Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. People around the world use public transport for many reasons, mainly for reasons of economy and convenience. The European Union is an absolute leader in the development of accessible and integrated public transport. Perhaps we are second only to some Asian leaders, such as Japan or South Korea, in terms of technology or punctuality. But as we compare it with other parts of the world, such as the United States, individual transport dominates, and investment in collective transport is sometimes limited. The European Union is at the forefront of public transport, not least because it invests. I want to say that only in my country, in Poland, in recent months, thanks to the money from KPO, we are making huge purchases. Among other things, we signed contracts for 257 zero- and low-emission vehicles, 88 trams. In my region, the two-millionth voivodship of Łódź, we invest and buy new trains for PLN 183 million. But it's not over. After all, we are investing in high-speed rail. And here I would like to thank the Commissioner for his commitment to this subject, because, as he pointed out, among other things, in the Letta report, we need to bring together all the European capitals and Poland is ready to do so. We have started this construction. We want to invest in the next seven years and the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk says: 180 billion in turn. And this, of course, brings results, because 15 years ago there were 270 million passengers in Poland. Right now we're going to record: Nearly $410 million. But I want to say something equally important. In Poland, we have over 22 million cars and 92% of households that have at least one car. It's not a coincidence. 40% of my compatriots live in rural areas where a car is not a luxury but a necessity. There is simply no choice. When developing public transport, we cannot go the way of prohibitions. And here I draw attention to this ban on combustion cars – 2035. Instead of punishing, just encourage. Instead of banning, let's invest, because only then will people really move.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Mr. Secretary of State! Nearly a decade ago, two politicians loudly and emphatically warned against Nord Stream. One of them was the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. The second was the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. Why is that? Because it was about safety. Exactly what is the Polish Presidency about today? Safety, Europe! That's what it was all about today and then. Ten years ago, Jerzy Buzek, as President, proposed an Energy Union that helps the European Union reduce its dependence on energy imports. And eight years ago, President Donald Tusk wrote in a letter to the President of the European Commission Juncker: Nord Stream 2 will harm Europe. Years later, it turned out that Donald Tusk was right. He wasn't wrong. Putin wanted to make Europe dependent on its raw materials, and he did so successfully for many years. He made a lot of money, and he turned that money into armaments. And, of course, there are politicians in the room who thought that it was possible to do energy business with Putin. Unfortunately, there were also politicians in my country from Mr. Kaczynski's party who gave money to those who traded during their rule and imported coal from Russia. Coal imports increased almost 2.5 times during their time in 2015 and until 2019. What did Putin do with this money from gas and coal? We all know. He produced rockets and bombs, which he then dropped on Kharkiv, Kiev and Dnieper. Well, today, a clear signal must resound from this room: Europe does not need Nord Stream. Europe does not need Russian raw materials. Never again.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The US tariffs on EU exports increase from €7 billion in 2023 to €81 billion in 2025, almost €74 billion more. Approximately 70% of EU products exported to the US will be subject to an additional fee. Of course, the automotive sector will be most affected. EU exports worth roughly €66 billion will be subject to additional charges of €16.5 billion. This also applies to my country, because we produce 800,000 cars, and 200,000 people work in this sector. Simply put, the global economy could lose as much as 7% of GDP. This is the equivalent of the economies of Germany and France combined. The European Union does not want a customs war, but a partnership. That is why this proposal of zero duties on both sides is a very reasonable and expected – I think on both sides - proposal.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. The trans-European transport network is not only a convenience and not only the development of the economy, but above all it is a matter of our European security. Military mobility is absolutely crucial here. Europe must be ready to move its armed forces quickly and efficiently where they are needed. Adapting the TNT network to dual use, on the one hand civilian and on the other military, will allow for the rapid movement of forces and equipment in crisis situations. Modern railways, modern bridges, but also roads and terminals are the foundation of our resilience, but also the foundation of our security. And regardless of whether we are talking about Łódź, my city, Paris or Sofia, these are investments in the security of the whole of Europe. A modern transport network can be Europe's strength, and I would like to emphasise this very strongly. We will spend a total of 850 billion over 15 years to complete the entire network of European corridors. That's a huge amount. Investments in the TNT network in the area of military mobility amount to nearly EUR 19 billion. TNT is not only an infrastructure project, but it is a strategy that shapes the future of European mobility. The TNT network is also Europe's security.

Madam President, thank you very much. The European Coal and Steel Community initiated this great process of European integration after World War II, and today the steel industry expects our support and assistance. Not so long ago as in February, representatives of the metallurgical industry came to Brussels, talking about their dramatic situation, about the fact that they have to temporarily shut down furnaces. And this applies to Polish Krakow, Lower Saxony or Spanish Girona. I am pleased that during the Polish Presidency, the European Commission is presenting a clear plan to help steel to protect jobs, to lower energy prices, to increase demand. I would like to make a great request to the Commissioner. We also need to ensure competitiveness. It cannot be the case that these companies incur very high costs of CO2 emissions and companies outside the European Union do not and thus European companies are less competitive. We must protect and help, not punish.

Mr President, thank you very much. The security of Europe is the motto of the Polish Presidency and concerns not only the security of our borders, but also internal security. So it is all the more gratifying that the European Commission has prepared a clear concrete plan to fight criminal gangs, organised crime groups, and there are nearly 5,000 of them in the European Union. Everyone, but it is absolutely everyone who benefits from our European hospitality, and we have an open Europe, but brutally breaking the law, must be deported. We have adopted such a principle in Poland and for many weeks Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been applying the principle of zero tolerance for those who just brutally break the law and come and enjoy our hospitality. We are pleased to strengthen Frontex. It is pleased that Europol will have an operational role and will become such a special police force that will react. We have to react. Security for Europe, for all of us, is paramount.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Much today in this room and in this term of office about the competitiveness of the economy and cheap energy in this changing world. And very well. In the United States, however, the Paris Agreements are being scrapped. Canada's new prime minister is moving away from climate charges, which will result in people paying less for fuel, while maintaining fees for the largest industrial emitters. I am talking about this in the context of the ECJ. European companies are not able to meet these overly ambitious targets at the moment, and ETS2 is still being prepared in 2027. I want to make it very clear that, in addition to taking care of the climate, we must ensure the competitiveness of the economy. This is the time when we just have to do it because they're calling us for help and we can't be deaf.

I would like to thank a member of the Kaczyński party from Poland, who ruled Poland for eight years. You mentioned two companies: PKP Cargo and Poczta Polska. PKP Cargo – when you took power, the share price was close to PLN 80. When you gave up power, it was 16 zlotys and the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. As far as the Polish Post is concerned, you wanted to steal the elections in Poland and instead of the National Electoral Commission you wanted the Polish Post to organise the elections. Of course, she did not organize it, because she was not able to, but she incurred huge, huge costs for it. You have led to the collapse of many companies. I'm just surprised that the Lord here today stands up brazenly in this room and tries to chase anyone else. Eight years of your rule are just the liquidation of many companies.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Beko, which manufactures washing machines and refrigerators, is laying off nearly 1,800 people in Łódź and Wrocław. Audi is shutting down its factory in Brussels and cutting 3,000 jobs. Interestingly, since 2018, he has been producing only electric models. After 170 years, the French coffee roaster Cafés Legal has collapsed. Thousands of workers from European industry, which together employs around 30 million workers across the European Union, come to Brussels and protest. One of them, from Poland, from the trade unions, says this: "Industry is the backbone of the economy, but we can see that jobs are being cut, among other things, by regulations related to the pursuit of climate neutrality. For this reason, the combustion engine factory in Bielsko-Biała was closed, and metallurgy has problems and furnaces such as the one in Krakow are being extinguished. Thousands of people are losing their jobs. We want a social Europe, not full unemployment." It's only been a few weeks, but that's the situation in Europe. And Europe must be different from the rest of the world in that it reacts to such situations and helps these people. I believe that investing in the economy, lowering the energy price for industry, simplifying procedures and revising ETS1 and ETS2 can build a competitive economy vis-à-vis China and the United States.

We had a defense debate yesterday. We were talking about 800 billion that we want to invest in Europe's defence. I think we all agree that the 650 billion that countries will be able to spend, plus the 150 billion loans that will be given to countries, is what Europe is waiting for today. In addition, the debate on Russian assets, the 280 billion that we could move, among other things, to defend Europe, is the answer. On the other hand, in the Commissioner's proposal: 50 billion invested in jobs, 50 billion invested, among others, in the European automotive industry, that is the answer, of course. This is the answer to saving jobs. In your country, in my country, 200,000 people work in the automotive industry, which accounts for 7% of GDP. If you're wondering where we're from, we need to find that money to invest, because it's about jobs.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Mr. Secretary of State! The automotive industry in Europe is at a turn and we all know it. There are three reasons why this is so. Firstly, aggressive competition from China, secondly, rising production costs, and thirdly, the transition to low-emissions. And I want to be very clear. This is not a time for hesitation. This is the time when we need to provide support for our automotive sector, because if we don't, we risk losing millions of jobs and weakening our economy. That's exactly 14 million jobs and almost 1.2 trillion European GDP. And then there's this pride, this European pride in the automotive industry. Then we could lose it. And that's why we just have to take care of it. This action plan, which has been presented, is a step in the right direction, but it is still insufficient, I want to say. Europe, too, cannot just look passively, and debate and debate indefinitely. We must act decisively to make the future of European motoring safe and competitive. And I want to address the Commissioner. I believe that banning the sale of cars from 2035 is a threat, not an opportunity. And this is the last bell for us to change it. Let's go, Europe!

Madam President, I'm sorry. "Security, Europe" is not just the motto of the Polish Presidency. This is also the challenge facing the whole of Europe today. And let me be absolutely clear: We have to arm ourselves, because Putin does not want to stop in Donbass, he does not want to stop in Ukraine. And it is not true when he says now that he no longer wants people to die, because if it were, he would not have attacked Ukraine three years ago. Well, although I know that there are still people in this room who would like to do business with Putin – although there are fewer and fewer of them fortunately – and they are spreading Russian propaganda here, including what Russia Today says, it is high time to say stop and enough. That's enough. We need to build a European insurance policy today, and for that to happen, we need to invest huge amounts of money in armaments. And the European Commission's plan to spend up to eight hundred billion euros on arms is a very good idea, but we have to do it quickly, without debate, without consultation, without annual discussions. We just have to do it right now, because we don't have time. And I want to say one more thing. Poland wants to transfer almost PLN 30 billion from the National Recovery Plan to invest in armaments, because security for Europe is the most important thing today.

Mr President, thank you very much. The subject of the debate is the situation in Sweden, while politicians of Kaczyński's party from Poland came up with the idea to lie again in this room. Why do they do that? Because there are elections in Poland and they think that once again they can lie here with impunity. Well, for good reason, if anyone is responsible for trading security in Poland, it was the former politicians of Kaczyński's party. One of the foreign ministers, who was responsible for visa policy, was caught by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau. In this case, there is an investigative committee in the Polish Sejm and the prosecutor's office operates, because someone was trading in visas. You could buy cheap visas from, among others, African and Asian countries. Well, this must be said loudly, because I am tired of these lies of Kaczyński's party politicians. And to cut through any speculation. Donald Tusk and Ursula von der Leyen said last week that Poland would not implement the migration pact. It's over, period. And everyone in Poland and not only in Poland knows why? We have received 2 million refugees from Ukraine. We help as few as anyone. Therefore, Poland will not implement the migration pact.

Madam President, I'm sorry. After Russia's attempts to influence elections in Moldova, Georgia or Romania through social media, this debate is a priority today. Well, today we know that not only Russia wants to influence the results of the elections in Europe, not only Russia wants to break up Europe through phones, through social media. There are others. Today, the network has become another front. And it is up to us, our methods, whether we win this war. On the one hand, we must protect our democracy. We must protect Europe. Yes, also in Poland, because there are presidential elections on May 18, and I do not want Putin in the Kremlin or the richest man in the world to decide the fate of our country, the results of the elections. On the other hand, it is about the safety of our children. And I say that as a father of two. And I know that about 50% of children between the ages of 4 and 9 have a smartphone. And instead of controlling, we must, of course, sensitize, educate, and prosecute those who try to influence our citizens and our countries online. This is our priority.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Europe needs cheap energy, because otherwise we will be dominated by China and the United States, and as Donald Tusk, the prime minister of the Polish government, said, the reduction of CO2 It severely disarms the European economy. And the idea is to include common sense in this whole energy transition and to start supporting the European economy. It is really time for Europe to regain its position. The topic of energy in Europe, including Poland, has become one of the key challenges in achieving economic success and ensuring energy security, especially in the face of increasing geopolitical tensions. In recent years, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this transition has gained a new dimension. It is no longer just an environmental issue, but is fundamental to economic and political stability. Draghi's report is clear: The European Union needs to significantly accelerate its energy, innovation and competitiveness efforts in order to meet the challenges arising from global energy market developments. This is confirmed by meetings with other professional groups, such as the automotive, cement and chemical industries. The Polish government has just decided to build a nuclear power plant, the first one, and we are also thinking about the second one. And I say this because when we start the energy debate today, we must also consider three aspects: economy, security, but also the wallets of Europeans.

Madam President, thank you very much. There are 20 committees in the European Parliament. Our work has a real impact on the life of another person. And it is enough for each of us to take into account the field that he deals with. As Vice-Coordinator of the EPP Group in the Committee on Transport and Tourism, this is exactly what I will say. Well, modern and comfortable transport is not only the one that is fast and reliable, but it is the one that is also tailored to the needs of everyone. And here we have good examples. Well, a group of experts from 180 countries appreciated the Łódź company, a company from my city, Agglomeration Railway, in the Zero Project program focused on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and creating a world without barriers. Almost a billion zlotys of money and EU funds have been invested in the Łódź Agglomeration Railway and today it is the fastest growing local government railway in Poland. It is presented as a model of well-used subsidies from the European Union and is considered the best rail carrier in the country. I want to make it very clear that the European Union is not just institutions and regulations. It is a community of values, solidarity and concern for a better tomorrow for every citizen.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Since the beginning of the current term of the European Parliament, I have been meeting with companies from different sectors of the European economy week by week. It was the automotive, cement, cosmetics industry. It was also a ceramics or transport industry. All these companies say the same thing, although they are from different sectors. New regulations on CO2 They're killing our companies. I would like to quote Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that reducing CO2 emissions2 disarming the European economy. It's hard to disagree. Because I always give examples, I want to do it today. The best example is the chemical industry. At the beginning of the 21st century, Europe was several times stronger than China in the chemical industry. Approximately 3:1, in such proportions for Europe. Today, this trend has reversed, it is 4:1, but for China. It's only been 25 years and it's only one industry. Why is that? The answer is simple, because non-regulated countries, mainly China, are taking over our markets. And I want to make it clear that what Europe cannot do is being exploited by others. And this is like an agreement with Mercosur, which would allow the uncontrolled flow of food that does not meet the relevant standards. It's the same as reducing CO.2. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal here to the Commissioner, because this is a very important debate on competitiveness. Commissioner, we need new rules. We need to protect, not kill, the European economy. The need for a ‘Cheap Electricity for Europe’ programme. Now, now, now, now.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. I am taking part in such an important debate, because it is necessary to demand tourism. When we talk about the economy, we must remember that it is not only industry, but also tourism – about 10% of GDP, 12 million jobs in the European Union and almost 2 million entrepreneurs. But if we look at it, it has been plagued by many plagues in recent years. First the pandemic, then the war in Ukraine, the costly, natural disasters, including flooding, which also affected my country and many regions across Europe. I want to quote our Nobel Prize winner, writer Olga Tokarczuk, who said this: “The flood took a lot of people, but it did not take hospitality.” And this appeal from Lower Silesia, from Poland I am also posting here, because today we must take care more than before of the tourism sector, which is and must remain our common showcase. I want to say three things that I think are very important. Firstly, we should take care of the Schengen area, while ensuring the security of our borders. We should do everything we can to ensure that there is free passage across borders. Secondly, we should invest in the promotion of our national tourist attractions, with particular emphasis on those regions that are currently affected, among others, by the elements. And thirdly, I am very pleased that Commissioner Apostolos Tsitsikostas has tourism in his portfolio in addition to transport, because tourism is also investment in rail and high-speed rail. I am from Poland, from Łódź. That's where we started building the high-speed railroad. I am very happy that this investment will be implemented and I am glad that there will be a common ticket. And the last thing we have to remember is one thing. It's a strong...

Mr President, thank you very much. This is a very important debate and I want to say it very clearly: Today, the enemy does not have to cross the borders of the European Union to enter our homes. It can be done by phone, television or newspapers. And he did it, as we look at Brexit, the last elections in Moldova, Georgia or even Romania, and even in Poland, in the last parliamentary elections, everywhere we will see the Russian agency that spread disinformation. They invested €100 million in Moldova, €70 million in Romania just to spread disinformation. I want to be very clear – Putin also wants to take over the media with the hands of those in this room. In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has just decided to privately include the two largest TV stations on the list of strategic companies to block the hostile takeover. Let's put a dam, a blockade on Russian disinformation. Together, all of you.

Madam President, thank you very much. The tragedy that hit Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy and, in a moment, Spain in September showed that Europe cannot only put emphasis on security from a military point of view, but also from the point of view of the elements. It is very good that today we are discussing here, and tomorrow we will vote on a regulation that will speed up and make any decisions on speeding up disbursements for those who need this money. And we all here know why. But as we are on this very important topic, I would like to draw your attention to one. It is about infrastructure investments and appropriate regulations. In fact, some of these tragedies would not have happened had it not been for populists. They also appeared in my country, Poland, and were proud that they blocked these infrastructural investments. So fast disbursement of funds, regulations and infrastructure investments. I, on behalf of Poland, would like to thank you for the 5 billion euros that were donated just for Poland after the last flood.

Madam President, thank you very much. The election results in the United States show one thing: Europe cannot wait to see who will take power in the United States, whether in a few days, four years or 20 years. Europe must, as in the case of the economy, take responsibility for security. This is what Europeans from all countries of the European Union expect from us. And I don't want to judge today what promises President Trump will fulfill and what he won't fulfill. We simply have to take responsibility for Europe's security. And I am glad that on the day when Europe, when the United States gave the preliminary results of the election won by Trump, here, in this building, was the hearing of the first ever Commissioner for Defence and Space. I am glad that this is a Lithuanian politician who is well versed in this eastern policy, because the issue of security is the most important for us Europeans.

Mr President, thank you very much. The politicians of Kaczynski's party came up with the idea of playing a spectacle before us here in Parliament. This performance was to be about the problems of the second largest freight transport company in Europe - the Polish company PKP Cargo. They just didn't want to say one thing that they did. Let me refute this embarrassing spectacle and present only three facts that prove it. During the eight years of Kaczyński's party's rule, the value of PKP Cargo fell by 90%. In 2014, the company was valued at almost 4 billion zlotys. After eight years of Kaczyński’s rule, shares fell to less than 600 million, from PLN 90 in 2014 to PLN 12 – and these are the facts, the facts are not debated. We are repairing this company. Here today in the audience is the president of this company who wants to repair this company and the guilty ones who caused this destruction of Polish pride must be held accountable for it. I would like to take this opportunity to say what is an opportunity for Poland today, for Europe when it comes to rail. This is an absolutely high-speed railway, which is an opportunity for the sustainable development of our continent. Some people are excited about the fact that China has just started production of a train that is expected to reach a speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour. But are we worse? Well, we are not and I am convinced that Europe can soon become a world leader in this form of transport. High-speed rail is an impulse for the economy and I want to say that a lot is already happening in this matter. In my city, Łódź, the third largest, we are finishing one of the tunnels and the other high-speed rail tunnel. We have just started construction and will soon connect with Europe. Europe has to travel in the 1930s by super-fast trains and not only to Paris or Berlin, but also to Sofia, Vilnius, Łódź or Naples. From here, I can only call for us to do absolutely everything in our power to make high-speed rail a real and not a pretended priority on the European agenda.

Mr President, thank you very much. The European Common Sky could be a new agreement in the spirit of Schengen. Just as the Schengen area abolished physical borders for travel in Europe, the European Common Sky will remove the barriers that divide our airspace. There is no doubt that aviation plays a key role in the economy of the European Union. It directly and indirectly provides millions of jobs, but also generates a positive value of almost EUR 600 billion, which is almost 4% of GDP. It provides the necessary connectivity on the continent and already provides affordable and accessible high-speed connections for European citizens in the European Union. But it is high time that the 27 jurisdictions that are within the European Union join together so that we can vote for one European Common Sky.

Dear Madam President, Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. 14 million workers from the automotive sector across Europe have been waiting for this debate because they feel threatened. In my country alone, 200,000 people work in this industry, producing almost 700,000 cars and generating almost 8% of GDP. But we all, as we are in this room, know that the automotive industry has huge problems. This is not just a problem for one or the other Volkswagen plant in Germany, which wants to reduce its workforce by almost 30,000 people. This is the problem of factories that are already leaving the European Union. Volvo chooses Turkey. Scania chooses Serbia outside the European Union. Why is that? We have become less competitive. Because we slept through the time. We slept through the moment when it was necessary to invest in the automotive industry, and in addition there was a huge import of Chinese cars. And that needs to change. But there's another reason. These are unrealistic regulations. I come from Poland. In Poland, there are 22 million petrol cars and 100 000 – only 100 000 – electric cars. Let me give you an example of my city: I live in Łódź, it is the third largest city in Poland. I live in a part of the city where there is a residential area and 70,000 people live. These people don't have electricians. There is not even infrastructure for these cars and people do not want to pay 100-150,000 per car. These people are asking why the European Union wants to ban them from driving their car. And we need to change that. I am a European. I am for modernity. I am for the fight against smog. But I've always been against common sense. Well, it must be our wisdom to move away from the idea of banning combustion cars in 2035. Why? Because it's unreal unless someone wants to break up such a serious branch of the economy.

Mr President, thank you very much. The European Union has been working towards a single market since its inception. The single market is one where we have the free movement of goods, services, people, but also capital. And I must say here in this Chamber that it was with great regret and sadness that I received the decision of the German Government to introduce border controls. Because it is a step back – a step backwards in the functioning of our European economy, about which we are talking so much here, in this House, and recently. The introduction of border controls is a closure of borders, but it is above all a hindrance. There are 30-kilometer traffic jams at the borders. Only one border crossing between Poland and Germany is crossed by 100,000 trucks in a week. And if we are thinking about security, then as Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, we need to strengthen the external borders from the sea, from the land and from the air. And we need to protect them well. But we can't close from the inside. We cannot isolate countries. That is why I appeal to the German Government here in Strasbourg, in the Chamber, to open the borders. Because that's what the people who live there are waiting for. This is what transport companies are waiting for. At the end of the day, those who travel by ordinary cars are waiting for it.