Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, To Mr Krah, who has spoken here before, I would like to say one more thing on his way, namely: Human rights are universal rights for us. They apply to every person in the world. That is why it is so important that the European Union, especially the European Union, is not only a global actor in human rights, but can also be even better in the future. That's why this law exists, and that's why it's good, and that's why I find it a bit difficult to take their tolerance as it is here so seriously. Because otherwise, when it comes to fellow citizens in their own country, you do not have them so much. But it is also about us becoming active in foreign policy. That is why unanimity must go away, and that is why it must also be possible to include economic corruption in this catalogue. This is why we need this EU global human rights sanctions regime As soon as possible.

Madam President, Mr Vice-President. Disinformation is a threat to democracy in Europe and also to stability. Often the aim is simply to spread anti-EU, anti-democracy sentiment outside and within the European Union, outside and within Europe. From Russia and China, disinformation campaigns emanate from outside. However, there are also serious threats from within, such as the Western Balkans and its neighbouring countries. This is particularly problematic for the study, from which we also quote here: Serbia and Hungary. In Hungary, for example, it can be seen that there is increasing investment in the Macedonian media market by Hungarian media, which are particularly close to Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán. Hungarian media outlets, which have grown because the government has given them one order after another, are now investing in North Macedonia to use it to launch numerous disinformation campaigns – against the government, for example, against the Prespa Agreement, for example, but also against the country’s Euro-Atlantic efforts. Therefore, Mr Vice-President of the Commission, the Commission must find ways to put an end to these practices. It is not acceptable for EU Member States to interact with neighbouring countries and create an anti-EU mood. We must take a clear stand here.