What Bert-Jan spoke about.

27 Feb

2024

NL Answer

War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (debate)

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I can certainly explain that. What do I mean by this? I mean that in Gaza and in the Palestinian territories a generation is growing up that is filled with hatred and with Jew-hatred. That's what we need to break through first. It is also clear that as long as Hamas is in charge, there can be no lasting peace. I sincerely hope that a solution can be found when it comes to a deal with Hamas on the …

27 Feb

2024

NL Speech

War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (debate)

Watch

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the release of the more than 100 hostages in Gaza must be a top priority in the ongoing negotiations. Increasing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza is also of great importance. A temporary fight break can certainly help, but it is up to Hamas to take responsibility, in the interest of the people in Gaza. However, this has been lacking for decades. Let's be re…

26 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Protection of the environment through criminal law (short presentation)

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Mr President, while the EPP is trying to take the edge off the Green Deal in the light of the elections, there is now a report by an EPP rapporteur that presents us with a deal whereby entrepreneurs are forced with the hard hand of criminal law to stay within the framework of the Green Deal. There's something contradictory about that. In the Netherlands, farmers are facing administrative fines bec…

26 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Tackling the inflation in food prices and its social consequences and root causes (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, the fact that our daily messages have become much more expensive does not stand alone. It is linked to the overall inflation that was partly caused by a failing ECB that has continued to pump money into the economy for far too long. Lesson one is therefore: ECB, stick to your mandate, namely to ensure price stability. Lesson two is: Let's take care of our agriculture an…

7 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the horrific attacks on Christian villages in Nigeria on Christmas night last year are a new low point in the ongoing violence. Those who say that it is merely a conflict between shepherds and farmers ignore the other causes. They are Muslim extremists who sow death and destruction here. That is the harsh reality and our resolution is clear on that. I call on th…

7 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the dramatic events on 7 October also have an impact on our society. We see a huge polarization. But what worries me the most is the resurgence of anti-Semitism. We have to stop this. Namely: a) By being very clear. You may protest, but as soon as you start shouting that Jews should be expelled from their land, you cross a border. We won't tolerate…

6 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed (debate)

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Mr President, plant breeders are doing a fantastic job. They know how to use the potential that lies in creation effectively and thus create new variants. Ranging from beautiful lilies to potato varieties that still generate good yields even under very dry conditions. The problem, however, is the long duration of the breeding process, while we need to speed it up, given climate change and disease …

18 Jan

2024

NL Speech

EU Action Plan: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, today it is not a green light for the action plan for the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, but a resolution with a number of fundamental concerns about both the approach and the content. The Commission requires Member States to close all natural areas for bottom-contacting fishing from 2030 onwards, while having no legal basis at all, but only a non-bind…

18 Jan

2024

NL Speech

Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, with Mr Mato's very balanced report on the CFP, we call on the Council and the Commission to pay more attention to the socio-economic importance of fisheries, as well as to the important role that fisheries play in our food supply. This is urgently needed, because the fishing industry has been hit hard in recent years. That's why the helm really ne…

16 Jan

2024

NL Speech

EU-India relations (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, at a time of geopolitical tensions and uncertainty, it is very important to establish new strategic partnerships and strengthen existing ones. The European Union and India can do a lot for each other in this regard. In the field of trade and investment, but certainly also in the field of digitalisation and maritime security. In particular, to count…

16 Jan

2024

NL Speech

Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire and the risks of regional escalation (debate)

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( – Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, while we are talking here, 136 hostages are being held by Hamas and other terrorist organisations. For over a hundred days. Hamas does not allow the Red Cross and other organizations to access the hostages to provide medical care. Ondertussen frustreert Hamas de humanitaire hulpverlening door hulpkonvooien te kapen om zo haar eigen strijders te bevoorrechten…

15 Jan

2024

NL Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Mr President, for the Christian community in Plateau State in Nigeria, Christmas night ended in a nightmare this time. Two hundred of them were brutally murdered by Muslim extremists. Many hundreds were seriously injured. And what did we hear from the European Commission and the High Representative? No conviction, no statement, not even a post on X. Nothing at all. That is, of course, very bad, Mr…

15 Jan

2024

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, I would like to thank Mr Gahler for their support for our proposal, and we can agree to postpone this debate to the next session in February.

15 Jan

2024

NL Speech

Order of business

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Mr President, last Christmas recess we were startled by reports of horrific attacks by extremists on Christian villages in Nigeria. Two hundred innocent villagers were killed and many hundreds seriously injured. Unfortunately, these attacks are not isolated. The region is increasingly confronted with extremist violence. No matter how you look at this situation, looking away from the ECR group is i…

13 Dec

2023

NL Answer

Jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood and creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood (debate)

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You ask what a healthy and stable family is. I am convinced that it is in the best interest of a child to grow up with a father and with the mother. And I do not believe that it is in the best interest of a child not to be informed and not to grow up with the biological mother. I believe in the classic marriage and family with the father and the mother. I think that is the best way we can deal wit…

13 Dec

2023

NL Speech

Jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood and creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood (debate)

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Mr President, with the Parenting Regulation, the European Union is on a slippery slope. After all, it enters an area that belongs to the Member States, namely family law. I know: this Regulation is limited to cross-border situations involving relocation to another country. But we can't ignore it: This regulation will soon force Member States to recognise parenting relationships that they consider …

12 Dec

2023

NL Speech

EU-China relations (debate)

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Mr President, the report on which we are going to vote this week is crystal clear: Europe needs to rethink its relationship with China. We have become too dependent on China. Concrete measures are also needed against Chinese interference and espionage in Europe. The report also rightly pays due attention to the continuing violation of human rights. Take religious freedom, for example: the one-part…

12 Dec

2023

NL Speech

Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)

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Mr President, Mr High Representative, ladies and gentlemen, in our search for solutions in this terrible war, we must not leave any possibility unexploited. I'm thinking of the hostages. If there is room to free them again, for example through humanitarian breaks, then we must of course take advantage of that opportunity. However, the one-sided pressure on Israel to achieve a long-term ceasefire i…

23 Nov

2023

NL Speech

International day for the elimination of violence against women (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in the Netherlands there are often watchers at abortion centres. Volunteers who let women know that there are alternatives. They offer financial, practical, social and psychological help, help to mother and child. And that saves lives. A European directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence is currently being negotiated. A…

22 Nov

2023

NL Speech

Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need for the release of hostages and for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire and the prospects for peace and security in the Middle East (debate)

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Mr President, Mr High Representative, Commissioner, I would like to ask the following questions to all those who today feel that they should criticise Israel in particular, including Mr Borrell: Who has held more than 200 innocent civilians hostage for more than six weeks? That's right, Hamas. Who sowed death and destruction on October 7 at a peaceful music festival and in many kibbutz? That's rig…

21 Nov

2023

NL Speech

Sustainable use of plant protection products (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, on reducing the use of plant protection products, I see interesting developments in agriculture and horticulture: the use of natural fighters in closed crops, for example. Or look at innovations in mechanical weed control. Developments that we need to facilitate as much as possible. However, the proposed 50% reduction in 2030 raises major questions…

20 Nov

2023

NL Speech

Implementation of the Regulation establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel (short presentation)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, I am pleased to be able to present our report on the implementation of the Eel Regulation to you. First of all, I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs, all the staff involved and the secretariat of the Committee on Fisheries for their excellent cooperation. There is now a report that has broad support and absolutely deserves follow-up. Ou…

8 Nov

2023

NL Speech

Urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism (statement by the President)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, waves of antisemitism are currently sweeping Europe and the rest of the world. An entire population is removed. That we have allowed this to happen in Europe, with our so-called high-quality European values. There's only one thing that fits here: Great collective shame. Since 7 October, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the Netherlands alone has increased …

19 Oct

2023

NL Speech

Generational renewal in the EU farms of the future (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, if we want to be assured of food in the future, we must now ensure that a new generation of young farmers can start. Unfortunately, there are quite a few obstacles: availability of land; access to capital, loans rejected; the economic perspective of the sector, ever-changing rules and new requirements. Just to name a few examples. What we need is a…

19 Oct

2023

NL Speech

European protein strategy (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, protein is an essential part of our food system. I am pleased that both vegetable and animal proteins have been given an important place in this report, because they go hand in hand. I would like to underline three specific points: Firstly, in order to promote the cultivation of protein crops: the importance of new breeding techniques. Second, circ…