Debate contributions by Marieke EHLERS

Mr President, Commissioner, the reorganisation of the US government by President Trump and Elon Musk is a nightmare for the left-liberal elite. They're finally cutting back on one of their favorite projects, USAID. But our citizens also have nightmares, because they can no longer make ends meet, partly because of the EU policy that has been imposed on them in recent years. Expensive and short-sighted projects for which they have to pay. Development aid is one of these terrible hobby projects, because the taxes of poor people in rich countries are used to fill the pockets of rich people in poor countries. We should welcome the Musk approach in Brussels with open arms, as billions of euros are also wasted in the EU. Trump's policy reminds us that putting the taxpayer first is not radical. It's just common sense. Trump puts Americans first. It is high time we brought our citizens back together.

Mr President, the Netherlands is jam-packed. The roads, the public transport, the schools, the housing market, our concern: It's busy everywhere and everything gets stuck. The country is bursting at the seams. Nevertheless, the Commission wants to tackle labour shortages and ageing populations by attracting more migrants. This is not only short-sighted, but simply absurd. After all, migrants are also ageing and migration is putting enormous pressure on our welfare state. Importing labour does not solve anything and only makes us dependent on external population growth. This is not a strategy, but a pitfall; A kind of pyramid scheme played at the expense of our welfare state, our security and our culture. So the solution lies not in bringing in more migrants, but in strengthening our own society by protecting our prosperity and borders and investing in innovation.

Mr President, migration is again on the agenda of the European Council. And today, on the so-called Day of the Migrant, I have to conclude that there are no real solutions. The EU's unwillingness or inability to deal effectively with uncontrolled migration to our beautiful countries has led many of us to feel like strangers in our own villages and cities. The EU acts as if migration is inevitable. That's bullshit. Effective and realistic measures are possible and it is not as complicated as we are often told. We are now showing this in the Netherlands. We decide who can stay in our countries and who has to leave. We don't need migration. What we do need is a pro-family policy. We need to ensure that our own population has a stable base. Like a house and a good income. So people can start a family. And we need to convince our children that technical skills are at least as valuable, if not more valuable, than academic skills. I refuse to accept that in Europe we would be dependent on doctors, pharmacists or astronauts from Afghanistan, Yemen or Malawi. I refuse to accept that uncontrolled migration is an inevitable force that we cannot do anything about. And I refuse to accept that our children become foreigners in their own country.

Madam President, the hearings of Commissioners‑designate have veered into the troubling territory of politicisation. Instead of concentrating on qualifications and vision, they are increasingly influenced by partisan rivalries and secret political deals. This not only undermines the integrity of the process, but also the trust of our citizens and the very principles of democracy we seek to uphold. Member States have the exclusive right to nominate Commissioners. The European Parliament's oversight role is vital, but cannot negate the role of the Member States. To allow bias against certain national governments to influence our decisions is to betray the trust of the European people. We must also address the glaring lack of transparency. Postponing evaluation meetings, holding closed‑door sessions and excluding key stakeholders from the process flies in the face of our commitment to accountability and transparency. We must commit to a Europe where the sovereignty of Member States is respected, and where transparency and accountability are non‑negotiable. The future of Europe demands nothing less.

Mr President, Commissioner, the European Union's migration policy has for too long put the rights of migrants first, while the safety and rights of European citizens have been shamelessly neglected. Last week wrote The Welt that the much-acclaimed migration pact is far from sufficient. It will not lead to a significant reduction in the number of migrants in Europe. An EU top diplomat said aptly: "This is clear to all of us." Only by limiting the influx and promoting the return of illegal migrants can Member States fulfil their constitutional obligations, namely to guarantee housing, healthcare, education and the safety of their citizens. The migration debate has changed drastically since the European elections thanks to our voters. We trust that the Commission will embrace these winds of change for the strictest possible asylum and migration policy. This includes, among other things, modernising the Refugee Convention, the possibility of opting out on asylum and migration, a strict Return Directive, identifying safe third countries and reducing the pull factors for migrants. Together with other European countries, the Netherlands will work hard to drastically limit migration to Europe, because a change of course is needed. It's now or never.

Mr President, the Netherlands has long been known as one of the most tolerant countries in the world. And yet we cannot ignore the fact that anti-Semitism has also increased in our country in recent years. When we talk about the growing religious intolerance in Europe, we must dare to name the facts as they are. This intolerance does not come from Christians, Jews or Hindus. We do not see images from France, Germany or the Netherlands of Christians chasing infidels with knives. The problem seems to focus mainly on one specific religion. Supporters of radical Islam target non-Muslims, Christians, women, homosexuals, and Jews in particular. Anti-Jewish statements are the order of the day. There are parts of our cities where gay couples do not dare to walk hand in hand across the street. Women are intimidated in their own neighborhoods. The problem is growing day by day, mainly due to the influx of radical Muslim migrants who do not or hardly integrate. Does the Commission agree that if refugees or other migrants are guilty of anti-Semitic statements or violence, this should have consequences for their residence or the possibility of naturalisation? In any case, the answer is clear to me: There is no place for hate preachers!

Mr President, Commissioner, the strength of a country lies in its ability to protect its citizens. It starts with guarding the borders. The right to determine who may enter the territory of a state is the cornerstone of sovereignty. But this sovereignty is under pressure because the European external borders are as leaky as a basket and once inside, Schengen is eagerly used. The migration crisis, caused by years of maladministration, must be brought to an end and the only real solution is to drastically limit the influx. In short: Close the borders. My question to the Commission is therefore as follows: “When will the Commission finally invest in strengthening our external borders and creating physical barriers?” Because instead of protecting the external borders and ensuring the security of our citizens, the Commission prefers to focus on creating more legal migration routes. That does not solve the problem, but rather exacerbates it. We can no longer allow our citizens to face housing shortages, cultural conflicts, terrorist attacks and rising crime rates. It is our responsibility to ensure that our citizens feel safe in their own country. And if the EU is not willing or able to solve this problem, we will do it ourselves at national level.

Mr President, first Mannheim, now Solingen. Nine years ago, Angela Merkel said: "Wir kopen das", and She set the boundaries Open to millions of fortune seekers. We are now experiencing the consequences of this, not only in Germany, but throughout Europe. Think of Samuel Paty, who was beheaded four years ago by a Chechen refugee, and the Swedish football supporters who were shot last year in Brussels by a Tunisian who was staying in the country illegally. Thousands of people were trapped in a football stadium for hours, including my own husband and children. There are dozens of examples. Does the Commission take responsibility for Islamic terrorism and anti-Semitism in Europe, which are the result of a lax migration policy? It has to be different. It's got to be better. The influx must be reduced immediately and drastically and we must focus on an efficient return policy. The Netherlands will lead the way in Europe to ensure that asylum seekers who have been denied asylum actually return. There's another way. It could be better.