Speeches

Madam President, dear colleagues, Palina Panasiuk is a mother of two children. She has been severely beaten, refused medical help, put regularly into a punishment cell. Her family are denied contact with her. She is among the 1 500 political prisoners. The list of political prisoners grows. Places of worship are either shut or destroyed, democratic opposition parties banned, thousands of the brightest minds forced to leave: such is the scale of the Lukashenko regime’s oppression. That’s why we need to make sure that the recommendations of this report translate into concrete actions. In particular, we need ambitious and predictable support for the Belarusian democratic opposition and for those who fled the oppression. Furthermore, we must do our utmost to help political prisoners and their families by continuing to raise our voices, but also by being more creative in our assistance. Finally, Lukashenko and his regime must be held accountable for their oppression of the Belarusian people, relinquishing Belarus sovereignty and supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine. Thank you. Zhivye Belarus.

Madam President, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the negative effects that unilateral action by Member States can have on free movement. This has affected not only the movement of goods and services, but especially the movement of workers. As shadow rapporteur for the Employment Committee, I have primarily advocated for the protection of such workers. Many of us travel for work, some cross borders even daily. And it is for them that we need to have solutions ready for future crises. What I regret, however, is that the final text of the European Parliament did not include calls for a solution to the so-called home offici from abroad, which we advocated in the committee. Many people can work from home. However, since their employer is in one state and their family lives in another European state, they have the right to home office does not allow. Let us also look for solutions for these people, so that it no longer happens that during the crisis such workers will be separated from their families for months. This may not be the case with a little bit of political will.

Mr President, colleagues, the state of freedom of religion and belief in a society is an important litmus test of the state of other fundamental freedoms. Therefore, while Indian officials often like to boast that the country is the world’s largest democracy, intolerance and violence against religious minorities paint a different picture. In the state of Manipur at least 100 people are dead, tens of thousands displaced, hundreds of houses belonging to Christians destroyed, along with 250 churches, theological institutions, schools and hospitals, as well as several temples. These attacks against Christians are not isolated incidents. They are organised, leaving behind destruction and shattered lives. The EU cannot close its eyes to these crimes. That is why I call on our Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and the EEAS to communicate clearly to the Indian authorities the need to stop this violence and to provide necessary support to the victims immediately.

Madam President, dear colleagues, across the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, official Palestinian Authority textbooks teach hatred and violence, and demonise both Israel and the Jewish people. A peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is both a moral and strategic imperative. However, this can only be achieved through educating societies and above all, young generations to live in peace and with cultural tolerance towards one another. The recent spiral of violence only re—emphasises the importance of this. This is why the EU, as the biggest donor to the Palestinian Authority and to UNRWA, must ensure that our taxpayers’ money is not misused and perpetuating the conflict. We need to strengthen oversight, transparency and accountability of how our taxpayers’ money is spent, and that supported programmes are implemented in accordance with our values.

Madam President, I have carefully read the report for Slovakia, which also contained constructive recommendations. Many times, however, it seems that some countries in particular are heavily criticised, while in others obvious rule of law problems are solved with one sentence. I would like to point out that, for example, the recommendations for Belgium last year referred to the case of a Slovak citizen, Jozef Chovanec, who died after police intervention at Charleroi airport, with an ongoing investigation. This year, the report stated even more succinctly that the Commission would carry out further evaluations of the investigation. Five years after the case happened, and it's still not finished. How is it possible that the unacceptable behaviour of police officers and the contradictory actions of the courts deserve only one sentence in the report for Belgium? I believe that more efforts are needed on the part of the EU to ensure a fair investigation of this case, not only with regard to the family of Jozef Chovanec, but also with regard to citizens' trust in the protection of the fundamental values of the European Union.

Madam President, dear colleagues, Jimmy Lai faces a life in prison based on trumped up charges. His case is a strong example of how Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities are using the so-called national security law to undermine the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms in the city. What are they afraid of ? The answer is simple. They are afraid of freedom loving people like Jimmy Lai because they are the biggest threat to the lies and oppression of the CCP. The European Union must stand with Jimmy Lai and it must stand with Hong Kong. After all, the deterioration of the freedoms and rule of law in Hong Kong also implies us as the growing evidence of sanction evasion through the city continues to show. That’s why our response must be principled and clear. We must strengthen the EU office to intensify trial observation. The EU must finally impose targeted sanctions against John Lee and all other Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for the ongoing human rights crackdown in the city. And finally, it is time for the EU to review Hong Kong’s international status, seen since the loss of its autonomy is in a clear breach of international law. It is only as a result of the autonomy laws that the growing repression and deterioration of the rule of law takes place.

Madam President, a child is not a commodity, I think we all agree on this. The dignity of every person must be protected. This is also a widely accepted and supported fact. Why then do we have the problem of condemning something that makes children a commodity and exploits women's poverty, especially those from developing countries, and makes them a subject of commercial relations? Surogatory or so-called surrogacy violates the internationally recognised rights of women and children and interferes with their dignity, immediately and several times. It ignores the natural relationship between mother and child. It exposes women and children to the mercy of the ordering parties, because there are no rules for cases where a child, for example, due to being born with a disability, is rejected. And even though this Parliament has repeatedly condemned the practice of surrogate motherhood, we cannot openly say that it is a phenomenon that always brings negative consequences for someone. Women, most often due to their vulnerable situation, gave legally very questionable consent to the agreement. Children who were put in storage during the pandemic or their future is absolutely questionable because their customers did not want or could not pick them up. Ultimately, this also applies to all of us, because we are abandoning the fundamental values on which our free democratic society is built and we are not protecting the most vulnerable.

I would like to echo many colleagues who said that very little has been done in order to help to settle this conflict. And not enough has been done in order to provide security and human humanitarian aid to the 120 000 people and 30 000 children in Nagorno-Karabakh. We have been for too long closing our eyes to the human rights breaches in Azerbaijan and done by the Azeri regime. As Ms Loiseau already mentioned, we have leverage because Azerbaijan is our partner. This is pursued by bilateral agreements. This is pursued by the energy partnership. We have increased the import of energy and this gives us a stronger position to leverage and exert pressure on Azerbaijan in order to improve the humanitarian situation, in order to improve human rights. We have been many times saying that economic cooperation is a way to change and improve human rights in third countries. We have to use this leverage.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Viktar Babaryka is one of the nearly 1 500 political prisoners in Belarus whose only crime is the desire for a sovereign, democratic and prosperous Belarus. Brave men and women, their families, all suffering under the terror of Lukashenko’s regime. This is why the EU must do all in its power to put pressure on the regime, including the strengthening of our sanctions. Not only Lukashenko and his closest allies, but also his henchmen in the judiciary and in the security forces, must face consequences for their role in the terror and persecution. Viktar Babaryka, Mikola Statkevich, Pavel Seviarynets and all the political prisoners need our continued attention. The EU must not waver in its support for the people of Belarus. Zhyve Belarus!

Mr President, online bullying is a problem that is taking on huge proportions. According to the latest surveys, almost a quarter of children between the ages of 9 and 17 have experienced online bullying. At the same time, one-third of those victims have not yet spoken to anyone about it. The most vulnerable population group, children, is alarmingly often confronted with this phenomenon, which harms their psychological health, well-being and can have far-reaching consequences. It is therefore our duty to intervene. Let's focus on raising awareness among children, parents and teachers. Let's help them communicate and respond appropriately to the situation. At the same time, Member States should be encouraged as far as possible to have sufficient resources and an effective legal framework to combat online bullying. It's about our children's mental health.

Madam President, the order of consumers at the moment is clear. They want to have enough verified information to make a responsible decision. However, the line between sufficient information and literally flooding with various claims, from which it is difficult to choose, has so far been unclear. I therefore welcome the proposed amendments to the Unfair Commercial Practices and Consumer Rights Directives, as they clearly define what claims can be used by traders and which are already misleading or misleading. At the same time, I appreciate the proposal to include activities aimed at premature obsolescence of goods among unfair commercial practices. I've been pointing out this necessity for a long time. The installation of such so-called cassettes is not only unfavourable to consumers' finances, but also to the environment.

Madam President, today, on the occasion of the launch of the European Year of Skills, I would like to call for the opportunities that this year will bring to really reach everyone. It is crucial that skills opportunities are also available to vulnerable groups, people from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. At the same time, I would like to point out that it is important that skills are not just those that are geared towards employment and economic growth and benefit. Attention must also be paid to so-called soft or transversal skills, which are equally important for our personal and professional lives and include, for example, critical thinking, creativity, language skills or digital or media literacy. Last but not least, we need to think about the follow-up after we have acquired the skills. This includes their official recognition. In this context, I would like to highlight in particular the need to recognise skills acquired in an informal way, in particular through volunteering, which is an invaluable experience not only for young people but also for older age groups.

Madam President, let me start by thanking Vladimír Bilčík and the shadow rapporteurs for the very balanced and comprehensive text. In particular, I would like to highlight the strong emphasis on countering the malign influence and hybrid threats from non—democratic regimes, particularly including the Chinese Communist Party. The negative impact of Chinese influence is increasingly felt in different sectors. Chinese—made surveillance equipment undermines national security and people’s freedom. Chinese corrosive capital continues to cause environmental damages, undermines good governance, and even the EU acquis passed down through the enlargement process. The growing influence of these regimes continues to negatively impact the future development of Serbia and its neighbours. It is absolutely crucial for the European Union to combine a sustainable alternative to Chinese investment with the necessary political commitment to Serbia’s – and the region’s – democracy and EU membership.

Madam President, dear colleagues, I am extremely saddened and abhorred by the sentencing of Vladimir Kara—Murza, whom I know as a brave and principled man. His crimes? Exposing the Kremlin’s kleptocracy, speaking out against a cruel war and fighting for a free Russia. It is no coincidence that the same regime that wages aggression against its neighbours and steals from its people also jails those who speak out against these crimes. That’s why we must continue to speak out for Vladimir and other political prisoners and hold those responsible to account. One day Vladimir will be free, Russia will be free. In Vladimir’s own words ‘I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will evaporate. When black will be called black and white will be called white.’ Thank you, Vladimir, for bringing light to darkness. We stand by you.

Mr President, dear colleagues, nearly 20 000 children have been forcefully deported from Ukraine to Russia, and hundreds killed, wounded as a result of Russia’s war aggression. These forced deportations and crimes against humanity committed by the aggressor smack of the worst Stalinist excesses. I welcome the recent initiative of the Commission and the Polish Government to ensure the return of these children. We must do all in our power for these children to be returned to their loved ones; that these crimes are thoroughly documented, investigated, and then Putin, Russia’s so-called Human Rights commissioner, and all responsible are one day brought to justice. It is our moral duty.

Madam President, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need for faster digitalisation of public services. Digitalisation, when implemented effectively, can significantly reduce bureaucratic barriers for citizens and businesses, speed up many actions or reduce costs. I welcome the principle of only growing, which means that citizens do not have to report facts or document documents to the authorities more than once. Accessibility of these services for persons with disabilities is also a matter of course. However, in order for the digitalisation of public services to be successful, we must not forget the key precondition for its functioning: Fast and stable internet connection. This must be accessible to all, including people living in rural or sparsely populated areas, such as vulnerable households. Last but not least, we need to prepare citizens for digitalisation and raise their awareness and digital skills. Only then will we be able to realise the full potential of this process.

Madam President, the European Union and the Council of Europe have long-standing and constructive relations towards the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. This strategic partnership needs to be further strengthened and deliver real results on issues within our competence. At the same time, however, it is important that we do not undermine our cooperation by making constant efforts to promote certain topics that are controversial and on which there is no consensus among the Member States. I therefore do not agree with the calls for a swift accession of the European Union to the Istanbul Convention, despite the fact that some Member States strongly disagree with such a procedure. I consider the search for unequivocal agreement on such fundamental issues to be crucial for our mutual cooperation, but also for strengthening citizens' trust in the institutions. Let us focus our collective strength on those areas where we can contribute to the protection of human rights and democracy in common.

Madam President, the Fit for 55 package is a comprehensive piece of legislation that provides a systematic solution to protect the environment. On the other hand, it will inevitably lead to price increases, affecting vulnerable households and small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. I therefore welcome the fact that, as part of this package, we are also setting up a Social Climate Fund, which aims to alleviate energy and transport poverty. I believe that the measures that will be financed by this fund, such as temporary direct income support for vulnerable users or investment in buildings, will have great potential to mitigate the negative impacts of policies on achieving climate objectives. At the same time, it is crucial that Member States implement the Fund responsibly and that their national projects are based on the principles of transparency, efficiency and the lowest possible administrative barriers.

Mr President, Commissioner, one of the objectives of 2022 as the European Year of Youth was to highlight the role of young people for the future of the European Union and to help them overcome the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, many young people became socially isolated, lost educational or career opportunities. A lot of people are worried about the future. All this, amplified by the significantly longer time spent on social networks, caused a deterioration in their mental health. Even today, surveys show that we are experiencing a mental health crisis among young people, too many of whom suffer from depressive feelings or anxiety. I would therefore like to ask you how the Commission intends to continue the legacy of the European Year of Youth in promoting and protecting the mental health of young people. Is the Commission planning further steps to protect young people from the negative impact of social networks?

Mr President, dear colleagues, the economic coercion by the totalitarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party experienced by Lithuania last year has highlighted some hard lessons. First, growing assertiveness and aggression of non-democratic regimes through economic, political and other means. Second, the lack of ability of the EU to jointly defend one of our Member States and the core principles of the single market. That’s why I welcome this week’s political decision on the new anti-coercion instrument. The instrument addresses an important gap in our capabilities to defend our Single Market against economic coercion. It strikes a crucial balance between avoiding slide into protectionism while defending our interests and security in the face of the CCP’s malign influence and attempts to undermine our democracies.

Madam President, competitiveness is crucial for our security as well as for the livelihoods of our citizens. I am therefore concerned about the lack of concrete steps in the Council conclusions. In addition, yesterday's decision to ban internal combustion engines in this context also seems to me to be a goal in my own goal. Of course, environmental protection measures are the right way to go. However, they must not be accepted blindly. They must take into account the broader context, including geopolitical developments and the overall economic situation. Let's take the example of Slovakia and its secondary dependence on China through the automotive industry. We need to work with our industry to protect the environment while strengthening competitiveness. However, decisions like yesterday that help Chinese companies dominate the market threaten the very existence of our industry and economic security.

Mr President, the cases mentioned from Croatia warn us that the practice of cross-border adoptions may not always be carried out in good faith. Instead of finding a home, a child without a family can become a victim of exploiting their vulnerability or of crimes, including trafficking in human beings. However, I would like to draw your attention to another problematic aspect. Cross-border adoptions can also serve to conceal the practice of so-called surrogacy. This practice, which is contrary to human rights, de facto allows children to be ordered and acquired as goods. In addition to violating children's rights, it also undermines the rights of women, who often come from poor countries or disadvantaged backgrounds. The abuse of their situation monitors motherhood. These are all threats that must be taken into account and certainly not underestimated when it comes to cross-border adoptions.

Madam President, I strongly condemn any violence. It is our duty to seek effective solutions to violence against women, to train, for example, the police and those who are the first contact for such women, and to properly implement our legislation, which, according to experts, is good in Slovakia, but not correctly and consistently implemented. However, the ‘Istanbul Convention’ and the entire debate around it do not help at all with the objective of eliminating violence against women and domestic violence. There is no support for the Convention among Member States, and instead of talking about rapid assistance for victims, we are dealing with how to force Member States to swiftly adopt the Convention. However, it should be remembered that the reason why the Slovak Republic has not ratified this document is the ideologization of the whole issue and gross interference in the moral and cultural-ethical spheres and legislation. I totally disagree with this practice, which literally mocks those who face violence on a daily basis.

Madam President, I welcome today’s support for the resolution concerning the health of Georgia's ex-president, Mikheil Saakashvili. Once again, the message of this House to the Georgian authorities is clear: allow Mikheil Saakashvili to undergo medical treatment abroad without delay, in accordance with Article 283 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia. Also, let me thank colleagues for supporting our calls to sanction Bidzina Ivanishvili for his role in the deterioration of this political process in Georgia. The oligarch bears primary responsibility for the situation, and the EU should act accordingly.

Madam President, just as the autocrats in the Kremlin continue to wage their war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, they also continue in the persecution and oppression of the opposition, human rights defenders, and pro-democratic forces in Russia. Alexey Navalny, the brave Vladimir Kara-Murza and other political prisoners continue to face draconian conditions. I welcome that this house continues to be unwavering in its united stance in support of all political prisoners in Russia. However, it is also crucial to support those Russian human rights defenders and pro-democratic forces seeking shelter in our countries. This is why I find bewildering the recent decision by the Georgian authorities to deny re-entry to Anna Rivina, the founder and director of Nasiliu.Net, an organisation providing services and shelter to victims of domestic violence. We must continue to support those who, like us, want to breathe freedom and want Russia free of oppression.