What Raquel spoke about.

2

Apr

2025

Questions EN

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Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (debate)

Colleague, you said that Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian regime, his regime, care about families. That means they care about children. But would you care to explain to me then why it is that two thirds of Hungarians describe the education system as bad – purely bad? And would you care to tell me why the population in Hungary is still shrinking, despite all of the efforts from Viktor Orbán to encourage people to have more children? And would you care to tell me why young people are leaving the country by the tens of thousands because they have no opportunities? How is that caring for families?

2

Apr

2025

Speeches EN

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Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, colleagues, the emperor has no clothes. Hungary is one of the poorest countries in the EU, but Viktor Orbán chooses to wage yet another culture war. Two thirds of Hungarians describe the education system as bad, but Viktor Orbán cares more about schoolbooks being kind to him. Hospitals are crumbling down because of government corruption, but Viktor Orbán thinks undermining our international justice system is more important. Colleagues, the emperor has no clothes. When he cracks down on the pride parade in beautiful Budapest, it means he has nothing. He picks on the most vulnerable because he himself is naked. The majority of Hungarians have no issue with the parade. The majority of Hungarians believe in Europe. So no, Viktor Orbán does not speak for the people. And we must be at their side, and not at his side. Viktor Orbán is a weak autocrat who does not belong in our Union. Member States, please stop the attack against our European unity, values and opportunities. Activate Article 7 now.

1

Apr

2025

Questions ES

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Improving the implementation of cohesion policy through the mid-term review to achieve a robust cohesion policy post 2027 (debate)

I am pleased to know that we are continuing along the same lines as regards the final destination of the cohesion funds, which must contribute to territorial, social and economic cohesion within the European Union. I wanted to ask you, in particular, about the attempts to centralise cohesion policy. You come from a region that surely has a lot of direct access to funds. Mine too. I would like to know if we can work together to maintain that direct access of our cities and regions to cohesion funds, without them being centralised in all Member States.

1

Apr

2025

Speeches NL

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Improving the implementation of cohesion policy through the mid-term review to achieve a robust cohesion policy post 2027 (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, Europe must fundamentally change. But let us not throw away the foundations of Europe with the bathwater. That foundation is our solidarity. The knowledge that we are as strong as our weakest link and as rich as our poorest region. That is a very strong logic, as also endorsed by Draghi and Letta. In our poorest regions, support for Europe is lowest, where Russia and China are trying to buy their influence. Cohesion policy is therefore crucial for our democracy and our security. It can also contribute even more to other strategic goals. However, this will not be possible if we use the mid-term evaluation to transfer money from the poor to the rich regions. That is what, I fear, is going to happen with this proposal, or that we are at risk anyway. That's what I'm worried about. We all want to build a strong Europe, but that is only possible if the whole of Europe participates.

31

Mar

2025

Speeches EN

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Need to ensure democratic pluralism, strengthen integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies in the EU (debate)

Madam President, I would like to start with reminding all of us here that two thirds of all Europeans believe that corruption is a major issue in the European Union in their countries, and that they expect us to combat this with all we have, with all tools, and they expect us to deliver. So, I really have a very hard time – and I'm sorry that I'm not seeing many of my EPP colleagues here anymore tonight – but I'm having a hard time believing that the EPP is serving these citizens, when they are ready to sacrifice the EU ethics body which will be crucial in ensuring transparency within the EU institutions. I am also concerned that the European Commissioner has not mentioned this very prominently in her statement tonight. So, please, EPP colleagues, stop siding with those who are obviously not interested in fighting corruption. Take responsibility. Give us the tools we need. Prevent even more scandals. Protect our reputation and protect the taxpayer.

31

Mar

2025

Questions EN

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Need to ensure democratic pluralism, strengthen integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies in the EU (debate)

Madam President, dear colleague, today, Viktor Orbán tweeted 'Je suis Marine'. Orbán is busy fighting culture wars while Hungarians suffer from his corruption. And I don't say that, Trump's people say that. Health care is a mess. Education is bad, say two thirds of Hungarians. Inflation is up and people leave the country. So please do inform us if Viktor Orbán is Marine Le Pen, why hasn't been he been convicted yet?

13

Mar

2025

Speeches EN

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Request for an urgent decision (Rule 170)

Mr President, I'll take the risk. I would like to make a point of order on the basis of Rule 10(7). Based on media reports today on another corruption scandal in this House affecting the integrity of this House, we finally need to implement the EU Ethics Body fully. I call on the colleagues still blocking the group of experts, as a first step, to stop blocking this. (The President cut off the speaker)

12

Mar

2025

Questions EN

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Adoption of the proposal for a Parenthood Regulation (debate)

Mr Inselvini, here we are again with the blue-card, I hope that this time you will answer my question instead of answering something else. You always talk about the interests of children – and I agree with you, we are all here trying to protect the interests of children. Now, would you be able to explain to me how the interests of a child who has always known two mothers, of whom one of the mothers now may be terminally ill and might die, will be taken care of, the interests of that child, if the other mother – who is not his biological mother – is not recognised as a mother? Because that is what is happening in Italy at the moment.

11

Mar

2025

Speeches EN

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Presentation of the proposal on Critical Medicines Act (CMA) (debate)

Madam President, in 2023, when the United States reversed Roe v Wade, it had a direct effect on the accessibility of abortion medication in the EU, because American states – fearing further restrictions on abortion medication – stocked up. And that led to shortages, for example in France. Now, the worldwide backlash against abortion, in combination with increasingly restrictive US policies, could lead to stockpiling again and shortages. And that is why I urge this Commissioner to aim to include mifepristone and misoprostol on the list of essential medications. As the Commissioner himself said, it's about providing critical medication there and where needed. And if we don't do this, we really risk a lot of women conducting unsafe, not legal or illegal abortions at home, especially in those Member States where this right is severely restricted.

11

Mar

2025

Questions EN

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Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

Thank you again for the Bible study lesson. It's always very interesting and I was wondering if you go around this House asking your colleagues if they have their period, because the Bible also says that you should not sit in a chair which has been occupied by a woman who has her period. Do you also abide to the Bible lesson in that sense?

11

Mar

2025

Speeches NL

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Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

Mr President, condoms, the pill, IUDs and the morning-after pill: I used them all. I have always been free to decide when and with whom I would have children. This should be the norm in Europe. Unfortunately, this freedom is under severe pressure. Ultraconservative movements are investing hundreds of millions of euros to curtail these rights across Europe. They make contraceptives difficult to obtain and priceless. They promote hopeless, natural contraception and criminalize abortion. Women with a desired pregnancy who have a late miscarriage are sent home to wait for their fetus to die on its own, otherwise doctors risk jail time. The European Union has a duty to support women when their governments abandon them, so that they, like me and my three daughters, can remain in charge in their own womb.

11

Mar

2025

Questions EN

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Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

Thank you, Ms Łukacijewska, I really appreciate you mentioning rural women because I also live in a rural area, and I acknowledge how important it is to have the same access as other women. My question to you is: would you agree with me that access to contraception and sexual and reproductive rights – including abortion and abortion pills – for women in rural areas is something that we should all work on?

11

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Protecting the system of international justice and its institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice (debate)

Madam President, I would like to make a point of order based on Rule 178(12). I understand this might require a bit of leniency on your side, because we're not discussing a report, and I do appreciate that the Minister is here the whole day – and it's been a very long day, so thank you so much for your statement. However, it is good practice in this House that the Council and the Commission do really react to the questions posed by the Members of this House, and I am sorry to say that I did not get a clear answer on my question. So I would really like a 'yes' or 'no' answer from the Council Presidency as to will you reprimand the Member States who undermine international law, and will you seek strong, unanimous and unconditional support for the ICC in the next Foreign Affairs Council conclusions?

11

Feb

2025

Questions EN

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Protecting the system of international justice and its institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice (debate)

Mr Ciriani, I hear you talking here about lack of independence of the ICC, according to you, and defending your government for not condemning Trump's sanctions. But just to put this in perspective, what we're talking about here: the court has sentenced three Congolese warlords for recruiting children in their army and brutalities against civilians; they issued an arrest warrant against Muammar Gaddafi before he died; and it has issued an arrest warrant against two Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity. Your government is actively undermining this court. How can you defend this?

11

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Protecting the system of international justice and its institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, thank you for being here tonight dear Council Presidency. The International Criminal Court exists to hold those guilty of the most abject crimes accountable. We have this court because we believe that nobody is above the law: not you, not me, not those who commit genocide and crimes against humanity, no army which commits war crimes – no one, no matter how powerful. Donald Trump, the man the far right here so admires, clearly thinks otherwise. And Trump is not only targeting prosecutors, but potentially everybody in the Netherlands – where the court sits – who help them with building cases, arrests, detentions; civil servants who have dedicated their careers, their lives, to upholding peace and security. And incredibly, some EU Member States such as Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic condone Trump's measures. So I look to the Council Presidency here today, and I would like really two clear 'yes' or 'no' answers. One: will you directly reprimand the Member States who undermine international law? And two: will your Presidency seek to strongly, unconditionally and unanimously support the ICC in the next Foreign Affairs Council conclusions?

10

Feb

2025

Questions EN

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Escalation of gang violence in Sweden and strengthening the fight against organised crime (debate)

Mr Vincze, I think that we share the concern for radicalisation of different groups in our youth. I would like to ask you about the recent report from Europol, about terrorist threats, where it becomes very clear that the methods and the success rate of radicalisation via online media, for example, at the hands of extreme Islamist groups and extreme‑right groups in the EU, are exactly the same. And how do you reflect on that given your contribution?

10

Feb

2025

Answers EN

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Escalation of gang violence in Sweden and strengthening the fight against organised crime (debate)

Thank you so much, colleague, for your question. I do agree that strengthening our police forces at national level is important. But international criminals need a counterpart. They need someone at international level to fight them. And that's why we need a fully operational Europol. It's not this or this, it's together. I will say this, though. We know that there are crimes which are not being prosecuted in Europe because national police forces refused to intervene. So as the case in Malta with the assassination or the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. So we do have an operational force above them to intervene where necessary.

10

Feb

2025

Speeches EN

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Escalation of gang violence in Sweden and strengthening the fight against organised crime (debate)

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, let me begin by expressing my deepest condolences with the families and friends of the shooting in Sweden and, of course, to the Swedish people as a whole. The far right of this Chamber has only one solution for fighting organised crime: let's close our borders and take back our country. But here comes a reality check. Criminals are laughing at your obsession with closing borders. For them, it's just a line. It's the point where they can shake off the national police. They operate extremely efficiently across borders, using bribes, laundering money through your beloved cryptocurrency, trafficking in weapons and recruiting new – very often very young – members for their gangs. Stop misleading Europeans with your naive idea of sovereignty and invest instead in our EU police and justice cooperation. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the American government was fighting their own criminal gangs, the Mafia, they tried closing state borders in and demonising migrants. You know, Mr Inselvini, those Italians, they were really bad. And to the colleagues from PiS: the Poles? Very bad. No good. Well, that did not work. But you know what worked? Founding the FBI. That did the trick. What Europe needs is a truly operational Europol. A European FBI with reinforced means, with oversight and with accountability. Also, Eurojust and the European Public Prosecutor's Office urgently need more competences, as they have shown to be extremely effective and instrumental in fighting organised crime. Commission, absent Council, step up to the challenge. Give our common security the priority it needs. And to my colleagues, if you are really serious about fighting crime, then you will support every single effort in this House at European level. And if you're not, then you're just interested in creating clickbait for your socials and I suggest you sit this one out.

22

Jan

2025

Questions EN

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Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

I'm happy to hear about the initiatives in the field of demography of the Italian Government. I think that all governments should consider this subject very seriously. The Dutch Government has done so as well. But I was wondering, given that immigration into Italy was at an all time high last year, how do you combine that with the ideas that you just presented?

22

Jan

2025

Speeches EN

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Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

Mr President, I will keep saying this: Rule 10(4) of the Rules of Procedure make hate speech and offensive language something we should not allow. Hate speech is clearly defined. 'Population replacement' and every other synonym – this is Nazi terminology; we all know that. This should not be allowed in this Chamber.

22

Jan

2025

Speeches NL

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Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

Mr President, if we give our children the right to remain in their own region, we must also give others the right to come here. Many Europeans want to be able to continue living in their own village. To this end, there must be houses, the hospital in the region must remain open, there must be a school within walking distance and the village house must not go under due to high energy costs. This means that we need professionals from inside and outside Europe: more doctors and nurses, more teachers for the classroom and more people who can install solar panels on the roofs. This is the only way for Europeans to grow up and grow old in our regions. Instead of investing in the region and making progress possible, however, populists kick the brakes and shut the door to good craftsmen. We don't need populism, we need optimism: Looking out instead of the head in the sand.

22

Jan

2025

Speeches EN

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Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

Mr President, thank you for allowing my request. I refer to Rules of Procedure, Rule 10(4), that concerns hate speech or offensive language. The colleague from ESN used the term 'population replacement'. This is generally accepted as hate speech and offensive language, and I request that this be scrapped from the meeting and that the colleague be held responsible for using this hate speech.

21

Jan

2025

Questions EN

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The Hungarian government’s illegal espionage of EU institutions and investigative bodies (debate)

Thank you, colleague, for your intervention. What I don't understand is, why are you so afraid for an investigation? If it's innocent, if there's nothing to prove, if there's nothing wrong, you should be the first one asking for an investigation, because the person who has nothing to hide is never afraid for an investigation at the hands of the competent authorities.

21

Jan

2025

Speeches EN

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The Hungarian government’s illegal espionage of EU institutions and investigative bodies (debate)

Mr President, we have yet another debate about the Orbán Government undermining the European Union, and it turns out that Orbán has most likely been spying on the European Anti-Fraud Office, which was investigating his abuse of EU taxpayers' money through corruption and nepotism. Now, in a healthy system, there should be, at the very least, tough reactions from the other governments. But instead, Hungary's fellow members of the Council keep silent. What are we dealing with here? A group of adults keeping a clean house together or school buddies that don't tell on each other? As for the Commission, can the Commission give an advice on whether it is still safe for the EU agencies to operate in Budapest, or to meet with the Hungarian authorities? Clarity must be given, and the Commission – yes, the Commission is the relevant authority – must open an investigation into these allegations immediately. The Council, under the leadership of Poland, should strongly support this action and if proven, espionage on the EU must be dealt with swiftly and forcefully.

20

Jan

2025

Speeches NL

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, first of all the best wishes for this new year. May you and your loved ones know good luck and enjoy good health. Unfortunately, that will not be the case for the thousands of victims of fireworks during the turn of the year. Two Dutch people lost their lives, including a child. There were five people in Germany. Every year we see victims of very heavy fireworks, which come legally from the factory in one Member State and are illegally sold or imported in another Member State. Children play with fireworks with the explosive power of a hand grenade. Our streets are turning into a war zone. And this happens not only at the turn of the year but throughout the year. Criminals use this fireworks for their attacks all over Europe and this is a failure of the internal market, for which too high a price is paid. Our police officers, emergency responders and local administrators have had enough. Basta! Now is the time to intervene...