What Rasa spoke about.

7 Oct

2026

EN Speech

Attempts by the ruling party Georgian Dream to ban opposition parties in Georgia

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Mr President, colleagues, first, I want to thank the S&D Group for initiating this resolution and debate. Some think Georgia is a lost cause. They say: 'Accept the situation. Let's be realistic.' Many thought that we Lithuanians were lost too, but we were not. Georgians have not given up. People are still protesting. The majority still wants to have a European future. That is why our message today…

6 Oct

2026

EN Speech

The 2026 undemocratic elections to the Russian State Duma and its implications on civil society (debate)

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Madam President, we had a performance there – (the speaker spoke a non-EU language). First, we are not discussing elections here. There are no elections in Russia. There was a special electoral operation. Second, the new Russian Duma opened its first session with a standing ovation. For whom? For the war veterans – war criminals, now more than 10 % of the seats. Let me tell you about some of them.…

15 Sep

2026

EN Speech

Hybrid attacks against the EU Member States (joint debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, can we claim to be serious about stopping Russia if in the fifth year of a real war in Europe, Russian Houses – like the one in Berlin that was closed only after Leipzig – are still operating? They are still in Austria, Belgium – in Brussels, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Cyprus, Spain, Slovakia. These are Russian spy centres operating …

15 Sep

2026

EN Speech

Hybrid attacks against the EU Member States (joint debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, Madam Commissioner, Europe must move faster. While preparing the report among colleagues from different political groups, I sensed deep concern for, and a strong focus on, European security. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard, especially our political group advisors. Europe is already under attack in the grey zone. It is 'Phase Zero' warfare, and it is becoming…

7 Jul

2026

EN Speech

2025 Commission report on Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, a very good report, thanks to all the hard work, but I am very worried about the sharp clash between Ukraine and Poland due to their painful common history. I will not attempt to assess which side – Ukrainians or Poles – is now contributing more to stoking the fire, but I have one request: to assess the context in which we all live and to take the side of a construct…

19 May

2026

LT Speech

EU cybersecurity and preparedness in view of advanced AI systems (debate)

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Dear President, dear colleagues. Experts say that in a few years, the social networks we use now will be history. They will be replaced by artificial intelligence with technologies that are still hard to understand for many. Security experts also warn that the time will soon come when artificial intelligence will show us the world. Those who control artificial intelligence will also control human …

29 Apr

2026

EN Question

Danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events (debate)

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Madam President, in the title of the debate, I would change the word 'normalising' to 'legitimisation' – legitimisation of war crimes. Both the red carpet roll-out in Alaska, the return of Russian teams to sports competitions, and their participation in the Venice Biennale mean one thing – the legitimisation of war crimes. Imagine if you did this to Hitler, and then you would understand what it me…

28 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Supporting democratic resilience in Armenia (debate)

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Madam President, colleagues, Yerevan is becoming the capital of democracy in the South Caucasus. It is certainly not perfect yet, but it is a real hope for all of us that a stable peace will be established and the Armenian people will open up to cooperation. For us, the EU, this region is an extremely important neighbourhood. The upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia will be a kind of refere…

28 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Ensuring accountability and justice in response to Russia’s continued attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, we must speak in substance. Helping Ukraine in this war is the main task of all of us today. I was very pleased with the words spoken by the President of Finland: 'Instead of thinking that Ukraine needs Europe, perhaps we should think that we need Ukraine more in Europe'. The US President's policy towards Ukraine, towards the war in Europe, has unfortunately exten…

11 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Case of Elene Khoshtaria and political prisoners under the Georgian Dream regime

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Mr President. dear colleagues, there are those who say that Georgia is lost. It is not true. Yes, today the Georgian people are experiencing one of the most difficult periods in their recent history. However, Georgia is certainly not lost. This is evidenced by the letter I received yesterday from Elene Khoshtaria. I quote: 'Dear Rasa, I am humbled that my name stands on the agenda on Georgia. It i…

10 Mar

2026

EN Speech

EU enlargement strategy (debate)

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Mr President, tomorrow marks 36 years since the parliament of my country bravely voted for the independence of Lithuania. Five divisions of the Soviet Army were still being stationed on our soil. Some in the West doubted. Later, we bravely chose membership in the EU and NATO. Some here doubted whether it was really necessary. I am proud that we were brave enough. Today, the entire EU needs brave d…

24 Feb

2026

EN Speech

Four years of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and European contributions to a just peace and sustained security for Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, dear all, my first point: a miracle near Kyiv. This is what historians will one day call Russia's failure in February 2022. Let's try to imagine Europe today if Russia had succeeded in occupying all of Ukraine in the first weeks of the war. It's clear today: Europe was defended by Ukrainians. We owe Ukraine – not them, to us. All people of goodwill understand this. But I am ashame…

21 Jan

2026

LT Speech

Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania (debate)

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Dear colleagues! I never thought I would have to take part in a debate about threats to democracy in my country. The main reason for this is the decision of the Lithuanian Social Democrats to form a coalition with a party whose goal is to create chaos in a country whose chairman has been convicted of anti-Semitism, with a party which, in my opinion, is one of the Kremlin's tools in Lithuania. Lies…

20 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Brutal repression against protesters in Iran (debate)

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Mr President, we do not yet know the full scale and brutality of the crime committed against its own people by the Iranian regime. It is possible that people are being killed there even as we speak. I support the EPP's call on the Council to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and demand the immediate adoption of further sanctions against the regime. I have …

20 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark: the need for a united EU response to US blackmail attempts (debate)

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Mr President, no one disputes that Arctic security is important not only for the US, but also for us, Europe. It has long required much more serious attention and work – and we, the EU and NATO, can do this together. However, the crisis in NATO and the threats to Greenland and Denmark caused by President Trump are an even greater security challenge than the problems in the Arctic. I am trying to i…

17 Dec

2025

EN Speech

The deepening democratic crisis in Georgia (debate)

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Mr President, first of all, I would like to thank all my colleagues who worked hard to ensure that the Sakharov Prize was awarded to two imprisoned journalists. Despite the distance of more than few thousand kilometres between the prisons of Andzej Pozcobut and Mzia Amaglobeli, their fight for freedom is the same. How did it all start? Can this happen in our countries? In both ‑ in Belarus and Geo…

17 Dec

2025

EN Speech

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 18-19 December 2025, in particular the need to support Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the EU’s strategic autonomy (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, in my country, Lithuania, the absolute majority of people believe in the European Union and they are waiting for even faster decisions, especially regarding aid to Ukraine, frozen assets, the Eastern Flank Watch and the European Drone Defence Initiative. People understand that the EU is becoming the mainstay not only of our prosperity, but also of our security. Our p…

17 Dec

2025

EN Question

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 18-19 December 2025, in particular the need to support Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the EU’s strategic autonomy (debate)

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I appreciate your thoughts on unity in the European Union, but I have to respond to the emotional accusations against the EPP of the Socialist leader, Iratxe García Pérez, regarding the votes here. But what do you do, Socialists, when your member, the Social Democrats in Lithuania – together with their antisemitic partners from the far right – are destroying the independence of the national broadc…

16 Dec

2025

LT Speech

Continuous Belarusian hybrid attacks against Lithuania (debate)

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26 Nov

2025

EN Speech

EU response to the continuous airspace violations and sabotage of critical infrastructure in the EU originating from Russia and Belarus (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, the latest facts in Lithuania and Poland once again prove that we are being attacked with various instruments to cause chaos, fear, and scare us away from supporting Ukraine. Just as migrants were used in the past, cigarette smugglers are now being deployed for the same purpose. We know how border security operates in Belarus: not even a mouse crosses the 5 km bor…

26 Nov

2025

EN Speech

EU position on the proposed plan and EU engagement towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, what happened last week is Putin's rescue plan. Russia is a monster on clay feet, like the collapsed USSR. And Putin desperately needs Washington's hand. Ukraine needs peace more than anything else. Russia wants to continue its aggressive policy. The only way to just and long-lasting peace is to help Ukraine to win and not be afraid to punish the aggressor. There will be …

25 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Communication on the Democracy Shield (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, we are at war. Kremlin hybrid warfare strategist, Kosatchev, openly says that their target is our societies. They want to change the thinking of the people. Lies are the main weapon and tool of the Kremlin. Unfortunately, Russian lies are constantly going out from the European Parliament platform through the Kremlin proxies. And they do this paid for by EU money, receivin…

22 Oct

2025

EN Speech

The need for a united support to Ukraine and for a just and durable peace concluded on Ukraine's terms, with Europeans and without surrendering to Vladimir Putin's conditions ahead of the foreseen Budapest summit (debate)

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Mr President, this war is not only about Ukraine, but also about us. It is an existential war for all of Europe. Russkiy Mir – Russian World – ideology is a form of fascism, the same evil this continent has seen before. Wars are won first in people's minds, and we must win this war. We must stop trembling at every word coming from Washington, DC. One day Americans will realise that Putin is simply…

22 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Situation in Belarus, five years after the fraudulent presidential elections (debate)

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Madam President, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya won the elections even though they were stolen from the Belarusian people through brutal force. Five years have passed, but no one in Belarus suddenly started loving the dictator Lukashenka. The Belarusian opposition, together with the elected President, stands as an example for other nations fighting against the same Kremlin tyranny and its proxies. They …

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, for the first time ever, I have decided to speak in a debate about Serbia – and not because my country, Lithuania, has long been Serbia's rival in basketball. I wanted to speak today to offer a message of encouragement. Serbia's choices matter – not only for its people, but for all of Europe. I fully support the students who are protesting and fighting for a democ…