What Angelika spoke about.

12

Jul

2023

DE Speech

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Tax the rich (topical debate)

Madam President, It's nothing new. Whenever elections are at the door, the demand for wealth tax usually comes out of the populism drawer. My Member State also often cries out for property taxes, even though we have one of the best-developed welfare systems in the world and are the highest-tax country. In Austria, however, a Social Democratic minister himself introduced the rich tax and then reali…

11

Jul

2023

DE Speech

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Financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2022 - Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2022 (joint debate - European Investment Bank)

Mr President! The European Investment Bank is the only international financial institution owned by our Member States and through our legislation we are helping to achieve the objectives. I would like to highlight two points that are particularly close to my heart: on the one hand, the important role of the European Investment Fund in improving access to finance for smaller companies, mid-caps and…

14

Jun

2023

DE Speech

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Make Europe the place to invest (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, Minister! The single market is the largest capital and the most important success factor for the EU's competitiveness. But what do we make of it? Our companies and SMEs are confronted with excessive regulations. Despite the Commission's promise to reduce bureaucracy, each new legislative act puts additional burdens on the European economy. And of course, in addition …

14

Jun

2023

DE Speech

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular in the light of recent steps towards concluding the Migration Pact (debate)

Mr President! It took many years for an agreement on asylum and migration to finally be reached on 8 June. For my Member State, the last nine years have been difficult times. Austria has always been one of the countries most affected by refugee flows. And frankly, European solidarity and support has always been limited. Asylum policy needs a European solution and it is therefore important that a c…

13

Jun

2023

DE Speech

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Artificial Intelligence Act (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! Last year, artificial intelligence revenue was estimated at $433 billion. AI has not only found its way into the economy, but also into private life. These developments present great opportunities, but also risks, which we must master and can master in a democracy. Of course, legal certainty for developers and entrepreneurs is important to me. A…

13

Jun

2023

DE Speech

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This is Europe - Debate with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides (debate)

Mr President! Cyprus has been facing major challenges for decades. This is probably why Cyprus has also recovered surprisingly quickly from the economic consequences of the pandemic. But like many other countries, Cyprus is also called upon to reduce its dependence on Russia, especially in terms of exports of services. You have already taken important steps by promoting institutions for cutting-ed…

12

Jun

2023

DE Speech

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Large transport infrastructure projects in the EU (debate)

Madam President, Madam Vice-President, ladies and gentlemen! Yes, I believe that we all want large transport infrastructure projects to be implemented more quickly, but the hurdles have already been raised by our colleagues. I would like to thank Andrey Novakov for pointing out, in this report, important priorities and recommendations for improvements in such projects. As a member of the Committee…

12

Jun

2023

DE Speech

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Competition policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

Mr President, Madam Vice-President, ladies and gentlemen! The EU's competition policy must ensure that Europe continues to play an important role in the concert of world powers such as the US and China. China has already ranked the US at 15.6% and the EU at 14.9%, accounting for 18.5% of global GDP. This is worrying in that it has a negative impact on our jobs, but also on our welfare systems and …

10

May

2023

DE Speech

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Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner! Corruption not only harms society, it also undermines EU values and weakens politics. At the same time, however, it also harms the income of European citizens. It is therefore essential that we now modernise our current legal framework. The Commission proposal provides for new instruments, both at European and national level, to promote the consistent fight against c…

10

May

2023

DE Speech

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Externalising asylum applications and making funding to third countries conditional on the implementation of return agreements (topical debate)

Madam President, The issue of asylum and migration is a European challenge that also needs a European solution. Unfortunately, in recent years we have not found an answer at European level to increasing migratory flows to Europe. Aligning development cooperation with measures to address the root causes of migration is certainly the right step. Return agreements are also an important milestone in a…

9

May

2023

DE Speech

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Discharge 2021 (continuation of debate)

Madam President, representative of the Council, Commissioner, Mr President! At the end of the 2021 discharge cycle, it is important that we highlight the importance of parliamentary budgetary control. As a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control, the protection of the budget is our top priority. And I am confident that with the effective use of rule of law conditionality, we have another tool…

9

May

2023

DE Speech

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Revision of the Stability and Growth Pact (debate)

Mr President! The Stability and Growth Pact should no longer provide Member States with opportunities to build up debt, but rather support them in debt reduction through targeted programmes. We know from the past what it was like when some Member States had built up debt in the shadow of the euro, without carrying out structural reforms, and the other Member States then had to step in to bail it o…

8

May

2023

DE Speech

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Impact on the 2024 EU budget of increasing European Union Recovery Instrument borrowing costs - Own resources: a new start for EU finances, a new start for Europe (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The EU budget must meet the tasks and challenges facing Europe. That is why we need this new own resource. We have already talked about NextGenerationEU and it is a great package; But of course we also have to repay these funds. We must not put on a debt backlog for the next generation, nor should we take the path to a debt union. Yes, the leftists…

18

Apr

2023

DE Speech

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The need for European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy (debate)

Mr President, Minister for Europe, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The current migration trend is dramatic. Incredibly many refugees are on the land and sea routes, and in Iran three million Afghan refugees are waiting to leave for Europe. Italy has now shown that it needs help, and the European Union should take this seriously, because Austria, as a landlocked country, was not heard last year…

15

Feb

2023

DE Speech

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EUCO conclusions: the need for the speedy finalisation of the Road Map (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Migration is a European challenge that requires a European solution. Unfortunately, little progress has been made in recent years in the search for this answer. Austria received more than 100 000 refugees last year, 75 000 of whom should have been registered in another upstream EU country. There is therefore an urgent need for action, because fears are also s…

14

Feb

2023

DE Speech

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The EU priorities for the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased that innovation and digital education are also at the heart of our debate today. As an entrepreneur, it has long been my political concern to motivate women to take the step into self-employment or to become more interested in STEM jobs and digitalization. Of course, equipping women for self-employment requires easier access to start-up capital and …

14

Feb

2023

DE Speech

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Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession (continuation of debate)

Dear Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, It is really sad that in the 21st century we still have to discuss the issue of violence against women. Unfortunately, however, the figures show that there is still a need for action. Violence against women is not a cavalier offence; This is criminal and the perpetrators must be convicted. The Istanbul Convention is the first legally binding i…

13

Feb

2023

DE Speech

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REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! War, inflation and an extremely volatile energy market are forcing us to pick up speed in the expansion of renewable energy. For our citizens, our entrepreneurs, it is now of the utmost importance that the European Union drastically reduces its dependence on energy suppliers from third countries and on fossil fuels. The REPowerEU programme is th…

18

Jan

2023

DE Speech

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Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2021 (debate)

. – Madam President, ladies and gentlemen! I would like to thank you very much for the debate, but also for the good cooperation on this report. Yes, we know that the European Investment Bank is not running out of work. On the contrary: They will continue to face major challenges, whether it is Ukraine's continued financial support, whether it is the sustainable transformation of the economy or th…

18

Jan

2023

DE Speech

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Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2021 (debate)

. – Madam President, Commissioner, Vice-President Peeters, ladies and gentlemen! The European Investment Bank is the only international financial institution owned by our Member States and which, through our legislation, helps to achieve our common objectives. She does an excellent job, but she did a particularly excellent job in 2021 during the pandemic, and we are talking about this year today a…

17

Jan

2023

DE Speech

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Presentation of the programme of activities of the Swedish Presidency (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, Honourable Prime Minister! I am looking forward to the Swedish Presidency because I am sure that two areas that are very close to my heart will be addressed: on the one hand, the competitiveness of the European economy and, on the other hand, concrete measures to solve our migration crisis. The former: Everyone in this Parliament must be interested in what our busine…

23

Nov

2022

DE Speech

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The future European Financial Architecture for Development (debate)

Dear Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you to the rapporteur Charles Goerens and his shadow rapporteurs in the Committee on Development for taking on board important points from the opinion of the Committee on Budgets on the new European financial architecture for development. Targeted assistance and the fight against the causes of flight in the countries of ori…

23

Nov

2022

DE Speech

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Amending Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 - Amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 as regards the establishment of a diversified funding strategy as a general borrowing method - 'Macro-Financial Assistance+' instrument for providing support to Ukraine for 2023 (debate)

Dear Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a caesura in European history and causes unimaginable human suffering. The European Union is therefore called upon to find new solutions. I therefore support the Commission's proposal to lend EUR 18 billion to Ukraine. However, I would like to address two issues of budgetary control. Firstly: The idea of a diversified fund…

23

Nov

2022

DE Speech

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Eliminating violence against Women (debate)

Dear President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, It is really sad that in the 21st century we still have to discuss the issue of violence against women. Violence against women is primarily a terrible weakness, which has a not inconsiderable group of men. There's nothing to gloss over about that. This is certainly not a cavalier offense, it's just criminal. That should be punished, psychological…

23

Nov

2022

DE Speech

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The need for a European solution on asylum and migration including search and rescue (debate)

Dear Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, The European Union is once again facing a migration crisis. The small country of Austria already has 100,000 more asylum applications this year than in the record year of 2015, and although we are a landlocked country, 75% of our refugees have not been registered in any other EU or Schengen country. It is therefore high time for a common migration policy th…