What Mohammed spoke about.

21

Nov

2023

NL Speech

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Sustainable use of plant protection products (debate)

Mr President, poison in the ground, in the air and in our groundwater, that sounds absurd, but it is not. Due to the increasing use of chemical pesticides, our nature is becoming increasingly polluted and not without consequences. Biodiversity is being degraded and our health is also at stake. These substances can cause serious diseases. The pollution problem of pesticides is persistent. That is w…

20

Nov

2023

NL Speech

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

Mr President, this law must ensure that our industry in Europe is greened. On the one hand, so that green technology, cleantech, is produced within the EU and, on the other hand, by making these products available to green existing industry. But that starts with clear choices. Prioritizing everything doesn't really mean prioritizing anything, and I think it can be done better. There is a mentality…

20

Nov

2023

NL Speech

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UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28) (debate)

Mr President, today, new research by Oxfam shows that the richest 1% is responsible for more global CO2 emissions than the poorest 66%. Let that get through to you. A small group of super-rich have an extremely big impact on the destruction of our planet. Also in our cities, where the air is getting dirtier and nature is deteriorating. The luxury life of this polluting elite is causing suffering w…

8

Nov

2023

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, sorry, it was really, really confusing.

4

Oct

2023

NL Speech

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The proposed extension of glyphosate in the EU (debate)

Mr President, everyone knows the aerial photographs from the Netherlands. Vast green fields and fields surrounded by small ditches. But in the spring, something crazy happens to these fields. Although the rest of nature will bloom again, some of these fields turn orange-yellow. We no longer see healthy nature here, but fields sprayed with agricultural poison, glyphosate. This controversial weed fi…

13

Sep

2023

NL Speech

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Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)

Mr President, if you look at how this regulation came about, we should congratulate the European Commission, but certainly also our reporter, Mrs Beer, who acted quickly and came up with a good report in which she found the right balance, including between the groups. I believe that what lies ahead is a balanced report, which will be supported by industry, trade unions and NGOs, and I expect broad…

12

Sep

2023

NL Speech

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Towards a more disaster-resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires (debate)

You can't ignore it this summer: extreme weather in Europe, from floods in Slovenia to giant hailstones in northern Italy and forest fires and heavy rainfall in Greece. Europe is facing a huge challenge to adapt to the increasingly common extreme weather, closer and faster than we ever expected. Climate change is no longer a far-from-my-bed show, it's here and now. We are faced with a world that i…

12

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments (debate)

Mr President, where should I start? I really think there’s a difference in vision we have between how our industry looks, let’s say, in a decade or two. I think that’s the crucial difference between our political groups. I envision an industry that’s decarbonised, most efficient worldwide, leading production worldwide, and not an industry that needs heavy subsidies to survive. I see that globally …

11

Jul

2023

NL Speech

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Nature restoration (debate)

Mr President, nature restoration is a beautiful story. Nature is about our future, about healthy land on which we can produce sustainable food, and healthy land that is resistant to the effects of climate change. But unfortunately, the creation of this law has been hijacked by political self-interests. The Christian Democrats have turned it into a mudfight, regardless of its content. And the fact …

10

Jul

2023

NL Speech

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Industrial Emissions Directive - Industrial Emissions Portal - Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure - Sustainable maritime fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative) - Energy efficiency (recast) (joint debate - Fit for 55 and Industrial Emissions)

Mr President, the Industrial Emissions Directive is desperately needed. Not only to protect nature, but also for our health. It is clear to everyone that pollution has major negative consequences for the environment, but also for our health. The disadvantages are great. The toxins released into our air, our water, our soil are a direct threat to nature and the health of us and our loved ones. They…

12

Jun

2023

EN Speech

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EU Day for the victims of the global climate crisis (debate)

Mr President, let me start by saying to Commissioner Vestager, you can count on our support. We will support what I think is a very important commemoration of all the victims of climate change. So you can count on the S&D Group for that. I’m going to switch to Dutch. Wanneer we het over klimaatverandering hebben, gaat het vaak over de hoeveelheid CO2 in de lucht, het aantal hectare afgebrand bos, …

10

May

2023

NL Speech

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The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector (continuation of debate)

Mr President, the role of farmers in the green transition: Then what are we talking about? Those who ask for support for greening, or the farmers of the mega stables, the peak loaders? Farmers have a future in Europe. Farmers play a huge role in greening, but organic farmers do. Farmers who get a fair price from intermediaries and supermarkets, because it has to pay. While in Austria it is possibl…

19

Apr

2023

NL Speech

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Keeping people healthy, water drinkable and soil liveable: getting rid of forever pollutants and strengthening EU chemical legislation now (topical debate)

Sometimes there are things you just don't understand. For example, if someone dumps a liter of frying fat, he is rightly fined. But for companies, the opposite is true. They are allowed to dump tons of poison into our nature and environment every year. This includes PFAS, a collection of substances that we don't even know how harmful they are. Only if it is shown that a certain PFAS is harmful wil…

17

Apr

2023

NL Speech

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Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System - Monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport - Carbon border adjustment mechanism - Social Climate Fund - Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation (debate)

Mr President, I think I should like to address two points very briefly here. The first: There seems to be a large majority for all three packages, but I'm surprised. A number of people here are very critical. They're standing here. They mostly tell me what they're against. I have to say that I'm also surprised, because on the one hand, if you're against something, you do everything you can to chan…

17

Apr

2023

EN Speech

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Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System - Monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport - Carbon border adjustment mechanism - Social Climate Fund - Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation (debate)

Mr President, as the CBAM rapporteur, I am proud to be standing here and I can say that it has not been an easy ride, but we’ve made it. At least let’s hope tomorrow we will vote in favour and that the Council sticks to the agreement. The Green Deal is at the heart of social democracy because it is not only about reaching our goal – it is also about the path towards this goal, leaving no one behin…

13

Mar

2023

NL Speech

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Energy performance of buildings (recast) (debate)

Mr President, I must be very surprised at times when I hear a debate on this subject here, as if we have not had an energy crisis or are really still in it, as if we do not want to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. But what does this file do now? Door wat we hier met elkaar hebben afgesproken, en dat doen heel veel politieke partijen met elkaar – goed nadenken over wat nu het beste is als het…

15

Feb

2023

NL Speech

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Access to strategic critical raw materials (debate)

Mr President, lithium, cobalt and nickel are crucial for battery production and for achieving the energy transition and our climate goals. A strategy is therefore needed in which access to these raw materials is properly regulated. This is important because there will be more demand than supply. Companies want to become greener, but often have limited access to critical raw materials. We must ther…

15

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (continuation of debate)

Mr President, there are two thoughts I would like to share today in the context of the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The first one: panic is a bad adviser. It is true that the United States presented a huge package – the Inflation Reduction Act – which will be very good for their green industry. But some could say that the Inflation Reduction Act is a reaction to our European Green Deal or to our ca…

15

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (debate)

Madam President, there are two thoughts I would like to share today in the context of the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The first one: panic is a bad adviser. It is true that the United States presented a huge package – the Inflation Reduction Act – which will be very good for their green industry. But some say that the Inflation Reduction Act could be seen as a reaction to our European Green Deal o…

14

Feb

2023

NL Speech

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CO2 emission standards for cars and vans (debate)

Look, I'm trying to find arguments here. The climate argument is more than clear because it has sufficient urgency to address this problem. For other aspects, I try to come up with arguments from an economic point of view. If we see what is happening in America now with the support of the electric car, if I see how many Asian brands bring a technology to Europe that is miles ahead of many of our o…

14

Feb

2023

NL Speech

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CO2 emission standards for cars and vans (debate)

Who remembers Stanley? You might know it from the popular children's movie "Cars" as Stanley Steamer. If not, I would say: Ask your children. Stanley made a very successful car with a steam engine at the end of the nineteenth century. That was a very reliable technique at the time, especially compared to the emerging combustion engine. At one point, Stanley made more cars than any other American c…

13

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (debate)

Madam President, let me first start by congratulating the rapporteurs, because I know it wasn’t that easy and there were very tough negotiations. So from this place, Ms Gardiazabal Rubial, congratulations, Mr Mureşan and Mr Pîslaru. It’s very important to see people coming from political groups and really working hard to make a piece of legislation that really could get us to the next step. Becaus…

18

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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UN Climate Change Conference 2022 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27) (debate)

Mr President, in Glasgow we completed the Paris rulebook. In Egypt we have to deliver on the Paris Agreement on our climate goals. When it comes to decarbonising the world, we have a momentum to engage with developing countries to share the benefits and advantages of the global energy transition. Let this African COP be more than just a symbolic gathering, let’s pave the way for a real European-Af…

18

Oct

2022

NL Speech

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Keep the bills down: social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine and the introduction of a windfall tax (debate)

Mr President, while I am standing before you, millions of households are in danger of a dark scenario this winter. Not only the energy bill rises, but also the expenses for daily groceries and transport. And this energy crisis is exacerbating existing social inequalities. During the COVID crisis, a new billionaire was added on average every 30 hours. What would that be like? Who benefits the most …

13

Sep

2022

NL Speech

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EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe (debate)

Mr President, when we talk about the energy crisis, the most important thing for my group is to answer one question: how can we ensure that energy bills remain affordable for households and small and medium-sized enterprises? Combating energy poverty has always been a priority for the Social Democrats. Today, the number of people at risk of energy poverty is enormous. Almost no one has EUR 1 000 t…