Speeches

Mr President, yesterday, Tuesday, France paid tribute to its third French soldier who died in Lebanon. Let's have a thought for Master Corporal Girardin, he was 31 years old and had a child. French soldiers are in Lebanon for peace. They help to maintain a fragile balance in this country in the face of the war-like upheaval of all the actors in the region. No one can today hide the reality of the figures of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Since the Hamas terror attack on October 7, when nearly 1,200 Israelis were murdered, Lebanon has seen more than 4,000 dead and 16,000 wounded, according to its health ministry. More than 1,200,000 Lebanese have been forced to flee their homes; That's almost one in five people in this country. Civilians are being bombed and the country's vital infrastructure is being destroyed. Added to the war is the problem of almost 700,000 Syrian refugees who have still not returned to their country, while the new Syrian President al-Charaa has been in office for more than a year. On all these facts, the European Union continues to turn a blind eye. What is the European Union waiting for to act and demand an immediate ceasefire in this conflict that is taking place at the gates of Europe? Since 7 October, the European Union has lost some of its credibility with this permanent double standard. Every civilian killed deserves the same indignation, the same attention, whether Israeli, Palestinian or Lebanese. The urgency now is to support the efforts of Israel and Lebanon; To restore peace, to sign a peace treaty in this region, is the best solution to guarantee both the security of Israel and the security of Lebanon.

Madam President, (some inaudible words) The Global Gateway, the €306 billion communication operation, embodies the European Union's development aid policy. Even this report, which is very consensual, acknowledges this. The methodology of the program is completely opaque. Project selection criteria, incomprehensible. Evaluations are non-existent, with a board of directors that met, to manage 306 billion, only twice in four years. Twice in four years to manage 306 billion, Europeans need to realize how it works. Moreover, these figures of 306 billion are only a scam of the Commission, which allocates the sums of the national agencies, mixes them with already existing European programmes and private or public loans from other partners. In addition, non-European companies have captured markets financed by the European taxpayer. In short, we walk on the head. Added to this is a huge mistake: countries refuse to take back their nationals in an irregular situation and yet we subsidize them. In short, it's unacceptable. We will therefore vote against this report.

Madam Speaker, for the past twelve years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consolidated the foundations of Indian democracy and made his country the greatest emerging power of the 21st century. A country of 1.4 billion people, where growth is driven by phenomenal domestic consumption, massive public investment, robust services and a huge industrial and technological market. For Europe, weakened on all sides by its dependencies and by the compromise of its elites, India is an obvious partner, but also a political example. Concluding a trade agreement with New Delhi therefore meets a dual economic and strategic need. This agreement will provide key opportunities for our industry, strengthen the diversification of our supply chains and contribute to our economic sovereignty. And unlike Mercosur, it seems to preserve our agricultural sector – we will be particularly vigilant on this issue. However, the Commission decides to play a somewhat strange game, making the conclusion of this agreement conditional on India’s political alignment with the European position on Russia and the conflict in Ukraine. This blackmail is unacceptable and ridiculous: What if India asked Europe to break off its relations with Pakistan because of a territorial conflict between them? By treating India as a political colony, the Commission is making a moral mistake and can jeopardise the future of French companies. Europe needs too much to trade with India, and a sustainable, balanced partnership is mutually beneficial for both our countries.

Madam President, while Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in conflict since 1994, these two countries have been conducting peace negotiations for the past five years, which are about to be concluded. This is evidenced by the signing of a joint peace declaration in Washington on 8 August by Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Aliev. This historic diplomatic effort is made possible by Donald Trump's mediation and yields concrete results: for the first time since 1991, these two States are each within their internationally recognized borders and, for the first time since 1991, the fighting has ceased. Armenia will receive its first delivery of Azerbaijani oil in more than 30 years in the coming days. Georgia is also looking with great interest at the normalisation of relations between its two neighbours, and has even stated that it will authorise the transit of this cargo on its territory free of charge. Finally, Yerevan and Baku have just concluded the creation of a new economic corridor, with transport deliveries that will profoundly redefine connectivity across Eurasia. In the run-up to important elections in June 2026 for Armenia, these prospects for appeasement and economic recovery are good for Armenians and for the entire population of the region. A region where Armenians and Azerbaijanis can definitively close a chapter on a territorial conflict that has lasted too long. However, instead of accompanying this peace effort, the European Parliament is voting on a fourteenth resolution on Azerbaijan: a step backwards in history, which will discredit the word of the European Parliament a little more, because at the moment, in this moment of peace, I think that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are waiting instead for support, for support for the courageous efforts of President Aliev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who have decided to turn the page, not to ask for revenge and to try to develop their region in the Caucasus. That, in my opinion, is what we should be working on in this Parliament.

Mr President, Georgia has been under unprecedented media pressure from the European institutions for months. These attacks call into question the legitimacy of Tbilisi's institutions, its judicial system and the sovereign choices of Georgian voters. This is interference by foreign NGOs and political networks, which the European Parliament relays and voices zealously. Commissioner, as I understand it, you have told us that, in recent months, 24 million have been donated to support these organisations. And it is true that, here, you dream of overthrowing a Georgian government that does not obey the European Commission’s orders. Indeed, this country is wrong to want to protect its constitutional order and to fight against all attempts at destabilisation, whether they come from Moscow or from Europe. Finally, if we are looking for someone who wants a real worsening of the democratic crisis, let’s look at Brussels, let’s look at what happened in Romania – where a presidential election was cancelled on questionable grounds – let’s look at what is happening in France, where the favourite of the presidential election may be prevented from running.

Madam President, on the basis of Rule 209: in February 2025, this Parliament adopted a resolution on the dramatic situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In accordance with Rule 209 of our Rules of Procedure, this text has been published, recorded and transmitted to all the European institutions, and in particular to the Commission. This resolution was clear: it called for sanctions against Rwanda and the immediate suspension of the agreement on critical raw materials between Rwanda and the European Union. Ten months later, no sanctions were taken against the real Rwandan officials, no suspension of the raw materials agreement. Worse still, Rwanda continues to support the M23 offensives in eastern DRC, despite the peace agreement signed in Washington on 4 December. I would remind you that our resolutions voted in plenary are not decorative statements: They engage us politically. So when are we finally going to sanction Rwanda in order to respect the wishes of this Parliament?

Madam President, Sudan is now experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. The war between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces has already displaced millions of people and plunged entire regions into famine and horror. Sudan is collapsing and the international community is watching this humanitarian crisis worsen from week to week. This country is already emerging from 30 years of a hard Islamist regime, then from a failed transition in 2021, when the two military factions that clash today overthrew civilian power. Since 2023, they have been fighting for control of the country, sabotaging any prospect of peace and totally disqualifying their claim to lead Sudan's future. Worse, extremists and the Muslim Brotherhood are profiting from the chaos, recruiting, establishing themselves and influencing political appointments in Khartoum, posing a serious threat to Sudan from the return of Islamists to power. In this context, the European Union must clearly identify those responsible, namely the Muslim Brotherhood and those who support them. At the same time, we must support the only credible peace initiative: the Quad led by the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It is now the only diplomatic framework that is really moving forward, the only one that can impose a humanitarian truce and relaunch a civilian transition independent of militias and extremist networks. Europe must act quickly before Sudan becomes the next hotbed of international terrorism.

Madam President, when airspace violations are clearly identified, they are inadmissible. But the courage also lies in applying this indignation to all violations, not just those that suit you. Between July and December 2024, 900 airspace violations and 45 maritime space violations were committed by Turkey against Cyprus. In 2025, Greece has already suffered more than 150 violations of its airspace and more than 1,800 violations of its maritime space by Turkish planes and boats. However, there is no debate on this issue; Everyone seems to find this normal and keeps silent. We must defend our sovereignty, all our sovereignty, not just that which would justify a new holy war against Russia, because this war is not ours. I expect the same indignation when Turkey also violates the airspace of European states.

I would just like to point out to our colleague that France Info, which is not an extreme right-wing radio station, has made it clear in its review that: The True of Falsehood that no one in Russia had said that sentence which the General, Chief of Staff, repeated. If you have the source of this imaginary sentence, I invite you to communicate it to the journalist of the national radio station who, however, does not share our ideas.

Mr President, in the new architecture of the world, India has become, under the leadership of Narendra Modi – elected in 2014, re-elected in 2019 and 2024 – a pole of stability and a power of balance. In the face of Chinese and American giants, India offers Europe a path to independence and cooperation. For too long, however, the European Union has neglected the Indian partnership. Only 2.4% of our foreign trade is with this country, far behind the United States and China. This is a strategic mistake, because by ignoring the emerging powers, by turning its back on the BRICS, Europe is condemning itself to diplomatic and economic isolation and, even worse, to American tutelage. Today, the Commission is proposing a roadmap to speed up the conclusion of an agreement, which is a step in the right direction. But Europe does not want a front partnership. It needs not only a concrete and balanced agreement that strengthens our economic, technological and energy ties, but also firm cooperation to fight terrorism and Islamism, in order to open the doors to the world's fourth largest economy. This agreement will also have to protect our workers and our industrialists. There is no question of opening up our markets unconditionally in the face of considerable social disparities or transferring our technologies without fair compensation. Our continent can maintain itself in the concert of nations, provided we reach out a friendly hand to Prime Minister Modi and his country, without arrogance, without paternalism and treating them as equals. This is the only valid strategy for a Europe that seeks to regain its power.

Mr President, day after day, the ideal façade of the Rwandan regime is cracking and Mr Kagame finally appears for what he is: a bloodthirsty and authoritarian dictator. Sponsor of the massacres, the persecution of civilians and the looting of mineral resources in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the President of Rwanda has for a very long time remained the protector and favorite of Brussels. No one had found anything wrong with his fourth re-election, with a Soviet score of 99.18%. Things seem to be changing with this new Commission. But this past complacency towards Kigali is intolerable, as it contradicts all the moral principles that the European Union imposes on the rest of the world. The case of the opponent Victoire Ingabire is a symbol. Faced with the executioners of the Great Lakes region, this courageous woman represents the democratic hope of her country, a hope that Kagame has been trying to stifle ever since he issued his arbitrary arrest and imprisonment. Today, indeed, the European Union has a duty to resurrect this hope and to secure the release ofme Ingabire by immediately cancelling all forms of financial and commercial cooperation with Rwanda so that Europe finally ceases to be Kigali's accomplice.

Madam President, respect for the rule of law is great, frankly, because it allows, as soon as there is a problem with a government that displeases the European Union, to interfere in its affairs. This has been the case for Poland, this has been the case for Hungary, and it is now Slovakia's turn to be Brussels' pain sufferer. In reality, the Commission is harassing this country, because you do not like this government. According to all logic, in order to benefit from European rights passes, the Slovaks would have to do something like the Poles who, since the arrival of the liberals in power, happily divert, as we learn in the newspaper PoliticoEuropean funds devoted to the post-Covid recovery to buy yachts, luxury cars and even a swinger club, without any remark from Brussels at the moment. What about this parliament that has itself been splattered by the Qatargate corruption scandal? What's the status of the investigation? Where are the convictions? Not to displease the European Union, the Social Democrat Robert Fico is a democratically elected Prime Minister. His party won the elections in 2023 and he conducts a sovereignist policy in his country. Let Brussels put its own excesses in order before giving lessons to the states.

Mr President, all the interferences in Moldova are intolerable, all of them, like the one that consists, ten days before the Moldovan presidential election, whenme von der Leyen goes to Kichinev, promising 1.8 billion euros. Similarly, in August, President Macron, the German Chancellor and Donald Tusk went to Moldova to support Maia Sandu and influence the legislative elections in September. In both cases, the message is clear: Vote Sandu and you will have money from Europe. All manipulations are intolerable. What to say when a referendum is won with extreme accuracy thanks to the vote of the Moldovan diaspora abroad, and this Moldovan diaspora in Russia has not been able to vote, where 500,000 Moldovans live? All justice must be fair. What to say when a governor, that of Gagauzia, takes seven years in prison, simply to be of a party that is no longer accepted in Moldova? All interference must be denounced, including from this Chamber.

Madam President, as in Georgia, the European Union chooses, in Serbia, to encourage chaos, where it should instead support a democratically elected government. For nine months now, Serbia has been facing a wave of demonstrations whose nature is no longer peaceful. A disorder that affects the majority of the population, captive to the violent and organized behavior of a minority. 23,000 illegal rallies, 12,000 roadblocks, 750 attacks on political premises and already 170 injured police officers. It is no longer a classic democratic protest. This is violence directed against the state and its institutions. An attempt to change a government. In the face of this, the Serbian government has multiplied its gestures of openness. A dialogue was offered to the students. President Vučić even proposed a consultative referendum on confidence in his mandate as well as early elections. Each time, the demonstrators, stuck in sterile postures, refused these proposals. Because behind these movements are radical elements and politicized NGOs whose agenda is not the democratic and peaceful reform of the country, but the destabilization of Serbia through geopolitical calculations. President Vučić was elected with more than 60% of the vote. As such, its mandate and majority are clear, legitimate and democratic. Brussels must stop harassing this country under any pretext. This resolution is a new interference against a democratically elected government, but one that you do not like.

Mr President, three years after the attack on the Nord Stream, the truth is finally beginning to be decided. It was not mere sabotage, but a terrorist act against Europe. The Hungarian Foreign Minister was very clear on this subject, saying on 26 August: The sabotage of the Nord Stream shows all the characteristics of state terrorism. Recall that initially a media campaign accused Russia. Then Denmark and Sweden quickly closed their investigation, embarrassed, refusing to go further. Today, only Germany continues. With the arrest of the main suspect, Serhii Kuznetsov, in Italy, we discover a man suspected of having coordinated the operation and who would have worked for a very long time for the Ukrainian special services. How can the European Commission continue its indiscriminate support for Kiev, when it is now very likely that Ukraine has thrown its stunts at our strategic infrastructure? As a result, we are deprived of cheap gas and Europe has turned to American dependence. Mme von der Leyen promised us in 2022 a firm response to these attacks. And if ultimately the culprit was Ukraine, what would we do?

Mr President, media freedom does not allow for all excesses. Nor is it a permanent alibi for foreign interference. This is precisely what the European Parliament is doing in this debate. Mme Amaghlobeli is being prosecuted for physically assaulting a serving police officer on 12 January and, in accordance with her country's laws, she will be tried at the next hearing of her trial. This scandalous political instrumentalization of a criminal case hides the European Union's obsession with Georgia and above all Brussels' contempt for the right and sovereignty of this people. Be clear, you just want to overthrow the Georgian government and all the pretexts are good. Four European Parliament resolutions against Tbilisi in less than a year are relentless. A relentless and repeated interference that Georgians have been subjected to for more than twenty years. For we no longer count NGOs, foundations, the media financed by foreign interests and whose only agenda is the destabilization of Georgia. George Soros and his network, for example, have never hidden their willingness to influence Georgian politics. Its foundation, the Open Society, has poured 85 million euros into the country since 1994, including nearly 5 million in 2019 alone. Everyone knows that this massive funding has been injected into militant structures and, under the guise of journalism or human rights, is intended to weaken the institutions of this country. Georgians no longer have orders to receive from anyone, either from Moscow or Brussels.

Mr President, in February our Parliament adopted a resolution on the crisis in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, making it very clear that Rwanda is responsible for this tragedy which has lasted for 30 years. Four years later and some symbolic sanctions after, the Democratic Republic of Congo has completely disappeared from the European Union's concerns. But four years later, Kagame and his militias continue to occupy, loot and massacre part of the DRC. Why? Because Kigali openly mocks us and our cowardice, unless they take advantage of our complacency. Yes, the EU makes fun of the Union. Yes, the EU is making fun of the Congolese, because for Ukraine, we are capable of being in the 18th wave of sanctions – for Congo, a single wave of sanctions, which in reality has yielded no results. In the DRC, corpses and evidence are piling up, but Brussels is looking elsewhere. All this ridiculous comedy must stop, because more than 100 million Congolese are watching us and waiting for the European Union to really sanction Mr Kagame and those around him who are the only ones responsible for this massacre.

Mr President, against Serbia, this House no longer knows what to invent. Now you report on the reports. But this latest report on Serbia is more about ideological indictment than objective assessment. Yet Belgrade has committed no crime, except that of not thinking like Brussels, or rather of refusing to sanction Russia and above all, supreme sacrilege, of not bowing to Pristina's whims. This text accumulates moral lessons, political injunctions and biased criticism, while the 2023 and 2024 European Union reports on Serbia praised instead its economic success with strong growth and falling unemployment. The reports also noted technical progress in 31 of the 34 negotiating chapters and a clear commitment to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Moreover, I note that this resolution completely turns a blind eye to the anti-Serb violence in Kosovo. Two weights, two unbearable measures. When Serbia defends its own, it is an immediate condemnation. When Albin Kurti flouts minority rights in Kosovo, Brussels looks aside. You have to tell the truth: You want to make Serbia a submissive, aligned, obedient student, but Serbia is a free nation. It defends its interests, it refuses injunctions and it claims its sovereignty. What shocks you, I find it normal. Accession to the European Union must not be an instrument of geopolitical blackmail, or, frankly, let it be said that the European Union does not want a country that thinks otherwise. For my part, I will always defend the freedom of peoples who must freely choose their destiny.

Madam President, on 13 February 2025, 70 Christians were savagely beheaded in a church in Kasanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, by the Allied Democratic Forces, a radical Islamist group linked to the Islamic State. This massacre is not isolated: It is part of an endless war, which since 1998 has killed more than 8 million Congolese, including many children and women. In the east of the country, the regions of North and South Kivu are plunged into chaos under the assaults of armed groups such as the M23, which rapes, loots and massacres. The main culprit of these massacres, these disorders, for years everyone knows him: This is Paul Kagame’s Rwanda. He is the one who launched his bloodthirsty army and his deputies against the populations of Goma and Bukavu, where millions of Congolese are taken hostage. It is he who plunders the DRC’s mineral resources and flouts the country’s sovereignty. So, after first timid sanctions, what is the EU waiting for to sanction Kigali even harder? For Ukraine, the EU is already in its sixteenth wave of sanctions in three years. But what are we waiting for visa sanctions, for the freezing of Rwandan assets in Europe, for nominal sanctions against Kagame and his entourage? Commissioner, I do not have the same information as you. Everything continues as before in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and there is no truce. In particular, at the European Commission, you must immediately denounce the agreement on minerals, signed by Rwanda, whose inefficiency your officials have publicly acknowledged. All this immobility becomes suspicious. We will end up believing that the European Union is protecting Kagame.