Speeches

Mr President, dear colleagues, we are debating migration for 10 years now and we need to finally address the root causes. To manage migration effectively, we have to look at the wider geopolitical situation in the relevant regions. For example, the United Arab Emirates stands as a vital responsible actor, stabilising a key region for migration flows. Partnering with them on security, dismantling smuggling networks and fostering stability serves our European interests. Europe should be supporting parties working towards peace and stability. Focus must be on protecting the entire region, international trade routes and stopping more migration waves. Effective migration policy requires cooperation with third parties with a track record on promoting security and robust regional alliances. Partnership with countries such as the Emirates and other regional players working towards peace and stability should be explored.

I support the European Commission's proposal that large corporations with a turnover above EUR 100 million should pay a one-off contribution of EUR 100 000 to the common budget of the European Union. I am disappointed with the attitude of Germany and the Netherlands, because 100,000 is no threat to corporations. We are talking about companies that are already optimizing their taxes to the last cent. This is morally twisted logic and grotesque hypocrisy. And the same leaders have no problem taxing their own citizens twice through the ETS emissions permit system, through taxes on fuel, on heating, on housing. We tax labor, energy consumption. But when it comes to capital, suddenly our moralizing leaders protest vehemently. This is not a coincidence, it is a systemic protection of corporations against even symbolic redistribution of wealth. If we withdraw this symbolic corporate tax, but ETS 1 and 2 remain on the table, the European Union can also say goodbye to the last bit of credibility in the eyes of its citizens. Because the time when 'yes' to citizens and 'no' to corporations was long over, and I hope you all can finally see that.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, you know, at a time when we are going to import fossil fuels from the United States of America, we will be dependent on the United States of America for 70% of their imports. If we still use the argument that we are going to protect the environment by not taking measures that change our original goals, then this whole debate is about nothing. In fact, in '23, the European Union accounted for only about six percent of total global CO2 emissions.2. If we stopped all emissions from cars tomorrow, that share would fall to just 4.8 percent. Once again, we are going to import 70% of fossil fuels from the United States of America. In contrast, this industry is the engine of the European economy. It employs the automotive industry itself, but also the industries serving millions of people, and the lives of millions of European citizens depend on our automotive industry remaining healthy and competitive.

Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to thank you for your intervention and I am very pleased that you have stressed to our Slovak opposition that the dialogue between the European Commission and the Government of the Slovak Republic is going very well, that the Government of the Slovak Republic is not making any complications at all and that we are looking for solutions to the problems that are still open. I would also like to stress, and this has also been said on missions, and I am sorry that this has not been said here by the rapporteurs from these missions, that the Government of the Slovak Republic has announced in advance that, since neither the Slovak nor the European mechanisms have registered any irregularities, we have OLAF here and we have the European Public Prosecutor's Office that will register such irregularities. The government is ready to cooperate. Mr. Freund and I have been discussing Robert Fico here for many years, and we all know that he is not Robert Fico's friend. I respect that. As for, and now I borrow Mr Weber's expression, "crazy“ Mr Zdechovsky, perhaps there is no need to comment. But I will now speak this to my colleagues from Progressive Slovakia. I do not know, colleagues, where you take in yourself that unjustifiable and unbridled pride with which you are still attacking the Government of the Slovak Republic. But I want to advise you. You represent the Slovak Republic here and you have to stand for the interests of the Slovak Republic. Don't think they'll all like you better when you're here to swear at Slovakia just because you don't have any other agenda to offer.

Madam President, colleagues, as in the case of real-world sexual offences, also in the digital space, law enforcement authorities need adequate tools to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Today, the Internet is also a tool for predators who manipulate and abuse children. We can't hesitate anymore. We have had years of discussion on this subject. The risks are proven. Hundreds of thousands of reports of child abuse per year within the European Union and an increasing incidence of online abuse. We need legal, targeted and technically consistent measures to prevent this brutality on our children, with clear priority, by protecting them. It's not about controlling the internet. It's about checking on those who are searching for the most vulnerable victims. Our children deserve active protection, not just passive regret and counseling. I expect both the Council and the Commission to share the priority of protecting our children. And I call for a swift conclusion of the work on the directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children.

Madam President, I understand the reasons why Europe's military capabilities need to be restored, and especially after the political decision to make all key military equipment available to Ukraine. However, recent Eurobarometer data show a worrying reality. More than one third of our citizens expect the quality of life to deteriorate as a result of the growing cost-of-living crisis. How long can we afford this to continue, now that the proposal is coming that we need almost 800 billion to put in defence? Member States are currently consolidating their budgets and there is often fierce criticism from opposition parties, as we see in Slovakia, despite the fact that consolidation is necessary. It is therefore extremely worrying, and even dangerous, to risk a financial crisis to the detriment of ordinary Europeans simply in order to benefit military companies and aggravate the military dilemma caused by the sudden increase in military capabilities. I have always opposed global militarization. The EU must remain true to its foundations and to its fundamental identity, diplomatic strength and peace.

Madam President, colleagues, Commissioner, the European Union's current migration policy has long been ineffective. And what we are talking about now or what you are proposing now, such proposals we already had here in 2015, later in 2018. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this time. Although Member States issue return decisions on a regular basis, only around 25% of migrants actually return, and even some of them will be returned to us. Let us also stress that the EU solidarity mechanism on migration has been rejected by several countries and that, moreover, the mechanism is clearly unfair because it does not take into account the enormous burden on countries such as Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Poland, which have already received millions of refugees from Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has been raising these issues for ten years and has repeatedly called for a fundamental reform of the European return policy. That is why we welcome the European Commission's change of approach and we are keeping your fingers crossed to make it happen.

Commissioner, I am glad to have heard the greater part of the debate, because I see that your biggest critics are those who have given their support to the European Commission. It is so interesting that, despite your support for the European Commission, you are now the biggest critic of this proposal. I did not vote for the European Commission. I have also said for what reasons, and yet I think that this proposal that you have tabled is all right. This is a general proposal. We are in February and it will now be shown how you, in cooperation with the European Parliament, can deliver on this proposal. Some people say there's not much there. Others say there's too much. In my opinion, this proposal is also general because, in the current geopolitical situation, it is very difficult to say exactly what we want to do with some of the measures. So let's be a little patient together and find a way out of this together. And it's not that you're fighting your inner battles here. You can see that it is before elections in different countries. I think it'll be your card. How can you live up to what you have put forward? I like it and I hope we can do it together.

Mr President, Commissioner, do you know why European voters are inclined towards radical parties? Because they feel that we have betrayed them and betrayed them in favor of the illusion that we are on a par with the United States. win win, which has not been the case for ten years. But we in Europe are responsible for our decline. European passivity, servility. And in the last eight months, zero activity by the newly elected European Commission. Rejecting the reality that Europe has entered (incomprehensible part) regulatory and legislative measures, often very nonsensical. The European Union must respond pragmatically and resolutely. And it is precisely the decisive actions of leaders, such as the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, that Europe needs today. Sovereign and pragmatic solutions, not blind obedience to the values that our American partners ultimately abuse against us. And now Trump's victory turned out to be naked. So I congratulate America, I congratulate Trump, and especially for opening our eyes in Europe. Have a nice day.

Madam President, children are one of the most important parts of our society and face many challenges that require our immediate attention. Let me dedicate my speech to our European children. The pandemic deeply affected their mental health, isolation and fear brought anxiety and depression. But we cannot make endless excuses for the pandemic and what came after the pandemic. We have to make some decisions at last. We need to improve access to healthcare, education, nutrition, but also home and social well-being. Addressing chronic health problems and ensuring better nutrition are essential for their health development. That is why I also welcome the fact that soon, I believe and therefore hope that there will be a separate health committee to deal with these very areas. Let me also mention one very specific topic, namely the increase in children with autism spectrum diseases, which are not yet at all in the viewfinder of our institutions and which we need to address very carefully, because many parents do not have sufficient resources to provide these children with the necessary care and also medical care. Last but not least, we need doctors. We need child psychologists, child psychiatrists (The Chair interrupted the speaker) We can't help these kids without them.

Madam President, thank you very much, Madam President and Commissioner. I see colleagues from Fidesz here. They certainly remember when, in 2015 or 2016, at an extraordinary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, we were forced to take a decision on the mandatory redistribution of migrants. We're talking about nine years ago. For nine years, this has not worked and yet it has been brought back into the migration pact. When we know that this is not working, the protection of our external border is not working, Schengen is no longer working, our return policy is not working, nothing is working: I do not understand your optimism, Commissioner, when you spoke here and said that we are only missing the last piece, to settle the return policy. Return policy costs the European Union and its Member States a huge amount of money. And to our fellow progressives and socialists: We are not against legal migration, but we are talking about illegal migration here. We are talking about how Member States should deal with this without the support of the European Commission.

Mr President, we set up Frontex in 2004 to secure and protect the external borders, and now it needs our political support, perhaps more than ever, because it was on Monday that we talked here about protecting and safeguarding the Schengen area. What is more relevant to the protection and safeguarding of the Schengen area than the protection of the external border? That is why we support, and our whole delegation will support, the strengthening of Frontex, as we consider it to be a key tool for this protection and for the Schengen area to finally function. And one more note for the pathetic deputies. People who talk about human rights. No one wants drowning women or children. But you should have thought about human rights when you made the decision to make it mandatory to redistribute migrants to countries where they do not want to go. So please do not talk about human rights with regard to Frontex and with regard to migration.

Madam President, I will not repeat everything that has already been said here today. I am on the side of Israel and I support its fight against Islamic terrorism. And if we want to talk about why all this is, yes, Israel is waging a war against Islamic terrorism for us. That's a term that shouldn't have been used here for a long time. In the plenary of the European Parliament. Today, Israel is fighting for us. Josep Borrell and I started together in 2004. You were, Josep, President of the European Parliament, I was a Member. How many times have we fought here over whether Hezbollah and Hamas will be a terrorist organization? In those 20 years, x times. And today it all came back to us. I am also in favour of defending Palestinian women and children. But we can protect them when we fight Islamic terrorism and when we destroy Islamic terrorism.

Madam President, organised crime is today one of the biggest threats to the internal security of the European Union. This is not just about drug trafficking, human trafficking or money laundering. This is a threat that directly affects the lives of our citizens. The most dangerous form of organised crime is terrorism, which threatens the foundations of our society. Just think of the brutal terrorist attacks in Paris or Brussels, where innocent people, including children, lost their lives. Criminals know no borders, they use the European Union's open market to smuggle arms and finance terrorist operations. Children and young people are among the most vulnerable. They are often trafficked or exploited for radicalisation and violence. This new generation is being manipulated and forced to become an instrument of crime. The European Union needs to act more actively. More than ever, we need to strengthen international cooperation, support Europol and share intelligence to dismantle criminal networks. We must protect the most vulnerable, our children, and ensure security for all citizens of the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, I am very pleased that you have spoken about the protection of financial interests and the need for protection. It is only a pity that the Commission is not protecting financial interests from Ursula von der Leyen, you do not want to discuss this, but I respect that. That is what you decided six weeks before the European elections. I am glad that you mentioned that you are communicating with the Government of the Slovak Republic and I would also like you to understand more that our Government is interested in resolving all the questions you have asked it. But I'm glad you mentioned that. To my colleague Kohut, I don't know if he's still here. My colleague, I would like to inform you that my government is meeting today with the Ukrainian government in Slovakia. We will talk together about economic aid and any assistance we can provide to the Ukrainian government. That's my government. We are not a government of war, we are a government of peace. We have it different. You support the war, we call for peace. But it is not a disgrace, it is precisely to the honour of the Slovak Republic, the small state and the neighbour of Ukraine that we call for peace. And now for a very short time, my friends. This parliamentary term is ending. I understand that some of you here needed to somehow reflect on the frustrations of the lost elections. But believe me one thing. Slovakia is a small but proud country. And if you come here to Slovakia at every possible opportunity to swear and criticize it, it only spoils the image of Slovakia in the European Union. We're supposed to work together here, not hanging out with each other.

Mr President, a socially oriented economy and an economy brings a number of positive aspects, with an emphasis on the good and quality life of the individual, family, society, but also communities. The European economy must be competitive, but at the same time, as a social democrat, I call on the European Commission, but also on national governments, to strengthen social security and the associated objectives. Let us reject the pursuit of profit as the highest value in our economy. The highest value is coexistence in peace and security and the fulfillment of all basic needs. Social enterprises must reinvest profits in social projects, creating a positive life-enhancing cycle. I would also like to emphasise that the European Commission and the Member States must stimulate services and support to help our middle and older generations, who no longer have the necessary flexibility to integrate into new trends towards the end of their careers, such as digitalisation and the associated impact of artificial intelligence on labour markets.

Mr President, transparency is the basic principle governing the use of European funds. This also applies to NGOs. The analyses carried out showed many shortcomings in the allocation of funds to non-profit organisations. We therefore need to set up strict regulation and effective control mechanisms to prevent fraud in the future. We must apply the same rules at both European and national level to control the funding of NGOs by third countries. Abuse of NGOs has an economic, commercial and social impact. Especially if they represent the interests of third countries on the territory of the Member States of the European Union. Substantial measures must be taken at European level. But I also call on the Member States to adapt their legislation at national level. Ladies and gentlemen, this topic is extremely important, and I will be very curious to see how the Commission will come up with a proposal for measures that will actually help to control the funding but also the use of the resources that NGOs have.

Commissioner, you have ignored breaches of the rule of law in Slovakia for three and a half years. You ignored 30 decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic. You ignored five decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. You and I are well aware that the dismantling of the Special Prosecutor's Office is not contrary to the rule of law. Because it was not even a condition of our membership of the European Union. And you are well aware that the other things you mentioned in your report are also at odds with respect for the rule of law. So don't mislead and politicize. And now listen to me, you panoptico of Slovak politicians. You walked in here with absolutely meaningless accusations, which you are ashamed of in front of Slovak journalists, to whom you said it was the Commission that wanted this debate. You are not even responsible for pushing the EPP and Renew to open this debate. And to you, Mrs. in 't Veld. If you don't mind that the investigator, the woman, Santus, those you're defending here wanted to dig up, I don't know where, put a bomb in her car, and call it signs I won't even say in this plenary, then don't talk about protecting rights. All Slovak parliamentarians who speak out against Slovakia should be ashamed of themselves. (The speaker rejected the question raised by Martin Hojsík by raising the blue card)

Mr President, because of high inflation and the corresponding costs of meeting the basic necessities of life, families are left with less and less disposable income. Mortgage payments have reached unsustainable levels, and a large number of families are in an existential struggle when they are unable to pay high interest rates without resorting to their savings or lowering their quality of life. Despite one crisis after another, banks have historically made huge profits at the expense of the citizens of the European Union. I therefore welcome the proposal to tax banks' above-average profits, which the Government of the Slovak Republic has adopted and has also gone in the direction of reimbursing part of the cost of mortgage loans. Just for your information, colleagues, here in Slovakia a citizen, a young family, needs to earn for an apartment of 75 square meters for almost 24 years. You can imagine what it must be like for young families to start their lives with such a huge deficit. I would therefore ask the Commission to look in general terms for ways to deal with this disastrous situation, but also in relation to banks.

Commissioner, I consider unrestricted access to affordable medicines for our citizens to be a priority for the end of this legislative term. It's a pity that we've only been doing this in the last few months. Access to medicines is an existential issue for the citizens of the Member States of the European Union and, as rapporteur for the revision of the general rules on medicines, I want to do everything possible to put in place, once and for all, long-term solutions to prevent shortages of medicines. Unfortunately, Slovakia has long been on the tail of the European Union in the length of the introduction of innovative medicines on the Slovak market. Slovak citizens have to wait an average of 2 years for an already approved medicine that is safe and effective. The European Union can and must do more, in cooperation with national institutions, to ensure that Member States such as Slovakia have access to innovative medicines for children, cancer patients or patients with rare diseases, including generic medicines. I also call on the pharmaceutical industry and the Union institutions and national authorities to intervene in the uncontrolled re-export of medicines. Because inaction leads to price increases, but mainly to the spread of shortages, whether in the Member States of the European Union, others, or also in Slovakia. I say that as a mom. We lack medicines for children, so we have to do something about it. Medications should not be for business. They are meant to serve the people of the European Union.

Mr President, for many years it has been true that the middle class has a position in the European Union as a very vital part of society. But all this has changed. It has changed rapidly and is influenced by a number of factors. The most famous are high inflation, which directly pushes prices, which pushes people to not have the ability to pay mortgages, to pay leases, and these are all factors that are actually gradually eliminating our vital middle class. A special part of the middle class, if you allow, or a special position in the middle class are women. I will talk not only about women in my country, Slovakia, but generally about women in the Member States of the European Union, because women are a very strong pillar of our society. Women are even more affected because they often work in professions such as teachers, nurses or clerks. And it is these professions that are very fundamentally affected by the lack of finances, they are underfunded, and therefore these women, despite waiting for them at home, as they say, additional work, caring for the family and for children, do not have opportunities for better development. So I would ask the Commission, when laying down the rules for the middle class, to think in this sense, in particular, of women, who are a very important part.

Madam President, water is the most important thing we have. We all need it. The land needs it, the animals need it, the birds need it, we humans need it. According to available research, although it has rained in recent weeks, groundwater levels across the continent have remained low since at least 2018. Everywhere is the drought in which we find ourselves, and this drought may be the strongest in recorded history. Countries in the south of the European Union are the most affected, but also parts of my country, Slovakia, especially during last year, have been severely affected by water scarcity. We need to think about our citizens and our agriculture. I appeal to the representatives of the European Commission to find funding and investment in civilian water infrastructure, such as wells and water reservoirs in the most affected areas. The Commission and the European Council should also propose concrete actions and solutions, including of a preventive nature, and start preparing the European Union for the worst-case scenarios in water management without delay. Because we only win when we're well prepared. From this place, I would like to appeal, but also to the current Slovak official government, to significantly strengthen the chapter in the recovery plan towards the sustainable management of water resources.

Mr President, the ambitious goal of lifting at least 5 million children in the European Union out of poverty or social exclusion is a good start to the European Child Guarantee. But the work on this tool does not end. Unless basic living conditions are guaranteed for all children in the European Union, we cannot talk about success. Social exclusion is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. Its key factors are insufficient resources and poverty, but also unequal access to services due to various forms of disadvantage. The proposal for a European Child Guarantee is particularly important in the context of the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and also of the economic crisis under which we still live today. The solutions gradually and late presented by Member States need to be integrated into a broader policy framework to address the multidimensional nature of social exclusion. Today, it is clear that this problem has long been underestimated, as only one single Member State has submitted a national action plan for the Child Guarantee by the agreed transfer deadline of 15 March 2022. We need more commitment from Member State governments and, above all, the release of adequate funding to achieve a multidimensional systemic solution for the future of our children.

Madam President, I know that we all want to vote quickly, but I am sorry. I want to defend myself very strongly against the recent speech by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. And I would like to ask my colleagues from Fidesz, whom I respect, to tell their Prime Minister that Slovakia, Romania and other countries are sovereign states. On the occasion of today's anniversary, I would like to ask that Hungary respects the territorial integrity of Romania and Slovakia.