What Raquel spoke about.

8 Oct

2026

EN Speech

EU strategies for islands, coastal communities and outermost regions (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, from Saba to Schier, from our highest volcano to letting your mind be blown away by the wind – we even have a word for it in Dutch: 'uitwaaien'. In the Netherlands, we do know something about islands. We are one kingdom, één koninkrijk, ien keninkryk, nos ta un reino. We are proud to be together. But our policies sometimes let our islands drift away. Our …

8 Oct

2026

EN Speech

EU strategies for islands, coastal communities and outermost regions (debate)

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If you agree with me that we should be helping to combat the effects of climate change, could you explain to me why your group is voting consistently against everything that this European Union does to combat climate change?…

8 Oct

2026

EN Question

EU strategies for islands, coastal communities and outermost regions (debate)

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Colleague, I heard you mention unpredictable weather events as one of the main problems for island regions and coastal communities. Do you agree with me that man-made climate change is the main reason for those unpredictable weather events? And do you agree with me that we as the European Union have a responsibility to combat climate change with everything we have?…

7 Oct

2026

EN Speech

Human rights situation in Iran, notably the cases of Taraneh Rahimi and Leila Abolhasani

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Mr President, Commissioner, 'if you do not confess to your crimes, we will rape your twin sister in front of you.' These are the words used by prison guards against 19-year-old Taraneh Rahimi. She and her sister Romina have been tortured, dragged by their hair and beaten for months by the Iranian regime. And today, Taraneh faces a death sentence; Romina faces 25 years in prison. Their alleged crim…

7 Oct

2026

EN Speech

The upcoming EU anti-corruption strategy (debate)

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I fully agree with you that transparency rules also with regards to the meetings that we all should register needs to be improved. But I repeat my question that was very specifically about the general expenses allowance and including more transparency, not voluntarily, but as a rule in this Parliament on how we spend that money.…

7 Oct

2026

EN Question

The upcoming EU anti-corruption strategy (debate)

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Thank you, Mr Zdechovský, I am very happy to hear you say that we want a stronger EPPO, a stronger OLAF. I also think that we should lead by example here in this institution. So for my delegation, it's always very important to give transparency about the money that we spend as Members of the European Parliament via the general expenses allowance. And I was wondering if you would be willing to work…

7 Oct

2026

EN Speech

The upcoming EU anti-corruption strategy (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, with many of you, I negotiated the new anti-corruption directive for the European Union – our new law. I can tell you my biggest frustration was national governments not wanting more mandatory measures to prevent corruption. Too much work, not necessary. So I am wondering, what would Daphne Caruana Galizia and Giorgos Karaivaz have said to this? Two jou…

16 Sep

2026

EN Question

State of the Union (debate)

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Thank you so much for your speech, Ms Pereira. I can agree with a lot of what you said. One of the things that I fully agree with you on is the need to fight extremism. And I think that fight begins in this House. There are a number of rather extreme groups and colleagues in this House with whom your group, the European People's Party, is working. Don't you think that we have to put an end to that…

8 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters: protecting our borders and supporting our law enforcement officers (debate)

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Thank you so much for your answer and I really appreciate your service as a police officer, also having worked in a border region. But the whole point here is automated data. When a criminal is crossing from, say, Germany into Denmark, if you cannot have access to automated data exchange, then it is impossible for you to know what that person has done and why it might pose a risk to your country. …

8 Jul

2026

EN Question

Narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters: protecting our borders and supporting our law enforcement officers (debate)

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Next year, the 'Prüm Regulation' will enter into force for automated data exchange of DNA profiles, fingerprints and number plates of vehicles of criminals. Your country, Denmark, cannot participate in this system and will not be able to exchange data of criminals with other countries. How do you think Denmark can stay a safe country without this key instrument if it keeps the opt‑out on justice a…

8 Jul

2026

EN Answer

Narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters: protecting our borders and supporting our law enforcement officers (debate)

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Mr President, thank you colleague Oliveira, yes – debates get hijacked all the time in this House by those who want to put every single fault on a single country or a single group of people. To me, it is really important to understand that drug trafficking is from all times. Colleague Tertsch will remember that, in Spain, the country that I come from originally, we had huge problems with drug gang…

8 Jul

2026

NL Speech

Narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters: protecting our borders and supporting our law enforcement officers (debate)

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Mr President, every day our people from the police and customs are fighting against international drug gangs. Through small spaces crawling in search of drugs, hidden in the most unlikely places, intimidated by organized criminals trying to corrupt them. The fight against this unjustified crime forces us all to run faster and smarter. A few holy houses will have to be overthrown: less national thi…

6 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, colleagues, this point of order is according to Rules 122, 150 and 154. On 23 June, five representatives of the Taliban regime visited Brussels on an official mission invited by the European Commission – a shameful betrayal of the cornerstone of EU diplomatic engagement: fundamental rights and women's rights. Shameful because Afghan women pleaded with us: 'Please don't do this to …

17 Jun

2026

NL Question

Preparation of the European Council (joint debate)

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How nice to hear the EPP talk so passionately about – I hear – a European Defence ‑ Union. Am I hearing that right? Are we going to work together towards an integrated defence ‑ Union of all the countries of the European Union, at least – perhaps initially – of a group of frontrunners?…

17 Jun

2026

EN Question

Preparation of the European Council (joint debate)

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It must be that I am sitting in an EPP chair today, but I was really inspired by your colleague Mr Weber's words this morning because he said Europeans are asking us to provide security – also against China. Enlargement contributes to that security – '29 by 29'. So my question to you is: do you think we can achieve that security in that position without reforming and getting rid of the right to ve…

20 May

2026

EN Question

Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan following the Taliban's adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts

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Dear Lukas, you said that the European Union is committed to fighting for the rights of women against oppression, and also to fight illegal migration, but do you agree with me that it won't be a reason to invite the Taliban to fight illegal migration? Because, actually, what we are doing is only helping preserve a regime which is the source of a lot of migration into the European Union. Wouldn't i…

20 May

2026

EN Speech

Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan following the Taliban's adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts

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Mr President, Madam Commissioner, I have a question for some in this chamber – are you more comfortable with our European Commission talking to the Taliban or to Greenpeace? The Taliban receives the privilege of dealmaking with the entire European Union, and some of you seem fine with it. Why? Because of migration. And yes, getting migration under control is important, but so is maintaining a mini…

20 May

2026

NL Speech

Recruitment of children by organised crime (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, we have an explosives problem. Last year, 1 534 attempts were made in the Netherlands to carry out an attack with explosives. Half of the arrested suspects are under the age of 20 and are often in a psychologically and socio-economically vulnerable situation. They are easy prey for organized crime. They are recruited online, sometimes for a few tens. They are child sold…

20 May

2026

EN Question

Recruitment of children by organised crime (debate)

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Thank you, Mr Inselvini. According to the European Commission, illegal manufacturing of fireworks could contribute between 25 and 50 % of the national pyrotechnics market in Italy. I am telling you this because those fireworks then find their way into other European Union countries and are being used by criminal gangs, including minors, to conduct their attacks. My question to you is very simple: …

20 May

2026

NL Speech

Rights, support and protection of victims of crime (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, violence against women is on the rise and, for the most part, comes from within our own circle. One in five women in Europe suffers from some form of gender-based violence. Recent research does not predict improvement. From the manosphere, men's medieval ideas about women are gaining ground in the classrooms and influencing the mindset of the next generation of teenage …

20 May

2026

NL Speech

Advancing towards a care society: addressing the gender care gap (debate)

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Everyone knows what it's like to experience stress. Everyone has a busy day at work or school. But what happens if that hustle and bustle doesn't stop when you take off your heels, your sneakers or your clogs at home? If work seamlessly transitions into a private life where we are also expected to arrange everything down to the last detail. The result is that women are twice as likely to suffer fr…

19 May

2026

EN Speech

EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

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Mr President, Europe is the greatest place on earth to be born. Not the US. Our infant mortality rates are the lowest worldwide. The best and most affordable education, whether vocational or academic, is a founding principle of our societies. And our Erasmus+ programme is the envy of many. Europe is the best place to work. We have the right to mind-blowing things like family leave or vacation. In …

19 May

2026

EN Speech

EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

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Mr President, I think it's Rule 10 about the dignity of this House. I don't think that an MEP who speaks about this Parliament as a rubber‑stamping machine is doing an honour or a service to the dignity of this House.…

19 May

2026

EN Question

EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

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I am really surprised that someone coming from the extreme‑right ESN is saying that the European Union is not protecting the people. The people are, in a large majority, already telling us: please move faster, please defend our safety, please defend our security. You are always saying you are the voice of the people. You are not the voice of the people. We are. So, tell me, what is your wonderful …

28 Apr

2026

EN Speech

The Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law report (debate)

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Thank you. You're from Lega, right? Didn't your party kill a proposal in Italy to introduce 'only yes is yes' legislation for rape?