What Elena spoke about.

7 Jul

2026

BG Speech

EU-Mexico (joint debate)

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Madam President, we have before us an agreement that will open the European markets for duty-free imports of honey from Mexico in an amount comparable to the production of honey in three Bulgarians. First, the quota is increased to 35 000 tonnes. After the seventh year, all restrictions are lifted. This is happening at a time when the European institutions themselves are warning about the risk of …

20 May

2026

BG Speech

Reviewing the ETS system to support European competitiveness (topical debate)

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Madam President, Europe needs a serious climate policy, but it must not punish. It should not penalise European industry, workers and energy security. The carbon trading system has contributed to reducing emissions, but European companies today pay 2-3 times more for electricity than the United States of America. This puts at risk strategic sectors such as steel, chemical industry, energy. For cou…

25 Mar

2026

BG Speech

Energy security, independence and supply in the geopolitical context - ensuring market stability and affordable energy for industry and citizens (debate)

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on behalf of the ALDE Group. - Mr President, in the face of the threat of a global energy crisis due to the war in the Middle East, Europe must take a decision now. We don't have time to wait for the construction of new nuclear power plants after losing decades in short-sighted politics. Didn't the war in the Middle East show you once again, once again, that it is the economy that suf…

11 Mar

2026

BG Speech

Building Europe's clean, independent and secure energy following the 2026 North Sea Summit (debate)

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11 Feb

2026

BG Speech

Urgent actions to revive EU competitiveness, deepen the EU Single Market and reduce the cost of living - from the Draghi report to reality (debate)

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In the European Union, slow growth threatens Europe's ability to maintain low levels of inequality and among the most vulnerable countries is Bulgaria, where purchasing power is at the bottom of the European Union, almost a third of that of France and Germany. The gap between the regions in Bulgaria is widening and 20% of Bulgarian citizens cannot heat their homes and young people can hardly buy a…

16 Dec

2025

BG Speech

Presentation of the European Affordable Housing Plan (debate)

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25 Nov

2025

BG Speech

Communication on the Democracy Shield (debate)

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Mr President, in democratic societies, the right of association is fundamental. People should be able to freely organize and defend their causes. This is important and I respect the Commission's efforts, but democracy has a clear principle: Power is vested in institutions elected by citizens. Civil society has a role to play, but it cannot override the democratic mandate. If we are to introduce ne…

22 Oct

2025

BG Speech

The ongoing assault on the democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria (topical debate)

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Madam President, political interference against the independent judiciary in Bulgaria should not be allowed. What we are seeing today, however, is an attempt by one of the opposition parties to attack the independent judiciary. The occasion for today’s debate is the arrest of one of the mayors of ‘Continuing the Change’, who runs Bulgaria’s third largest city. There are reports of corruption again…

7 Oct

2025

BG Speech

The EU’s role in supporting the recent peace efforts for Gaza and a two-state solution (debate)

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Mr. President, President Trump's new peace plan brings real hope for a definitive end to the war in Gaza. It sets out clear steps for the release of hostages, the exchange of prisoners, the disarmament of Hamas, international governance and the reconstruction of Gaza. Thanks to this plan, all parties are now at the negotiating table and for the first time we are seeing real progress, supported by …

10 Sep

2025

FR Speech

State of the Union (debate)

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Mrs von der Leyen, the success of the European Union lies in the strength and dignity of each Member State. During your visit to Bulgaria on August 31, the world news agencies came up with false information that your plane was hovering for 1 hour over Plovdiv due to a possible jamming of the GPS signal. You know that this false information caused a serious blow to the image of Bulgaria. So far, yo…

8 Jul

2025

EN Speech

Situation in the Middle East (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, in the Middle East, the crisis is spreading fast: from Palestine, to Lebanon, to Yemen, and now to Iran. People need urgent help, but peace feels farther away than ever. This is already our sixth debate on the Middle East since our new mandate began last July. And honestly, it feels like we keep saying the same things. We call for peace, we ask for action, but ver…

7 May

2025

BG Speech

EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, the attempt to impose peace by force in Ukraine is a path to an escalation of war with enormous consequences for European citizens. And the longer the fighting continues, the more Ukraine will lose both people and territories. That's the reality. For three years, the European Union has not sought a way to negotiate and stop the conflict. The new US administration is trying to stop…

1 Apr

2025

BG Speech

Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (debate)

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We have long believed that censorship is inherent in authoritarian regimes. Today, however, it is taking over the media in Europe with security arguments and the fight against disinformation. There is already correct and incorrect information, and critical thinking, journalistic investigation, we replaced with fact-checking. Freedom of speech is increasingly implied by the provision of pre-approve…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, today we face a critical challenge once again: the future of the Middle East. And we find ourselves asking, how can the European Union make a meaningful impact? The answer lies in our commitment to a two‑state solution. And this is not just an option – it's the only path to true and lasting peace. The recent hostage deal is a vital step for the good example of diplom…

26 Nov

2024

EN Speech

Continued escalation in the Middle East: the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region, the need to release all hostages and the recent ICC arrest warrants (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is an urgent matter that affects hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees. We must acknowledge the essential role played by the humanitarian agencies actively working on the ground. UNRWA is a leading organisation providing food, shelter and health care to nearly 2 million people and it's responsible for 63 % of primary health …

25 Nov

2024

EN Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Mr President, dear colleagues, how can you possibly turn a blind eye to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen? With more than 18 million Yemenis facing food insecurity and 4.5 million displaced, we cannot afford to remain silent. The urgency of the situation calls for our immediate actions, especially for the most vulnerable: women and children. Imagine the children suffering from malnutrition and a la…

23 Oct

2024

EN Speech

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns (debate)

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Madam President, if you want the European migration policy to be fair to those who need protection, it should be firm and effective to others who don't have the right to stay. Almost half of the people who arrive in Europe do not receive asylum status. Last year, less than 20 % of those with return decisions were actually returned. Yes, Commissioner Dalli, we need to do more. Returns is the missin…

9 Oct

2024

BG Answer

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support (debate)

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Thank you for your question. I think that the main instrument we have today to be able to effectively manage the external border of the European Union is the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It gives us all the tools we need to be able to manage the external borders of the European Union. Of course, much depends on its implementation and that is why our efforts over the next two years will focus on t…

9 Oct

2024

BG Speech

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support (debate)

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Dear Mr Schinas, Europe's security depends on the security of our external borders. In recent years, Frontex has shown that it can carry out effective reform and provide assistance to frontline countries, including Bulgaria. But let us not delude ourselves that by strengthening Frontex, by strengthening the external borders of the European Union, we can stop migration to Europe and hide from the p…

8 Oct

2024

EN Speech

Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deeply concerning, with over two million people in desperate need and thousands of lives lost. This crisis extends beyond Gaza, affecting neighbouring countries like Lebanon. We find ourselves in a crucial situation after a year of escalating conflict. I am asking Mr Borrell: are we truly powerless to break this cycle of violence…

7 Oct

2024

EN Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Madam President, today I want to address a critical issue: the need to uphold international law standards for children in the Middle East. International law is a moral compass guiding our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable: the children. Many of these children are caught up in war. During my visit to Yemen two weeks ago, I witnessed the struggle faced by its people. Children urgently ne…

24 Apr

2024

BG Speech

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (debate)

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Mr. Chairman, I'm going to speak Bulgarian. Dear Mr Borrell, colleagues, Europe must be a leader in the Middle East peace initiative. Unfortunately, the conflict is growing and endangers both the interests of the European Union and the security of European citizens. A concrete example is the daring attacks of Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea and the three European citizens taken hostage six months a…

10 Apr

2024

FR Speech

Screening of third country nationals at the external borders - European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals - Common procedure for international protection in the Union - Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 - Asylum and migration management - Addressing situations of crisis and force majeure - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, for identifying an illegally staying third-country national or stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes (recast) - Union Resettlement Framework - Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection - Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) (joint debate - Migration and Asylum package)

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Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, it has been clear for more than a decade that the current European migration policy is not working. This policy is not effective either for Member States, in particular those under pressure at the external borders of the European Union, or for asylum seekers. For the first time, the European Union will have a permanent relocation system that wil…

13 Mar

2024

FR Speech

The immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

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Mr President, thank you for giving me the floor. Colleagues, we need a European peace initiative to help civilians in Gaza and free the hostages held by Hamas. Yes, humanitarian aid entering Gaza via Cyprus is vital. But Europe can and must do more to make humanitarian aid more effective. This means stepping up diplomatic efforts between the EU and countries in the region neighbouring the conflict…

12 Mar

2024

FR Speech

European Media Freedom Act (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in recent years there have been serious attacks on media freedom in Europe. Pressure on journalists by the government and the business community has weighed heavily on media freedom. It is clear that we cannot always rely on national governments to improve the situation. That is why I am pleased that we have finally focused on media freedom at Euro…