What Vladimír spoke about.

7

Jun

2022

EN Speech

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The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF) (debate)

Madam President, the decision to endorse Poland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan was neither easy nor is it a blank cheque. The approval of this plan is linked to clear commitments by Poland on rule of law issues and the independence of the judiciary. ‘A first payment will only be possible when the new law is in force and ticks all the boxes under this contract.’ This is a direct quote from the Comm…

19

May

2022

EN Speech

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The fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, the wheels of justice are moving. But we need to make sure they are moving swiftly. Heroic efforts are being carried out already by both Ukrainian and European professionals to secure evidence of war crimes in Ukraine and from Ukrainians across EU Member States. These efforts deserve our utmost political, legislative and financial support. Victims of war crimes need credible evidence…

18

May

2022

EN Speech

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Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law Report (debate)

Madam President, I think it’s important that we discuss rule of law in this Parliament as much as possible. I also want to thank the rapporteur for the reports, and I’m glad this has become a regular exercise. Let me focus on one aspect, because I do believe that the 25 February and Russia’s attack against Ukraine has been a game changer in so many respects, including also the way we discuss rule …

5

May

2022

EN Speech

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The impact of the war against Ukraine on women (debate)

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, I stand here with my most sincere condolences to all Ukrainians who have lost family members, friends and colleagues in this brutal war. It deeply pains me to hear the horrific stories from Ukraine. Every story, every picture, every emotion. We see you. We hear you. Your stories are being documented. Your stories will not be forgotten. Ukrainian wom…

3

May

2022

EN Speech

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Threats to the safety of journalists and media freedom, on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day (debate)

Madam President, today we are here to honour and to protect the work of journalists. The job of a journalist is a brave job. A reporter in Ukraine today is also a freedom fighter on the frontlines of Russia’s aggression. Dear journalists in Kyiv and everywhere in Ukraine, you who report on Russian attacks and war crimes, you help shield millions of citizens in any of our European countries from fo…

2

May

2022

EN Speech

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Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (debate)

I don’t think transnational lists are going to improve the European Union. We can lose any other Member State because of the way we don’t connect our domestic politics to European issues and European agenda to domestic politics. And this is not going to be done through transnational lists. Well, we have to be actively engaged. We have to have a much longer, much more massive campaign. We have to h…

2

May

2022

EN Speech

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Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (debate)

The answer is very simple. We are elected on a single list. With two lists, you create two different classes of MEPs, two different classes of candidates, two different classes of people running for political office, and that is the problem. You also create different constituencies. At the moment, my country is a single electoral district. Very simple, very clear. This sort of revolution would not…

2

May

2022

EN Speech

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Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (debate)

Mr President, I’m really enjoying this discussion. I hope we can actually bring it to our constituents in the Member States but I do believe the moment I begin talking about transnational lists back home, you know, there will be a big silence. The discussion just goes dead, that is the reality. And that’s why I want to say, as a convinced European, that transnational lists are creating a problem r…

7

Apr

2022

SK Speech

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The situation of marginalised Roma communities in the EU (debate)

Mr President, the Roma in Central Europe have been particularly vulnerable for a long time. Many Roma communities have been socially excluded for decades and their position and prospects for a better future remain slim. Every European is affected by the consequences of the COVID pandemic and the brutal Russian aggression. In crises, however, the weakest suffer the most. If we do not support them, …

6

Apr

2022

SK Speech

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Increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexey Navalny

Mr President, in Russia there is a ban on talking about war, there is a ban on speaking the truth. Anyone who has the courage to tell the truth is exposed to violence, police brutality and abducted judicial power. Russia is spreading its cruelty not only in Ukraine, but also at home to its own population. Alexei Navalny's re-imprisonment is a symptom of problems that have been growing in Russia fo…

6

Apr

2022

SK Speech

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Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary (debate)

Madam President, Russian aggression has changed the world. It strengthened our attitudes. She opened many people's eyes to dictatorial evil. However, some of the pictures from Bucha are not enough. Unfortunately, in this case, we cannot help. Now is the time to stand up for freedom, for democracy and for human rights. Now is the time to defend European values. Poland can be extremely proud of its …

16

Feb

2022

SK Speech

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EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine (continuation of debate)

Madam President, today we need the unity of the Member States, the political determination of the European institutions and unequivocal support for Ukraine in the face of the impending Russian aggression. What steps can we take? Let us send military aid to Ukraine, as many of our allies have already done. Let us stand behind clear and harsh sanctions in the event of a Russian attack, including the…

15

Feb

2022

SK Speech

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Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2021 (debate)

Madam President, congratulations to the rapporteurs McAllister and Loiseau on their reports. European foreign and security policy is currently undergoing a major test. Years of work on external policy and sanctions regimes must make sense and deliver concrete results right now, when we are at risk of Russian aggression right at the border of the European Union. Europe has the strength to be an int…

19

Jan

2022

EN Speech

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Situation in Kazakhstan

Mr President, let me express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in the past weeks in Kazakhstan. The exercise of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly should never result in the images and violence we saw in various cities across Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is an important member of the international community. It also carries a lot of geopolitic…

19

Jan

2022

SK Speech

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Digital Services Act (continuation of debate)

Mr President. Tomorrow, we are voting together on the Digital Services Act. If I am to evaluate what this vote means, I say that this is the first successful step. I am fully aware of the huge opportunities that online platforms have brought to our lives. It enriches and simplifies life. Yes, today we normally communicate, shop, make decisions, have fun or culturally live online. But ladies and ge…

14

Dec

2021

EN Speech

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Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans (continuation of debate)

Mr President, first of all I would like to take this opportunity to welcome today’s good news: the opening of Cluster 4 with Serbia. It is an important political signal towards all partners in the Western Balkans that EU enlargement is making progress. I’m hoping for some good news for the region, notably when it comes to opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania before the end of t…

14

Dec

2021

SK Speech

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Situation at the Ukrainian border and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, in 2013 few people could imagine war on the territory of Ukraine. However, the rapid annexation of Crimea and the ongoing hot conflict in eastern Ukraine have come. Today, despite Biden's latest talks with Putin, the concentration of Russian troops at the border continues. We must therefore prepare for every scenario of conflict with Russia. The security and territorial integrity …

23

Nov

2021

EN Speech

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Situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (debate)

Madam President, it is important that we debate the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but I regret that once again this debate is taking place late at night, away from the political spotlight it needs. The challenges of the Western Balkans deserve to be a central issue in this House and across all European capitals. Dear colleagues, our discussion here is not merely about the regional p…

11

Nov

2021

EN Speech

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Statute and funding of European political parties and foundations (debate)

Madam President, European democracy must be more resilient, especially in this era when we are facing increasing foreign interference in our democratic processes, including through targeted and well—orchestrated disinformation campaigns that are often supported from abroad through illicit means and aimed at undermining our democratic fabric. This is an important resolution, dear colleagues, with a…

10

Nov

2021

EN Speech

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Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU (debate)

Madam President, this report is a good and reasonable compromise. I believe the rapporteurs appreciate all too well how difficult it is to propose feasible instruments in such a complicated and sensitive environment as the media sector. Freedom and independence of media have been under increasing pressure across the Member States, and we cannot sit idly in EU institutions. It is our duty to suppor…

21

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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The outcome of the Western Balkans summit (continuation of debate)

Mr President, the EU Western Balkans summit took place in arguably a very difficult period for both the European Union and our partners in the Western Balkans. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. It continues to limit the lives of people and put a strain on the healthcare systems in the region. I would like to welcome the unprecedented assistance that the EU has provided and continues to provide to…

19

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law (debate)

Mr President, this debate is about Europe, our Europe and every European. It is about European commitment to principles and public trust across our Union. The European project flourishes thanks to the predictability and responsibility of political and legal institutions. The alternative is pure power politics based on numbers and force, power politics in which all of us in Europe can only become l…

5

Oct

2021

SK Speech

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Disinformation and the role of social platforms (debate)

Madam President, today I will listen very carefully to every single word that the European Commission says. The questions we have asked you are factual and concrete. I firmly believe that your answers will be the same, Commissioner. The problem we face in today's online world is huge. It is not something that is solved by one initiative, one, albeit skillfully set code. We will only make the onlin…

5

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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The situation in Belarus after one year of protests and their violent repression (continuation of debate)

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, today we must pay our respect to all those who are fighting for a democratic Belarus. My thoughts are especially with those who have been detained or imprisoned for their political beliefs by the regime in Minsk. Lukashenko is currently using two important weapons against his own people and against Europe. The first is manipulative disinformation. The …

15

Sep

2021

EN Speech

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Media freedom and further deterioration of the Rule of law in Poland (debate)

Madam President, we would not be here today discussing Poland if it were for a single misstep in this important Member State. Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that we have been observing a dangerous political trend in Poland with potentially existential consequences for the European project. As a central European, proud of my region’s return to Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain, I am sad t…