Debate contributions by Vytenis Povilas ANDRIUKAITIS

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. In fact, it's a very good debate. And the fact that we are discussing the implementation of the rule of law conditionality and regime today, and also when we are applying the infringement procedure, in other words: Rule of Law Conditionality and Infringement procedures, There will be voices and voices like this all the time. Those people who raise questions about the need to enforce the rule of law do not understand the simple fact that the principle of the rule of law is their own principle. The Treaty of Lisbon is part of the legal system of each state. Everybody. And every state and every citizen must understand and master this. Therefore, the procedure needs to be deepened and we need to see even more so that we actually strengthen the mechanisms that are needed.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. In fact, it's a very good debate. And the fact that we are discussing the implementation of the rule of law conditionality and regime today, and also when we are applying the infringement procedure, in other words: Rule of Law Conditionality and Infringement procedures, There will be voices and voices like this all the time. Those people who raise questions about the need to enforce the rule of law do not understand the simple fact that the principle of the rule of law is their own principle. The Treaty of Lisbon is part of the legal system of each state. Everybody. And every state and every citizen must understand and master this. Therefore, the procedure needs to be deepened and we need to see even more so that we actually strengthen the mechanisms that are needed.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues. Indeed, my Lithuanian colleagues have already mentioned the numbers, the frequency of attacks, and the difficult situation on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. However, I would like to draw your attention, Commissioner, to the fact that international aviation has suffered losses, not only in Lithuania, but also in international aviation. In other words, all aviation in the European Union has suffered losses, both flights to Munich, flights to Frankfurt, flights to Brussels and flights to Riga. In other words, we have not only the problem of Lithuania, but we have the problem of the economic losses suffered by the whole region. On the other hand, it is clear that we in that country are fully aware that we need effective and rapid additional financial support to deal with the current crisis, which is in fact the case.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues. Indeed, my Lithuanian colleagues have already mentioned the numbers, the frequency of attacks, and the difficult situation on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. However, I would like to draw your attention, Commissioner, to the fact that international aviation has suffered losses, not only in Lithuania, but also in international aviation. In other words, all aviation in the European Union has suffered losses, both flights to Munich, flights to Frankfurt, flights to Brussels and flights to Riga. In other words, we have not only the problem of Lithuania, but we have the problem of the economic losses suffered by the whole region. On the other hand, it is clear that we in that country are fully aware that we need effective and rapid additional financial support to deal with the current crisis, which is in fact the case.

Mr President, it is indeed very difficult to speak in such minutes and in the face of such a drama. Terrorism has no nationality or religion. Whether Breivik in Norway, who shot innocent children, or now the two ISIS terrorists who shot 15 people, in both cases we have an example of the horror of terrorism and a terrorist culture, as you might say, to which there can be no tolerance. On the other hand, hate speech, which suddenly breaks out here in condemnation of Islamists, fundamentalists, but is also hatred of Muslims, while Ahmed Al Ahmed is a real example of a tolerant believer, a deep Muslim. So we really need to fight antisemitism, but we also need to fight the spread of any radical hate speech.

Mr President, it is indeed very difficult to speak in such minutes and in the face of such a drama. Terrorism has no nationality or religion. Whether Breivik in Norway, who shot innocent children, or now the two ISIS terrorists who shot 15 people, in both cases we have an example of the horror of terrorism and a terrorist culture, as you might say, to which there can be no tolerance. On the other hand, hate speech, which suddenly breaks out here in condemnation of Islamists, fundamentalists, but is also hatred of Muslims, while Ahmed Al Ahmed is a real example of a tolerant believer, a deep Muslim. So we really need to fight antisemitism, but we also need to fight the spread of any radical hate speech.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues. There's not much left in the room, but they really want to surprise God himself. God "left" miscarriages. Millions of women in the world experience miscarriages. They even think it's a month. And there are women who cannot become pregnant – miscarriages after miscarriages. God does not protect life from the beginning. But the far right wants to introduce a new norm that even God did not foresee. Do you know what hypocrisy is? I am not talking about the fact that we are talking about the most fundamental part of the values of the European Union: human rights. And this does not include the right to the human body, here is the right to women's rights in their entirety as rights of dignity. That's what he's talking about. And indeed, I think that the Commission is not quite bold in its response to the fact that here is the defence of human rights vis-à-vis the Member States and can... (The Chair withdrew the floor from the speaker)

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, colleagues. There's not much left in the room, but they really want to surprise God himself. God "left" miscarriages. Millions of women in the world experience miscarriages. They even think it's a month. And there are women who cannot become pregnant – miscarriages after miscarriages. God does not protect life from the beginning. But the far right wants to introduce a new norm that even God did not foresee. Do you know what hypocrisy is? I am not talking about the fact that we are talking about the most fundamental part of the values of the European Union: human rights. And this does not include the right to the human body, here is the right to women's rights in their entirety as rights of dignity. That's what he's talking about. And indeed, I think that the Commission is not quite bold in its response to the fact that here is the defence of human rights vis-à-vis the Member States and can... (The Chair withdrew the floor from the speaker)

Mr President, Commissioner. So many good ideas have been said here, so inspiring that we will definitely ask Romana Jerković to get her involved and make the report very strong – a powerful report! But my suggestion is also as follows: Some have mentioned that this year we lost 280 million euros as a result of deaths. Message to Ministers of Economy, Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Finance of the Eurogroup! Tell them clearly that they have to discuss what huge losses they have suffered this year and deduct those millions from their budgets. Because if we want to talk about prevention, we need to turn it off from spending, make an investment in it, and calibrate it into financial instruments as one of the biggest investments in innovation. So, congratulations, you will receive our great support.

Mr President, Commissioner. So many good ideas have been said here, so inspiring that we will definitely ask Romana Jerković to get her involved and make the report very strong – a powerful report! But my suggestion is also as follows: Some have mentioned that this year we lost 280 million euros as a result of deaths. Message to Ministers of Economy, Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Finance of the Eurogroup! Tell them clearly that they have to discuss what huge losses they have suffered this year and deduct those millions from their budgets. Because if we want to talk about prevention, we need to turn it off from spending, make an investment in it, and calibrate it into financial instruments as one of the biggest investments in innovation. So, congratulations, you will receive our great support.