Speeches

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 It's a practice that's not just cruel, it's, we've heard it here many times, and it's outdated.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.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, colleague and colleague, perhaps we should put all this in a clear context. On the one hand, a professional moral code should have moral reflections and judgments. Some have sunk, however, in the Qatargate affair, which is not only a moral dilemma but a criminal act, and we need to make a difference here. There is no question that we need to work on improving transparency and integrity in decision-making at European Union level. However, we are also witnessing continued attempts to interfere in democratic processes that have particularly intensified election cycles. With this in mind, it is important to put in place mechanisms to ensure that the highest standards of transparency and universal rules for political action are respected. However, the Parliament is not the police. Parliament is not prosecuting and we need to know clearly what its competence is. Establishing an independent ethics body can be a step forward, but in what sense? It is important that we put in place a system that ensures checks on levels in our institutions, takes into account the balance of responsibilities. In the spirit of democracy and democratic debate, however, we must not close our doors, but we must put in place filters to protect the interests of the European Union and our citizens, because remember: there are particular interests, there are interests of democratic interference in our systems and often destabilising factors interfering in different ways with our European values. Colleagues, we also need to establish clear rules, for example for lobbyists, but as I said, do not close the door to anyone. Our citizens have wide open eyes and have had confidence in this institution. So let’s retaliate with this trust and not let ‘Qatargate’ happen again, but let’s take care of what, who and where it works.

With the current rate of progress, it will take up to 286 years to close gaps in the legal protection of women, 140 years to achieve an equal representation of women in positions of power in politics and the economy, and at least 40 years to achieve an equal representation of women and men in national parliaments. This data shows that our efforts need to be stepped up by promoting initiatives that support the reconciliation of work and family life in order to recognise and redistribute the disproportionate share of women’s unpaid work, which includes informal work, unpaid care and domestic work. This is especially true for women in rural areas. Differences in the possibilities for effective use of ICT have led to the digital divide and the digital marginalisation of women. What the future of women will be depends on us, so it is time to act because we are the ones who make the decisions. Politics has to help.

Dear Chair, colleagues, the diversity of technology – yes, the transformation of the sector – yes. However, prohibitions – no. This isn't the right way to go. I come from Croatia where Rimac Nevera is the fastest electric car in the world. You've probably heard of that before. However, if we want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for new cars and vans to ensure that the automotive sector contributes to the climate goals we are for, then we need to find a fair game, and for me this is not the moment. In particular, it increases the CO2 emission reduction targets for 2030 and sets a new target of 100% for 2035. This means that all cars and vans placed on the market from 2035 should be zero-emission vehicles. However, we must bear in mind that the European Union's automotive industry is responsible for more than 7% of GDP, as well as providing almost 13 million jobs. We need to ensure that the new regulation does not put jobs at risk and does not limit the potential that innovation can bring to our economy. Ultimately, the focus must also be on our citizens. For certain areas that are not well connected by traffic, the possession of passenger cars is not a luxury, colleagues, but a minimum standard of living. That is why we should develop broad programmes to support our citizens in purchasing environmentally friendly vehicles. But we have to take into account the financial possibilities. Do we have infrastructure? Do we have resources? Regardless of the more optimistic macroeconomic indicators, we must not confront people with poverty.

Dear chairpersons, colleagues, what we need are certainly high standards of transparency and thus a sort of departure from manipulation and disinformation. In the context of political advertising and transparency, the elections that are ahead of us, that is, next year, will actually show how much trust citizens have in the European Parliament. Colleagues on my right can take special care of that. We are also witnessing continued attempts to interfere in democratic processes, which have been particularly intensified in the run-up to the electoral cycles. We need to know who is behind the ads, who pays for the ads, and citizens and voters have the right to political pluralism. With this in mind, it is important that we proceed as soon as possible with mechanisms that will enable compliance with the highest standards of transparency and universal rules of political advertising. In the country I come from, in Croatia, there is also a special account for financing the costs of election advertising, and election reports, and media advertising reports. It's a good sign and a good path. You know how much money you spend on what medium and for what.

Dear Chair, colleagues and colleagues. History has taught us that even in war, we must obey certain rules. However, in Ukraine, we are witnessing a daily violation of the rules of war, which is causing an increasingly severe humanitarian crisis on Europe’s doorstep. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry in Ukraine has found reasonable grounds to conclude that a number of war crimes, human rights violations and international humanitarian law have been committed. Given the seriousness of the offences identified, and in particular their continuity, there is a clear need to establish liability and sanction the perpetrators. The UN Commission documented patterns of summary executions, unlawful imprisonment, torture, ill-treatment, rape and other sexual violence committed in areas occupied by Russian armed forces in the four regions it focused on. Sexual violence affects victims of all ages. Family members, including children, are sometimes forced to witness crimes. Colleagues, that's why we need to find a framework of justice, because every crime has a first and last name.

Dear Chairman and Honourable Commissioners, colleague and colleague, independence from third countries on the procurement of medicines, I would say that we need to look at it as a first-rate safety issue. Croatia, the country from which I come, has recorded in the last weeks, just as we have heard before, a surge in patients, so in the first weeks of January about 3,000 cases of influenza have been reported, but the system is really coping well with this so far and there is no shortage of medicines. However, at the moment we have a triple pandemic, we can say: influenza, respiratory diseases and, of course, still COVID. The phenomenon of medicine shortages is not new, but of course it has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, of course, the war in Ukraine. The situation has also been very bad over the years in all countries and has affected all types of medicines. The main reason, of course, is the globalization of drug production in which the different stages of production are divided into several locations around the world, and as we know, China and India produce between 60 and 80 percent of the world's active pharmaceutical ingredients. This market concentration, of course, comes with risks that we urgently need to start managing with a future perspective in mind. We have already, I will conclude, repeatedly called in this Parliament for the establishment of a European pharmacy and a system of redistribution of medicines in the event of shortages and we need specific legislation.

–The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioners, our colleagues, entered the tenth month of illegal Russian aggression against a friendly and sovereign Ukraine. Despite the successful counter-offensive of Ukrainian troops, the aggressor remains very dangerous and constantly adjusts his actions. Their latest tactics focus on missile attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine, with a particular focus on their energy grid. In addition, schools, hospitals, roads and other critical infrastructure are also targeted. In this way, the Russian military is trying to undermine industrial production, disrupt logistic lines, affect morals and prevent civilians from accessing hot water, electricity sources. In the world of the coming winter, this kind of action creates the preconditions for an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, which is of great concern. We are facing difficult times in which the European Parliament must continue to provide unequivocal and uncompromising support for the heroic people of Ukraine, as they are fighting not only for their country, but also for the values we share. Colleagues and colleagues, European peace has been damaged. The evil of war, unfortunately, my country Croatia knows very well. Tombs, horrors, destruction of entire cities, violence against women, numerous ruined childhoods. We have no moral or human doubt. In a spirit of Christian solidarity, it is our duty and responsibility to provide them with all possible assistance in these efforts. Glory to Ukraine.

The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, the Colleagues, it is clear that we live in a time of great challenges that affect the daily lives of our citizens and require clear and decisive answers. We could say we actually need a reset. This year, which was a challenging year, has been very turbulent, we have seen Russia's aggression against Ukraine, rising energy prices and heightened inflationary pressure. Each of these elements conditioned the additional financial cost to lead to a significant burden on the available funds. In order to adapt to these changes, we need to ensure timely and concrete measures, but not to the detriment of less developed members. I therefore call for us to use our full potential and institutional roles in the adoption of the Union budget and send a clear message of stability to our citizens. We need to act sensibly and we really need structural changes. They must be timely and concrete, because only in this way will we ensure the trust of our citizens.

–The Honourable Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, yes, pluralism and media freedom are part of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights. Respect and inviolability of these rights and principles are essential for the existence of democracy, as well as its processes and institutions. Despite all that has been written, the latest report expresses concern about the current situation. Among other things, we've heard black numbers today. Last Friday, the International Federation of Journalists announced that 67 media professionals had been killed at work this year, 40% more than last year. Among other things, we are witnessing cases of degradation of the journalistic profession, politicisation of the media, non-implementation of the right of access to information, lack of transparency in ownership structures. I therefore welcome the announced Media Freedom Act as well as the so-called Anti-SLAPP Directive. I would like to refer to it because the Republic of Croatia was among the first members to establish an expert group in the Ministry of Culture and Media a year ago and to systematically start dealing with SLAPP lawsuits. Educational workshops are held with representatives of professional associations, journalists, the Union of Journalists, the Ministry of Justice, the Croatian Journalists' Association, professors of the Faculty of Law, publishers. The aim is to protect journalists from unfounded or abusive court proceedings. Our right and obligation as a Member of the European Parliament is to ensure the preservation of the rule of law and the protection of fundamental values, and we know, colleagues, democracy has no alternative. But let us not forget that media integrity implies professionalism and respect for standards, and the first and last word of a journalist must be true.

–The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, I see that you are online, watch what you surf, colleagues, intentional attempts to manipulate the information environment and public discourse by foreign actors are by no means a new phenomenon. The Russian use of information manipulation and interference in the preparation and execution of the war of aggression against Ukraine shows this and shows how such activity forms an integral part of modern warfare. Just as modern technological developments can be a tool to strengthen our democracies, they are at the same time a channel through which we expose citizens to the risk of foreign interference and manipulation. With this in mind, I cannot stress enough the importance of media literacy as the safest and strongest shield of our citizens. The Defence of Democracy Package should provide a guiding framework for Member States to encourage democratic participation and citizen engagement in decision-making processes beyond electoral cycles. We cannot and cannot take our democracies for granted. Only by strengthening democracy from within can we achieve resilience to external interference. The Conference on the Future of Europe is such an example of strengthening our democracy. By training and raising awareness, we strengthen the role of citizens in the communication process. However, let's not forget, there are new modern forms of threat. They require the transformation of security policy in all respects, in the media, political and economic. It's up to us to take that responsibility. Only educated and educated citizens are strong citizens of the European Union.

Dear President, colleagues, enlargement policy is the most important test of the credibility of the European Union and our values. While this process has indescribable importance and added value for the countries in the process of accession to the European Union, at the same time at Union level, some Member States unfortunately act as if it were some sort of irrelevant and incidental process for European interests that would be best forgotten. Our reflections on whether to launch accession negotiations with countries have paved the way for strengthening the influence of other global and regional actors, some of whom have open anti-European positions. The report successfully identifies key challenges of the accession process, transformative role, transparency and coherence. However, let's look at the Western Balkans, what happened for example in North Macedonia and Albania, let's look at what is happening with Kosovo. The Serbian government must align itself first and foremost with the foreign policy positions of the European Union and I think we must clearly underline this once again. We urgently need to recognise that the European Union remains an attractive community for Member States, i.e. those wishing to become members. Colleagues, we are aware of the fact of the fragility of peace and geopolitical turmoil, so I welcome the efforts that are being made, and hope is given by the moves in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which must, of course, continue its European path after the elections. The enlargement process must gain a new momentum that will restore its integrity!