What Mohammed spoke about.

20 Jan

2025

NL Speech

Heat record year 2024 - the need for climate action to fight global warming (debate)

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It's always funny: We need to tackle climate change, but with less bureaucracy. That's very important. Let me make a small prediction: I really don't think it's the last time we're debating the hottest year ever. Climate change is a fact. Looking away is dangerous and actually just stupid. It is dangerous for our vulnerable communities, for people who live near rivers, on the coast or in wooded ar…

18 Dec

2024

NL Speech

Restoring the EU’s competitive edge – the need for an impact assessment on the Green Deal policies (topical debate)

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Mr President, not far from my house is the old Philips factory, the company that owes its growth to the rise of the light bulb. The success of Philips shows that embracing innovation creates growth, jobs and new inventions, new innovation. The light bulb that Philips has brought so much success was not invented by making a candle more efficient. Why do we still have that tunnel vision in Europe wh…

16 Dec

2024

NL Speech

Right to clean drinking water in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, in the past we only knew this from the campsite in southern Europe: Use the water sparingly in the summer. Now it is almost every summer also in the Netherlands hit. Four countries now suffer more from water stress, as it is called, an annual shortage of water. Four European countries and I'm really afraid that number is only going to increase. It's hard to guess why. What I am also …

16 Dec

2024

NL Speech

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023 (debate)

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Mr President, I am so glad that we have an ombudsman in Europe! Especially when we are dealing with governments that push the boundaries of the rule of law, knowingly set people apart and do not take our freedoms and rights for granted. Fortunately, we have the ‘Ombudsman’ institution that protects us and at the same time can hold up a mirror to us. An example of this is migration, where the debat…

27 Nov

2024

NL Speech

Rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty (debate)

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Mr President, Cooking or firing? For example, I would like to translate the title of the debate into good Dutch. Last year, one in ten Europeans were in favour of that choice. Energy prices today are three times higher than they were three years ago. And unfortunately, energy poverty has become a concept. And it's not just energy prices that are higher. Also the groceries, a house, whether you buy…

26 Nov

2024

NL Speech

Outcome of COP 29 and challenges for international climate policy (debate)

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13 Nov

2024

EN Speech

The devastating floods in Spain, the urgent need to support the victims, to improve preparedness and to fight the climate crisis (debate)

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Madam President, let me first and foremost, from this stand, offer my condolences to the families and the loved ones of those affected by this climate disaster in Valencia. The horrific scenes and the testimonies from victims are deeply unsettling and leave a lasting impression on many people, also in the Netherlands. I wish my Spanish colleagues in this House and those affected by this disaster a…

23 Oct

2024

NL Speech

The important role of cities and regions in the EU – for a green, social and prosperous local development (debate)

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Mr President, in the region and in the city, you often get to know the EU, Europe, for the first time. Usually unnoticed. What does European cooperation do for you? As Johan Cruyff once said: “You won’t see it until you know it.” Budgets, funds and subsidy jars don't tell people that much. What is done with the money, of course. I think of the cycle path between Tilburg and Turnhout, on which many…

21 Oct

2024

NL Answer

Empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and prosperity for all EU citizens (debate)

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It is very difficult to blame a law that has not yet been fully implemented. We can all start a joint project, just as we have done in the past, to strengthen our economy together. That has a price. You have to invest before you can be competitive again. That's what we've done in the past. Consider, for example, how we have entered into competition with Boeing with Airbus. I believe in European jo…

21 Oct

2024

NL Speech

Empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and prosperity for all EU citizens (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Letta is quite clear in his analysis, as was Mr Draghi shortly afterwards. It is really about something, namely how can we strengthen our internal market? How can we strengthen the unity of Europe? How do we ensure that we have strong competition within Europe, but especially with the rest of the world? And this is based on a level playing field, on innovation and on greening? Sim…

8 Oct

2024

EN Speech

The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe (debate)

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Mr President, our automotive industry is facing a serious challenge. I think that's even an understatement. China is outpacing us in every way. Chinese electric cars are significantly cheaper. And to put it bluntly, they simply have taken the lead in this technology. And this technology, however you look at it, will define the future of the European automotive industry. That's what we should discu…

18 Sep

2024

EN Speech

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues. First and foremost, my heart goes out to all those affected by the recent floods. I think we have a profound responsibility to enhance the preparedness for such events. And today, unfortunately, we are not talking about the flood of the century, but about the century of floods. Climate adaptation is not a Plan B anymore. It's no longer enough – however crucial – t…

17 Sep

2024

NL Speech

The future of European competitiveness (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Draghi said that investments are needed to pursue our existing ambitions and plans. It is not about new money. I think this is a very interesting message. We should not think that we can do it all on our own and that the Member States can only offer sufficient competition if we do not really work together. Dutch, Belgian and German companies deliver to many companies in Europe, an…

25 Apr

2024

NL Speech

Framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act) (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, five years ago we started with a lot of ambitions, but today we have to realise that we have been overtaken by China and the United States. If we look at the proposal that is before us, we must honestly admit that it is a bit too broad and there is no money. Business chains do not end at the border. The approach taken by the Member States is not going to help us…

24 Apr

2024

NL Speech

The attack on climate and nature: far right and conservative attempts to destroy the Green Deal and prevent investment in our future (topical debate)

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Mr President, the radical right likes to proclaim with some sense of drama that we are on the verge of a radical green revolution. But we're already in the middle of it. Governments and businesses are investing heavily in wind and solar parks and in all kinds of green technologies to help green industry. I was in the Puertollano area last week and you just see the future there. You can see how Spa…

22 Apr

2024

NL Speech

Preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution (debate)

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Mr President, I see, I see what you do not see. And they're... microplastics. Invisible, but they're in your day cream, in our water and our food. The smaller the particle, the greater the risk. Now we're talking about microplastics, but we might as well talk about PFAs or pesticides. A toxic cocktail of chemicals that end up on our plate and in nature in all kinds of ways. Separately, they are al…

11 Apr

2024

NL Speech

Internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen (recast) - Common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen (recast) - Union’s electricity market design: Regulation - Union’s electricity market design: Directive (joint debate – Reform of the energy and electricity markets)

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You have to choose between heating your home or feeding your children. While even more parents faced this difficult choice last winter, energy companies took off with record profits. They literally left people out in the cold. Energy is a basic need and we do not leave it to the whims of the market. No cold houses, but affordable warmth. This law must take care of that. In this way, we keep contro…

13 Mar

2024

NL Speech

Type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7) (debate)

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Mr President, while we in Europe have spent all our money on small petrol and diesel cars in recent decades, China has focused on the technology of the future. Meanwhile, one Chinese company and one American company sell – separately – more electric cars than all European brands combined. In order to participate in this European, electric future, the European car industry must start leading again …

12 Mar

2024

NL Speech

EU climate risk assessment, taking urgent action to improve security and resilience in Europe (debate)

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Mr President, dear people, these are the risks associated with climate change, and they are not nothing. When I look around, sometimes I don't know where to start. One part here doesn't believe in climate change, another part it all has to be feasible and affordable. And others complain about the multitude of rules. If those parties and politicians are honest, they should also talk about the risks…

11 Mar

2024

NL Speech

Energy performance of buildings (recast) (debate)

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We experienced a massive energy crisis last year. I saw households all around me that couldn't afford their energy bills. Nevertheless, people here are wondering whether this directive is not too ambitious and whether we do not want to go too fast. To that I have only one thing to say: Making homes more sustainable and low energy bills go hand in hand. We could have largely avoided the energy cris…

11 Mar

2024

EN Speech

Substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (Green Claims Directive) (debate)

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Mr President, on behalf of Mr Engerer thanks to all for this very good debate. We’ve heard many good points there. I want to emphasise one small element: this mechanism is voluntary, so I think complaining about administrative burden is not something that you should state, I think, in relation to this legislation. We shouldn’t create misinformation. We are not obliging companies to make those clai…

11 Mar

2024

EN Speech

Substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (Green Claims Directive) (debate)

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Mr President, let me make some opening remarks on behalf of our rapporteur, Cyrus Engerer. On behalf of the rapporteur, I would like to thank everyone in Parliament who has worked hard on this important directive. Passing the Green Claims Directive would be a victory for consumers, the environment and those businesses that truly are striving for sustainability. Consumer protection is crucial for o…

7 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Empowering farmers and rural communities - a dialogue towards sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture (debate)

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Mr President, dear friends, dear colleagues, without agricultural subsidies, many farmers suffer losses. We sometimes say: ‘milk is good for everyone’, but apparently not for farmers. This applies not only to milk, but also to onions, potatoes, leeks, and so on. This is the reality of our farmers. As the farmer toils, supermarkets, brokers, transporters, banks and other suppliers run away with the…

6 Feb

2024

NL Speech

EU2040 climate target (debate)

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Mr President, if you look at how much CO2 we want to reduce between 2020 and 2030 and – even more importantly – what we have already achieved in that period, if you look at the speed between 2020 and 2030, and if you extend that to 2040 – a lot of numbers – then you end up with 90%. Nothing less and nothing more. So let's not pretend that we are radiating a lot more ambition here. Colleagues who s…

18 Jan

2024

NL Speech

Recent ecological catastrophe involving plastic pellet losses and its impact on micro plastic pollution in the maritime and coastal habitats (debate)

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Mr President, it seems invisible, but it is a disaster. A disaster that only really becomes visible when you go through the sand with a sieve. What remains are innumerable small plastic pellets. That may not seem so dangerous, but once microplastics end up in the sea, these grains pose a huge threat to nature, the environment, but also the fish industry. We will not get there with well-intentioned…