What Thijs spoke about.

23 Nov

2022

EN Speech

The continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus

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Mr President, Commissioner, a pro-Kremlin group just took down the website of the European Parliament because we called Russia and Lukashenko’s regime exactly what they are. Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism and Lukashenko is its eager accomplice. Let me make this very clear. The voices of freedom will not be silenced. Lukashenko can throw 1400 peaceful democracy activists in jail, including …

22 Nov

2022

NL Speech

EU response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran (debate)

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Mr President, the Iranian people are an unstoppable wave of pure courage led by women. As legitimate government criminals disguised, hundreds of peaceful protesters have been killed, 58 of them children, and thousands imprisoned. But cruelty cannot break the determination of the Iranian people. Commissioner, I have three questions. 1. When will the EU impose sanctions on all 227 Iranian Majlis MPs…

21 Nov

2022

EN Speech

Assessment of Hungary's compliance with the rule of law conditions under the Conditionality Regulation and state of play of the Hungarian RRP (debate)

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Yes, beginners mistake to accept a blue-card. Sorry for that but my answer is very simple and very short because we are not talking about all these issues that you mentioned. We are talking about the core fundamentals of the Union, which is enshrined in treaties, and these treaties have been signed by the democratic Hungarian people a long time ago, and these treaties need to be respected. And tha…

21 Nov

2022

EN Speech

Assessment of Hungary's compliance with the rule of law conditions under the Conditionality Regulation and state of play of the Hungarian RRP (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner and, indeed, absent Council – regrettably absent Council. EUR 18 billion of emergency aid to Ukraine, meant to keep hospitals running, to rebuild destroyed railways, and to build new houses for Ukrainians; Prime Minister Orbán has the heart to block this crucial money in order to blackmail us – the EU, everyone – over the funds he himself denies to the citizens of Hun…

19 Oct

2022

EN Speech

Lukashenka regime's active role in the war against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, ... the powerful defiance of the Belarusian people, whose only wish is to live in freedom and dignity, terrifies this regime. Now, Russia’s losses in Ukraine threaten his dictatorship. Every single one of Lukashenko’s moves today, from his absurd rhetoric and invitation for more Russian troops, to his ruthless crackdown on remaining democratic activists and unions, is a blatant si…

18 Oct

2022

NL Speech

Impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on migration flows to the EU (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, thank you very much for your personal commitment. When I think back to the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, I think of the attack on freedom, the human suffering caused by Putin's war, but also of that overwhelming and moving solidarity with Ukrainian refugees, the EU Member States that quickly provided shelter and protection and thousand…

17 Oct

2022

EN Speech

The Rule of Law in Malta, five years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia (debate)

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Madam President, thank you to the Commissioner for all the remarks, which I subscribe to, and for the dignified homage he paid to Daphne Caruana Galizia. The killing of a journalist leaves deep wounds for loved ones left behind first and foremost, but also in society. And when someone keeping those in power accountable is literally under fire, it’s not the journalist only that is under threat: ae …

14 Sep

2022

EN Speech

Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2020 and 2021 (debate)

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Mr President, dear colleagues, Commissioner, tomorrow this Parliament will vote on the report just debated before on Hungary, stating that this country is not a democracy any more. That did not happen overnight. It’s the result of a years’ long process full of smaller, targeted restrictions on fundamental rights. Autocrats have a plan to which we have to respond immediately. We learned the hard wa…

6 Jul

2022

EN Speech

The UK government’s unilateral introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill and respect for international law (debate)

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Mr President, Commission Vice-President, I thought the UK Prime Minister ‘got Brexit done’, but today we are not even sure how long he will be in office, while the UK Government is threatening to unilaterally rip up the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr President, to the people in Britain I want to say, we here in Europe are committed to our friendship with you. This is not about rehashing debates of …

5 Jul

2022

EN Speech

The EU and the defence of multilateralism (debate)

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Madam President, thanks to the rapporteur for this timely report. Each of Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine represents the brutal face of the crisis in multilateralism. And this crisis did not happen overnight. No, it is a culmination of coordinated efforts of autocrats to undermine the international rules-based order. And we simply cannot allow them to weaponise, hijack or destroy multilateralism fo…

5 Jul

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on Kosovo (debate)

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Madam President, Kosovo’s people deserve this liberalisation and this is nothing new. They have deserved it since 2018. Kosovo played by the rules and fulfilled all the Commission benchmarks. Yet last month, the European Council failed them, failed all of the Western Balkan countries again. And I’m embarrassed. It is also my home country, the Netherlands, that continues to block what the Kosovars …

5 Jul

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on Serbia (debate)

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Madam President, we want Serbia to advance on its EU path. Instead, Serbia’s President Vučić is pulling his country away from the European Union, even if he says something else. Serbia’s leadership chooses regression on the rule of law over pro-European reforms. Its handling of this year’s elections demonstrates democracy is in clear peril. And while Russia bombs Ukrainian hospitals, Vučić’s gover…

22 Jun

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on Montenegro (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to thank the rapporteur for this very good report. The Western Balkans deserve a real, genuine commitment, and Montenegro demonstrates why. A year ago, in this same annual report, I called on Montenegro’s leadership to set political differences aside and make the right choices for all Montenegrins. I commend Montenegro’s new government for their support …

18 May

2022

EN Speech

Prosecution of the opposition and the detention of trade union leaders in Belarus (debate)

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Madam President, it is precisely one year ago today that the Tut.By website was shut down: 15 arrests followed by subsequent constructed convictions, the dictator’s well—known playbook. By now, we not only speak about Lukashenko’s illegitimate regime holding hostage an entire population, but Lukashenko is also fully complicit in Putin’s gruesome war and all war crimes that were committed, and he w…

18 May

2022

EN Speech

2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

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Mr President, I want to extend my compliments also to the rapporteur for a good report. I fully agree with what has been said by colleagues Schieder and Olekas. Bulgaria at this critical moment in history has a unique chance to give a strong message to Russia, to Europe and to Skopje. But the time has also come to hold the other 26 Member States accountable for further delay from today onwards, be…

18 May

2022

EN Speech

Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law Report (debate)

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Madam President, judges under political pressure, investigative journalists targeted by strategic lawsuits, children learning in school that their only option is to start a traditional family – these people are the story behind the Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report. These people are our fellow EU citizens. Thank you, Terry Reintke, for the excellent collaboration that we had with you this yea…

5 May

2022

EN Speech

State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation (debate)

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Mr President, I’m both highly proud of and deeply concerned for Moldova. Proud because of the incredible assistance the Moldovan people have offered to the Ukrainians and because of Moldova’s unambiguous pro-European turn. But I am also concerned because Putin and his cronies have now set their sights on Moldova. The Kremlin is pumping propaganda by the bucket—load into the country, it has ramped …

4 May

2022

EN Speech

Use of the Pegasus Software by EU Member States against individuals including MEPs and the violation of fundamental rights (topical debate)

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Mr President, yesterday was World Press Freedom Day. In this Parliament, we reinstated again that democracies can only exist when critical media can do their jobs – scrutinise all of us without pressure, without any limitation. And one day later, we are discussing European governments using spyware on the phones of journalists. Imagine investigating the people in power and finding out that your ph…

7 Apr

2022

EN Speech

The situation of marginalised Roma communities in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, I say to the Commissioner: in 2011 the Commission did a good job. The EU adopted its Roma integration strategies for the coming decade. On paper, the right solutions were there, but in reality we had to conclude that 10 years later, Member States throughout Europe had done close to nothing to implement these policies. And in 2022, Romani people are still subject to persistent, dehuma…

5 Apr

2022

EN Speech

Situation in Afghanistan, in particular the situation of women’s rights (debate)

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Madam President, a good 200 days ago – the last day that Afghani teenage girls packed their bags and went to school – the Taliban erased half the population from public life. Today they are holding Afghanistan’s entire population hostage as 20 million Afghans face acute hunger. All they care about is repressing Afghans, brave women and girls for cynical political aims. We must never recognise this…

16 Feb

2022

EN Speech

EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, yesterday we debated the CFSP and to CSDP here, and I commend the High Representative for his tireless and successful efforts in trying to bring about unity. However, I expect more from the Council – peer-pressuring Member States and deliberately jeopardising this very unity for internal political reasons or with misconceptions of history. We must stand foursquare behind the free …

15 Feb

2022

EN Speech

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2021 (debate)

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Mr President, unity is our strongest weapon, and as an example of this, let me commend the High Representative for his efforts that embody this unity. Our common foreign and security policy works only when it’s truly common, when we are truly united. This is exactly why autocrats are trying to play us apart at the expense of our values, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and the institut…

19 Jan

2022

EN Speech

Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong

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Mr President, China’s totalitarian regime has absolutely no love for media freedom, democracy or even for its own citizens, from Hong Kong to Xinjiang. I fully stand with Hong Kong’s brave citizens, activists and journalists still courageously fighting to uphold press freedom. Colleagues, the big picture is crystal clear, and I thank the colleagues who worked on this good resolution. The harsh rea…

16 Dec

2021

EN Speech

Continuous crackdown on civil society and human rights defenders in Russia: the case of human rights organisation Memorial

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Madam President, the attempts to intimidate, silence and, ultimately, close Memorial are not only an example of how far Putin is prepared to go, they are an insult to the Russian people, to their history. We have a problem with the Putin kleptocrat autocracy, not with the Russian people. If we let them down, those who fight for the values we hold sacred, we also allow the undermining of these same…

15 Dec

2021

EN Speech

The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus based on article 78(3) TFEU (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, as we speak, an unknown number of people is stuck in the Polish-Belarusian border zone. But that’s all we know. The Polish Government still denies any access or help to the victims of Lukashenko’s depraved political games. Suspension of asylum rules, though, is not the answer. Poland should accept EASO and Frontex assistance instead. Did you get guarantees, Commissioner, that in retu…