Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner! If this new law of the People's Republic of China aims at ethnic unity, then it is nothing more than assimilation, the systematic restriction of language, culture and religion. Minorities such as Tibetans, Uighurs, Hui, Manchures or Mongolians are affected. And using Tibet as an example, we can see how cultural identity and religious traditions are being put under increasing pressure. That is why we are calling for the repeal of this law. We demand the release of political prisoners, including Sakharov Prize laureates Ilham Tohti and 11. Pantsche Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibetan Buddhist teacher Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, Tibetan monk Palden Yeshi and Mongolian activist Hada. In dialogue with China, we must consistently stand up for human rights, make it clear that the succession of the Dalai Lama is not a political decision, but an exclusively religious one. We must also protect people in Europe from persecution on the basis of this law. Europe stands for cultural diversity, for the protection of minorities and human rights.

Mr President, Commissioner! The worst humanitarian catastrophe of our time in Sudan is never ending: Millions of internally displaced people, millions of people on the run, hunger, an entire generation without any education. This is a failure of the international community. Systematic rape as a weapon of war, targeted starvation, attacks on civilian infrastructure – war crimes committed by both sides. An arms embargo that is not controlled is ineffective. Diplomatic processes that exclude and even legitimize those responsible undermine any credibility. Let's talk about the role of the United Arab Emirates. Europe can't just watch! An immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access and genuine protection for civilians, effective monitoring of human rights violations are just as necessary as targeted sanctions against responsible leaders and support networks. The arms embargo should be extended to the whole country and the International Criminal Court should be supported. Europe needs to act – decisively, consistently.

Madam President, Commissioner! With the admission of Russian athletes, sporting events become the scene of the Russian war of aggression. What this means is illustrated by an example provided by Jens Steinigen, Olympic champion in biathlon and founder of Athletes for Ukraine comes from. A Russian athlete runs after a Ukrainian athlete with a loaded rifle. What's going on in the brains of those sports officials who can imagine such a thing? Putin uses top-level sport in a targeted manner. Sport is part of the military and war. A few days ago, one of the most modern athletics halls in Ukraine in Sumy was destroyed by a Russian attack. Russia should be rewarded for this. Athletes are expected to take selfies with Russian medalists on the podium. If they don't want to, they'll be sanctioned like they were at the Paralympics. It is highly questionable whether sanctions and exclusions always comply with the associations' own rules. Therefore, those sports federations that are aware of their moral responsibility and continue not to admit Russian athletes to competitions deserve respect and recognition. Such clear signs are necessary. I would like to thank Commissioner Glenn Micallef for his firm stance.

Mr President, Commissioner! If the European Union is to take on more tasks - and that is what the Member States want - then it can only be done with an ambitious budget and not with less or equal money. We are in an economically difficult time. Investments in areas with growth potential are necessary. And one of them is the cultural and creative sector with 8 million jobs, 200 billion euros. The music market alone has grown by almost 10% recently. Our flagship programmes for culture, youth and education – AgoraEU with Creative Europe and Erasmus+ – have a huge impact with comparatively low budgets, boost competitiveness and strengthen our democracy. Erasmus+ is the European Union’s success programme – often copied, never achieved. If we want to enable all Europeans to benefit from this programme at least once, slight increases will not be enough – Draghi even called for a quadrupling. In any case, the funds now proposed for Erasmus+ and AgoraEU are a step forward and strengthened the sense of togetherness for Europe.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, ahead of the elections, Bobi Wine was cheered by tens of thousands of Ugandan voters wherever he appeared in the country. Now, after the elections, he is under siege, and tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets – this time in protest. The post-election situation in Uganda shows a systematic assault on fundamental rights. President Museveni's seventh term followed elections that failed to meet democratic standards, preceded and followed by mass arrests, violence, attacks on journalists, the shutdown of civil society, an internet blackout, and killings of unarmed civilians. The harassment of Bobi Wine, his family and members of the National Unity Platform is unacceptable. The European Union must act consistently to end immediately all violence, threats and the arbitrary detention of opposition politicians and their supporters. We must review our cooperation with Uganda and firmly support civil society, journalists, human rights and LGBTIQ+ defenders, as well as the democratic opposition.

Madam President, Madam Vice-President! Education is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, this right remains unattainable for millions of children and young people worldwide. In Europe, social background and educational success still go hand in hand far too often. Growing up in a family environment with a weak educational background, low financial means or a migrant background makes it much harder in the education system. A European Education Area must therefore ensure equal access to education and lifelong learning for all, regardless of social and economic conditions, place of residence, age or gender. Investing in education means investing in a sustainable future. The European Union must, in its own interest, strengthen the funding of educational programmes such as Erasmus+. According to UNESCO, 250 million children and young people worldwide do not attend school. Wars, terror, natural disasters and poverty are destroying education systems, displacing teachers, students and exacerbating existing inequalities, especially for young people. Education creates prospects everywhere so that young people can stay in their homeland. It is the basis for better living conditions, economic stability and democratic development.

Madam President, Madam Executive Vice-President of the Commission! Joseph Figueira Martin must be released immediately and unconditionally. His case is a human tragedy. I am still moved by the descriptions of his relatives. A humanitarian researcher is kidnapped, tortured, detained without medical care and sentenced to ten years of forced labour by mercenaries from the Wagner Group, on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations. Such events call into question development cooperation in the country. The EU Commission and the Member States, together with Belgium and Portugal, have to use all diplomatic means to achieve his release. The EU must work critically with the authorities of the Central African Republic to protect humanitarian workers and enforce international humanitarian law. Attacks on aid organisations must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. A European protection mechanism for humanitarian workers worldwide and targeted sanctions against all those responsible for human rights violations in the Central African Republic are urgently needed.

Mr President, esteemed Commissioner! When it comes to piracy, some may think of the Pirates of the Caribbean and Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. Online piracy is all about entertainment, about being able to stream offers supposedly cheaply, but this adventure is usually over quickly. 40% of users of illegal streaming platforms are victims of credit card fraud, identity theft or malware. Online piracy of sports and live events causes immense damage and is not a cavalier offense, but systematic theft. Organised cross-border criminal business makers make tax-free money from illegal streams, at the expense of sport, culture and user safety. Around €30 billion is lost to the sports sector worldwide every year. Money that flows into dark channels and associations for infrastructure and especially for children and youth work are missing. This is a problem that the European Parliament has been drawing attention to for a long time. Already in 2021, an initiative of the CULT Committee called on the Commission to act. Recommendations to Member States followed in 2023. The current assessment by the European Commission makes it clear: While the recommendations have triggered individual improvements, the overall impact has remained limited. While some Member States have put in place effective measures, others have remained idle. Existing rules do not apply to live broadcasts: If an illegal stream is not removed until the football match has been whistled or the addition of a concert is over, the damage is no longer to be compensated. I would like to thank Commissioner Micallef for his resolute approach to the problem. Clear and uniform European rules are necessary so that illegal live streams can be stopped immediately. It is about a lot of money, but above all about safety for consumers.

Madam President, esteemed High Representative! Media freedom, pluralism and the rule of law are non-negotiable. They are the foundation of our liberal democracy – and they need to be protected every day. Public service broadcasting plays a key role in this: It ensures independent information, control of power and trust in democratic institutions. However, it can only fulfil this task if editorial and institutional independence is fully guaranteed. In Lithuania, we are currently observing developments that cause serious concern, the speed at which changes are to be driven forward. Recent proposals to finance and remove the management of public service broadcasting, urgent treatment and the dismantling of key safeguards raise questions. The European Parliament cannot ignore thousands of people taking to the streets, journalists on strike and the Venice Commission stepping in. Yes, Member States have the responsibility for their media systems, but at the same time the responsibility that any reform is compatible with European law – in particular with the European Media Freedom Act, which has been binding since August 2025. Broadcasting reforms must be transparent, based on objective criteria and prevent any impression of political influence from any side. Therefore, the appeal to the Lithuanian Government to ensure that any reform strengthens and in no way weakens the independence of public service broadcasting. Freedom of the media must never become a political game. It is an entire European responsibility.

Madam President, Commissioner! When we discuss the protection of minors online, we are talking about the future of our children, about young people who are curious, open, but also vulnerable, move naturally in a digital world that brings opportunities, but also dangers. Regulations can set limits, but never replace what children need on their way: orientation, support and above all education. Education is key if we really want to protect young people. We need schools that teach digital skills and critical thinking, and teachers who are trained and supported to do so. Especially when it comes to cyberbullying, we must not look the other way. Bullying destroys self-confidence, isolates and, in the worst case, can become life-threatening. Exclusion, psychological pressure – this leaves traces, sometimes lifelong. That's why we need more prevention, more school psychologists and a safe environment for young people. Yes, we need age verification and a clear responsibility of the platforms. But the strongest protection is a young person who knows how to defend himself, who finds support and is not left alone.

Madam President, Commissioner! More than 10 million people are displaced in Sudan. Twenty-five million, two-thirds of the population, need humanitarian aid. And since the capture of al-Faschir, thousands of people have been murdered and over 100,000 displaced. This is one of the worst humanitarian disasters of our time. And the violence does not stop: ethnically motivated massacres, systematic rape, torture, hunger as a weapon of war. The RSF bears responsibility, but the Sudanese army also seriously violates international humanitarian law. Both sides must immediately end attacks on civilians. We call for an immediate ceasefire, protected humanitarian corridors and independent investigations that hold all those responsible accountable. The EU must assess whether the RSF meets the criteria of a terrorist organisation and, where appropriate, add it to the list. Europe must not ignore external interference. How far are the UAE involved in networks supplying weapons, money or logistics to the RSF? Are sanctions and a suspension of trade talks necessary? Europe cannot and should not remain silent.

Madam President, Commissioner! The European film does not belong on Trump's negotiating table. The US president threatens to impose a 100 percent tariff on European film productions. The view that the European regulations are protectionist is probably intended to distract from the fact that it is exactly the opposite, because already in 1918 the US legislation provided for a regulation to increase the global reach of the film industry. American productions dominate cinema and television in Europe, while major US corporations dominate the European cinema market by 70 percent. It is precisely for this reason that the Audiovisual Media Services Directive is a legitimate instrument for strengthening our domestic cultural and creative sector, which is of economic importance. It is definitely not a trade barrier. Their actions are of the highest public interest. 30 percent quotas for European content, investment obligations and the promotion of independent productions guarantee creativity, cultural diversity and media pluralism in Europe, preserve and promote our sovereignty and diversity. The Directive also creates fair conditions between broadcasters, streaming services and video platforms, while protecting underage consumers and freedom of expression. To exclude audio-visual services from the negotiations so far was correct and is also in the interest of the USA. In any case, this cultural exception must be taken into account in commercial contracts. The Commission must therefore defend this directive resolutely.

Madam President, Commissioner! Spying, monitoring, eavesdropping, hacking: The Orbán system does not get out of the headlines. Illegal surveillance with espionage software, hacking laptops, tapping phones, targeting investigators from the European Anti-Fraud Office – increasingly brazen, increasingly unabashed, it seems. Hungarian intelligence services are said to have tried to recruit EU officials in Brussels as informants. Those responsible do not dispute this at all. It's unbelievable! Anyone who targets national secret services on their own European institutions, systematically bows to the law, opposes the European Community and violates the principle of loyalty enshrined in the EU Treaty – thus a prime example of a breach of contract. An independent investigation by the Commission is therefore only a first necessary step. And it's not the EU that restricts freedom, and it's not the EU that builds a surveillance state. It's your friends in the Hungarian government in your Budapest bubble.

Mr President, Madam Vice-President! The appreciable fine against Google is a signal to the entire digital market. It's not just about a billion-dollar fine for a company, but about the basic message: Competition rules must be observed. And if Google exploits its dominant position in the field of online advertising technology, favours its own services and thus prevents fair competition, this is a clear violation of European competition law. The Commission has decided to tackle any abuse by digital companies that affects businesses, publishers, journalists, advertisers and ultimately citizens. When advertising revenue is systematically redirected to a global player, small and local media in particular lose economic foundations. This is why Vice-President Ribera's decision should be explicitly supported, because it is in line with the objectives of the European Media Freedom Act protects the independence of our media, defends diversity and transparency, and creates fair rules in the Digital Single Market. The Commission has acted correctly, and this is only the beginning. We need permanent rules to prevent individual corporations from controlling public communications. This is not an intervention in the market, it is a defence of democracy and the rule of law. Media freedom is not a business model, it is the cornerstone of our democracy.

Madam President, We call on the authorities of Equatorial Guinea to take immediate and unconditional action to end the inhumane detention conditions of Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta. The two EU citizens have been in the notorious Black-beachprison incarcerated. They do not have sufficient medical care, limited access to lawyers, isolated detention and little contact with their families. Javier Marañón Montero is in critical health following a hunger strike. We therefore demand full respect for their rights: fair trial, medical care, legal assistance, consular protection and family support. Their detention conditions violate human rights, damage the international reputation of Equatorial Guinea and hamper cooperation with the EU based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. I call on the European External Action Service and the Member States to use all diplomatic means to stand up for prisoners, prevent such cases and strengthen the protection of EU citizens worldwide.

Mr President, Commissioner! Today, October 7, we commemorate the 1200 murdered and 250 deportees of Hamas' terrorist attack. On Nova music festival 370 young people who wanted to celebrate and experience freedom were brutally murdered. I also remember those scenes from surveillance cameras when a father of a family is murdered in front of his two sons, at the age of my son. A terrorist then drinks from a bottle in front of the injured children from their refrigerator. And people are still in the hands of these terrorists. And it is not tolerable if, as a result, the extent of the Holocaust is relativized, denied on Internet platforms, and access denied to Jewish guests in local areas. Education has to be part of every strategy in the fight against anti-Semitism. For example, every European student should be able to visit a Holocaust memorial site where they can see the dimension of these crimes against humanity. Jewish life and cultural heritage are part of my Austrian and European identity. Every Jew in Europe must feel safe and secure. This is our mission.

Madam President, Commissioner! The value of a society is also reflected in how its generations treat each other. In any case, intergenerational justice is the basis of a society worth living in and based on solidarity, namely when people of all ages stand up for it. Commissioner Micallef's initiative to create a new policy framework with the Strategy for Intergenerational Justice is therefore welcome. It builds on instruments such as a generational index, which shows whether our decisions are fairly distributed between young and old, and aims to involve all generations in strategic dialogues. With the Youth Check Young people can help shape political processes. But also concerns and needs of our older generation must be taken more into account, age discrimination must be excluded. Older and younger people often have similar needs – whether it is the question of cheap public transport, good transport and supply infrastructure or good accessibility through digitalisation in order to stay in touch with family and friends worldwide. So why not join forces and give the concerns more clout together? Social inequality, housing shortages, public debt and the threat to our ecological foundations – this directly affects all people. If we do not reorient our systems and make them fit for the future, this will decisively influence the future opportunities of young people. They will have it much harder than we do now. We should be aware of: Today's young people are tomorrow's older generation.