What Jeroen spoke about.

13

Nov

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Signature of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 81)

Madam President, thank you very much, and thank you very much for the request to have common sense. You know, it was the EPP who requested this postponement in the first place so, first of all, you're welcome. Secondly, we have tabled amendments to further improve this legislation, and it's fully in line with the rules of procedure and I would say: if you don't like them, you can vote against them…

23

Oct

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns (debate)

Madam President, I am confused. I listened to the Commissioner from our socialist colleagues having a very constructive and balanced approach to migration, doing more to counter illegal migration, working harder to improve returns – an agenda that was embraced also by the European Council last week, including all the socialist leaders there. And then I listened to the leader of the socialists in t…

10

Oct

2024

EN Speech

Watch

The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye (RC-B10-0095/2024, B10-0095/2024, B10-0096/2024, B10-0097/2024, B10-0098/2024, B10-0099/2024, B10-0100/2024) (vote)

Madam President, just to underline that we fully agree with the substance of this amendment, but due to the fact that our colleague stood up, it is now actually factually incorrect because it mentions the wrong university. So in this case, even though we fully support the issue that is raised, we cannot vote in favour because it's simply factually incorrect. And it's disappointing that colleagues …

9

Oct

2024

EN Speech

Watch

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

Madam President, dear Mr Orbán, I actually read the programme of your presidency, but, given this debate, I wonder if you actually read it yourself? Your first priority is strengthening European competitiveness, but at home you give the keys to your economy to China. You plead for stemming immigration, but you open the back door to Russians and you release people traffickers early from jail. You t…

7

Oct

2024

EN Speech

Watch

The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area (debate)

Mr President, I have a very simple message. If you want to protect Schengen, you need to control migration. Because it's quite ironic that this German Government introduces checks at our internal borders against illegal migration, when it was the same German Government that a year ago was harshly criticising the EU's agreement with Tunisia, which is actually bringing arrivals down; the same govern…

18

Sep

2024

EN Speech

Watch

The Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice (debate)

Madam President, now let's recap. Prime Minister Orbán visits Putin on 5 July, which was in itself already a blatant violation of the EU's Treaties and our common foreign policy. In more or less the same week, all of a sudden, Orbán makes it a lot easier for Russian citizens to come to Hungary and, by extension, the EU and our Schengen zone. Less stringent security checks, more favourable conditio…

16

Sep

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return (debate)

Mr President, we are expected to get a grip on migration. Major steps have already been taken in this area: The New Pact on Migration is a historic step and will bring about change. The Pact should be implemented by the Member States as soon as possible, as the consequences of the lack of effective European policies can be seen: Countries are retreating behind their own borders to make themselves …

18

Jul

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Election of the President of the Commission (request to adjourn the vote)

Madam President, let’s not misuse the court for political purposes. There was a court ruling yesterday in a case that was brought against the Commission as an institution, not against any individual, and the court ruling actually followed the logic of the Commission in many of the claims. So, do not pretend this is a legal issue. This is purely a political motion, and it makes sense because we hav…

18

Jul

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission (debate)

Madam President, Madam von der Leyen, my message here today is fairly simple: in a world in turmoil, Europe needs to be strong, united and independent. We need to wake up and we need to grow up urgently. Strategic autonomy is not a theoretical exercise. It is a precondition for delivering on our citizens’ expectations, because they have sent us a clear message at these elections and we must answer…

24

Apr

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime (joint debate - Advance passenger information)

Mr President, this is the last late night debate of this mandate of the European Parliament. So it’s rather fitting that it is dedicated to such an important topic. And I would like to congratulate the co-rapporteurs Assita Kanko and Jan-Christoph Oetjen, for really bringing this important file to a very good and satisfying conclusion. Now, every year, over a billion passengers travel to, from or …

10

Apr

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Screening of third country nationals at the external borders - European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals - Common procedure for international protection in the Union - Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 - Asylum and migration management - Addressing situations of crisis and force majeure - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, for identifying an illegally staying third-country national or stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes (recast) - Union Resettlement Framework - Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection - Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) (joint debate - Migration and Asylum package)

Mr President, today we are voting on a fundamental review of European asylum policy. Nine years after the crisis in 2015, there is finally a plan on the table that will put an end to the chaos and suffering at our external borders. That plan includes strict screening and reception at those external borders, distinguishing between genuine refugees and migrants from safe countries, with mandatory bo…

17

Jan

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Rule of Law and media freedom in Greece (debate)

Madam President, true democracy cannot exist without strong, diverse and, above all, free media. It requires scrutiny, and media play a key role in those checks and balances. We must always stand side by side with those performing that essential function. And we must do this in a fact-based way. It’s far too important to be politicised. Also, in this House, we must have the courage to be critical …

15

Jan

2024

NL Speech

Watch

Revision of the European Labour Authority mandate (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, about five years ago I stood here as a proud rapporteur for the creation of the European Labour Authority (ELA). A historic step for the European Union to ensure that our common, single market is not only free, but also fair. To ensure that free movement of persons is not only free, but also fair. In the European Union, there should be no room for …

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

Watch

The lack of legislative follow-up by the Commission to the PEGA resolution (debate)

Mr President, I have to say it’s genuinely sad that it has to come to this – the point where we once again need a plenary debate and even a plenary resolution in order to try and get a sign of life from this Commission, because this Parliament, with a great majority, adopted an important set of recommendations to prevent abuse of spyware and to protect our citizens’ fundamental rights. And we did …

22

Nov

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Threat to rule of law as a consequence of the governmental agreement in Spain (debate)

Mr President, separation of powers is an essential pillar of the rule of law. Judges should not make policy and politicians should not take the seat of judges. And it is extremely concerning to see that, in Spain, this concept is completely turned around. Prime Minister Sánchez no longer protects the separation of powers. Instead, he embraces the power of separation. A slippery politician who will…

21

Nov

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Continuing threat to the rule of law, the independence of justice and the non-fulfilment of conditionality for EU funding in Hungary (debate)

Madam President, I was very concerned after reading reports last month about how the Commission was preparing to release funding to Hungary in exchange for Orbán’s support for assistance to Ukraine. I was shocked, frankly, because the rule of law principles are not for sale. They are non-negotiable and they cannot serve as a bargaining chip. Everyone here should be crystal clear about that. Abusin…

18

Oct

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Rule of Law in Malta: 6 years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the need to protect journalists (debate)

Madam President, Madam Vice-President, last weekend I read the very moving story of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s son Paul in The Guardian. It was an extract of his book about his mother’s life and legacy, and he writes how, as young children, they had grown used to politicians suing and slandering her, having their house set on fire, seeing her check her car for bombs before taking the kids to school.…

17

Oct

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Urgent need for a coordinated European response and legislative framework on intrusive spyware, based on the PEGA inquiry committee recommendations (debate)

Mr President, luckily we are so restricted in our time that we have to bring less pages, Madam Commissioner. Four months ago, our inquiry committee came to an end, after a year of intensive negotiations. And we said already back then, this might be the end of the PEGA Committee. It is not the end of our work because we need results. The Commission must urgently propose measures to regulate the use…

17

Oct

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Question Time with Commissioners - European measures to prevent and to fight the rise of organised crime

Mr President, Commissioner, I wasn’t going to ask this originally, but given the sense that you raise this point yourself now with the Return Directive, I share your need for having a Return Directive, an upgraded Return Directive. But how do you feel about the direction that this Return Directive is heading in in the Parliament? Do you see a need for a Return Directive if there is actually nothin…

4

Oct

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Need for a speedy adoption of the asylum and migration package (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, in 2016 the Juncker Commission presented its proposals for a better EU asylum and migration policy, learning the lessons of the 2015 refugee crisis. Ever since that moment, we have been waiting – waiting for the day that Member States would finally find an agreement so we can do what our voters expect from us: managing migration in a better way. We request at this de…

3

Oct

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Corrupt large-scale sale of Schengen visas (debate)

Mr President, free travel within the Schengen area is one of the most important freedoms that European citizens enjoy. It’s a right and a privilege. It is not a product for sale to the highest bidder. And it’s the Member States’ responsibility to enforce our common rules and protect the integrity of the Schengen area so that our borders are secure and free movement is guaranteed. It is indeed crys…

12

Sep

2023

EN Speech

Watch

EU-Tunisia Agreement - aspects related to external migration policy (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, it is September, and already the number of arrivals to Europe through the Central Mediterranean route is at the same level as the whole of the last year. Arrivals to Italy have more than doubled and we have repeatedly warned here in this House about sleepwalking into a new migration crisis. And we have highlighted the need for action – action within the European Unio…

14

Jun

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Investigation of the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware - Investigation of the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (draft recommendation) (debate)

Mr President, as Chair of the Committee, I’m standing here with mixed feelings today. On the one hand, I’m proud of the work that we have done: all these meetings, all these missions, speaking to over 200 interlocutors. It really has been a thorough investigation. I also congratulate the rapporteur and all the shadows on the excellent result. On the other hand, the findings of our committee, the f…

14

Jun

2023

EN Speech

Watch

The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland (debate)

Mr President, last Sunday, over half a million people took to the streets in Warsaw in the biggest political gathering since communism. They were waving Polish and European flags because they passionately love Poland. They are committed to its European future. And they look at the European Union for help, for help to stop the current ruling party completely destroying what’s left of democracy and …

13

Jun

2023

EN Speech

Watch

Artificial Intelligence Act (debate)

Mr President, this AI act we’re discussing today is a very important piece of legislation, and I really thank the rapporteurs and all the shadows, everybody who worked on this, for their diligent work, because we need a European approach and we need a human-centred approach. And I don’t think anybody also today in the debate, nobody has denied the benefits and the potential of artificial intellige…