Speeches

Colleagues, we haven't heard a single number – only concerns and accusations. I put a number out there in my speech: 259 517 Russian citizens residing in Germany. What do you think about that regarding your concern? You put this on the agenda of the LIBE Committee a few weeks ago, you cited no numbers. All the colleagues who spoke against Hungary cited no numbers. The Commissioner cited no numbers. So why are you scared about five plus five permits and not comment on the 259 517 Russian citizens in Germany?

Madam President, dear colleagues, there are some people in this House who always point the finger at Hungary. The same applies when it comes to visas issued to Russian citizens. But I'll let the facts speak for themselves. In 2021, before the war in Ukraine began, EU countries issued 536 241 visas to Russian citizens. In 2022, the year the war began, EU countries issued 687 239 visas to Russian citizens. That's 150 000 more visas into the Schengen zone. Do you know how many debates the European Parliament held about this? Zero. In 2023, France issued 99 517 visas to Russian citizens. Do you know how many debates were held in the European Parliament? Zero. In 2023, Spain issued 92 414 visas to Russian citizens. Do you know how many debates there were in the European Parliament? Zero. In 2023, Greece issued 54 289 visas to Russian citizens. Do you know how many debates there were in the European Parliament? Zero. On 1 January 2023, there were 711 035 Russian citizens legally residing in the European Union. Of those, 259 517 in Germany. Out of those more than 700 000 Russians in the EU, do you know how many reside in Hungary? Anyone? No? Less than 1% – less than 1%! In the national card scheme in July, Hungary issued a total of five permits to Russian citizens. In August? Five permits. And yet, this is already the second time we're debating this on the European Parliament's agenda – first in the LIBE Committee, now here in the plenary. These are the facts. I'll let you draw the conclusions.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The EU's migration policy is a total failure and has been at risk of terrorism for many years. The people of Europe are paying for this with their blood and their lives. Instead of protection and security, however, they receive only empty promises. How much more blood needs to be shed before the European People's Party and its left-wing allies finally dignify themselves to defend the EU's borders and European citizens? And enough of the lies about solidarity, because instead of solidarity and help, we get trials and punishments. Italy threatens Matteo Salvini with six years in prison. Why is that? Because he defended the Italian borders. Hungary has been fined 200 million euros by the European Court of Justice. Why is that? Because we are protecting the Hungarian and at the same time Schengen borders. The German government, meanwhile, is distributing money to migrant-smuggling NGO ships with one hand and closing its borders with the other, saying it is dangerous. Mrs Faeser, it is not the borders between EU countries that need to be closed! There is only one solution to the migration crisis: We must protect our common external borders, otherwise we will destroy the entire European Union. There is only one solution: protection of external borders.