Debate contributions by Zala TOMAŠIČ

Madam President! Europe must remain economically open and continue to support the free market, but at the same time we must not be naive, because it is naivety that has led us to the point where we are too dependent on China, or in some industries completely. China, however, has wisely and planned to bring Europe to this point, and we must no doubt speak with one voice and stand up for our industry. But not just in the short term. We need long-term solutions, because we have a structural dependence that has been built over decades and that cannot be changed overnight. We need to strengthen domestic production, diversify supply chains and invest in strategic technologies. And all this without drowning in our own regulations, prohibitions and restrictions. In today's geopolitical environment, we cannot afford to be weak. And it is high time that we tackle this in a united and strategic way.

Madam President. It is no secret that the European automotive industry is in crisis, and we must be well aware of this when considering this legislation, because our decisions have direct consequences on people's daily lives. And although this legislation is necessary to preserve critical materials in the European Union, the original proposal was too bureaucratic in some respects. However, I am very pleased that the rapporteurs have done an excellent job and have significantly improved it. They listened not only to different opinions – political groups (I think more than 1 700 amendments) but also to industry – and showed that politics can help our economy. In addition, they removed a number of unnecessary burdens that were present in the original proposal. I particularly welcome the fact that caravans are excluded from Parliament's position, as they never fell within the scope of this regulation and would unnecessarily create additional bureaucracy and complications. Now, however, this regulation must not become just another environmental regulation, but must serve as a lever for our competitiveness, and not only a lever for our competitiveness in terms of the automotive industry, but also in other industries, such as recycling. I believe that if the institutions work together, we can do a lot for our economy. That is why I also hope that the Commission will soon move from talking about technological neutrality to action and that we will soon see the lifting of the ban on the sale of internal combustion engines after 2035 in Parliament.

Mr President. In 2023, there were around 12 million online orders from the European market to third countries on a daily basis, of which 91% came from China. When we look at these numbers, it is logical that our customs officers cannot control everything. We also know that many products from China do not meet European standards. I believe in the free market and I believe that regulation or more regulation is not the answer to everything. It is also not the answer to all the pressure on our platforms for problems caused elsewhere, especially in countries where we have problems with ensuring the legitimacy of certificates. I think we must also bring back the personal responsibility of all of us consumers and we must be aware that by ordering from Chinese platforms, we are not only harming the European industry, but also ultimately harming ourselves and our health. In addition, we also need a solution at European level on the issue of influencers, but in order for this to be uniform and for their status as content creators, and not only as advertisers, to be recognised.

Madam President! I welcome the steps taken by the European Commission towards the auto industry. However, we must be aware that one of the main reasons for not achieving the targets is not the unwillingness of car companies to move towards electrification, but the lack of demand. The market is smaller than expected, with a market for heavy duty vehicles and, I would point out, there is no market for light commercial vehicles at all. And these vehicles use diesel. And I don't think that will change in the coming years. I very much support the move towards technological neutrality and hope that the ban on the sale of internal combustion engines after 35 will be lifted as soon as possible. In general, I think that policy should set certain frameworks and create the conditions for development, investment and innovation, and that it is more effective to offer economic initiatives than to resort to prohibitions and penalties.

Madam President. There is a lot of disinformation surrounding the Digital Services Act. We must make it clear that the DSA does not determine what constitutes illegal content, and this remains primarily the responsibility of the Member States. DSA is mostly about harmonising our digital market. We absolutely must take the statements on political censorship seriously. In addition, we ourselves can see that certain content on social networks is being favoured, and the European Commission must prevent such abuses and political billing – especially at national level, as it is precisely censorship and political criticism that are contrary to European legislation and the Digital Services Act. The digital age in itself brings a lot of innovation. Interference in elections is not one of them, as it has existed for decades. What's new is how easy it can be. Interference in elections is unacceptable. In many countries, including Slovenia, we have fought for democracy and for fair elections. And we do not deviate from this even in the digital age.

Madam President! I wish I didn't have to talk about what's happening in Slovenia today, because what's happening shouldn't be, it should be. And democracy in Slovenia is under threat. Ten years ago, we witnessed the illegal imprisonment of the opposition leader just before the elections, but today history repeats itself with a renewed politically motivated trial against Janez Janša. Violation of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly has become systematic, which prevents the work of the opposition. The current government is abusing a parliamentary inquiry to silence the government of critical media. It has subordinated itself to the national broadcaster and the police and introduces bills that threaten to restrict freedom of speech. At the same time, the government is introducing new taxes instead of creating an environment for economic growth. The economy is stagnating. The minimum wage is almost equal to the average, and under the pretext of solving housing policy, disguised nationalization begins. It's a call for help. Together we must defend the rule of law and democracy. And not only for Slovenia, but for the future of us all.

Mr. President! Violence against women. I admit that this is a topic that I haven't thought about much of my life. And that's because I didn't have to. And that should be the reality of every girl, every woman. No woman should be a victim of violence. And the international day that draws attention to this issue, on the one hand, is right to have it. We need to talk about it. Violence against women should not be taboo. On the other hand, it is sad that we have to have it. This problem should not exist at all. But reality is reality. And the reality is that one in three women has been the victim of violence on average. The reality is that every 10 minutes a partner or family member kills a woman. The reality is that most violence against women happens behind closed doors and we don't have the right numbers and statistics at all. Yes, it is also a reality that in some countries the current government is committing violence against women. And that's not right. It's not right that women can't make their own decisions. It is not right that they should not leave the country on their own. But not just today. Brave women, both in these countries and brave women everywhere, who gather or have already gathered the courage to talk about it, we must support and send a clear message that violence is unacceptable.

Mr President. In accordance with Temuj's privacy policy, personal information such as first name, last name, address, purchase history and location may be shared with third party advertisers, service providers and business partners. It sometimes offers services to this, sometimes it even offers products for free. It is important to remember that nothing is free. In return, the platform collects personal data and monitors consumer behaviour online. However, there are also concerns that these data will then be sold on. Few consumers are aware of this. The quality of these products is questionable. We have already heard how children's toys immediately decompose into small parts, how smoke detectors do not detect smoke. But the problem is also cosmetic products that can leave irreversible damage to the mucous membranes and skin. I strongly support the free market and competition in the market, but we need to protect consumers from the misuse of personal data and harmful products, as well as our entrepreneurs from unfair competition.

Mr President! I welcome the protection of users on social networks and there is no doubt that platforms must take action to remove illegal content. Just today, I heard the alarming news that 180 explicit content containing child pornography will appear on the internet during my speech - in just 60 seconds. And we have to stop it. I also support the fight against disinformation. But, nevertheless, here I must point out that in recent times, we are increasingly seeing censorship on social networks in the name of removing disinformation. We cannot allow a different opinion to be equated with disinformation or hate speech. Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy and we must protect it. Part of the solution, I believe, lies in removing false profiles on social networks, because it is precisely anonymity on social networks that enables the easiest dissemination of false information and illegal content and opens the door to a big problem Cyber bullying. Everyone should stand behind their posts with their first and last names.