Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, let us be frank - there is no way to protect children in all Member States with a single European recipe. Europe is a mosaic of cultures, values and educational models, and we must respect that. There can be no more bans here. The truth is that the problem is not solved by sanctions, but by conversation. With public consent. With this, parents, teachers and young people participate in the debate, and not just comply with regulations. If we want a safer online environment, society needs to be even more engaged. We already have important tools at our disposal: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive, with its clear rules on the protection of minors, as well as the renewed BIK+ strategy, which promotes quality content, safer platforms and effective reporting mechanisms. My appeal is therefore that we leave the Member States space for solutions that will be tailored to their realities. Let's support a process, not impose a scheme. Protecting children is not a matter of restrictions and sanctions, but of maturity, of dialogue and of our common will.

Madam President, Commissioner, first of all, let me express my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. This case is yet another sad proof that systemic corruption is killing. Our Union is based on democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. Values that seem unfamiliar to Mr. Vucic's regime. The past year has proven that this country has no intention of defending the values that unite us. The discontent of Serbian students was met with violence and repression. Beating protesters, shooting with live ammunition, threats of sexual violence, fake counter-protests are just a small part of the familiar to the pain in the Balkans ways to deal with public discontent. I cannot ignore the demonization of national minorities in the rhetoric of the Serbian authorities. These practices are not in line with European values and cannot be used against dissenters in a candidate country. In its paranoia, the Serbian authorities went so far as to accuse EU Member States of participating in the organisation of the protests. This, of course, is absurd. Serbia must return to its European path. This perspective is clear, but obviously, seeing who professes what values, it can only be ensured when those who are on the street and those who are in the corridors of power exchange their places. Europe must be ready to inspire this change.

Mr President, Commissioner, yes, the issue of the enlargement of the European Union is a cornerstone for Europe, but I cannot agree that this enlargement must happen at any cost and, above all, by changing the unanimity rule in the Council or, in other words, by repealing the so-called veto. A few days ago, Ms von der Leyen visited the countries of the Western Balkans and reiterated the European Union's support for the region. However, a few things made an impression. For example, in Serbia, Mr. Vucic directed the topic of cooperation towards compensating Serbia because of the US sanctions against the oil company NIS, whose majority owner is the Russian Gazprom, and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Mr. Mickoski, for his part, once again questioned the European integration of his country because of the inclusion of the Bulgarian community in the Constitution. Also in Macedonia, President Siljanovska-Davkova spoke of a ‘creative approach’ to the commitments made, which is a very nice Balkan way of saying ‘circumventing commitments’. I truly believe that the integration of the Western Balkans and the reconciliation of this gunpowder keg will be of great benefit to the European Union in every sense. But for this to happen, it must be under clear rules, respecting the Copenhagen criteria, and not through a vague interpretation of the Treaty on European Union and bypassing the existing rules, as we see them, disguised under the term "institutional reforms" and contained in this report.

We have before us the alarming truth that the devastating fires that southern Europe is experiencing, the fires that are burning millions of acres of forest, destroying homes and disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of people, are not just a natural disaster, but a pan-European challenge that requires our solidarity response. This year, in my country Bulgaria alone, the fires destroyed over 300,000 acres of land. Even at the moment, now, the situation remains complicated with fires high in the Rila Mountains, where the fire is spreading in a very hard-to-reach area. We thank every firefighter and every volunteer who participates in extinguishing the fires, but our job is to make sure that they have the opportunity to work professionally, and not to create circumstances in which we force them to become heroes. In order to respond to this element, we need to invest in modern equipment, in additional training of fire brigades and to improve coordination. In addition to these measures, the National Union of Firefighters and Rescuers in Bulgaria proposes an obligatory increase in human resources. In order to restore the destruction caused by the fires, we must step up financial and technical assistance to the affected regions, invest in sustainable waste management.

Madam President, in this House, we very often talk about human rights and the rule of law, but tell me, in which Member State of the European Union can a person be condemned for quoting a historical figure? In which country can people be attacked for their origin? Which country is allowed to violate international treaties? Today, here among us in the hall is Mr. Lyubcho Georgievski and he can answer these questions because he is a worthy Bulgarian who is threatened with an effective sentence only because he has the courage to call himself a Bulgarian from Macedonia. I personally sincerely believe that North Macedonia's path is to be part of Europe. But in order to be together again, the authorities in North Macedonia must abandon their masters from Belgrade, from Budapest and protect the human rights, especially of the suffering Bulgarian community, as well as respect the commitments it has made. I want to address the Macedonian society - Mitzkovski is lying to you. Inserting Bulgarians into all relevant parts of the Constitution and respecting the 2017 Treaty with Bulgaria and the Negotiating Framework will not endanger your identity. However, any delay in the reforms with which you will start membership negotiations will do just that.

Mr. Zile, Mrs. Zaharieva, I will start with a quote from Mrs. Marta Kos. She recently stated that Macedonia is, I quote, a ‘sad fairy tale’. She forgot to mention, however, that in the Balkans we have a saying: "What you do to yourself, God cannot do to you". The current situation in Skopje is the result solely of their own actions or, more rightly, inactions. Today Skopje could stand shoulder to shoulder with Tirana and Podgorica, they could be firmly on their European path. They didn't do it because they didn't want to. There are no concessions that would result in them fulfilling their commitments already made. That is why I would ask Mrs Koss next time to ask the government in Skopje directly: ‘Do you want to be part of the European Union or not?’ Because the answer is simple: If you want, just fulfill your commitments. Bulgaria has already made compromises and will not give in to the iota of them, because there is no reason to believe that officially Skopje will change its policy and hate speech towards the Bulgarians and Bulgaria. The latest developments – the verdict against Ljubco Georgievski and the plight of the Macedonian Bulgarians – are the best illustration of why we wanted the additional conditions from Skopje in the negotiating framework.

Mr President, Commissioner, honourable Members, I thank the rapporteur, Mr Terras, and the colleagues with whom we have worked on this report. It is important to underline that Kosovo is a stable partner that consistently demonstrates commitments to European values, including in the context of ongoing tensions with Serbia, where we see the need for a clear and unequivocal condemnation of provocations against Kosovo's sovereignty. We need to pay particular attention in the future to ensuring the rights of the Bulgarian community in Kosovo by addressing the petition registered with the Parliament of Kosovo in January 2023. The Bulgarian community must be included in the Constitution of Kosovo on an equal footing with the other minorities in the country, and receive the resulting rights. Its cultural contribution and historical presence must be recognised, protected and promoted by the Kosovo authorities with the support of the European Union. The Western Balkans are historically, geographically and politically part of Europe. That is why we support Kosovo on its path to membership of the European Union. This is not only a geopolitical solution, but a long-term investment in peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Madam President, the new Cultural Compass strategy is indeed a chance for a strong, connected and innovative cultural sector in the European Union. But for this strategy to be successful, we need to set the right principles. We need realistic, workable programmes and incentives, devoid of any ideology, that encourage creators and attract investment. Member States must be actively involved, but remember that culture is a national value and cannot and should not be dictated by Brussels. No interference, only support and exchange of good practices. Let's also remember that technology and artificial intelligence can improve efficiency, but creativity will always belong to people. Let us create conditions for growth, for international relations, for cultural diversity, but without sacrificing freedom of expression. Let's build without imposing.

Mr President, Commissioner, the strategic vision of the Union's technological development has been absent for years. And only now, when global policy has changed and our competitors have embarked on radical trade policies, has the European Commission realised that there are strategic dependencies that threaten the security and competitiveness of European economies. Commissioner Virkkunen said it – 42% of 5G communications go through so-called high-risk suppliers, understand through China, because the main operators are Chinese – Huawei and ZTE. At the same time, the European Union is also lagging behind in satellite connectivity. It is led by the United States and Starlink. I understand that the Commission's response to all the challenges and problems is to create new regulations. However, I believe that in order to ensure the security, competitiveness and sovereignty of the European Union, we need to build infrastructure, capacity, diversification of suppliers and a search for reliable partners.

Madam President, Commissioner, in order to tackle the challenges of a changing labour market, we need to make vocational education more accessible, more flexible and, most importantly, much more realistically linked to the needs of the economy. Firstly, we need to expand reskilling and reskilling programmes so that workers in endangered sectors can switch easily, and especially on time, to new occupations. Secondly, we need to strengthen the partnership between business and educational institutions to ensure that training meets the real needs of the industry – vocational high schools, where they exist, should cover the demand for specialists first at the local level. And third, we need to introduce much more flexible forms of training, including digital courses and practical training in a real work environment. We need to provide financial support for learners, as well as incentives for employers to invest in the skills of their employees. Only through these concrete actions can we ensure workers' security and the competitiveness of the European economy.

Dear colleagues, 10 years ago Angela Merkel said "Wir schaffen das", we will manage. Well, you didn't make it. 1,265,000 irregular migrants in Europe in 2023, says the European Commission. More than €5.5 billion in profits for criminal human traffickers globally in 2024, says the UN. Trafficking in human beings and violation of borders are criminal offences. Ten years of political correctness overlooked the role of organized crime in the trafficking of illegal immigrants, as well as the fact that they later became part of the criminal contingents. Illegal migration is a problem for both our social and security systems. This is a closed circle - human trafficking, infiltration into organised crime and financing of terrorism. Therefore, now more than ever, we must support the EU's external border countries, such as my country, Bulgaria, and repatriate all illegal immigrants who do not have the right to asylum in our countries.

Madam President, this summit aims to show political unity and an overview of the region's future accession. The Western Balkans are key to Europe's unity, to strengthening our security, to the development of our economies and to cohesion in the Union. Despite the efforts of the Union, however, we see that countries such as North Macedonia and Serbia refuse to follow the common European policy. The new prime minister in Skopje came to power with anti-Bulgarian rhetoric and a policy based entirely on hatred towards Bulgarians. There, they even announced that they would stop working on Corridor No 8, which is of strategic importance for the whole Union. Serbia, for its part, does not adhere to the common foreign policy and by its actions destabilizes the Western Balkans. The chauvinist approach, continuous tensions along the border with Kosovo and Belgrade's refusal to engage in constructive dialogue are a threat to security in the region. Let this summit make it clear that in order to be part of the European Union, you have to reconcile with the past and respect the commitments made.

Madam President, Commissioner, throughout Europe, we are seeing water supply facilities being disrupted and the quality of the water being supplied deteriorated by torrential rains, as well as water regimes being introduced due to droughts. Particularly critical is the situation in areas without storage tanks for water runoff or with old water pipelines with a very high rate of water loss. This year in Bulgaria alone, nearly 500 settlements from 105 municipalities have been, or are currently, on water regime. Some do not have water, while others run water with very poor quality indicators. A huge problem is the lack of investments for reconstruction and modernization of the infrastructure, and we also need to direct our demand to alternative water sources and work for the conservation of the water resource. It is therefore imperative to include water quantities in the risk assessment and management plans at basin level, because at the moment the directive focuses mainly on water quality.

Mr President, honourable Members, there is no doubt that we must fight radicalisation on the internet, but I would say that we must condemn any discrimination and radicalisation. Yes, racism and xenophobia are unacceptable, but let us also condemn with the same fervor the radical actions of green activists that threaten public order and security. Flooding cultural heritage with paint, blocking roads and airports cannot be acceptable forms of protest. And all too often we see them being normalized. On the other hand, dear colleagues, technology alone cannot be blamed for the process of radicalization of young people where it happens. Public debate in recent decades has taken a too sharp ideological turn to the left. This means that today political positions, for example against same-sex marriage or against illegal migration, which were acceptable in the public debate years ago, are now declared radical. And if that's what you mean by anti-democratic statements, I congratulate you. George Orwell would be proud of your newspeak.

Foreign interference in the internal affairs of the European Union, quite often in the form of hybrid attacks, is a matter of paramount importance and we all agree here. But let's pay attention to some of the reasons why these attacks find such fertile ground in our union. This parliament very often makes it easy for our enemies to spread their propaganda. How is it? You cannot argue that European values are necessarily tied to the promotion and acceptance of marginal sexual minorities, and think that there will be no reaction from the more conservative societies in our union. For nine years, this Union cannot insist on uncontrolled access for migrants, say ‘Wir schaffen das’ and think that there will be no reaction from European citizens. Therefore, let us preserve national sovereignty in the right to decide social policies, so as not to create a living environment for the hybrid attacks of our enemies.

Madam President, I would like to draw attention to the urgent need to strengthen the security of Europe's external borders. The military conflicts in the Middle East and the increasing migration flow create a real threat of unprecedented refugee pressure and the risk of infiltration by representatives of terrorist organizations, which threatens the security of all European citizens. It is therefore key to strengthen solidarity between the Member States of the Union. Tackling this crisis cannot be the sole responsibility of border countries such as Bulgaria and Greece. We need support and joint efforts. The protection of our external borders is not only a national issue, but also a matter of common European security. It is time for all Member States to assume their responsibilities. An important role here is played, of course, by the Frontex agency. Increasing coordination between Member States and Frontex is essential, but the agency should not take over the functions of national authorities, but only support them. I believe that expert assistance from the European Asylum Agency is also needed to ensure that those who are a threat to security are not allowed into the territory of the Union.

Madam President, the Green Deal requires Member States to reduce their emissions by 55% compared to their 1990 levels, but Bulgaria's emissions at the time were 105 million tonnes and are now 43 million tonnes. Yet Bulgarian politicians such as former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and former Finance Minister Asen Vassilev, whose main goal is to look good in the eyes of Brussels and do not care about Bulgarian energy, continue to push for the closure of Bulgarian coal plants. Such a decision would reduce emissions by only 0.02% at the European level, but would put 30,000 people out of work, and the cost of energy in one of the poorest European countries would rise dramatically. We cannot allow this and we want an immediate recalculation of emissions and the removal of Bulgarian thermal power plants from this obligation. Living Bulgarian energy is a necessary condition for Europe to be energy independent from both Asia and America.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to an aspect of disinformation and fake news that we talk about very little. Fake news, which is spread by the official media and often even created on their own orders. I'm talking about polls, especially those that are done and published in the weeks leading up to an election. It has long been no secret that sociological surveys are made not to reflect the opinion of society, but to form and manipulate it. And if fake news can be verified and refuted, then this official sociology cannot. The public has no real opportunity to verify the exported data, which often – at least in my country, Bulgaria – directly influences the behaviour of voters, and this is a direct interference in the democratic process. Commissioner, I know this is a difficult fight, but we need legislation that equates tendential sociology with the spread of fake news and makes its creators accountable for it.