Speeches

Mr President, the suffering caused to the Armenians by the Ottoman Empire is indescribable. As the European Parliament, we have repeatedly called on Turkey to face the historical facts. And also today, at this commemoration, we call on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. During my visit to Yerevan a few years ago, I saw that the pain of the genocide is still felt intensely. In the meantime, the borders between Armenia and Turkey have been hermetically closed and normal diplomatic contacts between the two countries have not been established at all. We have been pushing for some time now, with both countries, for a path of reconciliation. But reconciliation can only be achieved if there is also recognition – recognition of the suffering suffered by the Armenians. It is time for Turkey to see this too.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the conflict in eastern Congo has several dimensions: various rebel groups that are active, struggle for the raw materials. But today, with our resolution, we in the European Parliament are also emphatically highlighting the fact that the conflict certainly also has a religious dimension. And we are talking in particular about the jihadist group ADF, which sows death and destruction in the region, targeting Christians and destroying their churches. Appointing and acknowledging this as the European Parliament is a very important step. But let us now also do everything in our power to actually stop this violence by supporting Congo and Uganda in their fight against the jihadists, imposing sanctions on those responsible and giving support to those affected. The vast majority of Congo's population is Christian, but they are now under serious threat from extremists and we must not let that happen.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, they were finally there: Protests in Gaza against the Hamas regime. But unfortunately, it was only a small minority. The vast majority of Palestinians still stand squarely behind Hamas. Therefore, if we want to work towards a lasting peace in the region, we will have to focus not only on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, but certainly also on deradicalisation. As a major donor to the Palestinians, the European Union also has the tools for this. For example, we can force President Abbas to thoroughly amend the textbooks, which are steeped in Jew-hatred. Knowing that they are also following the Palestinian Authority's curriculum in Gaza could bring about a huge change. Commission, Madam High Representative, please work on this. Deradicalization begins in education. I am sure we will do the peace demonstrators and Gaza a tremendous service with that.

Mr President, the first ever EU-Central Asia Summit will take place this week. Leaders from Europe, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan discuss many topics. However, the Council's press announcement lacked one very important topic, namely the massive violations of human rights in these countries. Of course, that is not possible, because anyone who has been introduced a little knows that human rights are not in the best shape there. I am thinking in particular of the plight of Christians who are suffering under the authoritarian regimes of these countries. My appeal to the Commission and the Council is therefore: This week in Uzbekistan, address the increasing persecution of Christians in these countries. Make it clear to these countries that until the situation of Christians improves, there can be no closer economic cooperation with the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, make agriculture attractive again for future generations. That's the mission you're putting down here. A mission that I wholeheartedly support. Because if you see that indeed only 12% of farmers are under 40 years of age, then it is immediately clear that there is a very big challenge here. We are not going to solve that with some marginal changes in the common agricultural policy. A comprehensive approach is needed. It is good to see, Commissioner, that you are aware of this. I will highlight one theme, namely the Nitrates Directive, which you also mention in the vision, with the well-known standard of a maximum of 170 kilograms of nitrogen in livestock manure per hectare. A standard that leads to farmers being forced to dispose of animal manure and then to supply artificial fertiliser as compensation. That is totally unsustainable, totally uncircular and we only chase the farmers with it at high costs. So the solution is simple: Eliminate that norm!

Mr President, in the discussion on Gaza I hear very often that the situation is completely hopeless. And that's what it feels like. Yet the building blocks for the approach to get out of this misery are perfectly clear, namely immediate release of all hostages and firm security guarantees, so that October 7 can never repeat itself. Once these conditions are met, a great deal will be possible again from the Israeli side. But that does mean that there is no place for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. I agree with the High Representative's clear position on this point. But it also calls for EU action now: namely to replace humanitarian aid through UNRWA with aid through bodies that do not cooperate with Hamas, and to impose an EU ban on our own territory for organisations with clear links to Hamas.

President. In the discussion on CSRD and CSDDD, the ECR has always said: keep it practicable and protect SMEs. That's what this Omnibus is all about. We therefore see this as a necessary correction to failed policies, with regulatory burdens taking on exorbitant proportions. But there are also quite a few questions to be asked about these proposals. For example, how does the Commission intend to combat abuses such as child labour and slavery if companies no longer have to look beyond their direct business relations? We would like to clarify this specific point. In the meantime, I call on the Commission to consider other legislation as well. Think of the equally passed Nature Restoration Act and the highly outdated Nitrates Directive: legislation that, in particular, costs the agricultural industry a lot of headaches. This simplification exercise should not be limited to the current proposals.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, saying something ugly about God or about someone who is holy to someone else is of course not good. But how blasphemy is dealt with in countries such as Nigeria and Afghanistan is of course not possible either. Just by singing a song you can end up on death row in Nigeria. Just by an accusation of blasphemy, when there was no question of that at all, you can get a very people-oriented against you. How many Christians in Muslim countries have been affected? Today, we call for the immediate release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, for more action by the Commission to address all the issues surrounding blasphemy laws worldwide, and for greater attention to be paid to the persecution of faith, and Christian persecution in particular. That is why we are asking the Commission this very specific question: Where is the new EU Envoy for Freedom of Religion?

Mr President, the Commission's work programme rightly emphasises the need to strengthen competitiveness. The question, however, is whether we will make it with the package that is now before us. I'm afraid not. Indeed, the Commission ignores the essence of the problem: The Green Deal. The Green Deal is costing the business community enormously. Moreover, the current timeline is not achievable, certainly not with that 90% reduction target by 2040. The energy network in the Netherlands is becoming saturated, so companies that want to make it more sustainable cannot even do so. If we want to keep business in Europe, we need to simplify. Think about sustainability reports. We must also stimulate innovation, but we will certainly also have to do something about the Green Deal.

Mr President, we do not want to be lobbied with European money. What happened to the LIFE programme is unacceptable. However, I am broadening the discussion. The Commission cannot just subsidise every NGO. Article 183 of the Financial Regulation makes this clear: subjects for which there is no European policy and over which the EU has no control are not eligible for funding. Think of marriage and family, and ethical issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Nevertheless, the Commission is spending money on the promotion of abortion and gender ideology through NGOs, contrary to Article 183 of the Financial Regulation. We value NGOs and civil society, but we need to critically examine all support to NGOs, based on multiple aspects. There are now more than 4 000 NGOs in 150 countries.

Mr President, hope and fear: Those are the two words that come to mind when I look at the "deal." We see in the relatives of the hostages new hope that they too will soon be able to embrace their loved ones again. We see in the people of Gaza new hope that the bombings will stop and that they can start thinking about reconstruction. But in the meantime, the concerns remain great. And also the fear. There are serious concerns about the fate of the hostages. What are they up to? How many are still alive and will they all be released? But there are also concerns about long-term consequences of this "deal". Hamas is weakened, but not defeated. Hundreds of terrorists are now freed. What consequences does that have? And will we now give Hamas a free hand again to rearm so that they can prepare a second "October 7" and build tunnels, instead of taking care of their own population? That can't be the intention, can it? The fact that there is a deal now is positive, but this deal requires very concrete follow-up steps, certainly from us. We must not only support reconstruction, but also, and above all, support Israel in the fight against terrorism and in taking measures to prevent the rearmament of Hamas. For example, we should not require Israel to leave the Philadelphicorridor without firm guarantees that no more guns will enter the area. Because only in this way can the fear of a repeat of October 7 give way to hope for a lasting peace.

Mr President, all eyes were recently on the UN climate conference in Baku. Some saw this as a good opportunity to encourage Azerbaijan to improve respect for human rights. But unfortunately, the opposite happened. Baku used the conference mainly as a distraction to arrest dissidents. And these arrests go on and on: Human rights activists, journalists. They disappear behind bars one by one. Speaking of human rights: What about the mass expulsion of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh? Meanwhile, the European Union still sees Azerbaijan as a valuable and reliable cooperation partner. I don't understand that. It really is time, Commissioner, for a different approach. I am thinking specifically of suspending the energy deal. I am thinking specifically of the imposition of individual sanctions. We can no longer stand idly by and watch people like Gubad Ibadoghlu languish under house arrest or anywhere else in the dark prisons of this cruel regime.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, today we are discussing the challenges facing European farmers and, in particular, we are highlighting the fact that many farmers are suffering from very serious mental complaints. Why is that and what can we do about it? A recent survey among farmers in my country pointed to tight regulation as the main cause. Followed by an uncertain future perspective, insufficient valuation from the market and financial concerns. The burden of increasing regulatory pressure and a missing revenue model weigh heavily on the shoulders. The water is on the lips of many farmers. I therefore call on the Commission to come forward with a thorough impact assessment of the Green Deal and to take swift action to reduce the regulatory burden. The well-being of our farmers must be placed higher on the priority list.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, what a hopeful future we have for the troubled people of Syria. However, the big question is: Will the new rulers take care of that? The rebels of HTS promise to protect the rights of minorities, but at the same time they also want to introduce Sharia. All very contradictory and difficult to reconcile. After all, Sharia law usually has little mercy for dissenters. Christians in Syria are frightened, very frightened. The situation is certainly extremely uncertain for them. Care for minorities must therefore be given the highest priority in our treatment of those in power. I am glad that the High Representative is indeed aware of this. There is hope for Syria only if there is room for the church to continue to spread the good news. The message of Christmas, namely, that God sent his son to earth for the forgiveness of sins.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the whole process of appointing the new Commission certainly does not deserve a beauty prize. The whole process has been dominated by partisan considerations, while we have to judge the new Commissioners primarily on their abilities. We saw that very clearly in the hearing with Mr Várhelyi. He showed that he knew his files very well, but because he did not explicitly speak out in favour of abortion, Parliament has now taken part of his portfolio. Sad, deeply sad: I don't have another word for that. If you suggest that you want to leave room for the Member States to protect the vulnerable unborn life in the mother’s womb, this Parliament – and Mrs von der Leyen accepts the whole process – will put you in the suspects’ bank. I cannot possibly support such dubious deals that undermine the protection of the unborn life. For me, that is one of the reasons why I cannot agree to the appointment of this Commission.

Mr President, last week in the hearing with Mr Várhelyi, something very strange happened. Many colleagues forced him to speak out in favour of abortion, while the European Union is not about it at all. It is illustrative of the way in which the European Union deals with the subject. She has nothing to say about it and yet she is trying to impose a wide-ranging abortion law on the whole world. Through international treaties, for example, but also by subsidising NGOs that actively lobby for even broader abortion legislation in the Member States and elsewhere. I asked written questions about this financial support this week, Commissioner. My call is: Commission, stop this pro-abortion lobby, because the European Union is not about it. And two: We are talking here about the unborn life, God-given fragile life, which deserves our protection.

What strikes me in your speech is that you put the behaviour of the supporters on an equal footing with the hit-and-run actions. I would ask you to reflect on that. Do you agree with me that chasing people, chasing them into the canals, so that people have to flee for their lives, that that is a much more dramatic, worse thing than chanting slogans and removing a flag from the wall?

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, what happened last week in Amsterdam is unacceptable: Jews who had to run for their lives because of brutally organized anti-Semitic violence. These events are not isolated. They unfortunately fit the pattern of increasing Jew-hatred, strongly fueled by Muslim extremists and left-wing activists, a curious coalition of groups and people who together have created a particularly explosive anti-Semitic climate. The fact that people are once again trying to blame the Jews for the events shows how anti-Semitic the climate in Europe has become. Mr President, this must stop. We must not stand idly by while the Jewish community in Europe is increasingly being cornered. That is why I also call on the Member States to include organisations sympathetic to Hamas, such as Samidoun, on the European list of terrorist organisations and to ban all demonstrations with serious risks of anti-Semitic expressions. Also, don't forget to tackle anti-Semitism online. Let us also be very clear at our borders when it comes to immigration: There is no place for anti-Semitism in Europe. If you want a residence permit, you will at least have to show that you also endorse our values in that respect.

Mr President, last November Vidal Qadras, former Vice-President of the European Parliament, was shot in the street in Madrid. He barely survived the attack. A few months later there was an attack in London on an Iranian journalist and in June a foiled attack on an Iranian activist in the Netherlands. Who's behind this? Everything indicates that we need to look at Tehran. Iran appears to be a threat not only to Israel, but also to Europe. I therefore call on the Commission and the Council to: 1) launch in-depth investigations into how Iran infiltrates Europe, including through existing criminal networks, 2) encourage intensive cooperation between national security forces and with Israeli Mossad to neutralise the Iranian threat on European territory, and 3) finally place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the list of terrorist organisations.

Mr President, last year I visited the Lachin corridor, where I spoke, among other things, with Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Guess how the Ambassador of Azerbaijan reacted? He placed an image of a rifle on X, including the threatening message that I should not show myself there again. This intolerable incident, of course, falls short of what the people of Nagorno-Karabakh must experience: exile from their region, destruction of their religious heritage and continued military aspirations of Aliyev towards Armenia. And then the people of Azerbaijan themselves. They are severely restricted in their rights. Take Gubad Ibadoghlu, for example. Meanwhile, the Council and the Commission continue to consider Azerbaijan as a reliable partner. I find that incomprehensible. It is high time for a different course, starting with the imposition of sanctions against persons who violate human rights and threaten the sovereignty of Armenia.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the UN has failed in Lebanon. According to UN Resolution 1701, South Lebanon was to remain free from Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah, however, did not care and enlisted a huge force. Unifil stood there, looked at it and did nothing. Israel therefore had to intervene militarily, especially in view of the daily shelling since 7 October. Now that this is the reality, conflicts with Unifil must of course be avoided. But Unifil must also realize one thing very well: The civilian population deserves protection, Hezbollah does not. The moment Unifil gets in the way in the fight against Hezbollah, something fundamentally goes wrong. Unifil should – in line with Resolution 1701 – actually help to get Hezbollah out of the area. For example, by ensuring that arms supplies from Iran stop. The UN would do a great service to both the Lebanese and Israeli populations.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, Europe has been stamped by Christianity for centuries. The late Chancellor Helmut Kohl said: “Europe ends where the church towers end.” In the meantime, many churches are empty, they are being converted into fitness centers or worse, demolished. That's very sad. Not only because of the cultural heritage that is lost, but especially because with it the voice of the Church is lost on very essential matters. About justice. To have an eye for one's neighbor. About sin. About grace to be found in the cross of Christ. I would therefore call today not only to be tolerant of the churches, but above all to restore to the Church the appreciation she deserves. Talk about empty churches. The solution to this is actually very simple. They all go to church more often. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to you.