Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, ladies and gentlemen, the recent European Union summit on the Western Balkans is a clear, strong, political symbol, but also a commitment of the European Union to their European perspective. The exchange of views at such a high level reinforces the role of the EU in the region, which has always been characterised by instability and political upheavals. Now, however, it seems that the conditions are ripe for clear commitments on their accession path and it is now the obligation and duty of the EU to be in continuous, close cooperation with them and to proceed with much faster steps. It is in the EU's interest to ensure that third countries, such as China, Russia and Turkey, do not integrate this region into their sphere of influence, as they have been trying to do for so long, and, unfortunately, we leave a gap which they often come to fill. At the same time, with the withdrawals that we seem to have, we are leaving room for populist and extreme voices, which are finding ground, are anti-European and may lead to situations that are not liked in the region. Our goal, therefore, is to ensure that all the necessary structural changes are carried out and all the appropriate conditions are met, so that ultimately the Western Balkans can meet all the requirements that a country's participation in the EU has and must have. That is why I also understand all those voices here who are seriously developing the view that we must not forget that respect for the rules governing the European project, the principle of good neighbourliness and faithful and strict compliance with international agreements must always be a prerequisite.

Mr President, arguably the change of presidency in the United States of America marked a new, much more positive start in Euro-Atlantic relations. After a period of systematic removal of America from emblematic international organizations and agreements, the election of President Biden gave a new impetus to American foreign policy, as was also shown during his visit to Brussels. However, since the European Parliament's recent report on EU-America relations, two defining events have occurred, which are of concern to the European Union: on the one hand the exodus of US troops from Afghanistan and the takeover of power by the Taliban, on the other hand the sudden US-Australia and UK agreement, which recalled something that we have repeatedly discussed in this Chamber, namely the need for a truly unified and coordinated European foreign policy, as well as the need to develop Europe's autonomous defence extension. As legislators, we must learn from history, otherwise we are condemned to repeat it negatively. And this juncture, ladies and gentlemen, is truly historic, as is our responsibility to move from words to deeds.

Mr President, the effects of climate change are now evident. Natural disasters, which have been increasing more and more in recent years, are irreparably affecting the natural lungs of oxygen, destroying citizens' property and infrastructure and causing incalculable effects on key productive sectors of our economy, such as agriculture and livestock, which are a key core of the economic activity of the countries of the European Union. More specifically, my country Greece has been hit in recent years by unprecedented deadly fires and floods. To understand the magnitude of the ecological disaster, it is enough to mention that, just from last August's fires, more than a million acres of forest land were burned to ashes, hundreds of animals were burned and many people saw their livelihoods lost. I would like, from this step of the European Parliament, to express our sympathy and solidarity with all those affected and to tell them that we stand by them. This phenomenon, as we all understand, is before us and cannot be tackled individually by the governments of the Member States. It is fortunate that the Union is showing its solidarity in practice, but that is not enough. The Greek government attaches great importance to tackling climate change by taking specific initiatives, but what is needed now is a holistic and unified European policy to prevent and immediately address these extreme phenomena that pose a threat to the security and lives of all of us. In this you will find us supporters and we are committed to helping the Commission as much as we can.

Madam President, at this crucial juncture for the future of Europe, the role of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is crucial and I wish you success. It must coordinate the exploitation and disbursement of the Recovery Fund funds to the Member States, but also address the multi-layered challenges facing the European Union in key areas of foreign policy, including the protection of the rule of law and human rights. Particularly in the Western Balkans region, which will be a key priority of the Slovenian Presidency, as the Prime Minister said, the European Union must strengthen its role and influence to prevent forces that deviate from European principles and values from increasing their sphere of influence. The Western Balkans, which have always been characterised by instability and political upheavals, can only have prospects and economic prosperity through their integration into the European framework. Of course, the European Union will also benefit. But a prerequisite must always be respect for the rules governing the European project, the principle of good neighbourliness and faithful and strict compliance with international agreements. It is worth noting that the Slovenian Presidency coincides with the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which is a fundamental process for redefining Europe's relations with European citizens.