Debate contributions by Željana ZOVKO

Dear Chairman, ten minutes, every ten minutes in 2023 a woman is killed. These women were mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. Behind every number is a life taken, a family destroyed and a future extinguished. The European Union must act more decisively and urgently. We need a united institutional and legal strategy that allows women to live free from fear and violence. We welcome the decision of Prime Minister Plenkovic's government to put an end to this violence and to protect women. By her decision, she also suppressed domestic violence, introduced stricter punishments for hate-motivated violence. The introduction of femicide as a separate crime is a decisive step in the fight against the most extreme form of gender-based violence. But we can't stop here. It is our duty to protect women and girls beyond the borders of the Union. I urge candidate countries to follow the example of the Republic of Croatia and urgently adopt the necessary legislative changes to show a clear commitment to protecting the fundamental human rights of all women and girls. There is no hesitation about it, there is no discussion about it. This is a political decision to let killers continue to express their masculinity by filming themselves as they kill and commit violence against women, and to make it a regional party for all men full of testosterone. It is time to stop and it is time to start doing what has been done in Croatia. Introduce femicide as soon as possible into your legal regulations.

Madam President, dear High Representative, last week I spent, with few colleagues, time with Republican hospitality in Texas. It was great to see Texas the day after the elections, the patriotism and the joy from the local people. I think that we forget one thing forever, as we are elected by the citizens. Not only Trump was elected, but they had the House of Representatives and the Senate being elected. And America is a democracy. They have checks and balances. We have to work with congressmen, with senators, and we have to come to our senses and to work on the issues, not ideology. And thank you, High Representative, for mentioning the Strategic Compass. We have to work on our defence. We have to work on floods. People were voting Trump because they didn't receive help when they needed it. So, we have to work on issues. Otherwise, we will be past as well in this House. And I'm looking forward to the European Union coming to its senses and coming out of this infantile position, expecting somebody else to save us and to threaten with trade war or the war with the words. Accept reality, start working with those with whom we can build bridges, and I think that we can find common interests and joint interests with Trump, with the House and the Senate, on the same calls and on the same goals that we need in this geopolitically turbulent world.

Madam President, yesterday there was discussion on the recent floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where there were lost more than 20 lives, and many, many wounded. People are still searching for the dead people in Herzegovina, and in Bosnia the destruction is incredible. Unfortunately, my colleagues in this room didn't dare to listen and to have a minute of silence. So I invite you all to pay respect to the victims and to hold a minute of silence for all the victims of the recent floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Madam President, Europe has long prided itself on being a beacon of tolerance and diversity, at least the side that was not under communism, where priests and cardinals and other religious leaders were persecuted and put in jail and persecuted for their religion and belief. My great uncle, a bishop of Mostar, was for ten years in prison because he didn't want to separate from Holy See, from Vatican. Christians historically shaped much of Europe's cultural heritage, and they're facing increasing hostility. In 2023, a total of 800 anti-Christian crimes were recorded in Europe. At the same time, antisemitism is emerging its ugly head once more stronger than ever since the terrorist attack on 7 October. Jewish communities, who have already endured centuries of persecution, are targets of violence and discrimination, with hateful rhetoric being on the rise online and public spaces. Europe is not just in a crisis of religious freedom, but under direct threat to the core values of our European identity: respect, tolerance and human dignity. We must stand united against all forms of hatred, whether they are targeting Christians, Jews, Muslims or any other religious group. By fostering dialogue, educating against prejudice, and strengthening legal protections, we can combat this dangerous trend and ensure that Europe remains a place where all faiths can co-exist in peace. The EPP has given me the honour, together with Mr Meimarakis, to chair the only working group in European Parliament dedicated to this issue. The EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue will continue its fight for it. And thank you, Mr Schinas, for helping us in the past to spread this message throughout the world.

Dear Chairman, the unprecedented catastrophic floods that hit Jablanica, Konjic, Kiseljak, Kreševo and Fojnica on October 3rd claimed at least 20 lives, while many are still being sought. The population of these municipalities was urgently evacuated last night due to renewed threats of flooding. As Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest partner, it is our duty to mobilise all available resources to enable the urgent delivery of much-needed assistance. I welcome the European Commission's decision to activate the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism and provide immediate assistance to people on the ground. Twelve Member States have offered assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Civil Protection Mechanism. I also welcome the European Union's assistance through Copernicus to help local authorities assess the damage caused by floods. These efforts of solidarity and assistance are essential to rehabilitate access routes and locate missing persons as soon as possible. I thank the Government of Andrej Plenković who immediately made the decision to donate EUR 10 million and thus proved once again to be truly the greatest friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina still needs our urgent and immediate assistance. I call for the mobilisation of the European Solidarity Fund, which, in addition to Member States, has already been used for candidate countries, and the provision of long-term financial support, together with the redirection of funds from the IPA III fund to provide urgent assistance in repairing the consequences of floods. Bosnia and Herzegovina, as our partner country, must have access to these funds to enable rapid response, reconstruction of infrastructure and assistance to the most vulnerable. And finally, I ask the politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to show solidarity at all levels of government and to urgently unblock the process of agreeing the necessary decisions to put forward the reform agenda needed by the European Commission to activate the EUR 1 billion growth plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina. How many more victims does it take to show a good will to compromise?

Mr President, Alto Representante, as yesterday marked the sombre anniversary of the 7 October attacks, the past few days have seen an alarming and unprecedented escalation of the ongoing conflict. In this context, Iran's aggression against Israel must be met with firm and unequivocal condemnation. This action threatens to spark widespread conflict across the region. It is imperative that Iran and Hezbollah cease their hostilities immediately. The European Union must continue working towards achieving a ceasefire and ensure the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates Hezbollah's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The intensification of violence also raises important questions about the EU's role in fostering stability in the region and highlights areas where its approach can be improved. While the EU has deployed mechanisms such as election observation missions in the region, including the one conducted in Lebanon in 2022, it must ensure that these tools are used consistently and effectively to support lasting peace. Lebanon, for example, has remained without a president since 2022 despite the electoral observation missions and our involvement, Mr High Representative, raising concerns about the real impact of these initiatives. This situation also affects how local populations view the European Union's commitment. Indeed, some Lebanese, particularly within the Christian community, feel abandoned by the European Union. It is crucial that the people of the Middle East retain faith in the European Union's ability to provide consistent and meaningful support for regional stability. Without such assurance, terrorist organisations like Hezbollah will continue to exploit instability, spreading hatred and chaos throughout the region.

Madam President, until last week, I was in Jordan for the election observation mission. I can tell you that no country is better place to gauge the consequences of the war between Israel and Hamas. Over there, the risk of spill-over into the region is palpable. The refugee situation is a striking example. Jordan is still hosting almost 1.2 million Syrian refugees, and the current displacement of Palestinians could destabilise the country and the region as a whole. Not to mention the fact that the refugees are already facing a funding crisis. Similarly, the growing instability in Lebanon, which hosts 1.5 million of the 6 million Syrian refugees, has led many of these refugees to try to reach Cyprus, raising the risk of further tragedies as they cross the Mediterranean Sea. This comes in addition to the arms smuggling and drug trafficking routes crossing the border between Jordan and Syria, which threatens border security. There is therefore an urgent need to restore stability to the region, which can only be achieved through a peace agreement, including the unconditional release of the hostages. Only in this way, we will be able to build the lasting political solution, that is to say, the two-state solution.