What Lucia spoke about.

6

May

2025

SK Speech

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A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world (debate)

Dear Commissioner. The next Multiannual Financial Framework must not be merely an excel exercise. It must be a strategic response to the challenges we face. This includes supporting the most vulnerable regions, including at the border with the war in Ukraine. They are not a periphery – they are Europe’s strategic space. Because without a strong eastern Slovakia, even western France will not be str…

5

May

2025

SK Speech

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Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2023 (debate)

1

Apr

2025

SK Speech

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CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

Madam President, the Russians are armored, as if nothing should exist the day after tomorrow. If we don't stop Putin together, he'll go on. The deputy defense minister told me these words on my way to Kiev on Saturday. And, you know, I am really shocked that colleagues in this plenary, too, are still living under the illusion that we are not concerned. The two reports we are discussing here today …

31

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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Guidelines for the 2026 budget - Section III (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, just last night, I returned from Kyiv, where I witnessed first-hand the looming threat that Russia poses to all of Europe. And believe me, we cannot afford to ignore the growing risks of further aggression further. It is crucial that we make security a top priority in our 2026 budget guidelines and negotiate it resolutely with Member States. I want to thank …

11

Mar

2025

SK Speech

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White paper on the future of European defence (debate)

on behalf of the PPE-DE Group. - (DE) Mr President, colleagues, let us acknowledge this and say it out loud. We have a war in Europe that we have not experienced since the 1940s, and under the pressure of a new geopolitical situation, there is a real risk that it will end in the loss of Ukraine. But the war can also move deeper into Europe, and that's exactly what Putin is doing. Defeat Ukraine, g…

11

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, during this discussion, we need to acknowledge that gender equality is not just a matter of justice, but also of security. I think we hear it over here. Women need to be secure from physical and sexual violence, and they also need to be present when looking for safe solutions. Thanks to this roadmap, we now have a path forward, and I am honoured to shadow its impl…

13

Feb

2025

SK Speech

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Cross-border recognition of civil status documents of same-sex couples and their children within the territory of the EU (debate)

Madam President, I stand here today with a vision of a Europe that is fair, kind and faithful to its common values, Mr President. A Europe built on tolerance, where the relationship of two adults is decided by their feelings, their mutual feelings, and not by the permission of politicians, where every child, regardless of the orientation or gender of their parents, has the right to stability, safe…

19

Dec

2024

SK Speech

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Recommendation to the Council on the EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women - EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (joint debate - EU priorities for the upcoming session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women)

Mr President, unequal pay, attacks on sexual and reproductive rights, hate speech and violence. This is the real reality and position of women in the world, not what is mentioned here today, unfortunately. We are still fighting the same battles as we did thirty years ago when the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were adopted. It was a huge leap for us back then, and today we are not onl…

17

Dec

2024

EN Speech

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Toppling of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region (debate)

Mr President, Madam Vice-President, dear colleagues, the fall of Assad's regime not only shows that the oppressed do not give in to the lack of freedom – in Syria, in Ukraine, anywhere. It has also delivered a significant blow to Russia and Iran and, within two weeks, reshaped the dynamics in the region. However, this is no guarantee of stability. As we know, the direction of HTS remains uncertain…

26

Nov

2024

EN Speech

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Urgent need to tackle the gender pay gap (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, who among us would willingly accept being paid less than another colleague for doing the same work? Of course, no one. Yet, it is an acceptable notion in Europe. For women across the EU, this is everyday reality. They are paid 13 % less than men, on average, for work of the same value. And even though we are hearing that it is a made‑up problem, the numbers speak …

26

Nov

2024

EN Speech

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Continued escalation in the Middle East: the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region, the need to release all hostages and the recent ICC arrest warrants (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, nothing can justify the brutal Hamas attack on 7 October or the suffering of Israelis still held hostage. While recognising Israel's right to self-defence, it is impossible to justify its response, resulting in over 40 000 civilian deaths in Gaza. And I want to address this humanitarian catastrophe happening in front of our eyes: this winter, millions of Palestinians…

26

Nov

2024

SK Speech

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2025 budgetary procedure: Joint text (debate)

25

Nov

2024

SK Speech

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (debate)

Mr President, bruises hidden under clothing, forced 'yes' after a decisive 'no', unwanted touches, unsolicited messages, psychological violence. For millions of women and girls, this is a daily reality. And for more than 85,000, last year was the last chapter of their lives. Nevertheless, some countries, including my own – Slovakia – still do not address gender-based violence as urgently as this p…

23

Oct

2024

EN Answer

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Thank you for this question and I will speak for myself in this case. I don't think that fundamental rights should be put into referendum. I don't think that women or men should be deciding on what's happening in such a way. And definitely I know that in Poland, at least 50% of inhabitants are women, so I'm sure that another half cannot be deciding on them. So, personally speaking, I don't think t…

23

Oct

2024

SK Speech

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Madam President, women's rights are human rights, so why in Europe in the twenty-first century do we still treat women as if they were not. Due to the draconian abortion law in Poland, at least seven women have died, we have heard those names. Didn't the creators of life, the creators of these laws, want to protect lives? In last year's parliamentary elections, Poland showed where these discrimina…

22

Oct

2024

SK Speech

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General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, after the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the European budget has to deal with unexpected expenditure. But do we really want to save at the expense of education, innovation and the future of young people? I see a lot of them sitting here today, welcome, but minus 300 million euros for Erasmus next year is really a scandal. I am a graduate myself, like millions of others,…

22

Oct

2024

SK Speech

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Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, what Putin destroyed for the Ukrainians, we now have the opportunity to recover from Russian money, and that is the right thing to do. The Kremlin has been bombing Ukrainian civilians, hospitals and schools for nearly 1,000 days. It's time for him to pay for it, literally - through the proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Although we in the European Union are helping Ukraine, we are …

9

Oct

2024

EN Speech

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The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

Madam President, the case of Bülent Mumay of Deutsche Welle exemplifies the systemic repression of independent journalism. As noted in this joint motion, his case is baseless and serving only one purpose: to intimidate him and other journalists who dare to investigate. After transformations in Turkish civil society and media of the recent years, voices of constructive criticism like Mumay's are ra…

7

Oct

2024

EN Speech

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Need to fight the systemic problem of gender-based violence in Europe (debate)

Mr President, A year ago in Slovakia, a mother of two was brutally murdered with a machete by a man who had followed her for two years. Despite filing a criminal complaint, she received no help. Sadly, such cases happen all across Europe. We politicians have a responsibility to act. Back in our capitals, we need to ensure that governments implement the Directive on combating violence against women…

18

Sep

2024

SK Speech

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The Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice (debate)

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. - (DE) Mr President, Commissioner, the Presidency. What Viktor Orbán is doing to the European Union is nothing but provocation. Journeys to Moscow, to China, meetings with Trump, blocking aid to Ukraine, and the example of the Hungarian national card, that is, simplifying the issuance of Schengen visas for Russians and Belarusians, is nothing else. If dictators li…

17

Sep

2024

SK Speech

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The future of European competitiveness (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner. Europe is facing an existential crisis! If we do not act quickly, our defence capacities may collapse and leave Europe at the mercy of geopolitical players. They will conquer us through our weaknesses – the undervalued interlinking of our defence capabilities over the years, as well as through the constant build-up of dependence on suppliers from outside the European…

17

Sep

2024

SK Speech

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Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner. At the moment, we need to strengthen our support for Ukraine. Both financially and militarily. If we prevent Ukraine from using weapons and ammunition, we increase the risk of further attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Ukraine is fighting our common enemy. And that is Vladimir Putin and his regime. To be clear. Nevertheless, its support is declining in some states, incl…