What Anna spoke about.

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EN Written Statement

The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza (debate)

My stance is clear. I stand with our democratic partner, Israel. Hamas, an EU-designated terrorist organisation, has a long list of atrocities. The recent attack, both in scale and level of cruelty, only proves that you cannot negotiate with terrorism. Israel has the legitimate right to defend itself and seek justice. We should be aware that defence from terrorism requires a sophisticated, firm an…

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PL Written Statement

The escalating humanitarian crisis on the EU-Belarusian border, in particular in Poland (debate)

The title of the debate is misleading. People staying at the invitation of the authorities in Minsk as tourists can move openly throughout the territory of Belarus. Thousands of euros are paid for it. At the border we are dealing with a security crisis, violations of the law and dangerous provocations, which were also practiced in the scenario of the latest Zapad-2021 maneuvers. We should debate t…

24

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

Mr President, I also applaud Reinhard Bütikofer but I couldn’t even hear my name, I’m sorry. Colleagues, I’m really proud of our stance vis-à-vis the PRC. And in the case of both Hong Kong and Taiwan, other issues also Uyghurs. But after seven resolutions, this term of the European Parliament, we feel a certain helplessness in this. We have the Commission and the Council to step up. I’m really afr…

24

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz Guliyev

Mr President, we stand by political prisoners all over the world. So we are happy that it was a considerable easing of conditions of Dr Ibadoghlu. Yet I would like this time to raise another topic. There is a time of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan – very delicate – and a time that we count on positive effect. And there is also almost the election time in whole Europe. So I urge my col…

23

Apr

2024

EN Speech

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Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society (debate)

Madam President, we granted the candidate status to Georgia, acknowledging the will of the Georgian people. The will of the Georgian people has been heavily violated already by reintroduction of the so-called foreign agents law. They should not be punished further. We have to consider targeted sanctions, possibly against the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, and call for the release of Mikheil Saakash…

13

Mar

2024

EN Speech

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The case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela

Mr President, Commissioner, we firmly stand by Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa. Rocío San Miguel, brave lawyer and human rights defender of Spanish descent, and held in very abusive conditions. And General of very fragile health, held already six years. But we stand by others, more than 300 political prisoners of the Maduro regime and we remember María Corina Machado, who was preve…

13

Mar

2024

EN Speech

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The repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women

Mr President, no words provided in our resolutions are adequate to describe the level of atrocities in Afghanistan after a Taliban takeover of the state. The very radical interpretation of Sharia law in particular is violent against women and girls. They are practically banned from access to public life, work, healthcare and education without male-relative companionship. It is also extremely viole…

12

Mar

2024

PL Speech

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Need to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products to the EU and to ensure stability of EU agricultural production (debate)

Madam President, I'm sorry. A month ago, the European Parliament adopted my ECR amendment calling for sanctions on Russian agricultural products. By waging an aggressive war against Ukraine, the Russian Federation is striking Ukraine and the countries of the collective West equally in two sectors. This is energy, and these are agricultural products. Unique solidarity is needed to cope with this. W…

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia (debate)

Mr President, today we pay tribute to Alexei Navalny, his memory, his work, and also extend our deepest sympathy to his entire family and friends. I would like especially to mention lawyers because their work was restless and really very important. Naturally, we demand immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in the Russian Federation, but also of all those who were prisoners an…

28

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

Madam President, the accession of Sweden is a triumph of NATO, but also a triumph of unanimity, adding to our common security and building, even in difficulty, unity of the collective West – unity achieved in respect to opinions of even the smallest nations, in particular those having a long tradition of fighting for freedom and independence. That, I address to our partners and future allies, in p…

27

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS on the situation in Syria (debate)

Madam President, I congratulate Nathalie Loiseau on this very significant report. Let me raise one issue: the West counted on the positive contribution of Russia to anti-ISIS coalition. Instead, they sent General Aleksandr Dvornikov to command the Russian troops alongside Bashar al-Assad. He earned the title of ‘the butcher of Syria’, later confirmed in Ukraine in a crackdown over Mariupol and roc…

27

Feb

2024

PL Speech

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Closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia (debate)

Mr President, thank you very much. Welcome to the new dynamics of relations between the European Union and Armenia. We look with great hope at the cautious steps taken by Prime Minister Nikol Paszinyan, also proven during his speech here in the European Parliament, which, hopefully, will also lead to a relaxation of relations between Armenia and the Russian Federation, especially during its aggres…

7

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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New wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members

Madam President, methods used by the Lukashenka regime against the Belarusian opposition are well known from our regional, painful past. The recent crackdown on hundreds of closest family members, wives, mothers, daughters, other relatives of the most prominent leader, political leaders of opposition, as well as on Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s closest co-workers, against Polish community members res…

6

Feb

2024

EN Speech

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Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union (debate)

It is difficult to deliver my prepared speech now after the statement of Tatjana Ždanoka. Honestly speaking, with my whole life story starting from early youth involving fighting against communism, and then against all traces of malign influence, direct or indirect, by Russia or any other malign actor against not only my people, but all people who had previously been intimidated by the Soviet Unio…

6

Feb

2024

PL Speech

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The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr. and Mrs. President. Friends and colleagues! In order to survive, to maintain the superiority of the collective West, both military and economic, we must help a Ukraine fighting on our behalf and bleeding now, immediately and without preconditions, without theater in the form of treaty changes, budget reform, blackmail of small Member States. A strong political will is needed to overcome everyt…

17

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan

– Madam President, despite the efforts of the international community, the agreement between the World Bank and the World Food Programme helping millions of Sudanese affected by the ongoing crisis and dire humanitarian situation, we face even worse prospects. The World Food Programme is ringing alarm bells concerning the upcoming lean period for crops and the worsening of the situation in Sudan. W…

17

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande

– Madam President, the outstanding British human rights activist Benedict Rodgers stipulates in his new book, , methods used by the PRC to curb religious freedom and freedom of belief. It applies to Uyghur Muslims, to Tibetan Buddhists, to Christians, and to Falun Gong practitioners. The case of Mr Ding Yuande that we take in the resolution is the proof of these methods. His son protests just in f…

16

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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EU-India relations (debate)

Madam President, I express my respect to our partner India, acknowledging many areas of common interest – to name just one: freedom of navigation and alignment in terms of the Taiwan Strait and the Red Sea. Yet we have to express our concern about the special and privileged partnership between India and the Russian Federation, recently confirmed by the telephone talk between Prime Minister Modi an…

16

Jan

2024

EN Speech

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Keeping commitments and delivering military assistance to Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, this moment certainly is a turning point for both Ukraine and all of us. Despite all efforts, what we’ve done until now is not sufficient. Ukraine needs a massive support in arms and ammunition, and that is predominantly Member States’ competence and political will is needed. We do not need a lullaby for our conscience by combining support for Ukraine with changes to MFF,…

13

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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The unknown status of Mikalai Statkevich and the recent attacks on Belarusian politicians’ and activists’ family members

Madam President, ‘troublemakers’ hands should be tied’ announced Jaruzelski while introducing martial law in Poland on 13 December 1981. Now, forty-two years after, the same methods have been used by the usurper Lukashenko against innocent people. Where is Mikalai Statkevich, and where are the other opponents named by all my colleagues here? I shout loudly the words of solidarity of this Chamber: …

12

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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EU-China relations (debate)

Mr President, High Rep, the PRC is a communist state all the time increasing its aggressive, autocratic, both external and internal posture. It is our description of relationship that counts, Mr High Rep. The systemic rivalry may be sufficient for today, and the economic security strategy may be sufficient if properly enacted today, but unfortunately, due to the PRC policies, we may be forced very…

12

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability (debate)

Mr President, at the end of the previous legislature a group of MEPs, including myself, participated in the conference held in Avdiivka, Ukraine, together with members of the Verkhovna Rada, assessing damages made by the indirect aggression of Russia in eastern Ukraine as well as by the annexation of Crimea. At that time, we were taken aback by the scale of damages. Nowadays we have much, much mor…

12

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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Situation in Venezuela (debate)

Mr President, High Representative / Vice-President, the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, failing so massively his own country and his own people, decided to follow Vladimir Putin’s example. First intimidating and exerting violence against every group of political opposition to his regime. And recently also starting unilateral action against neighbouring Guyana, threatening virtual annexation of…

11

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, I agree with the EPP proposal because it focuses on a particular aspect of the case.

11

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, colleagues, Venezuela has been in the European Parliament’s agenda for a long time due to Maduro regime mostly internal policies, violation of human rights, impoverishing society and pushing people of his country out for long-standing migration. Now we are concerned by statements by Maduro himself of his aggressive, unilateral actions against Guyana. I kindly ask colleagues to foc…