What Peter spoke about.

11 Jul

2023

NL Speech

Relations with the Palestinian Authority (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Incir's excellent report clearly sets out the way forward for peace: The two-state solution. But there are two parties that threaten the two-state solution. First and foremost, Hamas. Hamas dominates the Gaza Strip and is in turn dominated by Iran. And Iran wants to push Israel into the sea. The second party that threatens the two-state solution is Israel's current government. Isr…

13 Jun

2023

NL Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) - Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and at the Lachin Corridor

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Mr President, Mr Borrell, there is a conflict. Azerbaijan has been squeezing the population of Nagorno-Karabakh for more than half a year and that is killing softly. People no longer have medical facilities, no water, no electricity. The perpetrator in that conflict is dictator Aliyev. You can do something. I give you two concrete suggestions: Aliyev feels politically supported by the gas contract…

11 May

2023

NL Speech

Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries - Agreement of the IGC on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (High Seas Treaty) (debate)

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Mr President, the Commission wants to strengthen and improve marine ecosystems. And the Commission wants to strengthen fisheries and make them more sustainable. I agree with that. The question, of course, is: How do you get those two together? For fisheries, this means more selective fishing: You want to bring out the fish you need. CO2 emissions must be reduced, fuel consumption must be reduced a…

19 Apr

2023

NL Speech

Digital euro (debate)

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Mr President, in the debate on the digital euro, one question is actually not answered: Who's waiting for it? People can use the digital euro directly at the European Central Bank. Okay, they can make payments there and they might become less dependent on commercial banks. Fortunately, most people in Europe have excellent access to existing forms of payment. They are also very efficient. Why shoul…

18 Apr

2023

NL Speech

The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations (debate)

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Mr President, countless Christians and other believers are being persecuted in China. Uyghurs disappear into camps. Illegal organ harvesting is still taking place. China is extracting raw materials from all over the world wherever it can. China is importing oil from Russia. There are many reasons for a European boycott of China. Unfortunately, that is not feasible, because even in this House there…

14 Mar

2023

NL Speech

EU-Azerbaijan relations (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Zovko's report contains some firm statements about Azerbaijan. And rightly so. But it's not enough. The continued violence of dictator Aliyev against both Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia requires total condemnation in the strongest terms. I am also outraged by Azerbaijan's continued blockade of the Lachin corridor. And don't forget, Aliyev has had troops within the borders of Armenia…

18 Jan

2023

NL Speech

Humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh

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Mr President, the blockade of the Laçın corridor is a scandal. More than 100,000 people now have no food, no medicine. The sick can no longer be transported. Gas and electricity have also been shut down. And this scandal is partly due to the European Union. Mrs von der Leyen has concluded a gas deal with the dictator in Baku and he now feels strengthened to be the bulldog here. Mrs Vălean must cle…

17 Jan

2023

NL Speech

Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter - annual report 2022 (debate)

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Mr President, it has taken far too long, but he is finally here: the new EU Envoy for Freedom of Religion. Thankfully! We wish Mr Frans Van Daele every success, including in his cooperation with the parliamentary intergroup. I am angry and worried about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and in particular about Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin corridor. And what surprises me the most: Why is the…

13 Dec

2022

NL Speech

Prospects for the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine (debate)

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Mr President, the situation there is very complex and that requires – I think – a certain reluctance from outsiders. At the same time, the question is: Does Israel want a two-state solution? When I see that a bleak wind has started to blow under Netanyahu in recent years, that important solution seems further away than ever. I am also disappointed in Jewish settlers who so often attack Palestinian…

22 Nov

2022

NL Speech

EU-China relations (debate)

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Mr President, it is essential that European Member States become more independent in strategic matters such as technology, rare earths and crucial infrastructure. We have seen how Russia has blackmailed Europe with energy. This should not happen to China again. Strategic autonomy serves our economic interests, but also Europe's role as a community of values. Under Xi’s regime, human rights violati…

19 Oct

2022

NL Speech

Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report 2021 (debate)

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Mr President, the European Union calls on businesses, Member States and citizens to ensure that the money obtained from Europe is spent responsibly and lawfully. That is quite right. But what do we see today? The Court of Auditors rejects payments from the European Union for the third year in a row and the margin of error in those expenditures has increased again, to 3 %, well above the 2 % limit.…

5 Oct

2022

NL Speech

Humanitarian situation after the devastating floods in Pakistan and the climate crisis (debate)

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Yes, I hope you have listened carefully to what I said. I said: Pakistan asked for compensation. And we said: Then you will definitely go to the neighbors, China and India. China is the biggest polluter in the world. Just look at the nitrogen tax that China makes. And that is all because many people, also here in Europe, buy Chinese products. So I do my best not to buy Chinese products anymore, be…

5 Oct

2022

NL Speech

Humanitarian situation after the devastating floods in Pakistan and the climate crisis (debate)

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Mr President, Pakistan has unfortunately been hit by floods before, but this year the glaciers melted very quickly and the monsoons also came in large quantities. The farmers, among others, are affected. It is a pity, however, that the landowners nevertheless demand from the farmers that, although the harvests have failed, they still have to repay all the loans. I'm sorry about that. I was in Paki…

4 Oct

2022

NL Speech

Question Time (VPC/HR) Heightening tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the recent military escalation

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Mr President, Mr Borrell – this way – we are in a political arena here, so we want clear political actions. Not words, but deeds. Azerbaijan is the aggressor, and Azerbaijan is not going to stop a political dialogue. Azerbaijan is only sensitive to decisiveness. So my question is: We must stop the aggressor Azerbaijan. This is possible, for example – you asked: come up with your ideas – this can b…

4 Oct

2022

NL Speech

Key objectives for the CITES CoP19 meeting in Panama (debate)

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Mr President, sharks are essential to the ecosystem in our seas and oceans. But unfortunately, three quarters of shark species are threatened with extinction, partly due to overfishing. The global shark population must not deteriorate, because then our ecosystems will be shaken. We need to protect sharks. Unfortunately, only 25% of the global trade in shark fins is adequately managed. That's reall…

3 Oct

2022

NL Speech

The EU's actions in the field of freedom of religion or belief worldwide (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, I have just come from Pakistan. In Pakistan, hundreds of people are on death row because they believe. Ahmadis, Christians await the death penalty, accused of blasphemy. This is not only the case in Pakistan. There are countless countries in this world where Christians and other believers are persecuted. The EU has an obligation, enshrined in the Treaty, to stand up for…

5 Jul

2022

NL Speech

2021 Report on Serbia (debate)

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Mr President, one rotten apple in the basket makes all the cool fruit too disgraceful. I was reminded of that expression when I read the report on Serbia. Serbia is doing exactly what the European Union is not doing. It supports Russia. Serbia has been under the spell of Russia for more than a hundred years. Therefore, Serbia has not joined the EU sanctions against Russia. Serbia also continues it…

8 Jun

2022

NL Speech

The human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the Xinjiang police files

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Mr President, and again we are talking about China. In the previous plenary we already had a debate on the involvement of the Chinese state in illegal organ transplants. And now the Xinjiang files, which show how Mr Xi's regime systematically oppresses the Uyghurs. The new documents show what we already knew. Crimes against humanity are being committed in China. Several parliaments around the worl…

8 Jun

2022

NL Speech

Global threats to abortion rights: the possible overturn of abortion rights in the US by the Supreme Court (debate)

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Mr President, unfortunately, in most Member States unborn life in the womb can be ended. The Netherlands is a poignant example of this. Children may be aborted until 24 weeks of pregnancy. While due to the developments in neonatology, children are already viable after 22 weeks of pregnancy. A greater contradiction is hardly conceivable. There is a lot of tolerance here on this subject. In numerous…

4 May

2022

NL Speech

Reports of continued organ harvesting in China

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Mr President, I regularly speak about China and the major human rights issues in the country. Today we are talking about a specific scandal: organ harvesting among prisoners imprisoned on account of their religion or belief. This organ harvesting causes many deaths. The China Tribunal concluded a few years ago that the involvement of the Chinese government in organ harvesting is indisputable. The …

2 May

2022

NL Speech

Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion (short presentation)

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Mr President, I cooperated wholeheartedly in drawing up this report because, in my opinion, too little political attention is paid in Parliament to people who are persecuted on the basis of their religion. Unfortunately, the names of persons and organisations persecuted on the basis of their faith have been amended out of the report. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to draw attentio…

10 Mar

2022

NL Speech

Destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh

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Mr President, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan takes good care of himself and his family. Their wealth is now estimated at several billions. We see in him what we see in many despots: corruption, money laundering, arresting political opponents, violating human rights. But there's more. Azerbaijan makes the lives of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh impossible every day. This week: artillery shelling. T…

8 Mar

2022

NL Speech

The deterioration of the situation of refugees as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, lives do not count for dictator Putin. He sows death and destruction. He has cities in Ukraine randomly bombarded with rockets and artillery. Millions are fleeing, especially to the West. A question that comes to mind here is: Why doesn't the Russian Orthodox Church condemn Putin's violence? It is the Church's sacred duty to condemn Putin's violence. Small Moldova, with a population …

15 Feb

2022

NL Speech

Human rights and democracy in the world – annual report 2021 (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, Mr Borrell, there is an extensive report on the table, but an important part of it is missing. In the Member States, we decide for ourselves what happens to our organs after our death. In China, however, thousands of prisoners are executed each year for the main purpose of using their organs for commercial organ transplants. These are often prisoners who have been convicted for their…

14 Feb

2022

NL Speech

A European strategy for offshore renewable energy (debate)

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Mr President, I am in favour of the Green Deal, but when it comes to the construction of offshore wind farms, I say: ‘Think first, then do’, because much is still unknown in the construction of wind turbines in the sea, for example the long-term effects on fish and fish stocks. In the construction of windmills in the sea, for example, geheid is created and 140 decibels are released. That's equival…