What Matjaž spoke about.

25 Nov

2025

SL Speech

2026 budgetary procedure: joint text (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear Minister, dear ministers, tomorrow the European Parliament will vote on the European Union's budget for the next year. A deal was successful in the early morning hours on Saturday 15 November. This is a good deal for Europe and a good deal for our citizens. Iides to sincerely thank the many people responsible for the result, but especially my opinions, you, Commissioner, and …

13 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025 (debate)

Watch

Madam President, the meeting of European leaders has brought mixed conclusions. On the one hand, I welcome the first ever discussion on housing, which together with the cost-of-living crisis is one of the most important issues for our citizens. The Commission must now follow up as soon as possible with a concrete plan for affordable housing. Unfortunately, on the other hand, the summit completely …

22 Oct

2025

SL Speech

Allegations of espionage by the Hungarian government within the EU institutions (debate)

Watch

Madam President! Today, the European Union is facing an issue that goes beyond a single scandal. If it is established that the Hungarian Government has carried out spying activities within the institutions of the European Union, then we are talking about more than an incident, but an act that undermines the very essence of our common project. These are the trust and values on which the Union stand…

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 – all sections (debate)

Watch

Mr President, dear Minister, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, thank you to Mr Halicki. I listened to all the speakers carefully. With many I can agree and some less. However, I believe that we share a vision with many of you of a better Europe – a more social Europe that delivers for its citizens and that is effective. This Europe is not about individual partial interests, but about a common on…

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 – all sections (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear Minister Wammen, dear Commissioner Serafin, dear colleagues, today we will debate on our priorities for next year’s budget of the Union. This is an important moment for the Parliament where we set our policy priorities, and how to finance them. Our common approach reflects our common values. In addition, it sets the course for the future of Europe as we see it. We are of cour…

21 Oct

2025

SL Speech

Polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy (debate)

Watch

Madame forebearer! Honourable Commissioner, Honourable High Assembly. In a few days, we will mark a year since the tragedy in Novi Sad, when 16 people lost their lives under the ruins of the canopy. The tragedy has finally exposed the disintegration of state governance, where responsibility disappears under the weight of political propaganda and lies. Historical protests throughout Serbia over the…

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Recent peace agreement in the Middle East and the role of the EU (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear colleagues, the eyes of the world must not turn from Palestine. The promise of the ceasefire in Gaza has been broken at least 80 times, at a cost of lives, hopes, and in law itself. We need more than pauses in violence; we need an end of the occupation and all hostilities, including in the West Bank. Those responsible for the genocide and war crimes must be brought to justice…

7 Oct

2025

SL Speech

The EU’s role in supporting the recent peace efforts for Gaza and a two-state solution (debate)

Watch

Dear High Council! The consequences of October 7, two years ago, will be recorded in the history of humanity as one of the darkest and most cruel periods that our generation has done and tolerated. Hamas' attack is worthy of all condemnation, there is no doubt about it, but Israel's disproportionate response to it, with the unequivocal and tireless erasure of life in Gaza that still persists today…

6 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Revision of the Visa Suspension Mechanism (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, I want to thank everyone for this important debate today. While I cannot agree with everything said today, the discussion showed why and how this reform is still important for the EU. Although the EU visa policy is not the only element of the common migration framework, it remains an important part of it, and the suspension mechanism should also…

6 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Revision of the Visa Suspension Mechanism (debate)

Watch

Madam President, Commissioner Brunner, dear colleagues, tomorrow Parliament will vote on the reform of the visa suspension mechanism – one of the key elements of the common EU visa policy. In June this year, under the Polish Presidency, we reached an agreement on a compromise that will allow the temporary suspension of the EU visa-free regime with a third country under updated, flexible and more m…

10 Sep

2025

SL Speech

Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget – 2026 financial year (debate)

Watch

Mr President. Dear Commissioner Serafin. Dear reporter Halicki and, of course, Minister Wammen. Welcome to the European Parliament. Thank you for presenting the Council's position on the draft general budget of the Union for 2026. With today's debate, we are entering a difficult period of seeking a European budgetary compromise, but we have a responsibility to European citizens in particular, to r…

9 Sep

2025

SL Speech

Wave of violence and continuous use of force against protesters in Serbia (debate)

Watch

Madam President. Dear citizens of the Republic of Serbia! First of all, let me express my deepest respect and appreciation. You give hope and strength to all of us who believe in democratic institutions, freedom, the rule of law and peace. The battle, which lasts much longer than the last 10 months, added a new dimension in November last year, namely strength and strength. You, your perseverance a…

8 Jul

2025

SL Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

Watch

Madam President. Colleagues, Commissioner Marta Kos. Yesterday, for the 30th year in a row, we paid tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and talked about the tragic past and the importance of reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and today we are discussing its future. I am convinced that the path to reconciliation lies precisely in Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards Europe…

8 Jul

2025

EN Question

Situation in the Middle East (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear colleagues, people in Gaza and in the Middle East are still being killed every day in hospitals, in refugee centres and in the lines for humanitarian aid. We may have now narrowly avoided the escalation last month in the Israel-Iran conflict into a full-scale war, but the region remains far from peace. The people are still suffering with very little hope. A ceasefire must be …

7 Jul

2025

SL Speech

Commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide

Watch

Dear Madam President, Honourable High Assembly. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, we remember more than eight thousand Bosnian civilians killed in cold blood by Serbian troops from Bosnia and Herzegovina before the eyes of the world. It began with rhetoric dangerously similar to that used today by nationalists against minorities. But Srebrenica was only the cul…

18 Jun

2025

EN Speech

Stopping the genocide in Gaza: time for EU sanctions (topical debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear colleagues, the horrors in Gaza continue. Innocent children and families are hunted for food, shot as targets every day by the Israeli army. Their only crime is hunger. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been murdered. Hospitals, schools, refugee centres are almost completely destroyed. Yet this is still not enough for some European leaders, including the Commission Presi…

17 Jun

2025

SL Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Montenegro (debate)

Watch

Mr President, Commissioner, Mrs Marta Kos. In a flood of bad and worrying news from around the world, today's debate on Montenegro's progress towards the European Union is a bright exception and a positive story. It remains the leading country on the path of European integration among the countries of the Western Balkans, with a coherent foreign policy with the Union, a commitment to international…

17 Jun

2025

SL Speech

The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report (debate)

Watch

Madam President. The Rule of Law Report has received increasing attention over the past year. Unfortunately, not so much because of progress in the rule of law, but because violations continue to occur in many Member States, on the one hand, and because, on the other hand, the Union itself does not respect its own rules and European legislation, for example in the case of controls at Schengen bord…

21 May

2025

EN Speech

The EU's response to the Israeli government's plan to seize the Gaza Strip, ensuring effective humanitarian support and the liberation of hostages (debate)

Watch

Madam President, dear colleagues, the words of the Slovenian President, Nataša Pirc Musar, still echo out. They embody the experience of the collective historical memory of the Slovenian people. The EU was born as a peace project from that same pain. And today we must collectively again stand up for peace. So, dear colleagues, according to the EU, in the next two days 14 000 babies will starve to …

8 May

2025

EN Speech

80 years after the end of World War II - freedom, democracy and security as the heritage of Europe (debate)

Watch

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, these days we celebrate a victory day. But considering the world around us, there isn't really much to celebrate. Much of the responsibility for this lies with the inaction of the European institutions led by the Commission President von der Leyen. When the allies fought for peace 80 years ago, our common European project was born. Europe was meant…

6 May

2025

SL Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Kosovo (debate)

Watch

Mr President. Honourable Commissioner, Honourable High Assembly! Over the past year, Kosovo has shown a clear political will to move forward on this European path. This is demonstrated in particular by the achievements in electoral reform, economic stability and the protection of fundamental rights. At the same time, I would like to see more momentum in the reform process also in the area of justi…

6 May

2025

SL Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia (debate)

Watch

Mr President. We like to apologise for the critical situation in Serbia with stabilization, but there has been no stability in the country for a long time. We are witnessing the systematic erosion of the rule of law, the suppression of protests and, of course, of the media. Since last November, the streets of Belgrade and other cities have been filled every week by crowds of people – students, tea…

6 May

2025

SL Speech

A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world (debate)

Watch

Mr President. The European Union is facing challenges that require courageous and solidarity-based answers and decisions. When designing the next multi-annual budget, we must therefore put people first and foremost at the heart of our policies. We Social Democrats are committed to a budget that promotes social justice, sustainable development and equality. Enough with the duplicity and blackmail a…

3 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026 – Section I – European Parliament (A10-0048/2025 - Matjaž Nemec) (vote)

Watch

Madam President, dear colleagues, we are about to vote for the estimates for the 2026 budget of the Parliament. The text in front of you was approved in the Budget Committee and confirms the agreement reached in conciliation. It is very important that this agreement and the resolution are secured. The basis for the next year's budget ensures a well-functioning parliament with a focus on its core b…

2 Apr

2025

SL Speech

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (debate)

Watch

Madam President! The debates in the European Parliament on the Hungarian Government and its destructive, anti-European action are taking place one after the other. The arbitrary attitude of Orban and his warriors persistently violates European values of international law and oppresses the right of his own nation. I therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms the ban on the Pride Parade in Hu…