Speeches

Mr President, I would like to take you to a forgotten war. A war that has been tearing apart the lives of families for three years, gripping youth and children. For three years, people have had no prospect of a peaceful future. And since this does not appear on our televisions every day, it does not mean that it is not there. This is the reality in Sudan. Today I would like to draw special attention to the children. Children are used as child soldiers. They're being raped. Children are often still babies. It's just too terrible for words. Sexual violence and hunger are actively and systematically used as weapons. In the Sudanese conflict, there is fighting between SAF and RSF. They commit human rights violations, there are really no words for that. They use hunger as a weapon, they block supplies and they deliberately attack hospitals. But it's not just these warring parties. They are constantly and constantly fed by countries from outside. These countries continue to supply weapons in exchange for all kinds of raw materials. I condemn these countries and that they let this war run its course and publicly say that they are working for peace. It is important that Europe continues to push for research into these practices. Europe must claim its place at the table of peace. The war must stop. Aid organisations must continue to have safe access to Sudan, because the children of Sudan also deserve a view of a peaceful future.

Mr President, dear colleagues, north-eastern Syria is once again descending into violence, and civilians are paying the price. Since early January, clashes between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces have spread from Aleppo towards Raqqa, al-Hasakeh and Deir-ez-Zor. The consequences are devastating – hundreds of thousands without electricity, water or food, over 170 000 people displaced, and children dying from cold, hunger and a lack of basic medical care. At the same time, the fragile security architecture that kept Daesh contained is unravelling – turmoil around detention centres such as al-Hol and Roj has already led to the escape of ISIL fighters. Let us be clear: what happens in these camps will not stay in Syria, it directly affects Europe. We take note of the ceasefire and integration agreement of 30 January. A cessation of hostilities is essential, but stability cannot come at the expense of rights, representation and local governments. The Kurdish population, which paid a heavy price in the fight against Daesh, especially the ladies, must be meaningfully included in Syria's political future. We condemn the serious human rights violations reported in recent weeks and call for independent investigations and full UN access. This Parliament must act by increasing humanitarian aid, supporting counter-terrorism efforts, protecting minorities and advancing an inclusive Syrian-led political transition. Europe must not look away.

Mr President, imagine: Your child is sick. The diagnosis and treatment are clear, but there is a lack of medicines. You really don't want to experience that uncertainty. Unfortunately, this is happening more and more often in Europe. Our supply of medicines has become too dependent on countries outside Europe. Moreover, this risk is increasing in a world with increasing tensions, increased trade conflicts and vulnerable trade routes. During the coronavirus crisis, we saw how fast international supply chains stalled. We must not forget these lessons. That is why we are now building greater security together in Europe, by manufacturing critical medicines back in Europe and strengthening our supply chains together. This gives patients peace of mind, doctors certainty and Europe resilience. This pharmaceutical regulation is not only about industry or market forces, but also about our public health. It is about whether Europe is prepared to protect its citizens when it comes down to it. This is forward thinking and this regulation gives Europe certainty.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, access to medicines is not a luxury. It is a basic condition of our health. In recent years, we have shown how vulnerable that access can be due to serious shortages of necessary medicines in our pharmacies. Geopolitical tensions, disrupted trade routes and dependencies outside Europe have direct consequences for people who rely on their medicines on a daily basis. For them, there is no geopolitical debate, but one simple question: Will my medicine be there tomorrow? Security of care is crucial. Certainty means that patients can count on essential medicines to be available, affordable and of consistent quality. It also means that caregivers can do their job without being confronted with shortages on a daily basis and without the stress of being able to treat their patients. Europe must take joint responsibility for this. By working better together, identifying risks in the chain in a timely manner and strategically investing in production and availability within Europe. That means transparency. Managing stocks smartly also means bringing the development and production of medicines to Europe. If we make the right choices today, we ensure that the uncertainty in the world does not lead to uncertainty in the treatment room. That is our joint responsibility. It is a matter of resilience and forward thinking. A strong, well-prepared European healthcare landscape gives patients peace of mind, caregivers confidence and businesses clarity.

Madam President, 21.2 million people face acute hunger. 12 million people are on the run. The UN named Sudan the biggest humanitarian crisis. This is not a moment to step down our humanitarian commitment to Sudan, but is the moment to increase EU commitment to the region. The war in Sudan has a potential destabilisation effect on the entire region: the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, but could also potentially even have great effects on the Middle East. For three years, grave and systematic violation of international humanitarian law and human rights has been committed by both the RSF and the SAF. Sexual violence against women, child soldiers and famine are major weapons in this conflict, while humanitarian aid is blocked. We are dealing with a lot of foreign interference as a consequence of the rivalry for minerals fuelling the war in Sudan, including arms transfer, mercenary deployment, gold smuggling and illicit financial networks. This interference should stop. All actors and contributors to the conflict should work towards a sustainable and inclusive ceasefire and peace agreement. This is not only up to the Quad's current negotiations, but is also up to the Arab League, to the African Union and the EU to contribute to peace where possible.

Mr President, the message from climate scientists is clear. Climate change will hit us hard in the coming decades. That requires us to be honest about what needs to be done, but also hopeful about what can be done. The challenge of climate change lies not only in money or willingness, but also in implementation. The transition to a sustainable world requires clear political choices. That means ambition and an ambitious European climate policy, because the climate does not stop at the border. It means a choice for a firm, timely and unconditional approach to CO emissions2. A choice for the transition to clean energy in a way that everyone can participate. And it requires a long-term vision with predictable policies, manageable costs for residents and a level playing field for entrepreneurs who are becoming more sustainable. Climate change is a task for all of us: society, government, industry. The government will have to give direction, so that companies have a clear dot on the horizon and can and dare to invest. People need to be confident that their efforts will really make a difference. This is the only way we can build support together and accelerate this transition together. The climate summit in Belém is the moment to show that Europe combines leadership with realism and practicability, that economic development and sustainability reinforce each other and that we are not only good at setting new goals, but above all that we make the implementation work.

I used to work in the armed forces, and I would be careful in deploying any ammunition to Sudan. But yes, I think we should stress more political pressure, democratic pressure on Sudan and really stop the conflict. It's a tragedy and it's affecting a lot of people. People are starving there, they're being raped on a daily basis. It's millions of people. So, please put more pressure on Sudan.

Mr President, the European Union and African Union partnership is more essential than ever. In an era of shifting political alliances, a strong partnership founded on equality, shared responsibilities and mutual trust is essential. The EU is the largest trading and investment power in Africa. These policies should be aligned for more effective external action. Complex realities of fragile and conflict-affected settings, such as Sudan, need a separate strategy focused on governance, peace building and humanitarian aid. And yes, the EU should assist in financing gaps left by USAID in essential services such as health, food security and climate adaptation. Mutual cooperation should be sought in the execution of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, exploration of natural resources and cooperation on critical raw materials for environmental transitions and transparent and traceable supply chains. The seventh EU-African Union Summit should reaffirm the commitment of the partnership and create cooperation on common challenges.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the current situation in the Middle East is a fragile peace deal and a fragile truce. We may be hopeful about the road to peace that seems to have been set in motion, but at the same time we are also concerned about the ten-day-old truce that seems to be under pressure again. Europe's role was very limited. The two-state solution is encouraged, but questions about a concrete approach, supporting peace and the role that Europe will play in this remain unanswered. The EU must remain committed to the transit of humanitarian goods. Hamas must be disarmed and the bombing must stop. In the long term, a two-state solution will be actively pursued, with Hamas having no role in any future governance. However, a new government is needed that has been established by free elections. And the EU must play its part on the road to lasting peace.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the daily struggle that many women and girls face in Afghanistan is bad enough. That they do not receive the care they need in the event of a terrible disaster such as an earthquake is unacceptable, however. For women and girls, the situation has become even more precarious after the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. The sheer number of restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban make aid to women impossible, even though it is desperately needed. Because of the isolation that women are forced into, women cannot go to school and therefore they cannot become a caregiver. And since men aren't allowed to help women, women don't get medical help. The Taliban have taken away not only women's dignity, but also their right to health care. The European Union must continue to exert pressure to protect human rights, and in particular the rights of women and girls. No society can develop, rebuild and thrive if half the population is excluded. The Taliban should actively involve women in the provision of care, and allow medical care for women, so that all victims, regardless of their gender, have access to medical care. End the structural exclusion of women and girls.

Mr President, there are deaths in the protests in Serbia, while in this House it remains quite silent about this accession country. I would therefore like to thank the Commissioner for her strong opening. Meanwhile, hundreds of people have been arrested, the government is committing large-scale corruption, the police are committing excessive violence and the latest independent media in Serbia are under threat. Party offices are set on fire. The people of Serbia are calling for new, independent and observed elections. However, the grip of President Vučić is becoming tighter and opponents increasingly fear further repression. Democratic values, such as the rule of law, are not guaranteed. We, as European Member States, have said that Serbia is a candidate country for the EU. Then you expect Europe to take action and stand alongside the people of Serbia and help them reform and anchor a strong democracy and rule of law for Serbia.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, it is not that long ago that we negotiated a resolution for just transition for Syria. I continue to be hopeful, and we should give trust to the transitional government to create connections among citizens and groups and create a peaceful, democratic society – hence the conditional lifting of the sanctions, as well as diplomatic conversations with the transitional authorities. It is a prerequisite for good relations within Syria, and this is also the only chance to create a new Syria. This is the time for change in Syria. As Europe, we need to take our diplomatic role, facilitate stability in the region and be a helpful partner where possible for the reconstruction of Syria. And yes, I was shocked by the horrific attacks on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus. Religious minorities are under pressure and still under threat in Syria. The Christian communities in Syria are vulnerable, as are other minorities and communities, including Arabs, Kurds, Alawites, Druze and Yazidis. The new regime must now put its fine words into action. The EU should urge the Syrian transitional authorities to guarantee freedom of religion and act upon actors responsible for religious freedom violations within Syria. The end goal must be a peaceful and harmonious Syria in which all communities and the full colourful mosaic of Syria, with all its religious and ethnic diversity, is protected, and they are free from violent attacks.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, it is not that long ago that we negotiated a resolution for just transition for Syria. I continue to be hopeful, and we should give trust to the transitional government to create connections among citizens and groups and create a peaceful, democratic society – hence the conditional lifting of the sanctions, as well as diplomatic conversations with the transitional authorities. It is a prerequisite for good relations within Syria, and this is also the only chance to create a new Syria. This is the time for change in Syria. As Europe, we need to take our diplomatic role, facilitate stability in the region and be a helpful partner where possible for the reconstruction of Syria. And yes, I was shocked by the horrific attacks on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus. Religious minorities are under pressure and still under threat in Syria. The Christian communities in Syria are vulnerable, as are other minorities and communities, including Arabs, Kurds, Alawites, Druze and Yazidis. The new regime must now put its fine words into action. The EU should urge the Syrian transitional authorities to guarantee freedom of religion and act upon actors responsible for religious freedom violations within Syria. The end goal must be a peaceful and harmonious Syria in which all communities and the full colourful mosaic of Syria, with all its religious and ethnic diversity, is protected, and they are free from violent attacks.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the peace deal between Congo and Rwanda will hopefully lead to a reduction in fighting in the DRC, where thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands more have fled. These fights really have to stop. Within the peace deal, there is room for plans to trade Congolese minerals, possibly with the US as an investor. These mines would be next to the mines of, for example, all the Chinese and the Russians who are also active there. The most important thing with these metals is that economic prosperity returns to the Congolese themselves. The country should not be robbed by foreign interference. The EU seems to have been on the sidelines in making this deal. In doing so, it is important that the EU continues to monitor the situation and looks at how Europe, with Congo as the rightful owner of the critical materials, can enter into a partnership with benefits for both Congo and Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the peace deal between Congo and Rwanda will hopefully lead to a reduction in fighting in the DRC, where thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands more have fled. These fights really have to stop. Within the peace deal, there is room for plans to trade Congolese minerals, possibly with the US as an investor. These mines would be next to the mines of, for example, all the Chinese and the Russians who are also active there. The most important thing with these metals is that economic prosperity returns to the Congolese themselves. The country should not be robbed by foreign interference. The EU seems to have been on the sidelines in making this deal. In doing so, it is important that the EU continues to monitor the situation and looks at how Europe, with Congo as the rightful owner of the critical materials, can enter into a partnership with benefits for both Congo and Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday the deadline for the trade agreement with the EU was postponed to 1 August. Procrastination indicates that there is hope for a deal. These additional negotiations are important to come out together. If this indicates one thing, it is that we as Europe must stand on our own feet as soon as possible. The U.S. can't live without us, and we can't live without them. We are a market where the US has many dependencies. That is why we must not let ourselves get overwhelmed and prepare countermeasures. We need to be willing to show our teeth. We do not want a trade war, that only creates losers and only gives China and Russia more leeway in the field of security. That's what they want: A weak transatlantic bond. We won't let that happen to us.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday the deadline for the trade agreement with the EU was postponed to 1 August. Procrastination indicates that there is hope for a deal. These additional negotiations are important to come out together. If this indicates one thing, it is that we as Europe must stand on our own feet as soon as possible. The U.S. can't live without us, and we can't live without them. We are a market where the US has many dependencies. That is why we must not let ourselves get overwhelmed and prepare countermeasures. We need to be willing to show our teeth. We do not want a trade war, that only creates losers and only gives China and Russia more leeway in the field of security. That's what they want: A weak transatlantic bond. We won't let that happen to us.

Mr President, the security situation in Mali is seriously deteriorating. The fighting between Malian authorities, rebels and jihadists is intensifying. It identifies gross violations of human rights. All opposition parties and opponents of the regime are eliminated. Democratic elections seem further away than ever. Political rights must be restored and elections must be called. Russia has used this momentum to expand its influence in Mali. Mali, for example, has started building a Russian-backed gold refinery and is spreading "games" fighting against the neo-colonialism of Europe and America. There is also proactive pro-Russian propaganda, which is spreading at lightning speed. But it goes far beyond that. There are an estimated one thousand five hundred Russian soldiers who are guilty of large-scale human rights violations: They execute Malians and intimidate the population. This violence must stop.

Mr President, Commissioner, being kidnapped, abused and left for dead... This is the story of many child soldiers in Sudan. In the hope of avenging the death of a family member or getting some food, they end up with armed groups. Once inside, they are used as sex objects or human shields or are armed as soldiers. All of these children have been damaged for the rest of their lives. The human rights situation in Sudan is appalling. Civilians and hospitals are being attacked and looted. More than 2 million people have fled. People are raped and killed. At the same time, food prices continue to rise explosively, driving people to despair. As a result, nearly 8 million people suffer from severe food shortages. 2.3 million people are even in an acute food crisis and are really malnourished. Europe must act against this. The cause of all this is the struggle for raw materials and oil and the interference of foreign actors. Peace must be built together with women and men from different Sudanese communities.

Madam President, I am proud the Netherlands will host the NATO summit in The Hague. It comes at a time when we need to commit ourselves to a growth path of the postponed 3.5 %, and an additional 1.5 % defence spending at NATO. We cannot continue to hide ourselves behind Trump's back for our security. Without further increase of our security budget we cannot expect ourselves to be able to defend ourselves when the EU will be attacked. We must innovate in ReArm Europe; use common procurement; use the Ukrainian defence industry to further support Ukraine, as well as harmonise our weaponry. And we need to create resilience among our population. We need to create a long-term commitment to our defence market and industry. But it is not only about defence, it also goes hand in hand with securing our critical raw materials, increasing competitiveness for our defence industry and creating more sustainable and green defence supply chain.

Mr President, Commissioner, our ocean is the blue lung of our planet. Oceans give us more than 50% of our oxygen and take a quarter of our CO2 op. These oceans contribute to biodiversity, food and energy security and the climate. The ocean pact must be more than fine words. The sea gives us so much, it is only right that we deal with it responsibly. Less pollution, less illegal activities and more room for innovation for a good use of this ocean. No overregulation that clamps down on local entrepreneurs, but also no license to pollute. That is why international agreements on how we deal with the industrialization of the ocean are crucial. Think of wind farms, data centers, but also deep-sea mining. Europe can and must take the lead in this, with clear rules, decent scientific evidence and international cooperation. A healthy ocean is vital.

Mr President, the damage of war goes far beyond buildings, beyond infrastructure. The real scars are in people. Men, women and children in Ukraine are victims of unimaginable violence: rape, imprisonment, torture, kidnapping. They are men, women and children who want nothing but to live in peace. They see their futures being shredded away. Yet, in the midst of all this horror, we must not forget that behind every uniform, on any side, there is a human being: a son, a daughter, a father, a mother. On the Ukrainian side, but also on the Russian side. They too have the right to protection. They too have a right to a future. Prisoners of war are not pawns on a chessboard. They are people, and human rights also apply in times of war. The recent exchange of POWs and bodies between Ukraine and Russia shows that these rights are not naturally respected, and this is unacceptable. Europe must not remain silent. We must stand for human dignity, everywhere and always.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, this report is a wonderful example of how climate policy and industrial strengthening can go hand in hand. With this simplification of the CBAM, we are taking an important step towards a system that is simpler, fairer and more innovative. This significantly reduces the administrative burden for our companies. 91% of companies will no longer have to declare, while 99% of the CO emitted will no longer have to do so.2 Just stay within the system. This means less bureaucracy, especially for our SMEs, without compromising on environmental protection. In fact, this creates a level playing field and encourages companies to invest in cleaner and more future-proof production. However, let's be clear: This is just the beginning. In next year's review, we will seize every opportunity to rectify the remaining omissions and make the system truly robust. Not over the heads of our industry, but together with companies we opt for sustainable innovation.

Mr President, Commissioner, imagine: You are less than ten years old and in the middle of the night you are taken out of bed. Not because you're being taken to safety, not because help is on the way, but because you're being kidnapped. Far from home, far from your parents, far from anything familiar. To the country that dropped bombs on your village, to the country that killed your parents. This is the harsh reality of some 20,000 Ukrainian children. Kidnapped, deported, illegally adopted. Not only their childhood is stolen, but also their identity, their language, their future. They are forced to live according to their oppressor's ideal. As if their past never existed. It is an attack on the soul of a people. We must not forget these children. The European Union must continue to identify and tackle the perpetrators. As long as these children are imprisoned, it is our moral duty to be their voice, for their right to youth, to home, to future.

Mr President, Commissioner, under pressure from Trump, Ukraine has already had to make substantial concessions to maintain the support of the United States. A commodity deal in exchange for a sense of security, but without real guarantees, that's what it comes down to. There is no quick road to peace with Russia, but we will have to continue to work towards a just peace deal for Ukraine. Giving up is not an option. It's our war. Our support for Ukraine must continue unabated and we must also make Europe resilient to the growing threats from Russia. We need to be vigilant about that. These are uncertain times and this is certainly not going to change anytime soon. At a time when the international legal order is under pressure, we as Europe must not give in or support an unjust peace in Ukraine. Putin will not stop after Ukraine. Let us not be naive.