Debate contributions by Alexandr VONDRA

Mr President, let me start by commending the High Representative's statement calling for stability and territorial integrity in Syria. Indeed, it is in our interest to see a stable Syrian Government that brings an end to the civil war and halts the migration wave to Europe. While the EU – I would say rightly – is not engaged militarily in Syria, our diplomacy must work to prevent the new government from forming alliances with the Iranian regime. Iran, along with its proxies, is becoming notably weaker, which is a positive development for the region. And for the Syrian Government to distance itself from any collaboration with terrorist organisations would be a critical test to achieving a stable Middle East. Finally, religious and ethnic minorities in the region, like Yazidis, Kurds and Syriacs, have faced terrible persecution in the past. The EU must therefore ensure that any serious recognition of the new Syrian Government is contingent upon rigorous respect for the rights and protection of those minorities.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, it was here that the President was ‘hugged’ for visiting Israel. No, I thank her wholeheartedly for expressing solidarity on behalf of Europe. Nor am I adding to the brutal ‘hoofing’ from the left or from some to the very right, that is not my style. On the other hand, times have changed. Completely different, much harder times await us, elections in America, deglobalization, trade wars, power real politics all over the world. And, of course, thanks for Draghi's report, the analysis where we are is excellent. But I must say that the hearings we've been hearing here have not filled me with much confidence that some people in decision-making positions are, so to speak, up to the job. But what fills me with hope is that there is a slightly different balance of power than it was five years ago. So we're going to have the opportunity to actually fix some things so that we don't lose competitiveness and stand up in the world.

Madam President, the decisive victory of Donald Trump is a reality, and with a majority on the Hill, he will restore the strong leadership in the White House. So, what should we do? Firstly, we must invest much more into our security and defence to gain the respect in Washington to keep NATO alive. Secondly, with Trump's departure from the Paris Treaty, we must prefer realism over the green ideology and correct the Green Deal to get our economies back on track. And thirdly, a real problem is Trump's mercantilism. Therefore, enormous responsibility would be on the new European Commission. It must engage immediately with Washington to avoid escalation into trade wars that would seriously harm our businesses. Here are three keys to a new transatlantic agenda. Let's not screw this up again.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, what we are witnessing now is not a transformation of the automotive industry in Europe. It's his controlled liquidation, liquidation under the banner of Green Deal under the auspices of the European Commission. Producers are fleeing expensive energy and insane regulations to America, China and India. Millions of employees are and will be on the cobblestones. The tariffs will not help here, they will only make everything more expensive, there is no money for social transfers and there will be no money. If something doesn't work, we have to change it. We must revise without delay Green Deal. We need to quickly postpone the fines, which are supposed to start next year and are literally liquidating for the automotive industry. We must lift the ban on internal combustion engines and allow for competitive solutions based on technological neutrality. This is the only way that can enable the car industry here in Europe to survive.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the situation is not escalating now, it escalated a year ago, when Hamas brutally attacked Israel and Hezbollah helped it to do so. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist organizations with which there is no point in negotiating. We have to stand with Israel in this civilisational conflict. And what I hear here – yes, it is a mixture of naivety, a constant call for a ceasefire that no one listens to, or fear of those who have migrated to Europe in recent decades and are outspoken anti-Semites, or even hatred of Israel. I am glad that my country's government has blocked the defeatist statement that was proposed here by Mr Borrell, and we stand and should stand unequivocally behind Israel in this. And if we are dominated by fear, naivety or even hatred of Israel, then there is an amen with us.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the amount of rainfall that has fallen in Central Europe over the last few days has been truly extreme. And most, by far, most of them have fallen in my country. So it justifies me, I think, making three remarks here. First of all, the damage will be enormous. They go into tens, hundreds of billions of crowns. The European Union is, of course, based on a principle of solidarity, and we will, of course, welcome any help in rescuing and restoring it. Second, the lesson. The key word is adaptation, and here I agree. Instead of spending frenzied money on frenzied mitigation that yields no immediate results, adaptation is important. We have made a big step forward. Meteorological forecasts, crisis management and everything else. In fact, three victims so far, against about fifty or sixty in the two previous floods. So yes, adaptation. And thirdly, this has already been said. The greatest damage was in Opava and Krnov, and hydrologists clearly proved that if the dam stood, these cities were protected. The dam is not standing because green groups like the Rainbow Movement have prevented it for years. And we support them here with money. So we should also introduce the principle that if they prevent something and then it has billions of dollars of damage, they will bear the consequences, because every policy has its consequences.

Madam President, Mario Draghi's report is strong in naming the problems here. I'm applauding. But it fails in offering a workable solution. EUR 800 billion per year in the form of a joint EU debt demonstrates more a political instinct of a socialist than any political realism, which Europe needs so much. Let us therefore start where we can change right now in this House. First, overregulation. EU regulation, kills innovation, drives our industries and scares capital out of our continent. Secondly, the cost of living, the prices of energy two times or three times higher than in comparable economies are a silent killer of family budgets and big enterprises as well. Therefore, the climate policy must be reformed so that they do better reflect the economic reality.