Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner! I firmly believe that most Europeans do not know that there is a European model of sport and how important it is for sport. It relies on sports federations and supports professional and amateur sectors alike. Sport must be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender or origin. When a sport becomes particularly popular in a country due to extraordinary successes of athletes, it is mainly young people who are enthusiastic about it – and it is locally organised, consistently volunteering clubs that take care of these young sports enthusiasts. But the European sports model is at risk: Commercialisation, especially in the form of investments by sovereign wealth funds of totalitarian third countries, major events outside Europe, plans for tournaments outside the influence of the relevant association structures. The recent decisions of the European Court of Justice call for a stronger commitment to the sports model. More attention needs to be paid to the specific characteristics enshrined in Article 165 and to the structures based on voluntary engagement, from competition law to State aid rules. The autonomy of sport is inviolable: The rules and conditions of participation are decided by the associations, not by politics. Sports organisations must therefore implement the highest standards of governance and transparency. There is a lot in the game and in the game: The sports sector is a growing industry with more than two percent of GDP and six million employees. Its added value, however, is its contribution to social cohesion, equality and inclusion, in particular for persons with disabilities. Sport is the basis for a healthy lifestyle. But if sports facilities have to be closed by our cities and municipalities due to tight budgets, then the best sports model is of no use. Therefore, support for regional development must also be able to be used for the construction or maintenance of sports facilities. Caregivers need to be given better opportunities. The success of Erasmus+ for trainers gives us the right to open the programme to athletes in the next funding period. And this report recommends clear measures on how we can strengthen and safeguard the European sport model. Let's tackle sport – together with our Commissioner Micallef!

Mr President, Commissioner! Europe invests in education and research and thus in strengthening our liberal democracy. European university alliances are more than networks, they are engines of innovation, mobility and academic freedom. And what started in 2019 as a new initiative under Erasmus+ is now a European success story with 65 alliances and over 570 participating universities – an outstanding example of how Erasmus+ is making a difference with comparatively little money and how the European Union is particularly visible to young citizens. In order to continue writing the success story, the university alliances must remain under the umbrella of Erasmus+ even after 2028. And because the proposed increase in the Erasmus+ budget alone will not be enough to reach more young people and our ambitious targets, the Commission has to present a comprehensive investment strategy. If Member States also commit to contribute from national budgets, they contribute to success. In any case, at a time of global challenges, the university alliances and Erasmus+ are sending a clear and committed signal.

Mr President, Commissioner! We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Abdoul Aziz Goma, an Irish-Togolese citizen. His case shows with all brutality how human rights and the rule of law are trampled underfoot in Togo. He has been in inhumane detention for more than six years, has been tortured, isolated and sentenced in an unfair trial. Torture and political persecution must never be tolerated. All political prisoners must be released immediately. For such cases to be ruled out once and for all, the justice system in Togo needs to be reformed. And the European Union has a clear stance to take. We stand by the side of civil society, we stand by the side of human rights. Freedom of expression and assembly must be guaranteed, the rule of law and democratic principles must be respected.

Madam President, Commissioner! United in diversity is the foundation of the European Union. Just as cohesion, i.e. cohesion, is and must remain the heart of European policy. It must not be based solely on economic indicators, must reach all citizens and must therefore also address linguistic, cultural and historical peculiarities. This citizens' initiative focuses on regions with historically developed cultural, linguistic or religious identities with little or no sufficient political representation or administrative competence. The citizens' initiative rightly advocates access to EU funding. The current Eurobarometer impressively confirms this claim: 79% of citizens who know EU-funded projects see them as positive for their region, and almost two-thirds call for EU investment to flow to all regions. This is a clear mission. Cohesion policy must promote cultural diversity in a fair, targeted and sensitive manner and protect regional specificities.

Mr President, Commissioner! There is nothing that our world needs more than peace in one of the greatest hotspots of crisis and war of our time. We in the European Parliament have regularly addressed the intolerable situation for people, violence and abuse in eastern Congo. The agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo can be a first important step towards peace and stability. What matters, however, is how the agreement is actually implemented, whether it can counteract the causes of the conflict. Rwanda's support for the M23 rebels must end. Their exclusion from the agreement is a failure. Trade in raw materials must no longer fuel corruption and conflict. It's true, there's a piece of Congo cobalt inside each of our cell phones. While the US administration primarily pursues economic interests, humanitarian needs must be at the forefront. Long-term stability only arises where prospects grow. In the end, this also protects Europe's security and credibility.

Madam President, Commissioner, Minister! Forest fires, droughts, water shortages – such events occur at ever shorter intervals more violently and thus more destructively. And that is the experience I have had in my former position as mayor in my home region in Austria. This development is not a temporary phenomenon, a structured European response is necessary, the strategy for a resilient Union is a significant step in the right direction. European civil protection must act in a preventive, forward-looking and solidarity manner – with early warning systems, cross-border coordination, common reserve capacities and investments in protection, infrastructure and sustainable water management. For me, a strong system of operational organization with volunteers, fire brigades and helpers is indispensable. If we do not invest sustainably now, next generations will pay a much higher price. Climate protection is civil protection – a Europe capable of acting depends on a strong budget with the ESF. Now there must be no turning back to nation-state thinking.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister! Without free media, there is no free society. And the Media Freedom Act is a milestone for the protection of media freedom, independence and pluralism. It protects journalists from political interference and creates the necessary transparency in ownership structures and media financing – thus directly protecting our liberal democracy. And in exactly one month, on 8 August, all provisions are to be applied in the Member States. But where are we? In some Member States, there is no visible preparation – some of which are politically motivated – delayed and delayed. At the same time, political pressure is increasing. Journalists are monitored with espionage software, media critical of the government are starved financially by governments. The Commission must not watch this, it must provide clarity! Increase public awareness of the one, increase pressure on defaulting Member States and act harshly in the event of breaches and omissions. There can and should be no exceptions: Freedom of the media is not a subject of negotiation.

Mr President, Madam Vice-President of the Commission, Mr Minister! Again, misuse of spy and surveillance software is shaking our democracy in its foundations. And again – this time with the Paragon case in Italy: It has long since ceased to be individual cases, but the European Union has a structural problem. Unfortunately, the European Commission is still lagging behind. We have repeatedly asked the Commission to follow the recommendations of the PEGA Committee of Inquiry and to present a legal act with clear rules. What must happen if the Commission acts accordingly? National security cannot and must not serve as a justification for the overthrow of the principles of the rule of law. Unlawful surveillance of journalists, oppositionists or lawyers undermines our democracy. We need common minimum standards for the use of spyware, and what we do not need is further hesitation on the part of the new Commission. Right now, a proposal is overdue to effectively protect our citizens and thus strengthen trust in our democratic institutions.

Madam President, Commissioner! When we talk about the systematic violations of religious freedom in Tibet, we are not only talking about religious and cultural freedom, about identity and human rights, but above all about the need for the European Union to pay greater attention to the situation in Tibet. Especially tragic is the death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje in his prison. Circumstances must be investigated independently and internationally. The fate of the eleventh Pantsche Lama, who was abducted at the age of six and whose whereabouts are still unknown to this day, remains unclear. The subject gets additional explosive when it comes to the circumstances of the election of the successor of the 14. The Dalai Lamas are gone. In any case, the Chinese government does not have to interfere in religious succession issues. A clear separation of state and religion is necessary. The suppression of religious practices, the destruction of Tibetan culture, forced internees and political persecution must come to an end. The People's Republic of China must respect and recognize the rights of the Tibetan people.

Mr President, Commissioner! If the European Union is to set itself the objective of competitiveness and resilience, education policy, educational mobility, the promotion of skills for the labour market and to be credible in doing so, then it must do so in culture and education, and thus in Erasmus+; Creative Europe Invest in the Solidarity Corps. These programmes achieve great results with comparatively little effort and make the benefits of European integration tangible. If we want to allow more young people and populations to participate, the budgets for Erasmus+, but also for the Solidarity Corps, need to be multiplied. Consistent funding would mean that fewer and fewer people could participate due to increased costs of living. The cultural and creative sector accounts for 5.5 per cent of the EU's total economic output and employs more than 7.5 million people. The multiannual financial framework must therefore ensure that: Creative Europe remains a strong, independent programme and its budget is significantly increased. The Parliamentary Research Service states: Every additional euro invested in the creative sector generates an added value of 11 euros. Investing in culture and education pays off and pays off.

Mr President, Commissioner, with elections approaching, press freedom is under attack in Cameroon. Journalists are unjustly imprisoned, subjected to unfair trials and held in inhuman conditions. Some are seriously ill, yet denied medical care. Especially in the English-speaking regions, independent media are under systematic attack. Reporting the truth is never a crime. We call on the authorities in Cameroon to immediately and unconditionally release Amadou Vamoulké, a former managing director of the Cameroon state broadcaster, journalists Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka and Thomas Awah Junior, radio host Mancho Bibixy and filmmaker Tsi Conrad. Freedom of expression is the foundation of free elections. The European Union must not and will not remain silent.

Mr President, Commissioner! The voices of freedom must not be silenced. Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Voice of America or Radio Free Asia are indispensable voices for freedom and against disinformation. They support media freedom in countries such as Russia, China, Iran, Belarus and Afghanistan. They give people confidence and faith in a better, free and democratic future. The Trump administration wants to say goodbye to this responsibility. When autocrats applaud this, we in Europe realize that our responsibility for freedom and democracy does not end at our external borders. An initiative by the Czech Republic to maintain Radio Free Europe has already been supported by twelve Member States, including Austria. Thankfully, the Polish Presidency has announced further measures. The European Union must ensure the availability of independent factual news to citizens in regions with limited media freedom, thus contributing to our own security in Europe.

Mr President, Mr Executive Vice-President! Cohesion is and remains at the heart of European policy – a success story for the European Union. Cohesion is cohesion and more than an act of solidarity: a profit for everyone, including so-called net payers such as Austria, because the money used comes back several times. In order for cohesion policy to be even more efficient, it is essential that implementation is targeted, unbureaucratic, rapid and facilitated. People also need to know who gets what financial means. It cannot be that in those regions where the European Union uses the most money and citizens benefit directly, the acceptance of the EU is so low because people are not aware of all this. And it must also be clear: New priorities such as defence require new sources of funding. No money for governments that undermine European values and do not respect the rule of law. And it is investment in culture that has the highest socio-economic impact.

Madam President, Commissioner! Nine former or current MEPs and twelve former parliamentary assistants were found guilty in an embezzlement process. And with Huawei gate after Qatar gate, there is once again room for third countries and companies to try to influence democratic decision-making processes with unfair practices. Under the impression of the scandal, measures were taken by Parliament in 2022 to restore integrity and transparency and fight corruption, and last year in May an independent ethics body was set up to set common standards for all EU institutions. This clear mandate must by no means be diluted. An efficient ethics body strengthens parliamentarism in this House and confidence in the work of our Members. The scope of the Anti-Corruption Directive currently under negotiation also requires strict preventive measures involving all EU staff, our MEPs and all Commissioners. We cannot move on to the agenda in the face of ongoing allegations and incidents. Transparency and credibility are the order of the day.

Madam President, Commissioner! The European Union is in existential jeopardy. The attack on our democracy and European values is internal and external. It is precisely for this reason that it is necessary to strengthen culture and protect our society from illiberal, authoritarian tendencies. The cultural and creative sector accounts for 5.5 per cent of the total economic output of the European Union and employs over 7.5 million people. Creative Europe is the only direct cultural support programme of the European Union. The cultural and creative sectors are underfunded compared to other sectors. The new multiannual financial framework must ensure that Creative Europe remains a strong, autonomous programme and that the budget is significantly increased. In any case, the Kulturkompass is an optimal instrument to exploit the pressing challenges such as fair working conditions for cultural professionals, the potential of the cultural and creative sector or to tackle the use of artificial intelligence in an ambitious and promising way. Nowhere else is the socio-economic effect as great as when it comes to cultural promotion. If we advance the cultural and creative sectors, we will advance the European Union as a whole.

Mr President, Commissioner! Sudan is facing the world's biggest humanitarian crisis. We regularly and repeatedly deal with this catastrophe on an inconceivable scale here in plenary, but there is still no solution to the situation. This week we celebrated International Women's Day here in Parliament. At the same time, women and children are systematically raped, abducted and enslaved in Sudan. This year alone, UNICEF has documented more than 220 cases of sexual violence against children; Some of the victims are only a few months old. Women are imprisoned and raped in camps. How does the world react? The US is withdrawing – a fatal signal. More and effective humanitarian aid is needed. Victims need protection, care and medical care. Only targeted measures will be able to put an end to these unsustainable conditions: an arms embargo, international law enforcement, but also sanctions against all those who finance this war or, like the United Arab Emirates, supply arms to the paramilitary RSF, which is responsible for sexual violence.

Mr President! Commissioner! The freedom of art and culture is threatened in many ways. Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death for a song. On social media, he has published audio messages that have been deemed blasphemous. A singer who has expressed himself artistically is to be executed for blasphemy. A verdict that violates international human rights standards, but also the Constitution of Nigeria. Artistic expression can be powerful and influential. But when music leads to the death penalty, when artistic expression is condemned as a crime, it is an attack on the fundamental values of every free society. Nigeria's constitution is secular. There are still Sharia laws in place in 11 states. The most backward moral regulations are above democratic principles. People who want to live peacefully and in freedom should be punished in the most brutal way. Nigeria must commit to human rights, abolish the death penalty, guarantee freedom of belief and protect minorities. The European Union must not remain silent. We therefore call for an end to these draconian, inhumane laws and for the immediate release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. But not only should he gain his freedom, but all those persecuted for blasphemy.

Mr President! Madam Executive Vice-President! There is an acute shortage of skilled workers in all Member States. Nearly two-thirds of small and medium-sized enterprises complain about this. At the same time, youth unemployment is close to 15% – an alarm signal and a mandate to act. Austria is a role model for many. The dual training combines practice and school; facilitate young people's access to the labour market. Vocational schools, where graduates complete vocational training but also gain university entrance qualification, create opportunities in areas such as tourism or social professions. The fact that the master craftsman's degree is now on a par with the university bachelor's degree is a milestone. Nevertheless, the company-related training suffers from an image problem. For comparison: In Switzerland, more than 60% of young people opt for an apprenticeship. Skilled workers often earn more than academics, and youth unemployment is the lowest in Europe. We therefore urgently need to upgrade vocational training in the EU as well. The Erasmus+ programme will enable young people to participate in vocational training for the first time, and this needs to be massively expanded in the next programme. The European Education Area with mutual recognition of qualifications must finally become a reality in order to strengthen the mobility of skilled workers. I thank the Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Education for her initiative, because every unemployed person is one too many!

Mr President, Commissioner, the situation in Sudan has worsened again since our last discussions in October. Nearly 26 million people, more than half of the population, including millions of children, instantly need help. Violence, famine and displacement are their daily reality. More than 8 million people are displaced within Sudan. Another 3 million have fled to neighbouring countries. The widespread violence against women and children is horrifying. The RSF's use of sexual violence, gang rape and abductions means nothing short of sexual slavery. The EU and its Member States must act and strongly support peace negotiations between the conflict parties to end this crisis. We have to increase funding for humanitarian aid, ensuring protection, treatment and support for survivors. We need targeted sanctions against individuals and entities enabling these crimes, including those supplying arms and financial resources to the RSF. Furthermore, we must encourage international partners to adopt similar measures. We must not wait any longer. Let's give the people of Sudan the hope and support they desperately need.

Mr President! eavesdropping, recording phone calls, illegally extracting data from service laptops, searching hotel rooms – the recently published allegations against the Hungarian secret service weigh heavily. Investigators from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) who were supposed to investigate systematic violations of the rule of law in Hungary have thus become the target. As early as 2017, the Hungarian government purchased the Pegasus software and used it against opposition figures, journalists and lawyers. Enlightenment and consequences would have been necessary long ago. The legal instruments governing the use of spyware in Hungary remain among the weakest provisions in Europe. The Committee of Inquiry has analysed the situation in the Member States and proposed concrete recommendations for a legal framework to protect citizens from unlawful wiretapping. To this day, however, we are still waiting for new acts from the Commission. The new Commission must finally tackle the problem in order to stop the erosion of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. Our citizens need to be protected from state surveillance – in Hungary as well as everywhere in Europe.

Madam President, Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This is guaranteed in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and constitutionally in all Member States. Freedom of expression is at the heart of any liberal democracy, and that sets us apart from authoritarian regimes like Russia or China. It ends where criminal law begins. The big platforms cannot take responsibility if, as in X, the Holocaust is denied, anti-Semitic slogans turn into violence and terrorist organizations are hailed. What can lead to inaction was shown in Myanmar, where Facebook algorithms became the fuel for violence. The DSA holds online platforms responsible for disclosing algorithms and deleting misinformation, and ensures rapid responses to calls for violence, terrorist propaganda or the dissemination of child pornography. Anyone who sees it as censorship, ideological motivation or suppression of unwelcome content has obviously not read the regulation. What is illegal offline must also be illegal online. And what is lawful offline is also lawful online. It is so, and it remains so!

Mr President, Commissioner! With the Digital Services Act The European Union, with the participation of elected parliamentarians of this Parliament, has set very clear rules for large platforms such as TikTok, Meta and X. They must take responsibility and ensure that their services are not misused for harmful and misleading content. But the reality is very different: Despite these rules, we see time and again that manipulation on the largest social networks in the EU can be spread unhindered – foreign interference in the ballot cancelled by the Constitutional Court in Romania. Trolls and fake profiles spread misinformation on Facebook. On X, I'm getting more and more radical content. I can't access TikTok because I pretend to be someone I'm not. We are confronted with disinformation to an appalling degree that dramatically destabilizes our political landscape. And because we cannot and must not continue to stand idly by, a consistent implementation of the Digital Services Act necessary. We must take decisive action against platforms that simply do not take up their responsibilities. If these platforms are unable to enforce their own rules, we as legislators must intervene. And in order to effectively protect elections from disinformation campaigns, it is not enough just to enact laws, they must also be enforced. Political advertising must be clearly recognisable and transparent. Algorithms used to spread fake news must be changed. And social media-Platforms must be obliged to take active action against targeted manipulation. No compromise on democracy. It is alarming that platforms have deliberately withdrawn from the EU Code of Conduct. And the legal framework must be strong enough to force these companies to comply with the standards. Social media platforms are the main source of information for the young generation, and that is why we need to invest specifically in media literacy and education, make young people more resistant to fake news. The spread of disinformation is not only a technical challenge, it is above all a political problem, and the EU has to lead the way in the fight against disinformation and take decisive action to ensure that the digital space becomes secure and transparent.

Mr President, Commissioner! Academic freedom is a fundamental value of democracy. It guarantees the right to research, teach and question knowledge without fear of any censorship or interference. This principle is increasingly threatened by actors from third countries. Authoritarian regimes seek to interfere in research, influence curricula, and suppress ideas that contradict their political or ideological interests. China funds European researchers in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space research or biotechnology. Chinese researchers are required by intelligence law to share their knowledge with the state. Stricter scrutiny and greater transparency in the funding of research projects are therefore urgently needed. Any financial support from third countries or external organisations must be disclosed and possible influence examined in order to guarantee the independence of European research. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that academic research in Europe remains free and independent.

Madam President, Commissioner! For 35 years, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has guaranteed fundamental rights to all children. But are these rights really being implemented everywhere in the European Union? Reality shows: No. Poverty, cyberbullying and a lack of equal opportunities in education remain pressing issues. The European Child Guarantee is a significant milestone, but without sufficient funding it remains nothing more than a promise. Our children also need more protection on the Internet. Long-term use of social media puts the mental health of our young people at risk. I welcome the planned EU study on the impact of social media. For this, however, we need a binding action plan against cyberbullying. We need to equip the EU strategy on children's rights with sufficient resources and implement it consistently in all Member States, as well as a strategy on intergenerational justice, so that family poverty can be tackled decisively. Our children must be able to grow up safely and equitably. We have a responsibility to consistently protect their rights and ensure equal opportunities.

Mr President, Commissioner! Hybrid threats, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and attacks on democratic elections are on the rise. The continued influence of third countries threatens our democracy and aims to destabilise our free society in Europe. And we in the European Parliament are also witnessing how concrete this threat is. Thousands of employees of our company were affected. Personal information was released after the People Portal was hacked. Cyberattacks on the Czech Republic, Estonia or a web conference with high-ranking officers bear the same signature of hacker groups from the Russian military intelligence community. In the PEGA Committee of Inquiry, we worked meticulously for one and a half years on solutions to stop the illegal use of spyware in the EU. But this year alone, seven new attacks have been documented. This underlines the importance of Europe acting in a coordinated manner and consistently countering these attacks on our fundamental values, on our way of life in the rule of law and freedom.