What Elena spoke about.

27 Feb

2024

FR Speech

War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (debate)

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the conflict in the Gaza Strip requires an approach that respects the rights of all parties involved. Recent developments have only aggravated the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. It is crucial to recognize the legitimate right of Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and security. And I applaud the efforts of Vice-President Borre…

7 Feb

2024

BG Speech

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred (debate)

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Mr President, a united Europe was born out of the resistance that millions of citizens have shown to Nazism, but today we increasingly hear calls for intolerance towards people of other faiths. Neo-Nazism breeds anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, calls into question the Holocaust. Today, monuments to those who defeated fascism during World War II are already crumbling. Today, they are already publicl…

22 Nov

2023

BG Speech

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Nikolay Denkov (debate)

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Madam President, Prime Minister, the government you are heading justifies its existence by achieving several goals – Bulgaria's membership of Schengen and the euro area, as well as by the need for stability in the complex geopolitical situation. Internally, it remains to be seen whether the demand for justice reform will materialise. The proposed amendments to the Constitution seem to be aimed at …

22 Nov

2023

FR Speech

Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need for the release of hostages and for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire and the prospects for peace and security in the Middle East (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is unbearable and nearly 900 000 displaced persons are finding refuge in United Nations facilities. At least 17 of these facilities were directly affected, which is appalling. Instead of discussing how to impose additional conditions on aid, the EU should push for more humanitarian corridors and ensure that aid actually reaches…

21 Nov

2023

FR Speech

Strategic Compass and EU space-based defence capabilities (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in space we must cooperate. We need to work together to preserve space for the benefit of current and future generations. Space must not become the site of an arms race. Its militarization would put all nations at risk. The first step is to update the many international treaties related to space in order to adapt them to the new challenges. Our …

8 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26-27 October 2023 - Humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause (joint debate - Conclusions of the European Council and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a humanitarian pause)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, the scale of the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza is unprecedented, and the European Union seems helpless and unable to change the situation on the ground. Calling for humanitarian corridors, sending humanitarian aid: this is not enough if this help can’t reach the citizens of Gaza. I was in Israel 10 days ago near the border with Gaza, and nothing can justify the cru…

3 Oct

2023

BG Speech

European Media Freedom Act (debate)

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Dear colleagues, we are proposing a real media law that will change, I hope, the media environment. Mastered media, pressure on journalists by government and business interests, a merger between political power and media – this is the reality in Europe today, and the decline in trust in public private media has logically reached its critical point. The purpose of the European Media Freedom Act is …

12 Sep

2023

BG Speech

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

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Mr President, the best way to ensure the transport of grain across the Black Sea is to stop the war. Initiate negotiations that will lead to lasting peace. We need active European diplomacy, not the active sending of European weapons to Ukraine, leading to even greater losses among Ukrainians. Today we see an increase in escalation, an increase in the naval presence in the Black Sea. This is not t…

11 Sep

2023

FR Speech

European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) (debate)

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the weather is leading to increases in defence budgets in most Member States. Currently, more than 80% of defence procurement in the European Union is still carried out on a national basis. EDIRPA offers us a new start, joint purchasing opportunities where we can consolidate European demand. Our market is particularly organized around small national companies…

17 Apr

2023

BG Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Mr President, the European Union has been a dream of generations, a community that guarantees peace, freedom and prosperity. Today, however, we have allowed to settle the doubt, the doubt whether Brussels is fighting for the interests of European citizens. Adhering to a policy of strategic autonomy, the struggle to create an independent union is the path to peace. The militarization of part of our…

15 Mar

2023

BG Speech

Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)

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Madam President, colleagues, today everyone is saying that they want peace in Ukraine and are loading ammunition into Ukraine's weapons. Europe has become a supplier, and it has to be a leader, to offer solutions. Europeans don't want war in Europe. The countries that were designated to be on the front line of defense do not want war. The Bulgarians also do not want to be involved in this conflict…

15 Mar

2023

BG Speech

Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)

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Madam President, colleagues, today everyone is saying that they want peace in Ukraine and are loading ammunition into Ukraine's weapons. Europe has become a supplier, and it has to be a leader, to offer solutions... (The president interrupted the speech due to noise in the room.)…

15 Feb

2023

FR Speech

EUCO conclusions: the need for the speedy finalisation of the Road Map (debate)

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the asylum system has been under reform for more than seven years. Seven long years, during which we witnessed the collapse of national systems under the pressure of populist movements exploiting human tragedies. And now, for the first time, we are about to have a new asylum system in the European Union. But we have very little time to take this last step. So…

15 Feb

2023

BG Speech

The erosion of the rule of law in Greece: the wiretapping scandal and media freedom (topical debate)

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Madam President, what is the response of the prime minister of a European country after listening for months to journalists, former and current ministers, political leaders, the opposition, Nikos Androulakis, the leader of PASOK. “...it is legal, but I did not know,” says Prime Minister Mitsotakis. That's his answer. It's his responsibility. Months earlier, a law was passed that placed the intelli…

2 Feb

2023

BG Speech

Preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit (debate)

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Madam President, today the war in Ukraine threatens to turn into a huge European catastrophe. Millions fear the expansion of the conflict. The belief that the supply of more and more heavy weapons, tanks will lead to the end of hostilities, differs from reality. Not only are we not approaching peace, but escalation seems inevitable, inevitable. And what's the next step? What will we send tomorrow,…

1 Feb

2023

FR Speech

Situation in Afghanistan (debate)

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, what we are doing is not enough to find solutions to the problems that are causing the destabilisation in Afghanistan. Yes, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan should be increased, but humanitarian aid is not a long-term solution. We cannot hope for an improvement in the rights of girls and women unless we stop the financial flow that feeds those who impose their…

18 Jan

2023

BG Speech

Protecting the Rule of Law against impunity in Spain (topical debate)

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Madam President, what is the purpose of today's debate? Once again, the European People's Party is abusing its right to propose a thematic debate. In October, and in a pre-election environment, the EPP imposed a debate on Bulgaria on a topic that only their friend Borisov cared about, and on a topic that had long been decided in court. Today we are once again witnessing another absurdity. We are d…

13 Dec

2022

FR Speech

Prospects for the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine (debate)

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Mr President, we are all very aware of the difficulties in dealing with a conflict that has lasted for several decades. We cannot remain spectators of a situation that creates despair and insecurity and costs the lives of many innocent people. In the current circumstances, bringing peace is not an easy task, but it is not impossible. We must start by putting peace back on our European agenda in or…

13 Dec

2022

FR Speech

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession (debate)

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Mr President, last week Austria and the Netherlands blocked Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen, hiding behind arguments that had nothing to do with European rules and standards. Austria and the Netherlands abused their right in the Council, questioning the future of the European Union. Today I have only one question for the Commission. The Netherlands and Austria have shown a blatant abuse of law over…

13 Dec

2022

FR Speech

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Golob, we are honoured to be in this room today and to have the opportunity to lead this debate. Only a year ago, Slovenia embarked on a destructive path, and the then Prime Minister controlled the media and the judiciary with great arrogance. I am pleased to see that Slovenia quickly got rid of this model. I congratulate you for undertaking decisive reforms to ensure that the …

23 Nov

2022

FR Speech

Recognising the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism (RC-B9-0482/2022, B9-0482/2022, B9-0483/2022, B9-0485/2022, B9-0486/2022, B9-0487/2022)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, do we want war in Europe? Because with this resolution, we are only fuelling the conflict and bringing Europe closer to a major disaster. Declaring Russia as a state promoting terrorism reduces the possibility of finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, because one does not negotiate with a terrorist. By voting in favour of this shameful document, we are let…

23 Nov

2022

FR Speech

The need for a European solution on asylum and migration including search and rescue (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner Schinas, Commissioner Johansson, almost a decade ago, Europe witnessed the tragedy of Lampedusa. It was a wake-up call for all of us. It was a wake-up call for solidarity and better coordination. Nearly 5,000 people have died in the Mediterranean since 2014 and we continue to count, we record tragedies and we hide behind excuses. We are debating, but we are not changing …

21 Nov

2022

BG Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Madam President, Bulgaria is not a second category member of the European Union and we have proven this many times over the years. When we guard the external borders of the European Union, we get a pat on the shoulder. When we are in solidarity with Greece's financial problems, we get a pat on the shoulder again, when we comply with European rules on cabotage to the detriment of our transport busi…

19 Oct

2022

FR Speech

Outcome of the first meeting of the European Political Community (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, if Europe is to be strong in order to better protect the social and economic rights of its citizens, it must be independent. Strategic autonomy, the building of our security and defence system, is the basis of this prosperity. It also means interdependence between EU Member States that share common values, but also through cooperation with other…

17 Oct

2022

BG Speech

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

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Mr. Chairman! Where are you taking us, ladies and gentlemen, where are you pushing Europe, this Europe that generations have fought for so that we can all live in peace? Why do we hear calls for arms every day and not for diplomatic negotiations? Why are you talking about a possible nuclear catastrophe and not a European strategy to stop the fratricidal conflict? Do we already have a European war …