Speeches

Madam President, Executive Vice-President, let me first congratulate you for coming up with this plan within the Commission's first 100 days. On a personal note, I had the chance to participate – perhaps as the only Member of the European Parliament – in President von der Leyen's presentation of the Clean Industrial Deal in Antwerp, in front of the Europe's top industry executives. I would sum up the room's reactions this way: well done for the first step. But this is only the first step. We need to do much more to rebuild EU competitiveness, which is so vital to ensure our ability to defend ourselves in such a dangerous situation. To put it simply, we would not be able to defend Europe without the ability to produce steel, cement or pharmaceuticals on our continent. We need to focus on reducing energy costs for industry. Asking Member States to cut down their energy taxation cannot be our main and only response. We need European solutions and joint efforts to save our industries. Dear Executive Vice-President, I encourage you to be bold and ambitious. This Parliament will support you.

Mr President, Commissioner, let me start with thanking you, on behalf of the Renew Europe Group, for the Commission's immediate reaction to the security threats related to the Baltic submarine cables and the ongoing work to increase security of our critical infrastructure. We also need to look for more synergies between digital and energy networks, while working on detection, prevention and repairing of the undersea infrastructure that is nowadays, especially in the Baltic Sea, under constant and real threat. Going above sea level, I can strongly encourage the Commission to do the utmost to invest in the European critical communication infrastructure. Europe cannot allow itself to be dependent on third countries when it comes to comes to strategic elements of communication infrastructure. So I welcome the IRIS2 planned constellation, with its 290 satellites. It is a huge step forward for Europe and we should appreciate it. But we should also keep in mind that it won't be enough. We will need to do much more beyond 2030. In order to achieve Europe's tech sovereignty, we need to have everyone on board. All Member States need to join the efforts, instead of making constant deals to secure military and government communications with third-country providers, which can put EU security in jeopardy. Prime Minister Meloni, please join us, and let's keep Europe great and secure together. Do not waste the money of Italian taxpayers on senseless deals with global oligarchs.

Madam President, thank you very much. This is a very important topic. I join all those before me who have criticised the US decision to impose export restrictions on advanced artificial intelligence chips. Artificial intelligence, technological innovation must become the engine of growth of our competitiveness. We also see that the new trade policy of the United States leaves us with no illusions. That is why I expect representatives of the European Commission to vigorously pursue European economic interests in their relations with Washington. European technological sovereignty, including the development of artificial intelligence, must be a top priority. In this context, we welcome the announcements made by the Commissioner, President von der Leyen and the President of France at the ongoing summit in Paris. On the other hand, we need to focus on the European semiconductor development strategy. I welcome the Polish strategy published last week by the Ministry of Digital Affairs, which is based on seven pillars, such as expanding infrastructure, supporting innovation, international cooperation, investment and financing, human capital, sensible use of energy and water, and increasing access to critical raw materials. All of this will determine our future, not just our technological future.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Prime Minister! Welcome to Strasbourg. You have already heard the high hopes placed on the Polish Presidency. Last week, the ministers of our coalition government heard about it from representatives of Renew Europe in Warsaw. Today I will focus on two obvious issues, on security and on the economy, because these are absolutely fundamental and even existential spheres for Poland, for Europe. Firstly, security - the leitmotiv of the Polish Presidency. Europe needs to be prepared for the worst possible turn of events by providing the highest quality weapons, organisationally by implementing the best civil defence plans and infrastructurally by ensuring the security of critical infrastructure also against cyber threats. This requires huge investments and the adoption of relevant plans, such as EDIP, the European Defence Industrial Programme. I very much hope that the Polish Presidency will be able to build an agreement on these difficult issues, because we have no other choice today. Second, the economy. We need a new industrial policy without categorically denying the Green Deal, defending Europe's economic interests, showing development ambitions and clear leadership. European industry is facing major challenges due to low competitiveness and technological dominance from China and the United States. We must build Europe's technological sovereignty and enforce European law to the letter. The needs for support for industry, including Polish industry, are enormous and the resources in the European budget are insufficient. Without a response to the American IRA and other such programs, Poland will not win the global race. Prime Minister, good luck. We look forward to good cooperation.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased that my initiative to have a serious discussion on Belarus at the plenary session has also been adopted. Today, the European Union must make it clear that these so-called elections will not be recognised by the international community. No decision made in the shadow of repression, violence and falsification can be considered the will of the nation. We do not have to wait for the election result, they have nothing to do with democracy from the beginning. The solution, however, is not to wait for Lukashenko or Putin to die. That won't solve the problem. We must act in support of the Belarusian opposition, independent media such as Belsat TV and the young generation of Belarusians dreaming of democracy. Think about the foundations of the future rule of law in Belarus. And the last thing. Belarusians look at Ukrainians, using them as an example. Every success of Ukraine is a hope for Belarus. Belarus, like Ukraine, is not doomed to Russia. The fact that this is historically possible has been demonstrated by the example of Poland. We can't just be observers. Sanctions must work and our solidarity must be clearly and firmly expressed. It's a live Belarus!

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr President, thank you very much. For centuries, Russia has built its empire on lies and manipulation. The Tsar, the Soviets, and later Putin's pseudo-democracy all had one strategy, in addition to controlling the military, to control the minds of the citizens. In recent years, we have seen how Putin wants to expand this control beyond the borders of his country. The lie about the greatness of Russia and its eternal power is constantly repeated to hide its barbaric methods. After the Soviet army murdered thousands of Polish officers and intelligentsia in Katyn in 1940, Stalin argued that the Russians knew nothing about it. It was only half a century later that Gorbachev confirmed the truth. Today, Ukraine is passing through the Russian roller of history. Russian disinformation and falsification of history are part of a strategy aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and introducing a narrative in which Ukraine is only part of Russia. The insolence of Putin's or Lukashenka's lies must be borne by them, not by Ukraine, Poland or any other country. Sanctions, sanctions and more sanctions. Full, airtight and effective.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, fake news, manipulation and simple lies pose a serious threat to the integrity of our democracies. These threats are not abstract. We can see how disinformation is being used today to divide societies, undermine citizens' trust in politicians and state institutions, or even influence scientific achievements. There are numerous examples, from false information on vaccines to manipulation regarding climate change. A single fake video or a manipulated post can destabilise democracy and elections in our Member States. This is not just a TikTok problem in Romania. Just yesterday, reports emerged that before the 2023 parliamentary elections in Poland, hackers – likely acting on behalf of Russian secret service – sent out nearly 200 000 text messages urging votes for the then ruling Law and Justice Party. They unsuccessfully attempted to send another 600 000 messages. Our response has to be strong. Democracy cannot survive if citizens do not have access to the truthful information. We must create effective regulations that will target those who deliberately spread lies and disinformation.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr President, thank you very much. Ombudswoman, please! As coordinator of the Committee on Petitions for Renew Europe, I sincerely thank the Ombudsman for this last year. Words of appreciation from me as a politician and citizen, but also from our entire faction. Your great contribution to increasing the transparency of the administration, your focus on citizens' issues, demonstrates how responsible you have been both this year and throughout your 11-year term of office. The European Ombudsman, like ombudsmen in the Member States, must be as close as possible to and defend every citizen. It is supposed to be a spokesperson, advocate and confidant of citizens who sometimes get lost in the EU bureaucracy. The aim of the European Ombudsman is to bring the Union closer to the European citizen. It's a huge task. We will decide who will make the effort to continue this task this week. We MEPs have a very important responsibility to choose well and wisely. Not who will be the better political choice, not who we would like to give this position to. No, we have to choose the person who will make the Union live in the homes of our citizens, not somewhere far away in the buildings of Strasbourg and Brussels.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. President Niinistö! Thank you very much for this extremely valuable report. Dear friends from Finland, you are an example for our community. Finland has built a defence model that involves citizens at every stage: from defence education to active participation in training and defence. As a result, each person feels responsible for the security of their country. With 5.5 million Finns, the military reserve amounts to an impressive 900,000 people. The security of the civilian population is the cornerstone of any effective defence policy. In the face of modern threats such as hybrid warfare, cyberattacks and climate change, it is imperative that the European Union protects its citizens effectively. Poland is also a positive example. Next year, we will spend a record 4.7% on defense. GDP. Not because we want to, but because we have to. A week ago, the Polish Sejm unanimously adopted a draft law on civil protection and civil defence. I am glad that we are able to fully agree on such important matters. The defense of civilians is our shared responsibility. We need to act now to prepare for tomorrow.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. Report of the United Nations Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) The elimination of discrimination against women is an opportunity for us in this House to repeat what is obvious to us. Polish anti-abortion law today is, firstly, extremely restrictive, secondly, it interferes in women's decisions, thirdly, it violates human rights, including Article 16 of the UN Convention. My party, Poland 2050, as part of the current government coalition in Poland, as well as I in the European Parliament, as the only Polish member of the Renew Europe faction, we are constantly standing up for women's rights. The current state of affairs following the judgment of the Constitutional Court is absolutely unacceptable. Every year, tens of thousands of women are forced to have abortions abroad. Women's rights must be guaranteed in Polish law as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it seems that in the current Polish Sejm, which consists of less than 30% of women, there is not enough support for this. The still incumbent president of Poland, in office until August next year, also leaves no doubt that he will veto any liberalization of the regulations. In this regard, to all those who have women's rights at heart, I say: Let's give the decision back to the citizens, Poles and Poles, let's liberalize abortion law through a nationwide referendum.

Madam President, thank you very much. Friends and colleagues! Today, the European steel industry is experiencing the biggest drop in demand in decades. Polish steel mills are going back to the sales results of the 1950s. The twentieth century. The situation is odd, because the demand for steel in Europe does not fall at all. On the contrary, it is still high, and it will be higher and higher, because thousands of tons of steel will be needed for the reconstruction of Ukraine. It is high time for politicians to defend European steelworks, and consequently our entire economy, which depends on the price and availability of steel. In particular, this is crucial for our arms industry, which for obvious reasons needs to be strengthened and accelerated today. What do you need to do? The key factor is the reduction of energy prices, very high in Europe, almost the highest in Poland. It is necessary to accelerate the use of renewable energy sources for steel production, to promote green steel production. Subsidies and temporary forms of protection for our European steel industry are needed at Union level, not at the level of individual Member States. Without rapid action, our arms production and construction will become dependent on supplies from China.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Dear Colleagues, The automotive industry in Europe, including the boom of the automotive industry in Poland, our manufacturers and our suppliers has always been the subject of our pride. Today, we are stunned by the news about the closures and, above all, about the redundancies – most recently, the news about the 500 workers who are about to lose their jobs at the Stellantis factory in Gliwice. The reasons for this situation are many. Of course, European and EU regulations could always be better, but I would also look for the reasons for this situation either primarily in the short-sightedness and lack of vision of the leaders of the largest automotive companies. The dieselgate scandal, i.e. de facto cheating of consumers and market surveillance authorities, was a great warning to the industry. Unfortunately, no conclusions have been drawn from this scandal. But I don't want to focus on who's at fault today. Now, when jobs and Europe's competitiveness are at stake, all hands on deck! I look forward to the concrete proposals of the new Commission. Raising tariffs on electric cars from China is unfortunately the right, but far from enough, step. A step worth considering is to facilitate the consolidation of the European automotive industry before it becomes...

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Today we talked a lot about how dramatic a natural disaster can be. These phenomena are to some extent independent of us. However, there are things in which a person should be efficient and have the right to decide for himself. This right is given by democracy. Belarusian society still dreams about it. Next year, presidential elections will be held in Belarus. Lukashenko rigged the 2020 elections and has already announced that he will not give up now either. Today, Europe wants – and this is what we are doing in our resolution – to make it clear to all Belarusians: We're on your side. We want you to finally have an impact on what the governments of your country look like. Today, with a strong voice in our resolution, we demand, among other things: holding free and transparent elections, freeing all political prisoners (including Andrzej Poczobut), depoliticising court trials. Dear friends from Belarus! As a Pole, I fully understand and share your democratic aspirations. As the European Union, we cannot stand by and watch post-communist Russia aggressively defend the sphere of influence it considers its own. We, like you, want a free and independent Belarus. Therefore, in our resolution, we call for sanctions to be extended to Lukashenka. There is no place for dictatorship in 21st century Europe. Lively by Belarus!

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the situation in Central Europe, including the south-west of Poland, is truly dramatic. Thank you for all your empathetic interventions and for your willingness to bring immediate support to the people and communities in need because of this terrible disaster. We welcome the planned visit of President von der Leyen to the flooded region of Poland, Lower Silesia. Commissioner, we count on your positive response towards Member States which, like Poland, ask for more flexibility for the disbursement of EU funds in the areas that suffered from flooding. But beyond immediate help, we need long-term thinking and concrete actions on climate change mitigation, and specifically on rivers. The Odra river passes through Germany, Czechia and Poland, connecting countries and people. It's a source of life and a large ecosystem, with fish, plants, groundwater, rain. People want to live around a healthy and safe river. We need to think in the European perspective – also in terms of funding. The next MFF should bring adequate allocations so we can avoid such terrible situations in the future. Now is the time to help, as people are suffering and fighting to survive. It's time to show not only European solidarity, but also our effectiveness and efficiency.

Dear Madam President, Dear colleagues, Today, our thoughts are with the victims of the tragic flood that hit Poland and Central Europe. We are thinking about how to help the victims of floods. We're going to debate this here tomorrow. But today, as my colleague pointed out, it is impossible not to mention the 85th anniversary of the invasion of Poland by Soviet Russia, which is taking place today. On September 17, 1939, Poles faced brutal Soviet aggression, which resulted in the death and suffering of hundreds of thousands of people. Now we see that Russia's aggressive and powerful policy, the successor of the Soviet Union, continues and we must oppose it as the whole of Europe. Only then do we have a chance to stop her. Oh, my friends! Ukraine stands on the front line not only in defense of its land, but also in defense of the values that are the foundation of our common civilization, democracy, human rights and international law. Europe and the whole world cannot leave it alone. Every investment in Ukraine's defence is crucial for our common continent. Let's work together. Let us act now, immediately, for the sake of common security.