What Simone spoke about.

13 Sep

2023

DE Speech

Reviewing the protection status of wolves and other large carnivores in the EU (topical debate)

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, I've talked countless times about the growing danger of wolves spreading. Countless letters addressed to the Commission, countless talks held and countless hours worked on a European Parliament resolution on wolves. But still in every grazing season countless farm animals die an agonizing death. And our farming families are still sufferi…

13 Jun

2023

DE Speech

Ensuring food security and the long-term resilience of EU agriculture (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner! The own-initiative report on food security is urgently needed. Actually, he's long overdue. We are currently facing three major crises in Europe: The war in Ukraine, high inflation and, of course, climate change. Therefore, I would like to list three reasons why we need to strengthen our domestic food production and thus farmers, instead of weakening it through manageme…

10 May

2023

DE 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, esteemed Commissioner! I travel during every free minute, where I am not here in Strasbourg or Brussels, in the municipalities, in the regions of my home country Austria. I visit farms, I exchange ideas with farmers and talk to them, of course also about their views on the Commission's ideas. I have to tell you quite honestly that the answers make me deeply concerned as a ardent, con…

16 Mar

2023

DE Speech

European Citizens’ Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment" (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, The protection of our family farms is simply a matter close to my heart. I am here in the European Parliament for them, and I would also like to work hard for them. That is why I was really delighted when I first heard about this citizens' initiative. Both issues – supporting farmers and protecting bees and other pollinators – are, in my view, esse…

12 Dec

2022

DE Speech

A long-term vision for the EU's rural areas (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. We need a strong vision for Europe's rural regions, as they are a key to solving many current challenges and a benchmark for a more sustainable European economy. In addition, the countless rural communities are the backbone of our society – unfortunately, many forget this. That is why it is important to me that people in the regions are more clo…

23 Nov

2022

DE Speech

Protection of livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe (debate)

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Dear Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Protecting our rural areas, our family farms, is a matter close to my heart. I am here in Parliament for them, and I want to stand up for them. On average, an alpine farmer in my home country Austria drives eleven animals to the alpine pasture – eleven animals. And if only one falls victim to the wolf, it is a catastrophe; We are already talking about about…

12 Sep

2022

DE Speech

New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 – Sustainable Forest Management in Europe (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. The EU Forest Strategy is crucial to the success of the EU Green Deal. We need multifunctional, sustainably managed forests if we want to achieve our climate and environmental protection goals. However, it will not be possible without the active use of the renewable resource wood and the involvement of forest owners. We must therefore clearly oppos…

2 May

2022

DE Speech

EU action plan for organic agriculture (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! I would like to thank you all for the really lively discussion on this important report on our EU Bio-Action Plan. I may repeat once again: At its core, we agree that we want to expand and strengthen the organic sector in Europe. This goal unites us. Percentage target: We don't want to lose anyone by 2030. On the contrary: We want to win many, m…

2 May

2022

DE Speech

EU action plan for organic agriculture (debate)

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Madam President, esteemed Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! As a member of the agricultural parliament from Austria, the top organic rider country, it is a particularly great pleasure and honour for me to be responsible for the positioning of the European Parliament on the EU's important organic action plan. Because high-quality food produced regionally and in harmony with nature is important fo…

23 Mar

2022

DE 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, Commissioner! Almost every day we hear reports – Ukraine, Europe’s grain chamber, and beyond. We know that Ukraine and Russia together account for over 30% of the world's trade in wheat, over 32% in barley, over 17% in corn and even over 50% in sunflowers. These quantities will no longer be available on the world market this year, nor will they be available next year. All the fram…