Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner. We are experiencing an energy war caused by Russia. Yesterday we talked about starving people on the African continent, today about making fertilisers unaffordable for European farmers. The main objective of agriculture is to provide Europeans with healthy food. Without nutrients, there will be no proper harvest. We see inequalities in the use of fertilisers between the Member States of the European Union, and therefore the reduction in the use of fertilisers should not be a percentage for the Member States, but in absolute figures, where overconsumption occurs. What can we do? Firstly, to support prestigious agriculture. Secondly, increase the use of organic fertilizers. Thirdly, to use the scientific advances that European scientists are proposing today, including new breeding technologies. Fourthly, to support European fertiliser production capacity. And fifth, the joint purchase of gas for the production of fertilizers, including restrictions on gas prices. Commissioner, we look forward to a more active Commission and closer cooperation with farmers and listening to their needs.

Mr President, two weeks ago, we visited Ethiopia with our AFET colleagues and were able to see with our own eyes how fragile and hostile the situation is in this country, especially in the regions of Tigray, Afar and Amhara. Colleagues mentioned rape, hunger, poverty, destroyed infrastructure, schools, hospitals and the inability to eat, attend school, especially for children, and the involvement of children in military conflict. What can we do to stop this situation and change it? Firstly, we need to do everything in our direct dealings with the Ethiopian leadership, as well as with the African Union, to put an end to the military intervention from outside. Secondly, that the Ethiopian conflicting parties find a way to sit down and find a negotiated solution to the conflict. And thirdly, that the humanitarian aid that we provide reaches those who need it most, that is, children and women. And fourth, that those responsible for war crimes be punished.

Mr President, in fact, we all agree that the violence and poverty prevailing in Haiti, with gang governments officially actually managing the infrastructure, has the greatest influence on the country's decisions. We have to find the strength and help the ordinary people of Haiti. I welcome the European Commission's support for Haiti of 17 million, but I appeal to the Commissioner that this support actually reaches the very weakest people who need it, rather than being stuck somewhere in the corridors of gangs and corrupt authorities. Because in this situation, the weakest suffer the most: women, children who, as a result, do not receive food and medical assistance, suffer hunger and poverty. I believe that we must focus our efforts on providing humanitarian aid, as well as ensuring that fair and transparent elections take place and that, ultimately, order and trust return to Haiti.

Mr President, this is the eighth month of Russia's renewed war against Ukraine. Through them, there were many losses, sadness, fear, but at the same time they were full of the mobilisation and determination of the Ukrainian people and their allies not to succumb to aggression and coercion. The aggressor's forcible pseudo-referenda last week show only that Russia was not going and is not going to behave according to the rules of the civilized world. Colleagues, listen, Putin and his environment understand only the language of force. Therefore, the only way to resolve this conflict is to liberate the lands occupied by Ukraine, which requires even more and better arms supplies to Ukraine now. Recently, Putin has been waving a nuclear weapons card as an outraged bull. We must unequivocally emphasize that in such a case, Russia would abolish all taboos and all Russian military objects, both in occupied Ukraine and on Russian territory, including Putin's underground bunkers, would be the target of a retaliatory strike. Negotiations and peace are possible only if the aggressor is defeated. Let us remain united and in solidarity. Slava Ukraini.

Mrs. Prime Minister, it has already been said that water is a condition of life, a human right to water. Climate change and military conflicts are the main obstacles to its implementation. And usually the weakest, i.e. women and children, are affected. These days, we can see how, for example, in the case of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, infrastructure is being destroyed, the supply of heat, electricity and water is being disrupted. That is why we must do our utmost to deliver on our Green Deal, on solidarity to curb military conflicts and on access to water. I therefore call on you to support this report as it is, in my view, a holistic, defined approach to how the human right to water should be promoted.

Madam President. Indeed, after our visit to Sudan and Ethiopia last month, we were all able to make sure that it was a feverish region. And all these ethnic tensions are rooted in poverty, climate change, and the influence of external forces such as Wagner's private troops in the region. Russian weapons are crawling there, Mr Wallace, who has praised Russia so much for trying to establish itself there. And it is our duty, it seems to me, as defined in the report, that our strategy should be to change relations with the countries of this region, Africa, from paternalism to very close cooperation in bilateral relations, as well as between the European Union and the African Union, so that we can ensure peace in that region, give young people the opportunity to work, study, train and thus have a stronger joint cooperation between us.

Honourable Commissioner, I really support your efforts and your work in protecting our people across the European Union. And I agree with you that the EU Member States have a great deal of responsibility in this area. But there are things that the Member States cannot do, and that is our responsibility as the institutions of the European Union. I am thinking of the common agricultural policy and direct payments to farmers. On joining the European Union, everyone was promised an average equal payment for the same area of land. Today, however, farmers in both Romania and Portugal, as well as in my country, Lithuania, receive significantly lower direct payments, which greatly discourages, especially young farmers, from remaining in the countryside. Would you agree to support your colleague Commissioner Wojciechowski's promise to equalise these direct payments and create a level playing field for all those working in agriculture anywhere in the European Union?

In fact, first of all, I would like to thank you for your timely report. We Lithuanians have such a beautiful proverb: You can't stop running the river. This is what I think we cannot stop new technologies from entering the financial sector, and that is not what we should be talking about now. We should talk about how to create the right conditions for the game, so that they do not change during the process itself, but we can tax crypto-assets correctly and guarantee social guarantees for those people who work in this area and for those people who are engaged in the new use of new technologies, because we know that in more difficult economic conditions, people tend to respond to those proposals that seem financially very promising. Unfortunately, as my colleague mentioned, the resulting bankruptcies, the disappearance of wealth, are a cruel cause of suffering for those people who are involved here. I therefore welcome the report and believe that our efforts will enable us to tax fairly and create more socially just conditions.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, in fact, every new environmental disaster means that we have not learned from the previous ones. We did not take the necessary measures. You have noticed very well the need to await the results of investigations and to strengthen alert systems and the response to such events. But here we hear from our colleagues that the government should not be blamed, it has nothing to do with it, and the problem will somehow resolve itself. My suggestion and question to you, Commissioner: in fact, can the Commission, as an expert, as a particular arbitrator, be expected to take more responsibility without leaving all problems to the Member States alone? For this is not a disaster for Member States, it is a disaster for the health of people and for nature throughout Europe, which we should avoid. And I would very much welcome more serious, tougher recommendations from the Commission.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, the New European Bauhaus project is indeed a bridge between the economy and culture. This is an opportunity for the green economy, an opportunity for our designers and architects to create a new face for Europe by preserving traditions and innovating. As with any project, money is needed. I believe that this project will be accompanied not only by words, but also by documents, but also by funds. And, like in any kindergarten, we can see a beautiful flower, but if we put several flowers together, we get a beautiful bouquet. It is in this European New Bauhaus project that we should see the diversity of different traditions, different nations and European requirements for minimum standards in order to create a newer, healthier environment and spiritual influence for our next generation.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, Minister, I support the proposals that you have tabled on containing the energy crisis, on the joint efforts of the European Union, both in terms of capping excess profits and capping gas prices, and on improving infrastructure. It seems to me that another instrument would be needed, namely recovery and support for our citizens, especially those most in need due to the increase in energy prices. But it is also important to understand in the long run that this price increase, this crisis, is caused by Putin's military invasion of Ukraine. And if we want to solve this problem quickly and permanently, it would be best for us to help the Ukrainians to defeat them in the war against Putin. They've shown in the past week that they can do that. Let's send them additional weapons, so-called offensive ones, but let's not call them, let's call them liberating weapons that will free Ukraine and Europe from price rises.

Thank you, my colleague, Mr Delli, for demonstrating such a beautiful initiative, and thank you to the Commissioner for your thoughts. I don't think I'm going to repeat those positive sides of cycling about being healthier for the human being, better for nature, cleaner for the environment, but I want to draw attention to the possibility of more contact, especially among young people, Europeans, going to each other and creating certain gatherings. However, I have two suggestions. One suggestion is that perhaps, in terms of infrastructure, the European Commission could dedicate funding to the management of infrastructure, so that a percentage is specifically allocated to the rehabilitation of cycle paths. And the second proposal is that not only infrastructure, not only safety, but also the use of the bicycle upon arrival at the workplace. First of all, I remember our European Parliament, when I come here and get a little sweaty while riding a bicycle, I can't take a shower in my office because it just doesn't work. But care must be taken to ensure that working conditions are also in place so that when you arrive by bicycle, you can properly hygienically arrange and continue to work.

I welcome the European Council's decision on granting candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and giving Georgia a European perspective. I also very much agree with what has been said about the need to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. We must take into account the views of European citizens to have a stronger European Union, not by increasing democracy, but by strengthening the political platform in the field of energy security and, in particular, health. It is good that the Council has advocated further political, financial and military support for Ukraine, but the funds now available are not sufficient, and we must look for new instruments. Finally, at European Union level, care must be taken to transport Ukrainian crops to neighbouring countries, especially in North Africa, as well as to absorb the price hike caused by Putin's Russian war for European citizens.

As a man, I am ashamed that in the 21st century we have to consider here in the heart of Europe the issue of women's poverty. But, on the other hand, I think it is an honour that we can take up this issue and solve it. In fact, we see how women in the European Union are paid differently for the same job in different countries. As a doctor, I can tell you that women face more problems getting medical help in different countries. I therefore believe that the suggestions of European citizens should be taken very seriously, that we should take more responsibility and, as the report says, recommend that these differences be balanced out in all Member States, so that we can be proud that in the European Union women and men are paid equally for the same work, that there are no gender differences in terms of poverty. Thank you for the report.

Mr President, I really want to thank the author of the report for such a balanced report and assessment. We all recognise that Montenegro is a leader in the Western Balkans. And it is symbolic that today we paid a lot of attention to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia. And here we go back to the Western Balkans and Montenegro. Yes, there are problems in Montenegro and they need to be addressed. It is probably not Montenegro's fault that it is influenced by Russia, China, attempts to infiltrate cyberspace, various hybrid attacks. However, this government has shown very clearly that it supports European values. In addition to the chapters to be closed and under discussion, it has made clear its position on Russia’s war against Ukraine. It supported all the sanctions imposed by the European Union. I would therefore invite the European Commission to work even more actively to welcome Montenegro to our ranks.

Mr President, we can really welcome the results of the Erasmus programme, which has opened the door for many young people in Europe to get to know each other, to learn about scientific innovations and to gain experience. But we cannot stop. In fact, we need to look today and at those countries from which we expect greater commonality. Today we have spoken a lot and supported Ukraine's, Moldova's, Georgia's future candidacy for the European Union. Therefore, increasing funding for the Erasmus programme, giving young people from these countries the opportunity to come and benefit from it, seems to me to be very important. This makes it possible to familiarise oneself with European culture, European history and create a more general atmosphere. I very much support the idea of my colleague who spoke of support for the alumni network, who could actually be ambassadors for the European Erasmus programme.

Mr President, I welcome the Commission's objective assessment, the recommendation. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia deserve the candidate status of the European Union. Especially today, Ukraine is defending European values with its own lives. By the way, at the same time he makes bold legal decisions, as in the case of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, for example. We must continue to support Ukraine with heavy weapons, with the necessary funding and strengthening of sanctions against the aggressor. In the future, I hope that the changed democratic Belarus will also join the Troika, but we must in no way leave the enlargement of the European Union in the Western Balkans, especially in cooperation with North Macedonia and Albania, out of focus. I believe that their progress, their readiness to start negotiations, has been proven. Decisions by the Council are now needed. I wish a unanimous decision in the Council because we need a wider European Union, a more peaceful European Union.

Dear President. Dear Vice-President of the Commission. Thank you for your speech and report. You mentioned very well that we have a good tool – a forest strategy – and that forests are the lungs of our planet. In fact, preserving forests and preventing illegal logging are two very important issues. Firstly, the fact that legal logging is available is not very confusing. Here, my colleague mentioned the obstacles to the issuance of legal permits. But on the other hand, it seems to me that overseeing deforestation is also very important. You mentioned satellite systems that are used to assess the state of forests. Perhaps it would be better to share it with the Member States and with local experts, so that the maintenance of forests would be better, and those who cut illegally, so that they would be punished accordingly.

Madam President, Vice-President of the Commission, dear colleagues, I believe that the report we discussed today sent a strong signal to the Eastern Partnership countries that the EU is committed to security and stability in the region. Even before the war in Ukraine, in December 2021 during the Eastern Partnership summit, security was identified as one area with a need for more intensive cooperation. Now the need for their cooperation is even greater. The report is concentrating on the new security environment created by the Russian aggression and our support to Ukraine. Of course, the Eastern Partnership countries are not the same. Each of them have the right to choose their security arrangements and military alliances. But in the future, I believe there is a big potential for the deeper cooperation with many of them on the different security challenges, such as cyber capacity—building. There’s also a need to increase the level of interoperability between the Eastern Partnership countries and the EU. I believe this can be achieved through the training mission, the increased participation in the PESCO project or the EU CSDP mission.

Mr President, I want to say that people are dying in Africa right now, not because sanctions have been imposed, but because Russia is destroying Ukrainian ports, blocking them and stealing Ukrainian-grown grain. I thank Mr McAllister and Mrs Loiseau for their balanced report. I think we can see three things very clearly. Today's diplomacy, the most suitable for Ukraine and to achieve victory, is aid with heavy military weapons and finances. Secondly, the international community can only recognize peace in Ukraine once the last Russian occupier has left the land of Ukraine within the territory recognised by the international community of Ukraine. And thirdly, that the kidnappers, the assailants, Putin's cliques should be brought before an international court and Ukraine should be invited to join the European Union.

Mr President, first of all, I would like to congratulate colleagues on agreements and compromises that will enable us to combat climate change and preserve the economic viability of rural areas. Climate change is a major and vital problem that needs to be addressed. Our farmers and forest owners are well aware of this. They are the first to be affected by climate change. I therefore support the ambitious objectives set out in Parliament's position. However, fighting climate change for the well-being of our citizens. Achieving the objectives requires effective policy implementation and targeted investments in rural areas that support and promote the transition to a climate- and environment-friendly economy. We need to ensure sufficient support for farmers and forest owners. Agriculture and forestry are part of the modern solution to climate and environmental problems, but not the scapegoat. Economic activity is and must remain an integral part of our environment. Forests must not lose their economic functions and changes in farming must be gradual and effective. We need to support small and medium-sized farmers, young farmers, sustainable forestry and the strict application of import and marketing standards. We must also ensure a fair distribution of ambitious emission reduction targets among the Member States. In the agricultural sector, unfortunately, the inequality of direct payments continues. Farmers continue to receive different remuneration for the same work. The fight against climate change must not be allowed to exacerbate this inequality. We need to ensure that the allocation of emission reduction targets is fair and equitable. Give our farmers equal, fair, fair opportunities to work together, with solutions that are more climate and environmental friendly.

I would also like to thank you for your reply and look forward to your proposal next year. But I want to return to the question of the use of different pesticides. How did you say, Commissioner, that the starting points will be taken into account, and will it take into account the fact that in some countries farmers already use fewer pesticides and will not be penalised for offering them a 50% reduction, but will be given additional aid that they use fewer pesticides than in other countries?

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. We all agree here that the use of pesticides should be reduced for consumer health reasons, but by reducing pesticides, farmers need to be given the opportunity to protect their crops from pests and to provide certain instruments. If new technologies to introduce science, such as genomic technologies such as gene editing, could offer many opportunities, for example to allow the cultivation of plants that are more resistant to diseases, environmental conditions, climate change and pest impacts. This leads to a more resilient and cleaner agri-food system and contributes to the Green Deal. Regarding safety concerns in genomic technologies, no new risks have been identified compared to conventional breeding. With the help of new technologies, there are fewer inaccurate mutations than in conventional breeding. Precise mutagenesis and crisis-agenesis pose the same risks as conventional breeding. My question: When do you plan to present updated legislation to better reflect scientific developments and enable European scientists and farmers to compete on global markets?

Mr President, first of all, I would like to thank Mr McAllister for his good balanced report. Just as Russia is a brutal and clear threat in Europe, China is a major challenge in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Therefore, insights into our security, the security of the European Union, are very much needed. Colleagues said: market, climate change is very important (the countries in this region could be our partners), but equally important are social, human rights, politics, trade, science and youth. That is why I would really like to invite us to pay more attention to relations with the countries of the region and that the values of the European Union are also implemented in the region.

Madam President, the Belarus dictator has again showed total disrespect for any legal norms, and again resorted to harassment and imprisonment for any possible opposition to his regime. Now he has targeted trade union leaders as one of the last organised opposition forces. They join in detention thousands of political prisoners, including former presidential candidates who are serving decades—long sentences handed down by the Lukashenko controlled courts. The European Union should show its solidarity with the detained trade union leaders and request their immediate release. And we should continue our support or maybe strengthening of the Belarus opposition force inside and outside the country. You mentioned this, Commissioner. Lukashenko should not fool himself that such illegitimate action, the total harassment of the Belarus society, will sooner or later lead to a hard landing and the fall of his regime.