What Sunčana spoke about.

Dear Chair, colleagues, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the debate. Many of you have highlighted the importance of the Fit for 55 package and the green transition. And, of course, we talked about turning the European Green Deal or the European Climate Law and the Green Deal into reality. If that's the case, we'll see tomorrow. I hope he will. Our key objective is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent. I'm just reminding you of the one commitment What we all have and what we have heard a lot about today. In the whole process of the green transition, and especially in the context of the aviation sector, as I already pointed out during my opening speech, it is also necessary to provide solutions for decarbonisation. That is why I would like to underline once again the importance of SAF allowances for the aviation sector, to which we ensure the use of sustainable aviation fuels, but it is also of utmost importance that funds and revenues from emissions trading go to the aviation sector to encourage investment in innovation, new technologies and sustainable aviation fuels. I heard during the discussion, some dilemmas. There was lobbying, there was pressure, there was negotiation, but here we have to count only on our reason, on what matters and what we want to achieve. We must respect our goals, and these goals must be a reflection of our reality and we cannot allow the industry to bear the full burden. At the same time, attention should be paid to the situation of job retention, but also to the changes brought about by new technologies, which must be in line with the objectives we have set ourselves. Our goal is to preserve mobility and industry, while being aligned with our climate change. I will highlight once again a very important point in the context of the report with the Council, which is that we need to work to keep the new possible burdens for our citizens and passengers to a minimum and proportionate level. Finally, I would like to thank all those who participated in the work and all those who will support this package. This is a package for our future.

Mr President, dear colleagues, climate change presents a global challenge and it has already affected the lives of people on all continents. It is very clear that global action and global cooperation is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Aviation is one of the fastest—growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Aviation accounts for 2—3% of global CO2 emissions, and the long—term projections of aviation activity predict major increases in traffic. Before the COVID—19 crisis, the International Civil Aviation Organisation forecasted that by 2050, international aviation emissions could triple compared with 2015. I believe that concrete and appropriate measures are needed to reduce aviation emissions in order to be in line with the Union Climate Law, its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The European Union is a global leader in the fight against climate change. But also, I would like to point out that the Paris Agreement climate commitments and environmental ambitions cannot be achieved by Europe acting alone. Concrete action and cooperation on a global level are necessary; accordingly, the EU will continue to lead by example in order to tackle climate change and align with the EU Climate Law. Kolegice i kolege. ETS Aviation izvješćem usklađujemo zrakoplovni sektor s našim klimatskim ciljevima. Međutim, unutar tog procesa moj je prioritet bio ponuditi rješenja za dekarbonizaciju sektora. Svima nam je jasno da se moramo usredotočiti na naše klimatske ciljeve, ali isto tako ne možemo dopustiti da industrija podnese sav taj teret. Moramo se usmjeriti na očuvanje mobilnosti i naše industrije. Moj prijedlog rješenja su SAF emisijske jedinice kojima bismo osigurali korištenje održivih zrakoplovnih goriva. I to smo uspjeli, osigurati 40 milijuna SAF emisijskih jedinica dostupnih do 2030.,uz moguće produljenje tog poticaja do 2035. godine. Inzistirala na tome da moramo ponuditi rješenje za dekarbonizacije u zrakoplovnog sektora ako želimo uskladiti taj sektor s našim klimatskim ciljevima. Još jedna važna točka koju želim istaknuti jest činjenica da moramo osigurati da prihodi od dražbovanja emisijskim jedinicama budu vraćeni sektoru ako želimo vidjeti stvarni napredak. U okviru nacrta izvješća predložila sam da se značajan iznos inovacijskog fonda odnosno klimatskom investicijskom fondu namijeni projektima podrške inovacijama i novim tehnologijama u zrakoplovnom sektoru, naglašavajući područje održivih zrakoplovnih goriva te smo uspjeli osigurati da prihodi od dražbovanja u sklopu inovacijskog odnosno klimatskog investicijskog fonda budu namijenjeni zrakoplovnoj industriji. Također, svi smo svjesni činjenice da se od ukupnog iznosa emisijskih jedinica u zrakoplovnom sektoru veliki dio dodjeljuje besplatno. Postupno ukidanje besplatnih emisijskih jedinica i prelazak na stopostotno dražbovanje emisijskim jedinicama unutar sektora je realnost. Ne možemo od toga pobjeći, ali moramo odabrati pravi tempo kojim ćemo to učiniti. Trenutno ukidanje besplatnih emisijskih jedinica definitivno nije rješenje jer moramo dati određeno vrijeme našem sektoru, posebno uzimajući u obzir sadašnje okolnosti. Želim spomenuti i emisije koje nisu CO2 kao važan dio ovog izvješća, budući da one pokrivaju dvije trećine emisija iz zrakoplovstva. Naša je odgovornost i njih uzeti u obzir. Željela bih se dotaći i još jednog dijela, a to je nekoliko riječi o izvješću CORSIA Notification, koje je obrađeno kao zasebno izvješće. Sretna sam što mogu reći da smo ga uspjeli tretirati kao tehničko izvješće u Europskom parlamentu. Na kraju, kolegice i kolege, budimo svjesni naše odgovornosti. Pred nama je klimatski izazov koji postavlja temelje za reizgradnju i transformaciju. Kolegice i kolege, ovo je naša odgovornost. Uzmimo je ozbiljno.

Dear Chair, first of all I would like to thank Vice-President Šuica for her engagement and Mr Verhofstadt, thank you very much. However, what I would like to draw special attention to is certainly this process that has shown us that citizens are not always easily interested in such processes and political issues or direct participation as we have had in the past year. If by institutional work on 325 adopted conclusions we manage to make changes and if we meet the expectations of citizens, we create preconditions for a more permanent strengthening of trust in institutions and political processes. I am convinced that this will be one of the most important contributions of the Conference on the Future of Europe and for the future of European democracy. We are aware that our democracy has faced many challenges in recent years, not only in the Union, whether it be growing extremism, disinformation, manipulative information or the weakening of the rule of law. At this stage, it is important to assess objectively how many proposals we can actually adopt in the areas that fall within the competence of the European Union. I'll finish: the dynamics of global relations and change is fast and if we want to respond to them, we cannot look to the past because we cannot change what is in the past, but these initiatives are a sign that we need to change something in the future.

Dear President, Honourable Commissioners, colleagues, the times in which we live are challenging to preserve our mental health, and today, on World Health Day, we must ask ourselves whether we have exhausted our emotional reserves in the last two years. It was a time of daily adaptation to stress because, in addition to genetic conditioning, it is mental health that is subject to a number of factors such as the conflict of the socio-economic background, and now war. Dealing with stressful situations requires us to adapt and find appropriate strategies. This is a serious problem that, let's face it, is still a taboo topic in some countries. It is estimated that the costs associated with poor mental health in the European Union in the pre-pandemic period amounted to 600 billion euros per year, about 4 percent of GDP. This figure is expected to be much higher in the post-pandemic years. Particular attention should be paid to the most exposed groups such as healthcare professionals, young people and children. It is in fact a horizontal issue affected by policies in a number of sectors other than health, including education, employment, the fight against poverty and many others. For this reason, I believe that we need a holistic approach to provide adequate and sustainable responses to this growing health sociological challenge. For the past six weeks, we have witnessed daily shocking scenes from the war-torn Ukraine. Violence, death and insecurity. I support the efforts of the Commission of Member States of health professionals, as well as ordinary people who assist people displaced from Ukraine in their daily contacts. Thank you for all your unconditional expressions of solidarity. I call on the Commission, but also on you and your colleagues, to be strongly engaged on this important topic. With all the support so far, it is still not enough. Mental health issues deserve more public attention and more resources for support, research and treatment. Thank you very much.

Dear President, colleagues, Europeans, judging by the data, like to buy textiles. We buy about twenty-six kilograms of textiles a year, and we throw it away about 11, that is, more than 15 million tons of textile products are bought by residents of the European Union per year. However, 90% of European textiles are incinerated or destroyed even though they can be recycled. Of course, the footprint left is huge, but the regulations do not help because they are not uniform. The proposal is good, but one should also think about encouraging those who are at the forefront of so-called sustainable fashion. I believe you have heard of the concept of virtual clothing, which has strongly begun to change the use of classic garments. However, for this part of innovation and industry, which is already here, there are no incentive measures at all. The concept of sustainable development emerges as a significant global solution. Of course, citizens need to be made aware of the importance of the fashion and textile industry in achieving the climate goals of the European Union. By investing in research and development of sustainable textiles, which I have already mentioned, we can help the sector strengthen its competitiveness while contributing to the environmental objectives of the European Union by applying the principles of the circular economy to production, consumption, waste management and secondary raw materials. We must encourage products that are designed to be more durable, reusable, repairable and recyclable. By promoting the use of sustainable fibre types, we are taking the first step along this path. In addition, one of the proposals encourages the strengthening of the role of specialised companies that collect and reuse textiles and need to be made aware of legal obligations and waste collection and management objectives. Of course, we must not forget workers in the textile industry who most often come from third countries where there is no high level of protection and labour rights such as those present in the European Union. Trade agreements with third countries should acknowledge this reality and encourage our partners to be environmentally and socially responsible. And I will conclude, each of us can contribute to a wider use of sustainable textiles and that is why I invite you to buy responsibly.

Dear Chair, I thank the Rapporteur and agree that the topic is extremely important, especially in these challenging circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic has already had serious consequences for the functioning of the European and global economy, which has also led to a reduction in tax revenues and, of course, indebtedness and expenditure. The result of such negative trends is an increase in government debt, which can lead to, clearly, long-term macroeconomic consequences for the European Union and the Member States. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make up the so-called backbone of the European economy are particularly affected. In 2018, the gap between expected VAT revenues and the funds raised is estimated at €140 billion and is expected to rise to 160 at the end of the pandemic. On the other hand, the costs of SMEs complying with tax rules account for as much as 30 percent of their tax burden. For large companies, on the other hand, they make up two percent. Citizens are aware of the problem and require immediate resolution. When we talk about taxation, we must be aware that we will never find that satisfactory level, but without tax, simply states cannot function. I welcome the Commission proposal aiming at fair taxation of businesses and citizens, increased transparency and trust in society, fair competition based on coordinated and digitalised reporting systems. On the other hand, I also call for caution when it comes to value added tax, as it is an essential and specific tool for the national budgets of all Member States. We are aware that many finance ministers have had to balance in the past almost two years, that it has not been easy, that there have been numerous challenges, that it was necessary to meet small and medium-sized enterprises, the economy in general. We had a number of unemployed people, challenges, especially in the Republic of Croatia, in tourism that fills most of its budget from the tourism sector, so please think about it. VAT is indeed a tool that provides us with stability and government finances.

Dear Chair, Commissioner, colleagues, the COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the existing transformative processes brought about by the green and digital transitions, with a direct impact also on the labour market. To ensure the highest level of protection for European workers, we need to ensure agile European legislation for health and, of course, safety at work. These objectives also overlap with the European Pillar of Social Rights and have a direct impact on the lives of almost 170 million European workers and their families. Due to the current pandemic, we are still forced to work from home, which has severely disrupted the boundaries between work and private life. Despite numerous technological advances that make teleworking easier, we are witnessing an increase in mental health impairments, while the long-term consequences are still uncertain, but this is a challenge that we need to think seriously about. Cancer remains the biggest problem with more than 52% of job-related deaths. For this reason, I welcome the steps forward in this strategic framework, but at the same time call for better adaptability to the changes affecting the labour market. Strengthening accident prevention in my country, Croatia, we have great regulation, but there is always a shift forward and work-related diseases of course as well as preparedness for potential future health crises. By acting today, we are all aware of this, we are also creating the preconditions for an easier fight against the malign challenges of tomorrow. Regardless of the job description, where a person works, we must always have a clear thought, which is that no one's health should be endangered just because they work.

Dear Chair, colleague and colleague, batteries are extremely important for industrial European competitiveness and the fulfilment of the Green Deal, of course the ambitious one. With technological development, the capabilities and performance of batteries are increased, which further stimulates, of course, their wide application. It is estimated that the total volume of industrial batteries could rise to almost 4.4 million tonnes by 2035 compared to 0.7 million tonnes in 2020. Recognising this importance, the European Union has invested €127 billion by 2021 and an additional €382 billion is expected to be invested by 2030. I commend this ambition and keep it encouraging. I also welcome the efforts of this report, which sets out a common set of rules for sustainability, safety, labelling and information regarding the use of batteries. The report also defines requirements for the collection, treatment and recycling of spent batteries. In this way, we strengthen the functioning of the single market, promote the circular economy and reduce the environmental and social impact throughout all life stages of the battery cycle. I would like to take the opportunity to highlight a positive example from the Republic of Croatia from which I come. It is the success of young entrepreneur and innovator Mate Rimac whose company Rimac automobiles produce premium quality batteries for the world's fastest electric car Neveru. I also commend the recognition at European Union level that innovators and those already living through the green transition also have financial support. The future has already happened somewhere. Dear colleagues, and the future will increasingly be powered by energy stored in batteries, and it is up to us to lay the legislative foundations that will make them environmentally friendly and of course economically viable.

Respect for human dignity and gender equality remains a challenge faced by millions of women and girls in their daily lives and we spend the entire evening talking about it. Today we face many obstacles to empowering our positions, and discrimination and in many cases domestic violence, exploitation and poverty are a daily reality for a large number of girls and women around the world. The G3 should be the framework for the active contribution of the European Union's external action in the fight against gender inequality. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, but also on the line of civilizational development. It should focus on eliminating violence and strengthen coordinated action to combat femicide and all forms of violence against women, both online and offline. We are in a time when, in addition to the coronavirus pandemic, we need to talk about the shadow pandemic, the pandemic of violence against women. It happens around the home, on the streets, in parks, in shopping malls and of course in off and online to the world. Today, in the light of the aggression against Ukraine, we are also witnessing a crime against humanity and we need to look into the eyes of all these women and girls. UNESCO's Gender Task Force estimates that 73 percent of women in the world are exposed to some form online violence, while in the European Union, nine million girls by the age of 15 have already faced it. The European Union should promote greater participation of women, support and recognise women, young women and girls. Colleagues, Commissioners, yes, the legislative framework is increasing, but what is its true application? The transitions we are announcing must also involve women, and the development of policy awareness and the evaluation of political processes must also be seen from a different perspective.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioners, Colleagues and colleagues, so we have other days of the year to be able to deal with these so-called women's topics, not just for one day. According to the World Economic Forum's 2021 Global Gender Gap Report estimates, if we continue our current efforts, it will take 135.6 years for the world to close the gender gap. The phenomenon of the glass ceiling remains a problem in various areas, political participation, the position of business and economic decision-making. Women still face many prejudices, stereotypes and double criteria and, of course, challenges. We need to make society aware of how politicians, through their passion and experience, make an immeasurable contribution to the quality and content of policies. Women are often not in so-called positions of power, and this is clear to everyone. When we talk about this document, I think it causes a lot of controversy. But I don't have time to talk about them today. Giving women equal opportunities could increase GDP per capita in the European Union by €3.15 trillion by 2050. Wouldn't that be great? If we take only a small step, if we introduce something else and make changes, then we will really take a step forward. At the end of the day, we care about the media. What matters is what happens on and off the screen because what you don't see you don't even want to become, and women only make up 24 percent of the people we hear or read about in the news. This term will hardly end in breaking news.

Dear Chairman, colleagues, European and world energy markets are clearly under severe pressure due to increased demand for the purpose of economic recovery, the problem of insufficient storage and, of course, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The rise in energy prices that we are witnessing has caused legitimate concern in the European Union, with special emphasis placed on gas, which jumped 170 percent last year. This price jump, of course, hits hard households, small and medium-sized enterprises, which form the basis of the European economy, but, we all understand, it also triggers a chain reaction of price increases. It is obvious that the European Union must become a relevant player on the global energy scene if it is to have a greater impact on energy prices and prevent market manipulation. We welcome this framework, but I think it's really just a framework and it's not enough for us. The European Green Deal offers us a unique opportunity to carry out a strategic reform of the European energy market and improve the European Union’s energy security and resilience. To succeed, we need to diversify energy procurement, increase energy efficiency, complete the transition to clean energy sources and expand storage capacities and, of course, introduce a common energy procurement system. We did this when it was COVID-19 vaccines, we saw that it was successful. In any case, Europe needs to redefine the energy structure. I will conclude, the Republic of Croatia, from which I come, has taken decisive and timely steps to provide citizens with sufficient quantities of gas at affordable prices and I would highlight the strategically important LNG terminal as well as short-term measures because it is the LNG terminal that has enabled Croatia to cope with this crisis more easily. We face major challenges in the energy sector and need a strong and united European response.

The Honourable Chairman, Commissioners, colleagues, over two million civilians have been expelled from Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion. Imagine the picture: Two million people, so one Paris - right now, Paris is empty. These are pictures of these people looking for their new home. The European Union estimates that more than four million people could seek refuge from Russian destruction in Ukraine. Some say more. I thank all our friends in Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania who bear the greatest burden of receiving refugees. I would also like to thank my Croats for this. The European Union must urgently activate all its mechanisms to provide material and logistical assistance to these countries in this emergency. We must already think about how to respond and ensure that refugees from Ukraine are integrated into the labour market, that the continuation of all levels of education is necessary for the most vulnerable, children and young people. To date, we have welcomed more than 2,600 Ukrainian refugees in Croatia and are ready to organize not only accommodation, but assistance and education in their language. During the Homeland War in the Republic of Croatia and the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, my country received about one million displaced persons and refugees from war-affected areas. We know what suffering, fear and uncertainty mean. We are aware of the senseless expression of hatred and hostility towards a sovereign state and the modern people to which we ourselves were exposed more than thirty years ago. Colleagues, condolences and empathy - yes, but each of the two billion people has a first and last name and their eyes are on us and our actions. It is therefore time for the European Union to show its solidarity and respond to this challenge in a spirit of European values.

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleague and colleague, I would like to thank Rapporteur Kalniete for drawing up a report which is timely in the new context of wide-ranging attempts to destabilise the European neighbourhood and undermine the dynamics of democratic processes in the European Union itself. Colleagues, work with keyboards and mobile devices takes more than a decade. I believe that we are all aware of this, and now we are witnessing an unprecedented level of violation of the right of citizens, Russian citizens to information, manifested in Russia through blocking access to large platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and restricting access to Western and independent Russian media. Colleagues, for the truth, are going to jail there and that is the answer to all those who ask why Europe has taken the decision to ban pro-Russian media that spread lies and disinformation. You know what money laundering is, and information laundering is at work here. Therefore, I welcome our report, which also highlights the level of importance of media literacy, which remains a key way to strengthen our citizens' ability to recognise disinformation in times of incendiary and manipulative rhetoric on social media and in the public space. With my amendment, I also called on the European Commission to be tasked with drawing up a list of illegal surveillance software as well as training staff in the institutions. Colleagues, transparency has never played a more important role, as has the appropriate labelling of disinformation content. Through the cooperation of European institutions and media outlets, our strategic commitment must be to recognize the narrative of manipulation in the fight for truth.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Colleagues, I congratulate first and foremost all those who have worked on this dossier. It has been clearly stated repeatedly here that the health and protection of workers should be an absolute priority in any business. More than half of work-related deaths in the European Union are linked to cancer on an annual basis. The European Parliament has clearly defined its position in the fight against this malignant disease and therefore we cannot agree to anything less than the highest standards of safety at work. The proposed addenda to the directive provide better protection at work for millions of European workers who are occupationally exposed to benzene, nickel compounds and acrylonitrile. In addition, the amendment to the directive also aims to ensure greater transparency for workers, employers, as well as enforcement authorities, and to help create a level playing field for economic operators, which we also need to take into account. We welcome the decisive steps taken by this directive, in particular the extension of the scope to reprotoxins, but also the announcement of a Commission action plan providing for the inclusion of an additional 25 substances in the directive. The same goes for the protection of medical professionals. It is an example of good practice that has come to the approval of most stakeholders from the relevant sectors. However, our work as a legislative body is still not over. Existing legislation needs to be constantly adapted to the latest developments. That's why I'm asking, Commissioner, could the five-year deadline for revising the limit values possibly be reduced? We need to see it because we have many other scientific discoveries at our disposal. Only in this way will we provide additional benefits for the health of our workers. And what is terribly important is the exchange of information, the establishment of a European register of HMPs. Colleagues and colleagues, due to work, no one's health should be endangered.

Dear Chair, Dear Commissioner, I would like to thank and congratulate my colleagues, three quarters of the citizens of the European Union wish to strengthen the Common Security and Defence Policy. We live in a period of tectonic disruptions and growing geopolitical uncertainty in international politics, as evidenced by numerous crises. The European Union's foreign security and defence policy must have acceptable solutions to the growing problems, and the challenges are, unfortunately, increasing. As the whole world looks towards the Russian-Ukrainian border, we must also keep in mind the many other hotspots in the foreign policy world. I also take the opportunity to recall the many examples of hybrid actions with disinformation and propaganda. All these are the dangers that have hovered over the European space. We also need to focus our attention on the increasingly complicated situation in the Western Balkans, which, like litmus paper, mirrors growing geopolitical trends. The European Union must once again legitimise itself as a global actor through clear and decisive responses. Mr. Commissioner, yes, and must have a power policy signature.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Rapporteur, Colleagues, I am pleased that our report will put a strong focus on prevention and provide concrete guidance on how we can make further progress in the structured fight against cancer through different legislative amendment programmes. Where you live shouldn't be a question of whether you live. We currently have first- and second-class citizens in the European Union, as patients in Eastern Europe have a 30% lower chance of healing than patients in Western Europe. As Members of the European Parliament, we must ensure that the fight against cancer is not conditioned by social status or borders. We need to promote a European common procurement system that makes treatments more accessible to patients and our health systems, promote equal access to medicines and encourage innovation, as it has been done with COVID-19 vaccines, improve prevention, early detection and treatment by supporting research, to ensure that targeted treatment is available to all patients. Each Member State should therefore, in my view, have at least one specialised centre for children and young people with cancer. Our task is to help patients regardless of which of the 27 Member States they live in, and all citizens deserve the fact that cancer patients are included in their right to be forgotten. Europe can pool efforts, knowledge and money, and such resources require, of course, political will. We also make sure that we do not discriminate against the specificities of our industries and promote a healthy lifestyle. To conclude, 40% of us are likely to face cancer at some stage in our lives. This is one of our most important documents because there is no higher priority than life!

–The Honourable Chair, the Honourable Commissioner, colleagues, traded more than 1.6 billion animals in the Member States of the European Union in 2019, while the value of trade in live animals within the European Union in 2018 was €8.6 billion. Existing European legislation must respond to the challenges facing this growing sector, however, find balance and protect our farmers. In addition to the fact that numerous studies have confirmed that animal welfare affects the quality of meat, it should be emphasized that, in addition to the purpose of slaughtering animals, it is also transported for a number of other reasons, including trade, fattening, breeding, as well as competitions and exhibitions. A lot of research has been published on the relationship between the occurrence of diseases and animal transport. Thus, for example, in transported cattle, especially if the transport took a long time, there are significant problems and economic losses due to the outbreak of the so-called transport fever. We must also be aware of the economic importance of livestock farming in the regions of the European Union, whose geographical conditionality further complicates the logistical challenges that already exist. A particular problem is the transport of animals to third countries with lower standards and fewer control options than the European Union. For this reason, it is essential to shorten supply chains, build and renew the necessary infrastructure, strengthen legislation and ensure its consistent application, and harmonise binding standards for vehicles and vessels transporting live animals. Of course, I am in favour of a quality legislative framework whose implementation will guarantee animal welfare, avoid unfair competition and improve product quality. Our humanity is in fact, and it is evident from all our speeches, and even our fellow Buddhas cannot be reduced to 90 seconds of outrage when we see on television a story about horrors committed against animals. That's why I think we're all going in the same good direction.

The European Union estimates that criminal revenues in the main markets amounted to 1% of GDP in 2019 and 139 billion euros in the European Union, respectively. The fight against organised crime is part of the EU accession process of the Western Balkan countries. What I would like to highlight as a major problem is the combination of political instances of crime miles, disinformation on platforms, and that is why we need to help independent media and investigative journalists. We want real and committed operational cooperation with European agencies that can support their efforts in the fight against organised crime. On the European Union side, it is also important to continue to financially encourage these countries on their European path to tackle the problem of organised crime. Let's not forget, organized crime not only finds its profits in the roads of drugs, weapons, but also trades in human lives. This is a fact that we must always keep in mind. Organised crime, on the other hand, is also dangerous for the democratic progress of the Western Balkan countries. On the other hand, this is also a first-rate security issue. We have to take special care of him. As for my country, Croatia, as a contact country with countries that are not members of the European Union, the possibility of cross-border crime is a special focus of Croatian police and judicial institutions. Therefore, apart from financial, financial support, we need to support the implementation of reforms with our colleagues in the Western Balkans. Croatia has done this, however, we need to give clearer support to the citizens of the European Union, of which Croatian citizens are the constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example, they are also citizens of the European Union.

More people than ever before are in need of humanitarian assistance. Colleagues and colleagues, according to the report, I believe you have seen this, it is about two hundred thirty-eight million people and they need help because of conflicts, numerous factors such as natural disasters, limited resources. The fact that the European Union has been hit by the pandemic and that we are in a crisis of access to energy must not result in leaving behind areas of humanitarian action. European Commission Communication “Humanitarian action by the European Union: new challenges, same principles’, is key to defining new directions for the Union’s humanitarian action. I therefore support the measures outlined therein, such as increased European Union support for local aid providers or the extension of the funding mechanism with humanitarian partners. Humanitarian aid is an inseparable component of European policy and on it we build our recognition and distinction of our approach to countries in need without calculating or conditioning aid to economic dependence. What remains as a permanent challenge is how to ensure that humanitarian aid really reaches those most in need. This is particularly important in states governed by authoritarian non-democratic regimes and in states facing internal unrest and conflict. We also need to be prepared that humanitarian needs will grow further and that they will also pose a security challenge to which we will have to find a common response. Colleagues and colleagues, humanity is a civilizational reach. Her concept hasn't changed. We must therefore focus all our forces on the dignity of every human being, and humanity has shown in recent years that it is something that has no price and no alternative.

Dear Chairman, Honourable Commissioner, colleague and colleague, we have witnessed worrying rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent weeks. BiH is split between ideas of violent unitarism and separatism and European supported federalism. The rhetoric we hear brings us back to the 1990s and heightens concern about a potential conflict that could destabilize the entire region after a painstaking multi-year, decades-long effort to normalize the situation. The concept of constitutiveness is the starting point for the equality of the three peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We strongly advocate changes to the electoral law and strongly condemn the messages of the destabilization of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Milorad Dodik. The message of territorial integrity is also strong tonight, I hear it from you, who may not know Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as we who live in its neighbourhood. And that is why I want to say, no one has the right to deny a country that belongs to Europe, whose citizens live there, the right to live their European path. A stable Bosnia and Herzegovina must be a priority for the European Union and that is why we must all stand stronger with you, Commissioner.

Dear Vice-President, Dear Commissioner, Dear colleague Dolors, I would like to thank you for your report. Until the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the problem of self-sufficiency of the European Union in a strategic area such as pharmaceutical production can be said to have passed under the radar. The pandemic was a moment of sobriety that revealed how dependent we are on products and supply chains outside our Union. The crisis has shown that we are too dependent on China and third countries when it comes to pharmaceuticals. The Commission’s data shows that: 40% of the finished medicinal products placed on the Union market originate from third countries. I think it would be wise to use the logic of large numbers when procuring medicines and medical equipment for Member States, in order to improve affordability. I welcome this report and support the emphasis placed on the importance of new joint European Union procurement contracts between the Commission and the Member States, in particular for emergency medicines. It would be good to explore such practices in areas such as rare diseases and cancer. We need a strong European Health Union, the vitality of the sector and the strengthening of the strategic economy. We have understood the challenges and must use them as an added value and paradigm shift in health preservation. Thank you very much.

Dear Chair, Honourable Commissioner, colleague and colleague, we have seen a significant increase in the number of newly infected coronavirus cases across Europe over the past few weeks. In Croatia, the country I come from, you can get a COVID certificate if you have recovered, have been vaccinated or have been tested. Black records are breaking in many Member States, and growth trends are not promising. We see that the sutures are cracking hospital systems and the fact is that people who are dying more and more, over 80% of them, are people who are not vaccinated. We must not bring our doctors who work sacrificially, as well as all medical workers, into the dilemma that they should choose whose life they will save, because every life is equally valuable. Likewise, according to the Constitution of the country from which I come, everyone has the right to health care. However, no one has the right to take away someone else's health care or put their lives at risk. Therefore, I ask you once again, all those who despise vaccination and who doubt the greatest achievements of medicine, think about people who are dying. More than 60 people die in my country every day.

The Declaration adopted by the Honourable President, the Honourable Commissioner, points out that the European Union unanimously supports the European perspective of the Western Balkans. It also includes a wide range of concrete actions on the Western Balkans, including an investment plan of €30 billion. The European future of the Western Balkans, colleagues, is crucial for long-term geopolitical stability in the region and I therefore support any assistance to the Western Balkan countries on their European path. It is very important, on the other hand, that the European commitment be made concrete, which can be demonstrated in legislative terms by reform efforts that are in line with European principles, because we are aware of democratic deficits and that is why it is important that they show their commitment to Europe in terms of both human rights and democratic practice. Croatia has always encouraged the spread of European values in the Western Balkans and will friendlyly continue to encourage the European aspirations of the countries in this area, as evidenced by the Zagreb Summit on the Western Balkans, which once again put these topics on the agenda, held, I recall, in May last year. Continuous dialogue at the highest level must continue. It must not only be convenient, but we must also be aware that the process should be speeded up a bit. Political and security cooperation must be our focus, because no matter what some of you here say, they are our neighbours, they are countries whose natural path is that of Europe. They expect help from us, and of course, we will provide them with this help both financially and politically, expecting from them, on the other hand, to concretize demands, above all in progressing in those democratic processes. Thank you very much.

With the latest developments on the eastern borders of the European Union, it becomes evident that migrants have become a powerful weapon in geopolitical strategies. Croatia's border has been under constant pressure from migrants for the past six years and the Croatian police are doing an excellent job in protecting Croatia and the territory of the European Union. Of course, we remain concerned that migrants do not cross the border at official border crossing points and I advocate for a clear distinction between people in need of international protection and migrants seeking better life opportunities in Europe. So far, more than 3,000 people smugglers have been arrested at the Croatian borders. It's a serious business for them. In 2020, nearly 30,000 illegal attempts to cross the border were prevented. We have invested over 200 million euros in strengthening border control, and about seven thousand Croatian police officers will guard the border of the European Union. Colleagues and colleagues, the Republic of Croatia also protects your border, the border of the European Union in a legal way.

Dear President, Vice-President, Commissioner, you probably know this well: 57% of Europeans aged 16-74 use social media as a source of news. However, what we don't know - how many of them really believe in this news and how many, if it's only half, are not media-written enough to know if it's fake or not fake, whether it's disinformation or information, so I can freely say that we'll never make information the first thing in front of disinformation. However, we must not give up in this process. And of course we have to see what is the best path and that legislative sense. On the one hand, social networks have given us a strong democratic momentum, and on the other hand, they have opened up space for harmful actions. Therefore, I want to say that we must approach this unlimited space for the spread of disinformation systematically, more systematically than it was today, provide full support to our media colleagues, journalists and give equally stronger support not only but also concrete indicators on how we will involve our young generations in media literacy.