What Vladimír spoke about.

10

May

2023

EN Speech

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2022 Report on Serbia (A9-0172/2023 - Vladimír Bilčík) (vote)

Mr President, dear colleagues, this Parliament stood in solidarity with the people of Serbia following the mass shootings in Belgrade and Mladenovac on Monday. This is why I propose to move the following amendment after paragraph 36. Paragraph 36a reads as follows ‘Condemns in the strongest possible terms the acts of mass shooting in Serbia in May 2023; stands in mourning and in solidarity with th…

9

May

2023

EN Speech

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2022 Report on Serbia (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, thank you for your kind words and dear colleagues for this rich exchange of views. Let me just say that European Union enlargement is a political process. It’s a political choice, and Serbia has now made a choice. And we praising that choice also in this report. The choice is very clear. Serbia wants to join the European Union. It is Serbia’s choice. It is the choice…

9

May

2023

EN Speech

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2022 Report on Serbia (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, let me start by expressing my deep condolences to all the families, but also the people of Serbia, for the terrible events which took place last week in Belgrade and Mladenovac: the mass shootings. These tragic events are really something which moved not just the people in Serbia, in the region, but also here in the European Parliament. Let me assure…

14

Mar

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Georgia (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, almost 20 years ago the Georgians took to the streets in their peaceful revolution and inspired colour revolutions in other countries. But some 15 years ago, Russia attacked Georgia and today Moscow illegally occupies 20% of Georgian territory. The people of Georgia are tough fighters for freedom and democracy. They have spoken repeatedly in elections, in th…

14

Feb

2023

SK Speech

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Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession (continuation of debate)

Madam President, we have a holiday of love today, but for many women, a partnership is not romantic, it is a struggle for life or physical and mental health. Only in recent months have they lost their lives in Slovakia as a result of the partnership and violence of women in Krompachy, Plevník, Drienov, Zákamenné, Veľký Biel. A 66-year-old man in Galanta drowned his three-year-old wife just a day a…

18

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Terrorist threats posed by far-right extremist networks defying the democratic constitutional order (debate)

Madam President, the insurrection of 6 January 2021 in the US two years ago, the attacks in Brazil, the uncovered plot against the democratic order in Germany, but also the homophobic terrorist murders in my home country Slovakia last autumn – they all share some common traits. While none of these plans and brutal killings would have happened unless there were real people willing to attack our dem…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

Mr President, I wish to thank both David McAllister and Tom Vandenkendelaere for their timely and poignant reports. Dear colleagues, the EU’s power in foreign and security policy is also mirrored through our capacity to attract other countries to sign up to what the EU stands for. A good example of a successful foreign policy would be our ability to consolidate and accelerate the EU’s enlargement,…

17

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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New developments in allegations of corruption and foreign interference, including those related to Morocco, and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the European institutions (debate)

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, this House has found itself at the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. I’ve been most disappointed with some of our colleagues and even more upset that unacceptable illegal wrongdoings of individual Members of the European Parliament have already taken away the much needed political energy and public attention from issues that truly …

14

Dec

2022

SK Speech

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Defending democracy from foreign interference (debate)

We are all aware of how important work we started a few years ago in the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in Democratic Processes, including Disinformation. The greed of several of our colleagues, literally live, shows that democracy and democratic decision-making is an effort that never ends. There is no break in democracy. We are facing attacks on democracy both internally and externall…

14

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the past days have been difficult times for our House. I am convinced, however, that the best remedy to European problems is a clear, strong and unified European answer. Whether it concerns a massive corruption scandal, or Russia’s attack against Ukraine, European unity is what keeps our continent going forward. The European Union has lived through many poli…

22

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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New EU strategy for enlargement (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, EU enlargement has been one of the most successful policies of the Union. It has transformed the continent, established democracies, modernised economies, and united us in diversity. As we face Russia’s attack against Ukraine, the EU must focus on its foundations. European enlargement must be based on shared goals and principles, respect for the fundament…

9

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in Croatia (debate)

Mr President, dear Vice-Presidents of the Commission, dear colleagues, I’m very happy to welcome another Member State to the Schengen zone. I wholeheartedly support Croatia’s Schengen accession. By widening the space for our principles and rules, we all become safer and stronger. As we fully support Croatia’s place inside the Schengen zone, we also stand behind the Schengen accessions for Romania …

19

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (continuation of debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, Russia's illegal, brutal aggression against Ukraine is profoundly reshaping the EU's enlargement policy because Russia's war is also a war against EU enlargement. Let's be clear about this. Russia is waging war directly against Ukraine, an EU candidate state, and Russia is at war with European democracy, values and freedoms and consequently fights on one …

18

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on migration flows to the EU (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, as Russia wages its brutal aggression against Ukraine, one of the starkest images of the war is the plight of Ukrainian citizens running with few belongings either across their country to safety or to neighbouring countries. As Russia’s destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure continues indiscriminately, these chilling images are among the most pro…

18

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (C-368/20) (debate)

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, when you ask the citizens of Slovakia what they see as the biggest benefit of the European project, Schengen has for years topped the list of their answers. Schengen is Europe. If we weaken, undermine or dismantle Schengen, we weaken, undermine and ultimately destroy Europe. Free movement of people inside the European area is the cornerstone of our val…

18

Oct

2022

SK Speech

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Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia (debate)

Mr President, the sadness we feel after a cold-blooded fanatic took the life of two young people will last a very long time. Matthew and George, we will never forget. Today I want to remind you that we have one recipe for hatred that is immediate and effective. Our words have great power. People in the public space, please be very careful about how we talk to LGBTIQ+ people, what messages we send …

5

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Countering the anti-European and anti-Ukrainian propaganda of Putin’s European cronies (topical debate)

Mr President, Mr Vice—President, Minister, colleagues, Russia deliberately sparks the worst in us and amplifies it for political gain. It weaponises our differences, undermines free discourse and seeks to destroy our democracy. While we still do have physical borders, with the rise of social platforms and hostile domestic actors readily willing to spread foreign state propaganda from both extreme …

5

Oct

2022

SK Speech

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Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, unprecedented attack, aggression, war crimes, nuclear threat, mobilisation, referendums, annexation. Words about what escalation means in practice. Russia is gradually crossing the imaginary line, destroying Ukraine, threatening European security and trampling on the international order. The European response, ladies and gentlemen, must be clear. We must be united, decisive, join for…

14

Sep

2022

SK Speech

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Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2020 and 2021 (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you for your constructive cooperation. I am pleased that today we have a report that shows where Europe must not relax, but rather add. For me, it is above all the fact that Roma children do not have an equal chance of full-fledged education. That several Member States have resigned to a robust rule of law that is resilient to populist political changes and serves…

12

Sep

2022

EN Speech

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Surveillance and predator spyware systems in Greece (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. I welcome today’s debate, which reflects the importance that the PEGA Inquiry Committee attaches to this topic. Parliaments across the European Union must have appropriate scrutiny over matters such as the recent developments in Greece. Equally, political institutions, including the European Parliament, must guarantee safety to their representatives. In this…

6

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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2021 Report on Serbia (A9-0178/2022 - Vladimír Bilčík) (vote)

Madam President, in the light of the developments in the region last week, which have raised tensions in the region but also put into question the EU—facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, I propose to move the following oral amendment on the 2021 Report on Serbia. After paragraph 78, it should read as follows: ‘Regrets the rising tensions related to attempts at resolving the issues o…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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2021 Report on Serbia (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, I want to thank all of you who took the floor today. I would like to thank those who see Serbia as a strategically important partner in the Western Balkans, and who understand that Serbia’s successful EU path is more important now than ever. I have noted all of your concerns and I will communicate them to the Serbian political leadership. Let me just say …

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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2021 Report on Serbia (debate)

Mr President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, it is my pleasure to present to you the 2021 report on Serbia. Let me begin by thanking all of those who have contributed to the report, especially my shadows. It was my ambition to set out a fair, realistic and accurate report on the current political developments in Serbia with a particular focus on Serbia’s EU path. The draft of this report was pr…

9

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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The call for a Convention for the revision of the Treaties (debate)

Mr President, Madam Vice-President, Minister, colleagues, as we live in unprecedented times, as war of aggression has returned to our continent, we must take a close look at how the EU can do more and better for Europeans. While many of our foundations continue to serve us well, Brexit, together with several European crises, led us to the Conference on the Future of Europe with a forward—looking a…

7

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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Security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the common security and defence policy (debate)

Madam President, success in the Eastern Partnership is key to the EU’s security and defence policy success. To use a common phrase, without a ring of true and close friends around our borders, our geopolitical ambitions will remain limited. We must therefore respond to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine with clarity. We must give unequivocal support for territorial integrity in the Eastern Partnership…