the language, integrated myself, promised in my heart that this country is mine and I of the country. Those are my values that I will always carry and help protect. Isn't that what we call integration and citizenship? I also know how easily a civilization can be broken. She gradually becomes empty, from within, through a treacherous lack of respect and attachment to her soul, to courage, to dignity. We must act to protect our way of life. Europe must re-arm its identity against corruption, but also against Islamism and the culture of cancellation. Corruption and such ideologies are destroying us. It is regressions that curtail people and our nations. They threaten our security and our sense of pride. Citizenship is not for sale, but it is also not free. If Elon Musk wants to become a Fleming today, he is welcome. Putin is not.

Madam President, , this is good morning in Burkina language. Just to greet these people who are suffering so much. If Africa does not succeed, I can tell you one thing, Europe will fail, said President Macron. I welcome this statement, but I regret that Europe is 60 years late and is now still sleepwalking. Europe is a true zombie in Africa. Why don’t we believe reality when we see it? Dear colleagues, we must not only stop paternalism, we must also believe reality when we see it. We were wrong yesterday to ignore it when it started in Syria, and we are wrong today to deny it when it keeps spreading in the Sahel. Radical Islam, it’s a poison that eats a society faster than we take time denying it. But it has nothing to do with Islam – some people keep saying until it becomes too late. But I’m telling you civilisations do not collapse all at once, but gradually lose their building blocks and pillars until eventually an empty shell remains. Today, Burkina Faso is even less than its own empty shell. Because of radical Islam, because of Western debt aid money that feeds corruption, because of global eyes shut while Islamism progresses everywhere, because of the western weakness towards China and Russia, because of paternalism like we still see today and tomorrow in the EU-Africa Summit. All children should be able to play together beyond religious boundaries and know the warmth of a safe home, not the ordeal of a displaced life. Families should share meals over various religious celebrations, not fight over a vicious religious divide. Women and girls are persons, not objects. Businesses must have room to grow and give young people perspectives. But today, the peaceful, joyful, secular Burkina Faso I have known as a child does no longer exist. The international community failed to anticipate. But as lawmakers, we do not have the right to be surprised, we should always anticipate. The first thing we must do now is to finally open our eyes because if the Sahel is defeated, it is us too who are defeated.

Mr President, sixty years, sixty years of development aid shows that it does not work, except for those who really do not want to see it. I was ten years old when the French came to my village school in Burkina Faso. They gave us pencils and notebooks, but we already had them. ‘Because we were poor’, they said, they came to help us. After class, I ran home sobbing. "Dad, we're poor, did you know that?" "Don't worry, child," he said. “It's okay if we're poor.” Of course, I knew we weren't rich, but that we were so helpless had never occurred to me. I felt suddenly robbed of my wings. As a teenager, I saw time and time again how European leaders came to announce huge checks in the spotlight in Africa. We wondered where so much money would go, what would change for us except that Africa would work deeper into debt. The last check I saw on TV came from President Chirac. When I see President von der Leyen waving a cheque in Dakar more than 20 years later, I feel a sense of déjà vu. More pens and pencils. Nanny diplomacy is alive. This breaks my heart and makes me furious as a lawmaker. That signature, the gesture, the eternal lie, a hug that suffocates. Please stop nanny diplomacy in Africa! This must be the task of the EU-Africa summit. Save the European citizen the money and the African youth the humiliation. In Burkina Faso I see no development, but I do see a Russian flag waving and jihadists triumphing. What did Chirac's check bring up? He made people lazy. I ask Macron and call on him to leave his checkbook at home on Thursday!

Madam President, I would like to start by telling you a short story. Many among us know of a girl who did not want to stay pregnant or who got pregnant when she didn’t want to become pregnant or who was raped. Where I come from, I saw girls at school who died because they were pregnant. Not only because they wanted an abortion and didn’t get it and had to do it illegally, but sometimes because their parents kicked him out. I was about 16 when my neighbour killed his daughter because she was pregnant. At school, some girls were sent out because they were pregnant. But who made them pregnant? These people didn’t get any punishment and didn’t take any responsibility. When I remember the speech by Simone de Beauvoir in the French Parliament, what she was saying was not that abortion should become some kind of pill or condom. She was saying that we cannot abandon women, that we need to understand them, to help them and to have a legal framework to support doctors who can help them, that, as a society, we are responsible together. We cannot let girls die. When I was a teenager, when a girl died because she tried illegal abortion, people would say ‘it was abortion’, like you would say ‘it was malaria’ or ‘it was an accident’. This is what happened. Today I would say I support legislation to help women have a free and safe abortion. But I have a question. Why does this Parliament always keep quiet when mostly women can’t even decide if they want to have sex with the husband? They are imposed. Please think about that. We all deserve the same rights.

. – Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in a report on Sudan there was a conversation with a woman. She was raped and then pregnant. She took the perpetrator to court. What do you think? She got whipped. He went free. These women don't have lives anymore. Following the military coup of October 2021, which abolished the transition to a civilian-led sovereign council, civilians continued to play a key role and organise peaceful protest demonstrations. These were met by the security services with excessive violence – including sexual violence against women and girls –, unlawful arrests, detentions and disappearances. Clean-ups were carried out in the public administrations. This violence must be stopped immediately and the state of emergency lifted. The EU should support the efforts of the UN Interim Transition Assistance Mission to Sudan to facilitate a dialogue on the return to civil administration, in line with the 2019 Constitutional Declaration and with a clear calendar, and to this end also cooperate with the African Union and the countries in the region. The EU should also urge Sudan to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Mr President, I would like to thank everyone for this initiative. I have a little story here: In 2013, as a young politician, I was interviewed for the first time for the Flemish newspaper . On the front page there was a small photo of me. “Assita, who did you suck for this?”, a young man asked me at a party in Brussels. I didn't answer anything, so I was stunned. The worst thing, however, was not what he said, but those who laughed along, namely other women. Years later, I received a phone call with an apology: “Assita, I'm sorry. I was biased, but you proved who you are and I now have a lot of respect for you.” Do women have to prove themselves in order to get respect? I am glad that this text is on the table. However, this text considers MEPs mainly as perpetrators and assistants mainly as victims. But let me say something: This isn't always right. Everywhere you find perpetrators and everywhere you find victims. MEPs against MEPs, assistants against assistants, influential assistants against young MEPs. This should be for everyone; Stereotypes exist at all levels. It is about power, but also about perceived power, as Mrs Regner also said to me here. This should be an education for everyone. It doesn't hurt you to be informed, but it hurts to experience sexism. Nor should this Parliament use or abuse it to replace the judiciary. I shall vote in favour of the text. As a matter of principle, I am voting in favour, but I think that the implementation needs to be clarified. I'm also launching a call to all women here: Whatever happens, stay ambitious, show ambition! You will always be over–scrutinised, but don’t give up.

Mr President, I am glad you are here, Mr Schinas. But does the Commission believe that women cannot tackle major problems and should send a man? Can the Commission explain why Mrs Dalli is not here? This feels like a man has to save her now. If I had been Mrs. Dalli, I would have wanted to explain it myself. I think Vice-President Schinas is actually a victim of sexism, and so is Mrs Dalli, unless we want to keep quiet about gender. Mr Commissioner and Vice-President, I certainly appreciate that you are here to talk about inclusive language and our European values, which I share. I am glad that the woke The Commission's recommendation has been withdrawn again, because that did not seem to me to be the right way forward. Commissioner, you are responsible for the European way of life. In my opinion, this includes a healthy relationship with our past and our language, which is also rooted in the past. We should not be afraid of the cancel culture armies who do not want to engage in this conversation and leave no room for inclusion, for acceptance, for sobriety. Inclusive language actually makes room by broadening, not by deleting.

Mr President, "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, then you aren’t’, Thatcher said. The problem with the EU is that it has to stress far too often that it has power. Have you noticed that this is making less and less of an impression? It smells mostly of past glory. A little depressing, right? Will this last European Council of the year be the first for hope and decisiveness? Or is there nothing under the Christmas tree but hollow words and symbolic politics? Ladies and gentlemen, this Commission is ambitious. Fortunately, but not decisively. It's a pity. How will the Council contribute to achieving the long-awaited progress on migration files, women's rights, energy or our position in the world? China is invading Africa. The EU feels Putin's hot breath in its neck. Erdoğan's humiliation continues. And it is not the arrogance of the Americans that embarrasses us, but the naivety of the High Representative, the internal division within the EU and the cow trade in this house. Will France change this and restore public confidence? ‘Relance, puissance, appartenance’, President Macron announced the priorities of the incoming presidency. Puissance? Will Macro live up to his promises of women's rights versus religious extremism at EU level? That must be the New Year's resolution and preferably one that is adhered to. Otherwise, we'll be the turkey on Christmas Eve. “But don’t mention Christmas they say ...”

Madam President, as a black woman and a secular Muslim, as the mother of a girl, as a daughter of a victim of polygamy and marital captivity, as a survivor of female genital mutilation, as an elected Member of this Chamber, and as a broken, but standing, woman, I am here with you today, furious and ashamed of how little this Parliament cares about the universal rights of women and pretends that we are all equal. But women like me – women like the many secular Muslim women across the EU – are not allowed to hope and prosper because you and I, who have the power to change things, have repeatedly chosen to let them down and be a team of traitors to their freedom. Why do you say you are against the enslavement of women when the only Muslim women you care about are those who are far away? You don’t care about the ones who live on the corner of your street. And you claim that the European way of life is for all of us. I can stand here without my brother’s and my husband’s permission. But that is not thanks to this House. Will the women who still can’t, and their daughters, be able to count on you? Will the women who are threatened be able to count on your support? I call on you today, as a lawmaker, to look into the lives of Muslim women and not only give them hope, but also a real chance.

Mr President, I would like to share a short story that many of you have probably heard already from a neighbour, from a family member, from a friend, or maybe it was your own experience. The girl came to my office. She told me that it was 11 years ago. She was 11 years old and the man was someone that the family knew. She was raped. She told me that this year her mother finished paying the debt that she contracted to pay lawyers. And what for? For no justice. This girl was strong. She’s going to become a police officer, because she wants to help fight sexual crimes. But if, for every mayor, every policy-maker, the European Commission, the European Parliament, for all of us, law enforcement is not becoming a reality, this girl will have become a police officer for nothing. Is her daughter, in turn, going to tell a story like this to a policy-maker? This is just one of the many examples of problems that women are facing, and together we need to make change happen. This is only what I wanted to share with you.

Mr President, I was in Slovenia with the European Parliament delegation. I saw a very beautiful country, with a very ugly political debate. Leaders of national institutions told us that they were able to do their work independently and without fear. I believe them. Journalists and NGOs also told us they were under attack from many sides. I believe them as well. What Slovenia needs, and what most of our Member States need, is a good dose of decency in the public debate. Less moralistic, more diplomatic; less sexist, more polite. In many European countries we see a crisis of trust. I am convinced that where politicians, policymakers and opinion makers engage in the public debate in a dignified manner, trust will return. Trust does not equal agreement, but trust is essential to find workable compromises. It’s good that Slovenia’s national press agency is now funded again. It’s good that Slovenia has finally nominated two interim prosecutors for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Not soon enough, unfortunately, but good it’s finally happening. With all the challenges facing us these days, we need more of those solutions. More of those compromises. More dialogue for Flemish citizens, for Slovenian citizens, and for all of us inside the EU.

Mr President, sometimes I wonder, is this a House of poetry or a House of lawmakers expressing emotions about problems but not doing much to solve them? What people want from us is to change the situation. Our work is to make good policy, support those in need and also respect our own laws. But, right now we aren’t fixing anything and that, my friends, is the problem. Because, by leaving refugees and migrants in the hands of human smugglers, we are helping to treat them like animals. This is what we will continue doing if we don’t control our migration policy. Belarus is being manipulated by Russia to provoke and blackmail an already vulnerable EU. Lukashenko and Putin are today no better than human smugglers. By accepting their aggression, we are letting our citizens down and telling them that any autocrat can penetrate our borders, hijack our planes and disrespect our States. All of us here have been elected by our European people to respect them, to defend them, to protect them – that is our responsibility as politicians. We must protect our EU borders and citizens. I am not for walls. I know what it is to run away from dictatorship. But I am for the security of our people and respect for our homes. Therefore, the EU must pay for the wall.

Mr President, it is clear that the Chinese demand for reunification with Taiwan is not only about completing the Chinese project, but also about achieving geopolitical dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. With this in mind, the Weimers report rightly expresses serious concern about China's continued military militancy against Taiwan, and recommends that the EU and its Member States play a proactive role in working with like-minded international partners to pursue peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and establish partnerships with the Taiwanese Government. The report stresses that there is a direct link between European prosperity and Asian security. We must therefore strongly oppose all unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions. A military conflict in the Taiwan Strait would bring about a significant economic disruption that would also affect our European territories and seriously undermine the rules-based international order. Authoritarianism should not prevail over democracy.

Mr President, I am not surprised that Paul Rusesabagina was sentenced by the Rwandan Supreme Court to 25 years in prison. What surprises me is how Belgium allows a compatriot to languish far too easily. Not the Belgians here. Kathleen, Hilde, Tom and myself are still committed to Paul Rusesabagina. Rwanda has not allowed Belgium to fully provide the consular assistance of Paul Rusesabagina. It is a pity that Belgium has accepted this too quickly. The irregularities before and during his trial reinforce the impression of a politically motivated lawsuit with disregard for Rwandan and international law. He has not been given a fair and equitable trial, in particular as regards the rights of the defence. It is also really absurd that no further investigation has been carried out into the bizarre circumstances of his arrest. Rwanda will have to cooperate better with Belgium, of which Mr Rusesabagina is a national, during this post-trial period. For humanitarian reasons, in particular his fragile health, he is better repatriated to Belgium or the US, where he has a permanent right of residence. This does not prevent a possible follow-up investigation and legal process from taking place.

Mr President, Myanmar has a long story of democratic struggles and military suppression. It was like reading a horror story when reading the most recent report from the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. Family members, including even innocent children, sometimes only 20 weeks old, of critics are systematically kidnapped in order to force them to surrender. We could all read this in The Guardian this week. On 1 February 2021, the military of Myanmar once again seized power over the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government and issued a one—year state of emergency. That’s also how these horrors started. The international community must continue to take additional action against, and impose costs on, the military and its leaders until they reverse course and provide for a return to democracy. I call on the Council to continue imposing targeted and robust sanctions with the aim to cut off the lifelines of the junta, whilst ensuring that these do not harm the people of Myanmar. The EU must call on Myanmar’s military to immediately cease all violence and attacks against the Myanmar people in all parts of the country, to release all political detainees and to protect minorities.

Madam President, imagine a child with her siblings laying down in a remote area of one of the poorest countries in the world around a petrol lamp studying until the light dies. That child was me. Many kids do not have access to education because of energy issues. As a business employee, I saw African businesses struggle, struggling to share crucial documents because of unreliable energy sources. Today in Europe, soaring energy prices are exposing families to a situation where they will not be sure they can afford to keep the light on in their homes, keep their kids warm at night or run their businesses properly. How is this going to help for education and a life in dignity? As a mother and as a citizen, I am worried. As a Member of this House, I feel ashamed because we do have the power to change this situation – so what are we waiting for? Yes, we must worry about the future of the planet. Yes, we must reduce carbon emissions. But does anyone here believe that shutting down nuclear plants and building gas plants will help, thus driving our own economies out of business instead of innovating help? If we continue like this, we will pay not only with money but also with the souls of our nations. We must act or turn the light off, go home, die of shame.

Madam President, ‘now that everything is connected, everything can be hacked’, said President von der Leyen in this Hemicycle just three weeks ago. We all know she’s right. We all know how vulnerable we are today and have been recently. Smart, active, fast, creative: sadly, this is not how we can define our way of fighting cyber-criminality. Those words are describing the entities behind the cyber-attacks. They are smart. They have the knowledge and know-how to transform strategies into actions in that domain. They are fast, running on a cyber-highway, and know how to adapt faster than we can for the moment. This report is a strong wake-up call, and I would like to thank the rapporteur Mr Paet and fellow shadow rapporteurs for this important work. Actually, I am also sad that we needed a report to show what everyone can see. Today, developing a European cyber-defence policy should provide us with better protection against the newest method of warfare. We have very high expectations from the French Presidency so that we can protect European citizens against these new threats.

Mr President, ‘the United States are back’, said President Biden after his election. I dream of the day when the EU can say, ‘the EU is back’. I am still dreaming. Some thought that the EU would fall back romantically into America’s arms after Trump’s defeat, but they were so wrong. I would rather describe it as a terrible, terrible one-night stand. The times of multilateralism, the Obama era, seem totally over. It remains ‘America first’. Of course. We should quickly get used to this and act accordingly. Why does the EU not pick its own side right now? How can the EU become a relevant partner on the world stage but also a strong advocate of multilateralism? These questions should be a priority for every European leader. No more embarrassment because of an Australia–United Kingdom–United States (AUKUS) affair or a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. We must defend our principles and stand up for the European people. To make that possible, the EU has to look at how to build up our strategic autonomy and regain diplomatic respect and dignity. Only then will we be able to earn a seat at any table. It’s high time to go up on the global stage. So tonight in Slovenia, the 27 Member States must deliver, and not just have dinner.

Madam President, we are finally discussing this case in this Parliament now, the Pegasus scandal. What would be the difference, when a spyware can activate the camera and microphone on your phone and make new recordings, if someone just entered your house and watched what you do and say during your private time? What would be the difference if someone entered your office and attended all your confidential meetings, listening, watching and even making recordings? Worldwide, the smartphones of politicians, lawyers, journalists and human rights activists have been hacked with software, and even European leaders – we have spoken about President Macron here today. This is very scary. It’s not only dangerous for our personal lives, it’s also dangerous for our democracies and for freedom. We need to share the values that we have in Europe across the world and build a global framework for data protection, a global framework for respecting privacy. I also believe that the way in which some companies are treating data should make us think of how we need to deal with them.

Mr President, I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Moreno Sánchez, and all the colleagues from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) who have worked on this file for the constructive collaboration, because it has not been an easy file. It has cost some kind of blood, sweat and tears but, finally, we are going to vote for this tomorrow, and I am very proud of all of us. We have got things done. It’s also a balanced agreement so my party is also going to vote for this. It’s a good way to enable legal migration and to also show that the EU can be attractive for highly—qualified people who want to work here. Our EU is in danger of missing the boat when it comes to attracting these highly talented and educated people, so we need to be innovative and this European Blue Card can do that. This reform can do that. I am pleased that the Blue Card will provide faster, easier and more inclusive access for these highly qualified people that, otherwise, the US, Canada and the UK would take away from us. In addition, Member States will still be able to retain their national systems for labour migration, and this is important because it will still allow each Member State to take into account the reality of their own labour market. They will also use mechanisms that ensure that highly skilled non—EU workers are admitted only after the national database has been exhausted. The EU could not stay behind. The revision was very much needed and, of course, we have to thank our Commissioner for speeding up the process. It has been a huge teamwork. At the beginning of a long road, we never know where we are going to end, but we can say that, when we work together and listen to each other, we can achieve bigger things.