What Andrey spoke about.

16

Jun

2026

EN Speech

Watch

An EU future for the Western Balkans (joint debate)

And now to my dear colleague and rapporteur Thomas Waitz: lieber Thomas, both of us would like to support and give incentives to North Macedonia, but motivating them not to fulfil the engagement that they have is not helpful. I was a bit surprised to see this attempt to remove part of the text of the negotiation framework, especially the scientifically based, objective interpretation of history, t…

16

Jun

2026

BG Speech

Watch

An EU future for the Western Balkans (joint debate)

19

May

2026

EN Speech

Watch

Recommendation on the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (debate)

Mr President, High Representative, shadow rapporteurs, colleagues, thank you for this debate. Today's discussion shows that despite political differences, there is a broad agreement in this House that the European Union must remain a strong defender of effective multilateralism, the rules-based international order, and effective also United Nations reform. The United Nations faces institutional ch…

19

May

2026

EN Speech

Watch

Recommendation on the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (debate)

Mr President, dear colleagues, I think in the plenary it should not be allowed that a colleague is calling for eliminating the state of Israel. This is something which is absolutely not acceptable: to call for the elimination of the state of Israel.…

19

May

2026

EN Speech

Watch

Recommendation on the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (debate)

Madam President, High Representative, dear colleagues, a pity that there is nobody from the Council, I am very pleased that Parliament is once again adopting our recommendation ahead of the United Nations General Assembly after five years without such a report. At a time of growing geopolitical instability and increasing pressure on the multilateral system, it is essential that Parliament contribu…

19

May

2026

EN Question

Watch

Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba (debate)

Thank you very much, colleague. One simple question. Do you support the Communist dictatorship in Cuba or not? And please do not refer to the United States or other countries. Do you support this repressive regime in Cuba or not?…

10

Mar

2026

BG Speech

Watch

EU enlargement strategy (debate)

Mr President, dear Petras and honourable Members with whom we have worked so successfully on this report, enlargement is not only one of the European policies, but a long-term investment in the security, stability and prosperity of the entire European Union, especially in the current geopolitical context. It is a living proof that the European model remains attractive and has a strong transformati…

20

Jan

2026

EN Speech

Watch

Brutal repression against protesters in Iran (debate)

Mr President, Madam High Representative, Iranian women and men are out on the streets demanding freedom, democracy and dignity. Against the oppressive regime of the mullahs, they deserve not only our solidarity, but decisive actions: stop executions, release all political prisoners and restore full internet access. Immediately, Madam High Representative, designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard C…

18

Dec

2025

BG Speech

Watch

European Democracy Shield – very large online platform algorithms, foreign interference and the spread of disinformation (debate)

22

Oct

2025

BG Speech

Watch

The ongoing assault on the democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria (topical debate)

Madam President, this debate has nothing to do with the rule of law. It is a political spectacle directed solely to inflate the slumbering electoral bubble of ‘Continuing the Change’. Let us recall: in March 2022, then Prime Minister Kiril Petkov of Renew Europe ordered the illegal arrest of Boyko Borisov, Sevdelina Arnaudova and Vladislav Goranov. No evidence, no accusations – pure political terr…

21

Oct

2025

BG Speech

Watch

Polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, I would first like to express my solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters in Serbia who took to the streets to defend their dignity, democracy and their future. Their protests, which began after the tragedy in Novi Sad, have become a mass movement for systemic reforms, transparency and a true European perspective. I strongly want to distance o…

21

Oct

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Stepping up funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction and defence: the use of Russian frozen assets (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, I warmly welcome today's statement by President Zelensky, European leaders and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, which underlined the ongoing work to prepare measures 'to use the full value of the Russian immobilised sovereign assets, so that Ukraine has the resources it needs now'. As a crucial part of these efforts, I would like to call on the European Memb…

8

Oct

2025

BG Speech

Watch

Promoting EU digital rules: protecting European sovereignty (debate)

Madam President, today, not with tanks, but with algorithms and bots farms, they are attacking our democracy. Business algorithms designed to hold attention, not protect the truth. They reward emotional reactions, not facts, and it is this door that uses Russian propaganda to invade the European public space. With the mechanisms that use our emotions to make money for the platforms. Digital sovere…

8

Jul

2025

EN Speech

Watch

2023 and 2024 reports on North Macedonia (debate)

Madam President, the suffering citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia have been waiting for their well-deserved European future for more than two decades. But it seems that politicians in Skopje are not in a hurry and are systematically sabotaging this process. Instead of reforms and real progress, we see populism, nationalist rhetoric and a comfortable representation of Bulgaria as an enemy …

8

Jul

2025

EN Speech

Watch

2023 and 2024 reports on Albania (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, in light of the growing threat from Russia and China, EU enlargement is no longer a possibility, but a necessity and an essential geostrategic investment in building a united and strong Europe. I welcome Albania's significant progress on its EU integration path, having opened (as mentioned by our colleagues) 24 out of 33 negotiation chapters in just …

19

Jun

2025

BG Speech

Watch

Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges (debate)

Commissioner, in the face of the growing threat from Russia and the growing influence of China, the integration of candidate countries into our Union is imperative as a strategic investment in a united and strong Europe. At this historic time, the enlargement of the European Union is one of our strongest foreign policy instruments. But if this instrument is not used carefully, if we compromise on …

18

Jun

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Safeguarding the rule of law in Spain, ensuring an independent and autonomous prosecutor's office to fight crime and corruption (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Spain is a beautiful country, close to my heart, and a great example for a peaceful transition to democracy. And this is why I have observed with big sadness the very serious, ongoing scandals over the past few years which have come to light involving people around Prime Minister Sánchez. The media report includes misuse of the Prosecutor's Office, poli…

17

Jun

2025

BG Speech

Watch

2023 and 2024 reports on Moldova (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, I express my full support for Moldova's European integration and I welcome the active and important steps that the pro-European government and president of the country are taking to consolidate their belonging to the European family and bring the country closer to full membership of the European Union. I am confident that this is the only way to ensure prosp…

1

Apr

2025

BG Speech

Watch

Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (debate)

Mr President, I will start with the example of Free Europe from my country Bulgaria. In Bulgaria Free Europe began broadcasting on August 11, 1950 with the show "The Voice of Free Bulgaria". I grew up on Radio Free Europe, secretly listening at home from my family. For me, it was the voice of truth, from which we learned what was happening in communist Bulgaria and around the world. I would like t…

11

Feb

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Šuica, dear Minister, dear colleagues, to foster peace and promote democratic values, the EU must strategically engage in the Middle East with a consistent and systematic approach. We must build a partnership with each country based on shared goals while addressing the destabilising malicious influence of Russian‑Iranian acts of evil and their proxies in the region. Supp…

23

Jan

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Cryptocurrencies - need for global standards (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the European tech sector faces challenges that create a perception of stagnation compared to dynamic regions like South‑East Asia and the US. The EU is a global pioneer in the introduction of regulations such as the MiCA, with the aim to protect customers, but without hamper the growth. Yes, we need global standards, and the EU must be in the lead of…

17

Dec

2024

EN Answer

Watch

Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Yes, I was always surprised how these peacemakers, as they say, looking for a diplomatic solution to the aggression against Ukraine from Russia, are protesting in front of the European institutions, in front of national parliaments, in front of national governments, and not in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation, which is the source of the aggression against Ukraine. So we all are for j…

17

Dec

2024

BG Speech

Watch

Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, as we have heard, the voice of Moscow is also here in the European Parliament, unfortunately. Dictatorial regimes falsify history to justify their crimes. The National Socialists and Communists justified deportation, terror and mass murder by manipulatively presenting historical arguments. Unfortunately, this practice continues today, when the regime in the Kremlin tries to justif…

26

Nov

2024

BG Speech

Watch

Full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area: the urgent need to lift controls at internal land borders (debate)

24

Apr

2024

BG Speech

Watch

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (debate)

Mr President, Mr Borrell, Iran, through its network of influence, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and many others, are responsible for the destabilisation of the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Whenever there is hope of normalizing relations between Israel and Arab countries, Iran tries to torpedo them, as it did with Abraham Accords. The direct attack on Israel from the territory…