What Malik spoke about.

8

Jul

2026

EN Speech

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Narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters: protecting our borders and supporting our law enforcement officers (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, the convicted and wanted drug lord Jos Leijdekkers remains free because Sierra Leone refuses to extradite him. One month ago, I called on the European Commission to increase pressure on Sierra Leone after the largest seizure of cocaine in the Canary Islands. The Netherlands has already made repeated requests through all available diplomatic and legal channels. Yet Sierr…

16

Jun

2026

EN Speech

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2025 Commission report on Türkiye (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, first of all, I would like to express my gratitude towards the rapporteur, Mr Sánchez Amor. Thank you so much also for the inclusive cooperation for this report. But, Madam President, the EU and Türkiye share a deep and long-standing partnership, but partners should always be honest with each other. And there are serious concerns: fundamental rights …

16

Jun

2026

EN Speech

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Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation) (debate)

Mr President, thank you also to all colleagues for their contributions to this debate. As expected, we have heard different views across the Parliament today, which I think it's also healthy in a democratic parliament, especially on a file as sensitive and important as return policy. To colleagues who have expressed concerns regarding fundamental rights, let me be very clear: effective returns and…

16

Jun

2026

EN Speech

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Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation) (debate)

Mr, President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, first of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to this file over the past months: the shadows, the secretariat, the legal services, the staff, the Cyprus Presidency, but also the Commissioner, the Commission and all the colleagues who engaged constructively throughout this process. I am particularly grateful…

29

Apr

2026

NL Speech

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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)

21

Jan

2026

EN Speech

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Restoring control of migration: returns, visa policy and third-country cooperation (topical debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner Virkkunen, dear colleagues, the changing European approach in the field of migration is clearly reflected in the last Frontex figures. In 2025, last year, we saw a 26 % decrease in irregular crossings at the EU's external borders, and that is a significant development. Frontex points out that an important reason for this decline is the migration agreement concluded …

17

Dec

2025

EN Speech

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The deepening democratic crisis in Georgia (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner McGrath, Minister Bjerre on behalf of the Council, colleagues, exactly two years ago, Georgia was granted EU candidate status, and one year ago, that process was rightfully frozen. Georgia has been pushed towards a Russian-style autocracy: laws against free media were passed; elections were manipulated; hundreds of people were beaten for peacefully protesting; even the u…

12

Nov

2025

EN Speech

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The first European Annual Asylum and Migration report and the setting up of the Annual Solidarity Pool (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, Commissioner and representatives on behalf of the Council, I would like to thank you, Commissioner, for presenting this important report. The migration pact is a key solution to the migration challenges facing the European Union. Therefore, it is essential that Parliament is also fully involved in both the implementation process and the assessment of the situation…

21

Oct

2025

NL Speech

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Changing security landscape and the role of police at the heart of the EU’s internal security strategy (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the world is changing rapidly and, in this turbulent time, international security is rightly the focus of attention. But as we look outside, we must not forget our internal security. Within Europe, too, threats are increasing, often also stimulated from the outside, from drug violence to subversion and terrorism. Strengthened European cooperation i…

6

Oct

2025

NL Speech

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Revision of the Visa Suspension Mechanism (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I would like to express my appreciation for the cooperation in dealing with the visa waiver suspension mechanism. We have achieved a significant result, thanks also to the rapporteur, Mr Nemec. We have reached an agreement to strengthen the existing 2018 visa legislation with stricter and more efficient rules. This is necessary in ord…

16

Jun

2025

EN Speech

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Statement by the President - 40th anniversary of the Schengen area agreement

Madam President, colleagues, today in this House, we celebrate a milestone that defines the very essence of our European Union: the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement. 40 years ago, the Schengen area was born out of a shared vision. A vision where borders would no longer divide us, where freedom of movement would be a fundamental right for every European citizen. This was not just a policy…

6

May

2025

EN Speech

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2023 and 2024 reports on Türkiye (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner Kos, the Parliament is about to adopt a yearly progress report on the relationship between the EU and Türkiye and I would like to first express my gratitude towards the rapporteur, Mr Sánchez Amor, for all his efforts and for his inclusive process towards this report. And the message is clear: to help keep Europe and Ukraine safe, the EU needs to work more closely a…

1

Apr

2025

EN Speech

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Crackdown on democracy in Türkiye and the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu (debate)

Madam President, the arrest of İmamoğlu is not just an attack on an opposition leader, it is a politically motivated effort to silence opposition. And it becomes worse, protesters are facing brutal force and journalists are being arrested. And yet, the European Union remained silent until this evening. I'm very glad to hear that the Commissioner decided to cancel her official visit to Ankara – I'm…

1

Apr

2025

NL Speech

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Presentation of the New European Internal Security Strategy (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Brunner, colleagues, the world around us is getting harder and harder. And as the war in Ukraine shows: Our security is threatened from the outside. That is why it is also good that we now have a strategy in place in which we can respond quickly and jointly to hybrid threats. But as we look at these threats, I would like to emphasise that we must also remain alert to wha…

11

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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Presentation of the proposal on a new common approach on returns (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, after the successful establishment of the migration pact, I am pleased that today a new returns directive has been presented by the Commission, for which I would like to thank Commissioner Brunner. Without a functioning system on returns, the European migration system will never function properly. At the moment, only 20 % of rejected asylum seekers a…

12

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the geopolitical landscape is drastically changing. The EU and Türkiye therefore need each other more than ever. A strong partnership is crucial for both. However, more and more elected officials are being removed from office based on fake or politically motivated charges and replaced by government trustees. This development is deeply concerning. I therefore…

17

Dec

2024

NL Speech

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Toppling of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region (debate)

Mr President, the fall of the Assad regime brings both relief and uncertainty for Syrians. The big question is: Is Syria entering a period of instability again or is this the beginning of reconstruction and stability and with a perspective for refugee Syrians to return safely as well? The new Syria has one advantage: it can detach itself from the influence of Iran and Russia, which did everything …

13

Nov

2024

NL Speech

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Deplorable escalation of violence around the football match in the Netherlands and the unacceptable attacks against Israeli football fans (debate)

Mr President, in 2024 there is a hunt for Jewish people in Amsterdam, the city of Anne Frank. Ordinary football violence degenerated into a ‘Jewish hunt’, something we had promised ourselves never to let happen again. We are too tolerant of intolerance and I think the consequences are horrific. The problem is also deep. The conflict in the Middle East is a catalyst of deep-rooted anti-Semitism and…

23

Oct

2024

NL Speech

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Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns (debate)

Mr President, first of all I must say that the Council is apparently not represented in this important debate today. As much as I am pleased that Commissioner Dalli is here, it is of course also a bit of contempt that the migration commissioners, who are responsible for it, or the President of the Commission are not here today, because for us – Renew Europe – this is an important debate. It is not…

9

Oct

2024

NL Speech

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Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Schinas, in order to reduce migration flows, we need European action. The Netherlands cannot do this alone. A Member State cannot do this alone. In fact, we also need to work with countries outside Europe to achieve this. We can build walls on our external borders, as some here may claim, but with 44,000 kilometres of external borders, this is a sham solution. Also, 30,0…

18

Sep

2024

NL Speech

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The Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, colleagues, Orbán is playing with the security of Europe. Hungary grants work visas to Russians and Belarusians. This gives them free access to our territory. Orbán opens the door to Russian spies. He is giving Putin a weapon of war and that is a great threat to our security. Orbán shows again which side he is on in Putin's fight against the free West. The rul…

10

Apr

2024

NL Speech

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Screening of third country nationals at the external borders - European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals - Common procedure for international protection in the Union - Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 - Asylum and migration management - Addressing situations of crisis and force majeure - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, for identifying an illegally staying third-country national or stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes (recast) - Union Resettlement Framework - Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection - Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) (joint debate - Migration and Asylum package)

I do it in Dutch. I don't do that often, but I certainly do at the moment, because we are here for a historic moment. First of all, I would like to thank Commissioners Schinas and, in particular, Ylva Johansson for all their work. It will be up to us, the European Parliament, in a few hours. This is a historic moment because we have long been trying to work on European solutions when it comes to m…

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia (debate)

Mr President, bravery has a name: Alexei Navalny. Would we have been able to do the same? Willing to suffer for our beliefs? Willing to die for our convictions? Putin is a coward. He fears freedom and people who fight for it. He fears heroes like Navalny. Yulia Navalnaya will continue that fight and of course, we stand by her side. But we need to continue to help Ukraine and make sure Putin does n…

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

Mr President, dear colleagues, I start by paying respect for the Ukrainian people, who continue to fight for our common freedoms. Colleagues, all Ukrainians ask for is weapons. They need to defend their country. Ukraine is losing ground because they don’t have them. No one can say when or where Russia’s invasion will end, but we know that any victory for Russia is a blow to European security. The …

17

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and preparation of the Special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 - Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds (joint debate - European Council meetings)

Mr President, dear Vice-President Šefčovič – because Ms von der Leyen left the room – dear Minister Lahbib, dear colleagues, needless to remind you that democracy and the rule of law are under attack in different parts of the world. But what is even more terrifying today is that they are also under attack in Europe, in our own backyard. The fact that our guardians of the Treaties, who are supposed…