Speeches

Effective protection of the digital environment is a major challenge, as a fast and constantly changing environment needs to be properly regulated. European citizens are spending an increasing part of their lives online: It is also a place of work, official affairs and personal contact. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, this has been increasingly the case, and during the pandemic period, many institutions and organisations had to switch to digital operations almost overnight. It is important to ensure a high level of protection for the citizens of the European Union also in the digital space, and I am therefore very pleased to welcome this legislation. Given the cross-border nature of the digital space, I consider it particularly important to ensure effective implementation and a high level of cooperation between Member States so that the objectives set out in the legislation can be fully achieved. I am confident that the legislation will deliver quick and tangible results.

Madam President, I'm sorry. As a Member of the European Parliament, I have always tried to stand up for the interests of consumers, and during this term I have worked hard to ensure that the European Union adopts legislation that directly helps citizens from a sustainability perspective. The proposal for improvement is just such an initiative. A model whereby consumers buy a product and then discard it after a short period of use is no longer sustainable. I welcome the fact that the proposal provides an opportunity to repair broken products, whether they are washing machines or bicycles. I believe that the new legislation will not only save the wallets of our citizens, but also reduce the amount of waste generated by consumer goods, which is an important step towards an environmentally conscious Europe. For the future, I can only propose that Brussels deal with effective proposals to make the daily lives of European consumers easier, rather than with pseudo-rule procedures.

Mr. President, please. The Interinstitutional Agreement on Euro7 emissions standards is a major success. It is almost miraculous in this institution that the rapporteur's realistic approach has enabled the previous drastic proposals of the Commission and the left to be removed from the final text of the agreement. What is more, because of certain targets imposed by the left, the automotive industry is already engaged in the development of alternatively powered vehicles, and new standards are putting even more pressure on them. We simply cannot allow this, we cannot jeopardise European competitiveness. In many cases, the introduction of emission reduction measures requires heavy investment, which is the most burdensome for the automotive industry. In the current economic climate, every effort must be made to ensure that the Commission's ill-considered series of regulations do not impose unnecessary burdens on citizens and our car industry.

Mr. President, please. European bureaucrats want to push through an EU proposal on political advertising that would give Brussels the opportunity to censor member states' election campaigns and influence their outcome. It is clear that this new legislation ignores national interests and limits the sovereignty of the Member States. This is yet another example of Brussels' stealthy attempts to enlarge its powers. It is sad that the champions of expression are the first to violate freedom of speech, who work day and night to censor opinions they do not like. What is this, if not the suppression of democratic values? It is time to put an end to political and ideological pressure and not to allow the EU institutions to have jurisdiction over opinions that Brussels does not like.

Dear Mr President, Thousands of farmers have been protesting across Europe for weeks. The starting point of the protests is common. Farmers reject the measures of the Green Deal of the Brussels bureaucracy, as they already place an unacceptably heavy burden on agriculture. What is Brussels' response to this? The Commission proposes new targets for 2040 without prior impact assessments, despite the war and the poor economic outlook. In their latest communication, they also announced, in essence, the ‘Green Deal 2’. I would like to ask you, Commissioner, is agriculture the next step after the affliction of European industry? Thank you, but we don't want any of this. We need an EU climate policy that recognises that agriculture is a key sector of the European economy. It is extremely sad that the current leadership in Brussels is ignoring the interests of the people. That is why change is needed. We need a change in Brussels this June!

Dear Madam President, Today we are discussing a very sensitive and divisive topic. We insist that each Member State should be able to decide for itself what technology it wants to grow on its territory. This is a question of sovereignty and we will not give in to it. The current proposal of the European Parliament needs to be improved once again, as organic farming should be clearly separable from plants produced by NGTs. It is important to point out that, in the case of genetically modified crops, there is no evidence that they are better than conventionally bred varieties in terms of climate change or food safety. In addition, transparency for European consumers is needed and there is therefore a need for regulation that clearly distinguishes plants produced by NGTs.

Dear colleague, there is complete silence from Brussels in connection with the recent scandalous events in Poland, such as attacking independent media outlets and the courts. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Commission comment on this issue, nor do those who previously most loudly asked for the application of the rule of law. What a surprise that Brussels is turning away its head when the Tusk government is trampling on democracy! Don’t you think that double standards are applied in Brussels, and the whole rule of law procedure is only used to impose leftist ideologies?

Dear Mr President, Dear Commissioner, More and more customers are trying to choose an environmentally friendly product or service. However, it is in vain that good intentions remain a marketing catch for some companies. Unfortunately, the phenomenon of green painting has gained more and more ground recently. That is why it is particularly important to combat this harmful practice. As rapporteur for the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, I am delighted that, during the inter-institutional negotiations, many of my proposals have become part of the final text, so that we can effectively ban deceptive green-painting. Thanks to the new rules, companies will now have to prove that their products are truly environmentally friendly. I consider it particularly important to avoid the bad practice of dual quality and the use of unproven and overly generic claims and labels such as eco-, bio-based or climate-friendly. We do not accept that the EU's common market is still subject to double standards. As a representative of Central and Eastern Europe, I consider it a huge success that the ban on dual quality has been included in the legislation, thanks to which we will stop citizens of the region from remaining second-class consumers in the European Union. Overall, we can say that more and more companies and brands are actually striving for sustainability, so the role of greening is appreciated. To strengthen consumer confidence. Effective regulation can strengthen the credibility of any true corporate greening. Our amendments aim to make the green product truly green. Let us continue to walk together on the green road, and together let us stop the bad practice of painting green.

Mr. President, please. Dear Commissioner, I would like to talk about a topic that has not yet been discussed in today's debate, and that is the family. Families have a major role to play in the fight for climate protection, as every step we take affects the future of our children. A sustainable future requires sustainable demographics, so the family is not the cause but the solution to the climate crisis. Who will we protect if not the next generation? While Hungary has done its homework, the policy of former Commissioner for the Green Transition, Frans Timmermans, has failed completely. Hungary has one of the most ambitious climate programmes in the world. We have significantly reduced our CO2 emissions while increasing economic productivity. Let us have such good examples before our eyes. By following the best practices, the whole world must unite, because only together can we make a difference for climate protection.

Mr. President, please. Money-filled suitcases, millions in gifts for Brussels bureaucrats, mysteriously missing text messages. It is scandalous that, one year after the most serious cases of corruption in Brussels, there is still no progress in these cases. The relevant left-wing MEPs continue to sit in our ranks and vote. Honourable Members, real measures are needed instead of pseudo-measures, and the current ones are not solving the problems. The EU's institutional set-up to curb corruption has failed, and investigations are still being carried out by the national authorities. It's clearer than the sun: There is currently a corrupt system of political buy-in in Brussels, benefiting both the Soros Empire and third countries. This system needs to be changed! A fundamental political change is needed. The Brussels swamp must be drained in next year's European Parliament elections!

Dear Mr President, Dear Commissioner, Sustainable transport is vital, but as always, new technologies, green buses and trucks face many challenges and obstacles. It should be stressed that, in the field of interurban transport, we are not yet prepared to make extensive use of these buses within the timeframe proposed by the left of the European Parliament. If these vehicles were subject to overly strict EU rules and objectives, they would again impose significant burdens on transport companies. This burden, in turn, would have a repercussion on the prices of tickets and season tickets that passengers would have to bear, for example, in my country for particularly affordable county and national season tickets. The lack of recharging infrastructure is also a huge challenge, which is why the Union needs to play a greater role in the construction of this infrastructure. We need to plan and implement our actions carefully and carefully so that they do not cause excessive burdens to passengers.

Dear Madam President, Dear Commissioner, European farmers face major challenges. The European left's proposal to reduce pesticides would exacerbate the already difficult situation. This is not the time for proposals that are out of touch with reality. We must not jeopardize traditional agricultural production and we must no longer punish our farmers. The war and extreme weather have already created a high degree of uncertainty, so a possible food crisis would have unpredictable consequences. We need to understand that if yields fall, food prices and import exposure will increase, so that food will not be able to be paid for by the European population. It is now of the utmost importance to reach an agreement that strikes a balance between climate and environmental protection as well as competitiveness and economic aspects.

Dear Madam President, Dear Commissioner, As a Conservative Member, I believe that an existing thing is valuable and, as such, it should not be replaced at the first opportunity by something new. That is why I welcome today's debate on the proposal on the right to repair, which will not only save consumers' wallets, but also benefit our environment, as the amount of waste will decrease. It is not possible for certain companies to force consumers to buy a new device in order to maximize profits, instead of repairing the existing one, even in the event of the slightest mistake. Therefore, it is important that the new regulation provides an opportunity to repair broken consumer goods, be it washing machines or bicycles. Brussels should deal with more of these proposals, which make everyday life easier for consumers, rather than with pseudo-rule-of-law problems.

Mr. President, please. Euro 7 emission standards for motor vehicles are certainly an important step forward in the green transition. At the same time, we cannot ignore the challenges facing both industry and citizens. Firstly, it is important to point out that the introduction of emission reduction measures in many cases requires heavy investment, which is the main burden on the automotive industry, and that such measures may also have a long-term impact on competitiveness and jobs. Of course, the price increase will have an impact on the customers, as new technology will be needed, which will entail serious costs! Due to the targets imposed by the left, the automotive industry is already engaged in the development of alternatively powered vehicles, and with new standards we would put even more pressure on them. In the current context of war inflation, we must protect our citizens from further price increases due to irresponsible proposals from the Brussels Left!

Mr President, firstly let me express that I strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, and I acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims in these difficult times. It is important to highlight that the current conflict caused by the terrorist attack can lead to the destabilisation of the entire Middle Eastern region and jeopardise the peace process generated by the Abraham Accords. Therefore, in my opinion, the only solution to prevent any future inter-state conflict is through a de-escalation policy, and to return to the positive changes that were made previously. It is shocking to see how many pro-terror demonstrations and sympathy rallies supporting the terrorists are taking place throughout Western Europe as terror is acceptable. I would like to recall that in Hungary, no one is allowed to hold demonstrations promoting the cause of terrorist organisations.

Mr. President, please. Two days, two Hungarian Nobel Prizes. I would like to begin my speech by warmly congratulating Katalin Karikó and Ferenc Krausz for their prestigious recognition. Prolonged shortages of medicines put patients at risk and pose a huge challenge to national health systems. As one of the most serious problems is that most of the active ingredients used in the manufacture of medicines are produced in the Far East, China and India, I believe that we should pay particular attention to strengthening the EU's manufacturing and supply processes. However, this is not possible without increasing the manufacturing capacity of existing pharmaceutical companies in the European Union and the involvement of new manufacturers, where equal geographical distribution is essential. The Central and Eastern European region cannot be the stepchild of the EU, and it is important to include modern production capacities in order to increase production and contain the shortage of medicines that is hitting us.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Recently, the COVID pandemic has made it clear that Member States are acting faster and more efficiently in times of crisis. The impact of the measures in Brussels is slow and delayed. Unsurprisingly, Brussels bureaucrats are now working again to impose further restrictions and prevent Member States from taking effective measures. The Single Market Emergency Instrument evokes the time of a socialist planned economy and runs counter to the objectives of the internal market, as the draft foresees that the Commission may call on certain economic operators to give priority to orders for goods identified by the Commission. I believe that Brussels should be dealing with the real problems of the internal market and not with the impossibility of taking new measures against the Member States. Cooperation is important, but excessive regulation is not successful.

Mr. President, please. The original objective of the Special Committee on the Coronavirus pandemic, which was set up one and a half years ago, was to examine the European response to the pandemic, draw lessons and assess the decisions taken during the pandemic. And what happened instead? A report has been drawn up that does not address the problems that most affect European citizens, while making exaggerated and erroneous findings about the EU’s performance. The previously promised fact-finding is also missing. In relation to vaccine contracts concluded by the Commission by text messages. We have to say that Europe was lagging behind during the pandemic, and it was only thanks to the swift decisions taken by the Member States that it was able to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic. It is therefore time for real fact-finding to take place instead of attacking Member States.

Mr. President, please. We are now debating the so-called "Green Deal" legislative proposal. However, there has never been such a divisive and ill-considered draft law as the Nature Restoration Regulation. While everyone in the room acknowledges the importance of restoring nature, it should be said that this draft in this form is not feasible. Unrealistic and unenforceable proposals by the European Commission and the Left threaten farmers' livelihoods and could reduce food production in Europe by up to 30%. The consequences are obvious: higher food prices, farm closures, growing dependence on third countries. Mr Commissioner, it is extremely sad and unacceptable that Brussels has not proposed any financial fund to provide real compensation to farmers. Instead of a threat and background deal, it is time for the Commission to return to the planning table.

Madam President, thank you for today’s debate. I asked artificial intelligence to write me a speech in rhyme about regulating AI. This is the result: ‘The AI Act is a crucial step we must take to ensure that AI is developed without mistake. We must establish ethical guidelines and rules to ensure that AI is used as a tool for the benefit of all citizens and society and not just for profit or propriety. The AI Act will provide a framework that’s fair and ensure that AI is used with care. We must protect the rights of every European and ensure that AI is developed with precision. ‘So let us support the AI Act with conviction and ensure that AI is developed with a clear vision. Let’s seize the opportunity to make a positive impact and ensure that AI is developed with a responsible pact. Thank you, colleagues, for your attention. Let’s work together to ensure a bright AI dimension.’

Madam President, I'm sorry. More and more customers are striving to choose an environmentally friendly product or service, but it is in vain that good intentions remain a marketing ploy for some companies. Unfortunately, the phenomenon of ‘green-painting’ has been gaining ground recently, which is why it is particularly important to combat this practice. The European Parliament's Committee on the Environment supported my resolution by a large majority, and the most important proposals of our committee have also been included by Mrs Borzan in her report, for which I thank you. Together, we can now ban deceptive greenwashing through our common proposals. We will no longer allow space for businesses that claim to be environmentally friendly when it is not at all reflected in their operations, or where such claims about their products or services cannot be justified. It is of paramount importance to avoid the bad practice of dual quality and the use of unproven overly generic claims and labels such as ‘eco’, ‘bio-based’, ‘carbon-neutral’ or ‘climate-friendly’. Consumers should also be informed about the guaranteed durability of products. Overall, we can say that more and more companies and brands are actually striving for sustainability, so the role of greening is appreciated. To strengthen consumer confidence, effective regulation can strengthen the credibility of any true corporate greening. Our amendments aim to ensure legal certainty for traders and facilitate the resolution of cases of greenwashing and early obsolescence of products. The green product should be green. Let's continue on the green road together and stop the bad practice of painting green together!

Mr. President, please. Ensuring secure energy supply and access to affordable energy is one of the most important tasks of the European Union. Unfortunately, the report under discussion runs counter to this principle in many respects. EU provisions to reduce methane emissions are indeed important, but the proposals before us do not take into account the specificities of Member States. Reduction and measurement measures are excessively bureaucratic and can create significant financial burdens for companies and, consequently, for European families. Parliament's irresponsible and absurd idea of broadening its scope would make many important industrial sectors impossible, putting thousands of European jobs at risk. Europe must take the lead in the fight to reduce methane emissions, but we will not fight this fight alone, but together with our global partners!

Mr. President, please. After long negotiations, agreement was reached on the key elements of the EU climate package. We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, but our joy is by no means cloudless. We can say that while some proposals are expected to have little environmental benefit, one thing is certain: these measures will lead to significant increases in energy prices. The adoption of a domestic climate tax added as part of the emissions trading system will have a particularly negative impact on European and Hungarian families, and will also jeopardise the long-term sustainability of the Hungarian utility bill reduction programme. Due to Brussels' misguided climate policy, energy prices are already skyrocketing and inflation is out of control. We don't need any additional burdens. However, the climate tax will again burden the public's wallet. The cost of the transition should not be borne by them, but by the large polluters. Instead of unrealistic ideas that hamper economic growth, we need real environmental and climate-friendly climate protection measures.

Mr. President, please. Reducing fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances is essential for the fight against climate change and the health of our citizens. It is important to revise the limit values currently in force, but any new measures must be proportionate and duly justified. Unfortunately, the EP proposal does not correspond to this. It is important to understand that some applications, such as cooling of nuclear power plants, do need these gases, as they can play a central role in achieving the EU's climate goals. Dear Commissioner Timmermans, At this juncture, we must not allow thousands of European jobs to be put at risk by unthinking EU rules. The transition to a climate-neutral economy must be fair in all respects, so I call on you to put people and workers at the centre, now and in all your future legislative proposals.