Speeches

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. There is also great news from Iceland in the area of EU ‑ enlargement, as the Social Democratic Icelandic government has announced a referendum on EU ‑ accession on 29 August. Iceland is an important partner, a stable democracy and part of our European values ‑ and Economic Area. Accession would be a great asset for all of us – the European Union as a whole and for Iceland. But as rapporteur for Albania, I would also like to emphasise above all the special importance of the Western Balkans. The enlargement of the EU ‑ means more stability, more legal certainty and economic prospects for millions of people. And we must not leave the geopolitical field of the Western Balkans to the other actors who are trying so hard to gain a foothold there. That means, ladies and gentlemen, especially in times of growing geopolitical tensions, the EU must show: Our continent remains open to democracies that share our path.

For example, I think it's primarily about distinguishing between private short-term rentals, where someone might put their apartment on a platform over the summer, where they themselves are on vacation, and the large commercial companies that do that. Secondly, we must also see, for example, that apartments in subsidised housing, such as municipal buildings and subsidised housing, are not made available for Airbnb. And we have to allow that you also allow maximum limits, allow a healthy mix in the societies and in the cities. This is urgently needed, and that would be our proposal.

Thanks for the question. This gives me the opportunity to say one thing clearly: We do not want to ban short-term rentals. They are an important part of the tourism market. But what we must not allow is that the business model of temporarily renting an apartment to tourists is more profitable than providing housing to those who are so desperately looking for housing in cities. That's why we need rules. Many cities and mayors – Barcelona, Vienna and others – are looking for these rules and we need to give them the opportunity to intervene in the market in order to be able to make policy for the people who live in the cities.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner! I believe that the message of this report is very clear and unequivocal: Housing shortages must be tackled by all available means and at all political levels. People in Europe expect the EU to act and the housing crisis, you know, does not stop at national borders. Our report also shows that we can do a lot at European level. We call for the regulation of short-term rentals, more investment in affordable housing and finally the fight against speculation. Because it is precisely housing policy, if I may say so, of my hometown of Vienna, the red Vienna, which is the basis and model for successful housing policy throughout Europe – and sometimes also worldwide – that provides affordable and good housing for people. Now it is because the European Commission and we, as the European Parliament, are putting these proposals into practice. Because it is high time to address this issue, because housing is an absolute fundamental right.

Madam President, The famous artist Bad Bunny said at the Super Bowl: The only thing stronger than hate is love. It is shameful that such a quote is needed at a major sporting event in the United States; It is a terrible testimony to the situation. We must not be shaking our heads and pretending that racist, oppressive and excluding policies are only a problem of Trump policy and only a problem in the USA. We heard it here: There are also enough parties and politicians here in the House and in Europe who, like Trump, demand similar security structures to ICE. We must be aware of how quickly a country can slip into authoritarian structures. And that is why we must oppose these tendencies, whether they are in the US, in Europe or here in the European Parliament. What we want is a European Parliament that, as democrats, clearly opposes these authoritarian tendencies.

Mr President, peace and stability in Syria is not only essential for a stable Middle East, but it is also important for European security. And, right now, those who were our closest partners in fighting for this security, namely, the Kurdish communities in northeastern Syria, are living with an unstable ceasefire following weeks of persecution and dramatic killing. A long-term, stable Syria can only be built on an inclusive society. Inclusivity for the Kurdish, for the Druze, for the Syriacs, for the Christians, for the Alawites, for the Yazidi, for the Ismaili and Sunni Arab communities. Of course, Syrian sovereignty must have precedence, but this is not only a question of a country's right of sovereignty, it is also a question of human rights and of self-determination. Therefore, I think we have to be clear: what is going on now in Syria is not good. We have to work together with all those who are asking for a stable Syria to establish an inclusive society there.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, The European Parliament and especially the S&A/D Group have repeatedly criticised the murderous Maduro regime. This is precisely why we also have a moral obligation to criticise the actions of the US government and Donald Trump on 3 January. It's a breach of international law, what happened there, it's a breach of the United Nations Charter. Donald Trump is not talking about the people of Venezuela. It's not about democracy, it's about freedom. What is at stake is access for some oligarchs to Venezuela's oil resources. Europe is a community of values. As a community of values, Europe stands for rights, fundamental rights and human rights. Therefore, we also stand for the strength of the law and condemn any action that enforces the law of the stronger. This is unrestricted everywhere. Whether it's the Russian attack on Ukraine or the Trump attack on Venezuela or the Trump attack on fundamental European values, Greenland and Europe. That is why we, as the European Union, must now send a very clear signal. We stand with all severity on the side of the law. But this also means that Europe is defending itself against what the US government is presenting. That also means standing up with all the instruments we have, from commercial law instruments to political instruments, to defend ourselves now in order to create a world based on the right, on the right that emanates from all and for all.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, The Arctic is not only a climate hotspot, but also a strategically important space that is becoming increasingly important for international security and geopolitical interests: Climate change, security policy, international trade, resource scarcity bring a seemingly remote location to the center of geopolitical dynamics. Russia's strong historical and geographical influence is also increasingly complemented by China's rising interests. This is a dangerous development for Europe. The US is also becoming more and more interested – let's just look at the Greenland issue. The EU must therefore act as a strong actor in the Arctic and defend our values there as well. This means: Investing in research, climate action and diplomatic efforts. Close cooperation with Norway and Iceland is particularly important and the accession perspective of these countries is always to be desired, especially with regard to cooperation in the Arctic. Let's not leave the Arctic to countries that want to benefit from climate change by exploiting raw materials and monopolizing important transport routes. Let's make a European project out of the Arctic!

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! The conclusions of the European Council address a very important issue for Europeans, namely the question of affordable housing. There is an urgent need for the European Union to also address the issue of affordable housing. Many citizens can no longer afford the increased rent and basic costs. We need more access – not to housing, but to affordable housing of high quality. What does that mean in concrete terms? Living is not there to speculate. Housing is not something that can be left to the market, but housing is a fundamental right and therefore policymakers must also see that there is more affordable housing – through more money, better regulations and also through regulations such as Short term rentals in tourist areas. Yeah, we need all that. We need social housing, a social housing policy, as it is made successful, for example, in my hometown of Vienna.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of affordable Europe and that in many areas life is no longer affordable for Europeans. Housing costs in particular have risen massively here, and affordable housing has become a scarce commodity for many Europeans. There are first successes, also at European level. We have our own Commissioner on this issue, we have our own committee in the European Parliament. But now we also need to ensure that the words will be followed by action, that short-term rentals and their platforms are finally regulated, that there is more funding also from the European level that supports housing and renovation – EUR 300 billion is missing in this area. And we need a state aid law that will make affordable housing, including for the middle class, and support for affordable housing possible again in the future. And we must finally fight homelessness – that horrendous figure of 1.2 million people being homeless every night in Europe – with deeds.

Mr President, Commissioner! Four years ago, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, that is, four years of systematic oppression of Afghan women and girls. They are forced into private life and deprived of the right to independence and education. And they are also disproportionately affected by the devastating humanitarian situation in the country. And in recent months, this spiral of violence and oppression has escalated. In the earthquake at the end of August, the rescue of women and girls was also made impossible and delayed because men are allegedly not allowed to touch women, according to the Taliban. And at the end of September, the Internet was turned off for 48 hours, so that women and girls lose their last connection to the outside world again. The Taliban are doing exactly the opposite of what a government needs to do for their country. On the other hand, we must act in the European Union. That is why I have no understanding if individual European governments or individual European ministers believe that they can negotiate with the Taliban. There is no negotiation with them. We must stand on the side of human rights.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, One of the biggest problems, if you ask Europeans, is the cost of living and, above all, the cost of housing. Housing must not become a luxury, housing is a fundamental right – this sentence must now also become a built, tangible, habitable reality for Europeans. The Affordable Housing Plan also gives us the opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people in Europe, such as families, who are forced to leave their homes because they can no longer afford them; tenants who spend half or more of their disposable income on housing; young people who need to reach the age of 30 or 35 before they can move out of their homes; and the 400,000 children and minors who are homeless every day. We not only have it in our hands – it has also been raised today by you, Madam President – it is a central issue. But it is high time that we also get into action, that we implement this plan for affordable housing with all the important measures very quickly. Europeans can no longer afford it.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, It is only two and a half weeks before this landmark election in Moldova on 28 September, and we see what we have seen in elections there in the past, namely that Russian influence on these elections is already increasing massively in advance. President Maia Sandu stressed today that what is happening in Moldova must be a serious warning for the whole of Europe, and she is absolutely right, because Moldovan and therefore also European democracy is seriously endangered by this interference from Russia; There are examples from the past. At the same time, it also shows that this acceding country is an important bulwark against this Russian aggression; therefore it is important that we actively support Moldova not only now before the elections, but in principle as the European Union, in order to fend off interference, to strengthen the democratic process and to safeguard European fundamental values.

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, since the tragic collapse of the roof in Novi Sad, too many peaceful protesters have been threatened, tear gassed, defamed as terrorists and beaten up. Too many heads of students have been beaten by police batons and commanded by Vučić, the President of Serbia, himself. Too many red lines have been crossed. Yet still Vučić is a member of the European People's Party, but hopefully not for very long in the future. What we need is targeted sanctions, clear words. We have rightfully condemned the police brutality and the oppression through violence and everything that happened. Now we need to do more than just to condemn; we need to act. Targeted sanctions and also clear words by the European institutions like also the Commissioner was finding yesterday. It is our duty to support the people of Serbia and their fight for their freedom. It is in favour of Serbia, but against the brutal regime of Aleksandar Vučić.

Madam President, Commissioner! Housing in particular is one of the problems of European citizens, who are the same in all European Member States. Over the past 15 years, rents have risen by 26 percent on average, and people with the lowest incomes are already paying 40 or more percent of their disposable income for housing. This is an unreasonable state, because living is a fundamental right, the roof over the head is a fundamental right. That's why we need to do more: not only use cohesion funds for this, but much, much more. We need €300 billion of European money. We have to stop speculation, we have to stop speculation. short-term rentals How to regulate and contain Airbnb and the like. We must enable more subsidised housing, including for the middle class, in our competition law. We need to strengthen tenant protection to protect people from unjustified dismissals and extreme increases. And we must not forget about climate protection, which also requires money – for thermal renovation. Housing is a fundamental right that everyone should be able to afford in Europe.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Something happened again: Champagne scandal, Le Pen, personnel affair and now also the investigation into alleged misappropriation of over 4 million euros in tax money. The list of scandals of the far-right parties from the European Parliament alone is long. And if we add to this what has been done in the national parliaments and in the municipal councils, then the list will be much longer. The FPÖ from Austria is often directly involved, and it is probably clear: This is not an isolated case, but a structural problem with this party. The accusations are large and must be fully clarified. A thorough and transparent investigation, a rapid investigation and also consequences for the parties involved are needed. And I think it's also significant today: Instead of clarifying what you actually have to say in your defence or as justification, you simply stay away from this debate as if nothing had happened. And it can't be like that. And one thing must be said quite clearly: The FPÖ and its MEPs, and also in national politics, are always very quickly offended when criticized. That's a bit cheap to complain about, but at the same time it's quite expensive to cash in. This is the method of the FPÖ, and we must firmly oppose it.

Madam President, Commissioner! The rumors surrounding the European Commission's MFF proposal are irritating, let's say mildly. Therefore, it should be emphasized: We have foreign policy challenges, but at the same time we also have the challenge of strengthening this European Union internally and making it a European Union of people. That's why it's important: Keeping the EU budget small also keeps Europe small. We want a large and strong Europe that courageously finances social-ecological transformation, social cohesion and just transformation. It is precisely for these questions that, in my view, three things are very central. Firstly: We need a European housing fund. Housing and housing costs are central interests of citizens. Secondly: We need money for infrastructure, for an express train system in Europe – and this is very urgent! And thirdly: We need a European Social Fund. If we ask ourselves where the money comes from? The digital companies with a digital tax would be an idea.

Madam President, it's been a long time since my first meetings and visit to Macedonia, or FYROM in those days, as it had to be called. Since those days, I have seen politicians in the country, some which were terribly corrupt and fled the country, but also others which beat the high effort to solving the problems in order to have a better future for the country, going beyond the line for a better future. Therefore, I would say that it is also important nowadays to have such politicians and for my colleagues also in the ruling party and the Government in North Macedonia to adopt the necessary steps in order to get the negotiations for the European Union membership. But I also call on the Bulgarian politicians to understand that an accession of North Macedonia is in the interest not only of North Macedonia, but especially also for Bulgaria. Therefore, they should work together and not try to block the accession of North Macedonia.

Madam President, thank you for contributing to this important debate and also thank you, Commissioner, for the work. There is a huge necessity for reform in front of Albania – I think this is one conclusion we can draw. It is true that the polarisation in the political field is very deep. But one thing is different to other countries in the Western Balkans: everybody is pro‑European in the Albanian Parliament and also in the Albanian society itself. I think this is also the power which can lead to implement all the necessary reforms. This is the power which can lead towards the European Union. We have to say, the success of these reforms is in the interest of Albania and the Albanian citizens, but it's also in the interest of the European Union and the European citizens. Therefore, it's worth working on this. Finally, I also want to say that very soon, the European Parliament will open its antenna office, which is responsible not only for Albania in Albania, but will be also a liaison office for implementing all these reforms in the Western Balkan countries. So, this is also an argument which counts for the upcoming debates. But at the end, all the best also to Albania to keep the speed going on in reforms and in the end, they will be European.

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, in the last 30 years, Albania and the citizens of Albania have faced many obstacles. Just remember the hard Enver Hoxha regime, which was the hardest we had in the eastern Europe communist sphere. Then after the regime change, even in 1997, they had a pyramid scheme crisis where, again, everybody lost the little savings they had. The country had to overcome these obstacles and has also gone through an enormous change, like few other countries in Europe did. Since 2009, Albania has been on its EU journey. In 2009, Albania applied for membership. In 2014, it became an official accession candidate. In 2022, this negotiation started and in 2024, the first negotiation chapter was finally opened. We see already that these statistics and numbers show that this is a long story. Today, we discuss the first annual report in this term on the progress of Albania as a candidate country. The report covers the Parliament's response to the Commission enlargement, reports both of 2023 and 2024, the state of play and the latest developments of Albania's progress in joining a deal. I have to say – and on this point, I also want to thank the colleagues and shadow rapporteurs in the AFET Committee – the report was adopted with a large majority of 57 votes in favour, 11 against and six abstentions. Thank you all for this constructive work which has been done. Secondly, before coming also a little bit to the content of the report – I'm just looking for where they are – I think also there is the Albanian delegation today here in the European Parliament from the Albanian Parliament. Welcome to the European Parliament and I hope that your work and our work will lead also that you in the future will sit amongst us here in the European Parliament. Welcome to your House. So, the main topic of the report is, of course, progress concerning also some issues like the democratic institutions and how they have developed. Media freedom, what are the open issues there? For example, that we have in media freedom still the question of instant transparent ownership. So, it's not the freedom of journalists to ask questions, but it's the question of who owns the media platform. We have the question of involvement of civil society. We have the question of fundamental rights, the rule of law, of social economic reforms, of environment and of regional cooperation and foreign policy. In October 2024, Albania started the negotiations on Cluster 1. In December came Cluster 6, in April 2025 came Cluster 2 and in May came Cluster 3. Now, Albania has opened 24 out of 33 negotiation chapters. We welcome this fast progress and Albania has been called a front runner by you, Madam Commissioner Marta Kos – I think this is very right that they are a front runner. There are a lot of positive remarks to be made. We see good progress in the implementation of the justice reform, including also the waiting process in SPAK, in steps in environmental protection and also in full alignment with foreign policy. To come to an end, of course, we see a lot of things to be done. As I mentioned before, there is the media situation, but also the implementation of OSCE audio recommendations, which have to be done on a broader political maturity and have to be done also sure in the future. Finishing, I think I just want to say that we fully support Albania's objective to be front runner and to open all the other clusters, but it's more important also to close the clusters and to work on the reforms. I think if the speed and this unification on the whole country to join the European Union will continue, they will also manage. Our report is a positive one, but putting the points also on the things which have to be changed.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Serbia has been in critical condition for years: the irregularities in the 2023 elections, the regular curtailment of media freedom, the pressure on journalists, the curtailment of public broadcasting, corruption and nepotism, including around the President’s family, and the summit of the whole, namely the burglary of the roof in Novi Sad with the tens of dead. The problems of the country have a name, and the name is Aleksandar Vučić. Aleksandar Vučić has Serbia in his brutal stranglehold – and what he strangles there is Serbia’s democracy. But we can also be proud, namely, of civil society and the thousands of students from Serbia who are resisting, who are standing up, who want one thing: Reforms and a country with justice, rule of law and democracy and cleanliness. This is what Europe stands for. That is why we support Serbian students in their struggle for Serbian democracy.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, On March 19, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was unjustly detained. It was not only the attack on a single politician, but on the entire Turkish democracy itself and on many, many others who were also arrested that day. This arrest is also an attempt to silence the last bastion of the political opposition and to get a city that stands for freedom and progress under the control of the government and the president. Since then, there have been mass protests, hundreds of thousands taking to the streets week after week. And despite the arrests of the demonstrators and journalists, the protests are not diminishing, and the CHP, the opposition party, continues to be involved here. What we are seeing here is that the Erdoğan regime, which is increasingly moving away from democratic principles and its own people, is also destroying democracy in such a way that we must say: This has no place in Europe. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen: full solidarity with the demonstrators and freedom for Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Mr President! Ladies and Gentlemen! The economic problems we face on a global scale – they need a strong Europe. A strong Europe can only grow from the middle and can only grow through cooperation and cooperation and not through division. But what we see and the signs that trouble us. In Germany, in the Bundestag, the CDU and its leader Merz Wortbruch are committing, and they are pacting with the far-right AfD. In Austria, too, the People's Party is bursting the government negotiations in order to negotiate afterwards with the far-right liberals and also to risk and be ready that such a person is then Chancellor of Austria and thus also sits in the European Council and blocks another and Europe from the solutions that we need a bit. Anyone who is willing to see Herbert Kickl first as a security risk, but then also to give the key to the Chancellery and the way to the European Council, commits betrayal of Europe. Europe needs the middle. That is why I appeal to the European People's Party: Don't go that way! You don't have to leave him, and you shouldn't leave him either.

Madam President, Dear colleagues, I think many of us felt the same way when we heard the terrible news of Alexei Navalny's death a year ago. We were horrified, but unfortunately not surprised. Too many opponents of Putin face the same fate. Anyone who criticizes the Kremlin in Russia is living dangerously: Anna Politkovskaya, Boris Nemtsov, Alexander Litvinenko are just a few of the prominent victims. Anyone who advocates democracy in Russia lives dangerously. Oppositionists are discredited as foreign agents. Punishment camps, torture, persecution of their families – all this is the order of the day. The human rights situation is now devastating – and not only since Putin’s withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. Human rights groups are banned, let's just think of Memorial's example. The independence of the Russian prosecutor's office is also evident in the current trials against Alexei Navalny's lawyers. Freedom of the press and freedom of the media are also non-existent. Since 2022, almost all independent media have been banned or blocked, and all others have been heavily censored and equated. This all shows: Putin is an enemy of democracy, and his first victim is democracy in his own country. His first victim was the people of Russia. Alexei Navalny's wife Julija was in plenary here in the European Parliament exactly one year ago and said the following: My husband will never see what the beautiful Russia of the future will look like, but we must see it. And there are still people like her in Russia who believe in a better future. People who courageously fight for democracy and a better future. People who are willing to give everything for democracy and justice and risk their lives. Among these people was Alexei Navalny. These people need our solidarity, but also our very clear commitment to human rights, democracy and freedom in Russia, in Europe, all over the world. And our stand against all the enemies of democracy all over the world.