Speeches

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, 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.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, tonight we commemorate the victims of the terrible 7-October attacks that took place exactly one year ago. And we express our support to the families and call once again for the immediate release of all hostages. Meanwhile, we look with dismay at the devastation in Gaza and now also in Lebanon. But I also note that Israel has no other choice, given Hamas's obstinate stance, Hezbollah's ongoing rocket rain and Iran's permanent threat. Israel is fighting terrorism and – unlike Hamas – is doing everything in its power to prevent civilian casualties. Many speak of the need for de-escalation, always pointing an accusing finger at Israel. The latter is not appropriate, because the keys to de-escalation are not in Jerusalem, but in the dark tunnels under Gaza. If Hamas releases the hostages today, there could be a ceasefire tomorrow.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the greater extremes we see in the weather present major challenges for agriculture. What is needed? I would like to mention two main points: The first main line is to strengthen resilience by plant breeding, using NGTs for example, by promoting soil life and by making good choices in the building plan and cultivation methods. The second main line is to ensure that farmers can intervene if necessary. Think of plant protection products for disease control, preferably as targeted as possible via precision agriculture and with low-risk products. But we do need those resources. Even in the organic sector, one cannot do without it completely. Just look at the use of copper against phytophthora in a number of countries. One thing is clear in the meantime: Calendar farming does not work. It is foolish that the government prescribes when a crop must be harvested outwardly, knowing that every growing season is different. This also applies to: Give the farmer the opportunity to be an entrepreneur and make his own choices.

Mr President, I do not deny that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I know, of course, that there are bombings and that the situation in the area is difficult. That is why, in my speech, I also expressed the hope that in the end it will be possible to reach a deal. However, this must be done under two very clear conditions: Hamas must release all hostages and Israel must have clear security guarantees. The picture you paint by saying that no humanitarian aid could enter is completely untrue. There are indeed aid transports going that way. It is often a question of distributing ... (the President interrupted the speaker) ... food produced by Hamas ... (the President interrupted the speaker) ... confiscated.

Mr President, it seems crystal clear to me that we are supposed to protect the State of Israel. In view of the future of the whole region, it is crucial that we relaunch a process of negotiations, including the future of the Palestinian territories. The hard condition is that the terror must first stop. If there is room for negotiations again, I see perspective. However, I think it is a misrepresentation of things to talk about occupied territories all the time. In my opinion, we must speak of disputed areas, because Israel can make claims on the relevant areas historically and also legally.

Mr President, yesterday we talked about the future of the Jewish community in Europe, in the light of rising anti-Semitism. Today we are talking about the future of the Jews in their own country, which is at stake. Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and Islamic Jihad want to wipe Israel off the map. So we should not be asking ourselves which side we should be on in this conflict. We must stand firm for the survival of the State of Israel and for Israel's right to self-defense. Hamas has already rejected a ceasefire three times and is clearly not yet thinking of giving up the fight. The organization continues to use civilians as human shields and does not shy away from using hospitals and schools for its terrorist activities. Antony Blinken is doing his utmost to reach a deal and his efforts are commendable. However, the release of all hostages and security guarantees for Israel are, in my view, two hard conditions that must be met. Meanwhile, Europe is offside. This is not surprising given the European attitude. Josep Borrell sent another official delegation to the inauguration of the Iranian president this summer, legitimizing this destabilizing regime. It's got to be different.

Mr President, this week I receive a volunteer who comes to Strasbourg from the Netherlands on a bicycle to draw attention to persecuted Christians, and in particular to Christians in Nigeria. When I hear the stories of persecuted Christians, I always notice how, despite the many trials, they often experience and radiate a lot of inner peace, because they know that God carries them. This does not relieve us of our duty to do everything we can to help them. We must make religious freedom a top priority, strengthen the post of the Special Envoy for the Promotion of Religious Freedom and, in the case of Nigeria, strongly condemn Islamic violence and urge the Nigerian authorities to better protect Christian villages. I hope to welcome many of you to the event on Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr President, it is sad that we have to talk again about anti-Semitism, but we cannot ignore it. What can be heard and seen on our streets, squares and universities today is chilling: calls for jihad and expulsion of Jews from their own country, flags of terrorist organizations and swastikas. With a few positive exceptions, the government simply allows this to happen and hardly any action is taken against the mudslide of anti-Semitism that is washing over Europe. We need to make sure that the Jewish community can feel safe again. We must ban anti-Semitic protests and follow the good example of the German judge who used the slogan "From the River to the Sea designated as a criminal offence.

Mr President, we have finally had serious discussions with farmers and stakeholders. This is perhaps the most important added value of this strategic dialogue. Now it is up to the European Commission, when following this advice, to make sure that it actually listens and takes farmers' concerns seriously. The report rightly highlights the strategic importance of our food production. In addition, it makes good recommendations to strengthen the position of young farmers and to offer farmers fair prices. In particular, the regulatory burden should be reduced. Many farmers do indeed want to become more sustainable, but are often driven by unreasonable demands at very high costs. We should not want to regulate everything by means of regulations, but rather offer room for good and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Iran is the great destabilizer of the Middle East. This has been the case for years, and the recent major attack on Israel has confirmed this picture. Their main objective is also clear: Wipe Israel off the map, using terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and dubious alliances with countries such as Russia, Pakistan, China, North Korea, thus making Iran a threat not only to Israel, but actually to the entire international community. The long arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards extends even to Europe. But put the Guard on the European terror list? According to the Council and Mr Borrell, there would be no legal basis for this. Nonsense, of course, this is pure political unwillingness. The Revolutionary Guard should be on the terror list as soon as possible and the sanctions package towards Iran should be expanded. We need to change course, Mr. Borrell. Israel should not be left alone.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, good and healthy basic material is the basis for good cultivation. This requires a well-functioning system that provides guarantees. We have, and it works fine. Look at the result: very high quality starting material. I stress this point because I am very concerned about the proposals that are now on the table. Proposals that threaten to undermine the well-functioning system. In this way, far-reaching exceptions are proposed. For example, the dissemination of basic material via informal networks or users among themselves is not subject to any control. With all the risks that this entails for the spread of plant diseases. Such exceptions also make it very easy for malicious parties to start parallel markets. And then several groups also want to allow uncontrolled imports from neighboring countries such as Belarus or Turkey. I see major phytosanitary risks here, so don't do it. As regards culture and use-value research for fruit and vegetables, Parliament is taking the right step by opting for voluntary action. But with proposals that undermine the current solid system, I cannot possibly agree. Only if we continue to guarantee the high quality and health of the basic material can European agriculture and horticulture continue to excel.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, trafficking in human beings is a multi-faceted monster that we cannot control. What certainly does not help is that many countries have come to regard prostitution as a normal profession, while there is a lot of human trafficking there. The fact that we are now updating the directive on combating trafficking in human beings is a good thing. But more is needed, in particular from the Member States: more people and resources for detection and enforcement, better information exchange between national authorities, but also more exit programmes for prostitutes and addressing prostitution visitors and operators. Exploitation of surrogate mothers will now also be covered by the directive, and that is quite right. However, I still believe that surrogacy should be banned in its entirety. And not only because of the exploitation, but also because it is ethically very debatable to take a child away from the mother after birth.

Mr President, always wanting to have the latest of the latest, that is actually a very good thing for our disposable society. Of course, sometimes new stuff is just needed, but often not at all. For example, I ride a 30-year-old bicycle myself and that's just fine. Isn't there an important key here in preventing huge waste mountains? Namely: Stop throwing everything away and be satisfied with what you have. So life is possible, but then you must have the opportunity to have things that break down affordable and easy to repair. I therefore warmly welcome the deal on the right to repair for electronic products. He can greatly help to repair our phones, irons and so on to get back to normal after the warranty period. Here common sense and care for the environment go hand in hand.

Mr President, what Macron achieved last week in France, he is now trying, through his delegation to the European Parliament, to regulate also in the rest of Europe, namely to make abortion a fundamental right, a human right. I would like to ask all those colleagues who support him in this and who pride themselves on our so-called Western civilization: What is one of the most important characteristics of a civilization? Isn't that protecting the vulnerable and the defenseless? You'll agree with me, won't you? And what is more defenseless and vulnerable than an unborn child in the womb? In the civilized world, therefore, it is not abortion that fits, but care for mother and child. Every human being is unique, a gift of God and therefore worthy of protection. Mrs Vautmans, I do not think a Member of Parliament is worthy of you avoiding the debate on such a fundamental issue in this House – not accepting a blue card. If we can't even talk about this anymore, then we as Europe have sunk very far away.