What Martin spoke about.

9

Mar

2022

SK Speech

Watch

Batteries and waste batteries (debate)

– Madam President, Commissioner, we carry our mobile phones and computers with us everywhere. Batteries have become a very common part of our lives and it's really not just about small pencil flashlights anymore. We love technology. But we only love them when they really work. And let me tell you, I'm very upset when I have to buy a new phone or computer just because I can't replace the battery. T…

9

Mar

2022

EN Speech

Watch

European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual sustainable growth survey 2022 – European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth strategy survey 2022 (debate)

Madam President, the European Semester was born out of the financial crisis of the late 2000s. Now we are facing the climate and biodiversity crisis, the – hopefully – post-pandemic recovery, but also the security and energy threats that culminated with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s time to make it ready for the 2020s. It’s time to recognise that ‘business as usual’ is over. And that also …

8

Mar

2022

SK Speech

Watch

Rising energy prices and market manipulation on the gas market (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, in Slovakia we want solar cells on the roof, not Russian tanks in the yard. That's why it's time to do something I've been calling for for years. A full-blown energy revolution. We need to promote the efficient use of energy, because the cheapest is the gas that we do not consume. Remove obstacles thrown at people, but also entrepreneurs under their feet, who want to de…

15

Feb

2022

EN Speech

Watch

Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer(debate)

Madam President, cancer is the modern plague. It does not any more affect only the elderly, it affects increasingly the young generation. We all know people who managed to survive, and sadly, those who died. Cancer affects our lives. Yet more than 40% of the cases could have been prevented, and chemicals – hazardous chemicals – are one of the key culprits here. This is why the implementation of th…

20

Jan

2022

SK Speech

Watch

Protection of animals during transport - Protection of animals during transport (Recommendation) (debate)

Madam President. Humanity. Humanity is also about our relationship with animals, sentient beings. Suffering. Suffering and pain are felt by both humans and animals. All the more terrible and worse is unnecessary suffering and unnecessary pain. This is what happens with long journeys of animals. It happens unnecessarily and it happens because of our greed. Because most of the suffering in transport…

16

Dec

2021

SK Speech

Watch

An EU ban on the use of wild animals in circuses (debate)

Mr President, a friend once told me: ‘Seeing animals in the circus is part of childhood.’ But children are not stupid. Why are we going to say that they're going to think that the tiger is supposed to jump in a cage, that the elephant is supposed to jump between different things in the arena, that the chimpanzee is supposed to ride a bike? Kids aren't really stupid. And the majority of Europeans a…

20

Oct

2021

EN Speech

Watch

An EU strategy to reduce methane emissions (debate)

Madam President, we have to do the utmost to limit the global warming to 1.5 degrees. We got a taste this summer and honestly, I think we are standing on the brink of a climate disaster. But there is no chance to achieve this if we don’t act on methane, if we don’t properly act on methane, and act now, because honestly, we have overlooked it way too much. I’m not going to repeat the words of Maria…

18

Oct

2021

EN Speech

Watch

Farm to Fork Strategy (debate)

Madam President, our Group has always supported an ambitious transition towards a sustainable food system that will not only respect planetary boundaries, but also ensure farmers’ livelihoods and food on our tables. To achieve that, we need to turn farm to fork into reality and then a bit more. Without it, it is not possible. Change is possible. During the last 15 years more than 90% of Europe’s h…

6

Oct

2021

SK Speech

Watch

European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty (debate)

Madam President, Slovakia is one of the countries with a serious problem of energy poverty. Too many people are forced to heat in one room and heat virtually anything, because gas is too expensive for them. And the current increase in gas and electricity prices will aggravate the situation. It was enough for Putin to pull the tap, and we have a problem in Europe. The most vulnerable. The connectio…

14

Sep

2021

SK Speech

Watch

Presentation of the Fit for 55 package after the publication of the IPCC report (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, the climate crisis is turning into a climate disaster. Thirty billion euros and a lot of human lives. This is only the price of summer flooding in Germany. We need to act radically enough. But we have a problem. Slovakia and Europe are facing rising energy prices, again threatening the most vulnerable and the poorest. Why? Due to increasing dependence on and imports of …

7

Jul

2021

EN Speech

Watch

General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 (debate)

Mr President, the ambitious Green Deal needs an ambitious environmental action programme, because indeed we have a problem. If you look at it from economic perspective, can you imagine running the European Monetary Union on a 300% deficit? That’s what we’re doing with the planet. And I think this is where we really need to act on a number of fields. I want to point out one in particular, and that …