Speeches

Madam President, thank you very much. This is not the time for politics. At the moment, this debate has also been initiated by the Polish delegation, also in order to help those who have been injured in recent days in the areas where the government declared a natural disaster. We do everything. Ursula von der Leyen will be in Poland in a moment. And we call for the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. As a Member of the European Parliament, please focus on helping Poles, not on propaganda, indoctrination and disinformation.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Hamas's criminal, barbaric attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 destroyed peace in the Middle East, for which it had been working for years. The ongoing war is taking a life that it should never have taken. I demand the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Among the hostages was Warsaw-born Alex Danzig, a Holocaust historian involved in Polish-Jewish dialogue, who was murdered. Tonight, Israel's security cabinet updated the objectives of the war. The following point has been added: safe return of the inhabitants of the north of the country to their homes. I want to make it very clear that the Union must be on the side of peace, but not at the expense of civilian lives. Israel has the right to defend itself within the limits of international law, but I also want to make it very clear that civilians should be protected, especially women, especially children, and that humanitarian aid should also be provided sufficiently. The European Union has all the instruments to cooperate with the United States, with other international circles and with countries, with organisations, in order to bring about peace, in order to exert pressure. But I also want to talk about this when I talk about the situation in the Middle East. The growing threat of Hezbollah directly supported by Iran. These are all absolutely important issues and it is very good that this discussion continues. Remember, this is the first discussion. In a moment, on October 7, the first anniversary of Hamas's criminal attack. Let's remember the victims and let's remember the hostages, they are kept by terrorists all the time.

Dear Mr President, Dear Commissioner, The Energy Union is a secure, affordable and sustainable energy for all citizens of the European Union, with the aim of moving towards a low-carbon economy and reducing dependence on external energy sources. I would like to thank you for the ninth report on the State of the Energy Union, which confirms achievements but also shows further challenges. According to the report, Russian gas imports decreased from 45% in 2021 to 18% in mid-2024. Question to the Commissioner: Do these data also take into account LNG? We also know that not all Member States are moving at the same pace. Are there any countries that have increased their dependency and does the Commission have any idea how to help in this matter to move even further and faster away from Russian fossil fuels? Another issue – it is also related, Commissioner, to my visit to Kiev four days ago – energy storage. The EU has reached its target of 90%, and we are very happy about that, well ahead of the November deadline. However, we know that for Europe, the coming winter will not be threatened by shortages of energy supplies. Ukraine is in a different situation. According to the data I received in Kiev, Ukraine will have access to electricity and heating only for two hours a day in the coming months, which may cause further migration waves caused by the lack of heat. Is the Commission working on this issue and how can we help Ukraine? But also how can we possibly help countries that will be in the direction of potential migration? Finally, the heat issue. How can we meet the obligations related primarily to the replacement of heating pipes? In Poland, 15 million people use system heat, and only in my city, Warsaw (2 million inhabitants), this problem affects 80% of residents.

Mr President, Russia is the most significant and direct threat to security, peace and stability in Europe. And this threat will not go away as long as Putin's criminal regime is in power. Realistically, the only thing that could destabilise Putin's hold on power is a strategic defeat in Ukraine. Russia has shifted into full war-economy mode, so we have to introduce a real defence union. Just a few days ago, I was in Kyiv and we – the European Parliament, the European institutions – we have to renew momentum in military assistance to Ukraine. Ukraine needs our help – not in two years, not in two months, not even in two weeks; they need it now! Ukraine can only defend itself if it can attack Russian supply lines, Russian bases of operations. It is time to recognise this is a reality and let Ukraine do what it must. EU defence for Ukraine needs to be a major priority. We have to ensure Ukraine airspace is protected. And let's be crystal clear: the European Union will be significantly weakened and lose credibility if we continue assisting with half-measures.

Mr President, thank you very much. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance adopted a legally non-binding working definition of antisemitism many years ago. Antisemitism also manifests itself in words, including when the State of Israel is denied the right to self-determination, the right to exist or the right to defend itself, as in the case of the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. Commissioner, the situation is very serious. I have the impression that this veiled anti-Semitism is working and it needs to be countered. The second issue is the issue of hate speech and hate crimes, which, in my opinion, must become crimes under European Union law. For the past eight years, hate crimes against people with disabilities, people with a different sexual orientation or gender identity have not been prosecuted in Poland. Such situations must be stigmatised and such situations must be well regulated at European level.