Speeches

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Through my kitchen window, I see the Baltic Sea, an ocean that already has major environmental problems. Beyond the horizon, the disaster threatens – the Russian shadow fleet. These are huge oil tankers. They're old, they're worn out. We have already seen several serious incidents. Many of the boats are uninsured or insufficiently insured. Many have unclear ownership. They usually violate sanctions against Russia. This is how Putin's war is financed. This must be stopped – for the sake of the environment and for the sake of Ukraine. Let us realise that the measures that have been taken have been inadequate. Russia is going around them. We must dare to take the step and deny access to the Baltic Sea for boats carrying out illegal traffic. We have to do that together.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. I would like to begin by thanking the Court of Auditors and its President, Tony Murphy, for their work. It's a sad read to read the annual report. The error rate is increasing, not least in the area of cohesion policy. But what stands out, what is particularly serious, is the criticism of the recovery fund RRF. Because there is no error rate here when you cannot track the payments. On the other hand, there are findings from the Court of Auditors that a significant green washing. What would have gone to climate investments goes to something else. whereas 233 cases have already been brought before the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO); We know this is just the beginning. In fact, there is very little link between the pandemic and the recovery fund. What we see before us is a kind of budget support for measures that would probably have been implemented anyway. At least to a large extent. The most serious thing here is that in the face of this very thorough and serious criticism, the European Commission is almost dismissive. The European Commission is shying away from criticism of the construction of the recovery fund, and instead it seems that consideration is being given to constructing future long-term budgets in a similar way. After these evaluations, after the devastating criticism of the RRF, all such plans should be put where they belong – in a trash can.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Moldova faces crucial choices in the upcoming presidential elections and referendum on its relationship with the European Union. Faced with these choices, it is clear that Russia is aggressively and improperly trying to influence the choices that the Moldovan people should make. Media campaigns take place in Russian-language media and social media controlled by Russia spread pure inaccuracies and lies to influence voters. We see direct attempts to influence voters by giving them money. In the background are powerful oligarchs acting on Russia's behalf. In addition, Russia exerts significant influence over the so-called breakaway region of Transnistria. Our task is to support Moldova in having truly free and democratic elections. It is the Moldovans, not Russia, who will decide the future of the country. Transnistria is part of Moldova. The Russian troops should leave the country as soon as possible. Dialogue is needed to reconcile the different parts of Moldova. We acknowledge the great efforts of the Moldovan authorities to make it easy for Moldovans, also abroad and in Transnistria, to vote. Our job is to respect their choices. We support the joint resolution, but we lack clearer wording on the social conditions in Moldova, which are very difficult. Issues such as poverty, the minimum wage and social development must also be part of the discussion on moving closer to Europe. Moldova has made great efforts during Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine and has taken in many refugees. A stable and democratic Moldova is important not only for the future of the country, but for the whole region.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your As a former car worker, I am concerned that Europe is lagging behind in the green transition. In China today, more electric cars are produced than fossil cars, and they are cheaper than the old cars. In the United States, generous tax rebates are given to those who buy an electric car, and the policy works. The EU, on the other hand, has an old-fashioned dogmatic ban on this type of state aid – in practice, a ban on an active industrial policy that speeds up the transition and allows us to impose demands on companies. That is what we need, together with another electricity market that leads to reduced electricity prices. That's how we can compete. The European automotive industry will not be able to cope with the jobs of the future with yesterday's technology. The technological and climate transition is an absolute necessity. What is lacking is the possibility of pursuing an active industrial policy in order to cope with it.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The subject of the discussion is the Hungarian national card. Another provocation from Viktor Orbán. Another proof that Hungary would never have been allowed to become President of the EU Council of Ministers. Hungary facilitates the entry and residence of Belarusian and Russian citizens into the European Union. At the same time, Russia’s horrific and illegal invasion of Ukraine is taking place in full force. We know, it is well established, that Russia has engaged in extensive espionage in a number of EU countries and that there are concrete risks of sabotage. whereas Russia is fuelling destabilisation campaigns, political conflicts and spreading lies; As a result, several EU countries have chosen to expel a large number of Russian diplomats, for good reason. Hungary has not done that. Instead, they open the back door into the European Union. In addition to the outright inadequacy of this, it also threatens free movement within the Schengen area. This inevitably leads to a discussion on freezing the Schengen Agreement for Hungary. Viktor Orbán is increasingly appearing as Putin's Trojan horse in the European Union. He is delaying support for Ukraine, continuing to import gas to finance the Russian war of aggression. He visits the war criminal on the spot in Moscow when the war criminal should be in prison. At the same time, we see how the rule of law has been eroded in Hungary. It no longer meets the requirements of a well-functioning democracy. Madam President, I would like to thank you for your It is time to use the tools contained in Article 7. Time to freeze all financial aid to Hungary. Time to suspend Hungary's voting rights in the Council of Ministers and put pressure on the country. Enough of the provocations. Orban has made it part of his political repertoire, saying economic migrants threaten security. It's usually been wrong, but now it's right. These economic migrants are threatening the security of the EU.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Last summer I sat with good friends from the Ukrainian left in Kiev. We talked about the war. They hated the war, but they couldn't escape the war. They said: We don't have a choice. We have to defend ourselves. The alternative is Russian occupation. And so it is, the alternative to supporting Ukraine and also to supporting Ukraine militarily, that alternative is not peace. That alternative is Russian occupation, the expulsion of millions of Ukrainians and again millions of Ukrainians living under the Russian boot. Therefore, it is necessary to increase support to Ukraine, including militarily. The war in Ukraine is financed by exports of fossil fuels from Russia. Much of it goes through the Baltic Sea. It's about thousands of tankers, worn out, old, environmentally hazardous boats, uninsured with unclear ownership. One of the most important things we can do to support Ukraine is to close the Baltic Sea to the Russian shadow fleet and illegal oil exports. We will propose this in an amendment, and we hope for the support of this Parliament to cut off funding for Putin's war.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine continues. Ukraine needs increased support, politically, economically and militarily. At the same time, Russia's assault is being financed by fossil fuel imports to EU countries. Up to half of these exports go through the Baltic Sea. Thousands of full tankers. Most of them are part of the so-called shadow fleet. These are old, worn-out, dangerous ships. Many have unclear ownership relationships, many lack valid international insurance. This is a clear violation of international sanctions against Russia. It is also a major and obvious environmental threat to the countries around the Baltic Sea. Mr President, I would like to thank you. For Ukraine's sake and for the sake of the environment, it is time for the EU and the EU countries around the Baltic Sea to put an end to the Russian shadow fleet's shipping through our sea.