What Niels spoke about.

28 Apr

2026

DE Speech

Interim report on the proposal for the multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034 (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Special thanks also to MEPs Tavares and Mureşan for their close cooperation in recent months. At a time of escalating geopolitical situations, the EU must remain and be a credible and reliable global partner. This requires secure funding and genuine partnerships. About $200 billion for Global Europe and a further 500 for the External Action Guarantee provide a g…

12 Feb

2026

DE Speech

Time to address economic inequalities in the EU and worldwide (debate)

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11 Feb

2026

DE Speech

Developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy (debate)

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Madam President, 20 million children, 93 million people in the EU are directly affected by poverty. One in four children will feel the associated disadvantages for a lifetime. As a family politician, I say very clearly: This is a disgrace for Europe if we do not take an active part in tackling this maladministration. I have been thinking about this report for a long time. Similarly, my group and, …

22 Jan

2026

DE Speech

A new action plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Executive Vice-President Mînzatu! A social Europe decides on the situation of families. And this situation is serious. Almost one in four children in the European Union is at risk of poverty and/or social exclusion. Single parents, multi-child families and low-income households are particularly affected. This means: In the European Union, social inequality for millions of ch…

12 Mar

2025

DE Speech

Social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner! Our companies are more demanding than ever and so, dear colleagues, especially us. We must always develop the best possible solutions in dialogue with each other in order to cope with the upheavals of the times as socially acceptable as possible. We must not burden our companies unnecessarily from Brussels. In particular, reliable legal frameworks are needed to creat…

23 Jan

2025

DE Speech

Cryptocurrencies - need for global standards (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner! The original idea of cryptocurrencies to build a global and decentralized financial system already had its appeal and was slightly intriguing, but even Bitcoin is a giant mole pack today: 60 percent of all Bitcoins are stored by less than 18,000 addresses. Where is the decentralized idea? In the crypto market as a whole, there is also a Wild West mentality. The meme …

22 Jan

2025

DE Speech

Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner! Families, young parents and those who still want to become them face ever-increasing challenges – with their backs on the wall at the end of the day. Falling birth rates across Europe are an expression of how bad family policy has been in recent decades. Donald Tusk summoned a strong Europe this morning. But with confidence: Without strong families, this strong Europe c…

28 Nov

2024

DE Speech

Need to adopt an ambitious international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment

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Mr President, Commissioner! It didn't really matter what was decided in Korea. The main points of the debate are: Who's going to produce all this shit? Unfortunately, we Europeans are at the forefront of this. Thanks to globalized business models, we produce in the world under the lowest standards for our home market and thus actively outsource many environmental problems. We're green, and it make…

27 Nov

2024

DE Speech

Rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner! The global structural change of the energy market is still in full swing. Oil and gas are simply looking for new ways internationally, and companies and people in Europe in particular are therefore facing enormous challenges. Many have already fallen by the wayside. Deindustrialization is ubiquitous. Every week, even every day, new horror reports about corporate inso…

24 Oct

2024

DE Speech

Protecting our oceans: persistent threats to marine protected areas in the EU and benefits for coastal communities (debate)

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Madam President, The seas are the largest habitat on earth and more threatened than ever: Climate change, overfishing, including our own fishing fleets, pollution, nutrient and plastic inputs – and we are harming ourselves as a result. If you have integrated fish into your normal diet, at the end of two weeks you will just consume this plastic card microplastics, i.e. a credit card microplastics, …

23 Oct

2024

DE Speech

The important role of cities and regions in the EU – for a green, social and prosperous local development (debate)

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Mr President! A direct strengthening of cities and regions must have a very high priority for us European politicians. In addition to the parliamentary mandate, I am still rooted in local politics and continue to exercise my city council and district council mandate in my home country and can bring you closer to the concerns, fears and needs of local politics at first hand. It is really essential …

22 Oct

2024

DE Speech

State sponsored terrorism by the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the recent attacks in Europe (debate)

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Madam President, Terrorism at home, in Iran, and in the region has a name: The Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. A state in the state that acts brutally against its own population, demonstrably tortures and abuses. 2009, 2019, 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini: Thousands of arrests, tortures, countless deaths. In addition, regional terrorist activities – we have heard it several times today: …

22 Oct

2024

DE Speech

People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner! Autocratic states fear one thing above all else: Aspirations for freedom. Accordingly, they take action by all means against anyone who could disturb or endanger their own power base even in the first place. Taiwan represents the beginning of the end of the Chinese power apparatus. Taiwan is progress, embodies an alternative life model. I fear that we will see in our…

22 Oct

2024

DE Speech

Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner Schmit! Yesterday I took part in the debate on strengthening the single market to create a sustainable future and prosperity for all citizens in the EU. And one thing became clear, among other things: We also need socio-economic standards within the European Union in order to prevent distortions of competition on the one hand and, on the other hand, to make the prosperit…

10 Oct

2024

DE Speech

Consequences of the devastating forest fires in the Amazon and the importance of the Amazon for climate change (debate)

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Madam President, Man-made fires – out of sheer selfishness and, of course, economic enterprise. The protection of our forests means the protection of flora and fauna and thus also a diversified conservation of species. We Europeans have already sacrificed large areas for economic reasons. Real primeval forests are very difficult to find on our continent. I voted in favour of the Nature Restoration…

9 Oct

2024

DE Speech

Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes (debate)

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Mr President! Ownership – not predatory capitalism. In the end, however, we need one thing above all else: Tender. We must first make property possible through an increased offer. This means more space for construction, tax-free first purchases, state first loans with child supplements, lower construction standards – there is a great need in many national states – and the promotion of urban housin…

24 Apr

2024

DE Speech

Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner! Regional policy is the main pillar for the effective integration of our regions and forms the basis for improving the quality of life of millions of people in Europe. I myself was on a cohesion mission in Romania in March, at the invitation of Mr Buda, and I was able to see the positive effects of regional policy live on the ground. The progress is enormous and a succes…

24 Apr

2024

DE Speech

La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner Schmit! It is and can only be a small step for the future of Europe. People in Europe also need a social perspective. Especially families in Europe. Especially as a family party, we see families threatened and therefore want to see minimum social standards in the future, also or especially for our children, from free lunches in schools and daycare centers to an instituti…