What Sven spoke about.

23

Apr

2024

ET Speech

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Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society (debate)

Dear Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, The absolute majority of the Georgian people see the future of their country in the European Union. Today's Georgian government and the ruling party's Georgian dream have also declared in words that joining the European Union is their goal. Unfortunately, the actions of the ruling party speak a completely different language. Georgia, whose Euro aspirations …

23

Apr

2024

ET Speech

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The use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction (debate)

Dear Mr President, Dear colleagues, Ten years ago, when Russia annexed Crimea, Europe did not understand the seriousness of this move and did too little. Two years ago, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, and since then Europe has done much more. We've done things we've never done before, and we're proud of it. But almost every decision has been preceded by long hesitations and excuses …

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (A9-0403/2023 - Sven Mikser) (vote)

– Madam President, following the recent developments in relation to Sweden’s accession to NATO, I would like to move the following oral amendment to paragraph 96. I suggest to delete the section of the paragraph beginning with the words ‘takes note’ until the words ‘without any further delay’, and to replace it with the following text: ‘welcomes, in this regard, Türkiye and Hungary’s long—delayed …

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

Madam President, Vice-President of the Commission, representative of the Council, colleagues, I will not repeat what I said during my initial remarks. Let me just say that it has been a very constructive debate and I believe it has further underscored the need for a more confident and more militarily capable European Union. The CSDP implementation report and also the CFSP implementation report tha…

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

Mr President, President of the Commission, colleagues, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has made many of us reassess our previously held convictions and beliefs about European security needs. What is more, it has exposed vulnerabilities caused by decades of underinvestment in defence and security, both in individual Member States as well as at the European Union level. Let me say that, perhaps …

6

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, we know that Putin is a revanchist leader who wants to expand territory under his domination at the expense of his neighbours. We also know that he is not quite so stupid as to genuinely believe that Europe harbours similar territorial ambitions against Russia. He is fully aware we do not. He does fear one thing, however. He is genuinely afraid that our political system b…

6

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, two years into Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, what can be said? One thing is for sure: Putin has failed, his blitzkrieg has failed miserably. He has not managed to break the resolve of brave Ukrainian soldiers, brave Ukrainian people, or of the democratic world that continues to stand with Ukraine. And, indeed, somehow Mr Putin has even managed to double …

16

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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Keeping commitments and delivering military assistance to Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, just to pick up from where my colleague ended: ensuring Ukraine will emerge victorious requires continuous, sustained flow of aid from the international coalition of democratic nations, including weapons and ammunition. Unfortunately, this is not the case today. In order to make sure that we will not lose focus and that our collective support for Ukraine’s war effort…

13

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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European Defence investment programme (EDIP) (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, whether you call it taking out the peace dividend or, more correctly, chronic underinvestment in defence, the truth is that most, if not all, of our Union’s Member States have been doing it for far too long. Russia’s war against Ukraine has made that reality apparent for everyone. Yes, in response to Russia’s brutal aggression, the EU has demonstrated unity and resolve…

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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The killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen, by Russia’s occupying forces in Georgia

Madam President, colleagues, on the eve of his country receiving the EU candidate candidacy status, a Georgian citizen, Tamaz Ginturi, was killed by Russian occupying forces on the administrative boundary line between Georgian-controlled territory and the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region. While the killing was a particularly brutal and violent crime committed by the occupants, it was far from an…

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, let make just three brief points. First of all, reconstruction. It will be a long process, but it cannot wait until Ukraine has won the war. It will have to start now. Russia will eventually have to pay for all the damage they have done. But meanwhile, we must find legally sound ways to use the frozen assets of the aggressor to at least partially cover the c…

8

May

2023

EN Speech

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Establishing the Act in support of ammunition production (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has exposed the serious impact the decades of underinvestment have had on Europe’s defence sector. This underinvestment obviously has also affected our collective defence industrial capacity and the related supply chains. As the war of attrition is dragging on and as Ukraine’s need for continued supply of ammunit…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Georgia (debate)

Mr President, the degree of support in Georgian society for the country’s European aspirations has been so high that it has been very easy for years for us to support Georgia’s aspirations. No serious political party has been able to fully ignore the degree of support that Georgians have expressed with regard to the country’s European future. Even those in power have always felt it necessary to pa…

15

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, this war will have to end with every square inch of Ukrainian sovereign territory liberated. Because, otherwise, if Russia should walk out of this with territorial gains and with the current regime still intact and in power, the international rules-based order will have failed, if not entirely collapsed. I would like to underscore two points made by High Representati…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

Mr President, High Representative, colleagues, at a time when the innocent Ukrainians continue to be killed by the Russian aggressors, I think it’s clearly premature to congratulate ourselves for our unity or resolve or anything else. Indeed, we have to do more and we have to give much more. In exactly one year from now, we are going to look back at the year 2023 and then, let’s be honest, the onl…

15

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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The humanitarian situation in Ukraine due to Russia’s attacks against critical infrastructure and civilian areas (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, it has become absolutely clear that Russia can never win a victory over Ukraine on the battlefield. And they know that. And that’s why they are increasingly resorting to terrorising the Ukrainian civilian population on a huge scale. Russia’s intent is clearly genocidal. The statements by Russian leaders, denying the existence of Ukrainians as a nation and Ukraine as …

14

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with Georgia (A9-0274/2022 - Sven Mikser) (vote)

Madam President, in light of the information that has become available since the deadline for plenary amendments, namely a statement that was made by the outgoing Public Defender of Georgia on 7 December, I propose to amend the text and add the following text: ‘Takes note of the statement of the Public Defender of Georgia on 7 December 2022, which calls on the President of Georgia to make use of t…

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with Georgia (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, even as a potential candidate country, Georgia today offers a very mixed picture. The signals coming out of the country are also very mixed, but I will try to start on a positive note. As an associated country, Georgia enjoys an exceptionally privileged partnership with the EU. I believe that full implementation of the Association Agreement and the DCFTA will continue to …

22

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Promoting regional stability and security in the broader Middle East region (debate)

Madam President, stability and security in the broader Middle East is critical for global security. And on the other hand, instability and ongoing inter-state conflicts in the region have a negative spill-over effect for security and stability in all regions in the world, including Europe. In this light, I want to welcome the Commission’s strategic initiatives with regard to the Mediterranean and …

5

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues. Putin’s escalation of his war of aggression reveals Russia’s strategic failure. By his mobilisation, his illegal annexation and his nuclear sabre—rattling, he is desperately trying to raise the stakes so as to scare Ukrainians and their allies. But Ukrainians are not going to be intimidated by Putin’s bluster, and neither should we. Ukrainians’ courage and resolve in…

13

Sep

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) The state of play of the war in Ukraine

Mr High Representative, recent positive news from the Ukraine battlefield – in part due to the Western military equipment donations, mostly US, but also European donations, the attrition during wartime obviously is enormous, so Ukraine continues to need all our donations. You mentioned the use of a clearinghouse mechanism. You mentioned the use of the European Peace Facility. My question is this. …

22

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022, including the meeting with Western Balkan leaders on 23 June - Candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, there are only two possible ways of resolving the vital security deficit of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The first one is weakening Russia beyond the point where it can present a real threat. And the second one – more realistic, in my opinion – is the full integration of those three countries into the European economic and security structures. It is true that none o…

8

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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Violations of media freedom and safety of journalists in Georgia

Madam President, dear colleagues, the resolution we are going to vote on tomorrow is primarily dealing with the media freedom and safety of journalists in Georgia and there is plenty to be critical about on that front. Georgia has, over the last two years, nosedived in the Global Media Freedom Index. Despite the solid legal framework, the physical safety of journalists and media representatives ha…

7

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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The EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, the implications of the Russian aggression against Ukraine for European security are really profound, and that is very well understood by our people, as best reflected by the Finnish and Swedish Governments’ decision to apply for NATO membership now, but also by the Danish people’s decision at the referendum to lift their opt-out on EU defence. So our people really believe that we ne…

5

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Security and the EU's strategic compass

Yes. Thank you. A short follow up. Much of the discussion this century about European security and defence has taken place in a situation where the US focus on European security has been diminishing and the physical footprint of the Americans on European soil has been shrinking. Now, at least for the short term, we have seen this process reversed, to the extent even that, for the first time in man…