Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. Nitrogen suboxide, or N2And according to its chemical formula, it's almost as simple as H2Oh, but by the way, it's not innocent water. It is a so-called laughter gas, and it has a strong effect on the human body, and consumption has serious consequences. It is a potent anaesthetic that is inextricably bound to cause complete anaesthesia or anaesthesia during surgery. According to medical law, this is a strictly prescription-only preparation, and that would say it all. However, that nitrous oxide has other, non-medical uses, such as an additive that increases the engine power of the car, or the filling of cans in the food industry. And this opens the door for individual individuals to abuse and illegally use that gas for self-intoxication. Legally, preventing this seems complicated, so it is not surprising that various European countries try to do it differently. Introduce bans on sales in places such as bars or clubs that are sold to minors, limit the size, design of packages, add the compound to the list of substances that pose a risk of abuse. Everything has its price. I think that everyone would be happy if Europe proposed a unified legal N2and regulation of use. A glass of beer or a glass of wine should be the responsibility of each of us, privately, and because of the gas of laughter, the responsibility for assigning them to consumption should be borne exclusively by professionals, that is, doctors.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. The Commission’s assessments in 2025 show that Ukraine and Moldova have made very good progress, with both countries successfully completing the review process and both seeing positive progress in the areas of democratic institutions, public administration and the rule of law. Therefore, we should not move to the finish line. Previous waves of enlargement have not undermined the EU’s institutional functionality but, on the contrary, have strengthened our economic weight, security and political influence. Therefore, we do not have to embark on long marches of institutional reforms, as if only after them Europe would be able to accept new members. The most advanced countries, including those in the Balkans, can be accepted without major institutional transformations. Some corrections may be useful, some may be unavoidable in the future, but they must not be turned into a political brake. Today is not the time to say: "Wait, it's not time to talk about Ukraine and Moldova". Precisely now is the time.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. The European Union is founded on the simple but fundamental principle that the law applies equally to everyone and everywhere. When doubts arise in one Member State about the situation of an independent media, the independence of the judiciary or the transparent use of European funds, this is a signal to all of us. The case of Slovakia today becomes such a signal: questions arise, for example, about changing the structure of public media. It must be said clearly and collegially that the space for compromise is very limited here, because confidence in the very idea of European democracy depends on it. In Slovakia, we can see a targeted weakening of the rule of law: abolishing the office of the Special Prosecutor, shortening limitation periods and weakening the protection of whistleblowers, who are the ones who protect European Union funds from corruption. Such purported ‘reforms’ are not neutral but open the way to possible abuses. I would like to emphasise separately the attacks on media freedom. The national broadcaster RTVS is abolished, the new structure is replaced, thus giving the government wide possibilities to interfere in its management, change the heads, shape the tone of news. We have already seen what such schemes mean in Hungary – now the ‘model’ is being moved to Bratislava as well. This is also an instructive warning to my native Lithuania. When initiatives to "reorganise" LRT are re-emerging in the Seimas, it is supposed to be a "better supervision" of the national broadcaster, and in fact it is to subordinate it as much as possible to the whims of politicians, we must remind: A strong media powered by the rulers is a useless idea, no matter what the ‘good wishes’ cover up. The European Union's response must therefore be principled and swift: if the rule of law and media freedom are attacked, not only harsh statements but also real financial consequences must be at stake. This would be fair both to the citizens of Slovakia and any other country, and to Europe as a whole.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. The Kremlin wants to break Ukrainian society through cold and darkness. While Europe has provided billions of euros in support to Ukraine’s energy since the start of the war – in grants, loans, generators, transformers – and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development alone mobilised more than 1.2 billion euros for Ukraine’s energy security in 2025 – this is not enough. These figures are not high compared to what Russia has already destroyed. The latest estimates by the World Bank and its partners are about 68 billion dollars worth of damage to Ukraine's energy and resource sector. So the proportion is simple and cruel: for every euro we spend, the Kremlin has destroyed tens of times more with missiles. If we are not able to mobilise more money now, tomorrow we will pay more, not only in money, but also in people's lives and the weakening security of Europe as a whole.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. As far as broadcasts of sports competitions and other live events are concerned, we must admit that the greatest value of their content is revealed precisely at the time the event takes place. "Here and now" is not the same as "return and see at any time". Illegal live broadcasts therefore cause irreversible damage which can no longer be restored after the end of the event. In 2023, the European Commission issued recommendations in the hope that voluntary cooperation between right holders, platforms and intermediaries could prevent piracy, but the impact was limited, piracy is still ongoing, and it has to be noted that this is no longer an isolated case, but a systemic phenomenon that brings both economic and reputational damage, while voluntary measures are no longer able to follow the technological reality and organised schemes for the distribution of illegal content. Hundreds of millions of euros are lost and creative work is undervalued. The negative impact of this phenomenon on investment, jobs and public revenues is increasingly cited by major players in the European sport, media and cultural sector. There is therefore a need for an effective legal framework enabling the right instruments to be adapted in due course.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. Comparing the moods in this House in the previous term and in this one, I notice an increased pro-Russian sentiment. So something happened on day X in the meantime, and obviously that date was 9 June 2024, when more like-minded representatives infiltrated the European Parliament. Russia intervened in the election process. What are we, Europe, doing to prove that specific individuals receive Russian rewards for their services? The Belgian police should be in charge of the fight against scabies. And we only learn about isolated, non-systematic efforts. Here is a case in the UK against former MEP Gill. In 2024, Tatjana Ždanoka's 20-year-old activities were unveiled. Her pro-Russian statements, however, were no secret, but she acted with European taxpayers' money. The Latvian special services initiated a search of an apartment in Brussels, and the former MEP lodged a complaint with the Belgian courts, and the further actions of the Latvian authorities are becoming restrained. She lost her five-day daily allowance. We have heard of cases in the Czech Republic and Germany. After all, we, the European Parliament, are facing hybrid warfare, actions against democracy and security. What coordinated measures do the institutions of the European Union intend to take to prevent such actions?

President, Commissioner, colleagues. In Georgia, unfortunately, we are increasingly seeing the erosion of democracy. Pressure on civil society and the media is increasing, the so-called ‘foreign agents’ regime is entering into force, limiting the activities of independent organisations, and brutal force is being used against peaceful protesters. When European integration was halted, civil society stood on guard, and today's ruling power responded with arrests, intimidation, tear gas and water cannons. Georgia's prime minister is trying to deny that brombenzyl cyanide has been added to the water, but admits there were chemical additives. Thus, the rulers engaged in a physical struggle against their nation, which defends Europe on the streets of Tbilisi not only with symbols as flags, but also with its bodies, at the cost of physical health. And all this is happening in a country where a Russian army is still stationed in part of its territory, so the events in Georgia are never a purely domestic matter. Europe cannot turn away from a people who love freedom. Democratic pressure is needed. Let us not leave the people fighting alone, because this would mean not only disappointing their expectations, but also weakening the credibility of the European idea itself across Europe.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. Let us not be fooled: the Belarusian regime does not plan to change. The release of political prisoners on 13 December is part of a cynical hybrid war, not a humanitarian gesture. While selective ‘pleasures’ are publicly displayed, Andrei Pachobut and many others remain behind bars. At the same time, Lithuania is also under constant hybrid attacks, from instrumentalisation of migrants to continuous provocations at the border, including balloons used for intelligence, disinformation and tensions. These are not accidental incidents, but systemic pressure. This is not a problem of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Belarus, but action against Europe. It is therefore essential that the European Union does not relax the sanctions policy, but rather strengthens it, remains principled and actively protects the interests and security of the Member States. The responsibility of the European Union today is not to give in to short-term illusions.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. The Arctic is no longer the distant edge of the world. It is a place where the greatest powers show their appetites more and more openly, and climate change has become a convenient cover for aggressive actions. As the glaciers melt, not only new routes open up, but also space for brutal competition and demonstration of power. Russia behaves like an owner in the region: militarizes the Arctic, tightens control of the Northern Sea Route, drawing lines that others are not supposed to cross. Under the guise of the ‘Polar Silk Road’, China is seeking strategic investment, not through cooperation, but through influence and long-term control. This is geopolitical pressure. Europe must stop looking at the Arctic as an ecological field of research. This is our security front. Our arguments are therefore international law, an active response to militarisation and a clear message: The future of the Arctic must be based on rules, not force.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. I have the ungrateful task of listing in a minute all the ugly deeds of the Belarusian regime, when in the same minute they make dozens more, even more horrible! Dozens of political prisoners have been released and ten times more incarcerated. In fact, free media have been destroyed, the opposition has not had the slightest opportunity to act, and civil society has been suppressed. The Lukashenka regime is actively contributing to Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine. Two thousand children from the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine were smuggled into the territory of Belarus. Instrumentalised migration continues to take place against neighbouring countries, including Lithuania, and direct security risks are escalated, so there is no reason why we should ease sanctions against today's regime in Belarus. They just need to be tightened up. In the cave of Belarus!

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues. There are countries that today do not ask for grace, but show determination and readiness to join our community. They are moving forward because they believe in a Europe where enlargement is based on merit and clear results. After all, it has long been necessary to send a message that enlargement is not a frozen process, but a living political commitment. It is time to change the narrative and move from ‘non-enlargement’ talks to negotiating clusters and prove that enlargement is actually taking place. Moldova has once again overcame ruthless Russian propaganda. In 2029, will we tell them again, "Stand up for another existential election"? And Moldova is not the only one fully matured for full membership. Continuation of the European project is impossible without geographical expansion de facto. Let us set a specific goal for development and pursue it.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. The impact of climate change on tick activity is undeniable. Undoubtedly, vaccinations save. It is enough to compare Austria and Switzerland: in one, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is universal, in the other it is not, and the morbidity of people clearly proves the advantages of vaccination. Aggressive ticks, influenza, coronavirus – vaccination campaigns must also be aggressive. It is now lukewarm in many countries. In many cases, awareness must be demonstrated by the patient, which is the responsibility of the health authorities in the Member States. Sufficient quantities of vaccines must be available, patients in risk groups must be vaccinated free of charge and others must be clearly and explicitly informed. Solutions are needed throughout the European Union. This would be an appropriate contribution to the creation of a European Health Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, the recent violations of Europe's airspace and critical infrastructure are not accidents and they are not mere provocations; they are deliberate acts of hostility. Russia is not intending to declare officially the war; the war simply is going on. We should try to avoid the fatal mistakes of the past. Today, history stands at our doorstep once again. War is raging on our continent and the integrity of borders is no longer an abstract principle. Europe's response must be immediate, coordinated and unmistakable. Our skies, our territory and our seas are not negotiable. Every act of aggression must be met with firm political, economic and, if necessary, military consequences.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. Anti-Semitism in Europe, unfortunately, is not just a shadow of the past, but a worrying reality of today. Even the walls of this palace, unfortunately, sometimes become a scene for anti-Semitic cues or even open statements. This is unequivocally reprehensible. There is also concern about anti-Semitic rhetoric in the activities of parties in various European countries. After all, anti-Semitism, xenophobia of any kind, only destroys the foundations of democracy, leads to radicalization and violence. We must not forget that Jews have been an integral part of European cultural development for centuries. As if there were not enough violent experience of the Holocaust, today we see again a disdainful attitude towards this nation. This is intolerable. Europe is strongest when it is based on respect for people, diversity of communities and respect for history.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. On September 28, Moldova will have to reconfirm its European course. And the Kremlin is imposing a fierce hybrid war. The Russians imagine that they can still operate destructively in the post-Soviet space and do not regret the conventional and modernized means. These include alleged protests financed through cryptocurrency channels, the purchase of votes by shadow millions, the game of the separatist card, the idea of an alleged ‘equilibrium between East and Europe’, supported by the establishment of supposedly ‘middle’ parties alongside openly pro-Moscow parties. At the same time, Moldovan civil society must withstand the ghosts of the past and sustain not only its own democracy and prosperity, the stability of the region, but also the resilience of Europe as a whole. And the best thing we can do is make the process of Moldova’s membership of the European Union concrete without delay.

President, Commissioner, colleagues. Today we are witnessing a democratic decline in Serbia. Protests against the government are repressed by brutal force, violence against the opposition and independent journalists, and the rule of law is systematically weakened. And the images in Belgrade are a very clear reminder of the events in Belarus in 2020. However, Serbia has not yet become a dictatorship, but it must be acknowledged that the current direction of the state is not compatible with the values of the European Union. If today’s Belarus symbolises the Kremlin’s victory, Serbia still has the choice to return to the democratic path. And Europe must act in a targeted way to help make the right choice. Without changing the situation, targeted sanctions against government officials responsible for violence should not be ruled out either. Let's not let Serbia become another Russian satellite.

President, for a minute I did not believe in the goodwill of the Russian aggressors and that they would want peace. No, not really. We remain only armed with Ukraine, armed by ourselves, subjugating science and cutting-edge technology, finance, to a hybrid warfare. The sanctions package approach we have chosen should have worked much earlier. Deposits must be confiscated and membership negotiations must not be delayed. And now the aggressor's cruelty is increasing tenfold. The norm is no longer 600 drones, but 6000. There was not so much blood. The term ‘Realpolitik’ changes the meaning and refers to a coarse reality. The price of blood is crucial to breaking the war. We are not instigators of war, but the aggressor forces us to teach children from an early age how to build drones and drone curtains. If we were to be honest, at least we would be honest. Slava Ukraini!

President, Commissioner, colleagues. Already two decades ago, North Macedonia undertook decisive institutional reforms, obtained candidate status, but the process of integration has been delayed for an inadequate amount of time. The European Union, which declares that enlargement benefits everyone, has acted ambiguously at crucial moments. In today's geopolitical reality, delaying strategic decisions is a gift to Kremlin propaganda and weakening pro-Western attitudes in the region. North Macedonia has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to European values by participating in European Union missions and coordinating its foreign and security policy with the Community. It is among the most advanced candidates. Long reflections on the need for deep internal reforms of the European Union as a condition for enlargement must not hold back processes. So can you finally give us a date – why not, for example, 2027? If not, when?

President, Commissioner, colleagues. I want to quote what I said about pollinators on 17 December 2019: "prevention of biodiversity loss must be science-based and based on ambitious but achievable targets". I also strongly suggest Bee Guidance renewal and that chronic toxicity studies are carried out for new plant protection products. The effects on pollinators other than bees shall be investigated. Adopted in the meantime New Deal for Pollinators, updated Bee Guidanceand in 2023, the Nature Restoration Regulation gave pollinators, including bees, a legal protection status. This is a significant step that obliges Member States to monitor their populations according to a standardised methodology. the decline of pollinators must be halted by 2030 and their sustainable growth ensured thereafter. An important issue is the European red list for bees. It needs to be updated to reflect current trends in the status of species. That objective is threatened, inter alia, by invasive species. A single colony of a species such as the Asian wasp can destroy up to 90,000 pollinators per season. It is therefore time to take appropriate action based on a risk assessment. In the case of pesticides, ring tests for lone bees are a step forward, but long-term studies at colony level are still lacking. Sublethal and chronic effects, unfortunately, remain underestimated. After all, only comprehensive research will provide an opportunity to make science-based decisions. I welcome the fact that databases on bees are becoming more widely available, and yet they must not only be open, but also comprehensive, constantly updated and integrated into decision-making, both when drawing up the European red list of bees and when planning habitat restoration. I will reiterate that only on the basis of reliable scientific data can we achieve our goals and stop the decline of bees.