What Nikola spoke about.

16 Sep

2026

EN Speech

Stop gold-plating, relieve SMEs: Member States must implement EU legislation without adding extra bureaucracy (topical debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, our entrepreneurs have ideas, talent and ambition, but they lack a business environment where these ideas can flourish. And that's on us: we make it hard for them with too heavy administrative burdens and then, in some Member States, we pile on another layer of national requirements and obligations. And SMEs are paying the highest price: higher co…

15 Sep

2026

EN Speech

Defence (joint debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, tomorrow we vote on three important pieces of defence legislation that can help us move faster in closing our defence investment and capability gaps. In practice, this means less paperwork, faster procurement and fewer obstacles to moving equipment across the EU, so getting the right capabilities to the right place at the right time. Russia's war …

9 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Feasibility of a 28th tax regime and its potential to support EU competitiveness (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, obstacles to businesses, cross-border operations and expansion constitute a major hurdle to an effective single market. We complain a lot about the 15 % US tariffs, but we tend to forget that existing barriers in our own single market account to much more. And yes, a single business code would be a game changer. Today, a company expanding acros…

7 Jul

2026

EN Speech

2025 Commission report on Moldova (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the 2025 report on Moldova sends a clear message: despite an extremely challenging geopolitical and economic environment, Moldova continues to move forward on its European path. The progress is concrete. Moldova is replacing its Soviet-era standards with European ones. These are not merely technical changes, but tangible steps, improving quality, safety…

16 Jun

2026

BG Speech

An EU future for the Western Balkans (joint debate)

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21 May

2026

EN Speech

European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Stop destroying videogames’ (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Firstly, let me congratulate the organisers on collecting 1.3 million signatures. That shows that this issue matters to European citizens. Today, a video game can easily cost EUR 70 or more. Imagine paying for a game, only for the publisher to switch it off forever a couple of months after that. No access, no ownership, gone. Most people would call t…

29 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, I have just one question: why should Russia be rewarded? It continues to kill civilians. It continues to destroy Ukraine's cultural heritage and sports infrastructure. Hundreds of Ukrainian athletes and coaches have lost their lives and hundreds of sport facilities lie in ruins. Normalising relations with Russia means legitimising its actions – …

29 Apr

2026

EN Speech

Topical debate requested by a political group (PfE) (Rule 169) - Commission interference in democratic process and elections (topical debate)

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Mr President, dear Commissioners, dear colleagues, people must trust that their representatives are chosen by their votes and not by foreign manipulation. In Bulgaria, we are on the frontline of a hybrid war where disinformation constantly seeks to destabilise our democracy. This is why the Commission's voice is vital. Speaking up for democratic standards isn't interference. It is a duty to protec…

11 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Situation of the rule of law in Greece, following the Court decision on Predator spyware (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Predator conviction is welcome, but justice that goes no further than the foot soldier is no justice – it's damage control. Those who pursued accountability were sidelined and questions of government involvement left deliberately unanswered. This raises a fundamental European question: can abuses of surveillance powers happen without real co…

10 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Tackling barriers to the single market for defence - Flagship European defence projects of common interest

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Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, since Russia's invasion in Ukraine, Europe's security landscape has changed dramatically. And, as recent developments in the Middle East remind us, the global security environment is changing every day. In this increasingly complex geopolitical context, Europe must accelerate defence cooperation and invest more in our collective security. Flagsh…

21 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Online piracy of sports and other live events: urgent need to address unsolved issues (debate)

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Mr President, dear Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, sport is built on the rules of fair play. Online piracy breaks that rule even before kick-off. When a live event is stolen in real time, its economic value is destroyed instantly. No replay, no compensation, no second chance. Yet, today, pirates are faster than the law. The digital market moves fast, while enforcement still takes hours or days, …

17 Dec

2025

EN Speech

Implementation of the rule of law conditionality regime (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, when governments undermine the rule of law, citizens must not lose Europe. Conditionality must hit those who break the rules, not the people who depend on the respect of the rule of law. The report rightly insists on one essential guarantee: this regulation must not become a bargaining chip. The rule of law report should be the objective basis for co…

25 Nov

2025

BG Speech

Protection of minors online (debate)

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Dear Madam President, honourable Commissioners, honourable Members, yes, action is needed against the growing problem of addictive behavioural patterns, but they must be well thought out and targeted. The proposed ban on the use of social networks by children aged 13 to 16, except with the permission of parents, is not such. Will we present a copy of the child's birth certificate plus a copy of th…

25 Nov

2025

EN Speech

European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’) (debate)

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Madam President, dear Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, Russia's aggression has dismantled any illusion that our security is guaranteed and our only answer lies in unity. EDIP will allow Member States to buy together, plan together and prepare together, securing the availability of defence equipment across the EU. With this deal, we ensure that European money serves European interests. By setting …

24 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, across Europe, families risk their lives on dangerous routes, while criminal networks make billions by exploiting them. These groups are global, well-funded and increasingly sophisticated. Strengthening Europe's capacity to confront them is therefore essential. Renew Europe has always said that a credible migration policy must also tackle the b…

24 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded (debate)

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Mr President, dear Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, democracy is like a dyke holding back a rising tide. If we ignore the first crack and we hesitate to reinforce the walls, the flood will still come. And when it does, it will not just wash away one country's rule of law, but will undermine trust in our entire Union. Hungary's backsliding did not happen overnight. It grew in the silence of our he…

22 Oct

2025

EN Speech

The ongoing assault on the democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria (topical debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, dear colleagues, every year the Commission's rule of law report uses the same phrase: lack of progress. But the truth is that the reports are much softer than reality is on the ground. Let's be clear, pre-trial detention instead of being a measure of last resort is used as a measure by default. A democratically elected mayor is given an ultimatum to choose between…

20 Oct

2025

EN Speech

The decision to impose a fine on Google: defending press and media freedom in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner Ribera, dear colleagues, the Commission's decision to fine Google for abusing its dominance on the AdTech market sends a clear message: the EU will not tolerate gatekeepers who distort competition and undermine media freedom in their Union. But let's be honest, a fine alone does not solve the problem. Google can pay it and move on. Google needs to make changes because, i…

7 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Time to complete a fully integrated Single Market: Europe’s key to growth and future prosperity (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Commissioner, colleagues, we have reports, we have data, we have policy objectives, we have recommendations. The task is clear: end the fragmentation, unite our market. We cannot call our market single if internal barriers still divide us. People do not have equal access to products across all countries. We still see dual quality and unfair pricing that depend on the borders be…

6 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Role of EU policies in shaping the European Sport Model (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, this is a report whereby we, as the only European Union institution that is directly elected by the European citizens, want to show how we see sport being developed on our home soil and we want to reinforce it together with the Commission. For better or worse, sport in Europe is not organised the same way as in other continents; I think, personally, that is …

11 Sep

2025

EN Speech

Implementation and streamlining of EU internal market rules to strengthen the single market (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the single market is one of the EU's greatest strengths, delivering significant benefits to both citizens and businesses. Yet, despite its vast potential, we are failing to truly seize its true advantage. This week, I had a meeting with a group of Bulgarian students here at the European Parliament. When I gave them an example of the price and quality…

8 Jul

2025

BG Speech

2023 and 2024 reports on North Macedonia (debate)

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Madam President, Bulgaria supports the full membership of the Republic of North Macedonia in the European Union and has a long history of support. We were the first to recognize its independence, we have a declaration and a good-neighborly treaty, and we have sent military assistance. We were among the first to ratify North Macedonia's NATO accession protocol. At the same time, we are worried. We …

17 Jun

2025

BG Speech

The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, first of all, it is important to note that the annual Rule of Law Report is a report on one of the foundations of the Union. One of the main reasons it is a place of high standard and quality of life and a place that in times of global instability and irrational policy-making remains a center of principles and reason. It is no coincidence that the report …

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Need to ensure democratic pluralism, strengthen integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies in the EU (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, pluralism is the lifeblood of a real democracy. Without pluralism, there is no democracy. But in order to preserve it and strengthen it, we need to emphasise the importance of media freedom and media pluralism. They are essential to our democracies. They are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. They are key to holding power to account and …

12 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data (A10-0013/2025 - Nikola Minchev) (vote)

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Mr President, honourable Members, today's vote on the agreement between Canada and the EU on the transfer and processing of passenger name record (PNR) data is a strong statement that the EU will not compromise on security or fundamental rights. And it demonstrates that the two can go hand in hand. The collection and analysis of PNR data can provide the authorities with important elements, allowin…