Debate contributions by Vytenis Povilas ANDRIUKAITIS

Mr President, dear colleagues, today I would like to advocate once again for the creation of a pan-European ecosystem for multi-country clinical trials and the establishment of a 28th EU regime for multi-country clinical trials as a vital initiative that could increase medical innovations and access to innovative treatments for patients across Europe. This 28th pan-European regime framework would aim to unify the currently diverse regulatory landscape that exists among our 27 Member States. By streamlining the approval process for new therapies and technologies, we could reduce bureaucratic hurdles that stifle innovation. This cohesive system must not only enhance the efficacy of multi-country clinical trials, but also improve patients' access to groundbreaking treatment, positioning the EU as a leading innovative power. It is really time to act in this case.

Mr President, Commissioner, thanks a lot for your attention last week in our meeting on a possibility to build a pan-European ecosystem based on European Reference Networks addressing issues related to clinical trials, investments and, of course, also possibilities to act much faster in our situation. Of course, we know very well that medicine shortages are affecting a lot of patients. An especially worrying issue is that multi-country clinical trials are decreasing – this is very dangerous. Of course we know that national clinical trials based on 27 Member States have 27 separate regimes. What we need now is to build a pan-European ecosystem and, of course, establish a pan-European, multi-country clinical trials regime such as the 28th Regime for enterprises just proposed in the Commission. It would be good to think about necessity, to build such an ecosystem together with multi-country regimes, competing globally and addressing issues with medical solutions. A pharmaceutical package alone is not enough.

Madam President, Commissioner, Trump's shameful 28-point plan is heavily skewed in favour of the Kremlin. A sustainable peace for Ukraine must be based on the following: first, full respect of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty; second, full respect of Ukraine's right to choose its alliances; third, full Russian accountability for the war crimes and crimes of aggression; fourth, non-negotiable Russian payments for the massive damage caused in Ukraine. The ambivalence of President Trump's policy towards Ukraine is shameful and detrimental to the objective of achieving sustainable peace for Ukraine. A pact at the expense of Ukraine and the EU would jeopardise decades-long transatlantic partnerships on common security and prosperity. Now we need to urgently ask EU Member States and international partners to join our efforts in their military support, as well as in their political and diplomatic efforts.

Mr President, Commissioner Virkkunen, dear Henna. Between 2014 and 2024, you were in Parliament. I was in the Commission with Jyrki Katainen at the time. Both the Commission and Parliament, as well as the Council, appear to have both legislated that there is now bureaucracy, there is a need for simplification. It's a story that's really populist. And yet, on the substance, it is very dangerous not to answer the questions that data protection, that the General Data Protection Regulation must be protected in the European Union as a pupil of the eye, with the Omnibus. European Health Data Space Demands extremely high levels of data protection, and it is by no means possible to succumb to pressure from major American corporations, which is quite obvious. Let's say that such a conversation between you and the American Secretary of Commerce was only about the weather, but not about the fact that something can be changed into something.

Mr President, I would like to make it clear from the many speeches, especially from those who want to protect privacy: Protect the privacy of children and adolescents, as it is most vulnerable. And if you come to a family where the child committed suicide, then you will see how that child's privacy was crushed. Therefore, the introduction of age limits – harmonised – is necessary in the same way as we do in the case of tobacco, alcohol, gambling and other addictions. There are many scientific reasons why age should be limited. And sixteen years of harmonized age is a good proposition. A 13-year age limit could also be set for the unavailability of social networks. And certainly legitimising the responsibility of platforms and algorithms.

Mr President, when discussing such an important matter such as the Gender Equality Strategy 2025, we cannot forget about those whose job it is to implement it. I would like to remind you about the European Institute for Gender Equality, which is located in Vilnius. Establishing this agency was a big step forward for gender equality – unfortunately, it is now stagnating, with too few employees, an insufficient budget and a management board that does not even have representatives from every Member State. The tasks and responsibilities of this agency are about to grow and they need more funding, more people and more operational movement. Given the strategic importance of gender equality in our political priorities, disparity in funding the agency tasked with this is undermining policy coherence. The agency's pivotal role in advancing gender mainstreaming, providing technical assistance and support, and monitoring the implementation of equality-related legislation demands more resources that would correspond with the scope of its mandate. I remind the Commission to keep this in mind.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, thank you rapporteur. The topic is old, the situation is very obviously requiring quick solutions. The proposed Multiannual Financial Perspective and the debate on own resources directly reveal the problem that we cannot accept such deep-rooted abuses when companies actually evade taxes so much offshore zones, both through aggressive tax avoidance planning and so-called fiscal optimisation. And we are well aware of how many calculations are made about how companies avoid taxes by operating here in our single market. This is all the more so since it is about fair competition, it is about tax justice and it is about social responsibility. Congratulations and we have to move. This is urgently needed.

Thank you to both the rapporteur, Mrs Ridel, and the speakers. This is a topic that has been around for a long time. And we have so many examples. Lithuania, which borders Belarus, with Russia and also has experience with other states of the former Soviet Union. We can testify that this is an extremely topical topic. It needs to be addressed urgently, as these are fundamental requirements of both the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Charter of Human Rights and our European Charter, which must be turned into mechanisms. And I thank the proposed list of mechanisms, because it is an opportunity to react quickly. Especially since these are problems not only due to extradition, problems when they enter here take time with temporary residence documents, with, as to say, permanent residence problems. There are a lot of legal problems. It is very timely that I propose that the European Commission respond to this with action.

Mr President, Commissioner. Indeed, today we can clearly agree that the European Union is the Union which can and must demonstrate active action in the resolution of the problems in Cyprus in relation to international law, the decisions of the United Nations and its commitments to peace and the primacy of international law and the integrity of the Member States. So far, there are only words, too little activity. And now that there is a huge problem, when Russian aggression violates international law, it is the European Union that must show efficiency and mobilise all its forces and be very active in order for Turkey, not for the Cyprus issue, to be resolved. Solved as my colleague Aguilar has just said. Therefore, I urge you to make active efforts as soon as possible.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. Indeed, I agree with those who say very clearly that this project proposed by the Commission is, in terms of its scope, too unsatisfactory for what awaits us. There are more challenges than we can really face with this budget. Both development funding and the key challenges of ensuring social cohesion, ensuring European health policy priorities, strengthening the European Health Union, noting that we need to provide security guarantees. But knowing that social security must also go hand in hand with significantly increased funding from the European Social Fund, because for people, investing in social security is a guarantee of security in general. The ambition is really too low. We want to come back with a new project.

Mr President, honourable Member of the Council, Commissioner. Indeed, after listening to the speeches of some Members of Parliament today, which are really full of hatred, full of ignorance and exploiting the simple national sentiments of some voters in order to cause even greater hatred. And they completely ignore the rationality of the report, which the Commission has presented today. Indeed, once again, if some of the MEPs here are also violating the values of the Treaty of Lisbon of the European Union, human rights and do not have a drop in humanism and do not understand what migration policy is, but necessarily fuel the fire of hatred, how can we accept them? Therefore, do not hesitate to present further plans so that we can deal constructively with this difficult but infinitely important problem.

Madam President, Commissioner, it is a very painful topic. Very painful. Of course, we know very well that regular screening is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early, save lives and reduce the burden on health care systems. However, participation in screening programs varies significantly between Member States, with many falling short of the 70 % target. And this is up to the Commission now to draw attention. We need to motivate Member States to be more active in screen screening programs – very active. We know very well that continuing investment in research and innovation can help us to develop screening models. Once again, early detection is better and cheaper and safer than treatment. Let us make a clear commitment together to protect women's health. Therefore I am calling for 15 October to be established as European Breast Health Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness, promoting prevention and fostering solidarity across Member States. I count on you, Commissioner.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. I am delighted to start with a very good Danish experience. Denmark has approved the Danish canon of culture and is trying to approve it in Sweden, Latvia and Lithuania. Indeed, we must be very clear: it is not just about protecting cultures, protecting languages, protecting Europe's diversity. It is an unspoken great weapon in the world for spreading the idea of defending the independent sovereign culture of the peoples of the European Union. Lithuania was liberated only because it was based on its own language, culture and customs. The protection of small peoples is therefore particularly important, as is the protection of endangered species. And therefore, we must support with all our strength the defence of this directive and the promotion of culture.

Mr President, Commissioner, Russia has deliberately exploited our energy dependence as an attack on European security and prosperity. By advancing the full ban on Russian oil to January 2026 and on gas to January 2027, Europe sends a firm message: we will never again be held hostage by Kremlin coercion. We must close all sanctioned loopholes, target the Russian shadow fleet, and ensure that any gas transiting through Russia is treated as Russian and fully prohibited. Gradually phasing out Russian gas imports, cutting risky dependencies and blocking circumventions strengthens our sovereignty. This regulation also reinforces import verification and enforcement, including minimum administrative fines of 5 % of the infringing company's worldwide annual turnover. This is a clear statement: Europe will defend its energy dependency, its economy and its values.

Madam President, dear colleagues, political prisoners in Belarus are subjected to torture, ill treatment and solitary confinement, like Maria Kalesnikava or Ales Bialiatski. I would like to mention my old friend and social democratic opposition leader, Mikalai Statkevich. After being released, he refused to leave his country and his people, but he went missing. There is a high probability that he is allegedly imprisoned again. Then there is the case of Anatol Kotau, a critic of the regime who disappeared in Turkey in August. We do not know where he is or what his current status and conditions are. Political repression in Belarus must come to an end, and our role is now to support the opposition media in exile and civil society because they are the future of a European, democratic Belarus without Lukashenka.

Mr President, Mrs Bjerre, dear Maroš Šefčovič. In fact, I was stunned when I heard the European Union institutions react to a possible meeting between Trump and Putin in Budapest. Donate, the European Union can never be on its knees! It was a shame, but it was a shameful reaction. The war must stop and our efforts to mobilise the European Union and push the aggressor out of Ukraine are essential. Necessary now! We need to find leaders, not a club of "sleeping beauties" in the European Council. And it is absolutely clear that leadership is needed, not what is happening now, because the European Union has no right to lose morally!

President, Commissioner. Once again, I must congratulate you on the final, final budget for 2026, which is not, as you say, the last multiannual perspective that you have shaped, while next year you will have to present all aspects of the multiannual financial perspective. I am certainly speaking as a former Commissioner and representing food safety and public health. In fact, public health and this year 2026 will not be fertile. Unfortunately, this is the case. And EU4Health the programme, and Europe's Beating Cancer the programme, and Horizon programmes that would require much more integrated and increased efforts, which, unfortunately, do not reach the financial level required by the needs, as the needs are much higher. Especially knowing that health is a huge investment that can contribute to economic growth.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. Indeed, it has been observed here that time for European independence is confronting the fact that Trump meets Putin in Budapest – without the European Union and without Ukraine. It's really a moment. Perhaps it is good that we now understand how to consolidate all the European Unions quickly and effectively: energy union, digital union, banking union and others. But the European Health Union, Commissioner Maroš, is very much needed and, unfortunately, very little has been proposed here to further stimulate and strengthen the European Health Union. Here is an offer directed at Update of the governance of the Energy Union. It would be great if you came with The Governance of the European Health Union. Congratulations with all my heart.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner, honourable rapporteur. Thank you, great report. Timely: We are late - we had to start a debate last year on how we need to prepare the European institutions and the Member States for enlargement and, at the same time, improve... (The Chair interrupted the speaker) I wanted once again to thank the rapporteur and the Commission, to call on the Commission to start a broad debate as soon as possible on the need to change the treaties, on the need to move from unanimity in many areas to qualified majority voting. There are exceptions that can certainly remain, but otherwise the main rule would be to move to qualified majority voting, there may also be to super Qualified – this is a matter of debate. Restoring observer status for candidate countries, in particular Ukraine, is crucial. Ukraine can already help us in both defence, transport and energy and be an observer, an observer. It is necessary to review that one-percentage-of-GDP ceiling principle. He's outdated, he can't resist criticism. It is necessary to have our own European Union resources and an autonomous European Union budget. Enlargement is our main concern for peace, security and economic and civil rights.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. Indeed, we are fully aware that this is a ceasefire, that the prospect of peace is fragile, difficult and that it is therefore necessary for the European Commission and the European Member States to engage today in a broad diplomatic, humanitarian mission, both in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and in the control of processes on both sides, in order to prevent new conflicts. We really must make every effort to have the European Union, the Member States, recognise the State of Palestine as soon as possible, and it is clear that we must seek to bring to justice all the perpetrators, war criminals. This is our obligation, because we are committed to a European criminal court and we cannot close our eyes to what has been done.

Madam President, the embarrassing Budapest meeting, where Putin and Trump conspire to divide Ukraine, is a devastating moral blow to the European Union. It contradicts the EU's commitment to international law and holding the aggressor accountable through the International Criminal Court. Despite the European Union's previous stance that peace talks must include both Ukraine and the EU, it now shamefully submits to two autocrats who threaten to dismantle the EU and redraw borders by force. The 1994 Budapest first agreement has turned into a 2025 Budapest second – or Munich second – agreement, as parts of Ukraine's territory are surrendered within the EU's own space. This is a betrayal of the EU's Treaty obligations, replaced by cynical pragmatism. It shows a dangerous EU moral failure. Where is the voice of the coalition of the willing? The only answer is a firm 'No!' to Putin and Trump. EU leaders, wake up before it is too late.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, Europe is the continent experiencing the fastest rate of heating. Its rate of heating is twice the global average. It is very important to say this message to those who deny climate change. It's a very good example. Therefore, we are at the forefront of this new dangerous trend. Because of that, Europe is experiencing longer and more intense transmission seasons for mosquito- and tick-borne diseases, and it should be kept in mind. Of course, despite a record number of deaths from heat and climate change-related concerns, we have big problems ahead of us. Over the past years, the number of countries affected by, for example, Asian tiger mosquitoes presenting the chikungunya virus has doubled. The number of regions with the presence of those mosquitoes increased by 223 % in the last decade. It's once again a message to those who do not understand what it means. Surveillance, protection, prevention, preparedness, control actions and possibilities to protect and also to understand that we need to have vaccination in our hands. Tick-borne encephalitis, which is spread by encephalitis ticks, is once again on the rise. And I welcome Baltic countries where vaccination against tick-spread encephalitis shows very good results. I welcome Commission intentions, I urge Member States to do more and include the European Commission proposal into their national action plans curbing mosquito-borne diseases.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, the European Union lacks a coherent and unified mental health strategy that will be implemented on a cross-sectoral basis. There should be better coordination, regulation of harmful practices and better monitoring across Member States. Mental health should not be silent as a health sector issue only, but integrated into jobs, education, digital policy, social inclusion and addiction strategies. And it must pay special attention to gender issues – women's, men's and gender diverse people's mental health. Such strategies should establish binding minimum standards for workplace psychological protection, regulate digital technologies through the lens of cognitive integrity, and use well-being together with integrating policies on addiction in broader public health strategy. Excessive screen time, especially on social media, correlates with risk of anxiety, depression and lower self-esteem. We need to pay very big attention to children's and youngsters' issues because it is a very big challenge and we need to establish digital regulation, especially for minors, as a key in preventing the mental health problems among them.