What Lefteris spoke about.

Madam President, Commissioner Hahn, President of the European Court of Auditors, Tony Murphy, I would first of all like to congratulate you on taking up your duties in a strong European Union institution. I am convinced that you will further strengthen this institution, strengthen it and make it truly an institution that European citizens will trust unconditionally and completely, because they will feel that with the cooperation of all we can have this institution, which will be the guardian of the interests of European citizens. However, I have to stress, through my own experience over the years in the Committee on Budgetary Control, that the Committee on Budgetary Control in recent years, with the contribution of all my dear colleagues from left to right and under the leadership of our beloved President, Monika Hohlmeier, has really succeeded in giving the mark of close cooperation and the commitment of all of us towards a single goal: to safeguard the interests of European citizens. And I find it a happy coincidence that today the European Court of Auditors, with its Committee on Budgetary Control, with its good and full cooperation and with Commissioner Hahn, has a real opportunity to further strengthen citizens' trust in the institutions, and in particular in the European Union, to safeguard their money.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, for me today is a very emotional day, because I am obliged, after eight years of action, joint struggles and giving together with all of you, my excellent, dear and beloved colleagues, to make my last speech before you. Because I think that the most beautiful years of my political career were here in the European Parliament. Because I firmly believe that it is the most powerful institution, the most powerful democratic, pluralistic body of the European Union – the democratically elected one that continues to uphold the principles and values of the European Union. Today I took the floor to say to all of you from the bottom of my heart a huge thank you for the love with which you have surrounded me – particularly the two important committees to which I have been a member for these eight years, the Committee on Budgetary Control and the Committee on Budgets. But above all, for the support that you generously gave me and that is almost unanimous, with only 11 negative votes, you approved my candidacy to go to the European Court of Auditors. If you were to ask me right now, I would tell you that it is very difficult for me to leave this room where I really felt that united we can defend all our principles and values. However, let me say a special thank you to my political group, the European People's Party. The party that from the very beginning treated me as an equal among equals, even though I come from a small country. The party that continued to teach me universal principles and values. The party led by a man with an "A" capital. I convey it to you with knowledge and without any expediency: the man who leads the European People's Party, my dear friend Manfred Weber, is the man who is possessed of all those principles and values of the European Union and who really gave me all that impetus to love the European Parliament and the European Union – which, you know, has a future and perspective when it has such people as Manfred Weber. My dear friends, in conclusion, I would like to say - and this message is addressed to young people - that it is the European Union that has given me, a politician who started out as a refugee from the refugee settlement, chased by Turkish troops, the opportunity to be among you with a strong message. Dear Colleagues, (incomprehensible words) but don't forget my little homeland; remember the 200 000 Greek Cypriot refugees; Do not forget that we also have an occupation, just as we do not forget Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Keep these principles and values. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have offered me over the years. I am grateful for your love, for your support, for your guidance. Thank you for giving me this power and this ability.

Mr President, today is a special moment for me. This is the last time I have been at this step – the most democratic, liberal, representative, pluralistic step, not only for Europe but also for the whole of humanity – to comment on the 2023 budget. For eight years I have been at this stage to really commend the efforts of the European Parliament and the Committee on Budgetary Control. Today, all I have to say from the bottom of my heart is a huge thank you to all my dear friends and colleagues who together, through the Committee on Budgetary Control, fought and struggled for a more social, developmental, human budget of the European Union; for European citizens, for the peoples of Europe. A huge thank you for the cooperation, for the support I have had over the years from excellent colleagues, starting with the chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control. I would also like to commend the support and cooperation of my colleagues from the European People's Party, particularly my dear colleague and coordinator, José Manuel Fernandes, and to thank everyone individually in the Committee on Budgetary Control. But, being here, I would like to commend the enormous efforts and stress that the European Union and the European Parliament have great luck, because at the helm of the European Union budget is the dear Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who really does his utmost to achieve the visions of the European Union. I would like to thank you very much, Mr Vice-President, for all your cooperation. Unfortunately, it is my last intervention here, but I will have the opportunity and opportunity from my new duties and the new post in the European Court of Auditors to contribute to the realisation of the visions of the European Union and the European Parliament.

Madam President, the European Union has the potential to become the most powerful and credible force on the planet if and when it applies its principles and values and truly becomes the force that will attract alliances. I must pay tribute to Antonio López-Istúriz for his excellent report and the vision he puts forward in it. I really congratulate him for giving a new vision and a new horizon for the European Union, by stating – characteristically and aptly – that the European Union must protect its external borders. The European Union is a force for security, peace, stability and prosperity of the peoples. The European Union cannot and must not tolerate violations of international and European law. The European Union rightly continues to stand firmly by the Ukrainian people invaded by Russia. Rightly, however, it should stand much more vigorously against a member state of the European Union, Cyprus, which has been invaded and occupied for 48 years. The credibility of the European Union is weakened when it does not follow the same position, attitude and behaviour towards a Mediterranean country. Because the Mediterranean must be protected, because there Turkey really threatens instability, expansionism and aggression. At the moment, the European Union must show its pacifist face, but also its credibility, by taking a clear position against Azerbaijan, which – in this difficult period of instability in Europe and on its borders – is trying to invade and create a new fait accompli at the expense of the Armenian people, who have suffered genocide by the Turks and are now facing the same threats again.

Madam President, the European Union has proved in its 65-year history that it can deal with and manage crises. I am convinced that when the European Union wants, it can. And now it can effectively deal with and manage the energy crisis. Firstly, a strong fund must be created that can withstand the energy crisis and support all those households that will suffer enormous consequences from the energy crisis. Secondly, the European Union must immediately give a strong impetus to the development of renewable energy sources, so that it can effectively replace liquid fuels and natural gas. Thirdly, and particularly importantly, it must develop those areas where there is a future prospect of energy supply to the European Union. One such region is the Eastern Mediterranean and my country, Cyprus, and the European Union must use it and invest heavily in energy, so that we can really supply the European Union with natural gas and stop any energy dependency.

Mr President, the European Union, honouring its history, principles and values, has quite rightly stood unreservedly by the side of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine from a barbaric Russian invasion. From the very first moment we stood unreservedly with the Ukrainian people and Ukraine, because we know what invasion means and we are clearly in favour of international law. But I have to tell you that this month, July, for my country, is a black month. It's a nightmare. Because it is 48 years since a barbaric Turkish invasion, which for 48 years now makes Cypriot Hellenism suffer and be tested. Addressing the European Commission and the European Council today, I ask them to tell me: What message will I convey to my own suffering people, to the 200,000 suffering refugees who are in the refugee settlements waiting for the time of return, when in this room, Turkey continues to be called a strategic partner, when Turkey continues to take money from the European Union and when Turkey's weapons are directed against our own people?

Madam President, Commissioner, it is my duty as a Member of the European Parliament, as a European citizen, to condemn with all my heart the new provocative acts of aggression by Turkey against Cyprus and Greece. Turkey, in blatant violation of the resolutions of the United Nations, the Security Council and the European Parliament, is effectively advancing in an expansionist and aggressive way in the settlement of Famagusta, opening up new areas. In this way, it effectively torpedoes any attempt to solve the Cyprus problem. At a time when there is a Russian invasion and instability in Europe, Turkey is trying to create new instability in the Eastern Mediterranean, but also against Greece. He even threatened to attack the Greek islands. He is trying to challenge Greek islands, which have been Greek for centuries, and create grey zones. Turkey is competing in expansion with Russia today and the European Union must, in order not to face such situations, intervene now immediately, and it can do so. The European Union cannot spare Turkey and not impose sanctions on it. The European Union cannot, when Turkey behaves in a similar criminal manner, as Russia behaves towards Ukraine, refrain from taking measures against it and continue to finance it. And the member states of the European Union cannot arm Attila's hand in Cyprus and Turkey in its offensive order against Greece. I believe that the time has come for the European Union to adopt the same attitude towards Turkey's new expansionist aggressive actions in the Mediterranean and towards Greece, as it did towards Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Madam President, Commissioner, I would really like to thank my dear colleague, Karlo Ressler, for the excellent work on an issue that concerns us all: the consequences of a barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine that created thousands of Ukrainian refugees. The European Union must stand by these people, because we feel Ukrainian refugees as much as no one can, because we have been experiencing the same Turkish invasion and occupation and refugees for 48 years. I fully understand the suffering, the pain, the sigh and generally the cross that the Ukrainian people bear, because I too, at the age of eleven, in 1974, was forced to leave my home, to abandon my properties and to leave and remain a refugee until today because of a barbaric Turkish invasion and occupation. The European Union must stand by those who suffer any invasion. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created this enormous humanitarian drama and the European Union must support it with all its strength. At the same time, I call on the European Union to support even now the Greek Cypriot refugees, who are still surviving in the settlement of the refugees' martyrs and did not receive any financial support. We support the Ukrainian people with all our strength and will continue to the end to redress this enormous injustice that is being done to the Ukrainian people.

Madam President, Commissioner, the Recovery and Resilience Facility is undoubtedly a huge historic success and a huge achievement for the European Union. We are particularly proud that the European Parliament played a leading role and pioneered the creation of the Recovery Fund and really fought the battle, because it believed that with this powerful weapon we could face the consequences of the pandemic and the consequences of an unprecedented socio-economic crisis. I am right to congratulate the rapporteur, Siegfried Mureșan, and the other colleagues, who have really fought to get this far. It was truly a huge success for those who played the leading role, which is certainly credited to us by the European Parliament, but always in cooperation with the European Commission and with you. But the Recovery Mechanism was created at a time when the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine was not foreseen, which created new socio-economic consequences that certainly, in order to be able to cope with this moment when societies are really suffering through the energy crisis, accuracy and inflation, probably need a new Social Recovery Fund. Because if societies and households collapse, this Recovery Fund may not have the effectiveness we expect. My homeland, Cyprus, has successfully submitted the Recovery Fund plan and will use the last euro for the benefit of Cypriot citizens, society, recovery and prosperity.

Mr President, I think it is particularly important that this European Parliament has sent strong signals in its report against Turkey about human rights violations, but even more so about the constant violation of international and European law over time. But what I want to focus on is that right now the Turkish invader, Attila in Cyprus, Erdogan together with the occupation regime, continue the provocations, the criminal actions and the violations against my own city, the city of Famagusta. He tries to usurp our homes, our properties, our beaches, our hotels and unhindered continues this pirate barbaric role in the eastern Mediterranean. The city of Famagusta is not any city - it is our city, it is the European city, it is the city that belongs to the European Union and at the moment this city is essentially under the constant threat of the Turkish invader. The European Union must finally demand, here and now, that this city be attributed to its legitimate inhabitants, who are the Greeks of Cyprus, and are the only ones entitled to live and enjoy their properties in the city of Famagusta, our European city.

Mr President, I firmly believe that our islands are the real, natural, genuine wealth of the European Union, the invaluable value that the European Union, unfortunately, has so far failed to highlight, because to date it has failed to create an integrated European policy for our islands that can truly highlight their comparative advantages and create on the islands sources of development, progress and perspective. We who come from islands are proud of our contribution and contribution to the European Union. My homeland, Cyprus, which is located in the southeastern end of the European Union, is the outpost and could become an energy hub, an energy center, but at the same time a model for renewable energy sources, as well as what the European Union has been depriving it of so far, to host a European organization. And all this is not being done at the same speed as it could have been had it not been an island and belonged to continental Europe. I believe that the time has come - and I congratulate the rapporteur on this excellent work and report - for our islands to be at the heart of the European Union's policies and for us to prove that the islands really deserve better treatment from the European Union than they have unfortunately been so far.

Mr President, I have the strong conviction but also the demand that the European Parliament's report on Turkey should begin and end with a very strong, very clear, very strict statement: that the European Union does not tolerate any invader, that the European Union cannot and should not have any relationship with any invader and in particular with the invader of the invaders, who for 48 years has occupied European territory of a member country of the European Union of Cyprus, is in total violation of human rights and the rule of law, continues to threaten and violate sovereign rights of member countries of the European Union, Cyprus and Greece, and has not respected and does not respect any principle and value of the European Union. On these issues, the European Union must be firm. For those of us who have been subjected for 48 years to Turkish barbarism and criminality, invasion and occupation, for me who, along with my family and 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, bear the martyrdom of the refugee crisis, the European Union is not allowed to consider the invader as a strategic partner. Since when is the intruder, tell me, a strategic partner? Since when is the invader part of the European Union? We owe it to this step, to the strong step taken by the European Parliament, to send a strong message to all. No to the 48-year occupation of Cyprus, the long-suffering and tormented by the Turkish invader! No to the new fait accompli of Erdogan and their settlers in the occupation regime of Famagusta and at the expense of its legal inhabitants, the Greeks of Cyprus! (Applause)

Madam President, I would like to take this opportunity once again to express my unlimited thanks to the Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control, Monika Hohlmeier, and to the dear shadow rapporteurs for the discharge of the European Union agencies, to all my dear colleagues, but also to the Commissioner and the dear President of the European Court of Auditors for their important contribution. Many times, in the context of our own control and criticism, we can exercise harsh criticism everywhere. But we must recognise that in recent years there have been significant improvements at all levels. There have been significant improvements in the control of agencies, in the control of funds, in increasing transparency, in creating conditions for good administration, and the contribution of the Committee on Budgetary Control has been a catalyst. I must stress to the superlative extent that in the Committee on Budgetary Control all colleagues without exception have a single purpose, whether we agree or disagree many times, and that purpose is to protect taxpayers' money. European agencies are the vanguard of the European Union. If the European agencies have positive results, the whole of the European Union has positive results, and these results are enjoyed by the European citizen. The European agencies are made up of 8,000 highly qualified, competent staff, who are at the forefront and need to receive the message that their responsibility is enormous in terms of managing the funds and managing these agencies. These organisations should be a model of strict control, good administration, transparency and meritocracy. We must send the message to the citizens that the European Union is a leader in this area. I am pleased that our Commissioner has taken a positive approach to gender equality, but it must be implemented here and now. I really thank everyone for making a positive contribution to the discharge of the agencies, and I believe that together we can do even more for the sake of European citizens and European agencies.

Madam President, Commissioner Johannes Hahn, dear President of the European Court of Auditors, dear Member of the European Court of Auditors, ladies and gentlemen, I consider it a great honour, but also a great responsibility, that I, together with my dear colleague, Tomáš Zdechovský, have been entrusted with the task of being the rapporteurs for the discharge of the agencies of the European Union. I believe that this is a very important, serious, but also effective work. The important contribution of the Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control, the dear shadow rapporteurs, the dear colleagues was of great value and importance in making this work possible. Here again I must remind you that the Committee on Budgetary Control is fighting day and night for the same objective and for the same purpose; to protect and preserve the prestige, credibility and dignity of the European Union by safeguarding the principles of transparency, the principles of credibility, the principles of meritocracy, the principles relating to the protection of every euro of the European taxpayer. All these values are preserved and protected through the collective work done in the Committee on Budgetary Control by all colleagues, but also by working with both the Commissioner responsible and the European Court of Auditors and all audit authorities and services. We're all on the same boat together. We are all committed to the same goal. We must safeguard European taxpayers' money and the prestige and credibility of the European Union in difficult times against any price. And this will and determination, whether one agrees or disagrees, is safeguarded and protected through cooperation but also through the daily struggle - and I am passing it on to you with knowledge - that is given day and night in the Committee on Budgetary Control with the tireless efforts of my dear colleagues. The agencies of the European Union are, in essence, the executive arm of the European Union; are the organisations that implement the work, expectations and visions of European citizens; they are organisations that must be essentially at the forefront and, by example, set a good example to all European citizens. That is why we must be particularly strict with the functioning of these European Union agencies, which must be the standards and examples. That is why we, as the Committee on Budgetary Control and as rapporteurs, set a very high standard for the application of the principles governing the Treaties of the European Union and the principles of control of these bodies. This is where we really need to send a strong message: That we should have zero tolerance for those who really want public money. These organizations can evolve, they can be modernized. With digital transformation, these agencies need to prove that their efficiency now needs to rise, bureaucracy needs to be cut – the bureaucracy that plagues the European Union, but also these agencies, incurs huge costs to the agencies and budgets of the European Union. One particularly important thing, Commissioner, and I always say that it must be implemented from the inside, that is, by the institutions of the European Union itself, and then demand that it be implemented also by the Member States, is that gender equality is finally enforced at all levels of these European Union agencies; there is no violation in these matters, both by regulation and by a strong and non-negotiable framework; to raise as a matter of principle and within the next period to implement by all this important principle that is violated, and therefore the treaties are violated. At the same time, I want to say that these organisations essentially represent and express European citizens. These organisations must be located in every part of the European Union, they must be located in every country of the European Union. There are three to four countries that do not have a European Union agency established. I think it's time to give the right message. Within these countries is my small country, Cyprus, which I believe is at a geographical point where the presence of a European organization would send a strong message for the European Union. We must, at last, give any new body to those countries which have not yet had the opportunity to have such a body. I am convinced that with the right work, with the collective work of all of us and with our dear colleagues - whom, as I said, I thank once again for the support and assistance in getting these organisations off the hook - we can do a lot to improve both the agencies and the image of the European Union, but also to give people the confidence that these agencies are in good hands and that those who control them are actually doing their job impartially.

Mr President, today, on Women's Day, we are debating the excellent report by our dear colleague Chrysoula Zacharopoulou on the European Union's actions on gender issues, which I fully and unequivocally support. For me, the principle of gender equality was, is and remains a non-negotiable principle and value of the European Union itself. But today everyone's eyes and thoughts are on Ukraine and the struggling, struggling women of Ukraine. All of humanity today truly bows before the greatness of the soul and the heroism of the women of Ukraine, those women who did not bend before the Russian invasion, the women who continue to fight even as we speak to defend their homeland, the women who fight and defend the universal ideals and European principles and values. In the face of all these Ukrainian women today I see the face of Cypriot women, who in 1974 defended our country in the same and similar way and defended freedom. In the face of the Ukrainian refugee, who took the martyrdom of the refugee today with her children, I see the same martyrdom of the Cypriot refugee mother, who has been waiting for 48 years from the refugee settlement to return. The same pain, the same refugees. We here together, Mr President, have a strong message to send, that the European Union stands united against every invader, against every occupying power, against every violator of international law.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, gender equality is a matter for all of us. It is a matter for our society, it is a matter of culture, but above all it is a matter for the European Union itself. The founding declaration of the European Union, which is the "constitution" of the European Union, stipulated that without discounts, delays or shortcomings, the European Union should implement gender equality. I am a proud European because I consider the European Union to be the best, the greatest, the strongest, the most important achievement of humanity. However, the failure to achieve this objective, set out in the Treaties of the European Union, is the wide gap, not of the genders, but of the declarations of the European Union with the acts. It is not possible for European citizens to wait 65 years for gender equality to be implemented, as required by the Treaty of Rome since 25 March 1957, and at present to make only fine declarations, fine speeches and appeals, while gender equality has not yet been achieved. The numbers are overwhelming. What we in the European Parliament and the 500 million citizens expect is for the European Commission and the European Council to come to the next meeting and tell us that gender equality has been achieved or, at the very least, for the European Commission and the European Council to commit to sanctioning those Member States that do not implement gender equality. But when even the European institutions, bodies and agencies themselves do not implement gender equality, how do we expect it to be implemented in all the countries of the European Union? I am submitting my proposal and I expect you, Commissioner, to implement it.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, from this podium, from the podium of the European Parliament, from the podium of 450 million European citizens, I want to emphasise once again to the highest degree that I belong to all those who envision a strong, credible, sovereign, solidarity-based, human and social European Union that is able to defend the sovereignty of its member countries and ensure peace, health and prosperity for all European citizens and the European continent. What we want, demand and demand is a European Union that will remain uncompromising on issues of principles and values. A European Union that is truly strong and credible and that plays a dominant and leading role on the international stage and is not the weak link. A European Union that does not apply double standards. A European Union that is not blackmailed and threatened by any Turkey, by any Erdogan, by any Lukashenko, by any country. But how credible we can make the European Union in the eyes of European citizens, when it shows, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, an unprecedented tolerance, indecision and procrastination to impose long-term sanctions on a country that is displaying criminal and unacceptable behaviour, such as Turkey, which is violating European and international law, is violating the rule of law and human rights. Undoubtedly, what we are asking of the European Union today is the obvious: To defend its own principles and values. To defend its history, the founding fathers of the European Union. Defend the conditions themselves, the solidarity clause. It is for this reason that we strongly say today that the European Union must be worthy of the expectations, worthy of the expectations of European citizens and especially Cypriot citizens.

Madam President, Commissioner, Mr President of the European Court of Auditors, today, from this step of the European Parliament, I have to commend the valuable contribution and work that the European Court of Auditors does every day, and contributes to the positive and well-functioning of the European Union, but all the more to safeguarding the interests of the European Union and European taxpayers. I believe that we should rightly pay tribute to the European Court of Auditors. Dear friend, President of the European Court of Auditors, convey our congratulations on the work you are doing to your members, but also to all the staff who with high professional diligence, but also with tireless efforts are trying to become the shield of protection of European money. For us, our mission is to preserve and protect the last euro of taxpayers and this responsibility is still huge with €672.5 billion from NextGeneretionEU. But, at the same time, I want to tell the European Commission and the European Council that supervisory and audit authorities are not a cost to the European Union. Both the European Court of Auditors and OLAF, which are doing a very important and highly valued job, when they ask for assistance in terms of staff, logistics, digitalisation, which you have rightly mentioned, Mr President, and other means of combating corruption, we must spontaneously and promptly provide them with it. Because every euro we invest in control mechanisms – the European Court of Auditors, OLAF and other control mechanisms – is not a cost; it is an investment, because it brings multiple benefits to the European Union. And most importantly, and I will finish, the most important role and mission of the European Court of Auditors is that, through its effective work, it prevents the aspiring corruptors of the European Union also from wasting public European funds.

Madam President of the European Parliament, Commissioner, representative of the European Council, I am here today waiting to hear clear answers about the actions and measures that the European Commission and the European Council intend to take to stop, at last, Turkish aggression, provocation and delinquency, as well as the daily criminal acts against Cyprus and Greece, two Member States of the European Union that continue with impassioned patience to wait, at last, for European practical solidarity. What is happening with the European Union and Turkey is highly unacceptable, insulting, provocative and degrading for the European Union, because Turkey continues to write in the oldest of its shoes and to flout the decisions of the European Council and the European Commission, while the European Union itself continues to finance and reward it, rather than taking punitive measures. I would really like to know, Commissioner, representative of the European Council, if you feel that you are doing your utmost vis-à-vis two Member States of the European Union, Greece and Cyprus, if you feel that the real role of the European Union, a force that wants to play a leading role in humanity, is to remain a mere spectator and observer of Turkey's criminal actions. And don't tell me the well-known trivialities that the European Union does not have the means and weapons to deal with Turkey. The European Union has the most irresistible and powerful weapon and instrument – the economy – and can, today, take action against Turkey by freezing the customs union and freezing budget lines. Dare it and do it, and rest assured that Turkey will comply and make different decisions in terms of provocative behavior... (The Chair removed the floor from the speaker.)

Madam President, Commissioner, we have done everything in our power in the Committee on Budgets, starting with our dear fellow rapporteur, Karlo Ressler, to be able to draw up the budget and make the European Union stronger, greener, more growth-enhancing, more innovative, more social, strengthening society and citizens in particular, with a special focus on young people, small and medium-sized enterprises, rural areas, our farmers, health and any sensitive social and economic sector. But I firmly believe that a strong and sovereign European Union cannot be conceived without strong defence and security and a Euro-army. That is why we have strengthened the European Defence Fund, because we believe that the European Union, at last, must be able to protect its external borders, protect the sovereignty of the Member States and guarantee the security of citizens. Madam President, Commissioner, the principles and values of the European Union, as well as my own principles and values and my European ideals, do not allow me to approve and vote for a single euro for countries such as Turkey, which violate European and international law, which violate the rule of law, which do not respect the principles and values of the European Union. I call on colleagues in the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council to follow this rule ... (The Chair removed the floor from the speaker)

Madam President, Commissioner, from the very beginning we have supported with all our strength the creation of the Recovery Fund, because we believe that this fund is a powerful weapon in the hands of the European Union, to support and help Member States, economies, societies and European citizens. The European Union has quite rightly responded with the historic amount of EUR 675 billion on the issue of the Recovery Fund to strengthen the economies of the Member States. But I would like to take the opportunity of your presence, Commissioner, to say that, in addition to strong economies and societies in the European Union, we also want a strong culture, principles and values. I have to tell you that one TV channel, Euronews, overnight decided to discontinue the Greek programme and the Greek language, when, as you know very well, this particular channel is funded with 20 million a year by the European Union, by the European Commission, and when the basic principle to be funded is the preservation and protection of the languages of the European Union. We offer and contribute 40% of Euronews' revenues from European Union funds. If we do declare that the European Union is founded on European culture, which is Greek and Roman culture, then we are talking about cultural mutilation by this decision of Euronews. I am not just defending the Greek language at the moment; I am defending multilingualism, which is a fundamental value for the European Union, and at this time, when the European Union is offering so much to citizens with the 675 billion, we need more than ever to add languages, to convey the image and voice of the European Union to all countries, to all European citizens, and not to take away. I urge you, Commissioner, to react immediately and to have an immediate answer to this issue, because it is really unfair to cut off the Greek language from the Euronews channel at this time.

Madam President, Commissioner, unfortunately the pandemic has left an incalculable huge health and socio-economic impact on all sectors. But no one can eliminate the enormous work and significant efforts made by the European Union in both the health sector and the socio-economic sector, particularly with the creation of the Recovery Fund, which we supported and support because we consider it to be the beginning of a new era in which the European Union will be able to support Member States and peoples when they are faced with crises and challenges. There is no doubt that tourism is the engine of the European economy and unfortunately this sector has suffered a huge blow and is the first victim of the pandemic. I think the evidence is shocking and overwhelming. The EUR 161 billion investment deficit in 2020, with knock-on effects on all tourism sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises and the 27 million workers in the tourism sector, is essentially the trigger for us to take action. I believe that to date tourism is the poor relative of the European Union and it is self-evident, since to date the European Union has not drawn up any comprehensive plan to support tourism. It is time, I believe, for the European Union to create a European integrated strategy for tourism and a strong similar recovery plan for the tourism sector, because in this way, when tourism is strengthened, the economy is strengthened, society is strengthened, multiple jobs are created. I firmly believe that every euro invested by the European Union in tourism and the tourism product will return multiple times to the economy and society with a direct benefit to all European citizens, especially workers and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Madam President, Madam President of the European Commission, I fully endorse the European vision and strongly defend European principles and values over time, because I firmly believe that the European Union is the strongest future and the best perspective of European citizens. I also believe that humanity's greatest achievement in the last 70 years has been the creation and existence of the European Union. I cannot imagine how we could successfully manage the pandemic crisis, climate change and other challenges if the European Union did not exist. I am thinking also of the Development Fund, this powerful weapon which has relieved the people of the European Union and given prospects for prosperity, growth and jobs. For these reasons, today I claim and demand a strong, sovereign, assertive, dynamic, leader, European Union that will play a leading role in humanity. However, a strong and credible European Union is not conceivable when two member countries of the European Union, Greece and Cyprus, suffer daily threats, provocations and violations of their sovereign rights by Turkey and when the European Union, instead of a dynamic response, continues to fund Turkey and call it a strategic partner. I believe that it is time for the European Union to declare that the sovereign rights of its member countries are non-negotiable. It is time to say that the European Union is not being blackmailed and threatened by any Turkey or anyone. Madam President of the European Commission, I fully endorse and subscribe to your view that human rights are non-negotiable and not for sale. But I wonder, my own basic human right to return to my birthplace, to return to the home where I was born, along with another 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, how the European Union defended and shielded this right? We are right to defend human rights around the world. The time has come, however, to respond to European citizens and to show that we are also defending their human rights. It is time to create the Europe we want. A strong sovereign Europe that meets the challenges of the times and of which we will all be proud.

Mr President, climate change and the climate crisis are here and are irreparably and mercilessly affecting the whole of Europe. We are counting our wounds and unfortunately we are counting human casualties every day. This year, on the one hand, we experienced the catastrophic floods, and on the other hand, we experienced - and especially those living in the areas of the South with their own eyes - the catastrophic fires. My country Cyprus suffered irreparable damage from the catastrophic fires, was tried hard and looks forward to the only support and hope that remains, the support of the Solidarity Fund. At the same time, of course, I want to express my sympathy, support and support to all countries and to all the people in Europe who have been affected by these extreme climate events. But the European Union must put its finger on the type of nails and take action. It is time, I believe, to create a Special Fire Intervention Unit, which can intervene directly to put out fires across Europe. Cyprus as a country is offered to host on its territory the Base of this Fire Brigade of Immediate and Rapid Intervention from the European Union. At the same time, I call on the European Union to strengthen the Climate Change Solidarity Fund so that it can support all those affected and repair disasters.