Speeches

Madam President, it's remarkable that the far left and the far right use the same arguments about inviting Russia to sports and culture events. I will not give arguments but names. Oleksandr Pielieshenko, a European weightlifting champion, died on the frontline on 5 May 2024. Yurii Kerpatenko, a conductor, was murdered by Russian soldiers in 2022. Kateryna Diachenko, a talented gymnast killed in a Russian attack on Mariupol. She was 11 years old. I could read another 500 names of Ukrainian athletes and artists who will never compete or create again, or thousands of names of people who cannot play football, write or compose because they fight for their lives on the front lines. But I only have one minute, so I will instead say, until every Ukrainian is free to trade a gun for a paintbrush, to swap bunkers for sports fields, the participation of Russians in cultural or sporting events is an insult to the memory of the dead, and a mark of shame for any institution that hosts them.

Madam President, a family closes the curtains, afraid to be seen as they practice their faith. A woman hides her Star of David necklace as she walks down the street. A child sits in a classroom behind bullet-proof glass. This is unacceptable, but it is the sad reality for Jewish people in Europe. After centuries of persecution, Jewish people can walk down Amsterdam's streets full of memorials, but they still open their newspapers to see an attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam and an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam. Antisemitism is a poison that is rising again. So we should stand in solidarity with Jewish communities, punish hate crimes, speak out against intolerance and invest in prevention through education. It does not matter how many memorials we build or moments of silence we hold for the dead if the living cannot live in peace.

Madam President, are we going to AI heaven where we all live like Greek gods served by AI robots, or AI hell where we are ruled by techno‑feudal overlords? Probably neither, but we are witnessing the start of a civilisational shift. The rise of artificial intelligence will shape our economies, our societies, and our future. The question is, will Europe build this future or merely endure it? We can either shape this technology with European values and clear ethical standards, or accept US technologies designed without them. That is why the Digital Markets Act must deliver and open the door for competition in the AI and cloud sector. We have the potential, but European innovators need a fair chance to build European cloud services and European AI, because if we do not shape this world, others will do it for us.

Madam President, colleagues, Trump demands that we follow him into war. International law is ignored again. Groceries are more expensive. Businesses struggle with high energy prices. A tank of gas costs more than ever. And the profits are flowing directly into Putin's pockets. All because of another reckless war the US Government started. That same United States raises tariffs, threatens to invade Greenland and has a security strategy that aims to destroy the EU. And now that same United States demands our help. Well, if you want our help, act like the ally we once knew – support Ukraine, show some respect for international law, and stop this destructive war. Europe, these are things we can demand when we are united. We can achieve so much more without a veto, without a traitor wannabe dictator in Hungary. Let's create a United States of Europe and speak with one voice.

Mr President, on Friday night, the first bombs fell on Iran. The Ayatollah was killed and we held our breath. What happens next? What will we do? Then, President von der Leyen announced that the EU will discuss this on Monday. Two weeks later, we still have not really found our course of action. Spain wants to go left. Germany wants to go right. And while we bicker about if this was a breach of international law – spoiler, it is – the result is a standstill because we do not have one foreign policy. We are bystanders. United action looks like this: a naval mission to free the Strait of Hormuz from mines and protect oil and trade shipping; bringing European citizens back safely from the Middle East together; collectively pushing the US to be clear on the goal of this war and act in line with international law. Divided, we will always remain reactive bystanders, but acting as the united states of Europe can lead us through any global crisis.

Madam President, a German commander, a Belgian pilot and a Dutch engineer walk into a plane. No, this is not the start of a bad joke, it's what I saw last week at my visit to the Air Mobility Command in Eindhoven. This – multinational cooperation for transport and in-air refuelling – is great. It already works, but with EU leadership it could work even better. That is why I include it in this report on European defence projects of common interest. By buying big, complex systems like satellites together, we generate economies of skill and ensure taxpayers' money is used efficiently. To make sure they are also used effectively, we need to operate and maintain them in the entire life cycle, at Union level. And to create the systems of tomorrow, we need stronger EU synergies between research, innovation and industrial development. Commissioner, let's make it a reality, because the German, the Belgian and the Dutch I met are not a joke – they are a glimpse into Europe's future.

Mr Mandl, thank you for your intervention and for explaining that you envision a strong role for Parliament. This framework agreement contains some good elements that you also pointed out, but they are quite small – still baby steps. If you look further ahead in the future and have a bolder vision with larger steps that you could decide, what would that look like?

Madam President, colleagues, the European Council has threatened to take the Commission to court because of this agreement – before we even voted on it. That's perhaps the only time I've seen the Council act this fast. War in Iran? Ah, that can wait till Monday! Europeans getting a stronger voice in Brussels? Quick, bring out the lawyers! This agreement gives a little more power to the European Parliament and therefore more power to you, the people of Europe. And some countries in the Council don't want that, because they hold on to their power and their outdated nationalism of the previous century. But the Council isn't working well. It's like a merry-go-round: it's loud, flashy, sometimes fun to watch, but never really gets anywhere. It's democratic, yes, a meeting of national leaders – but in the end, your voice is diluted, twisted, and ultimately at the mercy of the veto from every wannabe dictator or stubborn nationalist. So instead, who should have more power in European politics? You. The people of Europe. You vote directly for this Parliament and deserve a Parliament which is the most important democratic body of the EU. One that can propose new laws, can vote a real European government in and out of office, and can summon any politician to an inquiry. That is a democratic 'United States of Europe' – a Europe of this century. And I want you, the European people, to be in charge of it.

Mr President, apparently, some European leaders were offended by Zelenskyy's comments in Davos. Seriously? What about the following is untrue? 'In Europe, there are endless internal arguments and things left unsaid that stop Europe from uniting and speaking honestly enough to find real solutions. [...] Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America's focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost'. Europe's problem is its institutions. The current way, Europe will remain a divided collection of small and medium‑sized powers. When we are united, we are truly invincible: 'a global force, not one that reacts late, but one that defines the future.' This is an accurate description of the current reality. So, to these European leaders that felt uncomfortable I say: if the truth makes you feel uncomfortable, please get more uncomfortable. You will never be as uncomfortable as the Ukrainian mum in Kyiv trying to keep her baby warm in the freezing cold. So, face the truth and act: set up a no‑fly zone, give the Taurus rockets, give all emergency heating and accelerate EU accession.

I agree, but another way to help them could be to, for example, protect western Ukrainian skies with European air forces so that Ukraine has more protection and more capacity to focus on the front line and for fighting off the Russians. What do you think about that idea?

Mr Groothuis, I know you as a strong supporter for Ukraine and your call for stop with being complacent and us needing to be more busy with ourselves, it appeals to me. I also share your frustration towards some of the countries who put petty politics before support for Ukraine. But my question to you is, if we look at ourselves and we want to be busy with ourselves, what other steps can we take to make sure that Ukraine wins?

Madam President, 'keep dreaming', Mark Rutte said. 'If you think Europe can ever defend itself without the US, keep dreaming'. Sure, we were asleep for too long, but this vision leads nowhere. Centuries ago, the Netherlands was seven little provinces, surrounded by threats, too weak to stand against them, dependent on protection from unreliable allies. And these seven provinces united and created the Dutch army. What if they hadn't, because 'Dutch army' sounded scary or because people without a vision told leaders, 'keep dreaming'? If they had listened, the Netherlands would not be here today. Colleagues, I don't give a ... what we call it – a European army, a European defence union, the European soldier sorority for all I care – as long as we get it done. We need autonomous defence with European command, capabilities and forces. This is not a dream; it's a plan.

Mr President, in three months, on 9 May, we celebrate Europe Day. And we could be launching the largest democratic revolution in the history of Europe. 'Europe' – that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We cannot be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. We can build the United States of Europe, because Europe is a beautiful place worth defending. And should we succeed in the coming months, 9 May will no longer only be known as Europe Day, but as the day that Europeans declared with one voice: 'We will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. We're going to live on. We're going to survive.' That day we celebrate our 'European Independence Day'.

Mr President, dear colleagues, around ten years ago Volt was founded. Since then, we've called for a European army. Since then, people have called us naive. Naive when we said that hiding behind the US was not an appropriate defence strategy. But now Putin's drones fly over Europe, the American noose tightens over Greenland and NATO is crumbling. And the only naive thing is thinking that we can go without a European army. We don't even have our own command headquarters. Dealing with today's global dangers with yesterday's national armies is like bringing a bayonet to a drone fight. While I applaud this action plan for European drones, we must do more to be fit for today's security challenges. Replace American generals, software and weapons with European alternatives. Start with the European countries that want to move fast and combine their militaries: others can join later. And finally, start to build a real European army to defend the United States of Europe. Opinion polls show Europeans want this. So let us not wait for war to unite us, let us unite to prevent war.

Madam President, 'the old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters.' This quote from an Italian philosopher about changing times is very fitting. To navigate these times, Europe doesn't have to be a monster or a victim. All we have to do is unite – unite and take responsibility for bringing about a new and better world order, together with partners like Canada and Japan and partners in South America and Africa, with a more powerful United Nations with balanced representation. If we want to not only defeat Putin's and Trump's imperialism, but also create a better new world, we need to stop being afraid and start believing in our own strength – the strength of unity. So, High Representative Kallas and President Costa, don't only react to the events of this week: proactively shape the coming decades and build a Union on foundations that will last for another century – a United States of Europe now!

Mr President, President Trump is not used to asking for consent, and the Government of the USA does not believe in international law: they only listen to force. And in a world of force, Europe can be a force of good. So, after a year of ass-kissing, it's time to change strategy because Europe also has power: we are their largest trading partner. Big tech relies on our massive markets. They need military bases in Europe and Europeans hold a lot of US sovereign debt. The costs that the US would pay if they take Greenland must be higher than the benefits. For that, we should activate the Anti-Coercion Instrument and, in the meantime, accelerate to independence and speak with one voice. Let's create a United States of Europe with a European army to back each other up when we are under attack, just like the Three Musketeers: all for one, one for all.

Madam President, colleagues, while Europe watches the frozen island of Greenland with fear, let's not forget the island of Cyprus – frozen in conflict. Dear President, the next six months are about making Europe independent. But this presidency is also a chance for more: to put Cyprus back on the map and support reconciliation between Turkish and Greek Cypriots; a chance to lead by example on governing with integrity. Cypriots and other Europeans have had enough of the corruption scandals recently. If you want an example of what your presidency could look like, look no further than Volt Cyprus – the political party in Cyprus that has members from both communities. And implement the public registry of political donations that Volt Cyprus recently proposed, so citizens – not money – run our democracy. President, make Cypriots and Europeans proud by making Cyprus corruption-free and Europe independent. Let's do it together. Good luck.

Mr Cross, this is nonsense, of course. We are talking about AI-generated deepfakes of minors that cause lifelong harm to the minors involved. Countries are too small to tackle this problem alone or force these big tech companies to create platforms that are safe for everyone. Most importantly, our entire society, including women and children, can safely use social media. For this, we need Europe more than ever.

Mr Kruis, you are constantly telling stories about X and talking about a digital dictatorship. You say we impose censorship on the people. In some cases, that reasoning is already far-fetched, but now it really makes no sense. We have the ability to impose rules. What you argue, however, reminds me of a quote from the Dutch rapper Feis: “It is not my fault that people suffer. Even a dromedary does not see his own hump’. I believe that all EU institutions should get rid of X, which you probably do not want. My question to you is therefore: Under what circumstances should the European institutions remove their official accounts from X?

Madam President, dear Commissioner, in Europe we plant the seeds of a business. We water the tree, we protect it from the wind and the rain. And then we let somebody else eat the fruit. Europe ends up with the seeds while the USA gets Apple. For once, let's try and act like founders with a mindset of ambition, innovation and getting things done fast. With a focus on building something truly European, I've travelled to capitals across the EU to talk to founders and they gave me three points. Firstly, create 'EU Inc.': one legal entity for companies to make it easier to scale across borders. Secondly, make company law that offers flexibility and delivers predictability for international investors. And thirdly, rules are fine as long as they are one set of rules, not 27, so this has to be a regulation. Across societies, genius is divided equally, but opportunities are not. If we create opportunities, our European orchard will grow with massive trees and enough fruit for all Europeans.

Madam President, there it is, the so‑called smoking gun. A former Member of the European Parliament, Nathan Gill, admitted to spreading Russian propaganda in exchange for some money. He will spend ten years in prison in the UK. Unfortunately, he is not the only one. One former Member, Béla Kovács, fled to Russia to avoid arrest and he still lives there today. Another one was suspected of working for the Russian secret service. And then there's the case of former Dutch Member Marcel de Graaff, who spread Russian disinformation about paedophile networks, human trafficking and even organ harvesting in Ukraine. Statements so extreme that it makes Medvedev and Lavrov look mild. Two years ago, in the Voice of Europe scandal, authorities in EU countries uncovered that Moscow paid European Parliament Members to undermine support for Ukraine. Are these isolated cases, or is it just the tip of the iceberg? We don't know because we don't get to the bottom of it. The UK just launched a full inquiry to uncover how deep this problem goes in their country. And what do we do? So far, not much. It's up to Europe to act as well. Let's start with what we can do today instate the ethics body, and let's give the European Parliament the right of inquiry, like most parliaments have, so we can investigate interference in our democracy. Then we can truly get to the bottom of this, uncover how far this interference really goes, and stop it. Our democracy is under attack. We have to defend it.

Mr President, what do Trump, Putin, Xi and the tech autocrats have in common? They are all afraid of a united Europe and that's why they want to destroy it. The US National Security Strategy says out loud what we have known for years: they want a Europe of 27 weak nations. A classic example of divide and conquer. So we are on our own. President von der Leyen said that this is Europe's moment of independence. I agree with her. So, European prime ministers, this is one of the most important European Council meetings in years. Face reality and do what's needed: use the frozen Russian assets and give them to Ukraine; find new partners; ratify Mercosur; and defend our democracy by cracking down on foreign interference. At the end of the day, we – Europe – are in this together. We need a United States of Europe now, because that is the key to solving all the challenges of the 21st century.