Speeches

Dear Chairman, colleague and colleague, we have heard several times: free media is a key pillar of any democratic society, and it is precisely this media freedom act that should safeguard the editorial independence of journalists’ rights. In addition, Member States will be obliged to protect the independence of the media, and all media, regardless of their size, what is extremely important and what we have been highlighting in particular for years, will have to publish information on their ownership structure and be more transparent about obtaining funding from the state budget. What is new and what I welcome is the creation of the European Board for Media Services, the media supervisory body. Finally, let's not forget that the media sector contributes to job creation and growth with a turnover exceeding 3% of GDP. Equally, with around €50 million per year, the European Union supports the media space and the media sector, also allocating funds to research projects and reducing disinformation. They are an economy like everyone else, and they must have equal rights.

Honourable Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Colleagues. This year we celebrate significant anniversaries in the field of human rights. 75 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 30 years since the Vienna Declaration of Human Rights and 25 years since the United Nations Declaration. Why am I saying this? It is these milestones that remind us of our shared commitment to the universal, indivisible and interdependent nature of human rights. The development of democracy and human rights and their strengthening are in fact a reflection of our civilisational and democratic achievements. The world is an increasingly cruel place. Isn't the right to freedom, to life, that zero position? If we turn around and look around, we will realize that in many countries we are in exactly that, zero, position. Our action is based on the principle that democracy and human rights are not only values of the European Union, but also global norms that require our support. In 2023, we witnessed an increase in authoritarianism, with more than half of the world’s population living under authoritarian rule. I think this is an alarm, which highlights the urgency of our mission to strengthen democracy and protect human rights. The European Union’s external action, as outlined in our report, is dedicated to strengthening and supporting democracy and human rights. In particular, I want to denounce the abuse of multilateral institutions by totalitarian and authoritarian regimes that attempt to undermine human rights mechanisms.

The priorities of the Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioners, the Colleagues are clearly clear: address poverty from a gender perspective, strengthen institutions, ensure robust funding mechanisms that support these objectives. Economic empowerment and the eradication of gender-based discrimination in the workplace and beyond are also at the top of our agenda. But what is the real situation? We've heard different numbers. Last year's UN report warns that with the current rate of progress, it will take 286 years to close gaps in women's legal protection. A colleague said something similar about it. Up to 140 years to achieve equal representation of women in so-called power positions. And now we're going backwards. Last year it took us 40 years to achieve equal representation of women and men in national parliaments, we came to 47. There's an election ahead of us, so I'll ask. You know who Medeleine Albright was, you know what she told the women? That there is certainly a place in hell for women who do not support women, so, therefore, let it be a place where you support women. Finally, I would like to welcome the agreement reached yesterday by the Council of the European Parliament regarding the Law on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and I would like to give a good example of my country of the Republic of Croatia that has amended the Criminal Code. A new crime of aggravated murder of a woman has been introduced, so-called femicide and many other things have been promoted to the benefit of women and girls. Croatia can be an example here.

In particular, the Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, congratulates colleague Rangel on the significant progress achieved with the Prüm II proposal, a key step forward in strengthening police cooperation between Member States through automated data exchange. The establishment of national DNA analysis files marks a crucial development in our fight against crime, terrorism, drug traffickers, human trafficking. By adopting an implementing act specifying the characteristics of the profiles to be exchanged and the minimum requirements for matches, we are also aligning with international and European standards, ensuring a robust framework for cross-border cooperation. Data sharing is necessary in investigations into criminal activities, so I simply do not understand colleagues who question this way of data sharing. The possibility for Member States to participate in the automated exchange of police record indexes further enhances our cooperation possibilities. Such an exchange based on sets, including biometric data of individuals convicted or suspected of serious crimes, also strengthens our collective ability to effectively prevent, detect and investigate crimes. Of course, our actions must be guided by the principles of proportionality, respect for fundamental rights and an unwavering commitment to the security of the European Union. These are good tools for our police to fight crime and I support this proposal.

Over the last nine years, the European External Evaluation Service’s working group has collected, analysed and exposed nearly 16,500 disinformation by the Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, colleagues. The findings indicate that Russia remains the primary source of such campaigns, in particular those justifying its aggression against Ukraine. This document that we are witnessing today and that we have seen is proof that all we have in politics is morality and integrity. These colleagues don't have that. It's the political bottom of the bottom. These are people without morals, these are people who work in favor of the aggressor and Russian propaganda. There is, it is quite clear, an army of disinformationrs spreading a negative EU impact; Our response must be to improve cyber defence, ensure the transparency of the electoral process and raise awareness. And let's not forget, the INGE Committee has done a great job and I believe that its work must continue.

In a world of growing globalisation, modern legislation and legal frameworks undoubtedly need to be strengthened. Regulation and processing are challenges for democratic societies, which regrettably see an increase in intolerance. I will look in particular at online hate speech. There are numerous examples that often represent a conspiratorial for violence. Digital platforms and various closed communication groups, i.e. channels, are fertile ground for multiplying hate messages with often far-reaching consequences. Remember Cyberbullying and Nicole Fox's girlfriends. We spoke here in the European Parliament about her case. Bullying, too much exposure of young people to violence, is a serious problem today. The EU Kids Online survey found that nearly 50 percent of children were exposed to cyberbullying. This is not a question of restricting freedom of speech. It is about protecting the right of all citizens to live without fear of discrimination, violence and hatred. Freedom of speech must not become a freedom to spread hatred, and here we make a difference.

Dear Chairman, colleague and colleague. It is good that citizens will no longer have to question or doubt the truthfulness of what they are selling to us and that we will put an end to manipulative practices. We are constantly talking about the green transition. It's not just a political or economic change. It is also a cultural change. As consumers, our choices, from small everyday decisions to large investments, have a huge impact on the environment. Empowering consumers means providing accurate, clear and relevant information to help them make so-called sustainable choices. In Croatia, as in the entire European Union, we have seen data, we see a growing interest of consumers in environmentally friendly products. They need to know where they come from, how they were produced and what their ecological footprint is. This is a clear signal that consumers are not only looking for sustainable options, but are also ready to support the green transition with their wallets. Last but not least, the transparency and credibility of labels, but also the balance between consumer and producer protection, is what we have taken care of.

The United States and the European Union represent an area of about 800 million people, united by a long history of cooperation, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The conflict in Ukraine and the geopolitical challenges related to China, as well as the need for global climate change governance, are just some of the challenges that require strong and united transatlantic cooperation. However, relations between the United States and the European Union must not be understood for granted, and in particular we must not speak here in the context of relations with the United States as an inferior partner when we put this in the context of a country of the European Union. This includes cooperation in areas such as trade, security, defence, technology and the fight against climate change. However, what remains the essential foundation of our defence is actually NATO, the development of European defence capabilities, which is essential for maintaining peace and stability. The great political rearrangement we are witnessing necessarily needs strong transatlantic cooperation, vital for preserving peace and stability.

Dear Chairman, the disinformation industry has long taken off its gloves. We are probably all aware that disinformation is paid for on the dark web, and they are most interested, of course, in elections. Elections that are equally ahead of us and I think our defence of democracy is becoming a matter of urgency at the moment. We have defined the challenges of our time. However, we must be aware that these challenges are increasing. We are witnessing hacking attacks on the European Parliament's website, various hybrid threats. Thus, issues such as the protection of critical infrastructure, the media, online networks, information security, energy security and closing loopholes are used by actors exploiting these loopholes in our security system. This is of crucial importance. The package proposed is not perfect, but it is good, on the way to defend ourselves from these influences. I stress the importance of this package and the need to get involved in its implementation for another reason, because we also need to address the issues of numerous former European officials working for hostile foreign entities and foreign funding of political or civil-society campaigns in the European Union.

Just as predicted, I think my colleague Sokol told you at the beginning in what you insist. Why do you think you'd... you're actually putting that presumption of innocence in the starting position instead of first seeing if someone's guilty and then making a verdict. That's how I'd put it. You twist a bit, this one, in the context in which the report was written. So, I think there are mechanisms and do not be afraid that this will be abused, for example by employers.

I think you need to look at the document again, and in addition, we will discuss it in another context. So you agree with what I said, I see you're shaking. So, we will be the ones who will determine a certain level of availability of our data, so do not be skeptical. I don't think anything would happen to anyone. Especially consider rare diseases, people who have cancer. So, let's give all of us a chance to improve the system. No system is perfect and no law is, as they say, carved into stone. If this system isn't perfect, and it may not be perfect at first, we'll change it, we'll refine it. The protection of privacy, I think the reporters have built it well, is in the first place.

In particular, I congratulate the rapporteur on this proposal, which in any case reflects our commitment to both improving the health system and promoting research and cooperation and supporting innovation in digital health and telehealth. I see there's a lot of controversy here, so I'll give you my personal experience. You end up in Strasbourg at the hospital, you change four doctors, you spend six hours there, and you tell everyone again what you have and what your history is like. That's what happened during a plenary session. If there was a database at that time, where the first doctor who examined me would have had access to my health records, I wouldn't have been going through all that agony I'd been through. So when you're questioning whether we're on the right track, please take that into account. Many times here, colleagues have also emphasized that actually integrating digital technologies into the health system means better access to information, exactly what I said, improving the quality of care and effective prevention. Personalized medicine, let's look a little into the future, and in some countries the present, I think it can improve our health systems. And at the end of the day, when you draw the line, we can save lives and reduce the little money we invest in health systems. (The Member agreed to answer the question raised by raising a blue card.)

Thank you very much to the Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, colleague and colleague, nearly 736 million women over the age of 15 worldwide have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence by non-partners. These are not just World Bank statistics, these are the voices, faces, and lives of women that require our immediate action. Let me give you a good example from my home country. Amendments to the Criminal Code in criminal proceedings have been announced, including recognition of femicide crimes and tougher sentences for bullies, including longer prison sentences for rape. Maybe it's a good path. This is a significant step and we have to agree. But what do we need? Key actions: Facilitate reporting of violence, provide more opportunities for women to seek assistance, increase awareness and training of police and judicial staff, and increase women’s financial independence. We need to address these structural inequalities. Most bullies remain unregistered, and we have statistically proven that, for fear of reporting bullies. We heard the data - Covid has increased all this. The United Nations said yesterday that violence had increased the most in the past 20 years. Nearly 89,000 women and girls have experienced violence. Only the weak use violence against women to make them feel bigger, and we do not turn our heads, do not close the windows, but be loud and report violence. In this way, we will make a difference in our society and be truly equal.

Dear Chairman, thank you very much. Today we face, colleagues, a challenge that actually defines our generation - packaging and packaging waste management. We are all aware that the amount of packaging waste in the European Union has increased from 66 million tonnes, as early as 2009. Ten years later, we had almost 70 million tonnes of waste. However, I stress the importance of clear regulation and legal certainty, as well as the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including e-commerce. But let's be careful with the burden on the manufacturer. This includes the promotion of the production of recyclable packaging, but also the development of recycling and reuse infrastructure. It is clear that our goal must be to create an economy that protects our planet. However, we must decide what is important and realize what is possible in circumstances that, let's be clear in this, are not the same in all members of the European Union. Therefore, we are promoting packaging that will make our planet greener, however, let's define priorities.

The Honourable Chair, as rapporteur for the ENVI opinion, can say that this proposal, aligned with the European Green Deal, is key to achieving our sustainable consumption goals and, of course, climate neutrality. According to the Eurobarometer survey, I will only recall that 77% of consumers in the European Union would rather repair their products than buy new ones, but ultimately have to replace or discard them because of repair costs or service insufficiency. That's exactly what we did. Our focus was, in particular in the ENVI opinion, on facilitating the repair of products for consumers, thereby reducing waste and strengthening the repair sector. We want it to be more affordable and, of course, cheaper for end consumers. We also underline the need for price transparency and availability of spare parts, which is essential for a sustainable repair market. I am also of the opinion that it is necessary to strengthen the culture of repair through awareness-raising campaigns, primarily at the national level. With this proposal, I will conclude, we support consumer rights, but also SMEs and contribute to the development of the repair market. Thank you very much to the rapporteur and colleagues for your cooperation.

With this report, we are setting a clear and strong direction that protects consumers, the competitiveness of our market and, let's not forget, many jobs in the European Union. To me, it is crucial to find the right balance between industry and our climate goals. In doing so, of course, paying attention to the well-being of our citizens. I would say that reasonable deadlines for applying these rules give industry time to adapt without compromising our environmental goals. Also, our compliance with UN regulations on particle emissions, brakes and tyre wear demonstrates our responsibility and what we call leadership. This legislative proposal puts us at the forefront of the fight against climate change, but also carries the weight of responsibility for precise implementation and enforcement. Of course we all want to drive cleaner cars, we all want cleaner trucks, buses. We all know that well. We also know that the EPP Group is a great supporter of the green transition, but we also want to do so in a way that takes into account the real needs of our citizens. Let's not forget that everyone in that first proposal would simply not be able to afford new cars - much more expensive cars, but we also have to take into account the many jobs and what we have heard about the financial cake of GDP brought by industry. So, my friends and colleagues, I'll finish. Stability, security and predictability - this is what we need to provide to our citizens and our industry - not populism.

The enlargement package presented today sends a strong message, I would say, here from the European Parliament and, of course, from the Commission. I congratulate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, but also Bosnia and Herzegovina, aware of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina only received candidate status last December. What is good about Bosnia and Herzegovina: the reform efforts that have been achieved since then have been welcomed and I congratulate Borjana Krišto in particular. Of course, with the full support of Croatia and the Croatian Government and us representatives who are constantly standing with Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would say that today's situation win-win – let's look at it that way. I fully support the individual approach to enlargement policy, and with the new recommendations we are aware that Bosnia and Herzegovina should not wait until March next year. These things can be solved earlier. Enlargement is a key policy of the European Union and we know how important the Western Balkans are for the European Union. I see this as a wide open door to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the dynamics of enlargement and those reforms that are needed are in their hands - they have all the tools.

Dear Chairman, colleagues, freedom and pluralism of the media are the mirror of society. So what a mirror it is if for six years nothing has happened since the horrific event that shook the world. Media freedom and pluralism are as important in today's turbulent world as the professionalism of the world of journalism. I'm also talking about it as a former journalist. Her life wasn't just an ordinary story. She wasn't just a journalist. She was a symbol of courage, honesty and tireless commitment to truth, not only for her country, but for all her colleagues. She was committed to honor, transparency and accountability in public life. How did we respond to her, how did the Social Democrats respond to her, on the other hand? Therefore, do not say that we have reached European standards because we have not come to justice with those who ordered her execution. We see what's going on with us. We see what is happening in today's world. Therefore, let us not allow this mandate of the European Parliament to do something real for journalists.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Rapporteur, colleague Picula, first of all thank you for adopting my amendments in this latest version of the report. Positive developments have been identified, of course, but much remains open. Just as the rapporteur said, this mandate was not sufficient to reach the end of that European path of Montenegro. The challenges facing Montenegro have been clearly identified. This includes the need to further improve the independence of the judiciary, strengthen media freedom and step up efforts to combat discrimination and protect, for example, national minorities. Eighty percent of Montenegrin citizens want perspective in the European Union. Politics, however, did not follow their wishes. Continued political instability has slowed Montenegro's progress in negotiations with the European Union, and current political actors have the opportunity to put an end to this stagnation. However, we must particularly commend the positive developments, namely the alignment with the European Union’s foreign and security policy. No one but the political actors of Montenegro can make a real EU move, and they must free themselves from all those foreign interferences of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Russia and China and equally allow the media to be free and allow democracy in Montenegro.

Dear Chairwoman, colleagues, manipulations and disinformation are very dangerous, and we have heard them today and here. The fact is that when we draw the line, the sanctions were partly effective. However, despite the sanctions, Russia continues to earn and finance the war. It's up to us to open our eyes wide and say clearly what's really going on. Who are the countries that ignore and circumvent sanctions? All sanctions - they are a symbol of our condemnation, they are a practical measure to ensure that aggression against a sovereign state has real and lasting consequences. And I'm for it, like so many of my colleagues, to see what more we can do and what's the next step. The fact is that Russia's government finances are affected by the measures we have adopted, in particular to limit the price of oil, against imports. But we need to see what happens next. We need to continue to push for military and financial assistance to Ukraine. And as we contemplate the economic effects, let us be even more determined, because history will record this moment, our determination and our solidarity, our will to make peace on our territory through the economic and diplomatic tools we have at our disposal.

Dear Chairman, colleagues, the complexity of the situation in Kosovo also requires our concrete reaction. Arms dialogue is not a dialogue but a provocation to further escalation. This incident was not accidental and I condemn the murder of a member of the Kosovo Police. Colleagues, a Serbian paramilitary group operates on European soil. For three of these members, Vucic proclaims a day of mourning in Serbia. So is there any connection? I think you can conclude on your own. And yes, we need a thorough investigation. I agree with you. However, we also need concrete measures. We also have mechanisms for that. We used them for many other countries. So let's be brave, let's do it now. We don't want the war inflammatory rhetoric going on here at our door. Blockages, tensions and threats, that's the current situation. The European Union is founded, and we repeat it all the time, on peace, cooperation and mutual respect. If Serbia wants to become a part of our family, then let it accept these principles.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, first of all I would like to thank my colleague Sabine for this great document. As a former journalist, I want to welcome all the work the European Parliament is doing. Colleagues, digital transformation is a powerful and powerful driver of change and that's why I think it's a challenge to protect a brand made up of professionals, in fact journalists. In an era where every person with internet access can share news, the challenge is to distinguish true reporting from fake news. Independent journalists are the ones who face this challenge on a daily basis. I welcome the initiative proposed by the European Media Freedom Act, as well as the establishment of the European Board for Media Services. This is not only an answer to the challenges we face, but a step forward in strengthening a culture of diversity of media freedom and independence in Europe. We also propose measures to protect media pluralism, which is of utmost importance, independence, providing additional protection for journalists from unauthorised interventions and spyware, as well as transparency of the ownership structure of media outlets. In the end, fact-based journalism protection is not just a defence of the profession, it is a defence of democracy itself.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioners, colleagues, challenges of bureaucratic hurdles, problems with access to finance, economic and social challenges that Europe has not seen in decades, inflation, high interest rates, through all these small and medium-sized enterprises, have remained the backbone of our economy. The single market of the European Union, of course, offers incredible opportunities, but without strong and healthy SMEs their potential will not be fully exploited. Let's not forget, 99% of all businesses in the European Union are SMEs and employ two thirds of people in the private sector. It is therefore necessary to expand financial instruments and subsidies, in particular for the hardest-hit sectors, to help bridge financial difficulties. Through this labyrinth in which they live, it is a good step, for example, paying within 30 days, financial stability is extremely important to them. However, do not forget that assistance at the EU level should also be coordinated at the national level, and therefore I only recall that the Government of the Republic of Croatia, in my country, helped the economy and citizens with a total of seven billion euros over the past three years. These measures preserved jobs and liquidity. So we have to let them work. Let's not forget what fate we're talking about.

–Dear Chair, congratulations to the Rapporteur on this report. The European Union has a valuable heritage of world-renowned craft and industrial products, however, until now it has not had the protection of geographical indications for non-agricultural products such as natural stone, jewellery, textiles, and even, for example, a tie whose homeland is Croatia, the country from which I come, and you carry it yourself, textiles, porcelain. It is time for producers of such products, small and medium-sized enterprises, to benefit from the protection of geographical indications, such as food and wine producers. This will be achieved by defining craft and industrial products and by covering products that fall outside the scope of existing legislation. In Croatia, which has a national protection system in this category, we have traditional craft products such as Pag lace, Lepoglava lace, lace from St. Mary, crystal objects produced in Samobor, Slavonian folk costumes. Protection at European level means more added value, better competitiveness and market visibility, and more investment will enable craftsmen to promote and protect their traditional know-how. Member States have the task of shaping the level of the fee and the payment procedures in order not to create barriers for SMEs to register. An important figure is also that the protection of geographical indications at EU level for non-agricultural products could lead to an overall increase in intra-EU trade of between 4.9 and 6.6%. Finally, let us also evaluate people with specific skills who, unfortunately, especially in this traditional sense, are slowly dying out.

Thank you very much, colleague Sokol. You're right. In fact, the development of technology over the centuries has in some way changed society and changed jobs, and so we have been educated for some new jobs. Artificial intelligence has already entered many sectors of our economy, health. Let's not delude ourselves that she's not already here. Maybe we didn't actually start talking about her in time. Jobs are changing as our environment changes. Therefore, we must be the ones who educate our generations for the so-called vocations of the future. You come from that sector. You were also the State Secretary in the Government of the Republic of Croatia at the Ministry of Science and Education and you know how much it is necessary to actually be predictable and I think that in this segment we need to pay much more attention. Not to be afraid of the advancement of technology, but to find new jobs, places of the future.