Speeches

Madam President, I would like to thank our colleague Xavier Bellamy, who said that we should speak out loud about all the crimes committed against Christians. Budu teď pokračovat v češtině. Křesťané jsou skutečně nejvíce pronásledovanou náboženskou menšinou na světě a já si říkám: Proč? Vždyť křesťanství je náboženstvím a poselstvím pokoje, míru a smíření. To, co vidíme v Nigérii, je velmi nebezpečné, protože Nigérie se stává zemí, kde jsou křesťané skutečně nejvíce pronásledovaní a z toho severu, kde jsou spíše muslimové, se šíří toto násilí na jih. Tento poslední trestný čin se stal právě na jihozápadě Nigérie. Proto vyzýváme k jednání Evropskou komisi i Evropskou službu pro vnější činnost, aby zasáhly, aby jednaly také s nigerijskou vládou, která musí chránit i křesťany. A máme zde také velké obchodní zájmy, obchodní společnosti, které by se měly postavit proti tomuto zlu a násilí.

Madam President, dear colleagues, we have raised many times our concerns and concrete cases in our previous resolutions on China. For the first time, we have actual answers and police evidence. Thanks to the leaked police files, we know concrete cases that convict Beijing of systematic repression and inhuman practices against Uyghur. Looking through 2 844 images of detained persons, we see unjustified persecution solely based on being Uyghur. Their systematic oppression amount to crimes against humanity and genocide. Let me share a quote from the leaked plan in case of escape, ‘If trainees fail to comply, the armed police officers can fire warning shots. If trainees refuse to stop and continue to escape, the armed police officers shoot them dead.’ Terrible practices. That’s why the European Parliament calls upon the EU and its Member States to take all necessary steps to push China to end the breaching of human rights. And we ask: ensure responsibility for these crimes.

Mr President, 15 April in North Korea, the so-called ‘day of the sun’, is overshadowed by the repressive regime committing widespread violations of human rights. North Korea is, according to the Freedom House Index, one of the least free countries, with zero political rights and almost no civil liberties. It is a country with the most persecuted Christians, with an approximate 70 000 people in prison just for their beliefs. Moreover, there are reports of Christians being executed while hiding and worshipping in secret. The European Parliament strongly condemns the state repression and systematic human rights violation against its own people, including persecution of Christians. Their recently shown willingness towards using nuclear weapons is most concerning and should be met with a strong effort of the EU for reconciliation and denuclearisation. We ask the EU Commission to take efficient diplomatic steps forward. Thank you all, colleagues, for the negotiation and for the support.

Madam President, the huge migration wave has also surprised the eastern border of the European Union. And it is no longer just Greece or the Mediterranean, but it is also people fleeing Russian aggression who have become a weapon against the European Union in the hands of Putin. We have thousands of other refugees in the European Union. And Frontex is an agency of the European Union, which we have entrusted with the security and protection of the external border, we have strengthened its authority and budget. It should therefore help Member States manage migration – including illegal migration – and combat people smuggling and smuggling, while also protecting human rights boundaries. Security and protection of external borders go hand in hand with solidarity and compliance with the rules. Let us therefore recall these rules and set them in such a way that they are comprehensible to all concerned, both to Frontex, the Member States, civil society, but also to asylum seekers themselves. This is an appeal to the Commission. I visited Lesbos and Greece last autumn and I have to say that the Greek government has made huge progress. It set stricter rules, but at the same time ensured a dignified reception of people seeking international protection, faster asylum procedures and a return policy. I think in the current crisis we see how important it is that we have an international protection instrument for these refugees. And I would also like to remind you that there are non-profit organisations that help these people who are in need in the asylum procedure. I would like to mention the name of at least two important ones in Greece – Metadrasi and Iliaktida – that deserve help, and in the Czech Republic it is the Refugee Aid Organisation that deserves financial support and our thanks.

Mr President, the crises we are going through show that the decisive force is responsible, determined citizens who are committed to a common cause. Voluntary and solidarity actions and participation in political activities for the benefit of the whole community are not a matter of course and without education, without education, without support it simply will not be possible. This is why Member States include civic education in their education programmes and why the European Union supports it under Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The existence of national approaches to civic education is natural. But we want to use the European Education Area to offer support to Member States in the form of a common competence framework, including its European dimension. Citizens of all ages should be informed about European integration, values and institutions. This framework cannot be mandatory, but if it is of good quality, I have no doubt that teachers will be happy to use it for their pupils and it will become a successful common educational tool in all Member States. This request from us to both the Commission and the Member States is not new and is very strong among the recommendations from citizens in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe. I would like to ask the Commission to act faster. Let me just recall the low participation of 9% of young people aged 15-24 in the e-platform in the debate on the future of Europe. And I don't think that's a good signal. We all feel that this is linked to the future, so I thank Domènec, as the author of this report, all the shadow rapporteurs and especially the teachers, all the professional workplaces that support civic education.

Mr President, Commissioner, the war has been going on for more than a month and the Russian aggression in Ukraine is destroying people's lives, destroying property, driving millions of people out of their homes and, of course, children are suffering the most. Today, there are 3.7 million refugees outside Ukraine, 90% of whom are women and children. I want to thank all the Member States that are helping these people to get to safety and find a temporary home. Of course, children are the most at risk, which is why the European Parliament wants to adopt its call and opinion. The establishment and protection of humanitarian corridors to ensure safe escape for people fleeing to safety is an essential step. I am sorry that there is no representative of the French Presidency here today, because we should hear what the French President did, how he used his mandate precisely to help children, people who should get out of besieged cities like Mariupol. You've probably also seen those sad eyes of Ukrainian children who cheer up when they get among their peers, when they can kick the balloon again, get on a scooter. Children are the future of Ukraine, children are the future of the European Union, and everything we do now for Ukrainian children, we do for us, also for Europe. So children with their mothers have to find the necessary accommodation, health care, psychological assistance and, of course, education. In this regard, I would also appreciate the work done so far by the Member States and the Commission. I think it is important to set up a solidarity platform, a platform for registering people so that children do not get lost, so that all of them are registered, findable, school education platforms, which should help to exchange information and good practice between Member States. I want to thank again all the volunteers and the Member States who are helping to ensure that not a single child falls into the net, that not a single child is left unaided. And I just want to remind you that among the countries that are helping, there is also the Czech Republic, which is hosting 300,000 refugees.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, it is very difficult to speak at this moment, while people are dying and suffering in Ukraine. Commissioner, let us support Ukrainian farmers! But it's hard to manage at the moment when Putin is killing farmers, killing people, bombing their fields, destroying infrastructure. We know that the real measure is to stop Putin's aggression. Stop financing Putin's army with our gas and oil money. We know, but we don't. Of course, we also know that after this year's harvest, 30% of the world's wheat and barley trade from Ukraine will be missing. That is why we consider ensuring sufficient agricultural production and food to be our duty not only to our citizens, but also to Ukraine. We need to support farmers. We must use as much land and resources as possible. Decrease in production at the moment by 10% according to Farm to Fork We just can't afford it. That's why, Commissioner, do it!

I have a question for Mr Uhrík. I am completely shocked by what you have said here, that sanctions are directed against trade, against production in the countries of the European Union. You know very well that these are sanctions to prevent Putin's regime from continuing to produce weapons that kill children, women, old people, that destroy agriculture in Ukraine. I want to ask you because we are talking about Ukraine: What do you want to do so that you don't have to watch Russian planes bombing Ukraine, killing farmers, killing animals, killing hospitals? I want to ask you, what did you do and what are you going to do about it?

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Vice-President, the most pressing task for the European Union at the moment is to support Ukraine, to help it defend itself against the aggression of Putin, who, even now, is bombing Ukrainian cities. Yet we must not forget to protect human rights elsewhere, and this also applies to Myanmar, where the real genocide of the Rohingya people continues. Unfortunately, nothing has improved since the last European Parliament resolution in October last year. The military junta continues to commit violence, murder civilians, systematically persecute Christians, and destroy churches. More than 9,500 political prisoners have already been victims of this repressive regime, and 1,600 of these political opponents have even been killed. The European Parliament strongly condemns the military junta and, in particular, its support for Russia and China. These countries are thus directly involved in this genocide and, unfortunately, as in the case of the Russian invasion, the UN Security Council is failing, which is why the European Parliament calls for concrete actions and sanctions.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we are facing a situation that none of us can imagine and which is happening live in front of our eyes. More refugees are coming to Europe. Ukraine has signed the accession to the European Union with its own blood and pays for it with human lives. I am not worried about the refugees who are already on the territory of the European Union. The temporary protection mechanism is, I think, very functional. It turns out that it helps fast accommodation, integration, and I want to mention here what hasn't been said here yet, that among those countries that really help a lot, there is also the Czech Republic. There are already 100,000 refugees on our territory, whom we welcome as our fellow citizens because they have relatives here. I even hear from families who would like to accept unaccompanied children into foster care. In short, the Czech Republic is ready to help as much as possible. But we also heard President Zelenskyy's speech today asking for more help because here we have refugees who are internally trapped in cities, need humanitarian aid, need humanitarian corridors to save themselves, freeze, have no food, and children even die of dehydration. This is a situation that the European Union cannot see any further, we must help to create these humanitarian corridors. We must help with additional sanctions if further military assistance is needed. The European Union stands with Ukraine, their freedom is our freedom.

Madam President, the European Union's common agricultural policy is intended to ensure food security. And what will be the food security situation when we have the occupation of Ukraine by Russia, when thousands of refugees are fleeing from Ukraine to Europe, and when agricultural production has actually stopped in both Ukraine and Russia? Should we be concerned about the food crisis? I'd like a few numbers. Russia, together with Ukraine, accounts for more than 30% of world trade in wheat and barley, 17% of world trade in maize and more than 50% of world trade in sunflower oil. Of course, there will be some impact in terms of global trade in particular, but there is no imminent crisis for the European Union, and this certainly cannot be a reason to reduce our solidarity with refugees from Ukraine and with people in Ukraine. In any case, both the common agricultural policy and its reform are the right response to climate challenges. What we can consider is a shift in some terms, but we should not abandon it.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the European Parliament is sitting today at a time when people are dying in Ukraine and Putin is giving further orders to shoot. I think this is the main priority for all of us, and I am glad that we all feel this is our main task here. They are also people who are demonstrating across Europe against the war and showing great solidarity with the refugees who are fleeing Ukraine and saving their lives. That's a big challenge for us. This is happening throughout the European Union. In this situation, we are discussing the role of culture, education, media and sport against racism, and I also want to add against lies and hatred. This report very critically asserts that racism is deeply rooted in our society and intertwined with cultural roots and social norms. As if nothing had changed at all, as if racism had not been condemned throughout the European Union? Racism has always been and will always be manifested. Our task is to fight it, because racism is unacceptable and prohibited. Our duty is to help all those who feel excluded and who have less chance simply because they have a different skin color. And here, indeed, culture, education, media and sport play a key role, and that is what this report is about. Educational systems and the media must work to prevent racism and exclusion. This is also illustrated by the OECD report, which says that equality and quality are promoted and that they guarantee the best results for all children. That is why compulsory pre-school attendance was introduced in the Czech Republic in order to improve the education of Romani children in order to achieve secondary education. I would like to thank the author and all the colleagues who have collaborated on this report for their openness in the debate.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today's debate is about young people and about Europe, and I think that it is young people who should be the first to comment on this, and we should listen to them. From the experience I have, I know that young people take the European Union for granted. And it's the right thing to do. But I belong to that older generation, and when I was eighteen years old, I lived behind the Iron Curtain and only dreamed of the European Union. It is precisely in these days that young people can see this on the example of beaten and thrown out students in Belarus or on the example of Ukraine threatened by Russian aggression. In short, living in a safe, prosperous and free European Union is not a matter of course, and if the young generation wants to keep it going in the future, it will be up to them to do so. We are aware of how important it is for the young generation to understand this historical development and the values that make up the European Union. For the last two years, it has been the young generation that has felt the pandemic crisis on its own, but at the same time has been able to feel what European solidarity is, because together we have been able to overcome this crisis and move on. Of course, they care about quality of education, about experience, and we also know that more than 90% of young people want to tackle climate change. I therefore expect the European Year of Youth to encourage young people to become more involved, to seize opportunities, and that the French and Czech Presidencies will also give this opportunity. For example, we should know from young people how they want to engage in civilian service, as proposed by the French Presidency. I think it is a good activity that could expand the European Solidarity Corps. But I would like young people in particular to respond to this. Let us do nothing without asking them that question. Let us listen to them, this is the best goal we could have for this European Year of Youth. Oh, thank you.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the report of the Committee on Agriculture on the welfare of farm animals recognises the progress made by farmers and, at the same time, draws attention to the need for further changes and improvements. The Committee on Agriculture asks the Commission to present a revision of the legislation by the end of 2023. This must be preceded by an impact study based on the latest knowledge, which takes into account all the possibilities and impacts of the transition to alternative farming methods. The AGRI report incorporated most of what citizens and animal protection organisations are asking for to improve animal husbandry. In particular, like them, the AGRI Committee calls for an EU-wide ban on cage rearing of laying hens after 2027. We believe that the only way to improve the welfare of farm animals is through cooperation with farmers and gradual changes. Number one is their financial support. The AGRI Committee also stresses the second condition, namely reciprocity for imports from third countries. Parliament therefore calls uncompromisingly for a ban on imports of livestock or animal products that do not comply with European standards. With this measure, we will avoid putting our European farmers at a disadvantage and help push through these changes also outside the EU. I consider it important to have a common framework for voluntary labelling, which is an incentive for both farmers and consumers. Colleagues and colleagues, farmers know very well that health is only one thing. They know that our health also depends on the health of livestock and that it is therefore in their interest to keep animals in the best possible conditions. Farmers need our support, confidence and knowledge that we value their work. That is why, at this point in time, I call on all my colleagues who are still hesitant about how they will vote: Please support the resolution of the Committee on Agriculture, which is a major step in favour of animal welfare, and it may be this Parliament that is still debating new legislation in 2023. Merci, Jérémy, pour votre coopération et merci à tous ceux qui ont coopéré.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, products should be transported, not live animals. This is what we say today, when we know that about 1.6 billion live animals are transported annually, mostly for slaughter. Until we have new legislation, it is, of course, necessary to at least enforce compliance with the existing legislation, which, after all, improves animal welfare. Please, this is not an ideology, this is the responsibility of man, who has responsibility for every living creature, and therefore animals. I think this is a conservative approach, but our responsibility also lies with the farmers. They are the breadwinners of our peoples, the breadwinners of this continent. We need to find a truly balanced solution for farmers, for their economic conditions and for animal welfare. I thank the Commissioner for saying that she wants to work together, and I thank Daniel Bud and his colleagues in particular for the report that really seeks this balanced approach to the solution. Personally, I consider the best solution to reduce animal transport, transport time and, conversely, increase product transport. The main objective is therefore to improve animal welfare. The condition for this change is to focus on the availability of slaughterhouses. The slaughter and processing of meat close to the place of rearing contributes to animal welfare, to the economic benefit of farmers and also reduces gas emissions. This is therefore very important and I welcome the fact that this report highlights the need for financial support for new slaughterhouses and, where appropriate, mobile slaughterhouses. I therefore strongly support this call for both the Commission and the Member States to introduce funding in order to ensure the economic viability of local slaughterhouses and improve animal welfare.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong finds itself for the first time in the society of countries where journalists are imprisoned. I very much appreciate the motion for a resolution prepared by our colleagues. Thank you so much for that. The situation is really very serious. China is violating its 1997 commitment to Hong Kong's autonomy, including an independent judiciary. This report includes specific numbers and names of those persecuted: 139 prisoners, 60 detainees in custody, 94 defendants. China's judiciary is abusing the state security law and is cracking down on human rights defenders and independent media. They had to close their journals, such as Apple Daily or Stand News. Computers have been confiscated, journalists are being intimidated, and a branch office has been shut down. Amnesty International and 60 other civil society associations, including religious organisations. We know of dozens of activists who have been imprisoned. Together with their families, we are concerned about their fate. The European Union has long advocated for Hong Kong's stability. I expected today, and unfortunately in vain, that Emmanuel Macron would propose concrete steps in his speech to force China to release political prisoners and stop the repression in Hong Kong and stop the threats against Taiwan. In this respect, the resolution of the European Parliament is much clearer and more concrete. We propose sanctions against those who bear responsibility. Ratification of the EU-China Investment Agreement must be conditional on the protection of human rights in both China and Hong Kong and respect for the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. In the current situation, I cannot imagine the participation of the political representation of the European Union and the member countries in the Olympics in Beijing. The Chinese regime is abusing the Olympics to legitimize its regime, which imprisons, tortures and persecutes its citizens. Thank you all for the courageous gestures of resistance, including this resolution.

Madam President, colleagues, we have debated every day this week about Russia, about President Putin, about his methods of suppressing human rights, freedom of speech and democracy. Memorial is a legend among human rights organizations and the Putin regime has long sought to destroy it. This organization is uncomfortable for Putin and also probably dangerous. It maps past and present political crimes committed against people in Russia and other nations. He's not a foreign agent. It is not an extremist organization. Memorial helps foreign researchers search for clues in archives. Memorial has also had a Czech branch for the last five years – since 2016. Thanks to Memorial, we were able to map the fate of some of the more than 1,000 Czechs who were executed in the former Soviet Union. Fortunately, the Russian prosecutor's office cannot jeopardize the Czech branch, but our challenge comes at a time when the Russian prosecutor's office is once again taking action against Memorial in Russia. The European Union and the Member States should impose and support sanctions against all Russian officials who illegally obstruct the work and very existence of Memorial and similar organisations. Member States should do their utmost to preserve the valuable archives of historical truth, memory and support Memorial's branches on their territory. Thank you to everyone who supports this challenge.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, more than one million citizens of the European Union have signed a petition calling for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. Against this stands a certain tradition of entertainment, visiting circuses. However, I wonder if it is appropriate to show our children examples of tigers, lions or elephants performing various acrobatic pieces that are not natural to them. You said so, Commissioner. This is the ethical question. I am glad that most Member States – 23 – have resolved this for us. 23 Member States have adopted a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. I would like to point out that we now have other very pressing issues on the table at European level. Citizens are interested in how we will help them deal with the increase in energy prices, how we will get out of the COVID-19 crisis. In agriculture, we expect strategic plans for a new agricultural policy. We need to address the effects of climate change, the competitiveness of European farmers. I believe that it is not necessary to prepare legislation for an EU-wide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses right now. Yet we take this voice of a million citizens seriously. The European Union should strictly ensure that animals have good living conditions. This is what we are aiming for under the new Common Agricultural Policy. All animals – domestic, farm and wild – deserve our attention, protection and we should respect their natural needs. The European Union has a 2019 regulation that imposes an obligation to carry out veterinary checks aimed at the movement of animals between Member States. In practice, however, it is not sufficiently enforced and there are problems with it. I believe that there is a need to improve the application of already existing standards, and this is a task for both the Member States and the European Union. At the same time, I would like to ask the question: How will animal welfare checks be carried out in the event of circus departures from third countries? I believe that it is not possible to impose a ban on European circuses, but to continue to allow third-country circuses to hold shows with us without subjecting animal husbandry to the same strict rules. I therefore ask the Commission to pay attention to these issues.

Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear colleagues, each Member of the European Parliament must know his rights and obligations, like every other citizen. I believe you can agree with this, despite the fact I have just broken three rules given by the Commission’s guidelines. Byla jsem v šoku, když jsem se dozvěděla o těchto pokynech. Pane místopředsedo Komise, chci Vám poděkovat, že tyto pokyny jsou již minulostí, ale přesto i tato diskuze ukazuje, že je tato debata důležitá pro budoucnost, aby se to neopakovalo. Mottem Evropské unie nadále zůstává „Jednotná v rozmanitosti“ a tím by se měly řídit všechny instituce při komunikaci. Ale ony pokyny Evropské komise tuto diverzitu naopak potíraly pod záminkou jednoty. Ve jménu korektnosti nesmíme pošlapávat naše křesťanské kořeny a stydět se za to, že slavíme Vánoce. Anebo nesmíme si zakazovat zobrazování žen jako maminek, které se starají o děti. Korektní vyjadřování by mělo odpovídat naším společným hodnotám. Podobné byrokratické iniciativy, jako je tato poslední, ničí práci Komise a prohlubují nedůvěru v Evropskou unii jako celek. Některým to možná připadá směšné, urážlivé, ale já to považuji za velmi nebezpečné. Proto bych chtěla vyzvat, aby v komunikaci byla využívána hlavně slušnost, citlivost a zdravý rozum. Očekávám, že se Komise poučí a chyby se už nebudou opakovat. Přeji všem požehnané Vánoce a hodně zdraví do nového roku. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, three months ago, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced that there will be a European Year of Youth from 1 January 2022, and three months later, we have legislation to make this possible. And I would like to thank the Commissioner, the rapporteur and all those who have helped to do so. Our common goal is to support, encourage and support the young people most affected by COVID-19, the pandemic, the impossibility to travel, to study, to live a normal life. The European Year of Youth should just renew the perspective for young people, while ensuring equal opportunities for all, including those who may not have been so lucky in life. I would also like to acknowledge the increase of EUR 5 million and EUR 3 million in the budget for next year for both Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. This means that, thanks to this increase, this budget will not have an impact on the existing activities of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. It will also be possible to use this money for the needs of young people in social areas and others through co-financing from other European Union programmes. I hope that the calls in Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, will be available at the beginning of next year. The European Year of Youth therefore offers a range of activities for young people across Europe, and implementation should not forget disadvantaged young people for their successful start in life. I want to thank everyone and I expect that next year we will take stock of the good results here.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we commemorate Human Rights Day with concrete actions. This week we will honour Alexei Navalny with the Sakharov Prize and discuss the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border with the head of European diplomacy. At the last plenary session, the representative of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, asked for our support. Human rights violations in Europe have one common denominator, and that is the regime of Russian President Putin. President Putin is committing violence against his own people. In cooperation with Belarusian dictator Lukashenko, he is attracting thousands of refugees to the Polish and Latvian borders in order to destabilise the situation in Europe. With the same aim, it is escalating the situation on the border with Ukraine and terrorising Ukrainian citizens. Its illegal, provocative, terrorist activities are not shunned even by the Member States of the European Union, including the Czech Republic (see Vrbětice). In doing so, I am responding to citizens who are wondering why we support the struggle of the opposition in Belarus. Because freedom, human rights and security are conditions for freedom and security in the European Union as well.

Madam President, this report by the European Parliament is proof that security and human rights are our priority. I would like to thank all the colleagues who initiated and negotiated this report. It is Wagner's society that emerges wherever there are conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, Syria, Libya. These secret private armies and security companies pose a danger both to victims and to governments and international institutions that seek to hold the group accountable for its actions. The Wagner Group represents another hybrid instrument of the war being waged by Russia against the European Union and our allies. Although formally it does not exist, it has already been said here, in Russia it is outlawed, because there all matters of security and defence are entrusted to the state. Yet there is evidence that this Wagner group exists. I am very pleased that last week the foreign ministers of the European Union agreed on the proposed sanctions, aimed directly at the operations of the Wagner Group. The European Union must implement these sanctions as soon as possible. The European Union must share intelligence and make it more difficult for Moscow to deny responsibility and spread lies about involvement in war operations. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no time to wait for the next victims of Wagner's group.

Mr President, Commissioner, our farmers deserve the recognition, support and fair and efficient distribution of the budget that they urgently need. The reform of the common agricultural policy is therefore also important for both farmers and consumers. Its objectives are competitiveness, food security, environmental protection and rural development. I believe that the strongest point of what was adopted in the trilogue agreement is precisely the focus on protecting the environment and strengthening the competences of the Member States. It will therefore depend on the priorities of national governments and how they use this flexibility. Compared to the current situation, a quarter of the funds in the first pillar are newly linked to so-called eco-schemes, which are intended to encourage farmers to reduce the use of pesticides and antimicrobials, as well as to improve animal welfare. Today, however, we are to vote on a reform that lacks substantial measures, and that is the cap on direct payments. Support for small and medium-sized farmers is one of the fundamental objectives of European agriculture and, in my opinion, this objective is not sufficiently achieved. The European Commission, like the European Parliament, has proposed mandatory capping and redistribution in favour of SMEs as an essential tool to avoid concentration of ownership and to protect against misuse of European subsidies. Unfortunately, as a result of the trilogue agreement, capping and a 10% redistributive payment remain only an option. This is a major problem that will exacerbate disparities in the competitiveness of farmers as well as between Member States. I regret that we have missed this chance for a genuine reform of the common agricultural policy. I think we should not have given in to the pressure of the European Council.

Madam President, Mr Vice-President of the Commission, thank you both for your support and for your personal conviction and commitment to sport. I would also like to start by thanking our rapporteur, Tomasz Frankowski, because this report on sport is written in his experience, which he has, and it is clear from that report. Thanks, of course, to all of his colleagues and colleagues. With this report, the European Parliament advocates the promotion of sport, and we are doing so at a time when sport has also suffered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now counting the impacts and thinking about how to support sport under Erasmus+, the Recovery Fund and other activities. Sport has an important place in a person's life, not only a person, but also a society. The sports industry is an important economic force, Tomasz Frankowski talked about it. But the sport primarily shapes a person, teaches him endurance, endurance, teaches us to play fair play. Sport promotes the values on which the European Union is founded – respect, solidarity, equality, diversity and fairness. Sports activities unite, in sports really pays the difference only in performance, it does not matter where you are from, what is your political opinion or religious beliefs or skin color. Even this is a great benefit of sport, it is not just about equality to talk about, but to give space, to give a chance to every talent. The European Union's sport policy should promote our values and uphold human rights, the rule of law and democratic values, in particular when awarding hosting statutes for major sporting events and selecting sponsors – and I would like to emphasise this. Finally, let me say that this report is only the beginning for further work, and I believe that Tomasz Frankowski and all the other collaborators will have a "move-to-go" and we will support sport.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for all the contributions that have been made, the high expectations, the great tasks that await us. Our goal is an educated and resilient Europe. Education is not a commodity, dear colleagues, it is a value in itself. This is why primary and secondary education is free in all the Member States of the European Union, and why the European Union supports these efforts of inclusion, quality and accessibility of the Member States. The European Education Area can only be developed in cooperation with the Member States, now I am looking to the right. The subsidiarity and competences of the Member States are essential for us and we will respect them. But the European Union has the right, even the obligation, to support the Member States in fulfilling their important mission. Here I would also like to answer the concern that students are leaving from the east, from universities in Slovakia, but also from other countries, for example, to universities in the west of the EU. But who more than the European Union supports universities in the member countries, be it Slovakia, the Czech Republic? It is billions of crowns that have been invested in the quality of universities and will be further supported. It is up to us, too, to seize this opportunity and to ensure that intelligence does not really go away, that young people do not go away. And then there is the fear of censorship, of an ideological approach. It's exactly the opposite. As my colleague Polčák has already said, educated people are resistant to populism, to manipulation. That is why we are very keen on education, education that will really make the European Union resilient to populism, extremism and the spread of alarm messages. I think it is clear to everyone that, by approving this report, we are actually setting ourselves the task. This is what awaits us to bring the idea of a European Education Area to life. I am very much looking forward to this cooperation. I thank the Commissioner and all the colleagues who will work together on this.