What Ton spoke about.

20

May

2026

Speeches NL

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Recruitment of children by organised crime (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, in an increasing number of Member States, children are being recruited for all kinds of serious criminal, even cross-border, activities. In December 2024, another Dutch drug dealer in Spain was liquidated by a Belgian teenager, on behalf of a criminal organisation. It is attractive for organised crime to recruit minors because they receive a lighter sentence or in some cases are not punished at all. Criminal organisations treat children as disposable items: cheap, replaceable and legally attractive. The penalties imposed vary considerably from one Member State to another. Organised crime makes use of this – or rather: abuse. Prevention alone is not enough. Anyone who commits minors to organised crime must be tackled harshly. However, minors who are repeatedly involved in organised crime must also be tackled harshly, and in some cases also their parents. It is up to the Member States to criminalise certain acts, which unfortunately is not yet the case everywhere when it comes to minors. This is possible thanks to European cooperation. Europol plays an important role in this.

30

Apr

2026

Answers NL

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How to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases? (debate)

Mr President, there is laughter here and it is very sad that there is laughter here. It may be a nonsense story for you, but I can tell you that there are farmers in the Netherlands, and also in Belgium, who have to deal with this serious form of stray current, as a result of which cows have less milk production and also suffer the management. There are reports on the basis of this, supported by scientific research by five professors. We ask that research be carried out at European level, because there are several companies in the Netherlands and Belgium in which entire families suffer and where loans from banks are also withdrawn, because it is so serious. So I think it's inappropriate to talk like that here.

30

Apr

2026

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How to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases? (debate)

Mr President, in the Netherlands and Belgium there are livestock farms that are not so much affected by animal diseases, but suffer from the consequences of the energy transition by wind farms in the vicinity of dairy farms. Dairy cattle also have a chance to be confronted with stray current: current that inadvertently flows away via alternative roads, such as the ground. There is strong evidence that stray current leads to a reduction in milk production in the cows, and the dairy farmers who are confronted with it are begging for independent scientific research. However, without result. I have also brought this problem to your attention, Commissioner, and I have asked you to make funds available for scientific research, which is supported by at least five professors from the Netherlands and Belgium. This research is important to show that stray electricity caused by wind farms affects the operation of dairy farms and that measures are needed to ensure that milk production, and thus food security, is not jeopardised. It is one of the ways, beyond the prevention and control of animal diseases, to ensure a sustainable future for European livestock farming.

18

Dec

2025

Speeches NL

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Decarbonisation and modernisation of EU fisheries, and the development and deployment of fishing gear (A10-0236/2025 - Ton Diepeveen) (vote)

10

Jul

2025

Speeches NL

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Post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, European agriculture is stuck. The Green Deal has shut down the sector. And what farmers need is not more ideology, but room for food security, earning capacity and freedom to farm. The idea of one large agricultural fund with more centralisation is not a solution. What is needed is to reduce the overregulation that blocks innovation and stifles entrepreneurship. Innovation, that is the key, also within agriculture. Whether it concerns renure, precision agriculture and NGTs or techniques that have yet to be developed, we have to give space. We shouldn't brake. I count on the Commission to swiftly adapt existing legislation so that innovation becomes possible, today and tomorrow. What farmers need is not a political labyrinth, but a clear and workable regulatory framework. Only if we implement these changes will we strengthen their competitiveness, because without a clear future perspective there will be no new generation of farmers. I wish you luck, Commissioner.

13

Mar

2025

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A Vision for Agriculture and Food (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, after years of imposing rule by rule – one stricter than the other – after years of pressure on the agricultural sector with green objectives, often pushed by green lobby groups, the European Commission is finally talking about simplification. The common agricultural policy has been completely derailed and is now far from the reality of our farmers. It is high time to return to the core, to farmers who produce food and do not produce papers. Fewer rules, less interference from Brussels is what our farmers really need. Investing in technological progress and smart innovations, that's where the real sustainability comes in. But it's all taking way too long. Innovation in agriculture and fisheries is stalled in procedures, rules, permits. As a result, new techniques remain on the shelf for too long. This must and can be different. Brussels should not be on the brakes, but rather press the accelerator to give our farmers and fishermen quick access to innovation. Only then will our agriculture and fisheries sector remain competitive. Only then will we be future-proof. And only then can we talk about trade agreements in which our farmers have a level playing field.

13

Feb

2025

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EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement (debate)

Mr President, the agreement between the EU and Mercosur offers opportunities, but it also entails risks. Our farmers are squeezed and faced with strict rules, while cheap imports from South America enter without any problems. As far as food safety is concerned, the Commission's report shows that Brazil uses banned growth hormones. Nevertheless, the Commission continues to claim that everything is under control. This poses a danger to consumers and is a stab in the back of our farmers. What do we get in return for this? In the Netherlands, a paltry 0.03% economic growth, while our livestock farmers are thrown in front of the bus. To top it all off, Brussels is also pumping EUR 1.8 billion of taxpayers' money into Mercosur, part of which goes to farmers in Brazil, while our own farmers are left out in the cold. There is no level playing field, no fair trade, but even more bureaucracy and imports from countries that do not respect our rules. This is madness. Delete this agreement. Screw back the Green Deal so that our farmers can finally escape this swamp of climate madness.

22

Jan

2025

Answers NL

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Links between organised crime and smuggling of migrants in light of the recent UN reports (debate)

Mr Smit, I look forward to your proposal. I have already put forward a number of solutions, but we are always ready for constructive consultation. I would therefore like to respond to your invitation and I am very curious about your proposals. I will also explain our vision on that occasion. However, if you have listened carefully, it is more than clear.

22

Jan

2025

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Links between organised crime and smuggling of migrants in light of the recent UN reports (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Bruner, the latest UN report on human trafficking paints a sad picture. Human smuggling continues to increase and is driven by global criminal organisations. Illegal migrants lured to Europe by Europe's open borders policy and our hospitable welfare states are easy prey for these types of criminals. These criminals are ruthless and are the direct cause that these illegal migrants end up in drug trafficking, organised crime or prostitution or become victims of labour exploitation. We must crack down on these criminal networks by closing Europe's external borders. If illegal migrants no longer have a chance to enter Europe, we will undermine the entire business model of smugglers. In addition, we must also tackle the smugglers of human beings vigorously by cooperating intensively not only at national level, but also, above all, at international level.

27

Nov

2024

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Stepping up the fight against and the prevention of the recruitment of minors for criminal acts (debate)

Mr President, juvenile delinquency is a major and serious problem. In 2023, more than 16,000 minors between the ages of 12 and 18 were registered as suspects of crime in the Netherlands. Between the ages of 18 and 23, there were more than twenty-three thousand. Minors are therefore increasingly used by internationally operating gangs to carry out their criminal activities. What helps these gangs in this respect is the free movement of people within the EU. For example, minors are used by them to remove drugs from containers in the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, and in other ports within the EU. But more serious crimes, including attacks with explosives such as Cobra fireworks, are also increasingly carried out by minors. It is very important that we as a society make it clear that crime is not tolerated, regardless of age. Young people who commit crimes should be held accountable for their actions. This means that we must take stricter measures against juvenile offenders and their parents, with whom the educational responsibility lies. In any case, the juvenile justice system needs to be strengthened, with the Member States joining forces.

9

Oct

2024

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Prevention of drug-related crimes, their effect on European citizens and the need for an effective European response (debate)

Mr President, I have noticed that Mrs von der Leyen has not been able to look to the right in recent months, but I promise you that I will also look to the left today. International drug crime is a growing problem and, according to Europol, more than EUR 31 billion of illicit drugs are trafficked in the EU every year. More than 70% of the cocaine entering Europe passes through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. Last year alone, 60 tons of cocaine were seized in the Netherlands. In Rotterdam, the largest single drug seizure ever took place: Eight tons of cocaine with a street value of 600 million euros, hidden in a container. According to Europol, 821 dangerous organised crime networks are active in the EU. The street value of cocaine is increasing year after year. Crime pays off and that is the core of the problem. We need to crack down on drug offenders and their networks. We need to work better with the police in the source countries in South America and arrest suspects more quickly, as well as seize their goods more quickly. Because drug crime is also a direct consequence of the EU's open borders policy.