Speeches

Madam President, colleagues, Georgia used to be a front runner in reforms within the Eastern Partnership countries. That’s why it is all the more frustrating to observe the negative trends impacting the country’s developments. We must acknowledge that the progress in some sectoral reforms has taken place, but we cannot ignore the overall state of democratic processes and rule of law. Political leaders are deeply dividing not just the political space, but also the society. The ruling party continues to ignore the agreement of 19 April 2021. Despite the will and readiness of this House, the Jean Monnet dialogue continues to stall. One oligarch continues to hold excessive influence over the political landscape. We have seen attacks against journalists. The judiciary is misused for political pressure and the democratic political process continues to deteriorate. To the contrary, we expect that the trumped-up political charges against Nika Gvaramia must be dropped and he must be released. And the former President Saakashvili must be allowed to undergo medical treatment abroad in accordance with Article 283 of the Criminal Procedures Code of Georgia. Overcoming these serious challenges is the key to Georgia’s European future, but also in strengthening the country’s democracy, as well as the resilience in light of today’s Georgian situation. As friends of the Georgian people and the champions of their European aspirations, we must be honest about these developments and not waiver in our support for Georgia’s democracy.

I do understand. And thank you for the answer that the Member States have to do also their homework. But maybe I will focus on the question of Nuctech bidding for protection ... for providing technology to in order to protect our external borders. Because I believe that this is where exactly the EU can act. And if there is any attempts to do something about this bit and how we are going to resolve this issue.

Mr President, Commissioner, it is not long since some people in this House were still arguing that Nord Stream 2 is not a geopolitical weapon. It appears that we have not learned our lesson. Just months ago we have passed an important directive on the protection of critical infrastructure. But yet today, Huawei covers nearly 60% of Germany’s 5G network, Cosco owns 67% of Piraeus. Nuctech is bidding to provide technology for our external borders. As a result, the CCP can have access to incredible amount of information, including our biometric data. All these companies are directly or indirectly linked to the totalitarian regime of the CCP. If we truly want to protect our critical infrastructure and our democracies from the influence of China and other authoritarian regimes, then quite simply, we need to keep them out. And the question is: are we doing enough to keep them out?

Mr President, for too long we lacked the vision and political will to utilise the transformative nature of the enlargement process. The consequences of this failure are there for us to see. Non-democratic regimes are challenging European peace and security, threatening the stability of our neighbours and using malign investments to roll back years of democratic reforms. Reclaiming this vision and will is crucial for our society. However, we must also be creative about the integration process. We need to enhance constructive political dialogue with the candidate, potential candidate and associated countries. Include them as observers in Commission comitology proceedings, Council working groups, as well as specific meetings of the EU ministers and heads of state. We must work together to pursue our common values and interests and address the many challenges facing us today.

Mr President, I welcome today’s resolution recognising the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Putin’s Russia is waging a brutal war against the Ukrainian people. It is bombing civilian targets, including homes, hospitals, schools and churches and systematically attacking Ukrainian critical infrastructure. It is breaking all international conventions governing warfare and committing unspeakable crimes. That is why we must do all in our power to support the brave people of Ukraine and ensure that Putin’s regime one day faces international justice for the crimes committed.

Mr President, colleagues, while Lukashenko’s illegitimate regime enables Putin’s aggression against Ukraine, it continues to oppress and terrorise its own people. There are now at least 1 450 political prisoners and tens of thousands more who are suffering under the regime’s oppression. In particular, I would like to highlight my brave friend Pavel Seviarynets, who has been held in inhuman conditions for more than two years and has spent more than a decade in and out of Lukashenko’s prisons. Pavel and all the political prisoners and their families, those fleeing Lukashenko’s oppression and all the people of Belarus deserve our unwavering support and solidarity. I especially call on the European political parties to provide all necessary assistance to their Belarus member parties. At the same time, let us exert maximum pressure on the illegitimate regime so that Belarus can be free and sovereign and its people enjoy freedom and democracy. Finally, let me thank colleagues for all the cross-party support in this House, for their support of Belarus, which this House continues to show.

Madam President, it seems the European Union has not learned its lesson. Even with the terrible human and economic costs of COVID-19, the CCP’s terror against all goods and people across China and growing aggression abroad, some EU leaders still think there can be business as usual with the CCP. We have also discovered that the United Front, an arm of the CCP, has a network of offices across Europe, spreading the CCP’s malign influence in our institutions and using them as de facto police stations to control the Chinese diaspora. I ask, what more does it take for us to wake up and understand what sort of regime we are dealing with? I therefore call on those EU Member States who have not yet done so to launch formal investigations and ensure the immediate closing of these illegal police stations. It is not merely disturbing that the totalitarian regime is allowed to engage in such illegal extra-territorial activities in the EU. Their presence poses a grave security risk, not only for the Chinese diaspora, but for the very foundations of our democracy.

Mr President, I welcome this directive I was calling for since the beginning of my mandate. As Putin continues to wage his brutal and aggressive war against the people of Ukraine, he’s also continuing in his attempts to weaken and divide our democracies. Disinformation, cyber-attacks, espionage, strategic corruption of businesses and political cycles. That’s why it is crucial that we seek attacks on critical infrastructure in this broader context and develop necessary tools. For this reason, I welcome the Protection of Critical Infrastructures Directive and the extension of the scope to 11 sectors, in order to better reflect the scale of the threat. However, we can never adequately protect ourselves if we allow malign regimes to invest in our critical infrastructure. The case of Nord Stream 2 must be a lesson not only for our dealings with Russia, but also when it comes to Chinese Communist Party and others. Such regimes must never again be allowed to use our critical infrastructure to undermine our resilience.

Mr President, dear colleagues, non—democratic regimes including Russia, Iran and the Chinese Communist Party continue to seek to weaken and divide our societies. Their use of hybrid threats, including disinformation, cyber or espionage, shows a wider context of operations aiming against us. The shocking revelation about the illegal Chinese police stations operating across 16 EU Member States show that we are not only lacking an effective response, but even close our eyes to serious threats. I welcome the Council’s condemnation of attacks on critical infrastructure and measures to ensure their resilience. At the same time, we must see these attacks in a wider context of widespread hybrid warfare. We need a holistic approach, but above all a strong political will, to ensure that we address these grave challenges to our democracies. In this context, allow me to also welcome the principle decision of this House to have a debate and condemn the barbaric decision of the Iranian Parliament to execute about 15 000 protesters.

Mr President, dear colleagues, I co-sign and support the general budget amendment concerning the Commission’s financing of a campaign promoting the hijab. I supported this amendment two weeks ago. I supported it today. And I should and I, should it be necessary, will support it again. I find it perplexing that the Union’s budget, our taxpayers’ money, is used to finance a campaign that trivialises the mandatory veiling, and especially today, at a time when the women of Iran are fighting for freedom and dignity. Let me, however, also express my disappointment at those in this House who so often speak about the right to choose and yet shamefully voted against this amendment. If we truly support women’s right to choose, then we should firmly say ‘no’ to mandatory veiling and not fund programmes that trivialise it. It is both a question of defending human dignity and the values on which our society is founded on.

Madam President, I welcome the meeting of the European Political Community, because in this House we have come up with numerous proposals on strengthening cooperation with our wider European partners, including creative integration of those desiring it. I therefore want to congratulate the Czech Government on the success. The summit made it clear that the Community can never be an alternative for those wishing to join the European Union. On the contrary, the success of the inaugural summit lay in the fact that it provided an inclusive format in which to discuss common challenges with our wider European partners. These challenges are multiple: from responding to Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine through working together to rebuild the European security, to addressing the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party and other totalitarian regimes. Only by working together in the spirit of unity and solidarity can European nations address the many challenges in front of us.

Madam President, dear colleagues, thank you very much. The illegitimate regime of Aleksander Lukashenko continues to press the Belarusian people and deny their desire for a free Belarus. On top of that, Lukashenko sold Belarus sovereignty to Kremlin, and his illegitimate regime is providing daily assistance to Russian terror against the brave Ukrainians. Lukashenko, like Putin, is an aggressor and one day they must face justice. However, we must also ensure that as we continue to support the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression, we must also double our efforts to support the Belarusian people in their desire for freedom. The Belarusian democratic opposition, whom we have supported for many years, now needs us more than ever to aid their efforts at home and from exile. Because, without a free, democratic and sovereign Belarus, there cannot be a free, democratic and sovereign Ukraine. (Exclamation in Belarusian)

Madam President, we are facing a test that will determine our future. The rise in energy prices is of great concern to 47% of the Slovak population. One in six households in Slovakia is at risk of energy poverty. As I have pointed out on several occasions, the Council's agreement does not sufficiently address the problems of all the Member States. This is why we need to take concrete steps towards solidarity so that households and businesses across the EU can feel the support they need to overcome this crisis. It is also crucial to swiftly negotiate LNG and other gas prices with the US and other reliable partners. I welcome the Commission's support for the possibility of using unspent EU funds in the fight against the energy crisis. But I hope that in the EP we can increase the allocation from the current proposed 10%. In the midst of major trials, the European Union and the Member States must set up policies to help households, businesses and the public sector to bridge this difficult period. It is crucial to act quickly in unity and solidarity.

Mr President, first of all, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the relatives and closeness of these two young people. The shameful terrorist act that took place in Slovakia is a deplorable act of a desperate young man who succumbed to extremism and neo-Nazi propaganda. We must never allow hatred to spread to any person, minority or community, in this case LGBT. The killer's manifesto showed that he also hated various religions, races and other groups. Unfortunately, I have to say that the vulgarisation of public discourse in recent years in Slovakia, including as a result of the isolation caused by the pandemic, has had a hugely negative impact on our society, directly exacerbating huge polarisation or hatred. At KDH, we have highlighted this trend vigorously, and we have launched the Behind the Line campaign a long time ago. I wish we had more respect for our words and deeds as a result of this great tragedy.

Mr President, I would like to point out that our approach to this report unfortunately omits some important aspects that we urgently need to address in the European Parliament. The agreement from last week's Council is not the answer for many countries, and Slovakia is among the most affected. I consider it essential to look for new solutions, one that is based on solidarity. Indeed, it is our solidarity and unity today that are crucial for the future of the entire European Union. Furthermore, today I appeal for accommodating and accelerated process of approval of Slovakia's application, so that unspent EU funds can also be used to fight against expensive energy. Let the current energy crisis be a lesson for us, so that we no longer abandon our values and principles and never again allow such dependence on undemocratic and totalitarian regimes, which is always a threat.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, for many years, Russia has continued to use information warfare and other hybrid threats to weaken our democracies. Russian aggression against Ukraine has only deepened this, from spreading lies about the brave people of Ukraine, to cynically claiming that Putin’s Russia is a defender of traditional values. We must fight Putin’s propaganda, and there are concrete measures we can take. First, we must strengthen our StratCom units on both national and EU level, including the under—funded and under—staffed East StratCom unit. We must actively expose the Kremlin’s lies and, at the same time, actively communicate to our citizens our policies and actions. Second, although propaganda is not a new phenomenon, it has been exacerbated by social media. We can only successfully fight Russian propaganda if social media are part of the solution. Third, we must defend freedom of speech, and that’s why we mustn’t allow ‘cancel culture’ or any similar trends. At the same time, we must understand that freedom of speech belongs to individuals, and not to bots or any anonymous social media accounts. Dear colleagues, just as the Ukrainian people are bravely fighting Putin’s aggression, so must we not be afraid to give them all our support, and to fight Putin’s propaganda and lies. Truth will conquer, and it will win over lies.

Madam President, we saw how Roma live in settlements during the official visit of the European Parliament to Slovakia. All those who know at least a little about the reality of Roma communities know that it is absolutely necessary to find solutions to the problems that have been piling up for decades. It is no secret that even in the 21st century there are settlements without drinking water, sanitation or employment prospects or a dignified life. My aim as shadow rapporteur was to achieve a balanced text that would reflect many of the unfulfilled objectives and expectations in the policy of assisting marginalised Roma communities. At the same time, we must also take into account the problems faced by many cities and municipalities in implementing projects and solutions. There are also successful projects. That is why I proposed and insisted that this report should also include a proposal that cities and municipalities should be able to use funds not only to improve the situation of Roma living in settlements, but also of the wider community as a whole. This includes zero co-financing of projects that will enable cities and municipalities as a whole and all their citizens to move forward and develop. Last but not least, we need to remove the structural and bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from properly absorbing the funds and discourage them from carrying out much-needed projects.

Madam President, we have long declared in various resolutions and reports that accessibility is fundamental and necessary for the full participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life. We subsequently translated this concept into several legislative proposals, including the Directive on the accessibility of goods and services. However, implementation of this legislation is not always timely and effective and, despite many efforts, persons with disabilities still face obstacles in their daily lives. We lack accurate data, trained experts, but sometimes the will to seek innovative solutions. That is why I appreciate the plans to set up a European Accessibility Centre to bridge these gaps. I believe that this centre will create a space for Member States to work together with experts as well as representatives of persons with disabilities. It will provide the necessary guidance and enable the exchange of best practices. Accessibility in all areas of life is key for the full life of more than 87 million persons with disabilities in the European Union. Let's make it finally a reality.

Madam President, dear colleagues, let me begin by paying tribute to the brave Cardinal Zen, who is a true symbol of Hong Kong’s struggle for freedom and embodies Christian pursuit of freedom and love of one’s neighbour. It is in the intention of John Lee and his CCP masters to destroy the last remains of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms and crush people’s hopes, and the moral strength of the 90-year-old Cardinal towering over the city. That’s why it is no coincidence that Cardinal Zen and the other trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been arrested and charged. The arrest is an attack on the freedom of religion and belief, as well as on all the freedoms guaranteed in Hong Kong’s basic law. Moreover, the CCP is keen to silence the Cardinal because he continues to stand and speak on behalf of the weak and oppressed across mainland China and Hong Kong. But it is this Christian mission that the CCP can never silence nor break. The faith of Cardinal Zen is that of the city itself. And our voice must be clear: we must urge the Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against Cardinal Zen and the other trustees, as well as all the Hong Kongers whose only crime has been standing up for the city’s freedoms. It is also time for the Council to fulfil and implement all the July 2020 conclusions. In particular, Member States should provide lifeboat schemes for Hong Kongers to end all the remaining extradition treaties both with Hong Kong and with the PRC. Hong Kongers and all fleeing persecution of the CCP must feel safe in Europe. We must also ensure that our diplomatic representations and the EEAS provide support to the civil society and actively steps up trial observations, prison visits and human rights monitoring. Furthermore, it is essential that the Council finally place targeted sanctions under the EU’s Magnitsky Act against John Lee and all other Hong Kong and PRC officials representing the ongoing human rights crackdown in the city. Given the destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy, it is time to review the agreement between the EC and Hong Kong in customs matters, the status of the Hong Kong office in Brussels and Hong Kong’s seat at the WTO. The CCP should not profit from Hong Kong while destroying the city’s autonomy and freedoms. Let me also stress the importance of working together with the Vatican and other religious leaders, as well as with our democratic allies, to defend freedom and human dignity and give a voice to the voiceless in mainland China and Hong Kong. Finally, let me thank colleagues across this House for cooperation on this important urgency. It is a testimony to the strong cross-party unity in standing with the people of Hong Kong.

Madam President, let me start off by thanking the rapporteur and colleagues across this House for the cooperation on this report. Multilateralism, as the peaceful organization of relations between states as well as the international organisations built over 75 years, is increasingly threatened. Today, non—democratic regimes, such as Russia under Vladimir Putin or the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party, are seeking to reshape multilateral forums and rewrite international norms to suit their malign interests from trade to human rights. For too long, we have allowed non-democratic regimes to increase their influence across multilateral forums. This is why it is essential that we work closely with our democratic allies to rebuild multilateralism. Together, we must ensure that multilateral institutions function in accordance with the values and principles on which they were built, that they are accountable and they work in a way that is relevant to meet today's challenges. First, we must utilise our existing networks and make full use of our new policy instruments, such as Global Europe or the global gateway. We must also not forget that we still exert important leverage on the biggest donor to multilateral institutions. Second, we must press ahead with our reforms to the key institutions, including the WTO and WHO, as well as the Human Rights Council, to ensure that they are resilient tomalign influence and work to defend the values on which they have been built. How we, the democratic world, respond to it will determine the world in which we will live in the future.

Mr President, the Conference on the Future of Europe ended two months ago, and while resolutions are already being adopted in Brussels or Strasbourg to launch a Convention to revise the EU's fundamental treaties, the citizens of the Member States are concerned about something completely different. These are mainly the consequences of the pandemic as well as war, rising prices of energy and food. We need to come up with quick and effective solutions here. In doing so, I stress that the views on the future of a Europe of citizens of 21 Member States have not been properly reflected in the conclusions at all, given the unclear organisational conditions. Official translations into the languages of all Member States, including Slovak, are not yet available. What message do we send to our citizens? I recently commissioned a survey in Slovakia, which clearly states that citizens want us to provide primary solutions for increasing prices, developing the economy and jobs. Three-quarters of Slovaks are afraid that they will not be able to cope with the price increase. The problem with the EU is that it often acts where it does not have the competences and does not act sufficiently where it can bring the necessary solutions.

Mr President, the pandemic, the long-term uncertainty and, in addition, the Russian invasion of Ukraine have further amplified what surveys have shown for a long time. Mental health is a neglected but constantly deteriorating area. This applies to adults, but even more so to children. These conclusions also stem from my meetings with experts, which confirmed to me that we face daily shortages of specialised departments, shortages of experts and therefore very long waiting times. Sometimes even life threatening. We should therefore mobilise all our forces to cope with this pandemic of mental health problems. And to do so, we can also benefit from a package of financial assistance from the recovery plan. Let us take these unprecedented means as an opportunity that we must use correctly. To do so, we need to evaluate the situation and needs, set targets and, last but not least, be able to respond flexibly to developments with the means and through changes to the recovery plan. So that we use these funds where we need them most, including protecting the mental health of children and adults.

Madam President, the Recovery and Resilience Facility is an unprecedented tool to help mitigate the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, but also to cope with the other challenges we face. It is therefore essential that we use these funds as efficiently as possible and that they are available quickly and without unnecessary administrative obstacles. Detailed guidelines applicable to national differences should be provided by the Commission to the Member States. At the same time, I would like to call on the Commission to be accommodating in the event of objective changes to the recovery plans. In today's fast-changing situation, with the multiplication of challenges linked to the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as other socio-economic impacts such as escalation, inflation, it is necessary that Member States have sufficient flexibility and the possibility to present changes reflecting their needs. Flexibility, coupled with swift processes and clear rules, is key to making the RRF objectives successful and achievable.

Mr President, dear colleagues, because of our lack of vision and political leadership, non—democratic regimes are today challenging European peace and security and threatening the stability of our neighbours. The doors of the European Union must remain open to all European countries fulfilling the necessary criteria: Ukraine, Moldova, but also Georgia, when it fulfils the necessary conditions. The countries of the Western Balkans who express a clear desire to join our Union also belong in our family. It is my hope that one day a free and democratic Belarus will join us too. However, we must also be creative about the integration processes for candidate and associated countries, done by establishing an enhanced and structured political dialogue with our partners, and to include them as observers in the Commission comitology procedures and Council working groups, as well as the specific meetings of the EU Ministers and Heads of State. Let us work together already today with our partners to the east and to the south of our borders, sitting around one table to pursue a Europe whole and free and to address the many challenges facing us today.

Madam President, dear colleagues, I am abhorred by the massacre of more than 50 innocent men, women and children during the Pentecost Sunday celebrations. However, we cannot simply express our concerns over such horrific acts. From Xinjiang, Syria to Nigeria, the state of religious freedom around the world is rapidly deteriorating, and Christians, as well as many other religious groups, are today facing persecution and even genocide. What is happening in Nigeria and elsewhere around the world is also our responsibility. For example, our financial centres are used by corrupt leaders, who ignore the security and well-being of their citizens and suppress their rights and dignity. We close our eyes to human rights abuses for the sake of profit. We ignore the plight of the suffering. This must change. It is time the European Union finally pay attention to the terrible state of the freedom of religion around the world. That’s why the appointment of a new EU special envoy is essential to stand up for the persecuted and voiceless globally.