What Anna spoke about.

13

Dec

2021

PL Speech

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The 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and its importance for the future of Russia and Europe (debate)

Mr President, thank you very much. Today is the 40th anniversary of martial law. We also owe the suffering and struggle of Poles to changes in Europe. Here in this House, I pay tribute to them all. Thirty years ago, the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine signed the act of dissolution of the Soviet Union, a state that throughout its history persecuted peoples living within its borders, but also…

24

Nov

2021

EN Speech

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A European Action Plan Against Rare Diseases (debate)

Madam President, to successfully combat rare diseases, we have to overcome many and enormous difficulties. Yet, I acknowledge progress achieved until now. The existing European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases is an example of a very good European cooperation, bringing together all stakeholders engaged in this area. I think that a revised action plan is necessary. In particular, Commissioner, I ap…

24

Nov

2021

EN Speech

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State of the Energy Union (debate)

Mr President, due to the efforts of the late President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, the principle of solidarity and energy security has been enshrined in the Treaties, confirmed by the ruling of the European Court of Justice on the OPAL pipeline. It is a mutual obligation provided in the Association Agreement with Ukraine as well. Yet Nord Stream 2 violates all of those obligations, further embolden…

20

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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Pushbacks at the EU's external border (debate)

Madam President, I’d like to thank uniformed servicemen from the whole of Europe – the border guards, police, military – for guarding the EU’s external borders. Their efforts vis-à-vis Belarus, for example, taken in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia make the tireless criminal hybrid operational efforts by Lukashenko under Russia’s instigation ineffective. We have to assess the security aspect of this a…

20

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21-22 October 2021 (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, whatever you say and do about Poland, I will defend my country, always. On energy prices, please try to lower our dependence on Russia rather than trying to appease this country. In this respect, I think that the Eastern Partnership Summit is extremely important. It should be ambitious, supportive to our partners, but also seeing difficulties and dangers clea…

19

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation (debate)

Mr President, this afternoon we are certainly discussing a European Parliament report of historic significance. I would like to commend Charlie Weimers, the rapporteur, and all the shadow rapporteurs, for a very comprehensive, good and, at the same time, balanced document. I would like to express the hope that the Commission is going to take on board the important recommendations the rapporteur wa…

7

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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Human rights situation in Myanmar, including the situation of religious and ethnic groups

Mr President, according to UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, the situation in post—military coup Myanmar has already evolved into a multidimensional human rights catastrophe with the junta heavily cracking down on innocent people, in particular ethnic and religious minorities. Russia and China block a reasonable solution at the level of the UN Security Council, while heavily benefiting from …

5

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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The Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges (debate)

Madam President, I would like to thank you very much indeed for this debate, which has also added to my knowledge of the role played by the Arctic region in the mining policy of each individual Member of the European Parliament. From this debate, it would appear that keeping the Arctic as a low-tension region is certainly possible. Within the Chamber, that sometimes has very heated debates, we are…

5

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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The Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges (debate)

Madam President, I hereby present the report on the Arctic, describing opportunities, concerns and new security challenges. This report was adopted in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) by a vast majority of votes. Allow me to start with acknowledgements. I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs for their excellent work, and also the advisory staff of all political groups for their lo…

5

Oct

2021

EN Speech

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The situation in Belarus after one year of protests and their violent repression (debate)

Mr President, there is unity between Russia and China in keeping usurper Lukashenko in power. In case of Russia, we see even instigation to brutal crackdown on Belarusian society by the usurper Lukashenko, as well as waging elements of hybrid war on neighbours, namely Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Also, in some cases, other countries. I would just like to mention some cases of brutal crackdown on …

16

Sep

2021

EN Speech

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Government crackdown on protests and citizens in Cuba

Madam President, we face one of the most vicious cases of crackdown on innocent people wanting change and democracy in their country. Certainly one author said that Communism is incompatible with change and reform for people there. We have to do anything we can, everything that is at our disposal here in Parliament. These are words, but I call on the Vice-President / High Representative and the EU…

14

Sep

2021

EN Speech

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A new EU-China strategy (debate)

Madam President, I congratulate Hilde Vautmans on her report. I also commend the tone and substance of today’s debate in comparison to last December’s EU—China Summit. It is real progress. We are very realistic in our response to Chinese diplomacy and policies. I stress the necessity to stay in solidarity with countries like Lithuania, Czechia and also with Taiwan – and with our colleagues here in…

14

Sep

2021

EN Speech

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Direction of EU-Russia political relations (debate)

Mr President, allow me to start with thanking Andrius Kubilius for his very important work. Certainly it is an important report and very important that we take this debate, and eventually, I hope, adopt this report, just a few days before elections in the Russian Federation, very questionable ones. I think that in this document we are going to send a very positive message of hope to our friends, t…

14

Sep

2021

EN Speech

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Situation in Afghanistan (debate)

Madam President, yes, the moment is sad and full of dissatisfaction, yet allow me to remind you that nations decided to engage in Afghanistan upon a task given by UN Security Council resolutions adopted unanimously to combat a threat to international peace and security by all means. Allow me to repeat the words of Jens Stoltenberg, that certainly throughout 20 years Afghanistan was not the root pl…

8

Jul

2021

EN Speech

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Hong Kong, notably the case of Apple Daily

Madam President, I align with my colleagues, and actually I would like to praise the European Parliament and leading groups in finding this unity in defence of the people in Hong Kong protesting against the imposition of laws that try to curb the hard-won and long-standing liberties they were able to enjoy for quite a long time. We stand by the people of Hong Kong. It is our particular responsibil…

8

Jul

2021

EN Speech

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The case of Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran

Madam President, I participated in the gathering of the Iranian opposition in Paris that was endangered by bombing and yes, for many years I appealed in vain to the Islamic Republic of Iran to free all prisoners of conscience, and in particular to stop the death penalty. Dr Ahmadreza Djalali is most probably, along with Nasrin Sotoudeh, the Sakharov Prize laureate, the most prominent of prisoners …

6

Jul

2021

EN Speech

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The 70th anniversary of the Geneva Convention (debate)

Madam President, even today, the 1951 Geneva Convention provides the most comprehensive definition of refugee status and the rights of refugees. The Commissioner is also right about providing fundamental principles of non-discrimination, non—penalisation and non-refoulement. Some years ago, the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Philip Breedlove, stated before Congress that Russia and Assad d…