Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, We want a digital single market that has fewer barriers to trade between Member States to build economic prosperity. We all know the tangible benefits of the development of the Digital Single Market. Consumers have access to fast-growing new products, lower prices, wider choice and better quality goods. The Digital Single Market also means the development of modern business and administrative models. Our work on two legislative acts will translate directly into the regulation of the activities of online platforms, which are used today by almost every inhabitant of the European Union. We ensured more certainty for people buying goods online and protection of freedom of speech on large social networks. I see the compromise reached in the trilogues as a step forward. Nevertheless, in line with our demands and in the interest of consumers benefiting from the digital economy, I believe that regulatory dialogue should be strengthened, national consumer and competition authorities strengthened, and that the European Commission, as the overarching institution ensuring proper compliance with the adopted law, should enforce it effectively in all Member States.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, We have repeatedly discussed the regime in Belarus here, adopted a motion for a resolution, decided to impose economic restrictions, trade restrictions, name sanctions against Lukashenko himself and his immediate family. And what? The President of Belarus once again laughs in our face, ignores the European Union, ignores the International Labour Organization, which includes 18 representatives of the Belarusian Democratic Congress of Trade Unions detained in mid-April. Lukashenko is provoking hybrid attacks at the border, boycotting democratic elections, and supporting Russia in its hostilities against Ukraine. He has dismantled nearly 400 civil society organisations and puts railway workers under suspicion of an act of terror for sabotaging the supply of weapons to Russia. I would like to remind you that the Belarusian Senate recently approved changes in which the death penalty may be imposed for committing, or even attempting, a terrorist act. Ladies and gentlemen, four Belarusian railway workers could be shot for wanting to prevent the delivery of weapons to the Russian army committing heinous crimes in Ukraine. Putin's example clearly shows that simply condemning and turning a blind eye to the regime, or even imposing sanctions, is not enough. In order to put an end to the lawlessness and terror of Lukashenka’s dictatorship, concrete measures are needed – aid measures for civic organisations, trade union representatives and the opposition. In a word: Less talk and more action. I wish all of us that.

Mr President, thank you very much. In July 2021, the President of France was placed on the list of suspects of surveillance. Also in 2021, the German services purchased Pegasus. This did not cause you any concern. Why was there no commission of inquiry? The answer is simple – because this was not the case for Poland and Hungary. We are not children of special concern. Do you want to be reliable, check the use of Pegasus reliably? Check all member states. Pegasus surveillance has become a pan-European issue. Posters calling for an explanation of the scandal created in the European Parliament by the left and the Greens no longer have the face of the head of my party, as happened in February this year. You've been a little awkward, haven't you? Even idiotically and grotesquely. In Poland, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was established. It's Pegasus. According to the law, it does not have the powers of a committee of inquiry, it cannot have access to classified information and those related to operational control. So you from the Senate, you have a nice trip, I wish you a pleasant stay in Strasbourg.

Mr President, thank you very much. The idea of introducing transnational lists of candidates for Members of the European Parliament violates Article 14 of the Treaty on European Union, which clearly states that it is the Member States that receive the seats. This Article specifically provides that no Member State may be allocated more than 96 seats. Therefore, the introduction of an EU-wide electoral system will grossly violate the provisions of the Treaty. If one country receives more than 96 seats, it will further disrupt the diversity of the European Union and consequently favour large countries. This proposal, which confers non-Treaty powers, further advances the federalist agenda and violates the Treaty principle of subsidiarity. The motion for a resolution is also outraged for other reasons: namely that every citizen over the age of 18 should be able to vote and have the right to stand as a candidate, with a recommendation to introduce a minimum voting age of 16. Do you think that 16-year-olds are emotionally mature enough to choose the people who represent them in the European Union? As ECR, we oppose this resolution. As a member of Law and Justice, I do not support this resolution either, and we do not all support it.

Madam President, I'm sorry. We are about to vote on a resolution that will have an impact on the Commission's "Right to repair" project. We have no doubts about expanding the possibilities for users to repair their devices, but we must be aware that due to the high prices of services, only a part of consumers will decide to take such a step. We agree that the biggest problem from the consumer's point of view is the availability and cost of repair, often close to the purchase amount of a new device. Unfortunately, in my opinion, we do not find a solution to this problem in our text, and yet reducing barriers to the movement of repair services within the common market is crucial, in my opinion, for this Commission initiative to be a real success and for consumers to enjoy a prolonged life of products. In a word, it is about preparing a solution that will not be a dead solution. Today I call on my colleagues not to make the right to repair a duty and a compulsion to repair a duty. It is important to look for additional incentives that will encourage consumers to repair products, but let us not limit the consumer rights provided for during the warranty period. We must also be careful that our proposals do not lead to an automatic increase in the price of prohibited products. At a time of COVID, rising energy prices and Putin's war, many Europeans are already struggling to buy cheaper equipment and access parts. The ECR has tabled amendments on both issues. I hope you will support them.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Former US Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher recently said that the problems with the rule of law in Poland were the result of Russian disinformation and that both the EU and America accepted it uncritically. In her opinion, Poland should now be apologised. You are not only not apologizing to Poland, you are organizing another debate and this next debate is also part of this Russian disinformation. You talk so much about helping Ukraine, and you weaken Poland by supporting Russia. Poland, which helps Ukraine the most. Besides, you have been doing this consistently for a long time, despite the fact that it has come to light that even after the annexation of Crimea you sold weapons to the butcher Putin, who today is committing genocide with them. It's not fair! Commissioner, today you said, among other things, that you were too naive of the Putin regime. Now, in this mechanism of naivety, in my opinion, you trust the opposition and left-wing circles in granting funds for the reconstruction of Poland, unlawfully combining this with the mechanism of conditionality, in which you do not have Treaty competence. The agreement on the budget must not be used to exert political pressure and blackmail Member States. Consequently, the actions of the CJEU lead to the imposition of the supremacy of European law over national... (The Chair took the floor)

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Every worker has the right to a high level of health protection and a safe workplace. This fundamental principle is a pillar of European social rights, the swift enforcement of which aims to ensure safe and fair working conditions for nearly 170 million workers in the European Union. We must remember that the labor market after 2020 has changed radically. The COVID-19 pandemic has created new opportunities for both workers and employers. Together with the new benefits, there is a responsibility to secure and update occupational health and safety legislation to meet the new realities of the digital age. In addition, let's not forget about employees working physically, especially seasonal ones working outside their country. In such workers, occupational health and safety conditions at the workplace are often reprehensible. This applies in particular to workers from Central and Eastern Europe. This report is another step towards improving health and safety at work in the single European market, a market that is changing as quickly as the international situation. The war in Ukraine has caused an exodus of millions of war refugees to the Member States, and overnight there are more and more of them. These people will soon be part of our labour market. When creating regulations, we must remember this and also remember that in the first place should always be a man.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, According to the estimates of the World Economic Forum, in order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, it is necessary to increase global battery production 19-fold. The production and use of batteries and the handling of waste batteries are cross-cutting issues that affect many policy areas. The report on batteries and waste batteries is a document that should take into account the economic and environmental conditions of all Member States. Only this approach will allow it to add value to the European green transition. Consideration should be given to whether the proposed changes will limit innovation and consequently raise the price of batteries and accumulators, which may create a clear problem especially in the transport sector. Due to the observed sharp increases in fuel prices and the additional charge proposed in the road ETS, the increase in battery prices will make it even more difficult for all citizens to switch to another form of driving. For the sake of sustainable development of all EU countries, it is necessary to safeguard the interests of countries that are in the process of intensive transformation towards climate neutrality, so that batteries produced in these countries are as competitive as those produced in countries with a higher share of RES in energy production. We must bear in mind, especially in the current situation, that the development of the electromobility market, apart from an issue of major economic importance, is also a strategically important issue from the point of view of security.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I would like to thank you all very much for working on this report, a report that is so important because it concerns the protection of our children. We are aware that despite the implementation of the provisions of the existing 2009 Directive, the internal market and consumers are still confronted with a significant number of dangerous toys, but also with other products that children come into contact with on a daily basis. While the Directive needs to be updated, more effective enforcement of existing rules by market surveillance authorities and effective border sealing by customs remain key to addressing existing problems. We must also not forget that digital sales platforms are an added value for all market participants. We are convinced that the obligation to monitor and remove dangerous toys will improve the safety of children. Our additional arguments included in the report are an important part of the report as a whole. Among other things, they can significantly improve the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises facing unfair competition from entities ignoring European safety standards. We hope that the Commission will take our suggestions into account. We, as adults, have a responsibility to protect children. It is we who, when creating regulations, have a real impact on them. I am convinced that our joint work, our joint effort will translate into what is most important for the child, i.e. a happy, healthy and safe childhood.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Europe needs effective tools to regulate the digital services market. The Digital Services Code is a challenge for our time, which will improve the functioning of the Single Market, remove barriers to its proper functioning, provide protection and security on the network for basic Internet users. Large online platforms often do not respect the fundamental rights and principles of internet users, they unjustifiably remove content, websites or online profiles. Recently, in Poland, the profile of a political party was blocked on Facebook, which was followed by almost 700,000 users. In a democratic society, differences of opinion are natural. However, we cannot close our mouths to the other side just because he has a different opinion on different issues. The DMA is an opportunity to create an independent mechanism to oversee platform decisions and effectively defend the interests of smaller platforms. The digital market is not just large online corporations. The backbone of the economy are companies from the small and medium-sized enterprises sector, which in the era of the pandemic often owe their continued functioning to the efficient operation of the online market. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Digital Services Code must be a future-proof solution to ensure the safety of all users of the digital market.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Year after year, we see a large increase in interest in trade and services in the digital single market. This fact, despite the obvious benefits for all concerned, also carries a number of risks. Competitive and fair access for businesses to customers is at the heart of today's digital economy. Users, on the other hand, expect reliable and efficient online tools, while at the same time expecting the service best suited to their own needs and not to the model most suited to dominant online platforms. The implementation of the DMA will ensure fair and predictable conditions for users to benefit from the digital economy and will foster growth and competitiveness through the introduction of common rules in the Single Market. It should be borne in mind that it will be crucial to correctly define the obligations of gatekeeper platforms. In this respect, the agreement reached guarantees protection against unfair practices in the area of digital services regulated by the Digital Markets Act.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. We will all agree in this House on the need to combat effectively the inequalities that exist between women and men in both social and professional life. Let's look at the gap in wage inequality, which has recently been slightly smaller, but still visible. Wage discrimination against women is one of the most serious obstacles to effective gender equality. Closing these gaps is a task that should be a priority for Member States. The same applies to employment, where there are significant differences in the lack of work between men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ladies and Gentlemen, Reducing the disparities I have mentioned can have a real impact on equality between women and men in the European Union. However, the question is whether the issues raised in the report, such as LGBT rights, legal abortion, sexual and reproductive health and rights, will lead to women earning as much as men or to full parity in their positions. Personally, I don't think so. And please, Commissioner, don't fight Christmas, because this is absurd and nonsense. Please fight for equal pay for equal work for men and women.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Violence against women has no nationality – it occurs all over the world and is present in all social groups, regardless of age, education, religion or social status. Violence against women can have different faces and it does not matter what form it takes, because each, but every violence against women should be effectively punished by representatives of the justice system and strongly condemned. Creating a coherent and effective system to prevent violence, not only against women but against everyone, is a task for the Member States. Only a well-enforced law can significantly reduce the phenomenon of violence against any person who has come into contact with it. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to draw your attention and remind you of the situation of women in Afghanistan, who experience different forms of violence every day. Has the world forgotten their suffering? These women, like all of us, deserve to live in safety and dignity. Unfortunately, this is not the case and there is no indication that anything has changed, because we do nothing or do little.

Mr President, thank you very much. We all agree on the need to fight climate change. It is gratifying that the Glasgow Summit recognised the need to strengthen international cooperation and support to countries facing the challenge of a just transition. Only together, with respect for everyone, can we achieve our goals. A just transition is key. Each country has its own specific energy. The economies of countries that are not dependent on coal look different, and those in which coal is the basis for functioning. You can't compare and put them all in one basket. This does not serve the whole cause and gives rise to misunderstandings, and additional attempts at intimidation and financial blackmail are unacceptable. I know this fight will be difficult. However, we must remember and I want to point out once again that only together and with respect for everyone are we able to achieve success.

Yesterday, during the debate on Poland, St. John Paul II was invoked. John Paul II. Let me now quote one of the many statements of the Polish Pope, for whom the protection of life was one of the key topics of his teaching. ‘The unborn child is also a human being. Moreover, Christ in a privileged way identifies himself with the smallest. How, then, can we fail to see His special presence in a being yet unborn, among all beings truly the smallest, the weakest, without any means of defense, even a voice that cannot protest against the blows against its most basic rights? When the state does not use its power in the service of the rights of the weakest, the foundations of the rule of law of the state are threatened." Poland will defend the rule of law. We are not going to impose a leftist dictatorship. We will defend the rights of unborn children and repeat to our boredom that the competence for the organisation of health care systems lies with the Member States.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Napoleon Bonaparte once said: "money, money and more money are needed to wage war". To paraphrase, it can be said that today Putin needs gas, gas and again gas to dominate the European Union. Yes, Russia's Gazprom and its main Nord Stream 2 project, through their actions, influence the price of natural gas, causing them to rise, which will translate into higher bills across the European Union. Today, there is no need for tanks to bring Europe to its knees. Today, the actions of the Kremlin and its European politicians will suffice. Green energy is important, but there is currently no way it can meet at least half of our needs. Mr. Timmermans, wherever you are, it's time to reflect and reconsider your plans. Today, the people of Europe pay dearly for them and will continue to pay. Soon it will turn out that Europe will have to apologize with coal. Otherwise, we may face a wave of corporate bankruptcies and a heavy one that will affect all of us, especially the poorest. Let's be pragmatic. Let's stop swinging in the green clouds!

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, This report touches on a number of issues that need to be addressed in order to help the 87 million people with disabilities living in the European Union in their daily lives. We want people with disabilities to be accepted and appreciated, because although we are all equal, at the same time each of us is unique. The report repeatedly states that the European Commission, the European Union and the Member States are called upon to take concrete action. This shows how much more needs to be done to ensure that persons with disabilities can fully enjoy their social, political or economic rights. The report touches on many areas that are important for people with disabilities, such as employment, education, health and social protection. In addition, there are also issues that do not necessarily have to be relevant from the point of view of a person with a disability. We must focus on the important things that will effectively improve the lives of people with disabilities, while rejecting those that have nothing to do with real help.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Once again, the European Union wants to interfere in matters to which it does not have competence. Let me remind you that policies relating to the family, criminal law, health, education or childcare remain the responsibility of the Member States. Just to be clear: Women and children must be unquestionably protected from all forms of intimate partner violence. Not only that, it is necessary to protect every person from domestic violence. The resolution accuses Poland of withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, and yet the case of Poland's possible denunciation of the Convention has been referred to the Constitutional Court. Let me remind you that Poland has already introduced, among others, a law that allows for the eviction of the perpetrator of violence, we have introduced a blue card that protects people and families exposed to domestic violence. Among other things, thanks to these actions, Poland is the country where violence against women is at the lowest level in the entire European Union. Let us not forget that a good law is one that is not only enacted, but above all quickly and effectively enforced. To sum up: for the protection of women and children, not for the falsification of reality.

Mr President, thank you very much. Today's discussion, in which Poland is falsely accused of violating the rule of law and attacking the media, is nothing more than treating Poland as a second category country. This is the discrimination that is being applied to Poland in this room. What else do you call it? Other EU countries can create mechanisms to protect their internal media market, and Poland is accused of attacking free media and violating the rule of law? The amendment to the Broadcasting Act is nothing more than an attempt to clarify an existing law, not an attack on media freedom in Poland. We want to protect our internal media market from interference in its structure by countries outside the European Union. These actions have nothing to do with the violation of the rule of law and the attack on free media. If other countries can, why can't we? Why Poland should be punished for solutions that operate in other countries. They are not threatened or punished. And democracy in Poland, ladies and gentlemen, is being ruined by the method of the street and abroad by the opposition, which cannot come to terms with the lost elections again.

Madam President, I'm sorry. New technologies make our lives easier in many ways. This is also the case with online platforms. Their functioning brings many benefits for both customers and people who earn from them. The demand for work on online platforms is growing very fast and it is estimated that more and more people will look for work through them. However, the information we have is insufficient. There is no accurate data on the actual scale of work on platforms. In addition, the pandemic and remote work have significantly changed our reality. The report draws attention to the introduction of harmonised rules at European Union level, which will cover professions performed through online platforms. However, we must ask ourselves whether such measures, which will impose additional obligations on the Member States, will not reduce the competitiveness of their economies and will not interfere in the design of social security systems, because these are the competence of the Member States alone. Of course, every employee should be protected regardless of how they take up the job. However, consideration should be given to whether measures taken against platform workers should be implemented at EU level. That's the first one. Secondly, if the existing legal instruments are not applied – as resounded during the preparation of the report – then everything must first be done to apply the existing law and not to prepare new ones.

Mr President, thank you very much. In this room, we repeatedly talk about the development of the European Union, we focus on the digital revolution, the economic recovery after the crisis, the green transition. It's a good thing that's happening. But will we be able to achieve all this without an efficient and healthy society? Public health measures must be coherent, consistent and coordinated. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of all of us, left permanent damage to the health of many residents of the European Union, revealed shortcomings in the EU’s mechanisms for managing health threats. These mechanisms require a structured approach to future health crises at Union level, also based on European solidarity. All this makes it necessary to strengthen health security and better respond to health threats that may arise in the near future. The modifications that have been made to the Regulation on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control will help strengthen the health security of Europeans, contribute to better coordination and faster exchange of information between Member States. These actions will hopefully help to fight effectively not only COVID-19, but also other health threats that many Europeans are dying of. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, mental illness have been, are and will be. Let us not forget this for our health and the health of future generations.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, It is good that COVID-19 certificates work in all EU countries. It is good that Member States refrain from imposing additional restrictions and prohibitions on free movement on certificate holders, unless they are necessary and proportionate to protect public health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A well-functioning system of digital certificates helps to restore civil liberties and supports jobs, e.g. in the travel and tourism sector. Unfortunately, we are increasingly hearing about illegal practices related to the counterfeiting of digital certificates. Therefore, as soon as possible, it is necessary to create a tool that effectively prevents counterfeiting of certificates, because there are too many people willing to illegally obtain them. And the question, Commissioner: What are you going to do about it? And one more important question for Europeans: when and whether you intend to take action to make the tests free of charge, as has been mentioned here on several occasions. In the face of new virus mutations, we should promote and encourage vaccination so that the greatest number of people can enjoy health, for the safety of all of us.