Speeches

Madam President, esteemed Commissioner! Taiwan is at the heart of a very sensitive debate today. Although the one-China policy is the basis of international relations, we must not remain silent when it comes to Taiwan's democratic rights and international status. It is essential that Taiwan is represented in international organisations such as the WHO or the Civil Aviation Organisation. These institutions serve the global good, and it is in the interest of the entire world community that Taiwan has a place at the table. This is about practical humanitarian cooperation. The EU and Member States need to deepen cooperation with Taiwan to counter interference operations and disinformation from China. As a member of the Pegasus Committee of Inquiry, I would also like to raise the issue of cybersecurity. Moreover, worrying military provocations by China not only threaten Taiwan, but also threaten stability throughout the region. It is time to rethink Taiwan's role in the global community. We must work for a just and peaceful solution. This resolution strengthens our economic partnership and democratic ties in the Indo-Pacific.

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.

Mr President, Commissioner! End hunger, fight poverty, education opportunities for all children, strengthen women's rights, access to health care, healthy food and clean drinking water: The United Nations has set 17 concrete goals with the 2030 Agenda to combat global inequality. What has happened so far? The mid-term review of the 2030 Agenda presented by the UN Secretary-General last year is sobering. With more than 30 percent of targets stagnated or deteriorated compared to 2015, in terms of global hunger, we fell back to 2005 levels. Explaining the frightening reality with references to COVID, wars or natural disasters falls short. Rather, an unjust global financial system and systematic political corruption play a major role. The Oxfam Inequality Report published at the beginning of the year substantiates this with frightening figures: The richest percent of Africa owns almost half of the financial wealth of the entire continent, the seven richest men of Africa own more than the poorest half of the population. Valuable resources are in the hands of fewer super-rich. Any debate on the root causes of flight in this House is hypocrisy as long as we do not ensure that people in their home countries can live in dignity.

Madam President, Commissioner! No peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo: 150,000 people have been displaced in the past two weeks alone, and the provincial capital of Goma has already taken in half a million internally displaced people from the Sake area. The supply situation is catastrophic, the refugees live in inhumane conditions without sufficient food and medical care. The threatening power vacuum caused by the resignation of Prime Minister Lukonde plays into the hands of the M23 rebels, who have already advanced to just before Goma. Rwanda denies funding, training and equipment for the militia. However, these accusations made by the UN cannot be dismissed. Most of the gold that serves as Rwanda's main source of foreign exchange comes from eastern Congo. The agreement on critical raw materials with Rwanda is the first such agreement between the EIB, the world's largest supranational bank, and an African partner. Previously, the European Commission had already concluded an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, all this is not a license for human rights violations, which must be clarified and, if necessary, sanctioned.

Madam President, (start of speech off mic) ... 20 million people, almost half of Sudan’s population, are affected by life-threatening food insecurity. After nine months, the violent conflict claimed around 12 000 lives and displaced 5.8 million people. Already before the outbreak of the conflict, Sudan was facing a humanitarian crisis due to extreme weather shocks, social and political unrest and rising food prices that continued to drive poverty, hunger and displacement. Many thanks to the European Commission for mobilising EUR 126.4 million in humanitarian aid for the people of Sudan in 2023. In view of the ongoing emergency situation, the EU and the Member States must increase emergency funding for the humanitarian aid and the refugee camps, and increase aid throughout West Darfur and neighbouring countries. The EU has to impose sanctions on those responsible for serious human rights violations. We also have to call on the United Nations Security Council to sanction violations of the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to expand it throughout the country. We finally must ensure that the peace agreement can be reached, so that innocent civilians in Sudan are able to live in freedom, peace and security.

Madam President, Commissioner! The way in which the Greek authorities deal with the clarification of the Predator interception scandal will show whether Greece is moving towards autocracy or not – as I have pointed out here on several occasions. And for over a year we have known that journalists, lawyers and politicians like our former colleague Nikos Androulakis have been systematically intercepted. From whom? To date, there has been no satisfactory information from the Greek authorities on clients and backgrounds. Two years ago, journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, who reported on corruption and crime, was murdered. Independent journalists are threatened with SLAPPs. Reporters Without Borders lists Greece in the Press Freedom Index at 107. Place of 180 possible – the lowest ranking of all EU Member States. To the Rule of Law Index According to the Commission, there is no country in the European Union with major backsliding on the rule of law in the last five years. Surprising? Thank you to the Commissioner who said that action is necessary, and this is the message to Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis: Not lavish and lament, but finally enlighten and act!

Madam President, Commissioner! It has long been necessary for us in the European Parliament to draw attention to the situation of Tibetans. Their culture and language are threatened, their religious freedom is severely restricted. Demonstrations are violently suppressed. Now, more than a million Tibetan children have been separated from their parents and sent to forced boarding schools with the consent of the Chinese regime. Three quarters of all students are affected. The goal is to erase their Tibetan identity. Children's rights are systematically violated. Another unfathomable culmination of a whole series of human rights violations that the Tibetan people in the People's Republic of China have to endure. As the US has already announced, the conditions for issuing visas to Chinese officials associated with these boarding schools in Tibet should also be tightened in the European Union. A peaceful solution for Tibet can and will only be possible through dialogue and negotiations with the Tibetan community in exile.

Mr President, Commissioner! It is high time for the European Parliament to have a direct right of initiative for legislative proposals in order to effectively enforce the interests of citizens. Five months ago, the European Parliament proposed legislative changes by a large majority to protect citizens from the misuse of spyware. To this day, we waited or waited for an answer. And this is a disregard for the principle of loyalty between the EU institutions enshrined in the Treaties. The Commission's position that no legislative action is necessary fails to recognise the situation because new suspicions show that the existing legal framework is neither sufficient in the Member States nor at European level to prevent and sanction abuse. Therefore, an action plan to prevent the misuse of spyware against European citizens must be presented without delay and all legislative and non-legislative competences falling within the competence of the European Union must be exhausted.

Mr President, Commissioner, Secretary of State! Only four months have passed since the final report and resolution containing the recommendations of the PEGA Committee of Inquiry were adopted here in this House. For 15 months, we have worked intensively on the misuse of spyware in the Member States and also put forward concrete solutions on how the European Union can protect citizens from illegal spying on personal data and massive interference with fundamental rights. The final report also paints a frightening picture of how rule of law principles have been undermined by national governments and non-European influences. And new cases are still emerging: According to a report by Amnesty International, French software company Nexa sold the Predator espionage software to authoritarian regimes, including the government of Vietnam. High-level representatives of European institutions such as President Metsola or colleague Karleskind fell victim to the Vietnamese espionage campaign. Servers of the European Commission and scientific services are said to have been attacked with the same software that spied on the mobile phone of our former colleague Nikos Androulakis. The need for action is obvious, even if the allegations need to be reviewed. The Commission is obliged to reply in writing following the adoption of a resolution by Parliament on concrete measures. This deadline expired two days ago. An opinion must be submitted immediately and not soon. I expect concrete proposals for a legal act that exploits all legal possibilities within EU competences. The large number of cases shows that the existing legal framework is simply not sufficient. The trust of European citizens in the rule of law and democracy is at stake!

Mr President, Commissioner! It is necessary to also discuss culture and education in the Union's budget debate. COVID-19, high inflation, loss of purchasing power – multiple crises hit the cultural and creative sectors particularly hard. The Council's proposal to further reduce the budget of Creative Europe, the EU's only direct cultural support programme, is ignorant. Culture is a significant economic factor, accounting for 4.2 per cent of the EU's total economic output. Creative Europe has a comparatively minimal budget of around €2.5 billion between 2021 and 2027, and the Culture strand urgently needs €15 million in emergency assistance. Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps also need reinforcements for the coming year. With comparatively low budgets, these programmes make a lot possible, especially for young people, make the European Union tangible and stand for a Europe of people. Investing in education, culture and youth is investing in the future of Europe.

Mr President! Nothing better can happen to us than that we in the European Parliament not only talk about a people’s Europe, about education and opportunities for young people, but also act – and we do that when we address Switzerland’s and the EU’s relations. Since 2014, Switzerland has no longer been associated to Erasmus+, and following the failure of the negotiations on a framework agreement, the country has also been downgraded to the status of a non-associated third country in Horizon Europe, although the cooperation has worked excellently, although all organisational structures are in place. Swiss universities have been looking for partners ever since. Most recently, the University of Bern was looking for a partner and joined the European University Alliance. And it is also students from the European Union who suffer at least to the same extent from the exclusion of Switzerland from Erasmus+. Education as an important factor for the sustainable development of Europe therefore justifies a special position. This has nothing to do with raisin picking. Even if negotiations are difficult or even fail, young people must never become a pawn. Swiss participation in the Solidarity Corps and the European Capitals of Culture strengthens European values and brings people in Switzerland and the EU closer together.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Through the European cross-border mechanism, the European Union can be felt and experienced by its citizens. Therefore, its implementation is of fundamental importance. And not only because an economic gain of billions of euros is to be expected. We have already heard many examples of positive effects. Another example: Enabling children and young people to attend kindergartens and schools in the neighbouring country promotes the goals and cornerstones of the European Education Area, such as multilingualism, mutual acceptance and interest for different communities and thus also for the development of democratic competences. Language barriers and prejudices are being dismantled, both in border regions and in areas with regional language minorities. This solves cross-border problems in areas such as healthcare, the labour market or the mutual recognition of qualifications, such as medical staff and doctors. The European Union will be felt by the people if it manages to expand these borders in everyday life and grow together into a real community.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, according to Unicef, at least 13.6 million children in Sudan are in need of vital humanitarian aid. Newly born babies and infants are dying through malnutrition, dehydration, lack of medical care and the consequences of power failures. Hundreds of children have been killed and thousands seriously injured and abused. Humanitarian aid organisations report that basic medical care is limited due to the security situation, and food shortages have caused that half of all children suffer from hunger. The European Commission must do everything in its power to ensure that the people of Sudan have access to food, essential goods and medical care. The EU must implement targeted sanctions against General Burhan and General Hemedti and other individuals responsible for human rights violations, including the freezing of personal bank accounts under the EU’s global human rights sanctions regime. A permanent ceasefire agreement has to be the first step. A return to peace talks and democratic reforms have to follow. We must act quickly to resolve the inhuman situation, especially for the affected children of Sudan.

Mr President, Commissioner! When the PEGA Committee of Inquiry started its work 14 months ago, who would have thought to what extent politicians, journalists, lawyers as well as political activists will be intercepted and monitored in Member States of the European Union without legal foundations! The goal of using Pegasus and similar spying software in all these cases was to spy on, intimidate and silence critical actors from politics and civil society. Not all of these unacceptable processes, which pose an existential threat to democracy in the European Union, have been clarified at all. With our recommendations to the Commission and the Member States, we want to lay the groundwork for ending and preventing the unlawful use of espionage software in Europe. Such software may only be used to combat the most serious crimes and only by judicial order. The Commission must act promptly and present a legal act on the legal use, sale, purchase and transfer of spyware, including common minimum standards. Our former colleague Nikos Androulakis was spied on by the Greek government under the guise of national security. This case clearly demonstrates the need for a uniform definition of the concept of national security in order to exclude any arbitrary interpretation. Protection rules for particularly exposed professional groups such as journalists, transparency, legal assistance for target persons and mandatory documentation to trace the use of spyware are necessary. National security matters fall within the competence of the Member States - yes, that is true. However, it is for the European Union to safeguard and defend fundamental rights, the observance of which all Member States have undertaken under the Treaties. The implementation of our recommendations is an alternative step to restore the trust of European citizens in democracy and the rule of law.

Madam President, Commissioner! Sudan is another country in a chain reaction in the region and obviously has the potential to turn into a huge disaster if we don't act. The influence of other countries and groups already present in Africa, such as Wagner, would also extend to Sudan. The lack of drinking water, food and medicine is triggering a huge refugee movement. UNHCR speaks of up to 800,000 people, compared to 334,000 internally displaced persons the previous week, and 700,000 people are already reported, which shows how dramatically the situation is developing. The EU must immediately impose targeted sanctions on the warring parties, with a halt to further arms deliveries and limited access to their assets by the warring parties. Negotiations and a ceasefire are urgently needed. What is happening in Sudan will have an impact on neighbours such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad and finally on us in Europe.