Speeches

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.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, what happens in Sudan will not stay within Sudan. It will have an impact on the whole Sahel region and spread further into Europe and the rest of the world. This is what I said in plenary shortly after the outbreak of the civil war 17 months ago. In the meantime, the situation has dramatically worsened. We are witnessing one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes in the world. More than 26 million people – half of the population – are starving. Some 70 % of health facilities in conflict‑affected areas are out of service. We mourn 15 000 fatalities since April 2024. Ten million people have been displaced, two million of them in predominantly fragile neighbouring countries. Since the war in Congo more than 20 years ago, no conflict in Africa has had such a large geopolitical dimension as that in Sudan. The United Arab Emirates have been supplying the RSF militia in Chad with weapons under the guise of medical supplies, Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Déby confirmed, and he recently signed a military agreement with Hungary. Sudan's army, backed by Iran, is locked in a dead-end conflict with the RSF. Today's Council decision to extend the restrictive measures against those undermining stability in Sudan was necessary. While recent Geneva negotiations initiated by the USA made little progress, humanitarian access has been partially restored. We urge the conflicting parties to engage in direct talks for a peaceful resolution, and the European Union must take an active role. We must support all efforts to bring hope and stability to the people of Sudan.

Madam President, Commissioner! The Future Summit has once again reminded us of the urgent need to reorient global cooperation. Climate change, inequality and poverty are global challenges and they directly affect us in Europe. Promoting human rights, education and future prospects for young people is key to a fairer world with a strong civil society. These are more than nice gestures, but smart investments in stability, peace and economic partnership. If we create prospects in third countries, we will ensure prosperity and security in Europe. The successful Pact for the Future offers 56 measures. We need concrete data now. Strengthening civil society helps to reduce global inequalities. Investing in education, healthcare and the involvement of the young generation is the only sustainable solution to address structural problems. Otherwise, migration will continue to increase and poverty will intensify. It must be clear to the people of Europe that we too will benefit if we act now. Peace, democracy and human rights must not be empty promises. A fairer world strengthens a secure Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner! Austria is one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe; This has made the disaster of unbelievable magnitude, especially in Lower Austria, with five fatalities, urgently aware. In my home region, the Salzkammergut, we escaped a similar catastrophe because a lot of snow fell in the mountains, which held back the water. The water levels of our rivers, streams and lakes fell short of those of the 2013 floods; This was also put on renaturation because retention areas were created, flood protection buildings were erected. What distinguishes Austria: Cohesion and an incredibly well-functioning, voluntary, but professionally working system of operational organizations. Above all, we are obliged to thank our volunteer fire brigades again and again, but also to provide security. Elementary events know no bounds. What does Europe have to do now? Reinforce renaturation and flood protection projects even more. In the next plenary session, we will decide on the allocation of disaster relief from the Solidarity Fund for events more than a year ago: This must go faster, because such disasters, known as centenary events, come at ever shorter intervals.

Madam President, Commissioner! It is about equal opportunities. Hunger is not a fate, but the result of political decisions. How else could it be that the richest percent of the world's population has gained $42 trillion in the last decade, almost 36 times more than the poorest half? Meanwhile, billionaires pay less than 0.5% of their wealth in taxes. This is a systemic failure, especially where many gains are made at the expense of the people of the Global South. Attendees at the G20 meeting agreed on a call to action. This acknowledges the lack of drinking water for over 2 billion people; Women and girls are particularly affected. The UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular the fight against poverty and inequality, must finally come into focus and create prospects for young people. It is also not enough to continue to fight only the symptoms of migration policy; Rather, reasons for flight must be combated and future prospects created, especially for young people in their home countries, through education and health care. If we want something to change fundamentally by 2030, then we have to start today – yes, we have already started.

Mr President, Commissioner, Ghana has developed into a reliable partner of the European Union, offering its citizens stability and prospects. Remarkable progress has been made, particularly in the areas of digitisation, economic and social development. First steps toward green transition have been taken and the death penalty was abolished last year. Regrettably, Ghana’s parliament passed a draconian bill in February that carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison for anyone who identifies with LGBTI+ and up to five years in prison for funding LGBTI+ groups. One year after the European Parliament adopted a resolution on global discrimination of homosexuality, this bill in Ghana risks the creation of one of the most restrictive LGBTI+ laws in Africa. I call on the Commission and Member States to immediately engage in a dialogue with the Ghanaian Government and civil society organisations to tackle the growing culture of discrimination and intolerance. I appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo – whose speech here in the House we have fond memories of – not to sign the law, a law that is in stark contradiction to universal human rights, would undo all the efforts of recent years and jeopardise the stable partnership with Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, female genital mutilation is a grave violation of human rights and discrimination against girls and women, not justified by any religion or culture. According to UNICEF, 76 % of Gambian women aged 15 to 49 have been circumcised. Around 46 % of girls under the age of 14 are victims of genital mutilation, with serious consequences including irreparable physical, psychological, reproductive and sexual health damage. In the worst case, it leads to death. In 2015, The Gambia adopted the landmark Women’s Act, which penalises the practice of female genital mutilation with up to three years in prison. This legislation was recognised worldwide as a leading step forward! The repeal has already passed the second reading in the Gambian Parliament and The Gambia risks being the first country in the world to reverse legal protection against female genital mutilation. The recently signed Samoa Agreement commits all parties to abolish female genital mutilation. The Commission and the European External Action Service urgently and systematically has to address the problem with the Gambian authorities and get involved to guarantee women’s and girls’ rights throughout the region.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. As a member of the Pegasus Committee of Inquiry, I have a déjà vu in today's debate. Parliament adopted a resolution setting out essential measures to protect our European citizens, safeguard and strengthen democracy and the rule of law. How did the Commission and the Council react? You have made the following prayer-mill-like observation: No new legal acts are required. Parliamentarism is the foundation of democracy. This includes the right to control. MEPs are elected by European citizens and their mandate must ensure that they have access to documents, even if they are classified. The basis for effective enlightenment is also to be able to summon witnesses who have to testify under oath. For ten years, MEPs have been pushing for a new regulation on the European Parliament's right of inquiry. The current powers are simply not enough. This is always evident in our control work, to which we as mandaters are obliged. When does the Council act and finally live up to the binding principle of sincere cooperation between the institutions? And when can we, as Members of Parliament, really exercise our right of inquiry?

Mr President, Commissioner! Enlargement has the potential to write a new chapter in the success story of the European Union. The countries of the Western Balkans need Europe, just as Europe needs these countries. And they have already been able to meet many of the necessary requirements. The urgent agreement is another basis for implementing necessary reforms for the rule of law, transparency and also social and economic standards. Cohesion is at the heart of our European policy. Regional support measures shall aim at socio-economic effects. Creating work and good living conditions must also be about education, mobility, digitalisation or healthcare. The creative and cultural sectors in particular, as well as the development of a sustainable, value-added tourism industry, should also be taken into account, given that infrastructure development is well below the EU average. Europe must keep its enlargement promise. The European Union will prove once again that it is capable of ensuring recovery, stability and economic and social progress. Europe must not fail in the Western Balkans. Europe will not fail and will not open doors to Russian influence.

Madam President, colleagues, 30 years ago in Rwanda, a genocide was taking place. Within 100 days, starting in April 1994, more than 800 000 Rwandans, members of the Tutsi minority, as well as others who tried to oppose it, were systematically murdered. In total, more than 1 million people lost their lives. Thirty years later, we in the European Parliament do not forget these victims and wish to express our solidarity with their families and friends who still mourn the loss, as well as with the survivors, and to Rwandan society at large. In commemorating this terrible event, we also wish to reiterate our unwavering commitment to the prevention of genocide and any crime against humanity across the world. To ensure full accountability, we must continue to ensure that the drivers of genocide such as xenophobia, discrimination and hate speech targeting national, ethnic, racial or religious groups are condemned and fought against. The international community must remain united in this goal. In Rwanda, people commemorate these events under the name Kwibuka, which means ‘to remember’. We do the same today. We remember: never again. We may never forget.

Madam President, Commissioner! Arbitrary arrests of opposition activists, excessive authorities, violence against demonstrators, elimination of all parliamentary control and a judicial system at the root of the ruler: Bit by bit, decree by decree, President Saied has eroded democratic principles and human rights in Tunisia since taking power, establishing an authoritarian regime of injustice and oppression. The supply situation is catastrophic due to high inflation and mismanagement – many Tunisians have little access to sufficient basic food. There is no question that this humanitarian crisis requires emergency assistance from the European Union. But the financial transfer of 150 million euros, now announced by the Commission, to the Tunisian treasury and thus into the hands of the authoritarian authorities, is completely incomprehensible. The European Commission is willing to pay any price for the refugee deal. Instead of fighting the causes of flight, they are created. What the EU really stands for in the world falls by the wayside: Human rights, economic prospects and democratic control. Both must be possible: pragmatic migration management with our partner countries, as well as strengthening democratic standards.

Mr President, Commissioner! Once again, MEPs have been attacked with spyware and again there is phone espionage in the European Parliament. And again today we are debating what needs to happen so that the European Commission can finally take action! We have repeatedly called on the Commission to take concrete measures and recommendations from the PEGA Committee and to implement legal acts to protect citizens. So far, we have always been told that the current legal framework is completely sufficient and that competence lies exclusively with the Member States. But: Maintaining the rule of law in Europe is the core task of the European Commission. With Nathalie Loiseau and Elena Yoncheva, two members of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence are affected, a few weeks before the elections. This could not have been a case of national security. The Commission must act now and take concrete steps to protect parliamentarians and protect all European citizens.