Speeches

Madam President, I'm sorry. The basis of human life is clean drinking water. Our bodies are 60 percent water. Without this liquid treasure, we will only survive for a few days at most. Yet millions of citizens in the European Union do not have access to clean drinking water. Adequate drinking water supply for pregnant women and children is a particularly serious issue. Climate change, pollution and unsustainable agricultural practices are all seriously threatening our water resources. Water supply, on the other hand, is energy-intensive. The economic crisis affecting European industry, to which the war contributed, has only made access to drinking water more expensive for Europeans. Hungary's Basic Law guarantees the right to health, and in particular highlights the provision of access to healthy drinking water, while one of the most affordable, clean drinking water is available to households. Since 2007, all settlements have access to drinking water, 95 percent of households are connected to the mains water network, which makes good quality water available. I welcome the fact that the Drinking Water Directive introduces for the first time an obligation at EU level to assess and improve access to safe drinking water. Safe and affordable drinking water for all is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right.

Dear Mr President, Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. One in three women in the world has experienced sexual or physical violence at least once in their lives. That is why it is important to keep this topic on the agenda here in the European Parliament, and for us MEPs to give a voice to the often silent victims. There is much talk about the fact that violence against women most often occurs in women's own homes, and perhaps less talk about the fact that women are then most at risk in public spaces and on the streets. I often travel alone in Europe and beyond. During my travels, I have experienced the anxiety that many women feel when they travel alone after dark. The tension of squeezing your mobile phone in your pocket or the acceleration of your footsteps when a shadow behind your back seems too close. I am lucky, as Hungary is one of the 20 safest countries in the world, where women can travel bravely even after dark. However, this security is not self-evident, but the result of the conscious actions of the Hungarian government. It is thanks to a well-thought-out immigration policy and continuous improvements in public safety. This could also be a guideline for other European countries in strengthening women's sense of security. Every woman deserves security, whether it's at home, on the streets, in the workplace or in the world of the Internet.

I wanted to respond to my fellow Member, András Kulja, but unfortunately he has already left the room. I would recommend him to investigate Hungary's climate policy more thoroughly, as Hungary has made significant progress in this area in recent years. Let's look at the data. Since 2010, greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of a unit of GDP have decreased by nearly 28% in Hungary. Between 2010 and 2021, the share of renewables in electricity use increased from 7.7 to almost 14 %. He should know about this data, too.

Dear Mr President, I welcome the initiative to pay more attention to the mental health of the citizens of the European Union, which is increasingly deteriorating. Four out of six people have these problems. And that's no wonder, just think about the coronavirus pandemic or the Russo-Ukrainian war. I am from Transcarpathia, Ukraine. In the European Parliament, besides the Hungarian people, I also represent the Transcarpathian Hungarians. Today, on the 958th day of the war, the people of Ukraine are experiencing immeasurable suffering. Slowly everyone has a family member or acquaintance who was lost or disabled in the war. Women face daily problems without men, children grow up without fathers, while air raids are commonplace. Can we feel the tormenting insecurity and fear that these innocent people experience every day? Members of Parliament! The desire for peace is not a political resolution, but the innermost desire of ordinary people, including the Hungarian people of Transcarpathia who have suffered a lot. It is time to stand up for peace.

Madam President, I'm sorry. This is my first speech as a new Member of the European Parliament and I am proud to speak on an important topic that affects many people in my country, in Hungary and in other countries of Central Europe. These are catastrophic floods that currently threaten or even destroy settlements, livelihoods and family homes in the most severe cases. As a representative of the Patriots for Europe Group, I express my deepest condolences to the victims of the floods and thank the rescue and protection services and volunteers who are doing their heroic work on the ground as we do our best here in the European Parliament. The current severe flooding highlights the practical effects of climate change. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent. At the same time, in this situation, we must also pay attention to people affected by floods. They need help, and they need it right away. Honourable Members, the European Union must act urgently! Collaboration is needed to ensure that aid reaches affected communities. The quickest way to secure aid is to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and conditionality. Our response must be guided by humanitarian principles and not by a cold administrative logic. I ask you to show that we are committed to the common value of solidarity and to ensure that those who suffer the horrors of the floods receive all the help they need immediately. Let us not abandon our suffering fellow European citizens.