Speeches

Mr President, I also supported this report because it clearly opposes harmful fishing practices, be they driftnets or bottom trawls. We must no doubt limit these harmful practices, and this is what is becoming of this report in our legislation. We already have completely dead territories of our seas, where there is practically no life. The current need for fisheries regulation, which is already applied on the basis of international conventions, also shows that it brings long-term results, the recovery of stocks, the transfer of biodiversity to these marine territories. I think that we need to focus on selective fishing methods rather than industrial types of hunting, and we need to restore the health and biodiversity of our seas, as this report undoubtedly makes possible.

Mr President, I supported this report. I think that this report represents a positive step forward in protecting the health of the citizens of the European Union. These persistent organic substances have a negative impact on human health and I welcomed the extension of the amendment of those concerned Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Our goal should be to protect human health. These are some of the most dangerous chemicals in the world, such as bisphenol. They have a dramatic impact, e.g. on the development of the human fetus. I am pleased that we have taken the path of enlargement and precaution on the basis of scientific knowledge on the extension of this list in these annexes. I think this is a good step forward and good news for European citizens that we are continuing to protect their health.

Mr President, I have also made some reservations about the reform of the electoral system for the European elections, but I will start positively. I appreciate a number of concrete developments, the unification of the basic conditions for the exercise of the right to vote for both candidates and European political parties, as well as voters. For example, the fact that they will know their candidates on a fixed date, I think that there are quite concrete positive shifts. Electoral quotas, where MEPs are elected today under different electoral threshold schemes, are 3.5% somewhere, 5% somewhere. The fight against double voting, I think, is also a positive shift, as is the postal election. I used my reservations in particular against transnational lists, which appeared on the sidelines of my vote.

Mr President, I believe that we need a solid legal basis for dealing with such sensitive personal data, which is why I welcome this proposal for a regulation and the rapporteur's report. It is clear that we are facing a wide range of cyberattacks, as we have already discussed in the previous debate, and we need to respond to new terrorist challenges. Of course, there are many ways to react. Since working with private companies, of course expanding, warning of terrorists, that's all the personal data we've been working with. At the same time, however, I would also like to underline the need for clear legal safeguards for the non-abuse of such data and for the follow-up of specific legal rules, i.e. transparency in the procedure, parliamentary oversight and, of course, a certain security mechanism. I think we can build a better and safer Europol, but with clear guarantees.

Mr President, I have listened with interest to the Commissioner's speech and I am very pleased that she is aware of the challenges that these two sectors of our economy are facing. It is undoubtedly necessary to direct our TNT networks towards Ukraine, to strengthen our routes and, of course, cross-border traffic within the ring of regions around our external border with Ukraine. At the same time, it is important to apply sanctions to airlines, railway companies from Russia. And there is no doubt that we also need to support investment projects within our European Investment Bank. The fact that tourism will continue to be affected by the lack of influx of tourists from Russia is true after about two years. I think we have become accustomed to this, but tourism shows opportunities for new regions, where we could also benefit from our cohesion policy. It's a new opportunity.

Mr President, I too join my colleagues in calling for the unacceptable nature of these attacks and, of course, for increasing the resilience of our cyber security. Unfortunately, we kind of see our weakness and European cybersecurity in practice. Certainly every EU Member State is vulnerable and we have seen these attacks in practice. In my country, it's not just attacks on government agencies, it's even attacks on hospitals, on transport companies. We need to be aware of the serious threat these attacks pose to our Member States and their citizens, companies and institutions. At the same time, we should build the resilience of our system and preparedness for these attacks, as well as change our guidelines, as our colleagues have said. Cybersecurity is part of our critical infrastructure. And we should also help Ukraine, because I really see that we have an EU agency for the space programme, but Elon Musk saved the internet in Ukraine. I think we should really think about it.

Mr President, I would like to devote one minute to the need to end dependence on Russian gas, because the war in Ukraine has undoubtedly shown our weakness and dependence on the dictator and his soldiers, who are capable of committing incredible atrocities in Ukraine. That is why this dependence is still unacceptable, I would like to stress this. And for us, the task is to grow our own self-sufficiency, of course, the transition to a green economy, sustainability, the resilience of our system. At the same time, I would like to stress that I did not vote in favour of an immediate end to Russian gas supplies, as this would also mean an immediate collapse. This does not mean, however, that we can in any way continue to ignore and trivialize the atrocities that are taking place in Ukraine. We need to move away from Russian gas, I strongly agree with that. Reorient our economy, our infrastructure and build our own Energy Union and the self-sufficiency and resilience of our system.

Mr President, I would like to acknowledge the report by my colleague, Pernille Weiss, because she has raised a number of issues. Of course, equality between women and men is a fundamental value for us, but I would also like to highlight the propositions presented here by my colleague. Women's entrepreneurship supports their emancipation, of course their economic status, and OECD countries have a better average than European Union countries. And that's really startling. Less than one-third of entrepreneurs are women. This is not a good card for the European space, for our states. And of course, if more women stop doing business than they started, it really calls for our attention. The pay gap, that's what we're talking about here. We in the Czech Republic have a difference of over 20% and we are definitely not improving. I thank the rapporteur for pointing this out in her report. We need business programs, education, and especially competence building, digital ones undoubtedly, as well as access to capital. I am pleased that this report will be voted on and I am happy to support it.

Mr President, I also agree with the call of my colleagues, because freedom of religion and, of course, the associated freedom of expression are fundamental human rights and violations of those rights are unacceptable. Likewise, it is unacceptable for believers to be attacked in a way that restricts their human rights or even directly interferes with their freedom and their lives. All these crimes must be prosecuted. Unfortunately, many of these crimes are not reported and remain unpunished. It is truly striking that even in this century, in this decade, we still have countries where religious laws, such as the blasphemy law, take precedence over national law. This is truly unacceptable. And I think we should focus on our two instruments, which are also mentioned in this report. These are development aid and trade agreements. We should use these tools so that on August 22, which is the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of this Religious Persecution, we can say that we have actually done something for these victims.

Madam President, I am convinced that we need this action plan and I thank the rapporteur for a very good report. It is not only a question of pesticides, fertilizers, the impacts of these substances on biodiversity, but also, of course, the resilience of the whole system, because the current system is really not resilient and does not promote our food self-sufficiency. This objective should be seen as one of the first and priority objectives also in the light of the war in Ukraine. We need to build chains that are sustainable, of course preferably on a compliant, market-based basis, as well as those that are as short as possible, i.e. according to our Farm to Fork strategy. And the price is important, because it will significantly determine how successful our strategy will be. We should help farmers to reach the market at sustainable and relatively decent prices.

Mr President, Commissioner, the marginalisation of communities: This means that someone is overlooked. How can anyone in the European Union be overlooked? When you hear the situation of Romani children, it really breaks your heart. Hunger, disease, poor access to health, education, lack of affordable housing and, of course, work. What are we missing? Community work with this population, with these marginalized communities. Of course, we lack social and individual work. That's what we need most. But we also have successful examples of municipalities, regions that are embarking on this daily, permanent, individual social work. Indeed, segregation and discrimination should have no place at all in our Union. One mayor once told me about the situation of Romani people: “When I was a citizen, I didn’t care about them at all. When I was in business, I didn't work with them, and when I was mayor, I started to ignore them. But I found out that this approach of mine leads nowhere so far and we started working with them and my colleagues. And the results are visible.” Let's do the same procedure, please. Let's use our programs, let's use our strategies. This debate is just a debate. We have no resolution at all. Why are we just talking here and we don't have a resolution? I will not understand the attitude of this Parliament and of our factions to tell our stories, our opinions and take no position on this. That's a great pity.

Mr President, Ukraine and the war crimes of Bucha, Irpina, Mariupol are indeed images from hell, from Putin's hell. Russia is a country of injustice. Putin and the leaders of this regime are undoubtedly also representatives of war crimes, and Navalny surrendered to them. He repeatedly volunteered for them. Actually, I'm sorry to say this, but he kind of spat in the face of Putin's regime for all of us that he can't be intimidated. We all admire his courage today. We're calling for his release. Undoubtedly, Navalny has already become a hero today. And who is the villain and the criminal, we all know that. I firmly believe that Russia will also be a peaceful country one day. Finally, let me say – Glory to Ukraine!

Mr President, Commissioner, fundamental human rights are undoubtedly guaranteed for all, including in Guatemala. We see violations of these fundamental human rights here, and many people in Guatemala are suffering. We must not close our eyes to this, they are journalists, they are human rights defenders. Violations of the rights of members of the judiciary are particularly exceptional. We really must not close our eyes to this and it is a major concern for us. I do not want to relativise the assertions made in the motion for a resolution, but some of those assertions are, after all, of an earlier date. And the picture of Guatemala is undoubtedly not black and white. Persecution is not permissible, I want to stress this here, but I still see Guatemala as a state with which it makes sense to have a dialogue.

Mr President, Commissioner, we see staggering war crimes in Ukraine and we should not forget, however, crimes in totalitarian states such as: North Korea. Killing, torture, imprisonment, of course inhuman treatment, and now also killing all members of the religious minority. These are real state murders. There can be no talk of religious freedom in North Korea. We know that the citizens of Korea may not hear us today, but they will surely get the message of our support someday. But those who hear us are undoubtedly representatives of the regime, and we must tell them unequivocally that they will be held accountable, that the sanctions of the Security Council are inviolable, and we will insist on them. Our support must, of course, be given to all the persecuted and wrongfully oppressed people in North Korea.

Mr President, I also supported this report because it highlights bottlenecks in the creation of the Energy Union and the possibility of transferring energy from one place to another in the European Union. It's about our security, it's about our self-sufficiency. So far, we have rather seen and perceived nationalism in the field of energy management. We haven't seen any energy purchases here. We have not seen the common action of European countries here. And I think the conflict in Ukraine needs to change. And he's already changing. The states that were the first in the line of oil and gas pipelines and other energy networks from Russia are now actually the last ones and they feel very insecure and their citizens feel very uncertain about the future. We have to stand up for them. We need to show our readiness and plan. And this report by my colleague Krasnodębski clearly points to this.

Mr President, we discussed this report at our meeting yesterday. It is intended to ensure respect for the rights of the child and its full weight in civil proceedings in particular, but also in other types of proceedings. First of all, I would like to draw attention to one more point for which I have decided to support this report unequivocally. The report also avoids bottlenecks, for example in cross-border family disputes involving children, where it is important to respect the judgments of the Court of Justice, but also in the area of adoption and foster care and decisions on the recognition of parenthood for same-sex couples. I consider this to be a very positive approach, because it is in the best interests of the child that parental rights are respected. This report does not avoid this topic and I therefore appreciate it.

Mr President, I was only hesitant as to what point this was. I supported Mr Engerer's draft report on this point because I believe that no other course of action was actually possible. I have considered – or it is clear – that this allowance scheme needs some revisions. And I know that the European Commission will present them very soon. However, the aim of this Commission proposal, which was examined by the European Parliament, was to maintain the temporary adjustment of provisions already adopted through an earlier directive. If this extension did not achieve progress or consent, then the whole system would collapse. That is why I supported this proposal. On the other hand, I repeat what I said at the beginning of my speech that I believe that the allowance system needs changes. We are facing a very volatile pattern of price developments and also a war that will raise prices very sharply, so we must also respond to this at European level.

Mr President, first of all, I would like to say that European citizenship, which we have already established for 30 years, really calls for the preservation of its values. The challenges we face are also very serious. It is the climate challenge, the challenge of the new digital age, we know what fake news we face in all these challenges, even in the vaccinations that until recently were considered an undisputed agenda. We can face all this fake news with competence, knowledge and citizenship education, and that is the topic of this report, which I strongly support. This unprecedented pressure from the media and social networks calls for a competent citizen, for an educated citizen and for such a citizen to be at the centre of our interest, i.e. at the centre of the European Union's interest.

Mr President, I would also like to express my disappointment at the outcome of this summit. In the face of this bloody conflict in Ukraine, we may have expected more from China. In the second key priority, which concerned our environmental joint commitments, I had been skeptical there before. It must be said that we do not see too much shift in Chinese attitudes, and it is a great pity. But what we see is the significant pressure that China is putting on European countries that are expressing some concern about the human rights situation in China or are cooperating, for example, with Taiwan. And the pressure that Lithuania is currently facing, the pressure that the Czech Republic has also faced thanks to the Senate President's trip to Taiwan, is completely unacceptable. I think we should set this as a clear red line where we do not succumb to China's pressure. We need a clear strategy for cooperation, but we also need to show our values and red lines, which are insurmountable for us.

Madam President, the situation in Afghanistan is incredibly frightening for women. Killing, torture, utterly inhuman treatment, discrimination, segregation. I join the call of all my colleagues and the horrors they have depicted in their speeches. And I have to say that the shame in this room poured over me after hearing from one of my colleagues in the ID faction that this action belongs to the cultural environment of Afghanistan and that we should tolerate it. I think it is a shameful statement that it completely denies the fundamental human rights that we should all respect. And these fundamental human rights, as expressed in the UN Charter, are unquestionably also binding on Afghanistan. It is impossible for women to suffer and not be respected as free beings with their guaranteed rights. I am deeply ashamed.

Mr President, the monstrous acts of the aggressor in Ukraine call for the establishment of a special international criminal court. This court must punish the abominations that took place in Bucha, Irpina, Mariupol and other cities of Ukraine. But it must also, of course, punish those improprieties that have been done at the expense of the representatives of the self-governments. I want to talk about them today. It is clear that mayors have been the target of systematic kidnappings. There are more than a dozen representatives of territorial self-government from the regions of Kiev, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporozhye and Donetsk who were abducted by Russian soldiers. Why are the Russians kidnapping them? Undoubtedly because they want to break the resistance of the local population and also, of course, to eliminate the local authorities. Unfortunately, we can only speculate on the fate of the mayors. Unfortunately, the cases are tragic, e.g. the murder of Mayor Motyzhyn Olga Suchenko, who was murdered by the Russian occupiers along with her son and husband. What a horror! Ladies and gentlemen, the aggressor's monstrous actions in Ukraine call for the establishment of an international criminal tribunal. And no crime can go unpunished.

Madam President, I would like to thank the rapporteur for presenting this very important report. I think it is very balanced. Indeed, this justice should be child-friendly at all stages of the proceedings concerning their rights. Every child must be heard regardless of their social, economic and ethnic origin and enjoy all rights. There are a number of other aspects. This procedure must be conducted by a judge who is a sensitive professional in his or her specialisation. At the same time, the hearing of the child should take place in a welcoming environment. We also need to protect the best interests of the child in cross-border civil disputes, to effectively enforce judgments in cross-border disputes. And I am very grateful to the rapporteur that he also mentioned the recognition of the parental rights of same-sex couples, because it is the rights of children that should be most in our minds. We must perceive the child in justice with all his full rights and with full respect.

Madam President, let us put an end to our dependence on Russia! Let's summarize the facts first. Russia is the aggressor in the event of an unprecedented conflict taking place just a few hundred kilometres from the borders of the European Union. The attacked country is Ukraine, but it defends itself heroically and I want to bow to it from this place and also the courage of the local people. We would also like to thank all those who support and help the Ukrainian defence in any way. They also help war refugees. But, above all, in the European Parliament, I feel the need to appeal to the aggressor, Putin's evil empire, for an end to dependencies – especially energy dependencies. Let's say it openly! If we do not take the necessary steps, we will indirectly continue to stimulate imperial Russian policy, and sooner or later we will undoubtedly see further conquests. Therefore, I repeat: End of dependency on the aggressor. In the name of the victims that this war has brought, to whom we say goodbye painfully and which I believe will not be forgotten. And knowing that Europe has also made a significant and indispensable sacrifice. The victim is her naivety in the face of Russian imperialism.

Madam President, welfare cannot be an empty concept. We have already made significant progress, but more needs to be done, and I am very pleased that the Commissioner sees it that way, and I thank my colleague Daniel Bud for his work on this report. I quote from the recommendation: ‘All conditions necessary to guarantee the welfare of animals during transport must be ensured at all times’. I agree, but I want to add that transporting live animals should be as little as possible. It's not an illusion. When you see the hundreds of millions of live animals being prepared every year for long distances within the Member States of the European Union to third countries where almost nothing is guaranteed anymore, these pictures really tear your heart out. We must appeal to farmers, to transporters and to their associations of interests that we cannot rest in the pursuit of these well-being. Of course, we also need to create accessibility for farmers, e.g. slaughterhouses, veterinary care. We need a good action plan to reduce the need for transportation. Of course, transporting mainly the dead animals, or their meat. There is no doubt that we need a much better exchange of information between Member States. Ensuring the frequency of feeding during transport, rest time, temperature, etc. These are all our challenges. It is simply too much that we owe animals, and it is our duty to act and finally find a balanced solution for breeders, transporters, consumers and, of course, animals.

Mr President, congratulations on your re-election. Vážená paní komisařko, mohu opravdu s radostí přivítat tento návrh, který Komise předložila. Návrh tohoto nařízení je nepochybně posunem, plným posunem v 21. století. Realizuje zásadu, podle které můžete nejen poskytovat služby kdekoli na území Evropské unie, ale také je můžete samozřejmě konzumovat, a to v digitálním věku. Také přináší žádoucí ochranu spotřebitele. Právě ochrana spotřebitele je jedním z těch dominantních návrhů, které v tomto návrhu jsou. I z tohoto důvodu tento návrh plně podporuji i ve směru předložených pozměňovacích návrhů. Zaprvé, problém nezákonných výrobků, o tom zde již řada kolegů hovořila. To, co je skutečně nezákonné off-line, musí být nezákonné i on-line. Nejde pouze o otázku nezákonnosti nebo odstraňování také tohoto nezákonného obsahu, což je rovněž provedeno v tomto návrhu, ale také i o označování. Každý jednotlivý uživatel bude moci identifikovat prodejce, který prodává nezákonné výrobky, nezákonný obsah, poskytuje nezákonné služby. Myslím si, že to je velkým posunem. Zároveň je třeba trvat také na tom, že ten, kdo dlouhodobě porušuje přístup a pravidla, pravidla té dané platformy, tak mu bude pozastaven přístup na tuto platformu. To si myslím, že je rovněž pozitivním posunem. Rovněž i pravidla vyřizování stížností. Pak jednoznačně zlepšení práv spotřebitelů, reklama na internetu, možnost nebýt vystaven dlouhodobé, cílené reklamě a umožnit ji jedním kliknutím vypnout. To si myslím, že jsou opravdu velice pozitivní návrhy. Jak jsem řekl, podpořím některé návrhy, které jdou ze strany výborů JURI a CULT, ten pro lepší ochranu autorského práva. Ale jinak ten návrh považuji za zdařilý.