What René spoke about.

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Written Statements DE

UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) (debate)

Once again, representatives of nearly 200 parties to the UNFCCC Framework Agreement on Climate Change will meet to talk about "saving the planet". Once again, the "green transition" is promoted, which in plain language is a large-scale de-industrialisation, job reduction and money destruction programme for the EU Member States in the name of so-called climate protection. Once again, tens of thousands of delegates, mostly flying in by plane, will try to confirm each other in their climate and world rescue ideology. Even though the days for Fridays for Future have gotten tougher with Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer and other proclaimers of the apocalypse, as citizens are now clearly feeling the consequences of climate action, climate ideology is still firmly anchored in the EU institutions. This is shown by this resolution, which is supported by a total of five political groups, which include all German parties represented in the Bundestag with the exception of the AfD. This motion for a resolution must be rejected, because it is time to restore effective and evidence-based environmental protection in line with economic needs in order to create prosperity, economic growth and jobs in Germany and the EU, instead of making a large industrial museum based on model-based doomsday scenarios with the EU demolition ball from Europe and sustainably damaging the competitiveness of our economy and the personal freedoms of citizens with planned economic measures that patronise people.

20

May

2026

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Rule of law, fundamental rights and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia: the need for an EU response (B10-0245/2026) (vote)

Madam President, (noise) All right, I'll try anyway. I refer to Rule 164. Strange things happened yesterday. The meeting was interrupted for the award of the Order, although it appeared to be on the agenda. But be it for that. Then incredible things happened. Non-Members were allowed to enter the Chamber as guests – and they sat down as a matter of course in Members’ seats. When colleagues from the Patriots, ECR and us insisted on taking back their seats, some refused to clear the seats. A Member has been summoned – forgive the language – to: Fuck off! Only the intervention of the room service, for which I thank you warmly, prevented an escalation. The reason for this chaos is simple: They wanted full rows of seats for the cameras, because we peacefully protested against the awarding of the order by Angela Merkel by our absence. This protest was meant to be disguised. It didn't work. My posts and those of my colleagues reached hundreds of thousands on social media yesterday. These people have seen this farce and it has also damaged the reputation of this House. There is only one choice: Either you accept equal rights for everyone in this house or you make a circus out of it. Then one should also be consistent – and in the future no longer give orders, but spend red noses.

20

May

2026

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High time to deliver on the Single Market, providing certainty and predictability for EU businesses and quality jobs (debate)

(Start of speech when microphone is switched off) ... I always go when I go to the lectern. But still I wish you a nice day. The AfD and ESN are in favour of European cooperation, where it is good for all of us, where Europe creates real added value; That is what we stand for. The single market is one such example. Acting freely across European borders – that is what our industry needs, that is what our SMEs need. We want to strengthen this single market. But that also means pointing out his mistakes. Last week, a post spread rapidly on Twitter – from the CEO of the company pokefy.de. A German company that sends parcels throughout Europe, for example also about ten parcels every year to Austria. The postage costs 14,50 EUR per package. You might think that's it, but it's not. Because who delivers to Austria as a German company needs an Austrian packaging officer, a notarized power of attorney and an annual license fee. Makes at the end 135 EUR per package. For 10 packages. To Austria. In the internal market. And this is just one country. France wants its own logo on each cardboard box. Spain has its own registers, Italy also, Poland also. 27 countries, 27 different rules. This is not an internal market; There are 27 bureaucratic islands. This is not a problem for large corporations with their own legal departments. They distribute these costs over millions of shipments. But for the small entrepreneur, for the self-employed – the single market becomes an empty promise. And now the point that additionally hurts: While our SMEs are choking due to regulations, millions of parcels come from East Asia every day – and no one asks for licenses or agents. The German entrepreneur is bureaucratized, controlled, punished because he is tangible; the consignor from the Far East does not. That is the legitimate criticism of the European Union. They regularly announce big plans here – saving the global climate, upgrading, energy transition; However, they fail to make mail order in the European Union work for small and medium-sized enterprises. We want an internal market that deserves its name, an exemption for small shippers and equal rules for everyone, including third countries. Europe must work for all citizens, not just large corporations.

29

Apr

2026

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EU strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, its implications on energy prices and the availability of fertilizers (joint debate)

25

Mar

2026

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 March 2026 (debate)

Madam President, Gasoline and diesel over 2 euros, here and now. Everyone says it's because of the Iran war. That's partly true. But it's only half the truth. What no one tells them: Brussels has already decided – in black and white – that CO 2The price will continue to rise from 2028. Citizens and businesses will have to go even deeper into the pocket for energy. Experts calculate another 40 cents on top of the litre – in addition. 3 euros per litre of fuel will soon be within reach – 3 euros per litre of diesel and gasoline! And they don't fall from the sky. This is politically made and wanted by the mainstream parties. Everyone is talking about Iran, while von der Leyen, the Greens, the SPD, the CDU are quietly preparing the next price explosion. We say: No, the citizen has paid enough. Any CO 2Pricing must be abolished, and now. This should be an issue for the European Council. It is not the flight into world politics, but the everyday concerns of the citizens that must finally be the focus.

11

Feb

2026

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Urgent actions to revive EU competitiveness, deepen the EU Single Market and reduce the cost of living - from the Draghi report to reality (debate)

Madam President, De-industrialisation, ladies and gentlemen, of which we are talking, is obscured, because it is about fates – in Ludwigshafen, in Zwickau, in Heidenau, in the Ruhr area –, closed factory gates and rising unemployment. Unfortunately, this is also the responsibility of the German government and governments, but also of the European level: political micromanagement, regulations and gangs of entrepreneurs down to the smallest detail, because it was believed that it could be better from the point of view of bureaucracy and parliaments than in the companies themselves. But Europe and Germany have all the prerequisites to be successful. We all have talents, and we have the courage of our entrepreneurs who, despite all the problems and obstacles, continue to courageously hold on to their businesses and try their best. We also have the conditions to close the investment gap in Germany and throughout Europe, but to do so we must finally free this continent from bureaucracy and green ideology. Because in order to close the investment gap, we do not have to set up large credit programmes; We must finally make this location more attractive again. This is what we do when we finally revisit new forms of energy, such as nuclear power, when we stop encroaching on our companies. Green Deal. Let's get rid of this continent!

21

Jan

2026

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European Council meeting (joint debate)

Madam President, In a world that is reorganised geopolitically on a daily basis, the EU would have to do everything it could to appear united to the outside world. But it is the European Union itself that repeatedly torpedoes this internal cohesion: Violence, centralism, paternity of the Member States. Instead of focusing on the essentials – the internal market, the protection of the external borders, the organisation of defence cooperation, which has been criminally neglected over the past 15 years – Brussels is entangled in ideological projects, bypassing the will of the peoples, most recently in Bulgaria. We at the AfD have been demanding for a decade: We must become independent of the United States of America. We must become sovereign, we must take our security policy into our own hands. We were insulted by the so-called conservatives as anti-Americans and as militarists. Today, this dependence to which you have led us is being exploited by the United States of America. And then stand here and claim that you are the defenders of Europe's freedom and sovereignty. This contradicts the experience of history. Europe needs to grow up. Europe must protect its freedom and independence. But that can only happen if we have more respect for the nations here in Europe. But anyone who continues to pursue pro-migration policy, pro-gender policy, pro-climate policy in these times, makes politics at the expense of the European idea. We stand for another way.

20

Jan

2026

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Presentation of the programme of activities of the Cyprus Presidency (debate)

Madam President, Cyprus focuses its Presidency on economic competitiveness. And rightly so. What we are currently experiencing in Europe – and in Germany in particular – is a rapid loss of substance for the industrial base. An example: The chemical industry – the backbone of entire value chains, from agriculture to mechanical engineering – is in free fall. Sales fell by more than 15% within two years. The consequences? Decommissioning. Job cuts. Location closures. Insolvency reports from Leuna. Dow Chemical is withdrawing from East Germany – 800 jobs away, thousands more in jeopardy. And that's just one example. The same picture in the automotive industry. What we are experiencing here is not structural change, it is structural destruction. And the causes are clear – and they are political: High energy prices caused by an ideology-driven climate and energy policy. Excessive constraints imposed by a bureaucracy that overrides the real economy such as mildew. Lengthy permits, because the state takes itself more important than those who want to work and invest here. What is needed now is to put an end to a climate policy that is ridiculed worldwide. End an energy policy of hysteria and ignorance about nuclear power. Yes, Germany and all of Europe need a return to nuclear energy. With credible, long-term decisions to return to nuclear power, we are sending a clear signal to international investors. Germany and Europe are returning to reality. It will be worth investing here again. And with this, the suppliers for Germany all over Europe can breathe a sigh of relief. So that it can be produced again. So that they can work here again. So that sufficient income can be generated here again. So that our country and our continent have a future.

17

Dec

2025

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 18-19 December 2025, in particular the need to support Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the EU’s strategic autonomy (debate)

Mr President! For ten years we as the AfD have been insulted by you, as militarists and as anti-Americans, because we demanded that we become independent from the United States in terms of security policy, because we demanded that we invest in strategic autonomy, because we wanted to invest in our capabilities and skills in security policy. Instead, they have denied reality. Barack Obama already said in 2011 that the US would develop into a Pacific power and that it would no longer tie up additional forces in Europe. They have been wasting security policy on this continent for 15 years. They have brought us into this dependence and into the dead end. That's why you're also the wrong one to get us out of there, because you're now falling to the next extreme. From years of subservience to the U.S., even decades at the CDU, you now fall into the extreme of insulting an entire government, even though there continues to be a great dependency on the U.S. for security. Numerous terrorist attacks, most recently in Lower Bavaria, could only be prevented because the Americans provided us with intelligence. You risk the safety of Germans with your anti-American course. We want real cooperation without subservience and without tenderness. We want real partnership, without anyone telling us to which countries we have to send our soldiers, but also without teachings and insults from other parts of the world.

26

Nov

2025

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EU position on the proposed plan and EU engagement towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine (debate)

13

Nov

2025

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025 (debate)

Madam President, In this Parliament, there are increasingly majorities that are patriotic. So something is moving, albeit too slowly, because the world is changing rapidly. Technological upheaval, demographic shifts, geopolitical tensions – change everywhere, only Europe stands still because of the EU Commission. While China is moving away in artificial intelligence, India is becoming a global tech hub and the US is creating new growth centers, the EU Commission and mainstream parties are slowing us down. The reason is clear: Europe is still captivated by its left-wing ideology. It takes courage to use the new majorities. Handling supply chain law, eliminating sustainability rules and reporting, preventing chat control forever, enshrining cash and the right to cash across Europe, reducing taxes – more freedom for businesses and citizens, more security for families and pensioners, affordable housing and affordable food. This is what the ESN stands for and this is what the AfD stands for.

22

Oct

2025

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025 (debate)

Madam President, Once again, the European Council meets, and once again, the same topics are on the agenda, the same speeches, the same promises – and in the end, everything stays the same. As America and Asia invest, you're discussing ever-new policies and regulations. While there is trade, there is bureaucracy here. As a result, Europe is gradually losing its prosperity and competitiveness, even if you are constantly talking about competitiveness. Ladies and gentlemen, Europe does not lack ideas, but it lacks courageous politicians who do what is necessary: Removing the ban on incinerators, which Green Deal unwind. They are talking about future generations, but they are destroying the future of our industry. They are announcing innovations, but many of our talented researchers and developers are now leaving our continent. And while our citizens are paying ever higher prices, this European Union is losing people's trust because it is ignoring their concerns. But – and this is the good news – time is changing. In many countries, governments are finally taking responsibility again, combining patriotism with common sense. Czechia, Italy, Slovakia, Hungary, hopefully soon Germany with the AfD in government – they all show: Patriotic forces can renew Europe. That's why I tell you: Europe does not need green ideologues, but a Europe of reason, a Europe that relies on performance, on science, entrepreneurship, on freedom, less taxes, less bureaucracy, no chat control, i.e. more trust in the people who carry our nation states and this Europe, instead of trust in ever new administration. We must free ourselves from the shackles of over-regulation, back to a Europe of sovereign nations, a Europe of innovation, work, freedom and progress. Because, ladies and gentlemen, the future of Europe is not decided in discussions by politicians, but in the workshops, in the laboratories and in the courtyards, where all of us are created wealth.

20

Oct

2025

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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (debate)

Mr President! Poverty is destroying lives. It destroys the lives of children and young people because they cannot fully develop their talents, abilities, characteristics in poverty. This makes it impossible for young people to become great craftsmen, technicians, doctors, entrepreneurs and so on, even though they have the potential to do so. This is deceiving these children and young people of their future. But it also hurts all of us, because this circumcision of being able to make the most of yourself reduces the growth of the entire economy. Poverty takes freedom: If single mothers and fathers are left alone in difficult social circumstances and no longer dare to go to the inner cities, outdoor pools and parks because of fear, then this is an attack on freedom. Poverty takes dignity: when seniors who have raised children and worked a whole life have to collect deposit bottles. That is why we need a change of direction in Europe, a change of direction for industrial jobs and against the Green Deal. Put an end to your sanctions policy!

7

Oct

2025

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This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen! What defines Europe should be the topic today. But it would have to be: What Europe once was. Europe was once the engine of progress – the continent of inventors, engineers, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. A continent where ideas were born and world markets conquered. Today, however, not a single European company is among the top 20 in the world. And that's no coincidence. It is the result of a policy that stifles entrepreneurship through over-regulation, replaces innovation with bureaucracy, and freedom with fear. Instead of shaping the future, it is managed with prohibitions. From the incinerator ban to the Green Deal, which destroys industry – take a look at industrial production – up to ever-new reporting obligations, which above all have one effect: That our best minds and companies are leaving. While the US and Asia are investing, Europe is discussing quotas. While trading there, it is regulated here. This does not create prosperity. Europe is losing its competitiveness. If we want to save Europe, we must liberate the forces of the European peoples – freedom for entrepreneurs, researchers and workers. It's not politics and bureaucracy that make things better. It will only be better if we trust the people of Europe again. Let's unleash their power through lower taxes, less bureaucracy, fewer bans, fewer regulations. We rely on the skills, the knowledge, the talent, the courage of our citizens, not on politicians. Back to a Europe of performance, courage and innovation, a Europe that wants progress, artificial intelligence, Bitcoin and quantum computers, a Europe that dares to be world leaders again, instead of looking anxiously to the future. That's why we say: Less centralism, more nation-state. Less fear, more freedom. No mass immigration, neither legal nor illegal mass immigration, instead deportations. Then Europe will be strong again. Then we live in a Europe of sovereign nations and a Europe of fatherlands.

10

Sep

2025

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State of the Union (debate)

Madam President, Europe was once a dream: a continent where families could build their own homes; a continent that was the engine of global progress; a Europe where women could live safely, poor people were protected by good social legislation and young people had the chance to build a good life out of what they had worked for themselves. But this dream has been destroyed by politicians like Angela Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen. As the global economy grows and new markets emerge, Europe falls behind. If you want to know why, you just have to do the speech of Ursula von der Leyen earlier. Not once did it mention the core of the market economy – freedom to conduct a business – but centrally planned billion-dollar programmes – bureaucracy from above. But prosperity comes from work, from innovation, from entrepreneurial courage, not from Ursula von der Leyen's five-year plans. In the field of migration policy, too, dreaming has seriously harmed Europe. Enrichment was promised. The reality: Knife attacks, terrorism, rape, drug gangs from Spain, Italy, Germany to Rotherham and Malmö. And in Brussels, where the EU is still preaching diversity, the Belgian government is seriously considering using the army to protect the capital from the violence of migrant gangs. What about Mrs. von der Leyen? She still speaks in well-sounding marketing phrases. She spoke of unity on our continent. But this will only happen if the persecution of the opposition finally stops on this continent: In Romania, elections are reversed; In France and Germany, candidates are excluded from elections. If you want unity, then we must return to democracy and freedom of expression. That's why we say: Yes to industrial workplaces, even if they are CO2 eject; No to chat control and censorship; Yes to remigration across Europe and no to Ursula von der Leyen!

9

Jul

2025

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 26 June 2025 (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start with something positive, because the nation states have made it clear that they want to weaken the supply chain directive. Finally, therefore, the Council is also moving in the right direction, as is sometimes and increasingly happening in this Parliament - but unfortunately still too slowly - because the world is changing, it is changing rapidly, profoundly and irreversibly. Technological upheaval, demographic shifts, geopolitical tensions – we are seeing change everywhere. Only one continent seems to stand still compared to the speeds of the other parts of the world, namely Europe. While China is running away in artificial intelligence, while India is rising to become a global tech location and the US is opening up new growth centers, we are unfortunately lagging behind. What we are experiencing is no coincidence, because this continent is still bound by left-green ideology. Far too rarely do politicians in charge have the courage to use the new majorities in this Parliament, but also on this continent as a whole, in favour of a patriotic turnaround. We are available for this. We know that Europe works when its cultural richness is respected, not when it creates equality, and moreover only when there is freedom of expression and not the way you try to restrict it.

8

Jul

2025

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Preparation for the 2025 EU–China Summit - Tackling China's critical raw materials export restrictions

Madam President, China is a country with 1.4 billion people and a state order derived from over 3,000 years of cultural history. Anyone who believes that such a country can be changed with teachings and exhortations is not only mistaken, he is endangering the stability of global relations. China has proven time and again in all conflicts that it is willing to be reluctant. I recall that in 1999, during the Kosovo war, a Chinese embassy in Belgrade was hit by NATO bombs. The Chinese leadership's reaction to this was not an escalation, but forbearance. Europe must not allow itself to be driven into hostile thinking, neither by foreign policy rivalries nor by domestic symbolic politics. We need a foreign economic policy that is based on our interests, not on ideals. Europe must be united vis-à-vis large population and economic areas. Even Germany, France, Italy and Poland would be too small in today's world. Of course, we must formulate our interests and also represent them. But this must be done without moral exaggeration. Partnership where possible, stability where necessary and always respect for a culturally as old as self-confident counterpart. As Europe, we need to strengthen the bargaining power by reducing dependence and, at the same time, always reaching out to work together.

7

Jul

2025

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Motion of censure on the Commission (debate)

Madam President, Wherever Ms. Ursula von der Leyen is given responsibility, she does harm. As a family minister in Germany, she wanted to introduce the first network lockdowns 20 years ago – which earned her the nickname censorship sula. Even then, the cost of dubious consulting contracts skyrocketed. As Minister of Labour, the same picture: Millions for external consultants, millions for self-staging, but no benefit for citizens. As Minister of Defence: Again, consultants. Cell phone data that had already disappeared at that time – but then there were tanks that were also suitable for pregnant women. Today, our country and continent rightly complain that Germany could not contribute to the defence of our continent – Ms von der Leyen bears a considerable responsibility for this. And for six years it has continued its destructive work at the EU level. The Green Deal led to de-industrialisation trends across much of Europe: People lost their jobs, their income, their existence. For six years, the EU's external borders remained open: Millions of social migrants were still able to enter uncontrolled. And above all lies the shadow of the Pfizer affair, the unlawful deletion and refusal to issue SMS, the suspicion of waste and mismanagement in the COVID Recovery Fund and NGO felt. But the wind has turned compared to the last time in the legislature: Majorities are different. People also look at Brussels differently. That's why on Thursday we are paving the way for a new Commission that protects our borders, protects our freedom of expression and protects our prosperity. That's why we're sending you into undeserved political retirement on Thursday.

18

Jun

2025

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Upcoming NATO summit on 24-26 June 2025 (debate)

Madam President, NATO was a guarantor of Cold War security. It has made freedom possible in Europe, and that is why it is important today. It's about securing raw materials and sales routes, it's about securing airspace and cybersecurity. But that's why we have to be honest: Europe, and Germany in particular, have relied too much on the United States. This dependence was convenient, but was also exploited again and again. The consequence of this, however, cannot be to transfer more power to Brussels. It does not need an EU military bureaucracy, but a strong European foothold within NATO, supported by sovereign nation states acting in a coordinated manner – not against the US, but with it, but on an equal footing and with the courage to finally take more responsibility for itself.

16

Jun

2025

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Statement by the President - 40th anniversary of the Schengen area agreement

Madam President, 40 years of the Schengen agreement means a return to normality. Stefan Zweig once said: “The world and Europe before the First World War belonged to everyone.” Everyone went wherever they wanted and stayed as long as they wanted. In fact, border control and passport control in today's understanding only existed exceptionally, not systematically. And if so, then there were physical checks, not checks on persons, with the aim of collecting customs duties. But this freedom inside Europe had two conditions that the European Union is systematically violating these days. Firstly: Instead of controlling at the state border, control in the interior used to apply. Cities and municipalities exercised the right of establishment. Those who were unemployed did not receive social assistance, but had to leave the community. In contrast to today: Today, due to the naïve and far too broadly interpreted social case-law at European level and the national case-law derived from it, there is a de facto immigration law into the German social system, which we reject. Free movement of workers and entrepreneurs – yes, intra-European social migration – no. Secondly: Europe has always stood together against external, historical dangers. Whether it was the Athenians and Spartans against the Persians or the Franks against the Moors at Poitiers, and off Vienna Austrian militias, German Landsknechte and Croatian noble armies defended Europe together with the Polish-Lithuanian king Sobieski. Freedom of movement inwards means that we need Fortress Europe outwards. If you want to preserve Schengen, you have to avoid abuse internally, and you have to defend Europe externally.

8

May

2025

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Resumption of the sitting

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Last week, on 30 April, in the Paul-Henri Spaak building in front of the offices of our employees, there were massive noise nuisances and also threats against one of our employees. Around 6 p.m., a large group of visitors to the Left, supported by accredited assistants and staff of the Left, held a kind of demonstration. The visitors, or rather the activists, then walked up the stairs towards the exit and tore down an EU flag, which was placed on the table of honour with the picture and the memorial book for the late pope, and threw it down the stairs. One of our employees, who asked the activists for peace, was even threatened with death by a protester with the words ‘You will die!’. Dear Mr President, Such behavior is completely unacceptable and has nothing to look for in our house. I ask you to ensure that such actions are prevented in the future and that the safety of all employees and a normal working atmosphere are guaranteed at all times.

8

May

2025

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80 years after the end of World War II - freedom, democracy and security as the heritage of Europe (debate)

Madam President, On 8 May 1945, with the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht, the military rule of National Socialism ended. This year, too, we commemorate the millions of soldiers and civilians killed during the Second World War. We are also increasingly recognizing the dual importance of this day: May 8 meant freedom for Western Europe in the long term, but for Central and Eastern Europe it meant cementing a 45-year Russian tyranny. Richard von Weizsäcker rightly pointed out in his famous speech on 8 May 1985 that this day was inextricably linked to 30 January 1933, the beginning of the National Socialist dictatorship. But that's just part of it. For as surely as May 8 marked the end of the Nazi dictatorship, it certainly also laid the foundations for communist dictatorships. Without May 8, 1945, there would have been no Russian deportation of tens of thousands of Baltic families in March 1949, no Russian suppression of the popular uprising in the GDR on June 17, 1953, no Russian invasion of Hungary in 1956, no Russian tanks in Prague in 1968, and no suppression of the Solidarity movement in Poland. Today we commemorate the victims of the Second World War from 1 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. At the same time, we thank all the men and women who courageously stood up against the communist dictatorship and Russian domination in Central and Eastern Europe after 8 May 1945. Their commitment to freedom and national self-determination remains an indispensable part of Europe's heritage.

6

May

2025

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A unified EU response to unjustified US trade measures and global trade opportunities for the EU (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Those who are dependent on the outside become incapable of acting on the outside. And that is exactly what happened – not by chance, but because the old parties have left our military security to the United States of America for decades. It was comfortable, but it was also naive. Today we see the result: Europe has become blackmailable. Donald Trump's administration is trying to force Europe to buy more and more US fracking gas. The result: even higher energy prices to the detriment of our industry, our families and our prosperity. And it also takes revenge on the arrogant attitude with which many in European politics have looked down on Donald Trump for years. The public attacks have led to the fact that today there are no trusting channels of conversation with the US government in Brussels, Berlin or Paris. Fortunately, there are other voices in Europe – Viktor Orbán, Georgia Meloni and many patriotic governments – who have maintained contact. But it's not just about America. Trade alternatives have also been negligently destroyed by know-it-all attitudes towards China, India and much of Africa. Instead of partnership, there were teachings about democracy, about human rights, about climate. And today? Today, we lack exactly these partners as alternatives that we would need in order to show strength in negotiations with the USA. Those who have no alternatives have no bargaining power. The European establishment has isolated our continent through arrogance. But those who want to survive in the 21st century need cooperation instead of confrontation, partnerships, not images of enemies. And one more thing: Today, it is clear how important the European single market is. This is what we have always known as the AfD. Our motto is: Germany first, but not Germany alone. Europe needs to speak with one voice on key trade issues. But this also presupposes one thing, namely: The European establishment must end the internal division. Recognize the results of the elections in Romania! Stop interfering in Hungary's internal affairs from Brussels and stop the persecution of the AfD in Germany!

5

May

2025

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Passing of Pope Francis – Statement by the President

2

Apr

2025

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Progress in the UN-led efforts for the resumption of negotiations towards a solution to the Cyprus problem

Madam President, The UN-led efforts to restart negotiations on the future of Cyprus are an important step. But while the nations involved are engaged in constructive talks, the EU has an unhelpful role to play. This is problematic because there is a lot at stake in the conflict. Cyprus is an external border of the European Union and its protection must be the core task of any European community. A weak stance on this issue threatens not only Greek sovereignty, regional stability, but the security of the whole of Europe and our citizens. And it increases Europe's blackmail potential at a time of increasing migratory pressure from the Third World. Reducing mass immigration outside Europe must be a top priority. That is why Cyprus is so important because illegal migration to the European Union takes place via the green line from north to south and via the sea route from Lebanon. That is why we need a sustainable solution for Cyprus for the benefit of all of us. I would therefore like to make one thing clear: Yes, we want good trade relations with Turkey, but on this issue it is also clear that we are supporting our Greek partners and not leaving them alone.