Speeches

The foundation of the future can only be a safe and peaceful present. The European Union is a symbol of peace. It was created by the founding fathers to ensure that future generations would never experience the horrors of war. It is our duty to preserve this legacy. We must be ambassadors of peace on all platforms. We must do everything in our power to ensure peace and security in Europe. We need peace negotiations and dialogue as soon as possible, as the experience of recent years has shown that diplomacy is the key to ending conflicts and wars. In the future of Europe, respect for human rights must be a fundamental value, including the protection of our national minority rights. As a Transcarpathian representative of Hungarian origin, I consistently stand up for the linguistic human rights of national minorities. I am disappointed that the final document of the Summit "Pact for the Future" does not mention the protection of the rights of national minorities.

Dear Madam President, Batrad reads the Ukrainian inscription in Cyrillic and Latin on the nameplate of a Transcarpathian settlement. It's hard to tell from this, but we're in Bótrágy, which is mostly Hungarian-inhabited. As a Transcarpathian Hungarian, I know that the Hungarian inscription is disappearing from more and more Hungarian-populated settlements, because although the laws allow the local government to decide on multilingualism, the financing of the signs is not solved. Obsolete signs will be replaced by Ukrainian-language ones. Where there are Hungarian inscriptions, for example in Beregszász, they were able to fill the lack of resources with civil cooperation and tenders. In addition to the supportive legal environment, targeted resources are also required for the implementation of minority language use. The Copenhagen criteria require rights to be applied in practice, with a clear conditionality. In Ukraine, national minorities should be seen as an equal and respected part of society.

Dear Mr President, As a Transcarpathian Hungarian, I know exactly that hundreds of men and their families living in Ukraine are anxious about whether they are taking him to the front unjustly today. No wonder, as they see that a person with heart disease is forcibly recruited and dies during training, that university students are detained with a valid postponement, that men are taken from the streets, from bicycles, pushed into cars and buses. As long as people in Ukraine die as a result of forced recruitment and disregard for human rights, progress in the EU accession process is unacceptable. Their deaths are not accidental tragedy, but the unlawful practice of Ukrainian recruitment agencies. This is the result of the Ukrainian state's permissive attitude and the European Commission's inaction. War is a tragedy, but it cannot be an excuse for Ukraine to set aside its fundamental legal and moral obligations. The European Union is not only abandoning people with this policy, it is also threatening its own credibility.

I strongly reject the fact that the Hungarian government has abandoned its fellow Hungarians living in any foreign region. I think that our political community has put a lot of deeds on the table over the last twenty years instead of words, and what my fellow Member says is also not true in the case of the Beneš decrees. The government has indicated its reservation, discusses this issue and provides legal aid to those who are being punished for it.

Dear Madam President, It's a comedy again. The People's Party believes that it is placing the issue of the deprivation of rights of the Hungarian community in Slovakia on the agenda of the European Parliament. But, as the title of the debate suggested, and as most of the speeches that have been made so far have shown, that is not what this debate is about. Is this how the People's Party, including the Tisza Party, would stand up for the protection of national minorities? There's nothing new under the sun. The indifference of the European Parliament's left-liberal mainstream has been felt many times, most recently in the report on human rights and democracy, when none of our amendments protecting national minorities were adopted. Not even the one we quoted from the Treaty on European Union, resulting in an exclusionary human rights document that completely disregards the protection of traditional national and linguistic minorities. It's a shame. As a Transcarpathian Hungarian, I know exactly what it is like to live as a minority, and unfortunately, I also know very well what exclusion and discrimination based on nationality mean. I therefore strongly condemn any legal or political instrument that entails the principle of collective guilt, discrimination on grounds of nationality or restrictions on freedom of expression. This is also the case in Ukraine, where there are daily violations of minority rights and serious human rights violations. This is not addressed by the EU institutions either. Officials Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos confirmed this in their statements. There are also human sacrifices. Brussels is guided only by its geopolitical goals, and human fates and tragedies leave it cold if they are not politically useful.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I sincerely regret that the European Parliament's human rights reports are drifting away from real EU values every year. This report is another document driven by geopolitical interests and applying double standards. You have deliberately, on the basis of a political decision, refused to include the protection of traditional national and linguistic minorities in the text, in addition to ethnic minorities. With such decisions, they make communities invisible, ignoring their problems and the violations committed against them. They are being abandoned, as they do with the national minorities living in Ukraine, including the Transcarpathian Hungarian community, whose rights remain limited and cannot count on the support of the EU. This selective protection undermines the credibility of the European Union. We will only truly represent human rights if we guarantee the rights of all minorities in the same way, as required by the Copenhagen criteria. We have to stick to that.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Parliament's position on critical medicines, which is clear, is to be welcomed: bad decisions in recent years have left Europe vulnerable in the field of pharmaceutical supply. Investments in strategically important medicines should be supported to ensure the safety of European patients. Production in Europe must be strengthened, not by slogans, but by concrete decisions. The problem and overregulation must be named after him. The European pharmaceutical industry needs reasonable, proportionate standards that protect both the environment and the supply of citizens, as well as the competitiveness of the sector. My country, Hungary, ranks third in the European Union in terms of corporate pharmaceutical R&D expenditure as a share of GDP. It is precisely the protection and recognition of such strong and innovative national pharmaceutical centres that can be the guarantee of European security of supply.

Mr. President, please. The war in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost four years, is both a geopolitical and a health challenge for Europe. In addition to frontline and hinterland residents, the population of EU border regions is also affected. As a result of the conflict, the burden on healthcare systems and uncontrolled movements are already showing an increased risk of spreading HIV and hepatitis infections. It is therefore particularly important to ensure unhindered access to vaccines and preventive health services in border areas. At the same time, we must not forget that the only real solution to the suffering and insecurity caused by war is peace. Only in this way will we be able to create the stability that presupposes safe access to the necessary treatments and vaccines for patients everywhere in Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear Members, the Commission proposal is not an investment agenda, it is economic suicide, a political illusion that will destroy our competitiveness. Europe does not need a new target. Instead, it needs stability, innovation and affordable energy. The proposal is the same failed Green Deal recipe. This is not ambition, but arrogance. Some in this House ignore reality and live in their own green Brussels bubble, while Europe faces high energy prices, deindustrialisation and citizens are paying the price. You talk about investment security, yet nothing could be further from the truth. We cannot rebuild trust while destroying the industries that keep Europe alive. We won't save the planet by bankrupting our own people. The target is not a pathway to climate neutrality, but leads to further decline. That is why we must reject it.

Thank you for the question. With regard to Ukraine's accession to the EU, I believe, precisely with regard to my minority Hungarian origin, that this issue is not timely at the moment, since the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians and other national minorities are not currently settled in Ukraine. This is described in the basic documents of the European Union, in the Copenhagen criteria, as the number one condition for the accession of Ukraine. That is my view on this issue.

Mr. President, please. In Ukraine, a Ukrainian flag flies on the graves of those who died in the war. In September, when I visited the Calvary Cemetery in my hometown of Uzhhorod, I was greeted by a heartbreaking sight. Silent silence, names of Ukrainian and Hungarian fallen, endless waves of flags. And if it's just one of many cemeteries. How many more people have to die? There is no family in the country without loss and grief caused by the nearly four years of war. Young and old are experiencing physical and mental suffering. The people of Ukraine, including Transcarpathian Hungarians, want peace, security and tranquility. Why don't their leaders hear this? We Hungarians consistently and persistently stand up for the cause of peace by opposing pro-war forces. Despite these attacks, we are firmly committed to an early ceasefire and peace talks to save lives and stop suffering. We need to create at least a chance for peace as soon as possible. This is also your duty. Don't stop him!

Madam President, I'm sorry. I welcome the fact that the Council has also put the issue of climate law on the agenda. This is indeed a key issue, not only for the climate, but also for Europe's competitiveness. We hope that the debate will end with concrete conclusions and not just political statements. European businesses and citizens need affordable energy, not additional burdens such as ETS2. Before the upcoming Cop30, it is important to say that the EU is already at the forefront of reducing emissions, but we are only responsible for 6% of the world's total emissions, and compared to this, we are taking a disproportionate burden. It is time for big emitters, such as China, to take real responsibility. Adopting another ideologically defined goal will not help the planet, it will only threaten European competitiveness. We hope that the Council will see this in tomorrow's hearing.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos recently visited Ukraine, where she also met representatives of national minorities. Today I asked for the floor to say that at this meeting the representatives who really stood up for the rights of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia were not allowed to speak. According to the Commissioner, the country has fulfilled its homework and therefore calls for the opening of clusters of EU accession negotiations. However, as a Transcarpathian MEP of Hungarian origin, I know that the situation of national minorities in Ukraine remains unsettled. The homework, i.e. the so-called 11 points listed in Ukraine’s Negotiating Box and, more broadly, the Copenhagen criteria, have not yet been met. Meanwhile, the EU is criticising Hungary's policy of protecting national minorities, while it is Brussels who, in pursuit of its geopolitical interests, is unhesitatingly sacrificing its own Copenhagen principles and trying to change the decision-making rules currently in force in the accession process, endangering the sovereignty of its own Member States. We can't let that happen.

Dear fellow Member, Thank you very much for your contribution. I find it very unfortunate and saddening that you are using the shortcomings to create a continuous mood, and allow me to share some additional data with you in this half-second, which I have at my disposal, as all families in Hungary are protected by the reduction of household utility charges, for example, and the home renovation programme will provide savings for families in the long run. In addition, the Jedlik Ányos Energy Programme will support Hungarian families with a state grant of HUF 440 billion from 2025.

Dear Mr President, Dear Commission, The heatwaves of the past summer pose a serious challenge across Europe. Forest fires, the overburdening of health systems and the tragic deaths of many of our fellow citizens show that we need to act urgently. The EU Preparedness Strategy provides an important framework, but beyond that, we need to ensure the resilience of health and housing – while respecting, of course, the competences of the Member States. Hungary sets a good example: the latest energy programme will help hundreds of thousands of households replace natural gas with heat pumps and renewable energy, while the home renovation programme will provide millions of grants for insulation, door and window replacement and solar energy investments. Addressing the housing crisis and strengthening our health systems is a common European duty.

Dear Madam President, It is important that the title of today's debate, by mentioning the word peace, finally reflects what is important to people. People in Europe and Ukraine want peace. They have been suffering for too long - and not only do they suffer, but they also die on the battlefield or as a result of inhumane treatment already experienced during drafting. In addition to the horrors of war, Transcarpathian Hungarians also suffer from the restriction of their rights. The intimidating, anti-Hungarian inscriptions have returned. They are subject to discriminatory treatment when crossing borders in a country aspiring to the EU. Meanwhile, the report biasedly praises Ukraine's ostentatious actions against national minorities and calls on Hungary to disregard the European Union's Copenhagen criteria. This is unacceptable. Hungary respects the conditions of accession to the European Union, promotes the rights of national minorities and promotes peace. This can rightly be expected of you as well. Enough with the double standard.

Dear Madam President, Dear Commissioner, This citizens' initiative is a common concern of indigenous national minorities. Its success is vital not only for the approximately 50 million people affected in the European Union, but it can also give hope to national minorities living outside the EU, sending the message that the EU is finally standing up for its traditional cultural and linguistic diversity, in fact and in practice. This can even save people's lives. Identity, especially cultural, national and linguistic identity, is one of the strongest psychological protective factors in crisis situations. Such a crisis is the war in Ukraine, where Transcarpathian Hungarians are dying not only on the battlefield, but also in the hinterland. As has happened in recent days due to forced recruitments. Unfortunately, we can no longer bring back the dead, but it is important to emphasize: The mental integration of the surviving cannot work in cultural neutrality. This should also be taken into account in the development of EU mental health support instruments in Ukraine.

Dear Madam President, Dear Commissioner, Summer is the peak of forest fires in some parts of Europe, while other regions, including Hungary, are also affected by severe drought. My country's government is making serious efforts to mitigate the effects of drought, not abandoning farmers. The irrigable area was 150,000 hectares in 2020 and 250,000 hectares last year. Farmers received 176 billion forints for irrigation development. The extreme weather challenges make it clear: We need a European Union that is prepared for natural disasters and able to provide effective, rapid and coordinated assistance, while respecting the sovereignty of the Member States. In crisis situations, local and rapid reactions are needed, not additional bureaucracy. We need cooperation, not another transfer of power to Brussels.

Dear Mr President, Exactly one year ago, accession negotiations began with Ukraine, and following the success of Hungarian diplomacy, our eleven-point proposals for the protection of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community living in Western Ukraine were integrated into the general accession negotiation framework. Thus, the protection of the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians has officially become part of Ukraine's accession process. However, we are disappointed to see that no substantial progress has been made on this issue in the past 365 days, but only pseudo-measures have been taken. Although the Kiev leadership adopted the action plan for the protection of the rights of national minorities, the largest advocacy organisation of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community was not involved in the negotiations in a discriminatory manner. So you, my colleagues, when European Union leaders and politicians turn a blind eye to, and even support, Ukraine's window measures affecting its national minorities, you are jeopardising the credibility of the EU institutions and, in fact, you are obstructing the real democratisation of Ukraine.

Dear Madam President, I also cannot stand by the fact that a man criticizes child protection in Hungary who listened to his own wife, the mother of his children, in his own home, and thus started his political career. He's not even in there to hear me say that Hungary has the strictest child protection laws in Europe. The government has abolished the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children, introduced a pedophile registry. It has strengthened victim support networks and prevention in the digital space, because we are convinced that the physical, psychological and digital safety of children is a fundamental human right. We all have a responsibility to create a safer and healthier environment for children, both online and offline. Hungary not only participates in this, but also sets an example.

Mr. President, please. Today we remember the end of World War II and the victims, soldiers and civilians who experienced and suffered the horrors of one of the darkest periods in our history. How ironic it is that, while we praise the peace that came 80 years ago in the neighbourhood of the Union, the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been raging for more than three years, is still killing people. There is no peace without dialogue, says Pope Francis, who fought until the last day of his life to bring peace to the world, including Ukraine. Hungary has also taken this position from the outset. We need to work together through diplomatic means, political support and joint efforts to silence the noise of weapons. The population of Ukraine has been suffering for too long.