What Jeroen spoke about.

16 Sep

2026

EN Speech

State of the Union (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commission President, you started by quoting Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' That somehow aptly described also the debate that followed. I am an optimist, and I believe, when we are speaking about the future of Europe, that there is so much that binds us, and the agenda you presented today should be embraced by a pro-European majority, because …

16 Sep

2026

EN Speech

State of the Union (debate)

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Madam President, dear President von der Leyen, thank you for today's State of the Union speech and for your commitment to a strong and independent Union. I would like to make three points. First, a lot has been achieved in the past two years. We have simplified our rules and cut red tape, saving our businesses already 18 million a year. We have strengthened our approach to migration and returns, a…

15 Sep

2026

EN Speech

The recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders (debate)

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Madam President, for the EPP, today's debate is about a simple yet important message – and this is a message for the people of Ceuta: Ceuta is Spain, Ceuta is Europe, and we stand with you. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States are non-negotiable, borders are non-negotiable, and order must be restored, so that the people of Ceuta can return to their normal lives. Because when …

7 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Irish Presidency (debate)

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Madam President, dear colleagues, welcome Taoiseach, as my Member State has been paired with County Mayo during your presidency, I have to start by congratulating Mayo for reaching the semi‑finals at the expense of your very own Cork – Mayo for Sam! On a more serious note, the Irish Presidency has chosen three clear priorities: competitiveness, values and security, joined together under the motto …

6 Jul

2026

EN Speech

Coordination of social security systems (debate)

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Mr President, it's been almost ten years since Commissioner Thyssen presented this proposal as part of the fair labour mobility package, an important initiative by that Commission to make the rules on social security fairer, more predictable and adapted to changed realities. Ten years of negotiations, twenty trilogues, two agreements that were rejected by the Member States – I think that qualifies…

17 Jun

2026

EN Answer

Preparation of the European Council (joint debate)

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My point was that we should not use and invoke the Pope selectively, as the Socialists here did today, while ignoring while ignoring all the lessons he does, but selectively quoting him in certain issues. I fully agree with the Pope. We have a duty to take care of all people, regardless of where they come from, regardless of their faith or their position. But with charity – and this is also import…

17 Jun

2026

EN Answer

Preparation of the European Council (joint debate)

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Thank you for the question, but I would really recommend that you also read the Return Regulation that you will vote on this afternoon. But that's exactly what it is to return people to places where there is safety, where there is dignity, upon agreement with countries. I know that for you politically, this is difficult because you would rather not have to return anybody from the European Union to…

17 Jun

2026

EN Speech

Preparation of the European Council (joint debate)

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Mr President, Iratxe García Pérez has unfortunately left us, but her speech reminded me a little bit about the story of this driver on the motorway who listens to the radio and hears a warning about another car dangerously driving in the wrong direction, and this driver looks around and says, 'One? I see loads of them.' And this is the story of the socialists today. Spain was the only country that…

18 May

2026

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, I'm not speaking against, actually, because I think the proposal of the Renew Group is a very important one, especially in the light of not only developments over the past weekend, but over the past months involving decisions related to many European countries. So we do not want to speak against. We would like to ask, perhaps, if Mr Kobosko would allow this debate to have a wider …

29 Apr

2026

NL Speech

The need to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish life in Europe, following the recent attacks against the Jewish community in the Netherlands and Belgium (debate)

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Mr President, when I was preparing for this debate, it was indeed announced that two Jewish men were stabbed in London. Terrible news. After the attacks on synagogues and Jewish schools in the Netherlands and Belgium, this attack again shows that these are not incidents, but a pattern, and that the threat is serious and acute. Anti-Semitism must be fought resolutely and visibly, everywhere and alw…

29 Apr

2026

EN Speech

The need for targeted criminal provisions and platforms’ responsibility to effectively address cyberbullying and online harassment (debate)

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Madam President, last month we sat in this Chamber and we listened to Jackie Fox as she shared the story of her daughter Coco and how online bullied ultimately and tragically pushed her to suicide. A very powerful speech and we rightfully gave her a standing ovation. Last week I met another mother whose son took his own life after intimate messages of him were circulated online. Her grief is unima…

11 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Situation of the rule of law in Greece, following the Court decision on Predator spyware (debate)

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Madam President, I had the honour of chairing this Parliament's Committee of Inquiry on the abuse of spyware like Pegasus and Predator. The conclusion was clear: while there is a use for such technology in fighting serious organised crime, we must also recognise the serious challenges it poses for fundamental rights. Illegal spying on journalists, politicians or activists is absolutely unacceptabl…

11 Mar

2026

EN Speech

Child sexual abuse online: protect children, not perpetrators (topical debate)

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Mr President, Europe is facing a rapidly escalating child sexual abuse crisis. Reports of online grooming are soaring, and we are seeing an explosion of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Behind every image, every video, every report is a real victim, a real child being abused. For years, voluntary detection and reporting by providers has helped identify abuse material and support investiga…

11 Mar

2026

EN Speech

EUCO and situation in the Middle East (joint debate)

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Madam President, dear Commission President, dear Deputy Minister, Iran's crisis did not begin on 28 February. It began much earlier, when this cruel and oppressive regime chose to wage war on its own people. When young protesters were shot in the streets, where women demanding freedom were beaten. So yes, we stand with the Iranian people. For years, the international community hoped that diplomacy…

10 Feb

2026

EN Speech

Spain’s large-scale regularisation policy and its impact on the Schengen Area and EU migration policy (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioner, it was a historic moment in 2023 when we concluded the Migration and Asylum Pact under the Spanish Presidency, after years of difficult negotiations. That agreement embodied the hard-won commitment to shared responsibility and European solidarity. We were going to do it together. This is why it's really troubling to see what the Spanish Government is doing – act…

10 Feb

2026

EN Speech

Presentation of the action plan against cyberbullying (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, 'hang yourself', 'slit your wrists', 'everyone hates you': these are just some of the horrific messages that Nicole 'Coco' Fox endured until it became too much and she tragically took her own life. There are no words to describe tragedies like that. But Coco's story is not an isolated case: all over Europe, children are victims of cyberbullying, often with terrible cons…

20 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Cyprus Presidency (continuation of debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioners, dear President Christodoulides, thank you for being here today and for setting the right tone for the months ahead. Yes, the world feels more unstable, more fragmented and more unpredictable than before, but this is not a moment for despair. It is a moment for confidence – if we stand together as Europeans, we can emerge stronger. And that means investing where…

20 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Tackling AI deepfakes and sexual exploitation on social media by making full use of the EU’s digital rules (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear Cyprus Presidency, apps that undress or sexualise images are not innovation, they're exploitation, abuse overwhelmingly directed against women and children and they should never be legal. And the testimonies of victims are heartbreaking. Take the case of Olivia, abused as a child and rescued years ago. Yet in 2024, new images of her appeared, photorealistic…

19 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Motion of censure on the Commission (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, a motion of censure is one of the strongest tools of democratic scrutiny this Parliament has. It exists to hold the executive to account when it is truly necessary – not to serve as a campaign prop in national political theatre. Yet that is exactly what we are witnessing today. 110 Members from the far right signed this motion. But looking at this room, apparently it…

19 Jan

2026

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, I rise on point of order, pursuant to Rule 163, and I would like to draw the attention of the Parliament to a grave new development in Slovakia affecting the fundamental rights of EU citizens and the rule of law as a whole. Last month, in December 2025, the Slovak Government enforced a new Criminal Code amendment that effectively criminalises freedom of expression. Citizens are no…

24 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, thanks to all the colleagues who have contributed to today's debate, and thank you for the broad support for the regulation, for the approach we will adopt tomorrow. Also, thanks to those who didn't agree with this. I heard one colleague warning about the fact that this regulation will have an impact. – well, this is exactly what it should do. It must have an impact.…

24 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes (debate)

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Madam President, dear Commissioner Šuica, dear colleagues, at the end of this legislative procedure, let me first of all thank all the colleagues who have worked with us on this file. I think the cooperation was excellent. I would also like to thank the team of the Commission, Commissioner Brunner – your colleague, Ms Šuica – for his excellent work, the team from the Council presidency, our budget…

13 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Framework for achieving climate neutrality (A10-0223/2025 - Ondřej Knotek) (vote)

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Thank you very much – it is not technically a point of order, because the Rules of Procedure are very clear on these secret ballots and, therefore, if 144 people ask for it, it shall be a secret ballot. But at the same time, we also believe that the transparency and accountability of this House is crucial and that citizens have a right to know how their elected representatives vote. We very strong…

13 Nov

2025

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025 (debate)

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Madam President, President Von der Leyen, dear colleagues, the October European Council reminded us of how much is at stake in Europe at the moment: the security of our borders, the competitiveness of our economy and the trust of our citizens. We cannot afford hesitation, but we must act with ambition, decisiveness and responsibility. In that sense we welcome the Council conclusions, although it i…

21 Oct

2025

EN Speech

Commission Work Programme 2026 (debate)

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Madam President, Madam Commission President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the EPP welcomes the Commission's 2026 work programme as an important blueprint for a stronger, more independent and more united European Union, and the emphasis on unity, speed and ambition must guide us in addressing today's challenges. For us, the key priorities remain Europe's competitiveness, security and migration, a…