Speeches

The damage caused by Brexit is enormous. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that the structural costs of Brexit in 2030 have risen to eight billion euros per year. So it is good that this Brexit fund is coming, although of course it can never compensate for all the costs. It does show that in the European Union we stand shoulder to shoulder when there are problems. We do this in such a way that solidarity is also shaped and that the money ends up where the damage is greatest. We did this with the European Recovery Fund of EUR 750 billion and, fortunately, with this fund of EUR 5 billion. Now it is important for the Commission and the Member States to make this money available to all fishermen, entrepreneurs and transporters affected by Brexit without obstacles as soon as possible. I would like to conclude by congratulating the rapporteur Pascal Arimont on his excellent work on this difficult dossier.

Mr President, solidarity is one of the foundations of the European Union. As Europeans, we are connected to each other, if only simply because we are in the same place on this planet. This applies not only to our peace and stability, but also to the consequences of climate change. This has become painfully clear this summer. While the Dutch province of Limburg, parts of Germany and parts of Belgium were struggling with heavy flooding, parts of southern Europe were literally on fire. The human and economic damage was immense. It also means working together to combat climate change and adapt to changing realities, such as extreme weather events. In this way, we can and should better protect our citizens. As important and good as it is that we respond in solidarity and quickly after disasters, it is better to invest in advance than to compensate afterwards. This can prevent a lot of human suffering. With regard to the response to natural disasters, I would like to call on the Commission to actively engage with the Member States on how they can claim this money as soon as possible, to deal with the issue quickly and to ensure that the money also gets to where it is needed quickly.