What Katarína spoke about.

12

Dec

2023

SK Speech

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EU-US relations (debate)

Mr President, I liked Mr Bütikofer very much, as he said that America is no longer what it used to be. And he's very right. However, it remains our important trading partner and also a strategic partner with which we share many common goals. But of course, we have different opinions about something and sometimes we compete. More or less. However, this cooperation should not be underestimated and w…

12

Dec

2023

SK Speech

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European Economic Security Strategy (debate)

Mr President, I agree with Commissioner Borrell that we should have a vision of economic security for the European Union, because we need to reduce the risks and provide a plan for where we want to go as a Union. Strengthening our competitiveness is not easy in a global connected world, where we are not only competing with our neighbours, but with everyone, and we need to protect our industry, our…

12

Dec

2023

SK Speech

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Parliament’s call for the right to disconnect - three years on (debate)

Mr President, with the increase in teleworking, teleworking, but also due to COVID, we are increasing the use of the internet and other means. There is more stress, people have health problems, anxiety, depression, burnout syndrome and are not able to disconnect. They are still at work, demands for their work are constantly coming, and they are forced to answer them. I think we should insist on re…

12

Dec

2023

SK Speech

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Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)

Mr President, I consider this agreement on the sustainability of the extraction and supply of critical raw materials to be very important. We have a responsibility not only towards our citizens, but also towards third countries, where such extraction often takes place. We know that we need raw materials for industry and for our further development, especially technological ones. But we should act …

11

Dec

2023

SK Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Madam President, colleagues, I will talk about the situation of farmers in the Visegrad Four in the east of the European Union. I think that we should protect these farmers and not destroy them, as is now common practice, because they ensure food sovereignty for all of us in the East. I speak for four countries: for Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. For farmers from these countries…

21

Nov

2023

SK Speech

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Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)

Mr President, twenty years ago, when I was studying at a university, the European Union was still for us a place where everyone was equal, and such a European Union was a place where we entered as the Slovak Republic. This proposal, which is on the table, may have some good things, but many of them are, in my opinion, also wrong and not good. But who will benefit from this is always the question w…

21

Nov

2023

SK Speech

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Sustainable use of plant protection products (debate)

Madam President, we all want good healthy food and we must protect these from pests. This is part of the European Union's food security. The proposal to reduce the use of pesticides is inherently good, but I consider a halving of the area to be wrong. There are differences between the Member States of the European Union. For example, Slovakia has very low pesticide use compared to intensive agricu…

20

Nov

2023

SK Speech

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Union certification framework for carbon removals

Mr President, we must not only restrict and ban our efforts to protect the planet and clean air, but also appreciate those who are trying to help. Not only to limit emissions because we fail to do so, but also to limit the capture of these emissions. These carbon sink certificates, which will reward the effort, are, in my opinion, a good way out of it. However, I agree with the AGRI rapporteur tha…

20

Nov

2023

SK Speech

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Common rules promoting the repair of goods

Mr President, reparability is a key aspect of sustainability. To facilitate the repair of goods, we contribute to reducing waste, minimising resource depletion and ultimately reducing our environmental impact. In addition, this is in line with the principles of economic efficiency. We stimulate local businesses by supporting repair businesses and skilled professionals. We also contribute to job cr…

20

Nov

2023

SK Speech

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Children first - strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption - Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (joint debate – International Day of the Rights of the Child)

Madam President, the child does not choose which family he will be born into. That's why it's up to us as politicians and society to help him throughout his life. Every child has the same rights, whether they were born in France or Slovakia, whether they were born into a palace or into a small one-room apartment. However, how many children are still at risk of poverty, despite our efforts? Luckily…

8

Nov

2023

SK Speech

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State of the Energy Union (debate)

Mr President, I think the Energy Union is a very good project and I would like to break down the five pillars. In the eighth report, we are talking about security and solidarity, which is actually the first pillar of this Energy Union. And we are also talking about the fact that we have still not achieved enough security and we still have to work on it because we are at risk of various crises. The…

18

Oct

2023

SK Speech

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Mental health at work (debate)

Madam President, mental health is as important as physical health, which is why we should not downplay it. Our employees are faced with stress, which causes not only deadlines, but also a huge burden, when often the work of several employees is on one employee and they really have to do for a lot of people. Our employees are also often the target of mobing, but I think the biggest problem is that …

3

Oct

2023

SK Speech

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Uzbekistan (debate)

Mr President, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and also the country with the youngest population in the region. I consider it very important in recent years that progress has been made in improving working conditions. Child labour in this country has been eliminated, as has labour that we consider to be forced. However, I think it is important to point out that although Uzbe…

3

Oct

2023

SK Speech

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EU-Switzerland relations (debate)

Mr President, the right choice of partners is very important when trading and concluding an agreement. The European Union is constantly looking for like-minded partners who care about, for example, respect for workers' rights, consumer and environmental protection, or justice in the labour market. The European Union has a lot in common with Switzerland in terms of economy, social affairs or even c…

3

Oct

2023

SK Speech

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Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo (debate)

Mr President, Slovakia, or my country of origin, is one of the countries that does not recognise the existence of a separate and independent Kosovo. Nevertheless, I wish that these two ethnicities in the territory, ethnic Serbs and Kosovo Albanians, can live side by side in peace and tranquility. Kosovo-Serbian relations have undergone further turmoil in recent days, and tensions in the northern p…

2

Oct

2023

SK Speech

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Economic coercion by third countries (debate)

Madam President, the European Union was established seventy years ago as a cooperation of economic countries that were perhaps not the greatest friends. This economic cooperation has evolved to what we have today in the European Union. I am very pleased that today we are discussing an instrument to help perhaps the weaker members, or some of us who are being attacked in some way by the countries o…

12

Sep

2023

SK Speech

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Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

Mr President, it is irrelevant whether this is part of hybrid warfare and whether it is Russian propaganda or whatever. But the fact is that we have a huge amount of grain flowing from Ukraine to the European Union, which, in fact, we cannot completely control. I would like to know, Commissioner, whether, as has been said several times today, we know how much grain has already arrived in the terri…

11

Sep

2023

SK Speech

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Geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products (debate)

Mr President, we all know today how we can designate, for example, Tokaj wine, in which region it can be produced. Just as we know in which region bryndza can be produced. I am very pleased that we will be able to discuss today and that tomorrow, I hope, we will all approve this proposal, and we will also be able to geographically identify products that are of an industrial or craft nature. We pro…

12

Jul

2023

EN Speech

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Crackdown on the media and freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan

Mr President, dear colleagues, in Kyrgyzstan, we are witnessing a deficit of freedom of speech. Our colleagues, the Social Democrats, are being persecuted. Activist Aijan Myrsan, for her criticism of the president, was sentenced to a large sum. Deputy Kadyr Atambaev was fined heavily for his criticism and allegations of corruption towards capital city officials. It is unacceptable to hold trials a…

14

Jun

2023

SK Speech

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Make Europe the place to invest (debate)

Madam President, how can we make Europe an attractive place for investment? I think we need three components. Europe must be a good place to live. Europe must be assured of good laws and rights. And Europe needs to promote innovation and ideas. A good place to live for me means that the people who work are smiling. They are good employees. They are people who know what rights they have, what dutie…

13

Jun

2023

SK Speech

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Quality traineeships in the EU (debate)

Madam President, when I look at this room today, it is after ten o'clock in the evening, but we can see who is really interested in young people in the European Union. We've got a year to go to the polls and we're the faction. It is a great honour for me to sit here today with my colleagues from a youth organisation who have been fighting together and working on this for more than a decade. I'm ve…

13

Jun

2023

SK Speech

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Ensuring food security and the long-term resilience of EU agriculture (debate)

Madam President, childhood is also associated with good food for all of us. For me, it was fresh tomatoes, peppers and lečo at one grandmother's house and boiled potatoes with sour milk at the other grandmother's house. These foods were healthy, homemade, and they were just great. Personally, I therefore think that what we can do for European agriculture and for its resilience is, first and foremo…

13

Jun

2023

SK Speech

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Batteries and waste batteries (debate)

Madam President, batteries are such a big innovation today that they can store electricity or energy as such, which we really use in large quantities. We use them not only in means of transport, where we may use them more and more, but also for the various products and appliances we use. I consider it very important in this regard to increase the capacity of batteries and also their lifespan, beca…

31

May

2023

SK Speech

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Threat to democracy and the rule of law in Poland, in particular through the creation of an investigative committee (debate)

Mr President, every country, and of course everyone in the European Union, has the right to sovereignty over its own territory and to pass laws that it thinks are right for its people. And I do not like to comment very much on one of the Member States of the European Union, but I think that the adoption of this law, which we are currently discussing, in Poland, is not exactly the right step toward…

10

May

2023

SK Speech

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Ukrainian cereals on the European market (debate)

Madam President, it is said in vain that Ukraine is the grain of Europe. And above all, this grain, which we are all still talking about here, should have been destined for Africa, and indeed for people who are poor and who are starving. We in Eastern Europe or in Central and Eastern Europe do not really want this cheap uncontrolled grain, because we do not know what its very specific origin is. A…