What Bert-Jan spoke about.

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NL Written Statement

European Digital Identity framework (debate)

Today, the European Parliament voted on a framework for a European Digital Identity (eID). I voted against this report. While a European Digital Identity Wallet may seem easy at first glance, it has major drawbacks and uncertainties. The online use of a European digital identity document poses major challenges to the protection of user privacy. In addition, I have great concerns about the applicat…

16 Sep

2026

NL Speech

Stop gold-plating, relieve SMEs: Member States must implement EU legislation without adding extra bureaucracy (topical debate)

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Mr President, this debate on overregulation is about a persistent problem: Member States that interpret European rules unnecessarily strictly and thus seriously undermine the competitive position of companies. In my own country, the examples are for the taking. I am thinking of the decision to classify the whole of the Netherlands as vulnerable under the Nitrates Directive. No European obligation,…

9 Jul

2026

NL Answer

Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy and follow-up (debate)

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Thank you so much for this lovely question. You ask about the need for rules and whether there is no need for rules. I would like to say this: I see rules first and foremost as solidified mistrust. And I think we have to go back to the idea that we also have to give the entrepreneur, the fisherman, confidence again. And that means that you have to dare to cut into bureaucracy, that you have to dar…

9 Jul

2026

NL Speech

Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy and follow-up (debate)

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Mr President, reading the evaluation of the common fisheries policy could give the impression that it is mainly the Member States that are failing. What is totally lacking, however, is a critical look at European policy itself. Does that fit in with the practice? That is what the debate must now be about. Our fishermen want to deal responsibly with the sea, but they are also entitled to rules that…

8 Jul

2026

NL Speech

The abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and the protection of girls in Pakistan

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Mr President, the case of Maria Shahbaz does not stand alone: Every year hundreds of Christian girls and Hindu girls are kidnapped in Pakistan, forced to convert to Islam and marry an often much older Muslim man. This is a degrading practice which is not only contrary to freedom of religion, but also seriously affects the rights of the child, the rights of parents and the right to freedom and secu…

8 Jul

2026

NL Speech

Ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre

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Things went horribly wrong in Nigeria. Now in the village of Kawel, where dozens of Christians died in an attack by extremists. But I am also thinking of the dozens of students who were recently kidnapped in the state of Borno. The attacks and kidnappings continue and only increase in intensity. Our resolution speaks plain language. We call on Nigeria to face the problem, to protect the population…

8 Jul

2026

NL Speech

The EU’s role in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the accountability of Israel under international law (topical debate)

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Mr President, if it is difficult to see perspective somewhere, it is in Gaza. Two million Palestinians live in appalling conditions, in a totally hopeless situation. Many say it is all Israel's fault, but of course it is not. Surely, Israel must make every effort to get humanitarian aid to the affected population. But we can't blame Israel for trying to control Hamas, can we? Which brings us to th…

17 Jun

2026

NL Speech

Preparation of the European Council (joint debate)

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Mr President, migration is also on the agenda of the upcoming summit. And for good reason. The asylum and migration pact may have entered into force, but there may be a deal on the return regulation, so the migration flow is of course far from under control. What matters now is compliance with the agreements made. Border countries must stop allowing asylum seekers to travel unscreened to Europe, a…

19 May

2026

NL Speech

Presentation of the Fertilisers Action Plan (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, keep fertilisers affordable for farmers and reduce dependence on imports of fertilisers. These are two important objectives of the present action plan for fertilisers. A rightful pursuit in this turbulent time with persistent energy prices. However, this action plan is a missed opportunity. Indeed, the measure that can have the most impact is missing: Focus …

18 May

2026

NL Speech

The impact of the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU on fisheries in selected fishing areas and sea basins (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Yon-Courtin’s report on maritime spatial planning confronts us with a worrying development, namely the fact that fisheries are increasingly falling short. In the North Sea and the Channel, fishermen are displaced by shipping, wind farms and nature measures. In this way, the space for our food production is shrinking, while the pressure on fishermen and coasta…

30 Apr

2026

NL Speech

How to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases? (debate)

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Mr President, it is a good thing that there is currently a revaluation of livestock farming. After all, livestock farming makes an important contribution to the essential protein sources in our food, and is a crucial pillar of a circular food system. Our sectors are at the forefront of sustainability and efficiency, using the latest innovations for animal welfare and the environment. The point, ho…

29 Apr

2026

NL Speech

The need to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish life in Europe, following the recent attacks against the Jewish community in the Netherlands and Belgium (debate)

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28 Apr

2026

NL Speech

Interim report on the proposal for the multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034 (debate)

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Budgeting means making choices, and we have to make them. But we cannot, of course, reduce the fisheries budget by 67%, as the Commission proposes. That would not do justice to the challenges faced by fisheries. Funding is needed for fleet modernisation, for innovative fishing gear, but also for generational renewal. As rapporteur on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries, I am therefore pleased tha…

27 Apr

2026

NL Speech

Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2024 (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, pumping as much money into the economy as quickly as possible with as little supervision and control as possible. In this way, the EU tackled the coronavirus crisis, resulting in huge debts and interest payments and a lot of fraud. According to the EPPO, €5 billion in fraud has already been committed with money from the Coronavirus Recovery Fund. Colleagues, I w…

25 Mar

2026

NL Speech

European Citizens’ Initiative 'Ban on conversion practices in the European Union' (debate)

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Mr President, the call for a ban on conversion therapies raises major questions, first of all, the EU does not have competence in this area. That is the only reason why we must reject this request. But the scope of the whole proposal is also very dubious. Coercion or ill-treatment are already prohibited by law. It is therefore clear that the scope of this proposal goes far beyond that. We …

25 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, I can agree because then I think we have more time and we can prepare ourselves better for the debate. So I can agree with that proposal.

25 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Order of business

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Mr President, it does not stop, and it goes from bad to worse. I mean the long series of attacks on the Jewish community – the President already mentioned them – such as recently at a synagogue in Liège, a synagogue in Rotterdam, a Jewish school in Amsterdam and ambulances from a Jewish volunteer organisation in London. Where does this end? Yes, even today we show solidarity with the Jewish com…

11 Mar

2026

NL Speech

Child sexual abuse online: protect children, not perpetrators (topical debate)

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11 Mar

2026

NL Answer

EUCO and situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

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11 Mar

2026

NL Speech

EUCO and situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

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9 Mar

2026

NL Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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12 Feb

2026

NL Speech

Recommendation to the Council on EU priorities for the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (debate)

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11 Feb

2026

NL Speech

Targeted expulsions of foreign journalists and foreign Christians in Türkiye under national security pretexts

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Mr President, you are bringing the joyful message of the Gospel, the message of peace and reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Then you are considered a danger to the state and you do not enter the country anymore. That is the harsh reality for many missionaries who have Turkey as their field of work. Similarly for the American-Dutch preacher James Bultema, who left for Turkey in 1990, founded a c…

10 Feb

2026

NL Speech

Situation in Northeast Syria, the violence against civilians and the need to maintain a sustainable ceasefire (debate)

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21 Jan

2026

NL Speech

Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the persecution of Jimmy Lai, whose only crime is his commitment to freedom of the press, symbolises the drastic curtailment of freedom in Hong Kong, which has been under increasing pressure since the national security law entered into force there: legislation that paralyses civil society, silences opposition members and erodes fundamental freedoms. It is time f…