What Marko spoke about.

10

Sep

2025

HR Speech

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China’s unjustified decision to impose duties on imports of pork products from the EU and the need to support European farmers and workers (debate)

Dear Chairman, at a time when trade conflicts are booming around the world, agriculture has been hit hardest, from Mercosur, through a new agreement with the United States, so here's China's imposition of tariffs on pork and pig products. The situation is increasingly alarming for our farmers. The decision coming from China will have serious consequences for the pig sector in the European Union, a…

8

Sep

2025

HR Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Dear Chairman, imagine a picture of people in black who would ban cultural manifestations because they are bothered by anti-fascism, then threats at the writer's house because he has an opinion that they do not like, then a call to the lynch of a politician who defends him; In public space, a fascist greeting is shouted, and all who condemn it are called a lack of patriotism. It is a picture of th…

10

Jul

2025

HR Speech

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Post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (debate)

The Common Agricultural Policy is a cornerstone and a key pillar when it comes to European food security, the future of production and the sustainability of agriculture. It also plays a key role in preserving rural areas. All this is now under scrutiny if the announcements we hear from the Commission on merging the CAP with other financial instruments materialise. This is not about any simplificat…

7

Jul

2025

HR Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Honourable chair, rural areas make up most of the territory of the European Union and are one of the most important sources of resources, from agriculture, cultural content to tourism. However, we still face a lack of investment in infrastructure. Public transport, housing, healthcare, as well as digital infrastructure, in particular high-speed internet, are particularly prominent here. In 2025, w…

31

Mar

2025

HR Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

The housing crisis in the European Union is becoming deeper every day, and affects young people the most. Research conducted in Croatia shows that as many as 70% of young people cannot afford to rent or buy an apartment. The main reasons for the inability to finance independent housing are low incomes, high rental and utility costs and high living costs caused by inflation. Nearly half of young pe…

11

Mar

2025

HR Speech

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Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

At the beginning, I would like to thank Commissioner Lahbib, who was in charge of the processes surrounding the text of this roadmap for women's rights, but I would like to thank our colleague, Commissioner Roxana Mînzat, who is here with us today and who has fought vigorously for all the priorities important for girls and women across Europe to be part of this vision. The text that is actually pr…

13

Feb

2025

HR Speech

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EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement (debate)

Dear Chair, when discussing this agreement on MERCOSUR, we should also take into account the specificities of smaller countries, such as Croatia, where the skeleton of agriculture is actually small farmers and they will be most affected by this agreement - various sectors, from cattle breeding, arable farming, poultry farming, and even winemaking, where I am aware that a large market is opening up…

10

Feb

2025

HR Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Today, reality is a system in which housing, instead of law, has become a mechanism for profit. When discussing the issue of housing policy, it should be recalled that Europe is not just an urban part. It is made up not only of the cities of the European metropolis, but also of rural areas, which cover 83% of the territory of the European Union. There are 137 million people living there. They also…

19

Dec

2024

HR Speech

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Recommendation to the Council on the EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women - EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (joint debate - EU priorities for the upcoming session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women)

When we talk about the priorities of the European Union for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, we must be aware of the socio-political context in which the session will take place. It is undeniable that we are far from achieving the goal of the five sustainable development goals on equality and that, if we continue at this pace, it will take many years for us to achieve …

18

Dec

2024

HR Speech

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Challenges facing EU farmers and agricultural workers: improving working conditions, including their mental well-being (debate)

Dear Chairman, Commissioner Hansen, about 40 million jobs today in the European Union depend on agriculture. 93% of agricultural operators are family farms. In my country, Croatia, of the 170,000 registered farmers of family farms, there are about 160,000. From these figures it is clear that family farms are the cornerstone of European agricultural production. Consequently, our actions to improve …

25

Nov

2024

HR Speech

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (debate)

Every year 2,300 women are killed in Europe by a partner or ex-partner. I will repeat that one in three women has been the victim of physical or psychological violence, that one in two women has experienced some form of sexual harassment. It is a reality in Europe today, a black and terrible reality that can and should be prevented by better laws, more effective prevention mechanisms and strong pe…

23

Oct

2024

HR Speech

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The important role of cities and regions in the EU – for a green, social and prosperous local development (debate)

Dear President, colleagues, if we care about every citizen and every area of the European Union, then we must dedicate the same importance to smaller urban centres, rural units, mountainous areas, islands, border areas, as we dedicate it, for example, to large cities. Today, unfortunately, this is not the case and we do not have balanced regional development. Croatia stands out because all of thes…

21

Oct

2024

HR Speech

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One-minute speeches (Rule 179)

Honourable colleagues, rural areas make up 83% of the territory of the European Union and are home to 137 million people. These areas are crucial for the production of basic resources such as food and energy. Nevertheless, despite their importance, rural communities are systematically marginalised through concrete policies and funding programmes. Yes, there are documents such as the Rural Pact and…