Speeches

Madam Vice-President, Commissioner. I want a cleaner planet and I want a real green transition. Nuclear power is the key to all of this. And if the European Union wants to promote nuclear technology, then firstly, nuclear safety must remain at the heart of our efforts. The European Union must continue to promote cooperation on high nuclear safety standards. Secondly, investment in research and development is essential for Europe's secure and reliable energy supply. The Euratom programme already funds key projects such as ITER and supports the development of fusion technology. But we need even more funding for new emerging European start-ups that are developing new innovative nuclear solutions. Thirdly, the development of human resources must be a strategic priority. We need new education programmes for nuclear technologies that will prepare future generations, generations of nuclear experts. And the fourth. Europe needs to support the development of supply chains for nuclear materials and equipment. Europe needs to secure stable supply chains for highly enriched uranium, medical radioisotopes and key components for new reactors. Dear colleagues, supporting nuclear energy means building a future in which Europe is energy-secure, climate-responsible and technologically advanced.

Mr President. The goal of the green transition was to reduce CO2 emissions.2. Did we really? We're not. Timmermans' green transition was a political and ideological campaign that did not deliver results. Billions of euros have been invested in the green transition in recent years, but the targets are not met because you have approached the green transition ideologically rather than scientifically. The results were more important than the concrete results. Today we have more regulation, higher electricity prices, exhausted farmers and also a failing car industry. Commissioner Ribera, it is amazing that you are insisting on a green transition that deepens European dependencies and destroys the economy. Europe cannot save the planet through self-destruction, but it can do so through technological development. The goal of the green transition cannot be achieved through bans and additional regulation, but only through technological developments. That is why we need the development of nuclear power plants for clean and stable energy. We need to cut red tape for exhausted farmers. We are world champions in the production of gasoline and diesel engines, so we lift the ban on production after 2035 and thus enable the world to use quality vehicles. We can save the planet if we are world champions in technological development, not in bans.

Madam President. The European Union is a project of peace. And this peace project will never be complete if there are no Balkan countries within this European Union. It is my great wish that the members of the European Union become members as soon as possible. This is, after all, in our own interest, and it is primarily in their own interest. I am confident that they will do their homework well with the necessary reforms. However, I am concerned that in some Member States there is a lack of adequate support for further enlargement. According to the latest Eurobarometer of 2024, 23 Member States of the European Union support further enlargement, while there are four Member States where the majority of respondents are reluctant or opposed to further enlargement of the European Union. These are Austria, France, Germany and Belgium. It is crucial and our task is to make it clear to citizens that the enlargement of the European Union is beneficial to all, both old and new members.

Madam President, Commissioner! It is known that communists in the past used a very simple modus operandi. First discreditation, then liquidation. Putin does exactly the same thing. First he discredited Ukraine and then he tries to liquidate it. But he calls this liquidation liberation, and this ‘liberation’ represents the killing, demolition and, in a way, the denial of all that has been created in Ukraine. Death and ruins are therefore synonymous with Putin’s ‘liberation’. Today, it should be emphasized that social networks represent Putin's new digital weapon. And it is sad that he has convinced many in the West that support for Ukraine is actually a prolongation of the war. All those who believe this should protest in front of the Russian embassies that Putin should, after all, stop this senseless war.

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, no dictator is eternal. A dictator who killed and gassed his own people ran away like a big coward. This is the true face of dictators, they take care only of themselves and they destroy the country. Islamists are clearly taking over Syria – the experience of Afghanistan teaches that we should never, ever trust the words of the Islamists. We will judge them by their actions. So there are three possibilities. First, further fighting and fragmentation as in Libya. Second, one dictator is replaced by another as in Iraq. Or, we finally get a new and inclusive Syria. I expect from the EU to tie all our financial and diplomatic assistance to the new Syrian authorities strictly to the fulfilment of our core values. This is: to resolve conflicts through dialogue, to establish institutions of state, and to protect religious minorities, especially Christians. The real strength of authorities is not in the number of guns, but in the sincere support of the people.

Madam President! I come from a family where three different generations have fought in different wars in the past. My great-grandfather fought in the First World War. My grandfather fought in World War II and my father is a veteran of the Slovenian War of Independence. I am the fourth generation that in some way seemed to be bypassed by war in one way or another. But it is precisely the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has shown that even in the twenty-first century, peace in Europe is unfortunately not taken for granted. It is therefore our duty to invest in defence capabilities in order to build credible deterrence and build peace. And this message today is an important reminder that building military capabilities is not enough, but that we also need to prepare our societies for a potential conflict.

Mr President! This week in Slovenia we are celebrating Slovenian Food Week and bees are key. Bees are the main ones in the formation of, say, this food and their product, honey, is something incredible. It is an exceptional medicinal food that contains vitamins C, B and E, contains minerals that accelerate metabolism and, last but not least, it also contains substances that destroy harmful bacteria in our body. Honey is an exceptional food, if only it is real, and not fake. Unfortunately, we find that in recent times fakes appear on shelves all over Europe, adding water and unnecessary sweeteners. These fakes come mainly from China and Turkey, so I support the initiative of the European Beekeepers' Association to take action and clearly lead to the labelling of the origin of honey, as well as the quality itself. It doesn't matter what we eat.

Mr President! We are talking about the obvious thing to put Russia on the list of high-risk countries engaged in money laundering and terrorist financing. Let us remember only the Wagner Group, how uncompromisingly the Russian authorities financed the operation of this group in Africa. What kind of things did they do? Let me give you an example from Slovenia. Funding so-called illegals, Russian secret agents who are setting up fictitious companies in our, European countries. Through these fictitious companies, they finance all sorts of things, spy on us, do all sorts of things to undermine our democracy. What else do we need? What evidence do we need to put Russia on this list? Let's look at what the oligarchs are doing. I think the arguments are more than enough and that this move is absolutely correct. To put Russia on the list of risky countries.

Mr President, a bomb in the White House, a mine in the Vatican, the death of Mao Zedong and the earthquake in Paris could not have echoed through the consciousness of every man in the world like the operation in Munich. It was not the first time that Jews were attacked, and those who use sport as a weapon, as a terrorist act, must be made very clear to them that they are ordinary cowards. This should be our key message today that anyone who uses beautiful sport-related events for their political military goals is a complete coward. Sport is a thing that connects people, that unites people, and that last but not least connects very divided nations.

Madam President! Dear colleagues! Fifteen years ago, social networks seemed to be the future, to be a key tool for promoting democracy. And fifteen years later, it seems that social networks are primarily tools for spreading hatred and intolerance. What has happened so dramatically in these 15 years that one good tool has turned into a bad one? Algorithms. Algorithms are those that incite hatred, that incite intolerance, because in today's world simply good news is no longer news. And that's why algorithms encourage negative things, especially intolerance. However, I am convinced that the ban is not the solution, but that the key thing for the future is to raise awareness among young people of the consequences that uncritical use of social networks can have.

Madam President! If we want to put illegal migration in some manageable context, then it is clear that we need to fundamentally change our message that whoever enters the European Union illegally will be returned to their own homeland. Only in this way will the unstoppable flow stop. If we really put in place mechanisms to effectively repatriate all those who come to the European Union illegally. Illegal immigration cannot be regulated. Because whatever we do, there will always be a way for people to come here, look for a better life, and somehow come to say, we'll sort things out somehow. I must therefore admit that I was pleased with the latest letter from the President of the European Commission that things are finally being put on the right track in Europe too, and in the right direction, to regulate illegal migration.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, There is no need for new bans in the European car industry. First and foremost, we need new innovations. Above all, the European car industry does not need a new self-punishment. The European ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles after 2035 was simply a mistake. Big mistake! That's madness! Europe was a technological superpower in the field of classic cars. And why would we ban something where we were the best, where we were good? And why go to an area where we will only follow Chinese and American manufacturers? I wonder how Europe can be so short-sighted that it is destroying its own economy. Cars are not the biggest problem. We have a number of other contaminants that need to do their homework. That is why, of course, I expect the bans to be lifted and the car industry to be massively supported by debureaucratisation and by means of innovation.

Madam President. Migration is a problem in many areas. And today I would like to touch on the so-called Australian model. We will be able to turn things around in the European Union if we give a clear message that it is simply not possible to enter the European Union illegally. And if you come, you'll just be strictly back. If Australia is doing this, I see no reason why the European Union should not be able to do the same. Of course, the European Union is not an island like Australia, but on the other hand, we have migrants who will need our institutions at least a few times. This is when they may want to be greeted in our health systems, when they want social support or assistance, or the third time they want to get a job. And with these three elements, it will be very easy for the European Union to determine their status. And when this status is found to be illegal, then, of course, there is no other option than to strictly return them back to their homelands. And here is the key message. The message needs to be reversed.

Mr President. Dear colleagues! Let us admit that Schengen is dead, that it is in some way falling apart. And it is this Schengen, which is the greatest asset of the European Union. One thing that we all love so much and which has also benefited so much the economic development of many European countries. And this Schengen is collapsing before our eyes for the simple reason that we do not regulate illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is now closing borders between Member States. We need to do everything we can to stop illegal immigration. That is why three things need to be done. Firstly, the swift return of all those who came to Europe illegally. Secondly, we need to strengthen our external borders. Thirdly, to set up migration centres in third countries outside the borders of the European Union.

Mr President! Honourable Commissioner, Members of Parliament! Good day! The green transition was definitely the phrase of the previous mandate. In a way, an ideology developed where we did everything, of course, slogans were key to reducing CO2 releases. Like I said, key slogans were more important than the data and facts themselves. And, for example, the German case is very telling, where they started shutting down nuclear power plants, where they invested billions of euros in renewable energy, but still failed to reduce CO2 per unit of energy produced. Even more. Electricity was purchased from Polish thermal power plants. If you look at the case of Slovenia: In Slovenia, we had to close down primary production of aluminium. We now import it from China, where it is being made in a much dirtier way than we did in Slovenia. We shut down the thermal power plant because of too expensive CO2 Coupons, while in China thermal power plants grow practically every day. What do we really need? If anything, then we need realism instead of activism, and instead of an activist green transition, we need a realistic green transition that offers competitive energy prices and, above all, builds on innovation rather than bans themselves. And right here, right here, the Energy Union will be key. Only through efficient, competitive electricity prices will our economy be able to survive and, above all, people will be able to afford it. And if anything, then I am convinced that nuclear energy is part of the solution and that, like the European Union, it promotes wind and solar energy, so should nuclear energy.