Debate contributions by Aurelijus VERYGA

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Lithuania is facing continuous hybrid attacks originating from Belarus. This is continuous aggression from Lukashenkas's regime, definitely orchestrated by Russia. Belarus has served as a platform for Russia's attack on Ukraine. We all remember the incident in which a civilian plane was forced to land in order to carry out arrests. This was followed by instrumentalisation of migration. Now we are witnessing a new phase. In 2025, Lithuania has experienced a dramatic rise in smuggling balloons entering its airspace – a coordinated activity orchestrated by the Belarusian regime. Only this year, Lithuanian authorities have detected more than 600 smuggling balloons and 256 unauthorised drones in the airspace. Balloons are extremely cheap tool that has a serious impact not only on national security, but also on the everyday lives of ordinary citizens and businesses. In this context, the actions and signals coming from the European Parliament are especially important. They demonstrate unity, reinforce momentum for restrictive measures and affirm that the EU will defend its citizens, its companies and its borders against hybrid threats. By speaking with a single voice, the EU must send a clear message to Minsk. Escalation will deepen Belarus isolation and raise the cost of every hostile act.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, Lithuania is facing continuous hybrid attacks originating from Belarus. This is continuous aggression from Lukashenkas's regime, definitely orchestrated by Russia. Belarus has served as a platform for Russia's attack on Ukraine. We all remember the incident in which a civilian plane was forced to land in order to carry out arrests. This was followed by instrumentalisation of migration. Now we are witnessing a new phase. In 2025, Lithuania has experienced a dramatic rise in smuggling balloons entering its airspace – a coordinated activity orchestrated by the Belarusian regime. Only this year, Lithuanian authorities have detected more than 600 smuggling balloons and 256 unauthorised drones in the airspace. Balloons are extremely cheap tool that has a serious impact not only on national security, but also on the everyday lives of ordinary citizens and businesses. In this context, the actions and signals coming from the European Parliament are especially important. They demonstrate unity, reinforce momentum for restrictive measures and affirm that the EU will defend its citizens, its companies and its borders against hybrid threats. By speaking with a single voice, the EU must send a clear message to Minsk. Escalation will deepen Belarus isolation and raise the cost of every hostile act.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the changed geopolitical situation have forced Europe to wake up from a long period of lethargy and prepare to take responsibility for its own security. From now on, every decision we make should be assessed in terms of whether it makes us safer or more vulnerable. If we are serious about developing the defence industry, we must seriously reconsider excessive bureaucratic requirements – I am glad that this is gradually beginning to happen. To achieve the necessary level of preparedness, appropriate investments are also required. Lithuania just approved a budget allocating 5.38 % of GDP to defence. This is the necessary response of a country living next to an aggressor. However, similar responses are needed from other EU countries as well. It is not less important to invest in the preparedness of society as a whole, and it is strengthening the will to defend.

Mr President, honourable Commissioner. Undoubtedly, the availability of medicines is not only a matter of health, but also of safety and preparedness. And the fact that we are facing a shortage of medicines today, for which there is more than one reason, and geopolitical changes in the world are just one of them. Undoubtedly, we should all assume part of the responsibility for short-sighted environmental policies that have displaced part of the chemical industry, the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients from the European Union, and the cost burden of the Urban Waste Water Directive on the pharmaceutical industry, which still persists today, is one such example. But I want to congratulate and thank the Commissioner and the Commission for the arrival of the Critical Medicines Act, which the Health Committee voted on today, the Pharma package, which is heading in the right direction, and I believe that this will allow part of the production of medicines to return to the European Union and ensure the supply and affordability of medicines for our patients.

President, Commissioner. We loudly declare that health is our priority and that there is a need to increase trust in the institutions of the European Union. However, the twisting of time, which began more than a century ago and has not yet been completed, is an illustration of the fact that we care neither about the health of citizens nor about trust in the European institutions. Twice a year, society and especially those most vulnerable: Children, their parents, people with mental health problems, especially sleep disorders, are forced to resent the inability of politicians to make such a basic decision. The logic of saving electricity a hundred years ago, without, of course, knowing about the possible impact on human health, may have had a justification, but today, when it is already known that it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, sleep disorders, even accidents, such a stirring on the spot is simply unacceptable. For example, a Spanish study of more than twenty years of data found that the number of fatal accidents on the day the arrows turn one hour ahead increased by 30 percent, and the number of fatal accidents on the first day after turning back increased by 16 percent. So is that twisting really, as Martín says, a measure that really justifies the goal? Raising children knows perfectly well how important a regular daily regimen is for a child and how long it takes for children to adapt to a previous move to kindergarten or school. Let's talk about children who have developmental problems. We have more and more children like that. Man is the only biological being in nature who voluntarily commits such foolishness by torturing himself with the self-invented measures of time regulation. Health professionals recommend finally choosing winter time and ending this endless debate. This would not only improve the quality of sleep in people, but also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the risk of being overweight, reduce the use of psychoactive substances, and improve the results of science and work. Therefore, as a politician and as a psychiatrist, I appeal to us and to all of you to concentrate and put an end to this outdated madness, which is devastating to human health and does not bring any economic benefit.

President, Commissioner. The long-standing verdict of breast cancer diagnosis today, due to treatment options, only becomes a problem without timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease, since as many as 90% of first and second stage breast cancers can be cured when diagnosed on time. Today, the debate is a very important part of the education of politicians and at the same time reduces public fear, raises awareness and should motivate health to pay the necessary attention and finances in the European Union and in the future MFF. It is important, of course, not to forget all three levels of problem-solving. First of all, prevention, avoiding possible risk factors. Today, however, we are talking about the importance of breast cancer screening programmes. And everything must be done to make this program accessible to all women, especially in regions where health services are becoming increasingly difficult to access due to a lack of health professionals and technology. Mobile research teams and mobile equipment can also help.

Mr President, dear colleagues. The European Union is on the right track. We are seeing decreasing amounts of natural gas and oil imported from Russia, but there is still a lot of work to be done before the ambitious goal of eliminating all imports of energy resources from Russia. Is there an insignificant amount of imports? I think that today, in the context of the war in Ukraine, such a quantity simply does not exist. Every cubic meter of natural gas, every barrel of oil paid for by the members of the European Union, allows Russia to continue the bloody conflict in Ukraine, maintain its military capabilities, produce thousands of drones and missiles that are sent on the heads of peaceful Ukrainian residents or destroy critical infrastructure in Ukraine. We all understand that it will be necessary to help rebuild this infrastructure, so it is simply foolish to finance its demolition with our own money. The history of Nord Stream shows how short-sighted and disastrous the policies pursued by some leaders were. For some, even today, this does not seem to be a value in itself, because it is still difficult to grasp all the potential risks involved.

Commissioner, President. Animals are a complex part of the ecosystem, without which other parts of the ecosystem simply would not be able to function. And the European Union is fully aware of this by supporting research, combating the illegal trade in wild animals, with the aim of conserving species. It is also no coincidence that the resolution tabled by the European Parliament highlights the importance of one health, which combines animal and environmental health. And pandemics have reminded us that diseases often occur where humans go beyond the limits of nature. At the same time, it is very important that there is a greater awareness in the European Union that legal hunting is not only about having more beautiful trophies, but also a very important science-based tool for preserving and regulating biodiversity and can make a significant contribution to the well-being of local communities and the preservation of cultural traditions. It is therefore essential to jointly step up efforts to eliminate all illegal trade in fauna and flora, ensuring that species do not disappear and important ecosystems are preserved.

President, Commissioner. In order to be able to give up internal combustion engines, it is not enough just to have good wishes and instructions that everyone needs to rearrange and adapt. To date, these desires have not helped as much as they have harmed the competitiveness of car manufacturers in the European Union. Electric cars are still very expensive and are not affordable at all for people with lower incomes in the regions, let alone their charging infrastructure. It is therefore essential that the transition to less polluting vehicles takes place as a natural process whereby these cars are purchased with the necessary infrastructure and, above all, where they work best, where journeys are short, i.e. in cities, for example. It is also essential to maintain technological neutrality, given the safety components, as dependence on one type of car energy can also mean greater vulnerability. When it comes to the competitiveness and viability of the European Union's industry, we need to set realistic goals that actually make our industry more competitive.

Madam President, colleagues, Russia is continuously testing Europe's preparedness by sending drones or violating airspace with fighter jets. And what does Russia see? That we are trying to fight back ineffectively using very expensive air defence systems. Only now are we starting to talk about building drone defence systems. This is far too late and we have to rush. When attempts to destroy critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea started, there was fear to react. The tension of shadow fleet tankers finally demonstrated that the EU countries react not only with words. Now we have Russian fighters violating EU and NATO airspace. There are examples of NATO members who demonstrated that they take it seriously. This time it might come to EU countries also. What needs to be done today? If the airspace becomes unsafe, this will become not just a matter of security, but also will seriously affect the economy. Defence would be cheaper. Stay consistent with sanctions against Russia and finally stop financing Russia's war machine. Last but not least, provide needed financial and other support to eastern border countries for the development of air space defence systems.

Mr President, colleagues. This is the second time that Parliament only has time for health at the end of the agenda, even though we are loudly saying that health is a priority. But going to the bottom line, actually increasing life expectancy is an undeniable achievement in terms of improving living conditions, improving health care. However, as life expectancy increases, new age-related health risks appear, most often age-related, and one of them is Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. According to the latest data, Alzheimer's disease is a growing health problem in our societies and in Europe alone it affects around 12% of people aged 60 and up to 40% of people over 80. This means that the burden is really heavy. And for people who are inexperienced in what it means to be, caring for such persons, perhaps it is difficult to imagine how great the psychological, economic and social burden it is. It is important to stress that in Western countries Alzheimer's disease ranks third in terms of economic burden, ranking only for cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular disorders. However, there is very little talk about these diseases. There is little investment in this. This disease often remains in the shadows, although the impact on the sick, their families and society as a whole is immense. Therefore, we need to change this situation, we need to develop a system of assistance to sick people and their relatives. We must invest more in research and in finding treatments for this disease, because without control of these diseases, without preventing their occurrence, they can become a difficult social, economic and health burden.

Well, I think you are absolutely right, recalling that Europe has partly paid for those drones that have flown to Poland, and I do not know whether they should fly any further, so that this would be a sufficient motive, as you say, to give up Russian oil and gas. I don't have to contradict that. I agree with you.

President, colleagues. The events in Poland are no coincidence. Polish airspace has been illegally damaged by Russian drones, and this is undoubtedly a well-planned act of aggression, trying to check readiness, response and boundaries. Recently, a drone with explosives also crashed in the territory of Lithuania. If we keep in mind other incidents involving infrastructure damage in the Baltic Sea, arson, information and cyber attacks, it is more than clear that the enemy is testing us. This is not only a violation of the sovereignty, security and international legal norms of Poland, but also of the whole of Europe. Europe cannot and must not tolerate such provocations that threaten the security of every European. It's great that Poland and NATO allies responded well and shot down some of the drones that entered their territory. The European Union must support the countries facing attacks by all means, while responding resolutely to aggression, so that such actions do not remain marked only by political declarations, expressing endless regret and infinite concern.

President-in-Office, Commissioner, I would like to talk about the housing crisis, which is manifesting itself differently in every country of the European Union, but the impact of this crisis will be equally bad for everyone. As the European Union faces a demographic crisis, home ownership is only a dream for young families. They often delay the formation of a family and the birth of children. This problem has long been considered a local municipal or national concern, but it does not only concern local solutions. It is not normal for house prices to rise several times faster than wages over the past 15 years. It is essential that the housing affordability crisis is not artificially exacerbated by imposing unsustainable demands on the energy efficiency of housing, as this significantly increases the cost of building new housing. As the price of new homes rises, so does the price of old homes. The European Parliament must make every effort to mitigate this crisis, because it is not only a national problem, but also a European one that directly affects social cohesion, the future prospects of young people and people's trust in the European institutions.

President, Commissioner. Deinstitutionalisation is a great idea that I really support and support. It would be perfect if, at any stage of our life, we were among our loved ones and could feel dignified and necessary. However, such a desire will face more and more challenges. An example is the spreading culture of childlessness, which is supported by the strangest explanations, ranging from children aggravating climate change to those more associated with growing individualism and social isolation. In such an environment, even with a high degree of motivation, it can become very difficult to find guardians for children without parents, and it will become increasingly difficult to find those who want to take care of persons with disabilities or those who have reached a decent age. And in order to allow a person to live in an environment that is close and acceptable to him, you need a number of specialists, because the social fabric of society is significantly shattered. It is therefore important that problems in individual areas should not be overlooked and that they should cover all areas. One such problem is the demographic crisis.

Madam President, Commissioner, the RRF has become a unique opportunity to help EU countries recover from the pandemic and strengthen their economic, energy and health resilience. However, there are still many issues related to the use of these funds. The first concerns the assessment of the reforms and targets set by the Member States. I believe that the assessment is rather subjective and that a possible negative assessment does not avoid speculation in an attempt to cover up some incompetent political decisions in the Member States. Another issue concerns the timing of the use of funds. And, despite the mutual efforts of the European Commission and member states, there is a considerable risk that some funds may not be available at the right time for various reasons – geopolitical changes, inflation, other challenges. Well, and the third important question is the flexibility of such instruments in response to the changing context. In today's context of strengthening preparedness and defence, the use of some funds could and should be reviewed in the light of the changed geopolitical and security context.

Mr President, Commissioner. According to Eurostat data, Lithuania’s rural population will decrease by almost fifty percent by 2050. Today, therefore, it is more important than ever to talk about the right to stay in the regions. In the face of demographic challenges, it is important to understand the importance of preserving the education system in the regions. Especially since a lot of investment has already been made in the renewal of educational institutions in the regions, in the training of teachers. Another important area is the provision of health services, which is a growing challenge as the population ages. Primary health care should be as close to the population as possible. However, other services, such as oncological screening programmes, should be as accessible as possible. It is necessary to increase the availability of mobile screening tools, to develop telemedicine, as currently regional residents, due to inequalities in services, are later diagnosed with the disease, it is more difficult to access specialized assistance. As regions are more exposed to medical shortages, it is essential that regions are given sufficient attention in the European Health Programme, the European Cancer Plan and other instruments.

Dear colleagues, this is the second debate in Parliament on health, which is the last in plenary. Well, the time of day when the debate is taking place is a very good illustration of what Parliament thinks about mental health in the workplace. However, if we do not talk about Parliament, this is undoubtedly an important topic. The good mental health of workers undoubtedly contributes to higher productivity, which in turn would greatly contribute to improving the competitiveness of the European Union, as mentioned in the Draghi report. There are many important aspects of mental health at work, starting with reducing the stigma of mental health disorders. This would make it easier to spot problems and talk about them. There is a need to raise awareness of issues such as addictions, which are not cured by dismissal. However, a proper understanding of them, required by the employer, and the necessary incentives from the employer can help to solve such problems. In view of the current demographic trends, it is essential that special attention is paid to the mental health of workers raising children, taking into account their specific needs and, most importantly, their work-life balance.

Colleagues. Health is not everything, but without health everything is nothing. Unfortunately, we often understand this too late. It is a pity that today the broad and very different health themes of infectious and chronic non-infectious diseases, which require very different solutions, have been brought together in a single debate. It is very good that the European Commission has the ambition to extend this term of office to include a plan to combat not only oncological diseases, but also cardiovascular diseases. And there will be a number of occasions in this term of office to show our serious determination to tackle these health problems. Let us start with the fact that under no circumstances can we allow it to happen again in order to cut funding for health programmes and research. I would like to believe and hope that health expenditure will not be the last place in the next MFF, as this debate in plenary, because there are always more important matters. And a lot of work needs to be done. And while health is a competence of the Member States, there are areas where joint action could contribute to solving the problems of all Member States. We will need to find solutions to the shortage of health professionals. From the suggestions I hear today, they would not only not solve the problems, but would deepen them. I very much welcome the Commission's ambition for a crucial Medicines Act, which can and should create an opportunity for pharmaceutical manufacturers to come back and operate in the European Union, and joint purchasing of medicines can speed up the availability of innovative medicines in the Member States, especially the small ones, which are currently unattractive as small markets. In the 21st century, oncological patients in different countries have different access to treatment and assistance, and some are even forced to litigate to receive such assistance. This is unacceptable. Today, we are talking a lot and rightly so about increasing defence capabilities and strengthening security. However, the reality is that it is impossible to raise a healthy young generation. Many of them are unfit for military service due to health problems. In this mandate, we will have the opportunity to revise the Tobacco Products Directive, and I want to believe that health will be a priority in its revision and that there will be enough wisdom to deal with new products, such as e-cigarettes, that are flooding Europe, because we already have more than enough data today that they do not solve but create new health problems.

Mr President, the act of capitulation signed on the eighth of May 45 meant neither the end of the war nor freedom for Lithuania and the other Baltic countries. By presenting themselves as liberators, the Soviets ‘forgot’ to leave the liberated countries, and the liberators began to zealously destroy all people with at least some civic affinity. Thousands of animals were transported to Siberia. Deprived of land and homes, destroyed civil society, non-governmental organizations tried to resist with a weapon in the forests, were tortured in prisons, killed and desecrated in city squares. Attempts were made to destroy language, restrict religious freedom, the media became mouthpieces of propaganda, history was falsified and children's brains were washed with fakes. This happened to me, and then to a child who grew up in Soviet-occupied Lithuania. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union did not have its Nuremberg for all crimes, and communism was not universally condemned. The so-called liberation for us has turned into long decades of occupation. Therefore, we urge the world to learn the lessons of the Second World War and not to repeat them.

Mr President, colleagues. As new military conflicts erupt around the world, it is crucial that Ukraine and its support do not remain forgotten. While Russia is talking about peace, it is clear that it does not want any peace, and Ukrainian cities continue to be attacked and killed by civilians. Therefore, until a peace agreement is reached, the necessary military assistance to Ukraine must be continued. It is very important that the aggressor Russia has as little financial means as possible to finance its war machine. Therefore, ensuring energy independence and sanctions remains of paramount importance. At the same time, it is equally important that the promises made regarding Ukraine's membership of the European Union are kept. Russia must also pay for the damage it has caused. The burden of Ukraine's reconstruction should not fall only on international donors. This must be primarily a matter of the aggressor's responsibility. Those who support the war must feel in their pockets that supporting such actions has a price and that frozen Russian money must be used for this. To help our neighbours, we need to be strong and ready to face external threats. Ukraine has proved that it is only possible to defend oneself with a clear will.

Mr President, Commissioner, these days we have to rethink the importance of trans‑European transport infrastructure, rethink having in mind the Draghi and Niinistö reports. If we want to rebuild EU competitiveness, we must have transport arteries developed and functioning well, for both civilian and military purposes. It is not acceptable from a competitiveness and security point of view to operate on Russian gauge. In the current geopolitical context, the Rail Baltica and Via Baltica projects must be successfully finished. Lithuania and other frontline countries already have the disadvantage of being less attractive to investors because of possible aggression from countries like Russia. If, to that context, we add bad road infrastructure, this problem becomes even bigger. Road infrastructure is also very important if there is a need for military defence, because military mobility limitations can become deadly bottlenecks for supplying defence forces.

President-in-Office, Commissioner, thank you for your initiative to address the shortage of critical medicines. The COVID pandemic has shown very clearly what it means to be dependent on production from third countries, but at the same time has shown that, with sufficient will, the European Union can mobilise funds in the short term for the development and production of important preparations. The belief, based on the global economy, that it is not necessary to produce everything yourself has led to the relocation of the production of important active ingredients to third countries and the resulting shortages of medicines. The solution to these problems is already being considered, but I miss the perception that there is also a relative shortage of critical medicines, which is not linked to a physical shortage of medicines, but to a relative shortage where the medicine is simply unaffordable. Therefore, I would like to ask you not to forget about innovative medicines when considering the critical medicines file and to envisage the possibility of setting up a mechanism to assist countries through a voluntary joint negotiation and purchase mechanism for medicines.

President, colleagues. The scale of mental health problems is of great concern. Data show an increase in suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders. Social isolation is on the rise, and more and more young people are declaring that they have no plans to create a family or have children. Helping those who have problems is undoubtedly very important, but given that we are facing a shortage of professionals and the need for help is growing, we need to look for ways to reduce the scale of the problem, i.e. to engage in primary prevention. Let's start with strengthening control over the use of psychoactive substances. We still have a problem with the use of tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarettes, and we are facing a growing desire to legalize illegal drugs, such as marijuana, whose drug potential has increased and whose use will lead to an increase in schizophrenia. We must therefore do our utmost to reduce the availability, use or legalisation of these substances and to avoid legalisation. Physical activity is one of the factors that reduce the number of mental health problems. And if in the past the yards were full of running children, now a significant number of them are stuck in smart devices. We must do everything we can to ensure that physical activity is sufficient.

President, Commissioner, Minister, back in 2023 The Economist published an analysis that showed that there is a direct correlation between the funds allocated for defence and support to Ukraine and the distance to Moscow. And that's natural. Nearest neighbors with a very painful historical experience, as no one else understands the need for such spending. However, the efforts of these countries alone will not be enough. Let us remember the hybrid attacks carried out through Belarus with the help of migrants, let us remember the destruction of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This is a threat to the European Union as a whole. Let us also understand the damage that the neighbourhood with its imperial aggressor does to the economic and investment attractiveness. It is therefore important to strengthen both the physical and military protection of these countries in the eastern flank of the European Union, while at the same time not forgetting the socio-economic problems of border regions, as insufficient investment there may mean greater social vulnerability of the population, which would undoubtedly be exploited and already used by countries that are not friendly to us.