What Thijs spoke about.

8 Oct

2024

EN Speech

Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon (debate)

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Madam President, Commission, colleagues, we have seen a year of innocent people being murdered, missile attacks, dehumanisation with all the consequences in Gaza and now Lebanon. Despicable. All of it. I want to thank Mr Borrell for standing up for human rights and international law despite his difficult position, and I call on the Member States to finally agree on something – something relevant i…

18 Sep

2024

EN Speech

The severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus

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Mr President, dear colleagues, Commissioner, imagine a friend, a family member, a loved one held captive on trumped up charges in a dictatorial regime, in this case, the relentless and extremely repressive regime of dictator Lukashenka. Lukashenka violates the very basic human rights of political prisoners. They suffer torture and lack of medical treatment, but many of them are also held incommuni…

18 Sep

2024

EN Speech

The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”

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Mr President, thanks to the authors and all the colleagues that support this important call. We need, as a minimum, to fight to protect those women who are in direct danger. And I want to stress one point in particular, related to the former EU employees in direct danger: some are already dead. There is a limited list of less than 20 remaining people and their direct family who worked for the EUPO…

17 Sep

2024

EN Speech

Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)

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Dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, we know what we have to do, but we're not doing it. And that's strange, because this is about defending Ukraine and about our own security and values. When Ukraine asked for tanks, we knew we had to give them. We were going to give them, but we waited. We discussed. And with the ATACMS, the same. And today we know, we must, we will allow Ukraine to strike back a…

17 Jul

2024

EN Speech

The need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, thanks to all colleagues from the political groups who tabled this text. We ended this term with a clear call on Member States’ governments for more air defence systems. We see almost every day why these are necessary. But still, many Member States have systems in storage that can be delivered, should be delivered, to protect Ukrainians, to protect also our collective European sec…

24 Apr

2024

EN Speech

The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

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Mr President, let me first thank colleagues Bütikofer and Santos for their indispensable work on fighting for human rights. Civil rights in Hong Kong are by now fully curbed, and the reinforced security law made it even more chilling. But how did we get here? The PRC imposed security legislation, formalising already existing pressure on Hong Kong, in clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declarat…

10 Apr

2024

NL Speech

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, Commission, Council, Europe is facing a painful six-month period. In July, Viktor Orbán takes over the presidency of the European Union. It's actually unbelievable that it's come this far. The European Union is a democratic union of democratic states. Hungary is no longer a democracy. Viktor Orbán’s government suppresses LGBTI people and silences independent judges and jo…

10 Apr

2024

EN Speech

Conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, on cooperation between the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) and the competent authorities for judicial cooperation in criminal matters of the Republic of Armenia (A9-0165/2024 - Thijs Reuten) (vote)

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Madam President, colleagues, I welcome this important step in the international judicial cooperation between the European Union and Republic of Armenia. I asked for the floor, because this Agreement marks the first agreement between Eurojust and a third country since the entry into force of the Eurojust Regulation of 2019. It will improve cooperation in the investigation of prosecution of serious …

13 Mar

2024

NL Speech

The repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women

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Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, 2.5 years ago, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan – the ‘new Taliban’, where some naively kicked in, the spokesperson said: "We will not discriminate against women!" Women and girls in Afghanistan should not be human anymore. Not to school, not to sports, not to work or to the park. They face physical and sexual violence on a daily basis, and all they wan…

11 Mar

2024

NL Speech

Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures (debate)

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Mr President, thank you first of all to the rapporteur, colleagues and Commissioner Reynders for the good cooperation. Two years after the full Russian invasion of Ukraine, my admiration for the Ukrainians is unabated. They tirelessly resist Putin's imperialism. But while we were negotiating sanctions evasion, I often had to think of them. How do you explain that we in the EU do agree on sanctions…

28 Feb

2024

EN Speech

Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues – and indeed no Council, which is a shame. What is EU enlargement about? At its core, it’s about improving people’s lives, about finishing the work that we started over 70 years ago: creating the large zone of democracy and rule of law on our continent. It has been our most successful foreign policy instrument, and it became a geopolitical necessity now to…

28 Feb

2024

EN Speech

The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia (debate)

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Mr President, Commission, Council, colleagues, countless times we said that we should prevent the killing of Alexei Navalny at all costs. The truth is, we did not succeed. Putin’s regime murdered Alexei. We have to transform this failure, and our grief, into meaningful action, not just hollow words. So, Council, Commissioner, where are the second- and third-layer sanctions? The group of second- an…

28 Feb

2024

NL Speech

Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

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Mr President, President of the Commission, Council, colleagues, our security in Europe is under threat. First, because of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. It must be clear where we stand. Brave Ukrainians also defend our democracy and our security. And we have only one task: Give Ukraine what it takes to win. We're not doing that right now, and you're responsible for that. I want to see that…

7 Feb

2024

EN Speech

Increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

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Mr President, Commissioner, it’s not your fault, but we have adopted unanimous calls here, as of January last year, we have written letters to three presidencies of the Council. Not even an answer we got! We have supported our Iranian communities and their friends and relatives in Iran who are tortured, imprisoned and executed because that is what’s happening. You never know how many will be execu…

6 Feb

2024

EN Speech

The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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– Mr President, the EU indeed showed unity last week with the Ukraine Facility in support of the brave Ukrainians fighting also on our behalf for our democracy. But make no mistake, Orbán held the other 26 hostage for way too long, and it is an illusion to think he will stop. He delayed and blackmailed you into unlawfully unfreezing EUR 10 billion. Sort it! Use Article 7 and suspend the Presidency…

17 Jan

2024

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and preparation of the Special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 - Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds (joint debate - European Council meetings)

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Mr President, I often wonder what Ukrainians literally dying on the battlefield for democracy must think of us. We are debating the rule of law and Orbán’s blackmailing over and over again, to no avail. Ironic, to say the least. By releasing billions of funds to Budapest, the Commission gave into Orbán’s wicked methods. With what result? And that is a serious question. The new sovereignty bill ope…

13 Dec

2023

EN Speech

The unknown status of Mikalai Statkevich and the recent attacks on Belarusian politicians’ and activists’ family members

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Madam President, colleagues, Commission, imagine for a moment that your loved one is a political prisoner. Bad enough, but you have not heard about his or her well-being or location for hundreds of days. Frightening. It’s pure terror. Mikalai Statkevich is one of them and we are worried about him. And this goes for many more of the 1500 political prisoners in Belarus. They count on us to fight Put…

12 Dec

2023

EN Speech

Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)

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Mr President, High Representative, dear colleagues, I must admit I am, and for a politician it’s strange, but I don’t know what to say anymore. With everything we are seeing. Gazans being told to go south, but even on the way going south, being bombed. People were told a couple of days ago to go west to a peaceful stretch of land at the sea. Where are they safe? How many times have governments fro…

21 Nov

2023

NL Speech

Continuing threat to the rule of law, the independence of justice and the non-fulfilment of conditionality for EU funding in Hungary (debate)

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Mr President, Council, Commissioner, we made crucial agreements. The Green Deal, sanctions against Russia, minimum wages. But unfortunately, the Hungarians have no guarantee that Prime Minister Orbán will abide by it. Do not make concessions as long as Orbán insists on oppression of queer communities, women, minorities. Not as long as he enriches himself with European funds instead of helping all …

17 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Question Time with Commissioners - European measures to prevent and to fight the rise of organised crime

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–Mr President, thank you Commissioner for being here. As you know, the ruthlessness of international criminal networks has a huge impact on our societies. And the brutal murders of, for example, Dutch lawyer Derk Wiersum, innocent people killed by mistake and the tragic death, of course, of Peter de Vries are prime examples. Cross-border crime needs cross-border solutions. So the ports of Rotterda…

17 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, Council, finding unity on sanctions among 27 Member States is not easy. In the past 19 months, we managed to adopt eleven unprecedented sanction packages against Russia – an accomplishment, but it is not enough. First, we are too slow. The smaller the steps we take, the more time Putin and his oligarch friends get to adapt. They work their way a…

16 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Establishing the Ukraine Facility (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, with everything we did so far in support of Ukraine, there was always one certainty – we need to do more. This is a great proposal. It structures and reinforces our support to Ukraine, and it will serve as a blueprint for follow-up schemes. The impact of this support on the reforms and the restructuring, undertaken while fighting the Russian aggression, can’…

4 Oct

2023

NL Speech

Need for a speedy adoption of the asylum and migration package (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, Council, colleagues, ‘following tragedies in the Mediterranean, there are always calls for solidarity, but in practice it is very difficult to reach an agreement.’ That is a quote from an article from October 2013 in response to 368 deaths off the coast of Lampedusa. I was at Lampedusa last weekend. To commemorate, but also to learn from Lampedusani, as Mr Bartolo said.…

3 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo (debate)

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Mr President, Commission, Council, colleagues, President Vučić did it again. He pushed the escalation button, deliberately jeopardising peace and security, even of the people he says to care about but holds hostage. This time he pushed harder than ever before. Therefore, the usual de-escalation is not so easy. This pattern should have ended a long time ago, but autocrats like Vučić see how far the…

3 Oct

2023

EN Speech

Taking stock of Moldova's path to the EU (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, Council, dear colleagues: imagine for a moment Russia breathing down your neck in all thinkable ways – from a hybrid disinformation war to the continuous threat of illegitimate military presence on your territory. In that light, choosing the EU was and is incredibly courageous. The resolution we are debating here today, and this was already mentioned, speaks for itself.…