What Sunčana spoke about.

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.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, technology is clearly progressing at an exponential rate, resulting in announcements of revolutionary solutions almost every week. It is interesting that generative AI at the GPT chat level has more than 100 million users so far. This changes, of course, the information we receive, the choices we make and the ways our society functions. It has many advantages, I agree, for example in the field of health it can speed up the development of drugs by using advanced algorithms to create new molecules that could be potential drugs. Similarly, I consider it important, on the other hand, to establish a legal and ethical framework in order to avoid potentially harmful effects of the use of such technologies. In the years ahead, AI will play an even greater role in the way governments and public institutions work and in the way citizens interact and participate in the democratic process. It's a matter of time before governments start using generative AI to predict traffic patterns and optimise real-time traffic flows, for example. That's just one small part. It is up to us to ensure that artificial intelligence is in place to promote and protect our standards. According to estimates, the size of the AI market by 2030 will be $110.8 billion. We're talking about a huge industry that has its own interests. It can also be a tool for social benefit, but this creative revolution must also be implemented in the best possible way. Therefore, I recall that it is Europe that introduces new standards that then become global benchmarks, but at the end of my address I would like to appeal, in particular to the Commission, that we must not neglect the education of citizens, because digital education of citizens will be a prerequisite for not falling into the trap provided by artificial intelligence that we do not know enough at this moment. (The speaker agreed to answer the question raised by raising the blue card)

The key aspect of our path towards the green transition lies in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, of course, the transition to renewable energy sources. But we face the risk of compromising this time. We need to be aware that the transition to a sustainable society requires changes in all sectors of the economy. It is necessary to ensure that the policies we adopt are geared towards sustainable development, while taking into account the needs of economic growth and social justice. We need to be careful, on the other hand, not to abandon ourselves to short-term interests that could lead to the postponement or weakening of our ambitious goals. Setting targets alone is not enough, it is also necessary to provide for adequate monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that environmental objectives and measures are actually implemented in practice. We must not be separated from reality. We must face the reality and real needs of our society. Our efforts must continue to be focused on recognizing the biggest challenges of the modern world. He's vulnerable. We are exposed to geopolitical climate, health and energy crises. The strategic framework gives us opportunities that will valorise social change. But we must not allow our determination for the green transition to compromise our international commitments. So today, I don't think anyone should gloat. We all need to work together to find the best path.

Dear Chairman, Commissioner, Colleagues and colleagues, the path of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards European integration dates back to 1997. Many of you did not even think you might be in this House or be in the world of politics and make such important decisions. 2016 was the year of applying for membership, and finally, in December last year, this long-awaited path was achieved. What have we learned? A lot of lessons have been learned on this long journey, both in this home and from the perspective of Bosnian politicians. In front of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in front of their politics, I think it is a generational opportunity because the level of trust in the European Union according to the latest Eurobarometer from the day before is 57 percent. This is done, of course, and with the numerous efforts of the current Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, to whom I must congratulate in her role in this ongoing process, I see that you agree with me, Commissioner. Democratic transformation and the rule of law are a good and genuine path for Bosnia and Herzegovina towards its full European integration. We want an economically, politically and socially sustainable society. However, let's not forget, congratulations to colleague Rangel, otherwise, on this report, I regret that the constituent peoples are mentioned only once ... (Chairman took the floor)

The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, the Colleagues, it is evident that animal testing of cosmetics is a practice of concern among citizens across the European Union. We condemn, of course, the suffering and cruelty that animals endure in the name of beauty and product safety. According to Animal Friends, we have heard different data and figures today, however, this is the freshest thing, every year about 35 thousand animals in Europe and millions around the world are suffering from testing. We are talking about cosmetic products or their ingredients. It's a practice that's not just cruel, it's, we've heard it here many times, and it's outdated. There are a number of alternatives that are available and that have progressed in recent decades. The advancement of science and technology allows us to develop sophisticated in vitro methods, organic models, computer simulations that are reliable, relevant, and most importantly, ethical. The European Union already has an advanced regulation that prohibits the testing of cosmetic ingredients on animals. However, we must go further and I therefore also call on the Commission to make a step forward in this direction towards finished cosmetic products placed on the market. Let's be at the forefront of those ethical standards we talk so much about and encourage the industry to develop sustainable alternatives for testing. This initiative is valuable, it represents a step forward towards an ethically sustainable future and it is therefore up to us to create a Europe that protects animals by strengthening and promoting innovation, and we have been in this direction for four years during this Commission and this parliamentary term. We have money, we have resources, let's do it.

The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, our colleagues, if we consider agriculture as a security issue, then we must ensure this security for farmers also through that important, financial support. The use of natural resources, as well as better food supply chains, must mean more support for farmers, but also what young farmers from Croatia say to me, less complicated procedures and continuity of the policy of understanding. Yes, we must create these preconditions for them from the political level. Generational renewal remains essential for the development of European agriculture. The basic preconditions for increasing the competitiveness of agricultural production are increasing productivity, i.e. production related to new techniques and technologies, including digitalisation, which will increase productivity and labor and resources, investments in primary production and nutrition, among other things, with the aim of creating products of higher added value. And yes, we need to put a special focus on branding because Europe has something to brand.

The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioners, colleagues, in my view, the ethics body must first of all be a preventive body. To be clear, no parliament anywhere in the world has investigative or judicial powers, nor is it our job to be a prosecuting authority. However, social and individual value systems must exist in social interaction and must be institutional standards. The question is whether this will contribute to the functionality. Qatargate certainly undermined trust in the institutions of the European Parliament and, simply, was a disgrace. Ethical reform, however, must not undermine the integrity of MPs, but I am sure we can improve it. So let's reflect on what the Commission is proposing. I'd say this is a good start. However, start for one upgrade that opens up space. The European Parliament has its merits for this change of process and we must all contribute to it.

Dear Chair, colleagues, I congratulate my colleague Kalniete on her excellent report, and I will only address some challenges such as those threatening the integrity of elections, disinformation, digital attacks and political pressures. They're actually continuous. Election integrity is a key component of democracy and citizens' trust in political processes. One way we can strengthen the integrity of elections is to build resilience by improving the security and transparency of the electoral process. This includes ensuring quality voter registers, reliable voter identification, secure vote collection and counting, and strict control of political campaign funding. Efforts to educate citizens are important, as educated citizens are less susceptible to manipulation and disinformation. Colleagues, the disinformation industry involves serious players. Let's not be fooled: Their presence is constant. This is not a short-term threat and therefore requires our proactivity.

Dear Chairman, dear Mrs. Fox, thank you very much for your efforts. Thanks also to Frances for the effort to be able to talk, and we had to do it obviously before, on this important topic. Approximately one in three internet users is a child, and a 2020 EU Kids Online survey found that almost 50 percent of children were exposed to cyberviolence. Therefore, I believe that any violence requires a reaction from the environment and let's not diminish the electronic one. And it must be a criminal offense. Faster and easier than traditional abuse - to send an offensive message, spread it, it became much easier. A bully cannot see the victim's immediate reaction, they are less likely to feel guilty. Mobile devices allow constant access to the internet and leave the user vulnerable to attacks at all times. Colleagues, the future is digital, that's so clear. However, the faces of children who have experienced violence are real and there among us. They have their name and surname. I will finish, in the Republic of Croatia, from which I come, the Ministry of the Interior has the so-called Red Button squeeze Red Button for all children.

Dear Chair, colleague and colleague, I would like first of all to thank the rapporteur for this report. It wasn't easy, the process was long, and what was concluded we all see. To begin with, it is necessary to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, i.e. mutual recognition, which is key to ensuring the European future of both countries. I welcome Kosovo's application for membership of the European Union and the Commissioner spoke about it, but what matters is the constant pro-European orientation of its citizens and the majority cross-party consensus on integration into the European Union, as well as a clear geostrategic political choice. Kosovo has also demonstrated its commitment to European integration by pursuing reforms in key areas. When I mention it, it is the rule of law, human freedom and progress in media freedom. However, while progress has been made, Kosovo faces a number of challenges, the need to further strengthen institutions, reform, improve the social and economic situation in Kosovo. Therefore, I call on Kosovo to continue its efforts towards European integration, and I believe that it has a sincere friend in the European Parliament. And of course, I welcome the long-awaited visa regime, i.e. visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo.

I would like to extend my condolences to all the victims of the recent shocking killings in Serbia at the beginning of my address and thank my colleague Bilčík for his progress report on Serbia. Almost all the amendments I made to the report were accepted. However, the key problems we have identified still remain here and I would like to ask the question whether we are really being heard, Commissioner, by the authorities in Serbia. This is something we repeat year after year, and I will repeat, too, the low alignment with the foreign policy of the European Union. We've all talked about it, it doesn't exist. Especially when it comes to sanctions against Russia and relations with Kosovo, the high level of corruption, the human rights situation, not to mention the state of media freedom, organised crime and the prosecution of war crimes. As for my country of Croatia, which was under fire from the aggressor from Serbia, we are still looking for 1812 missing persons from the Homeland War. In addition, the issues of indemnification of inmates of Serbian concentration camps and withdrawal from the procedure of the so-called Law on Regional or Universal Jurisdiction remain of utmost importance to us. Colleagues and colleagues, whether Serbia wants the European Union as an ATM or wants its own transformation... (The President interrupted the speaker.)

Dear Chairwoman, Honourable Commissioners, colleagues, we heard today - the Covid 19 pandemic has taught us that health is a global problem and that cooperation and, of course, unity are key in solving the challenges we face. The European Union’s Global Health Strategy recognises this fact and underlines the European Union’s commitment to working with its partners to build a healthier and more resilient world. Member States, with the support of the European institutions, need to work towards strengthening health systems, which means supporting the development of more resilient systems that need to respond effectively to crises and provide essential services to those in need. This document, which should not be short-term, and earlier reform failures must now include investment in health infrastructure, training health workers and improving health data collection and analysis. Health is a fundamental right and a key component of the global development of the system and of ensuring universal access to health services. We must make a significant contribution to improving global health and achieving sustainable development. Therefore, I do not understand how many colleagues who spoke here today, and will probably speak for me, can we not find a common language to stand behind something that the European Union wants to make better? The only thing you can't buy with money, diamonds, real estate is health. Keep this in mind when you doubt this document.

At the outset, I would like to thank the rapporteur, colleague Berger, for his report, the Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, colleagues. In recent years, of course, the rise of digital currencies has revolutionised the way we think about money, but it has also raised serious concerns about the potential for illicit activities, in particular money laundering. Those who have so-called digital wallets are often aware that they are being emptied due to market instability, so we could say without you going shopping you have lost a large part of your money when it comes to cryptocurrencies. However, we are here to bring it, like all other markets, into the legal framework and this proposal is part of a package of legislative proposals to strengthen the European Union's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules. The update must of course extend the scope of the rules to certain crypto-assets for which there is a growing risk of criminal exploitation and money laundering. There are many testimonies to this. Also, it is worth noting that traditional financial systems are also not immune to money laundering and that this is a systemic problem that requires a multiple approach to solving. In addition, there are steps that can be taken against money laundering in the cryptocurrency space, and of course, steps are like implementing the Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering policies, which require users to identify and submit to in-depth checks. Finally, I would like to say - the truth is that cryptocurrency transactions can be much harder to track than traditional financial transactions, but it is worth remembering that the vast majority of cryptocurrency users are legitimate individuals and companies that use this technology for legitimate purposes.

The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, the Colleagues, and of course anything can contribute to a step forward towards Europe's energy security. We need to do this through an integrated European Union energy policy framework. Energy storage has become a key component in the transition towards a sustainable energy system. However, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are intermittent, which we know very well, and which also makes it difficult to rely solely on them in addition to our energy needs. What can we do with storage? In addition to what we have heard very well in the discussion and what is proposed, we can lower electricity prices, of course during peak periods, and empower consumers to adjust their energy consumption to prices and their needs. Of course, the financial component is also important and here we need to find support through the policies and funds of the European Union. However, we must not overlook the importance of investing in other infrastructure as we are on track to make renewable energy sustainable. First of all, I'm talking about the LNG infrastructure. Namely, I just want to remind you that the Croatian Government has made an excellent move by investing in the LNG terminal and will increase its capacities, a decision has already been made, and this is an alternative supply route to the countries of Southeast Europe. So we need to think about more tracks. While we wait to take the next step, we must not forget these energy sources that are available to us and these investments, and I think that Croatia is the leader in this.

Dear President and Commissioners, colleague and colleague. Yes, he needs emotion and I think Esther, Pieter and David have shown that he needs emotion, but in a political sense he needs to know when to take responsibility. I think the EPP has taken responsibility at least four times if we look through our eyes in this room. But I would like to refer to something that was related to my report, and my colleague Mato is still here, so I will answer him. Concerns about the outermost regions, we are aware of the fact, we had stronger wording about the extent of the derogation for the outermost regions. However, what we need to point out is that in terms of emission allowances, the outermost regions have a privileged position and in this context 100% of the price difference will be covered. The Commissioner is here, but the Council has not been very sensitised to our proposal, but this is what we have succeeded in, and I ask you to convey this concern, that is, the answer to your colleagues. Colleagues, I would like to point out once again that what we promised in our pre-election programme as the EPP Group, is that we deliver the results of our promises on climate goals. I did not hear anything concrete except populist criticism from other clubs who simply said ‘this is not good’, but did not offer any solution. This process hasn't been going on since yesterday and I think this is a pure usurpation of a minute or a show on some kind of television. headlineHow we were about something against. I don't think it's constructive and I don't like that kind of populism. Finally, I would like to say that throughout the process we have taken into account the objective dimensions of the process in these challenging times. We have a change in the concept of modern security and this is an important section that we must constantly build. If we can sail the seas, if we can fly planes, then we need to know how to build, and I am always for construction, not for demolition. So we're building tomorrow when we vote.

– Dear Chair, colleagues. Climate change is clearly a global challenge and has already affected the lives of people on all continents, and this is very clear, and global action and cooperation was needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. When it comes to the aviation sector, emissions from the aviation sector in Europe increased on average by five percent year-on-year between 2013 and 2019. Although, of course, they decreased significantly during the Covid 19 pandemic, they are projected to continue to grow. To achieve climate neutrality, the European Union clearly needs to reduce emissions from transport, including aviation, and it is the increased climate ambition of the aviation sector that is essential to achieve the climate goals in line with the Paris Agreement and to turn the European Green Deal into our reality. Since the beginning of our negotiation process, I have stressed the need for concrete and appropriate measures to reduce aviation emissions to also comply with the European Climate Law and the commitments under the Paris Agreement. With the ETS aviation report, we align the aviation sector with our climate goals. However, within this process, it was also a priority to offer solutions to decarbonise the sector. We all understand that we need to focus on our climate goals, but we also cannot allow the industry to bear all this burden. We need to focus on preserving mobility and our industry. The EPP Group, a colleague de Lange spoke about this a little while ago, has been talking about it for years and was genuinely in favour of bringing the whole process of negotiations on the Fit for 55 package to an end and I think this is a good direction. Equally, we wanted tangible solutions that reflect a balance in terms of our climate ambition and support to industry in this transition, especially taking into account the current circumstances. The same applies to the aviation sector, where we have reached a good compromise on ETS aviation. Thank you first of all to Peter, thank you to Esther, but of course to my colleagues, thank you to Milan, Claudia, Bass, Silvia, Ana. Thank you so much for your help. I am happy that we have been able to provide a concrete tool to help decarbonise the sector by using over 20 million allowances that will be available when sustainable aviation fuels are used. With this decision, we are making it clear to the aviation sector that we are with them in the process of green transition and we are encouraging faster and wider use of sustainable aviation fuels. Also, we were all aware of the fact that a large part of the total amount of allowances in the aviation sector is allocated free of charge. The phasing out of free allowances and the transition to 100% auctioning within the sector is a reality, something we cannot avoid, but it was our duty to choose the right pace to do so. The current abolition of free allowances, of course, was not a solution and that is why we have taken a decision to abolish free allowances in 2026. I would also like to mention non-CO2 emissions as one important topic of this report, as they cover two thirds of aviation emissions. It was agreed to introduce a new system for monitoring, reporting and verification of non-CO2 emissions. In terms of scope, when it comes to reducing emissions, I would like to stress the need for a stronger CORSIA that is fit for purpose and must be part of the solution. This is why we are putting more pressure on ICAO to ensure that CORSIA becomes a successful part of our solutions, as we cannot be alone and in this context we need to act together to achieve our climate goals. Colleagues, I would like to point out once again that we deliver the results of our promises about climate goals, but we take into account realistic opportunities and in this regard we have our industry in mind. Finally, for the European Green Deal to work in practice, it must become a success story for our citizens and businesses. ETS is opportunity, ETS is game changer, so let’s go.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, colleague and colleague, I would like to thank the rapporteur for this report. I join all my colleagues who have actually expressed concern from this speaker about the continuing violence against human rights defenders that is being documented around the world, especially in authoritarian regimes. European institutions and Member States need to step up their efforts to protect those working to defend human rights. According to data from ProtectDefenders, in 2022, almost every day one case of violations of the rights of human rights defenders was reported. Since 2016, over 4,600 such cases have been registered on the platform, most of which relate to the repression of individuals. Many of them have been subjected to human rights violations. They were the target of executions, torture, beatings, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and detention, death threats, harassment and defamation, association, assembly. In most cases, we must say that acts committed against human rights defenders violate both international and national law. However, in some countries human rights defenders are being used, i.e. laws that themselves contravene international human rights law are being used against them. Establishing an effective normative framework for action in relations with states where the rights of combatants are violated must be a prerequisite for cooperation. I will conclude, dignity is not traded, it is the foundation of social relations and humanity, and it is a reflection of our societies and our progress.

The Data Act is the leading law regulating the way in which access is transferred and industrial data is shared. I would like to thank the rapporteur for this report and all those who have worked on it. In fact, it unlocks the untapped potential of sharing ‘business to business’ and ‘business to government’ data. I believe that the proposed changes will also bring many benefits for citizens. Some of them include improved personalised medicine, new mobility solutions and contribute, of course, to the European Green Deal. The report approved by the ITRE Committee also clarifies the types of data that fall within the scope of the Regulation in order to apply the new rules to different players and to strengthen the protection of trade secrets for data holders. They also clarify the public emergency scenario that effectively allows public authorities to retain access to privately held data and specify that data holders should be entitled to fair compensation for granting such access. In conclusion, I consider it a great success that the proposed amendments will also boost competition in the cloud service market by easing the conditions for switching between cloud services. With these amendments, we put users at the centre and this is the direction we need to take in the future, not only when it comes to data legislation.