Speeches

Mr President. Since the first of November last year, Serbia is no longer the same country. Serbian students carry a flame that not only illuminated the streets of Belgrade, but also awakened the spirit of democracy across Europe and reminded us of what standing up for justice and the future means. Hope exists in the streets, in the classrooms, in the courage of students who insist and demand justice, transparency and a future based on democratic values. When President von der Leyen openly hugs Mr Vučić and the EPP closes its eyes, we are sending the wrong message that our interests are more important than the democratic will of its people. Regardless of who is in power, we want Serbia in the European Union as a democratic and prosperous country. Because of her young people, who deserve their opportunity and freedom. The future of Serbia is European and this future must be based on democracy and not on fear. Dear students and citizens of Serbia, we hear you, we stand with you and I must tell you clearly: You are not alone!

Mr President. 50 days have passed since Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamglu was detained. It has been seven and a half years since Osman Kavala, a human rights defender and philanthropist, was imprisoned. 1,200 journalists are behind bars. This is Erdogan's Turkey. We need to make it clear: President Erdogan’s relentless crackdown on the opposition, independent media and the judiciary is not only an internal matter for Turkey, it is a direct challenge to the democratic values we claim to uphold. Silence is not neutrality, but complicity. Europe must speak with one voice. We need a strong, principled response, not just with words, but with concrete support for civil society, imprisoned journalists and courageous individuals who still hope to believe in a democratic Turkey. This is not a fight between East and West. It is a question of justice against evil. Let us be clear, the people of Turkey are not enemies. Our message is for them – we hear you, we support you and we will not turn away.

Madam President! How long will we watch peacefully the genocide that is taking place in Gaza? How long will Europe, proud of its named values, remain silent as we massacre men, women and children? Just yesterday, fifteen international health workers were killed, people who dedicated their lives to saving others. They weren't warriors. These were nurses, doctors and humanitarian workers who were insidiously murdered. What has Europe done? Nothing, just empty words. This same Europe that promised - never again, now watches hospitals turn into ruins and how hunger is used as a weapon. This is totally unacceptable. We demand action, real action, immediate cessation of weapons, the imposition of sanctions. And we have to bring war criminals to justice. Because if Europe continues to do nothing, we will only remember it as an accomplice in mass murders. History is watching us, the world is watching us, and we cannot and should not be silent.

Madam President! Turkey is at a crucial moment. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have stood up for Ekrem Imamglu's right to run for President of Turkey. But this story is not a Turkish problem, it is primarily ours. To fight for the freedom that unites us as Europeans, the history of Europe is not just an abstract concept. It is a free choice that shapes our societies and lives. There's a lot at stake. Europe cannot trade with Turkish democracy and the future of millions of young people because of its defence, migration or energy needs. Instead, we must send a clear message to Erdoğan. This is unacceptable and we will not allow it. We demand freedom for Ekrem Imamglu, for Osman Kavala and for thousands of journalists, teachers and mayors - immediately. Europe must put an end to established practices and vigorously stand up for the values it claims to promote before it is too late.

Mr. President! Dear Sir/Madam, The real danger to the future of the European Union lies within it. Individual regions are several times more developed than others, and there is a growing belief in first- and second-class Europeans. The principle of reciprocity, where those with more help those with less, is embedded in cohesion policy. Therefore, thinking of devoting these funds to defence instead of regional development means that the less developed will pay for the security of the much more developed. That's intolerable. Today, the procedures are too complicated. In other words, if players start playing football on the field, they have to play basketball in the second half and finally water polo. This is how the rules in the area of cohesion policy change. Instead of uncertainty, we need predictability. Instead of mistrust, trust, and above all, we must give a voice to those who face challenges every day, who are people. This is the Europe we all deserve.

Mr. President! Dear Sir/Madam, Turkey is a strategically important partner for Europe, but this partnership must be based on common values: democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Instead, the Turkish government ousted democratically elected mayors from the opposition or the Kurdish minority. Let me be clear: The fight against terrorism is a legitimate and urgent task for any government, but it must not be used as an excuse to suppress the political opposition, silence elected representatives and undermine local democracy. The European Union cannot remain silent when fundamental democratic principles are broken. He must send a clear message. The European Union stands firmly behind the democratic rights of the Turkish people. Our support is not for one side or the other. It is about supporting democracy as such. The Turkish authorities must immediately stop their politically motivated arrests. The European Union has the tools at its disposal and it is time to make effective use of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

Madam President! Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! The European Union is founded on democracy, the rule of law and human rights. And for these, today, young people in Serbia are fighting bravely and dignifiedly. They took to the streets to draw attention to systemic corruption and the denial of accountability of the authorities. Their voice is clear: They want a country that respects European values. They just have to be an example to us. The tragedy in Novi Sad has shaken Serbian society, but it would have been a real tragedy if Europe had remained silent. Therefore, today is not a time for silence, but for a clear call to the Serbian authorities for reforms and respect for the fundamental values of democracy. The Serbian people and Serbia as a country deserve a European future. The EU will do its utmost to make this happen. However, the actions of the current Serbian authorities are lacking. They must take responsibility for the current situation. It is state-building that puts the welfare of the nation before its own interests and those of political parties. Now is the time for the Serbian authorities to do so.

Madam President. On November 1st this year, a terrible tragedy occurred in Novi Sad with the demolition of a concrete canopy at the railway station, where 15 people lost their lives. This event provoked mass protests across Serbia. Students, professors, citizens and journalists stand up to seek justice and hold those responsible to account. Following mass arrests of activists, Amnesty International reported earlier this week that authorities had been spying on civilians and wiretapping them using Pegasus. I condemn in the strongest terms digital espionage and surveillance of citizens and demand an immediate investigation against those responsible. As a candidate for EU accession, Serbia must align democratic values and the rule of law with us and immediately stop the illegal use of software. Once again, I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and my sympathy to all affected citizens of Serbia.

OK, I will say it in English. It was an accident that happened in Serbia on 1 November this year, at 11:52. Fifteen people died. Two more were heavily injured. In the meantime, there were mass protests running over the country. Instead of listening to what is happening in the streets, the authorities employed Pegasus and other software to hear what are the protesters talking about. So this is clear interference of the authorities in the freedom of speech. So this is important to tackle.

Mr President! Dear Sir/Madam, As a first-hand university professor, I know how crucial university education is for the advancement of Europe. Our universities are the foundation of knowledge, innovation and critical thinking and the building block of Europe as we know it today. But it is precisely this openness that makes us vulnerable at the same time. We are threatened by foreign intrusions and espionage by actors from third countries. They take advantage of research programmes, academic exchanges and partnerships and often target sensitive areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and defence science. Their goal is not to steal knowledge, but to undermine our ideas and progress. Universities therefore need to be given tools and trained to detect and prevent such interventions. It is therefore essential to strengthen the cooperation and integration of universities and therefore to provide them with resources. It is not just about protecting our universities, it is about defending European values.

Dear President! Dear colleagues! The rise in energy prices is not just an economic issue. This is a challenge that encroaches on the very essence of social justice and sustainability. That is why we need to act decisively. Today, millions of Europeans face energy poverty and a cruel choice between heating their homes and surviving. In the short term, we need immediate support for vulnerable households through targeted subsidies. These will provide relief, while focusing on a long-term solution, speeding up the transition to renewables. These are not only cleaner and safer, they are key to stabilising and lowering energy prices and dispersed ownership. By ending our dependence on fossil fuels and investing in common energy projects, we can ensure affordable energy for all. The sun is everyone's. With the support of our citizens today, and by installing solar panels on roofs and switching to renewable energy sources, we can protect first and foremost our people, but also the planet.

Madam Commissioner, thank you very much for your work. My question goes from the bottom‑up approach, and this is being a mayor for 14 years – there was ongoing debate how to integrate more local and regional authorities in the design of a new cohesion policy, because at the end of the day, it is really difficult to use the funds properly and rationality to the people on the ground. So what will be your recommendations maybe for the future? How can we more integrate the local and regional authorities that make everything easier – and also make more foreseen – for those who are working at the bottom of this? And the second question is: of course, the cohesion policy always is understood as a pool of resources that could be shifted to something else. For example, we will be voting on Restore just another day, and, of course, we are still in danger that this money being allocated to the other position. Of course, nobody is discussing whether or not this is appropriate, but at the end of the day, we know why we have the cohesion policy. So what will be your recommendation to keep this money also available for us, in the European Union, to diminish the differences between the regions that are still big? For example, the difference is almost 500 % between really well‑developed regions and less‑developed regions.

Mr President! Dear colleagues! What would you like to see European cities in 2030? Will they still be at the top of the list of the most desirable places to stay in the world? To maintain this, we need to ensure sustainable transport, affordable public services, public education and health, and a solution to the housing problem. This is a key challenge for our generation and this mandate. And to achieve this, we need to listen to our mayors, who are in direct contact with citizens and know their needs best. As a former mayor of Kočevje, I was convinced that social and green programmes should be implemented at the core of democracy, that is, in local communities. This is also why we need to give cities more direct access to European funds, and right away. National governments cannot decide everything. Local communities must have a voice. Only in this way will Europe remain a world leader in sustainable development and quality of life.

Madam President, colleagues, the pressure on journalists, the opposition, civil society and critical voices in Türkiye is escalating. The charges against prominent journalist Bülent Mumay is another case how to silence critical journalism. This sentence is sends a clear signal to all those brave, independent journalists who report on matters of public interest, namely the AKP's corruption and clientelism. Mumay's case is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment and censorship targeting Türkiye's independent media. Dear friends in Türkiye, you are heard and not forgotten. People in Türkiye need international attention to protect their fundamental rights and freedoms. We cannot trade Turkish democracy, freedom and rule of law for some economic or migration interests. Europe needs to stand by its values within the Union as well as in its immediate neighbourhood. Freedom for all those who fight for democracy in Türkiye!

Dear President! Dear colleagues. Floods in Slovenia and throughout Central Europe, drought in Spain, fires in Greece. What kind of planet are we leaving to our children? The challenges we face today, from climate-induced disasters to the housing crisis and deepening inequalities, are felt most at local level. However, we need more than just a local response. We need coordinated multilateral action under the leadership of the United Nations. Now. The world of the future must be built from the bottom up. The local community, that is to say those affected by climate change, and above all our young people, must be involved in shaping global policies. With the new pact for the future, we have the tools. Now we need political will. Despite the differences and challenges we face, we need to work together, because it must be Europe that leads the way forward.