Speeches

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.

Mr President, if someone is very rich, we say in the Netherlands: He or she has money like water. Is it because we have so much water? Or because clean water is becoming increasingly rare? Is clean water in Europe still there for the happy few Or for everyone? Climate change is increasingly causing problems with our water: Too much, too little, too polluted. It is a growing problem, from Greece to Groningen. I welcome our call to the Commission for a European strategy for water resilience, because this problem affects everyone. Families rely on clean drinking water. Farmers rely on clean water for a good harvest and our companies are looking for smart solutions for water reuse. I call on the Commission to see water safety as a real top priority. After all, water is crucial infrastructure and without water nothing works. That is why it is essential to protect our water from sabotage. We need to better absorb water surpluses and shortages by strengthening dikes, building locks and giving water space. If someone in Europe pollutes the water with toxic substances such as PFAS, it must be tackled harshly. We keep our water safe and clean together. Because rivers, rain showers and floods do not stop at our border.

Mr President, since Trump's installation, the terms "import tax" and "trade tariff" have never been more popular. His protectionism and unpredictable policies have sharpened the global economy. The United States under Trump is no longer the stable partner that Europe was used to. We have to be honest: Trump is unpredictable and will remain so. Its tariff policy has no deterrent effect, but has now become the standard. Then why would we stick to an unreliable partner? We need security and stability. It is up to us, to politics, to be reliable and predictable. If not, companies will not be able or willing to invest, while this is much needed for our competitiveness and climate investment. Europe and the Netherlands need to review their trade strategy. We need to look further at other markets, such as Ukraine, India, Africa and South America. These regions offer opportunities for new trade agreements. This is not a luxury, but a necessity. If we want to maintain access to critical raw materials, if we want to maintain our prosperity, we need to think more broadly. The future of our economy does not depend on one unreliable president, but on stable strategic alliances worldwide.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the humanitarian crisis in the Congo continues. In less than three months, more than one hundred thousand Congolese have fled to their neighbours due to the ongoing violence. The shelters where people lived were completely destroyed. Humanitarian aid is limited, also due to the lack of funding. There is a silent disaster. Conflict minerals, such as coltan, are still being mined. Not only by Congolese, but also by Russians, Chinese and Rwandans. People work in dangerous conditions with the risk of conflict and fighting that can break out at any time. When armed groups invade villages, the goal is usually to destroy and systematically use sexual violence and recruit child soldiers. The richness of Congo – the raw materials – is causing a total disruption. The illegal trade and exploitation of the mines must really stop. As the European Union, we should work to protect those critical raw materials and keep humanitarian organisations running. This conflict must stop.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the fall of Assad offers hope to many Syrians whom I speak. It is difficult to trust the new de facto government, also given the history and the escalating violence of last weekend. We must realise that stability in Syria increases stability throughout the region. You want Syrians themselves to be ready for reconstruction. This requires space, opportunities to invest and international cooperation. That is why we must look pragmatically at the suspension of sanctions. We will also be open to reopening diplomatic posts in Syria. The Syrian de facto government will have to show that it represents all population groups, all ethnic minorities, including religious minorities, women and children. Violence eruptions like last week's, where more than a thousand people died in targeted attacks on population groups, we will not and cannot accept as an EU. Syria has a long way to go. For example, democratic elections will have to be organised, aid will have to be started and there will have to be access to care, education and clean water as basic services for everyone in Syria. It is now up to the EU to see in which areas we can cooperate with Syria and under what conditions.

Mr President, Commissioner, a city of more than a million people is being invaded and set on fire. Men are murdered, women are raped and children are forced into soldiers. Most people have never heard of this city. It is the tragic fate of the people of Goma, a city in Congo, on the border with Uganda and Rwanda. And this is the harsh reality of the situation in Congo. Russia would have supported the Congolese government in the fight against M23. Rwanda, with the help of the rebels, would smuggle mineral from Congolese mines. And the rest of the world is watching. Everyone has an eye for their own interests, but forget what it's all about: human lives. Masses of people are fleeing and there is too little humanitarian aid. And the help that is there is not coming. Organizations that want to offer help fear for the lives of their own employees. We must ensure that aid organisations can reach people and that peace returns to the country. This will only be possible if other countries stop funding military organizations for their own interests and if we actually get an eye for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people.

President, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria: The Middle East is upside down. War, conflict, tension. This threatens the lives of millions of people. All these terrible images affect us as human beings, while the consequences affect us as a society as a whole. Are you for one or against the other? In Europe, too, people are diametrically opposed to each other. And as if it's not bad enough, Donald Trump talks about the Middle East as if he's developing the next golf resort for multinationals. War in the Middle East affects us here. The attacks on ships in the Red Sea, large groups of people fleeing, seeking food and shelter. Peace, security and trade are under pressure. The European Union needs a strategy for the Middle East, just as the Middle East needs Europe. I ask the Commission to work on this as soon as possible.

Mr President, in Italy a sperm whale washes up with 20 kilograms of plastic in its stomach, including shopping bags, fishing nets and lighters. Every year we also receive thousands of microplastics through our drinking water and food. Plastic pollution harms the health of people and nature. The UN summit in Busan, South Korea, should have delivered a groundbreaking international treaty against microplastic pollution. It is deeply disappointing that this did not succeed. If we don't act now, plastic production will triple by 2060. The consequences for our health and that of future generations are simply too great. We need to drastically reduce the use of plastic by designing products smarter and developing better alternatives. Products need to last longer and recycling and repairing should become a habit to prevent plastic from ending up in our waste as much as possible. Furthermore, what we produce must be reused as much as possible. Currently, less than one-fifth of plastic is recycled. The plastic has to stay in the chain. We must continue to work on enforceable and enforceable rules for more efficient waste management. Although the challenges are great, together we can take the step towards a circular economy that is good for people and the environment, and for our future. Let Europe remain a leading example for the rest of the world. We hope to continue to inspire other countries.

Mr President, the arrival of Trump creates a debate about how we should deal with America. After the inauguration, Trump's first pile of decrees has already been signed. These have international implications, such as withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, withdrawal from the WHO and the review of trade with Europe. These are developments that I am seriously concerned about. On the other hand: We're gonna have to do it. It is extremely important for Europe to stay in good contact with America and not to shy away from these topics of conversation. America is and remains our most important ally. At the same time, the new Trump administration is making Europe a target. I expect our European leaders to be united and to stand firm on our rules, our values and our democracies.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the anti-EU and anti-Ukrainian propaganda machine is running at full speed in Russia to justify the war in Ukraine. Putin is doing everything he can to break Ukraine's morale. Ukraine should not exist. It would not be a legitimate country. However, the truth is different: 92% of Ukrainians wanted to become independent. 92% of Ukrainians also do not want to hand over occupied land to Russia. A war that has been raging for almost eleven years, with the illegal capture of Crimea. A war between a dictator and a now democratic country. The differences between these two countries could not be greater. Ukraine is not Russia. Ukraine is a democratic country. A country with a European history that goes back many years. Putin does not stop at Ukraine. Let us not be naive. Slava Ukraini!

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, what if rape in a conflict is normal and you have no way of arming yourself against it? Moreover, if you become a victim, you can't tell about your pain and sadness either. If you do, you run the risk of being rejected, of being excluded from your own community. This is what happens to girls and women in Congo and Sudan. Girls, children, they are sometimes only nine years old. I saw this with my own eyes twenty years ago in Congo and unfortunately it is still the reality today. Sexual violence is an effective and reliable weapon to humiliate an entire population and disrupt entire communities. This weapon is always available free of charge to military groups and is therefore often used. Sexual violence causes not only lifelong mental damage, but also almost always enormous physical damage. For example, the UN recently announced that an eleven-year-old girl died from the injuries she suffered from rape. A woman has been detained and raped by groups of men for more than 35 days. Women should never be the tactical weapon of an opponent, to humiliate and control the other in war. And when peace initiatives arise, let us ensure that women are always at the negotiating table and that sexual violence is a topic of conversation, so that the perpetrators are held accountable and the victims are supported.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, we cannot imagine the atrocities that have taken place in Syria. More than fifty years of dictatorship and a heavily traumatized country remains, which is still very divided. The minority has ruled the majority for years. This brings with it a lot of uncertainty and unpredictability. We do not know how the new regime will develop, but we must be hopeful and give it a chance to develop this just state. For the new Syria, there must be a constitution that gives the various Syrians rights: women and ethnic and religious minorities. The European Union must work to provide this support on the basis of the rule of law. Part of this should be to strengthen diplomatic ties, as France is currently doing to reopen embassies in Syria in due course. This is the moment when Europe must be on top of it. Especially now that all those different countries with less good intentions are getting involved in the conflict. Now is the time for change. As Europe, we must strengthen diplomatic ties, ensure stability in the region and provide support where necessary.

Mr President, you turn on your tap in the morning and brown water comes out. Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right. Yet polluted drinking water is the reality for more than 14 million Europeans. Bottled water is not always available, is not sustainable and is often expensive. You would think that in a water-rich country like the Netherlands we do not know this problem. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In the Netherlands, too, we are experiencing more and more periods of drought and in the delta of the Netherlands, keeping our drinking water clean is particularly difficult. Due to pollution, purifying the water costs more and more energy. What we need to do is really address it at the source. Establish clear and strict rules for the pollution of our drinking water. This is the only way to keep our drinking water clean, now and in the future.

Mr President, Commissioner, a smoke-free generation in 2040, that is what we are going for. But it doesn't happen by itself. And we know: see smoking, do smoking – see vaping, do vaping. This resolution, as part of the Beating Cancer Plan, helps us to achieve that smoke-free generation. And as a former alderman in the Netherlands, I have introduced stricter measures, such as this one, and have seen that they actually work. It would be good if we could work together at European level. The same goes for the price of cigarettes. At the moment, the cigarettes in Poland are so cheap that flying there for a weekend to buy them there is cheaper than buying these cigarettes in the Netherlands. It would be good if the whole of Europe worked together on the price. Let's work together on that smoke-free and vape-free future. All young people in Europe deserve the same protection.

Mr President, beaten up, tortured and even raped, purely because you take off your headscarf as a 14-year-old girl. That is the reality for girls in Iran if they are arrested by the morality police. Since the protests two years ago and the death of Mahsa Amini, the situation for women and protesters has only worsened. In Iran, as a woman, you are a second-class citizen. Don't want to wear a hijab? Do you want to choose your own clothes? Then you run the risk of being beaten up, end up in prison or even get the death penalty. This year alone, 27 women have been executed for their choice of clothing. What about the perpetrators, the rapists, the abusers, the oppressors? They go free. Violence is institutionalized. Women are second-class citizens in Iran. We must continue to raise this issue, because as long as women are oppressed, it is our duty to continue to fight for their rights, anywhere in the world.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, climate change is not the future, but a daily reality. Unbearable heat in summer, long periods of drought and increasingly extreme rain. The central theme of this summit is climate finance: money to repair the damage that has already occurred and also to prepare us for the future. We see that countries that emit or pollute the least are hit the hardest. This loss will have to be shared fairly. We cannot wait while big polluters evade their responsibility. We see that consumers, farmers and entrepreneurs want to contribute, but they need support: clear and achievable goals, but also certainty from Europe, without bureaucratic obstacles and with a long-term vision to bring about real change. Finally, I welcome the attention we are giving to water in this resolution. We need to work on a water strategy. In simple words: ensure that everyone has access to clean and safe water without fear of flooding. Together we are responsible for our future.

Mr President, when you are nine years old, you should not be in a wedding dress, but in school. The amendment of the Law on the Rights of Persons in Iraq will allow girls from the age of nine and boys from the age of 15 to marry. Let that affect you: Nine years for girls, 15 years for boys! A forced child marriage in which the woman, or rather the girl, is further disadvantaged. This legislative change does not stand alone, but follows the erosion of women's rights, the criminalisation of homosexuality and the delaying of a law against domestic violence. And it does not stop there. Unregistered marriages, often child marriages, are legalised. This does not determine the law, but a random religious leader when a girl is old enough to marry. In 2021, this was one in five. Up to 20% of marriages were child marriages — a child marriage is with a girl under 14 years of age. In 2023, this was already 30%. One in three girls under the age of 14 was married and this will only increase. An unregistered marriage provides limited access to medical care, limited access to government and often it is impossible for these girls to register their children. This vicious circle places more and more girls outside the law, outside health care, outside the protection that they so desperately need. Your husband's faith determines your future, while you're supposed to be in school, playing with your girlfriends. Soon, the life of a nine-year-old girl will be locked up. You don't know: “Can you divorce? Are you going to stand on the street if you want to leave your husband? Can you inherit land or property?’ The faith of the religious leader determines your future. Children should be able to grow up in safety, to be protected by us, to be protected by the law. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Iraq is in danger of losing sight of this protection for women, girls and children. Alignment with the Law on the Rights of Persons in Iraq undermines the rights of women, girls and children. Violence against women and children will increase. The First Lady of Iraq has also spoken out against this adjustment and we should support her appeal. We should support the appeal of human rights organisations. After years of war in Iraq, the country is slowly climbing back out of the valley. There are people who fight for their rights. They come from far away, let us support them.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, sex in exchange for food: It is the reality of many Sudanese women. A reality we cannot imagine. But we can't look away from it either. When access to humanitarian aid and food is not self-evident, this is the only way out to feed your children in Sudan. The civil war has been going on for a year and a half. Gross human rights violations are a daily occurrence, with both the government army and the RSF blocking and looting humanitarian aid. Ten million people have been driven from their homes and another twenty-five million people are hungry every day. Before the war broke out, the UN was still an interlocutor and mediator between the two parties to ensure access for aid organizations. In the peace negotiations led by the United States in August, both parties did not even show up. A ceasefire is disappearing further and further from view. It is important for Europe to focus on access to humanitarian aid for all Sudanese. This is happening on the edge of our continent. It's happening on the edge of Europe. We must prevent millions of people from dying due to a lack of clean drinking water, food and medical care.

Mr President, the conflict in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon are also reflected in our cities. Violent demonstrations, polarization and growing anti-Semitism. It is up to us to deal with injustice. It's up to us to keep looking for the connection. I also struggle with my attitude towards the conflict. This conflict is very complex, has a long history and nuance is so important. On October 7, innocent people were brutally murdered, raped and kidnapped. But that is not yet a license to let even larger numbers of innocent people become victims. Humanitarian law of war must continue to form the basis. Israel has the right to defend itself, but that right is not unlimited. All countries and parties involved in this conflict must do everything possible to prevent worse, ensure that the hostages return and allow humanitarian aid. At the end of the day, everyone wants to live in freedom. Freedom is our greatest good.