Speeches

Animal health and welfare are key to public health, food security and the safety of the food we consume. A good animal health status on the farm means fewer medicines and antibiotics, a lower environmental footprint from livestock farming, a better end product and, ultimately, what we all strive for – a better overall welfare of farm animals. I therefore welcome the EP resolution that encourages further improvement of EU legislation on animal welfare, in line with scientific and technical progress in animal husbandry practices, and according to the specific needs of each animal species. At the same time, animal welfare needs to be coupled with a sustainable economic approach that ensures a clear return on investment and higher production costs, as well as an appropriate transition period for livestock farmers to adapt their farms to higher standards. A system of financial incentives for livestock farmers is needed to increase their motivation to invest in improving livestock farming practices. For example, under the CAP, Member States can provide in their national strategic plans for specific eco-schemes for animal welfare, support through investments and trainings to innovate and improve farming systems.

Mr President, quality education is key to building prosperous, sustainable and inclusive societies. Our future, as well as the future of the entire European Union, lies in the hands of teachers and the education system. As a longtime teacher and school principal, I have always emphasized the importance of the parent-teacher-student relationship. But to this end, we need to create optimal working conditions and teacher development across the European Union. In Europe, education systems are facing a professional crisis in relation to the teaching profession. Most countries are facing teacher shortages, teacher ageing, difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, as well as increased psychological pressure and violence at school. When asked about stress factors, teachers point to the burden of administrative tasks, over-evaluation, responsibility for students' achievements, and meeting the changing demands of those in power. Our teachers deserve stable and decent working conditions and quality infrastructure, as well as adequate pay levels. It is of the utmost importance that the Commission and the Member States work on a strategy to improve the prestige and attractiveness of the teaching profession, including in the most remote and depopulated areas, in order to foster the fight against negative demographic trends and retain talent in these regions.

Madam President, children's interests must be paramount to all digital actions and decisions that affect their physical and mental health, safety and well-being. I am therefore proud to be shadow rapporteur on two of the most important dossiers in our institution, which are fighting for a better and safer internet for our children. In the resolution ‘A European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children’, we emphasise the empowerment of the youngest, because knowledge is the greatest strength. We call for the elaboration of specific measures and educational programs to increase their digital skills and literacy. In my long-term work as a teacher, I also became convinced of the key importance of parents in the educational process. Parents should be informed about all available digital tools for safe online browsing and communication. Teachers also play a key role here – they are a partner of parents and should actively work towards increasing the digital competences and media literacy not only of children, but also of their parents and teachers. Family and school must go hand in hand to tackle the main challenges facing the young generation, because united we can bring up responsible, empowered young Europeans. In the resolution, we stress the need for tailored and specific punitive measures against the terrible crimes of child sexual abuse, but also the phenomenon of cyberbullying and its severe psychological and physical consequences. I believe that with this resolution we will take another important step towards creating a safe, inclusive and more accessible digital environment for every child in the European Union. I thank and hope for your support in the vote on the resolution later today.

Madam President, we are all in solidarity with Ukraine and we want a more recent stabilisation of trade in the Black Sea region. However, actions taken by the European Union to ensure food security in the form of solidarity lanes and temporary liberalisation of trade in Ukrainian goods in the European Union have led to market turmoil in Member States that are close to Ukraine, such as Bulgaria. Liberalisation measures have in practice increased the inequality between farmers from the European Union and those from Ukraine due to the difference in production standards and the lower cost of Ukrainian production. The suspension of duties has had an extremely negative impact on the market for raw milk, cereals and oilseeds in Bulgaria, which was flooded by cheaper agricultural Ukrainian production. Extending duty-free imports of agricultural products from Ukraine for another year will be detrimental to farmers in our countries if the transit function of the solidarity lanes is not guaranteed and effective safeguards are not put in place, including banning imports in the event of market turmoil.

Dear colleagues, fertilisers play an important role in food production and thus in our food security. The shortage and record high prices of nitrogen fertilisers caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis have put farmers ahead of the dilemma of whether to plan the next sowing or stop their business altogether. Because of the high prices of fertilizers and fuels, the price of their final production does not even cover the production costs. The situation of farmers in Member States close to the war in Ukraine is particularly sensitive. I will give an example of my country Bulgaria, where farmers are under double pressure. On the one hand, the sector suffers due to the strong dependence on imports of nitrogen fertilizers from Russia and Ukraine, and on the other - the facilitated trade flows of Ukrainian grain make Eastern European farmers unable to realize their production and it lies in warehouses. We must not allow Europe's energy dependence on Russia to be replaced by dependence on fertilisers and food. Rapid and targeted action is needed to mitigate the difficulties faced by farmers and fertiliser producers in the European Union and to ensure Europe's strategic autonomy in fertilisers and food. This is why, with this European Parliament resolution, we call for the development of a long-term European Union strategy for fertilisers, as well as for urgent financial support for farmers.

Madam President, honourable Members, this is not the first debate on this issue, but I hope it is sincerely the last, because it is long time for Bulgaria and Romania, and now Croatia, to be admitted to the Schengen area. Bulgaria and Romania have done enough to meet the requirements for accession, but for more than a decade they are still waiting. Year after year, the two countries are ignored for no objective reason. The reasons are entirely political. Eleven years since some governments in the Union vetoed the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. It is time for these governments, led by the Dutch, to abandon double standards and demonstrate the European spirit of solidarity. It is time to end this injustice. It is unfair not to acknowledge the efforts and results of both sides. It is not fair not to recognize the fact that Bulgaria performed best in our refugee crisis. The future of the European Union depends on the extent to which the countries will be united and in solidarity with each other. It is precisely this solidarity that requires Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia to be immediately admitted to Schengen. It's time for the dream to become a reality.

Mr President, colleagues, education is a fundamental right of every person and everyone has the right to quality education and training in order to be meaningful and fulfilling in society. The more educated and informed citizens are, the more they will be committed to solving the problems facing the European Union. Strengthening citizenship education is therefore key for us. Educated citizens of the European Union will be much easier to perceive the history of the European continent, the values and diversity of our Union, and will be much more involved in political processes. The European Commission should encourage Member States to update education systems, the content of curricula so that young people are fully aware of the importance of the European Union, the opportunities and benefits of a united Europe. I express my very strong support for the Ambassador School Programme of the European Parliament. This programme is extremely useful and helps young people to get more information about the institutions of the European Union, about European values, about European solidarity. The benefits of this programme will be much greater if its scope is extended to smaller settlements in rural areas. Simultaneously with the expansion of citizenship education in schools, it is imperative to promote citizenship education for people of all ages, and NGOs, specialists and experts working in the field of citizenship education can be useful here.

Madam President, Commissioner, honourable Members, racism is categorically at odds with the fundamental values of the European Union, yet discrimination based on race or ethnic origin persists in our society. The responsibility for the fight against racism lies with all of us, but it is very important that the fight against different forms of racism starts from an early age, and here the role of the education system is extremely responsible. Schools should be a safe place where there is no bullying, no racism, no discrimination. Children need to learn about equality, respect and inclusion early and become able to spread these values among their peers and in the communities in which they live. Another very important thing is that young people have access to culture, whether as consumers or producers. Last but not least, an important role in this fight against racism should be played by celebrities from the world of art, music, cinema, literature, to promote the goals of this battle.

Dear colleagues, first of all, I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs Daniel Buda and Isabel Carvalhais on the hard work and compromises reached on the report and recommendations of the ANIT Committee. Animal welfare during transport is in the mutual interest of both farmers and consumers and the entire food chain. The Committee of Inquiry found that the European Union has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, but these rules are not always respected. The conditions and controls for the transport of farm animals need to be improved. We have also heard calls for a total ban on the transport of live animals in Europe and to third countries, and for a substantial reduction in animal transport times. We must be aware that such a ban would threaten the financial survival of our farmers and lead to the closure of a large number of small farms. Let us recall the important place of the livestock sector in the European economy. Livestock accounts for almost half of all agricultural activity. It provides around 4 million jobs and generates output worth €168 billion per year. We do not want to close farms in regions where life is already difficult, such as mountainous and remote regions. I believe that shortening transport times is closely linked to investments to improve infrastructure, as well as to build a system of local slaughterhouses close to livestock farms. Therefore, we in the EPP Group strongly support European livestock farmers and believe that animal transport should continue, while respecting legislation and improving animal welfare standards during transport.

Mr President, Commissioner Gabriel, I welcome the conclusion of the President of the European Commission that Europe needs all its young people. It is very important that we succeed in arousing young people's interest in the democratic process, in electoral processes, in opportunities for partnership and dialogue between young people from the European Union and partner countries. For Europe's today and tomorrow, the participation of young people in democratic processes is of utmost importance. The involvement of young people in decision-making at local, regional, national and European level will certainly lead to a more successful European integration. Building a more cohesive and solidarity-based Europe needs the engagement of young people, because we need their vision, their ideas. The more young people, but not just young people, but highly educated young people, engage in the process of building a strong and solidarity-based Europe, the more democracy will be stronger, more resilient and more stable in our societies. However, disadvantaged young people – those from vulnerable and marginalised groups, rural areas, remote and less developed regions – must also be involved in this process. In this way, we will strengthen their sense of European belonging. The European Union is a good world, but young people need to create an even better world, much greener, much more inclusive, much more solidarity-based.

Commissioner, naturally, I too condemn police violence against Roma and all citizens, of course, and in this respect I would like to tell you about such police arbitrariness in my country of Bulgaria. On November 14 and 21, there were both parliamentary and presidential elections in Bulgaria. In the election campaign, we witnessed an unprecedented police arbitrariness on the part of Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov. Under the pretext of a controlled vote, an armed gendarmerie raided the homes of Roma and other citizens, who were summoned and threatened in police stations to give explanations about which party they would vote for. As a result of this police arbitrariness, coordinated by Minister Rashkov, there was a record low percentage of people voting in the elections in Bulgaria. Commissioner, this police arbitrariness against Bulgarian citizens is a shame and a disgrace to a Member State of the European Union, and I urge you to pay attention to the actions of Minister Rashkov in order to ensure that this does not happen again.

Colleagues, after almost a year of intense negotiations, today we are voting on the CAP package finally approved so that it can enter into force on 1 January 2023. And to ensure a smooth transition, we also adopted the Transitional Regulation. The new CAP, in addition to being greener, must be a guarantor of the economic and social sustainability of farmers and rural areas. Farmers are at the heart of the CAP reform and must be fairly remunerated for their work. I would therefore like to thank the rapporteur and his team for keeping farmers' interests at the heart of the new policy. The introduction of the mandatory redistributive payment in favour of small and family farms, as well as additional support for young farmers, is a necessary investment for the future of the sector. I am very pleased that we were able to protect the continuation of the transitional national aid with a new reference year, as well as the coupled support: two extremely important instruments that partially compensate for lower levels of support to countries such as Bulgaria and have an important social effect in rural areas.

Madam President, the place of sport in society is extremely important for each country, as it contributes to the development of various qualities of a physical, psychological, social and moral nature. Sport is an integral part of our daily lives. Especially at the time of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which not only led to a loss at a professional level, but also took away people's ability to be physically active. It is now more important than ever to make sure that access to sport is free, inclusive and equal for all and to promote public health through physical activity. The construction of sports infrastructure is an important element for improving quality of life and economic opportunities, especially in disadvantaged regions and smaller settlements. Long-term job provision contributes to keeping young people in remote areas and reduces the risk of their depopulation. And organizing sports events would make them more attractive to viewers and potential tourists. In this context, it is necessary to unite Member States around a more holistic approach to Union sport policy, ensuring equal opportunities for all those employed in this sector and supporting its economic recovery.

Mr President, colleagues, the pandemic has made it extremely difficult for cultural and creative workers – concert halls have closed, festivals, exhibitions, performances have been cancelled. This has created uncertainty about the future prospects of those who want to work in this field, which we should not allow. Artists are extremely important for our societies because they help to strengthen European diversity, through them we build our value system and know our history, they influence our way of life. Just imagine, colleagues, if during lockdowns, when we were locked in our homes, how we would spend our time if there were no movies, if there was no music, if there were not all this created by artists. But at the same time, many of these artists were left with no permanent income, and some with no income at all. It is very important that artists have access to social benefits and adequate social protection: unemployment, pensions, health care. I strongly support the call in the Commission’s report for the Commission and the Member States to include culture in the national recovery and resilience plans and to dedicate at least 2% of the budgetary envelope of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Member States are obliged to support this sector, which is recovering most slowly from the pandemic, and to ensure that no artist, no cultural worker is left behind.

Madam President, colleagues, when it comes to refugees in Turkey, it is good to speak less politically and more humanitarianly. Turkey hosts about 4 million Syrians and 700,000 other nationalities, including Afghans. This makes Turkey the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. Since 2015, about 500,000 Syrian babies have been born there and one and a half million Syrian children are of school age and live in Turkey. Whether they stay there or return to their homelands, meeting their educational needs is key for the stability of the region and for the future. Of the €6 billion under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, approximately one and a half billion has been allocated by the Turkish state to projects in the education sector. If Turkey cannot protect them, they will sooner or later try to move to the European Union. So there is a mutual interest in improving the living conditions of refugees. This is obviously not only a problem for Turkey, but also an international problem. If we cannot provide them with a secure future, tomorrow they can pose a serious threat to the security of the societies that accept them. I therefore welcome the Commission's recent proposal to mobilise an additional EUR 3 billion, which will be used to continue the projects. We cannot and should not leave this huge burden on Turkey alone.