Speeches

Madam President! Montenegro, which until recently was considered the leading country in the Western Balkans, in its accession to the European Union, is experiencing a deep political and institutional crisis. High political tensions and polarisation over the years are slowly but continuously weakening the Montenegrin engine that is driving the country on the path of progress on key reforms. In addition, it has to be acknowledged that the country has become a polygon for the indiscriminate expression of external interests and is fighting the influence of other countries in the region and beyond, which has further pushed Montenegro into stagnation in the implementation of key reforms. And that's unacceptable. Regardless of the current situation, I am optimistic. I am optimistic about the citizens of Montenegro, who are still very much in favour of membership of the European Union. Optimism gives me all 33 open chapters and, last but not least, a political turnaround in the summer elections. Now Montenegro needs a stable pro-European government and an EU-oriented majority as soon as possible. We in the European Union need a constructive partner to make progress together on the country's path towards the European Union.

Madam President! Dear Commissioner, Honourable Colleagues. Thanks for the encouraging words and all the comments. The debate has shown how important the topic we are talking about today. With the final step in the European Parliament, tomorrow with the vote, we are completing the project of digitalising European visas. Ministers in the Council will then have to vote on the agreement. Finally, let me address the issue of humanitarian visas, which has been mentioned several times today. This was certainly the hardest walnut in the negotiations. The European Parliament has repeatedly made it clear that the European Union should adopt a framework that provides a safe and legal way to access the European asylum system. We are aware that this step could save many lives in an instant. At present, there is a lack of political will in Europe. However, we in the European Parliament are overwhelmingly convinced that this is the direction in which European visa policy should move. Many tragic events in the Mediterranean are all too often a painful reminder of how smugglers, especially on the shoulders of human life, exploit the hardships of people in exchange for a greasy income. Because in times of great human hardship, we do not need more walls, but more solidarity, more humanity, more dignity and more tolerance, esteemed. So, the future of European visa policy is digital, greener, safer, more user-friendly and more harmonised. We have achieved a good result that European citizens can also be proud of. I believe that I can count on broad support in the vote tomorrow. Thank you to all actors. Dear Commissioner, thank you very much too. Good luck and goodbye!

Mr. President! Dear Commissioner, Honourable Presidency, Colleagues. Today is the end of a positive story. And in these difficult times for the world and for humanity, such stories are especially welcome. Since the Commission proposal, we have been able to negotiate an agreement with the Swedish Presidency in just over a year. Both in terms of content and speed, I think we've done a great job. Digitalisation represents a unique advance and is key to achieving the Union’s green transition. I therefore very much welcome the Commission's project to reform visa policy. In terms of digitalisation, Europe is lagging behind the rest of the world. With this agreement, the European Union is closing a huge gap with countries such as Australia or New Zealand, which have already fully digitalised their visas. The processing of visa applications in the EU is already partly digitalised. Schengen visa applications and decisions are already recorded electronically in the Visa Information System today, but two important steps still exist only in paper form. First, the application for a visa and, second, the visa sticker itself in the passport. The entire process will be digitalised: the individual will apply for a visa via a single online platform. The visa will then be issued to the applicant in a digital format, which he/she will be able to download on his/her smartphone. The new EU e-visa procedure will be much simpler and cheaper for the applicant. In most cases, only one visit to the consulate or visa centre will be required. The validity of the visa will no longer be linked to the validity of the passport. The applicant will be able to easily extend a valid visa in a new passport. This is an extremely important and welcome change, especially for frequent travellers holding longer visas. Digitalisation will also greatly reduce the risk of abuse, making the new procedure safer for Member States. The procedure for processing applications will also be much more harmonised between Member States. Today, honourable people, there is a great fragmentation of national practices in the management of the visa procedure, which has a negative impact on the functioning of the visa policy of the European Union as a whole. While Member States remain solely responsible for examining applications and taking decisions on visas, this gap will now be significantly reduced. The new single entry point also represents a new important building block of a common European identity vis-à-vis the rest of the world, and this is important, respected. Instead of applying for a Belgian or German or Slovenian visa, the institution will apply for an EU visa on the EU platform website. The new system will have both positive effects on the visibility and perception of the European Union in the world as a single geographical entity. Thanks to the European Parliament, we have also managed to incorporate into the new system an extremely important safeguard regarding digital and linguistic accessibility to the platform, including for people with disabilities. With a completely new article, we have also significantly strengthened the provisions regarding the protection of personal data. An important point of divergence between negotiators was the issue of collecting data on the applicant's IP address. As internet access is still severely restricted in some countries or areas, it was necessary to ensure that the alarmed IP address did not automatically lead to the exclusion of the visa application. In the negotiations, we have managed, honourably, to maintain the level of the visa fee, despite the great pressure to increase it, which we consider to be an important symbolic victory for travellers. A novelty of this project will also be the help of information technology, since the platform will include a function of chatbot. This project sets a unique digital frontier, which is also confirmed by the fact that for the first time in the European Parliament we will define the concept of the acquis in this regulation. chatbot. Digitalisation and the European e-visa therefore represent a bright future for EU visa policy. I look forward to today's debate. Thank you for your trust.

Mr President-in-Office! Dear friends, dear friends, dear friends! Egypt has been moving far away from democracy in recent years, and we must not turn a blind eye to the serious violations of human rights and the demolition of democratic standards by President al-Sisi. Instead of focusing on the difficult economic and social situation of the people and on rising inflation and public debt, the president prefers to deal with political opponents. Like many self-righteous people, the president wants to silence the media, subjugate the judiciary, eliminate political opponents and suppress all criticism. For the sake of ‘progress’, as he himself argued, or perhaps the consolidation of power, the President is ready to starve and intimidate his people. The trampling of many critical voices is an alarming sign of democratic backsliding in Egypt. Such a voice represents a prominent Egyptian fighter for media freedom, Housem Kasem, who was convicted without a fair trial. He was imprisoned and silenced due to critical thinking on the social network. The president thus got rid of the opposition candidate before the upcoming elections. Dear High Council! History repeats itself, as it did before the 2018 elections. Our voice must be the voice of those who have no opportunity to speak and the voice of those who fight for freedom and justice. So my message is clear: We call for the immediate release of Housem Kasem and other political opponents of the Al-Sisi regime who have been arbitrarily detained. Violations of human rights and democratic principles are unacceptable. The pluralism of political opinions, freedom of expression and the media are fundamental to a healthy democracy. He should return to Egypt as soon as possible.

Madam President, Honourable Commissioner Schmit, Honourable High Assembly! The European Union is facing a housing crisis. The gap between income and housing costs, not least the cost of living, has been widening for decades. This gap has been exacerbated by inflation, rising interest rates and rising demand. Data show that over the last decade, the average rent for a dwelling in the Union has increased by as much as 19 % and the purchase of a new dwelling by 50 %. Against the cruelty of capitalism and the market, people must be adequately protected by the state, rent regulation and containment, limiting the cost of credit, including, and crucially, a public system of building and renting non-profit housing. This is a taboo subject in many countries. In Slovenia, for example, after 30 years of political stagnation in this area, we are moving things in the right direction. Demand for social and accessible housing is growing sharply in the EU, including in Slovenia. Progressive housing policy must be given a strong European framework with a new mandate and the Union must ensure a structural approach to tackling this crisis. Dear Sir/Madam, We all in this Chamber have a great responsibility to make housing a basic human right and not a property.

Mr President, Honourable High Council! The number of migrants arriving on European soil is increasing again. We are also recording more border arrivals in my Slovenia. But the situation is serious, respected, in the Mediterranean, in Lampedusa, as well as in the Canary Islands. Just yesterday we marked the tenth anniversary of one of the greatest shipwrecks and tragedies of this kind on our soil. In front of the fortress of Europe, the Mediterranean became the largest mass grave of refugees. Thousands of people lose their lives in it every year. We know why. And we know what to do. We must adopt the reform of the asylum system. We must adopt a comprehensive reform based on solidarity, respect, justice. We have done our job in the European Parliament. However, a key building block of the system now needs to be supported by the Member States. We need to act now and now. Europe must not remain paralysed on the issue of migration, because on the shoulders of human lives, respected, only smugglers and the extreme right in Europe benefit. We urgently need to adopt the whole package before the European elections. We just can't afford another failed attempt.

Mr President, honourable high selection, honourable Commissioner Lenarčič. The fact is that relations between Serbia and Kosovo have been extremely tense for years. In the past, however, there have been some minor moves towards dialogue, still quite far from a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on the normalisation of relations between the two countries. Nowadays, perhaps for the longest time ever. Events from less than ten days ago in Banjska have shaken the already fragile ties between the two countries. I strongly condemn any violence and call on all those responsible to conduct a thorough, credible and objective investigation. All involved must be properly convicted and take full responsibility for the inadmissible incident. All the efforts of the rulers must go in the direction that this never happens again. I call on President Vučić and Prime Minister Kurti to return to the EU negotiating table, starting with the resumption of independent and free elections in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo. Retreats from it bring simply too many risks, and we must not and will not allow the EU to do so.

Mr President. The situation in Tunisia is still very difficult. We have been calling attention to the disintegration of democracy for many years. We also draw attention to the prosecution of journalists, critics, judges, trade unionists and civil society and, of course, we demand their release. People find themselves in a very difficult social and economic situation. Many people find it increasingly difficult to afford food due to high prices. But instead of addressing people's problems, President Saied continues to demolish democracy and institutions. The President's political project relates exclusively to the search for enemies. He blames the disastrous economic situation with hate speech on refugees, asylum seekers and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking their way to Europe via Tunisia. At the same time, it is totally unacceptable that the Union wants to financially reward and thus legitimise an increasingly autocratic regime. In this context, I call on the Tunisian authorities to respect their commitment to international law and human rights without delay. I call for the agreement between Tunisia and the Union to be frozen and for funding and support for the Tunisian security forces for border control to be suspended until the human rights criteria are met.

Mr President. It didn't hurt this summer either. The catastrophes in Europe followed each other. Climate change is already here and is taking its toll every day. Slovenia has been affected by terrible centuries of flooding. More than two-thirds of Slovenia's territory has been affected by the worst natural disaster to date. Six people lost their lives. The damage could reach €7 billion. On behalf of all Slovenians, I would like to thank you for the swift response of many EU countries. We have a lot of hope for the incredible solidarity shown by the citizens, so a big thank you goes above all to the volunteers on the ground. Last year we fought together with fires in the Karst. Last year, I addressed an initiative to the Commission on the establishment of an EU-wide mechanism for the management and restoration of burnt areas and the permanent installation of firefighting aircraft in Slovenia. Nature should not be underestimated, but the biggest challenges of rehabilitation and restoration are yet to come. Therefore, my appeal to all the institutions of the European Union: European funds will be key to reconstruction. So, let's support the reconstruction funding. Good luck!

Dear Sir/Madam, At the beginning of your address, allow me to convey a message of sympathy to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 28 years ago, more than 8,000 lives were violently taken away. The tragedy of Srebrenica is not only yours, it is also ours. It is a tragedy of humanity that calls for responsibility – never again. So, Honourable High Council, Honourable Commissioner Varhelyi. Some progress has been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina since last year's granting of candidate status, but the most controversial reforms regarding constitutional and electoral changes and the rule of law remain unresolved. It is difficult to lead the country in the direction of democratization, reconciliation and peace, when political leaders consciously act in favor of destabilization and polarization of society. The decisions of the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and other high-ranking officials constitute a serious threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and must be strongly condemned. I also condemn the adoption of decisions that undermine the constitutional foundations and represent a dramatic departure from the Dayton Peace Agreement. It is time to point the finger at the injustices and take the necessary measures. Peace and stability are not self-evident in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their preservation is our first priority.

Dear High Council! Palestine has been plagued by severe violence for decades. Gaza is still the largest open-air prison. The third generation of Palestinians does not know peace. In recent days, we have again witnessed one of the largest Israeli military operations in the West Bank, where 12 people were killed. Any violence and any expansion of illegal settlements further threatens the establishment of a Palestinian state. What's more, the far-right Israeli government no longer hides that the occupation of the West Bank is actually an annexation. The world and Europe must wake up, honourable One, war crimes are taking place in Palestine. Israel's actions grossly violate all international treaties and law. I therefore strongly support my colleague Evin's report, which comes at the right time and addresses key challenges. First, stop the occupation, second, sanctions for violators, third, for Palestinian independence, and fourth, for the peace and coexistence of two equal nations.

Mr President, honourable High Council, dear colleagues. In the European Parliament, we stand firmly on the side of media freedom. We will always stand firm for the right to freedom of expression. These are fundamental European values for which, unfortunately, journalists in Europe have already paid their lives. So I stand on the side of freedom, no matter where it is threatened or restricted – whether inside or outside the European Union. We pay particular attention to cases where journalists or media critical of the authorities are targeted. Algeria has made progress in recent years in the media freedom index. But in the European Parliament, we will always draw attention to imprisoned journalists. Algeria remains a strategic partner for Europe and the European Union, and we sometimes have to pour clean wine on our friends. I therefore join the call for respect for freedom of expression and of the media and against the prosecution of journalists, trade unionists and political activists. Thank you very much.

Madam President. Dear High Council, it is a great honour to stand before you again today on such an important subject. It is an honour for me to stand here today at such a historic turning point, when the Union stands against the victims of gender-based violence, when the European Parliament stands in defence of women. Today we confirm the historic decision – the accession of the European Union to the Istanbul Convention. Dear colleagues, it is not necessary to embellish the state of modern society, which is badly inflicted by violence wherever we look. We all deserve a sense of security, regardless of gender, regardless of where we come from and regardless of what kind of circumstances we have. But when we have before us horrific data about violence in every third woman or girl in the world, it's not time to question, it's time to take immediate action. It is unacceptable to politicise the issue of violence against women. There are still six Member States in the EU that have not yet ratified the Convention, despite terrible data on victims of violence. Waiting for consent is enough. Therefore, honourable, I strongly support the Court's view that a qualified majority is sufficient to reach a decision. Because we have to and because we can do it. Thank you for all the good and thank you for Europe Day. Living Europe and its decisions!

Mr President-in-Office! The Mediterranean Sea is becoming the largest mass grave. This year's first quarter was the deadliest since 2017. The situation in North Africa is extremely tense, especially in the Maghreb countries. Many of the world's hotspots and food gems are further exacerbating people's plight. Saving lives at sea is a fundamental obligation of international law. Any delay or obstruction of rescue operations is a crime against humanity. Italy is under pressure. And Europe must help her. But Minister Salvini's threats to control the border with Slovenia are populism and a dangerous distraction from real problems. It is also an incitement to intolerance. Minister Salvini, Slovenia is not a problem, and the figures show this. But it can be part of the European solution as much as it can. These are solidarity, immediate reform of the asylum system, rapid rescue operations. Above all, tolerance, respect and courage.

Mr President, my message today goes first to the good people of Tunisia. The European Parliament is with you. The situation in the country is extremely worrying. President Saied has been self-ruling since 2021 and has dismissed practically all levels of government. People have lost their trust in the institutions. The extremely low turnout of the recent elections is a symptom of that. Crackdown on civil society, the arrest and detentions of trade unions’ representatives, journalists, judges, lawyers and political activists paint a grim picture of Tunisia’s democracy. In the S&D Group, we urgently demand the authorities to reverse course and return to democracy before it’s too late. We condemn the expulsion of the European Trade Union chief Esther Lynch. And we demand the respect of workers’ rights. We need to act now. People of Tunisia are losing hope of their country. Europe stands with you.

Actually in Slovenian it was quite concise. What could the EEAS do in the next future to push forward the ambitions of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the European path?

Mr President, honourable High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy! My question will relate to Bosnia and Herzegovina's remarkable progress towards the European Union. The status of Bosnia and Herzegovina today can be equated with that of Ukraine, thanks to you, to personal credit, to this European Parliament, and also to my country, the Republic of Slovenia, which has invested a lot of energy and effort in recent months to finally give this country a European perspective after ten years of stalemate. As I would expect from you, Commissioner Várhelyi – his role is unknown to me and unknown in this case. But no matter what, I would also particularly like to commend the Bosnian authorities for the progress they have made since the elections to date. This is a remarkable development, comparable to that of all the most developed European countries. Allow me a question, Commissioner, High Representative. What is the path of Bosnia and Herzegovina in your eyes? What will your service do in the coming months to further accelerate its progress towards the European Union?

Mr. President! The energy crisis and the costly situation we are facing in Slovenia has greatly accelerated social hardship and inequality. The terrible consequences are reflected in increased social exclusion. As many as 95 million Europeans were at risk of poverty in 2021. These numbers increased last year. This means that as many as one-fifth of our citizens struggle to make it through the month. This information must make all doubters aware that strong policies for social inclusion are needed here and now. It is imperative that all Member States take measures to help active inclusion, that is, to help people first and foremost to live in dignity. We demonstrated this determination last autumn by adopting a legal minimum wage package. We expect that determination tomorrow. Let us not leave our good intentions only on paper, so ‘yes’ to Parliament’s resolution, even more ‘yes’ to concrete measures, to social inclusion across the European Union.

Mr. President! Dear, good evening. As my predecessor has already said, democracy has been under great pressure in Tunisia for more than a decade. The recent elections have not strengthened confidence in democracy and institutions, but have further shaken it. We in the Socialists and Democrats Group are very concerned about the extremely low turnout and also about the extremely low representation of women in elections. All this reflects people's enormous distrust of the president and his reforms. And these elections, respected, are a clear symptom of the dangerous drift of the country into dark times. We are witnessing a regression of democracy. Arrests of judges, trade union leaders, opposition representatives. This further undermines the faith and trust of the Tunisian people in the representatives of the authorities and in politics. The biggest cost of this crisis is paid by the people. Many, as has already been said, are already leaving the country. Without serious changes, we will witness the loss of entire generations of people. Without the necessary economic and political reforms, the country cannot obtain the necessary new loans from the International Monetary Fund. We therefore call on President Said to change course and bring the country back to democracy, to ensure full representation of all citizens and to ensure the functioning of the institutions. We also call on the Member States and the Commission to closely monitor the situation in the southern Mediterranean, so that the European Union enters into a dialogue with the authorities and offers assistance to the people.

Thank you very much for the word. Dear Commissioner! You are aware of the efforts of MEPs to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership of the European Union. I myself was one of the most exposed MEPs in this process. In its latest enlargement package, the European Commission announced the launch of a high-level political forum with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the agreement of the Member States. How and when could such a meeting be held? It is well known that my country, the Republic of Slovenia, has offered itself as the organiser of such an event. The Republic of Slovenia has put a lot of emphasis on granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. And do you think it makes sense to organise such a meeting together with the Member States, as agreed? Thank you very much.

Dear Sir/Madam, The earthquake in Turkey and Syria has turned into a disaster of the century. The area affected is so large that it could extend from Amsterdam to Paris. It really is about human hardship. Rapid assistance, which also reaches those affected quickly, is therefore crucial. For many, this is the line between life and death. The rapid reaction of all Member States and, of course, the European Civil Protection Mechanism should be commended here. My country, Slovenia, has also reacted. Thank you very much to all rescuers. I would also like to thank Commissioner Lenarčič for his efforts and coordination. The European Civil Protection System is key to responding quickly to crises that have been overwhelmed recently. From COVID-pandemic to historic fires, floods, the Ukrainian war and the last earthquake. However, the need for assistance far exceeds the capacity. That is why, at this point, my strong call for an increase in funding for civil protection. We therefore need to make use of the review process of the Multiannual Financial Framework. Solidarity is a key value on which Europe has been born and on which it can fall. Let's help because it's easy, because it's easy for me, and because it's right. Thank you very much.

Mr President. Dear Sir/Madam, In its desire for aggressive global expansion, Uber has far surpassed established lobbying practices. The method is supposed to involve contempt for the law, deception of the police. Uber also allegedly exploited violence against drivers and secretly lobbied governments. Employees should be aware that their business model is illegal in many countries. The hunters of the company also reached my country, the Republic of Slovenia. The legal basis for the operation of Ubra was proposed by the previous government. What is more, it is difficult to lose the sense of non-transparency, since her Minister for Digitalisation even acted as a lobbyist for Uber before taking office. Let me be clear. Such covert and controversial methods of trying to influence decision-makers are an attack on democracy! It is about acting like the Wild West, where there are no rules and where exploitation, manipulation and corruption flourish. We must act decisively. We need to tighten the rules on transparency and demand full openness, and we need to punish and expose offenders. Such practices, honourable ones, must be resolutely resisted.

Madam President! Dear High Council! Media freedom in Europe and beyond is increasingly under threat and poses a direct threat to our democracy. The media landscape in the Union is under increasing pressure due to politically oriented public funding, revenue-decreasing digitalisation and foreign interference attempts. Among other things, the European Union is not a safe zone for journalists and researchers. He carries on his shoulders numerous intimidations, threats against journalists and, of course, murders. Let us remember, for example, the silence of journalists from Malta, Slovakia, Greece and even the Netherlands. That's intolerable. This is why we need legislation that protects journalists and guarantees media independence and, of course, pluralism. I therefore welcome the Commission's latest proposal. Commissioner Jourová stressed that this was also encouraged by developments in my country, Slovenia. In my country, media freedom was severely damaged under the previous government. Financial exhaustion has been experienced by the Slovenian Press Agency STA, and public RTV continues to suffer from political abduction to this day. But we did, and we will resist. Without politics in public broadcasting, for more media freedom, for the independence and safety of journalists and, of course, for a healthy democracy. Thank you very much.

Madam President-in-Office, honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Robert Golob, honourable fellow citizen, welcome to Strasbourg, welcome to the European Parliament and welcome among us. It's nice to hear the Spanish voice here. Thank you for your great commitment to granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as possible. I believe that the efforts of Slovenian politics in this direction are crucial, including those of the President of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and us in the European Parliament. At the initiative of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsolo, we, the Members of the European Parliament, addressed a letter to the President of the European Parliament already in June of the month calling for the European Parliament to also advocate for granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. They expect you to create an environment that is a space for freedom of the media and thought. And for a region where the European Union promised a European perspective almost twenty years ago in Thessaloniki, but where we are still a long way from a new enlargement. There are strong ties not only between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also with the other countries of the Western Balkans. Slovenia is and remains an ally to the countries of the region – no conditionality, no insidious games, no harmful interests. Today, two days before the December meeting, when the country also has the green light from the Commission, I call on European leaders to turn the green light on at the European Council. Let a clear voice be heard – the European Union is de facto living up to its mission of a united and cohesive Europe, of which the Western Balkans region must become an equal partner. In view of the present time and the horrific war in Europe, this is an extremely important, if not decisive, step for the entire Western Balkans region, a region that often has the impetus and strength to move closer to the European Union. Which country is the hardest nut, and is there still room for compromise, and what message do you want the EU to send ... to the countries in the region?