What Thijs spoke about.

14 Dec

2021

EN Speech

Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, organised crime and corruption are everywhere most harmful for the vast majority of ordinary citizens and most profitable for those elites who refuse to take action. Projects like the recent Citizens’ Assembly on corruption in Montenegro, upon the initiative of this House, are good, but also the efforts of leaders who took responsibility instead of refusing to take action, like in Ko…

24 Nov

2021

EN Speech

Fundamental rights and the rule of law in Slovenia, in particular the delayed nomination of EPPO prosecutors (debate)

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Mr President, last month we experienced a low point in this Parliament; we had to discuss the Polish Government questioning the primacy of EU law. Let me stress that I do not want, and also do not expect, to have a similar plenary debate about Slovenia in two years. But, we should have learned by now to read early warning signals. The crumbling of rule of law and democracy often starts with bigger…

21 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The outcome of the Western Balkans summit (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, the declaration after the Western Balkans Summit started with a promise of unequivocal support. It left me a bit confused. What does this actually mean? The commitment to a substantial investment package of EUR 30 billion is very welcome. Is that it? Or is it the merit-based approach, but with new demands and surprise vetoes after meeting the criteria? Words matter. Instead of unequ…

19 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law (debate)

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Mr President, democracies are founded on one basic principle. Politicians represent their people and they have this power on loan from their people. I’m afraid you have forgotten about this fundamental concept, Prime Minister. The reason, the so-called ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal, is the result of a reckless gambling game putting an entire country at stake. The outcome is serving the int…

5 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The situation in Belarus after one year of protests and their violent repression (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, Nikita Zolotariov, born in 2004, is a now 17—year—old boy. He was arrested and convicted to almost five years in prison after attending the protests of last year. His parents are unsure if he is still alive because he is dependent on medication. A political prisoner – a child! There are over 700 political prisoners, and Lukashenka has still room and resources to intimidate, and worse…

5 Oct

2021

EN Speech

The future of EU-US relations (debate)

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Mr President, the EU—US Transatlantic Partnership – the renewed reinforced partnership – is opening a new chapter of closer bilateral relations following the election of Joe Biden. The EU and the US are the bedrock of the rules—based international order and champions of multilateralism, democracy and human rights. But we should also acknowledge the differences between the EU and the US, and that i…