What Lukas spoke about.

9

Sep

2025

Questions DE

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Ukraine (joint debate)

Madam President, in accordance with our Rules of Procedure, I would also like to be able to respond to Mrs Strack-Zimmermann's reply. Mrs Strack-Zimmermann, you talked about the fact that we are no longer allowed to do national solo trips, and you talked about the fact that we have to go home and kick our governments' asses. There is a concept that so far only drives a European government, namely that its citizens are allowed to fight in the Ukrainian army. Only Poland can do that. Would you agree with me when I say that we should allow this throughout Europe in order to enable those citizens of our nations who want to fight for freedom to do so?

8

Sep

2025

Speeches EN

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Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles (debate)

Mr President, dear people of Europe, every time this Parliament takes a step toward progress, we hear the same tired chorus: 'Brussels bureaucracy'. This time it is about circularity and vehicle designs, a reform that makes total sense if you are serious about sustainability, consumer rights or even basic industrial logic. Because yes, setting common standards across 27 countries isn't simple. But you know what's worse? Having 27 different standards. We do not need 27 answers to the question on how to recycle a car. What we need is European solutions for European industry, one that makes it easier to reuse parts, recover critical materials and reduce waste, no matter where your vehicle is made or where it breaks down. So to those shouting 'bureaucracy' I say: show me one good law – just one – that brought instant results, zero effort and universal applause. I will wait.

9

Jul

2025

Speeches DE

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EU-US trade negotiations (debate)

Mr President, dear people of Europe! At the age of 20, a friend and I opened a steakhouse. The business went well until a change of ownership of our supplier for T-bone steaks and whisky. Suddenly this supplier demanded renegotiations of current contracts, threatened us with delivery stops and price increases, and at the same time we learned that the new owner had cheated business partners several times, previous companies had regularly gone bankrupt, he discriminated against employees and regularly became insulting. I was shocked, but my partner insisted on negotiating in good faith. The conversations dragged on, the tone became rougher and at some point we were also threatened and insulted. And what was the result of these conversations? This story is, of course, fictional. But I feel the same way about the current EU-US trade talks. I welcome Commissioner Šefčovič's will to negotiate in good faith. But I would like us to talk more about what we are doing with regard to our trade with the US if we do not get another extension on 1.8. Commissioner, the people of Europe need your confidence, but also your foresight.

9

Jul

2025

Speeches DE

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EU-US trade negotiations (debate)

I think you have raised a good point with the table. In fact, we are not alone in this. Of course, we still have to ask ourselves the question, to what extent does this hit us hard and to what extent does it hit the other states and blocs hard? The absolute numbers may be different or the same. The effect can be different. I think the solution is that we in the EU really put ourselves at the forefront of a new international trade law, that we try to take the place that the US previously had in the international trade structure and thus become the number one in world trade.

9

Jul

2025

Questions DE

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EU-US trade negotiations (debate)

Thank you, Mr. President. In accordance with the last sentence of Rule 178(10), I would also like to be able to react to the reply that the colleague gives me. Thank you, Mr. Colleague, for accepting the blue card. I can only agree with you in the need for stability. You have raised one point – I have also raised one point: It was also supported that we are now strengthening our trade agreements with the rest of the world. I'm wondering, and that's my question to you: How can we ensure that the other countries, the other trading blocs in the world, do not take advantage of this situation, that we urgently need new partners now, because the US is unreliable for us, and use it in the negotiations against us? What can we do?

9

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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Lessons from Budapest Pride: the urgent need for an EU wide anti-discrimination law and defending fundamental rights against right-wing attacks (topical debate)

Madam President, once again, in this debate about LGBTQ+ rights, it's because of Rule 10(4) of Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament prohibiting hate speech. Saying that a man who wears lip gloss on his face is a perversion is hate speech, dear colleagues. It's not allowed. You can, of course, have another opinion about if you think it's pretty or not, but it's not perverse. Let people be who they are. This is what is enshrined in our Rules of Procedure. Madam President, as so often before, I ask the Bureau to take care of this. We have seen this in all debates since I entered this Parliament – in all debates when it came to LGBTQ+ issues, we have seen hate speech like this. I'm sick of this. I know a big part of the plenary is sick of this and it needs to stop now.

8

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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State of play of implementation of the European Media Freedom Act in the Member States (debate)

It's not a point of order; it's a reaction. Thank you, dear colleague. I can just tell you two things when you talk about the fact that the only corrective that is needed is the reader – I advise you to research a little bit about the effect that the state-controlled media of the communist German Democratic Republic had or, on the other hand, the state-controlled media of the Nazi regime in Germany. I can tell you from my national experience, the idea that the only corrective is the reader is very, very naïve and you should think about this again.

8

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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State of play of implementation of the European Media Freedom Act in the Member States (debate)

No point of order. No. Or did I get the translation wrong?

8

Jul

2025

Questions EN

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State of play of implementation of the European Media Freedom Act in the Member States (debate)

In accordance with Rule 178(10), the last sentence of the Rules of Procedure, I would also ask for your permission to react to the answer that I will get from my colleague. Thank you, colleague, for accepting the blue card – you talked a lot about the dangers of one unified administrative body that regulates the media and the press. My question would be, do you think that media and press should be fully free without any oversight, being able to also spread lies and disinformation? And if not, what body can control this? Where can we put a safeguard in place?

8

Jul

2025

Speeches DE

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

Thank you very much, Mr Colleague, for this statement. I can only agree with you. I think the most important thing about this is: Of all the things you just mentioned – I personally knew about half of them, I think the average citizen, the average citizen of the European Union, knows almost none of them. I think it is all the more important here that we explain these instruments, that we explain the possibilities that we have, in this competition, in this rivalry, to the population sufficiently, so that they do not feel that the Chinese are just dancing on our noses all day long.

8

Jul

2025

Questions DE

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

Madam President, in accordance with Rule 178 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, I would also like to ask you for the possibility to react to the reply that Mr Lange gives to me right now. Thank you, Mr. Colleague, for accepting the blue card. My question would be, in your opinion, what can be done if China does not agree to let these practices, which we criticise here with a large majority, actually be re-established? What are we going to do in the future if we don't come to an agreement?

7

Jul

2025

Speeches DE

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Madam President, dear people of Europe! What I particularly love about my job are the many first times. Last week I was for the first time at the splash! festival and at the same time the first member of parliament backstage at Germany's largest hip-hop festival. Just for a moment, dear house: Think back to your last festival, this concert you will never forget. These places are not a luxury. They are the heart of our culture. They connect people, create identity and give hope. And yet: If you want to promote European culture today, you need a master's degree in bureaucracy. I know this: As a lawyer, I have advised companies on funding applications, and I can tell you that these applications are a single disaster. Maybe it needs more MPs backstage at festivals like the splash! – but there is a particular need for support programmes that arrive where people live, where culture lives. Because culture is what unites us all here in Europe.

7

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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From institution to inclusion: an EU action plan for deinstitutionalisation, family- and community-based care (debate)

So my law studies were good for something after all, thank you Mr Vice-President. Dear colleague, I can just tell you that the people, the will of the people, the will of the Italian people, that was what led to this European Union. They decided democratically to give power, to give trust to the European Union. Therefore, I think you should not in general be against that. You should respect the democratic will of your people to follow the European path.

7

Jul

2025

Questions EN

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From institution to inclusion: an EU action plan for deinstitutionalisation, family- and community-based care (debate)

Mr President, in accordance with Rule 178(10), the last sentence, I would ask for your approval to be able to react to the answer that I will get from the speaker. Dear colleague, thank you very much for taking this blue card. You said in your speech that we do not need more centralised rules from Brussels. That's something that we hear over and over again. And every time I hear that, I'm wondering, because this is the European Parliament, so we are not even in Brussels. That's a separate story. But my question is: is this not here Italian politics? Are there not Italians here and Spanish and Germans? Are we not also all the people?

7

Jul

2025

Speeches EN

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Product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports (debate)

Mr President, dear people of Europe, I am happy to see that there is so much unity in this House when it comes to the necessity of e-commerce consumer protection. What troubles me a little bit is the idea that we can just apply the laws that we have and that this will solve the situation, because we are talking, in fact, about the internet. I know that for some of us this is maybe hard to grasp still, but the internet is developing very, very, very fast. One colleague from Renew said we can just enact the DSA. The DSA was drafted in 2020. It was accepted by this Parliament in 2022, then the Council said yes also in 2022, and since 2024, it's actually in action. In internet terms, that's a pretty, pretty, pretty long time ago. Even while I'm speaking right now, there is development in the internet that our legislation is not up to. So if we take one thing from this situation, it is that we have to update constantly.

19

Jun

2025

Speeches DE

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Protecting bees: advancing the EU's New Deal for Pollinators (debate)

Madam President, dear people of Europe! Personally, I always find the debates in this European Parliament the most interesting, where everyone actually agrees, but where at the same time the greatest nonsense is being told. Everyone here agrees that bees must be saved in one way or another. Some say agriculture is to blame, others say pesticides are to blame. Commissioner, I would like to tell you very briefly: What I think is best about the proposal you are making is urban greening. Because this is the habitat from which we have almost completely driven the animals, and if we bring a bit more green into the cities again – this is not only good for the mental health of people, it is also good for nature. So, as everyone actually agrees, I would like to call on the House here to let these ideological trenches be a bit more. The funniest thing I've heard, the biggest shot is the one with the windmills. It is really so stupid to say that wind turbines are evil because animals die as a result. Calculate, if you like to throw numbers around, how many animals die, when climate change really pops in with us! There is nothing more to biodiversity. So, let's stand together, let's stick to the ratio! Have a nice weekend!

19

Jun

2025

Speeches EN

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Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges (debate)

Mr President, dear people of Europe, it really drives me crazy when some people here in this debate say that the EU was never able to fix the big problems of our time, when it's the same people that, when we ask for a strong and robust financial mandate for the European Union, say no. When we asked to unify the European Union's competences on cross-border challenges, they say no. So the same people that sabotage the constant updating of this Union now claim that this Union is not able to solve anything and therefore should not be extended. The second thing that drives me crazy every time I hear it is when they say, 'Oh, we cannot do this enlargement because it will cost us money', and they throw around these big numbers. I'm a jurist; I do not come from the economy, but what I understand is that you have to invest if you want to grow your business. And investing in enlargement is investing in the future of Europe, of the European Union.

18

Jun

2025

Speeches DE

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Media freedom in Georgia, particularly the case of Mzia Amaglobeli

Mr President, dear people of Europe! If you want to look at the extent to which a state is moving away from democracy, you have to look at how it deals with journalists. When journalists are imprisoned in a state for doing their job, that state distances itself from democracy. Now you have already applauded, Mr Bystron, but you have applauded a little too early, you have not listened to me until the end. Listen to the end, then you are welcome to add your mustard! This is something else when it is established in the context of a constitutional procedure that people use the mantle of journalism to decompose the system. Rule of law, Mr. Colleague, you will continue to get to know them in the future as part of the various criminal proceedings against you. I hope that this debate, this resolution, will be adopted. I hope that the unjustly imprisoned journalists in Georgia will be released and that we in Europe will continue to have the courage to take action against those who merely abuse the Institute of Journalism.

18

Jun

2025

Speeches IT

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Electricity grids: the backbone of the EU energy system (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, dear citizens of Europe, energy is the lifeblood of our society, but today our electricity grids are too old, too slow and too isolated. If we want more renewable energy, electric cars and clean industries, we need a strong, modern and connected European electricity grid. A network that unites the sun of the South, the wind of the North and the power of innovation everywhere. This requires investment, cooperation between states and less bureaucracy. We can't afford any delays. The climate is changing, costs are rising and energy security is a global challenge. A European electricity network is not just a technical project, it is a promise of solidarity, sustainability and sovereignty.

18

Jun

2025

Questions DE

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Electricity grids: the backbone of the EU energy system (debate)

Thank you, Madame, for accepting the blue card. Among other things, you mentioned the shortage of skilled workers. The figures are very clear, and as much as I agree with you on the training offensive, I think you will agree with me when I say that the experts tell us that we cannot cope with this shortage of skilled workers alone with our own population. At the same time, there are great fears of immigration in large parts of the population and also in this Parliament. How can we effectively use immigration to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in the energy sector and in all other sectors?

18

Jun

2025

Speeches ES

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Safeguarding the rule of law in Spain, ensuring an independent and autonomous prosecutor's office to fight crime and corruption (debate)

Mr President, dear people of Europe, we all agree: Whoever steals from public office must go to jail, also if he belongs to the Government of Sanchez. But now some here say that this government has stolen power. They forget that he was elected by the Spanish people. Corrupt politicians can also be elected in democracy. But if there is corruption, it is decided by the courts. Democracy is not perfection, but how mistakes are dealt with. The rule of law is not the absence of crimes, but the response to them. I hope our Spanish friends take this seriously. Europe is watching.

18

Jun

2025

Speeches EN

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Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act (debate)

Mr President, people of Europe, I am a man. I feel right in the body that I was born into. I am heterosexual. I am what's called an 'ally'. Someone who does not belong to a community, but who stands with them, who fights with them against fear, against hatred. I stand with a proud community because I believe in equal rights for all the people. Because tens of thousands of homosexual and trans people have been murdered in German concentration camps. Because when I speak of love and intimacy with a woman, no one calls it propaganda. No one says it's a danger to children. No one calls it a sin. I am an ally. And what I offer is this: my voice, my time, my solidarity, my rightful fury. I am a human being. And so are you. So are all the people. I am an ally.

18

Jun

2025

Questions EN

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Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act (debate)

Thank you, colleague, you just very colourfully outlined your interpretation of what happened at the Warsaw Pride. As it sounded to me, you automatically assume that every man who shows his body automatically scares children, that drag queens automatically scare children, that trans people automatically scare children. So I just wanted to ask you if, in your opinion, in your worldview, the people of the LGBTQI+ community are automatically a danger to children? And if not, where is the line for you?

18

Jun

2025

Questions EN

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Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act (debate)

Thank you colleague, I'm up here in the middle for you. We have many colleagues today that claim that this all with the human rights by the European Union that we defended, that's an infringement of the Member States' rights of sovereignty. As you know, I'm just a simple jurist, but you were a chairman of a constitutional court, so maybe you could take this moment to explain to our colleagues how it actually works on a legal level, with the rights guaranteed by the European Union and the sovereignty of the Member States in this regard. I would be very happy.

18

Jun

2025

Speeches DE

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

Mr President, dear people of Europe! Sometimes I wish we were really alone the lackeys of the United States; then it would not be so painfully alien to the world if some here claim that we serve American interests alone in our defense. Sometimes I wish that Ukraine was really just a proxy war with the West; then these distortions of the reality that some are doing here would not be such a shameless insult to the bravery and freedom of the Ukrainian people. Sometimes I wish spending on our defense was really just taken out of the social pots; then this dilettant understanding of budgetary policy, which some are pursuing, would not be so embarrassing for all the other Members. In a perfect world, we don't need armies, we don't need armor. Until then, we need NATO.