Debate contributions by Miriam LEXMANN

Madam President, dear colleagues, in compliance with Rule 202 of the Rules of Procedure, I would like to raise a point of order to the agenda point 'Award of the Sakharov Prize'. Last night, freedom and democracy defender and former Sakharov Prize nominee Jimmy Lai was found guilty of fabricated offences by the brutal Chinese communist regime. He faces life imprisonment. Jimmy Lai is one of the strongest supporters of democracy in Hong Kong: his life story is the biggest proof. His sham trial fell short of any fair standards. Moreover, it is a grave violation of international law under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Therefore, colleagues, I would like to call for a strong statement demanding his immediate release, and I would like to also propose a plenary resolution on the erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong to be added to the January plenary agenda.

Mr President, dear colleagues, dear Baha'i friends on the balcony. The Baha'is are the largest unrecognised religious minority in Iran. They are facing systematic arrest and torture, denied basic human rights such as education, employment or even a dignified burial. Their only 'crime' is their Baha'i faith. The Iranian totalitarian regime misuses laws to label Baha'is as a 'misguided sect', treating them as an outlawed religious minority and a threat to national security, for which they face arrests and sentences. Therefore, they need our support, recognition and urgent action. The Baha'is in Iran are an example for people all around the world because they, facing prosecution and injustice, support, with great courage and resilience, each other and their fellow citizens. They are not deterred from helping their fellow neighbours and citizens of Iran who are not Baha'i. For all these reasons, I believe this resolution is the right signal that we stand by the Baha'i people in Iran.

Madam President, sovereign motherhood is a business that knows neither ethical nor geographical boundaries. In it, the woman is humiliated to the level of rented reproductive organs, and the child to goods to order. With the fact that when the result does not suit the customer, the next fate of the child does not interest anyone. More recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women called for an international ban on surrogate motherhood. I have been working in this area for a long time as well. KDH, my home political party, succeeded in enforcing such a ban into the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. We have taken steps to protect human dignity, at least at national level. Treating a child as a commodity and exploiting women is a global problem. If we want to be leaders in the protection of human rights and human dignity, the European Union must act urgently.

Commissioner, colleagues. The tragedy in Novi Sad is a clear example of how poor-quality Chinese investments, combined with a combination of corruption and non-transparent practices, will put the lives of European citizens at risk. However, it is also a symbol of where Serbia has been going in recent years. Instead of progress towards Europe, we see a gradual shift towards Moscow and Beijing. This inclination is well known to me. We see an increasing aggression against our own citizens, who have taken to the streets against the situation in the country. We see increasing aggression against other groups, such as the Slovak minority. Like everyone else, Serbs want to live in a decent and prosperous European country ruled by the rule of law, not by corruption. I believe that the future of a democratic Serbia is in a democratic Europe.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we speak here today about Gui Minhai, a Swedish publisher abducted 10 years ago from his holiday home in Thailand by the Chinese intelligence forces. Through Gui's writing and publishing in Hong Kong, millions were able to reach books which were banned in mainland China. His case reminds us of the Chinese Government's long arm of repression against independent voices, against truth and against facts. Because of the Chinese communist regime, facilitating the free circulation of words and ideas is a crime. Gui's case is not an isolated domestic matter. It is emblematic of a worrying practice of transnational repressions, disappearance of people for expressing freedom of thought and freedom of belief, and forced confessions, which are orchestrated during sham trials. This is how the Chinese regime suppresses its critics. And this is not only about the case of Gui Minhai – it's Ilham Tohti, Jimmy Lai, Panchen Lama, but also Ding Jiaxi, thousands of other political prisoners in China, millions of Uighurs who are held in concentration camps and labour camps, and many more suffer under the brutal regime of Beijing. I grew up in the then communist regime in Czechoslovakia. These regimes do not play according to international rules. They are either exploiting them or violating them. We must finally understand this and act accordingly. Again and again, I call for a principled approach to the Chinese communist regime, for an approach in which human rights and fundamental freedoms are the central pillar of our relations, because respect for fundamental freedoms is non-negotiable.

Mr President, dear colleagues, two years ago we woke up to the tragic news of Hamas's brutal and barbaric evil attack on Israel – an attack that left thousands of civilians dead or taken hostage and unleashed incredible suffering that continues today. Today, in Europe, we are witnessing a growing wave of antisemitism, or Jew hatred, to put it in blunter terms. Jew hatred manifested in attacks on synagogues, Jewish businesses and cemeteries being vandalised frequently. This picture hurts, because Europe was built on Judaeo-Christian heritage. It is our duty to stand firm on our values. If we look away when facing hatred in society, we betray our core European DNA. Today, we live in hope that what many of us call the Holy Land will embark on the path of peace. Let us therefore unite in prayer for peace, for the Israeli and Palestinian people, and for the return of all hostages. Let us pray that tolerance will fill our hearts in Europe, where many Jewish people have their homes.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the US is not only the largest trading partner, but also our closest ally. We share a rich history, common values and traditions. The transatlantic relationship is the foundation of our mutual prosperity and security. And tariffs benefit neither side. They only benefit totalitarian regimes like China and Russia – the same regimes that threaten our security, our economy and the rules-based order. Let's prompt cooperation in areas that address our common risk as part of the tariff negotiations. That is what the US is expecting from us, too. I call on the Commission to propose how we can jointly address China's dominance in critical raw materials, how to protect our markets against cheap products made by forced labour, and how to secure sensitive data, especially the genomic data of our citizens.

Madam President, colleagues, the release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski and other political prisoners gives hope to all of us who believe in a democratic Belarus. But this single positive message doesn't signal the end of political repression in the country. Over a thousand political prisoners remain behind bars. Systematic crackdowns on citizens have only strengthened in recent months. Repressive measures have expanded to include unprecedented attacks on churches and on religious freedom in general. Dear colleagues, we have to continue to exert pressure on Lukashenka, particularly by making sure our sanctions are not circumvented. We have to continue to support Belarusian civil society and the democratic opposition. And let's not forget that our support to Ukraine is also support for a sovereign, democratic and prosperous Belarus. Zhyve Belarus!

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, current export controls on several minerals is yet another example of the toolbox China uses for its political purposes. Misusing its dominance over rare earths and deliberately causing disruptions in the supply chains is part of China's trade strategy, which allows it to maintain global dependencies. This puts in danger not only our car producers, but also healthcare, defence and our energy sector. I expect the Commission to formally raise the issue of unjustified export controls with the WTO, and also to use the anti-corruption mechanism the EU has at its disposal. It is also high time to accelerate the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act we agreed upon about two years ago. Finally, the upcoming EU-China summit is an opportunity for the EU to raise the dependencies and firmly defend the interests of our industry, our citizens, and also defence of human rights worldwide, but also particularly in China.

Mr President, Vice-President, just yesterday we witnessed another brutal bombing of Kyiv. Each such acts reminds us of the threat that Russia poses – and other totalitarian regimes – to Ukraine, to Europe and to world-based global order. It is high time to take our security seriously and adequately invest in defence. But we must do that responsibly and in cooperation with our allies. Raising our defence capacity is not just about tanks and missiles. Access to critical raw materials is of crucial importance for the future of European defence, especially while totalitarian China is misusing its dominance. We must ensure that investments in critical raw materials, particularly mining, refining and the production of essential components, are counted towards the increase of NATO defence spending.

Madam President, dear colleagues, China has recently imposed new export controls on several minerals, misusing its dominance over rare earth. It's already causing disruptions in our supply chains. This is not the first time China has closed taps on critical minerals. In order to secure the future of our industries, we have to address these actions in the context of competitiveness and economic security. For this reason, I am suggesting to pick up this point at our next session in July – not as part of the preparation for the EU-China summit, but as a separate point.

Mr President, Commissioner. Today marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Europe, as we know it, was built on a strong transatlantic union and on common values. This is what helped us defend ourselves against totalitarian regimes. The current geopolitical context requires bold strategic thinking at the highest political level and the search for sustainable cooperation. I have been pointing out from the outset that, instead of criticism, it is necessary to engage constructively with the United States and seek common interests. Instead, we should definitely not lean towards undemocratic, totalitarian regimes. We cannot allow totalitarian regimes today to take advantage of our differences. Flirting with the Chinese Communist Party will ultimately undermine our economy, but also our security and tarnish the heritage of all those who have protected the values of human dignity and democracy, the foundation of the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, this month we honour the memory of 1.5 million people – innocent lives lost in one of the darkest tragedies of the 20th century. Yet the wounds remain open and the struggle for justice is far from over. The genocide led to mass murder, displaced and loss of Christian cultural heritage. The Armenian people still carry the trauma of these atrocities. The only path to achieve normalisation of relations is to recognise, and work on recognition and reconciliation – on a political level and on a people-to-people level. This is even more important today, and hundreds of thousands of people are displaced in Armenia and from Nagorno-Karabakh, escaping atrocities from the side of Azerbaijan. That has added another layer of hardship. Recognition and reconciliation need courage – the courage to confront the past and to build a future based on truth. The EU must stand firm in its commitment to historical justice and urge Türkiye to acknowledge this chapter of history. Without recognition, there is no lasting peace, and that peace remains elusive. I call on the Turkish authorities to embrace this process and advance on the dialogue with Armenia. The Armenian people have always demonstrated extraordinary strength, spirit and resilience. It is high time to pave the way for genuine reconciliation, and bring peace and prosperity to the South Caucasus, and justice to Armenian people in Armenia and around the world.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, it has been almost a decade since the EU lifted sanctions on Belarus due to the so-called 'improvement' of the human rights situation at that time. As a representative of civil society, I warned against this step. Already then, we knew the real face of Lukashenka. Since then, I have spoken in this House on many occasions on the worsening human rights situation in Belarus. Some time ago we have been talking about 700 political prisoners; today we speak about 1 300 political prisoners in Belarus. In fact, thousands of political prisoners languish in inhuman conditions, subject to torture simply because of their desire to live in a free and democratic country. The independent press has been shattered, journalists silenced, media outlets banned, and representatives of civil society imprisoned. The media is replaced by a Soviet style of propaganda. This has to stop. Instead of 'condemning' and 'urging', we have to act. And the real act is to double down on sanctions against those who enable this inhuman regime. Because Lukashenka's oppression, built on electoral fraud and a systematic crackdown on citizens, represents a direct threat, an assault on the fundamental principles of democracy, human rights and freedom – our core values. And let us not forget, while the EU has invested in time and effort to treat Belarus differently, step by step, Belarus has become a Russian puppet state. We cannot ignore this. The deepening cooperation between Minsk and Moscow, their coordination in military intelligence and other fields pose a direct threat not only to the Belarusian people, but also to the security of EU. The European Union must stand with the people of Belarus. We must support the people's desire to live in a free, democratic and prosperous Belarus. Zhyve Belarus!

Mr President, over 20 political hostages who were imprisoned during the ethnic cleansing of Christian Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh are still detained in Azerbaijan. They are facing inhuman conditions and sham trials which could result in their life imprisonment. This is the real face of Aliyev's regime – a regime which oppresses its own citizens and disregards international obligations. While the European Union comes with a strategic partnership, the regime in Baku continues to threaten its neighbours and world efforts toward regional peace. In the current geopolitical environment, there is a strong need for the EU to defend its values, especially in its closest neighbourhood. Instead, we are again appeasing the oppressor and rewarding Aliyev's actions with enhanced trade. Have we not learned our lesson? It's time to stop dreaming about a strategic partnership, face reality and act in accordance with our values and principles. We have to take urgent action and address claims and these clear violations of basic human rights, and ensure that the hostages are immediately and unconditionally released. Leading judges and prosecutors who play a role in these unjust trials should face sanctions, and we have to make sure that any future cooperation with Azerbaijan is based on conditions of the release of all the political prisoners and demonstrated readiness of Baku to engage in a peace agreement which would respect the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, just in the recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has built an Orwellian state that has introduced mass surveillance, forced labour and placed over a million Uyghurs in a concentration camp. This is the reason why many Uyghurs escape the brutal regime while placing their trust in the hands of the international community. Thailand has completely failed these victims and violated international guarantees of their dignity and rights. They were kept in inhumane conditions before being sent back to China, where they face the risk of torture and imprisonment. Dear colleagues, this is yet another proof of why we have to rethink our relations with China, ensuring a value-based and consistent approach towards the Chinese Communist Party. Only such a principled foreign policy can protect human rights and our economic interests. Thailand and our partner countries have to decide where they want to stand.

Mr President, despite ongoing discussions on how to promote our economic security and resilience, we still do not have a clear vision of how to deal with our dependence on totalitarian regimes. Already in 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea, we agreed to diversify our energy sources. We saw this as a step to protect our economic and security interests. Unfortunately, Europe did the exact opposite of what was agreed. We have increased our dependence on Russian energy sources. Even today, three years after the start of the brutal aggression against Ukraine, which causes human suffering and death on a daily basis, we still see a similar scenario. We call for diversification, but only in the last year have we increased our imports of Russian LNG. Such double-facedness weakens us in times of greatest geopolitical challenges. If we can't achieve our goals, we need to acknowledge and address them. Don't stick your head in the sand, it's just a ball to the sweep of the extreme. Today we need a principled foreign policy. It is our strength, not our weakness.

Sorry, I think we are in the European Parliament and not in a biology class. I am talking about ideology interfering in the competences of the Member States – an ideology which believes that it is above the law. The international treaties, the EU treaties, set very clearly what is the competence of the Member States and what is not. And the only thing I am asking is that we look for solutions for the problems of the children – which I believe we definitely should – but such solutions must be in line with European law. I hope that you believe in the rule of law. I do believe in it and that's why I believe in such solutions.

First of all, regarding surrogacy, even this Parliament has recognised it partially as human trafficking, an inhuman and criminal act. Secondly, many Member States ban surrogacy. And my answer to your question is that I called on the Member States to look into the solutions of the individual children and problems of access to their passports or free movement or their ability to stay in a country. But we cannot breach and interfere in the competences of the Member States. The solutions are there, but this proposal by the Commission, which we have seen, brings the solution by breaching the competences of the Member States, and we cannot agree with that.

Mr President, unfortunately, the regulation on the recognition of parenthood has been very controversial from the outset. We have brought this to the attention of the European Parliament and it has been blocked by some Member States in the Council for this very reason. I have been asking for a long time: Do we want to find a real solution to the problems, or is it about who asserts their ideological superiority? Yes, it is a fact that in some countries, in some cases, problems arise, for example, with a passport or compulsory residence or residence permit and residence permit. However, gross interference in the agreed competences of the Member States is certainly not the solution. Family law has always been, and must continue to be, in the hands of the individual Member States. Moreover, we have so far received no response to our concerns that the Regulation will open the door to child trafficking in the practice of so-called surrogacy. Therefore, let's look for practical procedures on which we can agree. We do not solve the problems by pushing the ideology and encroaching on the exclusive competence of the Member States. Because the constant pushing of a text that is controversial from the outset will not lead to an agreement, but will lead to polarisation. And that is the last thing the European Union needs today, in today's difficult situation. The Union should focus on what it has been given and not solve the problems that we left to the exclusive competence of the Member States. (The speaker agreed to answer two blue card questions)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, for years I have been actively addressing the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and others persecuted for their beliefs in Nigeria, particularly Christians. While our work in this House already helped to return freedom to Rhoda Jatau and Mubarak Bala, it is imperative that we reiterate our support to Yahaya and advocate not only for his release, but also for the end of persecution of religious minorities. Nobody should be punished because of their faith, let alone be executed for it. The state of religious freedom around the world is rapidly deteriorating, and Christians, as well as many other groups, are facing oppression and persecution. What is happening in Nigeria and in many other countries is also our responsibility and I would here like to ask colleagues and the Commission to act. I therefore urge the Commission to reappoint the position of Special Envoy for religious freedom outside the EU, and equip it with sufficient resources and tools to protect religious freedom across the world.

Seven years ago we learned with horror about the brutal murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová. I never thought that such a thing could happen in a free and democratic country. It is extremely important not to forget this tragedy, which triggered other events in Slovakia and activated many citizens. Today we celebrate our seventh anniversary, which forces us to look again at media freedom and the protection of journalists in Slovakia, but also in Europe. Media freedom is one of the cornerstones of democracy. The media should be an instrument for the common search for truth and for the protection of freedom of speech. Truth circumscribes freedom and gives it a special purpose: to protect human dignity and rights. We must not allow any body of law to create an environment that creates a fertile ground for hatred, threats and interference with media freedom and threats to journalists. Let me add the words of the Holy Father Francis: ‘Freedom of journalists and the media strengthens the freedom of all of us.’ In 1988, at a candlelight demonstration, in 1989, during the Velvet Revolution, we stood in squares in Slovakia for these values. We appreciate the message of courage of many in Slovakia, but also in the former Central and Eastern Europe, because freedom is not given and deserves our protection and support every day.

Madam President, freedom of religion and belief is a cornerstone of human dignity and a fundamental right that must be upheld universally. Since 2017, the government of Algeria has systematically persecuted Christian and Ahmadiyya Muslim minorities. Hundreds of individuals were arrested for their religious beliefs and activities. Many places of worship have been forcibly closed. To illustrate the severity of these activities, in the past seven years, the Algerian Gendarmerie has forcibly shuttered over 50 churches of the Protestant Church Association. This troubling reality is not an isolated case but a part of a broader, alarming trend of an increase in attacks against religious groups and non‑believers. That is why it is requested, and strongly requested, to proactively and robustly respond, in line with the Article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Protecting these rights is not just a responsibility, but is a moral imperative.