What Thierry spoke about.

4

May

2022

FR Speech

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Threats to stability, security and democracy in Western and Sahelian Africa (debate)

Madam President, the European Union has long left France alone in the Sahel. This abandonment was a strategic absurdity and as Mr Gahler said – for once, I agree with him – this debate should have happened a long time ago. While French soldiers were dying to fight Islamism in the Sahel and neighbouring countries, Brussels, for years, was looking elsewhere. As usual, excuses were always found: it w…

4

May

2022

FR Speech

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The continuous crackdown of political opposition in Cambodia

Madam President, Cambodia has a special connection with our continent. It is probably the South-East Asian country that has maintained the most relations, in particular with France. It would therefore be perfectly normal for the European Union to have good relations with Phnom Penh. Yet the EU persists in refusing to maintain these correct relations with Cambodia, while once again having a double …

5

Apr

2022

FR Speech

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Outcome of the EU-China Summit (1 April 2022) (debate)

Madam President, the EU-China summit could have been a strategic step forward for European nations. However, this is a disappointing result. First, because the Chinese do not want to follow our crazy escalation of sanctions against Russia. They do not want to, because they know that in reality they will ultimately benefit. As you try to make people believe that economic suicide is the best way to …

23

Mar

2022

FR Speech

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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)

Madam President, thank you. Let us be careful, Commissioner, that the European sanctions taken in response to the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia do not lead to a real food crisis. When we take sanctions, I always ask myself the question: Are their costs and impacts assessed? Today, I would just like, in the short time I have, to take an example: the sanctions that were imposed on …

19

Jan

2022

FR Speech

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Political crisis in Sudan

Madam President, the interest of Europe, like the interest of the Sudanese, is that calm and order prevail in their country. We have all welcomed the departure of Omar al-Bashir and the Identity and Democracy Group is calling for his presentation before the International Criminal Court in its alternative resolution. The Government of Sudan has since been divided among several political forces who …

19

Jan

2022

FR Speech

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Situation in Kazakhstan

Mr President, Almaty, Nursultan and many other cities in Kazakhstan have been the scene of deadly clashes. Kazakhstan even had to appeal to the Common Security Treaty Organization to restore order. And I note that almost all foreign troops have already returned to their country. It is therefore with some surprise that I learned of the inclusion of this debate on the agenda. I rejoiced at the begin…

16

Dec

2021

FR Speech

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Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia

Mr President, everything is good in this Parliament to attack Serbia. Belgrade, shamefully bombed by NATO forces, is like a permanent bad conscience on our doorstep. Serbia refuses to comply with the European Union’s forceful Atlanticism? The Commission then makes it a condition for accession to the European Union, without these provisions being included in the Treaty on the Functioning of the Eur…

15

Dec

2021

FR Speech

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Plans to undermine further fundamental rights in Poland, in particular regarding the standards of the European Convention of Human Rights and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (debate)

Madam President, after the regular debates on Hungary, now it is the regular debates on Poland. Poles have the right to sovereignly choose their definition of the family, their conception of the unborn life, their education system and the place they are willing to give to the state in the direction of their lives. These areas, as has been said, are not within the competence of the European Union. …

14

Dec

2021

FR Speech

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Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans (continuation of debate)

Mr President, of course I share the concerns of previous speakers: The fight against crime in the Balkans is a priority. But where I cannot follow them is the reasoning that without a European perspective, we would not be able to fight effectively and sustainably against the mafias in this region. First, because this argument is the door open to an unlimited extension of the European Union. Tomorr…

14

Dec

2021

FR Speech

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Situation at the Ukrainian border and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, I have searched in vain for what territory Ukraine is now occupied by Russia, Ms Loiseau. Yes, there is a territory, Crimea, where the inhabitants made the choice in 2014 to join Russia through a referendum won with an overwhelming majority. Moreover, have you seen, Ms Loiseau, a massive wave of migration from Crimea sweeping across Europe? No, no. And why? You know this very well…

23

Nov

2021

FR Speech

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Situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (debate)

Madam President, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a clear demonstration of the European Union’s diplomatic failures. Neighbourhood policy, political accession process for the Western Balkans: None of this has allowed Europe to be an effective actor in Bosnia. For 30 years, we have known that the country stands on a compromise in which all foreign powers are engulfed. Organised crime, mig…

19

Oct

2021

FR Speech

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Situation in Tunisia (debate)

Madam President, Tunisia, through its history, culture and geography, is unwaveringly linked to Europe. The recent period in the country has been particularly deplorable for our relations. The coming to power of a party linked to Islamism has precipitated migratory, security and cultural tensions. As everywhere the followers of the Muslim Brotherhood have led, the result has been catastrophic. Imp…

5

Oct

2021

FR Speech

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The Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges (debate)

Madam President, one of the biggest flaws of this Parliament is that it is a prisoner of its obsessions. There would be so much to say about the Arctic: the effects of globalisation on maritime transport, the preservation of biodiversity, the need to maintain cooperation between nation states in the Arctic. Unfortunately, this Parliament does not serve this purpose. Once again, we serve to justify…

5

Oct

2021

FR Speech

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Humanitarian situation in Tigray (debate)

Madam President, Ethiopia is one of the first Christians in history. It is one of the pivotal countries of the Horn of Africa. It is also a key link in Europe’s migratory perils. This is why the fate of Ethiopia has always been of interest to European nations. This is why the international community must also be particularly cautious, especially when it rushed to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Pri…

8

Jul

2021

FR Speech

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Hong Kong, notably the case of Apple Daily

Mr President, of course, we can only understand people who seek to preserve their freedom, in Hong Kong or elsewhere. Who wouldn't? Who does not feel a certain sympathy when they see students, priests and journalists standing up to maintain the very special spirit that prevails in Hong Kong? Diplomacy, however, is not about sympathy or feelings. This is a matter of national interest. In 1997, Engl…

6

Jul

2021

FR Speech

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Foreign interference in democratic processes (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, there is an influence that we never talk about in these walls, an influence that everyone knows but nobody talks about. This influence in our parliamentary life is that of a series of very political NGOs that advocate transparency for others and hide their very concrete interests behind a cosmetic of human rights. Foreign interference is inseparable from inte…

6

Jul

2021

FR Speech

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The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP (debate)

Madam President, her name was Ebru Timtik, a lawyer specialising in politically sensitive cases. She died on August 27, 2020, after 238 days of hunger strike. She was about 40 years old. Helin Bölek also died in his 28th year, after 288 days on hunger strike. His body no longer held. She was a musician, like İbrahim Gökçek and Mustafa Koçak, who also died in prison during their hunger strike. I co…