What Riho spoke about.

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ET Written Statement

EU-NATO cooperation in the context of transatlantic relations (short presentation)

The conclusions and proposals of the report on EU-NATO cooperation are broadly correct and send a message about the clear need to deepen cooperation. In my opinion, however, the main problem is the EU's unwillingness and inability to go beyond the level of declarations and rhetoric to make cooperation more practical and beneficial to European security. For historical reasons, EU-NATO cooperation h…

16

Jun

2026

EN Speech

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An EU future for the Western Balkans (joint debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, to conclude today's debate on the Western Balkans, I would like to emphasise some important issues that have also been discussed here today. Firstly, the issue of the recognition of Kosovo's statehood by the five non‑recognisers has been unresolved for too long. In order for us to be able to more strongly link and integrate the entire Western Balkan …

16

Jun

2026

EN Speech

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An EU future for the Western Balkans (joint debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, in my opinion, today's debate on the Western Balkans has a very symbolic meaning. We are discussing this region as a whole. On the one hand, this is not a bad idea at all – although, as every rapporteur knows, each enlargement country would also deserve a separate discussion. Why is today's debate important? Precisely because the enlargement of the European Union i…

10

Mar

2026

EN Speech

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Tackling barriers to the single market for defence - Flagship European defence projects of common interest

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the European Union's ability to contribute to the defence and security of its Member States depends on how we are able to prioritise using our funds from the common purse. Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine shows very clearly that technological development on the battlefield is no longer a matter of years, or even months. New technologies and technol…

10

Mar

2026

EN Speech

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EU enlargement strategy (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, we have entered an era in which global powers compete for the sphere of influence – Russia and China first and foremost. The aim of the European Union cannot be anything less than to prevent European countries from falling under the control of autocracies. Enlargement is the most optimal way to avoid grey areas in Europe. It is absolutely clear that if …

10

Feb

2026

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Building a stronger European defence in light of an increasingly volatile international environment (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, it has been almost four years of Russian full-scale war against Ukraine. I see no end to this soon. Global developments around us place increasing responsibilities on European countries to ensure their own security and defence. Europe must primarily focus on increasing its defence budgets and developing its industry, to such an extent that we can build up…

22

Jan

2026

EN Speech

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Drones and new systems of warfare – the EU’s need to adapt to be fit for today’s security challenges (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has changed the battlefield permanently. We have witnessed incredibly fast development of the field of drone warfare. This applies to both offensive and defensive measures. Drone warfare means also more challenges and tasks for the European Union. Our ultimate goal is to protect our people. To achieve this, we must be pre…

16

Dec

2025

EN Question

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EU Defence Readiness (joint debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, today's debate is very timely. We need to ramp up Europe's defence capability faster and this is an existential task. The combat capability of our armed forces must be at the centre of our efforts. We must make sure we achieve well-functioning funding of the defence industry from the banking and capital market sector. The next MFF must also adequately reflect the sec…

26

Nov

2025

EN Speech

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EU position on the proposed plan and EU engagement towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, the initial White House capitulation plan prepared by Russia, which completely and shamelessly ignores dozens of rules of international law, cannot be the basis for a realistic negotiations. Europe's future cannot be decided without Europe. Ukraine's destiny cannot be decided without Ukraine. It is time for European countries, in cooperation with Ukraine, to propose ju…

22

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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Ending all energy imports from Russia to the EU and closing loopholes through third countries (debate)

Mr President, it is no secret that Russia finances its war of aggression against Ukraine by selling fossil fuels. Dependence on Russian gas and oil is a chronic disease for many European countries. Many third countries see this as an opportunity to buy blood gas and oil at a below market price. We all remember the consequences of the recent energy crisis that was very much based on dependency from…

22

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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The need for a united support to Ukraine and for a just and durable peace concluded on Ukraine's terms, with Europeans and without surrendering to Vladimir Putin's conditions ahead of the foreseen Budapest summit (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, today we have no idea if, and when, the meeting between President Trump and the leader of the Russian regime will take place. But there is no doubt that neither Europe nor Ukraine needs such a meeting. The possibility to hold this meeting on the territory of a European Union Member State is yet another example of how Mr Orbán continues to ignore the sanctions imposed…

8

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, there is no doubt that Russia is already waging war against Europe. The measures that they use to test us are all part of the Russian toolbox. We have witnessed an increasing number of airspace violations by Russian drones and military aircraft recently. The way Russia is testing and mapping our response is a clear signal that they are calculating the option of mi…

9

Sep

2025

EN Speech

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Amending ERDF, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review (debate)

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, dear colleagues, our priorities have changed since the breakout of full-scale war in Europe, especially when it comes to the increase of defence spendings. This is why we create the possibility of the Member States to use the money from the cohesion funds, the European Regional Development Fund and the Just Transition Fund for defence purposes. To be clear, we are …

18

Jun

2025

ET Speech

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Upcoming NATO summit on 24-26 June 2025 (debate)

Dear President, High Representative! Dear colleagues, The success of the NATO summit depends on all member states unequivocally understanding that Russia poses an existential threat to Europe. In addition to the Russian threat, the broader security picture has become very dark. In order to counter the threats that surround us, all of our allies must contribute significantly more. Five percent of G…

21

May

2025

EN Speech

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Russian energy phase-out, Nord Stream and the EU's energy sovereignty (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, once again we need to discuss the situation concerning Russian oil and gas. It is no secret that the blue‑eyed hope that Russia can be contained and somehow integrated through economic ties was, and still is, a complete delusion. Russia used its oil and gas to plant the seed of complacency, a false sense of security to many European countries. Those who…

6

May

2025

EN Speech

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2023 and 2024 reports on Kosovo (debate)

Mr President, first of all, I would like to thank you all for your relevant thoughts and reflections. As I stressed in my opening remarks, it is very important to give the people of Kosovo a European perspective. It is equally important that Europe establishes its security and values space, which all that it entails includes the Western Balkans. I very much hope that the stalemate that has gripped…

6

May

2025

EN Speech

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2023 and 2024 reports on Kosovo (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, today we have the honour and pleasure to present Parliament's report, which we prepared in response to the European Commission reports on Kosovo from 2023 and 2024. What I want to remind you of today is that the Kosovo War ended little more than 25 years ago. To this day, wounds and scars remain in society. They can only be healed together with Europe by offering a Europe…

1

Apr

2025

EN Speech

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CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

Madam President, High Representative, the European response to the existential threat from Russia has been insufficient for too long. I wish I could say that our focus has shifted, and we have a common understanding with regard to the security and defence. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Even today, when there is no doubt that Russia's aim is to destroy our security architecture; even today, …

12

Feb

2025

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Need for targeted support to EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, there is no doubt that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has significantly affected all European Member States. At the same time, it is evident that the effects of the war have a much stronger influence on the countries bordering the aggression from Russia and Belarus. We are facing far more serious difficulties with regard to hybrid threats like using migration as a weap…

12

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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Collaboration between conservatives and far right as a threat for competitiveness in the EU (topical debate)

Mr President, I am truly astonished at the hypocrisy and the lies that our left-leaning colleagues are cultivating in this House. Or should I say, I'm not that surprised. There is no doubt that with the Socialists and Greens pushing their ideology-driven agendas, Europe will not win. It will never happen. We are in the middle of the most serious crisis that Europe has faced after the Second World …

11

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (debate)

Mr President, Ukraine still stands. After ten years, this nation, the people of Ukraine have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolution against a much larger and military capable enemy. What has Europe done? Far too little. Europe should be ashamed how little we have delivered to Ukraine. Now, more than ever, Europe must act and contribute 0.25 % of the GDP to Ukraine. It should not be a sl…

23

Jan

2025

EN Speech

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Major interpellations (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, authoritarian regimes surrounding the Union have used migration as a tool to impose political and economic pressure. The Member States and the eastern flank have been under pressure from the Russian regime and confronted with immigration attacks for several years now. It is our united and coordinated task to defend our borders against the attempts of weaponized migration …

22

Jan

2025

EN Speech

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Uniting Europe against actors hostile to the EU: time to strengthen our security and defence (topical debate)

Madam President, colleagues, now more than ever, we must do and not only declare, and strengthen our security and defence. We need to follow a basic principle: put money where your mouth is. There is no threat more existential than the threat to our security. And there is no other way to handle it than to do it the united way. The only way we can really step up against the hostile actors in the Ea…

21

Jan

2025

EN Speech

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Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea (debate)

Mr President, Executive Vice‑President, dear colleagues, over the last year and a half there have been a number of incidents and underwater critical infrastructure was damaged by commercial vessels in the Baltic Sea. These are acts of covert war, dear colleagues, and not isolated mishaps, as some have recently speculated. Russia has identified our underwater critical infrastructure as one of the m…

17

Dec

2024

EN Speech

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Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has killed and injured tens of thousands of Ukrainian people. But according to Putin's understanding of history, there is no Ukraine, there are no Ukrainian people. Denying the very existence of Ukraine is not a new concept for Putin. He told George W Bush at the NATO Bucharest summit 2008, and I quote, 'George, you have …