Speeches

Ladies and Gentlemen, We have never needed a stronger and more capable European Union in the face of threats, in the face of a war that is right next to us. But this document does not meet this need, moreover, it weakens our community. Mr. Verhofstadt, unanimity is not a trap. Easier decision-making does not mean strength. What would happen if Ukraine received 51% of the support of the member states, or 66%? Would that be stronger support for Ukraine or weaker? And would it mean strength or division for the European Union? Reforms are needed, but this document is not needed. We need a common defence policy, a common cybersecurity, because there is such a challenge. A common health policy is needed, and this is what citizens expect. You blocked the Commission. We need a common energy policy because we have had a crisis. Donald Tusk proposed this in 2014. You were against it. We can do all this without treaty changes, because the pandemic has shown that we can be effective in fighting threats. Also about the war caused by Russia. What is needed is common sense. I call for that common sense. In view of this document, the Polish delegation and most of the delegations from our region within the European People's Party will be against it, because even this procedure is not serious. The provisions of very serious treaty provisions are changing from hour to hour. We don't even know what we're going to vote for tomorrow. This is not a serious process of such a serious matter as treaty changes. (The speaker refused to listen to the blue card question raised by Daniel Freund)

Mr President, thank you very much. From this point of view, I wanted to assure you that the new Polish government will not only clarify the scandal related to the illegal use of Pegasus illegal spy software in Poland, but will also punish those responsible, because that should be the case if justice, law and justice are to work. From this point of view, however, I wanted to emphasise this appeal, which is necessary because truly European security is at stake. Not only our privacy, but European security, since the systems – not only Pegasus, but also Predator – used by private companies already linked to the services, where we have Russian traces or traces related to the enemies, the activities of the enemies of Europe, democratic and free Europe, concern the European institution and concern the Commissioner, concern the President of Parliament. The report of the Pegasus Committee, a special committee chaired by Mr Lenners, contains very precise recommendations. They are to be implemented immediately. We also have choices ahead of us that may also be at risk because there is a huge trade and a black market for data trading. These systems can change content, but they can also send false information. We must not be defenceless and we must punish those who act illegally, but also create our own European security system. And we also need European special services to work together to protect us, Europe, from the actions of Europe's enemies using this state-of-the-art technology.

Mr President, dear colleagues, I would like to start with the conclusion because I would like to call in the name of the European People’s Party, the European Council, to open the accession process at talks during the planned in December meeting until the end of the year. It’s really expected. It’s high time to give the clear message to the citizens of Moldova. We all are impressed of implementation of the reforms and working also together in this House over the political splits on this goal, which is expected. Moldova is in Europe. Moldova’s inhabitants are Europeans. This is obvious for us. And in this excellent team working also on this resolution, I would like to thank Dragoş Tudorache, Siegfried Mureşan, Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, Thijs Reuten and Anna Fotyga because we have this common opinion, one and very strong, and I think it is still a very good time to say it openly to Moldovans: yes, you will be in Europe together with us. The young people expect the access to universities, to the working places. The roaming free procedure is implemented, we will have limited tariffs starting on 1 January. This is a subject very close to my heart. But there are many challenges, like energy, which was mentioned, like the financing of the projects. We have to start this process as fast as we can. Of course, it’s not a highway, it’s a road. And step by step we have to go to the goal. But the direction is one: Moldova will be in Europe. Thank you very much, mulțumesc.

Mr President, we are approaching the end of this debate and we need to say again what it is about. This is not a debate about Poland, but about the security of the European Community, the greatest achievement that we have thanks to Solidarity, Holy Father John Paul II, Lech Walesa and all those millions of Poles who also fought for this common Europe without borders. You have violated them, it is security, and today you are destroying this community. I am saying this because you use the term ‘we, Poland’. No, this is not an attack on Poland. This is an attack on the corrupt government, on the millionaire club, because millions of Poles look different. They look like in Warsaw – smiling, without aggression – and they will indeed decide our future and the future of Poland. You will not shout the truth, because this corrupt practice, which has really violated the security of Europe, must be liquidated, closed and accounted for. I say from this place again: Poland is not you. Poland is different. On the other hand, the security of Europe is in the interest of Poles. If you are destroying it, it means that you are not on the side of the Poles. You are corrupt, you are the party that the Poles will account for.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, Media Freedom Act – this European Media Freedom Act is probably the most important document of this term, because we can pass various economic regulations, budgets and very important activities and projects, but without media freedom, without guaranteed protection of journalists’ rights, we will not have free elections, we will not have democracy, and that is obvious. This document is the result of the work – the good work of the two committees – but also of the very important work of the Committee of Inquiry on Pegasus, Predator and other surveillance systems during this term. Journalists must be protected and their sources of knowledge must be protected. We must pay tribute to all those investigative journalists who have died. From this point of view, I would like to call for a very effective and quick work in the negotiation process, because, like the Commissioner, I am concerned about this empty space. I am not surprised that Law and Justice today is negative about this document, because it is afraid of the truth. We need to protect the truth institutionally. I therefore call on the Council of the European Union to adopt this document as soon as possible.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, A Europe that is bold, strong, soon bigger, quickly responding to citizens’ expectations, ensuring our security – we support this direction. I am pleased that today's speech also focused a large part on farmers – hard-working people who guarantee our food security. But Polish farmers, who work hard, also expect one sentence of the truth, because they are on the verge of bankruptcy: What happens after September 15th with the embargo expiring? Aid to Ukraine does not contradict aid to Polish farmers. They have warehouses full of grain from last year. Now we're after the harvest. And the next year? What to do with unpaid loans? Madam President, I'm sorry. The rational decision is in the hands of the Commission, and only Russia, which is blackmailing us, will enjoy the conflict. This is the moment when Polish farmers expect a clear position and count on help.

Madam President, I'm sorry. On behalf of the European People's Party, I would like to start with a quote, a quote from the leader of the Polish People's Movement, one of the fathers of Polish independence, a hundred years ago. Wincenty Witos thundered in parliament, warning: "You must make sure that those who still have God and the Fatherland on their lips do not exploit your faith, but only the falsehood and hypocrisy in the soul, which, for their private purposes, are ready to abuse the Church and the faith. Do not trust hypocritical people who will even use holy places for lies." Was there a Law and Justice party in Poland a hundred years ago? Well, of course not, but the problem of cunning, deceit, cynical people has existed for decades, for centuries. What did you do? What have you done with your promises? This portfolio, the portfolio of the Minister of Agriculture, you were to make the most important! The most important in the whole Commission. The subsidies for Polish farmers were to be higher than German ones or at least equal to them. Polish farmers will lose 30%, they will lose and they will account for you. But today we really have a decision that requires truth and a clear position. Commissioner, tell me, because Polish farmers are working too hard, are you fighting for an embargo? Michał Kołodziejczak, the leader of Agrounia, who is in the room to conduct talks, had to come today, because the Lord led this point on the last knee. I will say very emphatically: The Polish farmer deserves to be defended and to be truthful. And if the Lord does not apologise and go away, and you do not go away, they will show you the place that Vincent Witos pointed out to fraudsters and hypocrites a hundred years ago.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Commissioner, Access to public information, transparency, openness to citizens are the foundations of our democracy, the foundations of the functioning of the European Union. These are obvious fundamental rights. And on the basis of civic democracy, we should build trust in the European institutions, especially today, when so much disinformation, so much false information circulates online and actually creates confusion. Citizens not only have the right, but they should have easy access to information precisely to verify this false information appearing in space. This is where new technologies really serve us. Thank you and we hope to welcome new initiatives, new portals, new ways of gaining access to important information that builds knowledge and awareness. I want to highlight one thing: our statistics show that this access is quite good in the European institutions. At 91% in the European Parliament, 81% and 84% in institutions such as the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. But the lack or refusal of access to information must be the exception. Availability and obligation to provide information is the rule. And this derogation must really be very clearly explained and interpreted when it undermines public security and the public interest. I would like to say one more thing, because we are talking without the European Council. It is from the Council that we have blocked the transition to the next phase of implementing the rules and good cooperation for the future. I therefore call on the Council, from this point of view, to make this progress, so that negotiations can proceed, in order to really improve citizens' access to public information.

Mr President, thank you very much. Stop disinformation, a policy based on lies, a policy based on xenophobia. We have to fight this categorically and call the facts by their name. Why am I saying this? The conclusions of the June summit are described in different ways. Imagine that in Poland Prime Minister Morawiecki talks about the threat of forced relocation, that Jarosław Kaczyński, together with the elections, proposes a referendum based on one question: Do you agree to the forced relocation and do you support the government's policy in this regard (which does not agree with it)? Of course, the entire Polish society is uniform in this matter. We have welcomed millions of Ukrainians and thousands more migrants imposed from above are, of course, a challenge and a problem, and we do not agree to this, but on this issue we as politicians could speak with one voice. And we hear, and we have just heard, that all that is wrong is the common Europe, the politics of the European People's Party. So I would like to say one thing from this place, Prime Minister Szydło: Your political group was founded by the British Conservatives. They are no longer with us today. They criticized the common Europe, they criticized everything that is European, because they considered themselves better. Today, British society pays a huge price for it. Do not follow this path, because the Polish society will hold you accountable for this attack on the common Europe. Because a common Europe is security, and attacking it is helping Putin.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. It is very important to extend this mandate to the prosecution of offences related to the violation of sanctions, because we have ten sanctions packages. We must be effective and it is clear that the European Public Prosecutor's Office must have these tools as soon as possible. But at this point, I wanted to remind you that in order to be effective, there must be uniform standards that we all honor and implement. We still have five countries besides formal participation in the European Public Prosecutor's Office. The government of Prime Minister Kopacz in 2015 made such a decision and Poland formally joined, but today's government does not implement this cooperation. I hope that the Swedish Presidency will formally conclude with participation – this will be a good example for others. And the Polish government, after the change in autumn, will also correct this mistake. It is necessary to prosecute VAT criminals, it is necessary to prosecute criminals who try to make assets on the European budget illegally. A strong European Public Prosecutor’s Office is in the interest of our citizens and our economies.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Software such as Pegasus for counter-terrorism can be used and is very important. But they cannot be used to fight political opponents and the opposition. This must be eliminated, banned and enforced also by the European Commission, otherwise there are no democratic processes, no democratic elections. The biggest documented scandal is the hacking of the mobile phone of the head of the election committee in Poland, Senator Krzysztof Brejza, during the election campaign for the Polish Parliament in 2019 and the European Parliament. It can't happen again. The report is very important and covers all Member States in detail. Now the next step: the police directive should be enforced (in Poland it has not been implemented), the European Citizen Lab, security must be guaranteed, including election observation. But at the end, I have one piece of information. In communist times in Poland, when government television devoted material to someone, it meant that he was an important person, a good person, a person to be respected and doing very important things. Such material appeared in the Polish government TVP about Jeroen Lenaers, the chairman of this commission, with a large board, defaming him. I would like to thank you, Jereon, you can be proud. You’ve done a very good job. This is a kind of award.

Mr President, thank you very much. I am here to warn you, because lex Tusk is not another law that violates the Constitution. It's a special, new tool, an authoritarian power that knows it's losing public trust and support and wants to keep it strong. It used to be, in the times of the Polish People's Republic, in the times of the commune. That's the way it is now. This is exactly how it is now in Poland. This authority has one scenario of action: Accuse others of what they do and at the same time eliminate the opposition from public life. Accuse and eliminate because he's afraid of losing. But the Polish society is experienced, because we won on June 4. He will now show his strength. Accusations of Russian influence. After all, you all remember and know perfectly well that Jarosław Kaczyński received guests just before Russia's attack on Ukraine. The ones sponsored by the Kremlin. He was taking pictures with them. Mateusz Morawiecki: dirty business, Russia, Russian gas, fuels, and above all dependence on Russian coal. You won't drown out the truth. I know some of you are embarrassed and don't have the courage to admit it. But the scenario of action will not succeed, you will not eliminate from the Polish space of life those who are right and tell the truth. You won't drown out the truth. Donald Tusk, Waldemar Pawlak and Radosław Sikorski are mentioned in this document as those who are to succumb to Russian influence. After all, they were just talking about independence from Russian influence. They did it. They fought, even physically, in Afghanistan. You will not drown out the aspirations of the Polish nation for freedom and on June 4 in Warsaw you will see the strength of the Polish society. You'll see her. Be with us. We will win in the autumn, because Poland will be democratic and it will also be European. Everyone who fights Europe will be closer to Moscow, they are closer to Moscow. And that, too, is the obvious truth.

Dear Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Oh, Mr. Chancellor! Putin's brutal attack on Ukraine did not come out of nowhere. This is not a coincidence, it is the result of weakness and bad European policy, including German policy. Therefore, it is necessary to draw consequences and conclusions from this, conclusions that will not allow for Europe's weakness in the future. The list of allegations can be long. Polish, first thread to you, Mr. Chancellor: If Ukraine needs weapons and money today, because only Ukraine, defeating Russia, can guarantee our security, then where are the Leopards that the Polish army was supposed to get for delivering tanks to Ukraine? Promises must be fulfilled. But you have a bigger problem in front of you, because in this room I have not heard a German politician from left to right, who today would not make you a long list of allegations precisely because of the lack of decision-making. So I have one very simple appeal to you, Mr Chancellor: the future of Europe is in our hands, you said it yourself. Hard decisions are needed. If you don't want to take them, don't disturb them.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr President, thank you very much. There has not been such a difficult period in the history of the European Union, so complex economically, socially, so dramatic, because we have a war at our borders. And the calls and decisions we make today are truly historic. It is necessary to have respect for these decisions, which testify to the scale of aid to Ukraine, including military aid. Energy integration and the challenges we are talking about today are real challenges for years to come. But the European Council, we in Europe have one more weapon in hand, a very strong political weapon. Because Putin is afraid of the strong and determined. It is high time to give perspective to those societies that want to live in peace and develop as we do. Therefore, the accession process should start formally this year and the European Council should confirm and professionally prepare the process. This is a signal to Putin that Europe is determined, strong. And the word ‘enlargement’ – ‘enlargement’ – is not the word we are afraid of. That's the goal. Europe must be bigger, stronger, more integrated, because only then will we also win competitiveness if we are united together and strongly reaffirm this direction of Europe's development. And that's what I'm calling for today from this rostrum.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Russia is trying to destabilize Moldova. He's trying to cause riots, he's using disinformation. But that's not going to work, Mr. Putin. The Moldovans have chosen. They have chosen and acted consistently. They elected President Sandu, they elected the government, they chose a pro-European direction of development and their future in Europe. What are we supposed to do? What should we do as parliamentarians, as European institutions? Of course, it is a daily job to be in Chisinau and to cooperate with this government, because reforms are necessary, but it is also necessary to have the financial assistance that the Commissioner spoke about. Programmes, microfinance assistance, but also more support for Moldova, because indeed this energy crisis is being felt. Help is needed for the government to subsidise energy prices to help these poorest groups in society. And that is our duty. I would also like to call for one decision, a political decision. We must be ready to start the accession process this year, because Moldovans also need this hope. Moldova's place is in Europe.

Ladies and Gentlemen, History and geography do not know the vacuum, especially today when we are at war in Europe. It is impossible to manipulate between Russia and the European Union, and this is well understood by Georgians who took to the streets en masse. We see you, we are with you, we see these European flags, raised high, which you bravely hold even when the police beat you and pour cold water on you. This is an appeal to the Georgian government. The future is in your hands. You are responsible for the future and security of Georgia. Give up Russian rhetoric, Russian law, because Georgia is in Europe. That's what the Georgians want. In your hands is the future of the nation, but also the health of President Saakashvili. The Polish government wants to treat him. What's bothering you? What are you afraid of not allowing international doctors? Decide, because the Georgian people deserve security and safe development. Georgia is in Europe and your responsibility today lies with you, on your table, and do not be surprised that you will not be partners for Europe when you call it a foreign agent.

Mr President, thank you very much. A year ago, millions of women, children and refugees came under Polish roofs to Polish families, because Putin attacked the neighboring country in a bandit way, not for the first time. Solidarity, our resolutions, the immediate call for unity and a very tough stance are still not enough, because power is in the hands of governments. And as the President said, we do not have time. So where do these doubts arise, e.g. on the nuclear embargo? Why are Russian companies still operating on the European market? All those who have doubts are helpers, helpers of Putin - it must be said very directly. I call for immediate action by governments on Ukraine's requests for assistance. All requests should be implemented immediately, because it is the Ukrainians who are fighting for us and for the future and peace in Europe. And we are obliged to do so. I would also like to ask the President to draw attention to Moldova. It is a country that also suffers from this war and needs help.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, We all want peace in Europe. But for peace to prevail, this war must be won by Ukraine – and this is also our common consciousness. That is why this summit of the European Union and Ukraine is so important. So important that it ends with very concrete actions. Because there is no longer time to think about what equipment should reach the front – as soon as possible, as state-of-the-art, as serious and as heavy as possible. And not only Leopards, but also long-range rockets, fighter planes. Ukraine must win this war because it is fighting for the future of Europe, it is also fighting for us. And sanctions – this word has been used many times here: They must be even tougher, even more consistent and also symbolic. Let's remember: Next year, the Olympic Games will be held without Russian and Belarusian athletes. These athletes cannot represent countries that are aggressors and attackers in Europe. It is also a symbolic peace game. I repeat: sanctions and assistance to Ukraine.

Madam President, dear colleagues, as deputy chair of the Committee on Civil liberties, Justice and. Home Affairs (LIBE), a person from Poland, a member of the Polish opposition, and also as an ex Minister, I have some very friendly advice for you. You would like to lead a common Europe in several months with the lady who was in Brussels last week – such an aggressive minister who was not answering any questions. Let us think about your image. The standards are the same for everybody in Europe, the law also. You cannot be above the law, even if you are a member of the government. So let’s think: on a green light you can go, but on the red, even if you love this colour, you cannot go. You are very close to the red light, and I have advice to change this person, because I cannot imagine the European Council meeting with a person who would like to protect the rule of law with this language, which is very similar to our colleagues from the far right. The second piece of advice, which is much more important, is that you have to change this direction. You still have time, and it is high time to change it, because you are on a slippery slope, very similar to other well-known ways. I don’t want to prolong this discussion. This is my friendly advice to you: don’t make a mistake on that.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. It is good that after a few months of appeals in this Chamber for the establishment of such an international tribunal, today we actually agree that it should arise. The only question is the pace and time. And today we call for it to be built as soon as possible, to start work as soon as possible, because Ukraine not only needs weapons to win and save its homeland. Ukraine needs financial assistance, of course. But we also need hope for justice, because no crime can go unpunished, no criminal can go unpunished. And let's not say that this is a special tribunal, that we are looking for a legal formula. A dozen similar international criminal tribunals have already been in place. We know the legal basis. There was a tribunal for the criminals of the former Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and the tribunal in Nuremberg referred to here. Let us act quickly and immediately launch this tribunal, because it is an important signal for our security on the continent, as well as for Putin, that his time is running out.

Mr President, thank you very much. Lukashenko's regime is using terror against its own society. Recent judgments: 25 years, 20 years. The tragic conditions. It's just proof of his weakness. Ales Bialacki, Nobel Prize winner, also representatives of the Polish minority: mentioned Andrzej Poczobut, Andżelika Borys, but also completely innocent people like the talented IT specialist Sergei Korshun, who never broke the law – they will not be intimidated. It is impossible to intimidate the Belarusian brave society. And Belarus will be democratic and free. And we call for the release of political prisoners immediately. But I also call for the creation here in Parliament, in our headquarters, of an office for the Belarusian democratic opposition, for the representatives of this brave society, so that we can immediately have information, real facts and be able to disseminate them. For Alexander Lukashenko, I have only one message: Tyranny ends poorly.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen! Belarus is not Russia, of course. But from the territory of Belarus... (The Chair interrupted the speaker – no interpretation) – Madam President, I would like to thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen! Belarus is not Russia, it is obvious, but from the territory of Belarus Lukashenko allows to launch rockets on civilian objects in Ukraine. Without Lukashenko's help, it would be impossible to commit a crime in Bucha. Lukashenko sells Belarusian territory for rubles and today Russian military groups are basically occupying the country, because Lukashenko does not have the acceptance of his society. Belarusians do not accept participation in this war and support for these activities. That is why we need to sanction Lukashenko and his regime very strongly in the 9th package, but at the same time give maximum support to Belarusian society and the opposition, which is united today. I call for the Interim Council, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, but the Council above all, to become a partner of all the European institutions. And one thing, let's not call Lukashenko president. He is a usurper, he is a war criminal, his place is before the Hague Tribunal, just like Putin's. They are both war criminals and justice will come to them. We are not only waiting for a free and democratic Belarus, but we must support it to be a fact. There will be a free and democratic Belarus, Living Belarus!

Madam President, I'm sorry. We, the citizens of a free, democratic Europe, call on national parliaments, we call on the governments of the Member States to recognise Russia as a state organizing and leading terrorism! I hope that this House, the European Parliament, will show unity in this matter. It will also force the European Commission, the European Council, to act decisively. We are on the eve of a summit that should conclude not only with important declarations, but also with important actions on this issue. Today's images of thousands of people killed, attacks on civilian objects, on houses in Ukraine are not the only images that we remember. Expulsions into Russia of thousands of people, only for ethnic reasons, including children - this is kidnapping. Do you remember the plane that was shot down? Dutch aircraft MH17. Three hundred innocent people. Hospitals and schools in Syria burned by trained groups of Russian criminals. Putin's official support for the Wagner group and the awarding of various decorations to these criminals. If, as the European People's Party, we call for Putin to be called a war criminal, these are not just words. Its place is before the International Tribunal in The Hague. We have to make this happen. As a Polish MEP, because this initiative goes beyond the divisions of our Polish environment, I would like to say that we must stand above national divisions, above political divisions, show unity in this House, as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe did last week. Do we need more victims and examples to call Russia a state that supports, organizes and implements terrorism? Thank you and I appeal for unity.

Mr President, dear colleagues, it has been five years since Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated. Five long years without justice. Where are those who ordered the murder? Where are those who paid for it? The socialist Government is still refusing transparency. There is pressure on journalists in Malta. There is a lack of full media freedom. As the deputy chairman of the LIBE Committee, responsible for monitoring of rule of law, I have to say very clearly and loudly, there is no rule of law without media freedom. There is no democracy without media freedom because there is no free and fair elections. We have to restore the rule of law in Malta. Daphne Galizia is waiting for justice but is also still waiting for democracy there.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Yes, we have a war in Europe and not only this criminal Russian aggression against Ukraine, but also a war for energy security, for economic security, for jobs, as well as the fight for civil rights. All those who today attack solidarity, unity and the European Community, as well as our joint actions to defend these most important challenges, become accomplices of Russia, become accomplices of the enemies of Europe. Whether they want to or not, they are Putin's accomplices. Therefore, I thank you for your warm words about Poles, about Poland, about warnings. All the more so, we should implement the European Energy Community with double force. This is the concept of Jerzy Buzek and Donald Tusk. But today, this European Energy Community should be broader, it should include Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, the Balkan states aspiring to join the Community. After all, this is what European solidarity is all about, this is what we need to show in practice. Sentence to the Czech Presidency – the termination of the 2007 visa policy agreement is a first important step, but it is not controversial. We collected signatures here in a day and a half, from the ID to the Greens, to ban visas and the arrival in Europe of family members of uniformed people of the central administration. Putin is not the only one who is angry. Russian society is acquiescing to this aggression and we must respond with European solidarity also in this direction by prohibiting them from travelling in Europe.