What Veronika spoke about.

12 Dec

2023

CS Speech

Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)

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Mr President, we all know that this latest escalation of the conflict in the Middle East began with Hamas's heinous terrorist attack on unarmed Israeli civilians. Some of them were brutally murdered, some of them were previously brutally tortured, women were raped, and some of them were taken hostage with considerable support from the people of Gaza. Relativising these heinous crimes or trying to …

8 Nov

2023

CS Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 October 2023 - Humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause (joint debate - Conclusions of the European Council and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause)

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, it has been a month and a day since the largest massacre of Jews since the Second World War. Hamas terrorists, with the support of ayatollahs from Iran, killed, tortured and kidnapped civilians, women, children, the elderly. This is not a romantic fight for freedom. These are disgusting, barbaric, terrorist acts. Israel has the right to defend itself. It's no…

17 Oct

2023

CS Speech

Water scarcity and structural investments in access to water in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, I am very happy for today's debate on water and the direction of the investments needed to ensure access to water across the EU. We can't survive without water. While we as humans can adapt to more carbon dioxide, we cannot survive without water. I come from the Czech Republic, a country nicknamed the roof of Europe, because it falls into three basins, and all the water that rains in…

5 Oct

2023

CS Speech

Urban wastewater treatment (debate)

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Mr President, tap water is not a matter of course in the world. As well as wastewater treatment at the same level as we have in the European Union. I am very happy for this and I hope that we will continue to do so. The Nils Torvalds report goes in the right direction in principle. However, there are things that can disproportionately affect only some Member States. Typically, those whose territor…

12 Sep

2023

CS Speech

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

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Madam President, Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and drone attacks on granaries and warehouses continue to show us that Putin is not shying away from anything. Targeted threats to global food security are a tool of hybrid warfare by which Putin seeks to weaken our assistance to Ukraine and tie to himself states that are dependent on imports of agricultural commodities. And …

12 Jul

2023

CS Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular the recent developments in the war against Ukraine and in Russia (debate)

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Mr President, it is in the vital interest of the Czech Republic, but also of the whole of Europe, to support Ukraine in every way so that it can fight back its territories and thus bring Russia back to its borders before 2014. I am glad for all the promises, but especially for the real deliveries of military equipment by individual states. At the same time, we must continue to support the export o…

10 May

2023

CS Speech

Ukrainian cereals on the European market (debate)

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Madam President, I am glad that the states have found an agreement with the Commission on the import of Ukrainian grain and will allow transit through their territories. It is important that the Solidarity Corridors continue to operate unhindered so that Ukraine can trade in agricultural crops. It is the only way they can finance the running of the state and the fight against aggressive Putin. The…

10 May

2023

CS Speech

The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, farmers are key players in the green transition because they care most about our nature and landscape. Their management has a direct impact on the state of soil and water. As conservatives, we support and will always support their involvement. But we must keep in mind that we cannot kill farmers with crazy bureaucracy, add more tasks to them and distract them from their primary task …

19 Apr

2023

CS Speech

Universal decriminalization of homosexuality, in light of recent developments in Uganda (debate)

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Mr President, the sexual orientation with which someone is born does not affect anyone, nor does it affect the colour of their hair or eyes. There are over 60 countries in the world where homosexuality is a crime. Recently, Uganda passed a similar law. For something as self-evident as love between two people, gays or lesbians face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. This is something that…

14 Mar

2023

CS Speech

The challenges facing the Republic of Moldova (debate)

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Mr President, the situation in Moldova shows us how imprudent it was for the EU to focus only on itself and its own problems and to ignore its surroundings. The rejection of further integration, albeit not explicitly mentioned, has led to frustration among the populations of countries that have long sought EU membership. This frustration stirs up anti-European sentiment and often means a shift of …

14 Mar

2023

CS Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) - Strengthening the Trans-Atlantic ties in an ever challenging multilateral world

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Mr President, Mr High Representative, the United States and Canada are our biggest and closest allies and partners, in all areas: common defence, security, economy, culture, innovation. Nowadays, Russia's imperial aggression and China's increasingly confrontational behavior must be held together much more as the West. And most importantly, we must not allow any, if only hints of trade disputes or …

16 Feb

2023

CS Speech

Availability of fertilisers in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, the measures proposed by the Commission and even our parliamentary resolutions are a good start to getting rid of dependence on imported fertilisers and on Russia. There are many sources of organic nutrients that are not used to their full potential, such as manure, digestate and sewage sludge. The processing of organic nutrients into fertilisers is an opportunity for f…

15 Feb

2023

CS Speech

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

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Mr President, one year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, information has emerged about a new planned Russian offensive. We're hearing about what's happening in Moldova. Putin is able to do anything to get at least a small hint of victory, and he was able to explain to the Russians why tens of thousands of ordinary people had to die. Recently, we heard a statement from the leader of the Wagner Gr…

1 Feb

2023

CS Speech

Preparation of the Special European Council meeting of February, in particular the need to develop sustainable solutions in the area of asylum and migration (debate)

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Mr President, at its forthcoming meeting, the European Council will also address irregular migration, which has regained momentum over the past year. In the Czech Republic, but also in neighbouring Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, the number of intercepted migrants illegally crossing the border increased by hundreds of percent year-on-year. The Czech Republic responded by increasing the number of co…

17 Jan

2023

CS Speech

The establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, Bucha, Irpin, Dnipro – these are the most famous cases of atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine. They are the most famous, but they are certainly not the only ones. There are many more cases where the Russian military terrorizes and kills civilians. These atrocities must not go unpunished. We must establish as soon as possible the International Criminal Tribunal for the Invest…

17 Jan

2023

CS Speech

The EU’s response to the appalling attack against civilians in Dnipro : strengthening sanctions against the Putin regime and military support to Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, I would like to begin by expressing my sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones because of the Russian missile attack on a dwelling in Dnipro. Once again, it turns out that Russia is not attacking military targets, but rather is killing civilians, spreading fear in an effort to provoke another wave of migration towards Europe. For the same reason, Ukraine i…

15 Dec

2022

CS Speech

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

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Madam President, right now millions of people in Ukraine are suffering from a lack of heat, light or drinking water. Among them, young children, pregnant women or the elderly. As a result of Russia's massive attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure, we are witnessing a humanitarian crisis that Europe has not remembered for years. I am glad that the European Union is putting its hand to work and showing…

22 Nov

2022

CS Speech

EU response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran (debate)

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Madam President, the Iranians have been protesting against their government for more than two months. They protest against a regime that imprisons them and kills innocents. Against a regime that threatens other countries with destruction. Our task must be to point out these actions, not to keep silent, but to stand up for those who have resisted. We can watch hundreds of thousands of people protes…

5 Oct

2022

CS Speech

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

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Mr President, we must persevere in helping Ukraine, of course because of Ukraine, but also because of peace and security in Europe. The energy crisis is affecting different countries in different ways, but we must not let Russia divide us because that is its goal. We must not give in and give in to Putin's nuclear threats at any cost. We stand firmly behind Ukraine, its territorial integrity and i…

4 Oct

2022

CS Speech

The death of Mahsa Amini and the repression of women's rights protesters in Iran (debate)

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Mr President, first of all, let me express my condolences to the family of the late Mahsa Amini and to many other families whose relatives were murdered during the protests. The Iranian people are once again demonstrating the need for change in the country. The current political course is completely unsustainable. In particular, I would like to pay tribute to the Iranian women who have taken to th…

13 Sep

2022

CS Speech

Consequences of drought, fire, and other extreme weather phenomena: increasing EU's efforts to fight climate change (debate)

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Mr President, let me first of all thank all the firefighters, soldiers and volunteers who participated in the firefighting during the summer, including the great fire that also affected the Czech Republic. A large part of Europe has experienced droughts and fires this year. It is true that even today, in early autumn, there are still parts of Europe where it is very dry. But that does not mean, as…

6 Jul

2022

CS Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Czech Presidency (continuation of debate)

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Dear President of the European Parliament, Madam President of the Commission, Prime Minister Fiala, I would like to thank you very much for the presentation of the Czech Presidency's plans. I think they are perfectly in line with the problems that Europe now has to face. It is clear that two themes will be key and both are related to Ukraine. The first will be the reconstruction of Ukraine, becaus…

2 May

2022

CS Speech

EU action plan for organic agriculture (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, it has become clear lately that organic production will play an increasing role in the years to come. This is demanded by consumers, this need is also seen by politicians and officials who set the rules of farming on agricultural land. However, the increase in organic farming must be natural. Both the supply of and demand for such production must be consistent. At th…

23 Mar

2022

CS Speech

Need for an urgent EU action plan to ensure food security inside and outside the EU in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, I am glad that we are all in agreement here, naming the Russian invasion in the right words and calling Putin the culprit of the war. It is also good that we all perceive threats both in the form of a large migration wave and the threat of food insecurity. We agree on the name of the problem, less on the way to solve it. The Czech Republic now hosts more than 300 000 refugees on i…

23 Nov

2021

CS Speech

Common agricultural policy - support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States and financed by the EAGF and by the EAFRD - Common agricultural policy: financing, management and monitoring - Common agricultural policy – amendment of the CMO and other regulations (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, today, almost at the end of 2021, we are standing here to approve a new form of the common agricultural policy, which should have been in force since January this year. It should have been approved two years ago to allow Member States to set rules based on it. So we're two years late. There is no longer room to argue whether it could be more green, or vice versa, whethe…