Debate contributions by Wouter BEKE

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the European chemicals sector is going through a severe storm. The worst storm since the financial crisis. Just to give you an idea: in the port of Antwerp, in my country, the largest chemical cluster in Europe, the installations only run at 65% of their capacity. This is the lowest level in 44 years. Production volumes are falling, investments are shifting to the United States or Asia. And also in my country, companies such as BASF, ExxonMobil or TotalEnergies announced that they would join or restructure. However, the broad chemical sector in Belgium accounts for one-fifth of industrial employment and one-third of our exports. In that context, we must support any proposal that simplifies the life of our chemical cluster. Today's proposals are not a panacea, but they are a step in the right direction. They streamline procedures and safety assessment, reduce administrative burdens for businesses and ensure faster and more efficient decisions on chemicals. With one assessment per substance, as you have indicated, and a common platform, we strengthen both the protection of people and the environment and the competitiveness of our industry. Less paperwork, more innovation, faster procedures. That is what our European industry, and certainly the chemical industry, needs today. All the support.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, two years ago, Hamas carried out a terrible attack on innocent Israeli citizens. 1,200 dead, slaughtered in their homes, on the street and at a festival. Dozens of hostages are still trapped. It's inhuman. We must do everything we can to free them and support all initiatives to do so. However, one crime still does not justify the other. What Israel has unleashed in Gaza since then is not only disproportionate, but equally inhumane. Tens of thousands dead. Whole families have been bombed away. We must continue to condemn this as strongly as we do. We hope that the current talks are a germ for peace. Every step to stop this madness is a step forward. But what then? A ceasefire is not peace. Sustainable peace can only come with a two-state solution – with Israel ending illegal settlements – and with mutual recognition in the region and genuine self-government for Palestine. The European Union's mission is to contribute to this.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, dear Rémy and Raïssa, Victoire Ingabire is a Rwandan politician who spent 15 years in the Netherlands as a political refugee. And she's not the only one. It's the third time in a few months that we've been here. The first time was for Jean-Jacques Wondo in Congo, then for Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic. And now it is about the fate of Victoire Ingabire, as well as her colleagues in Rwanda. Together with her colleagues, she wanted to make a reasonable counter-narrative in Rwandan politics, precisely with the aim of restoring the rule of law and safeguarding human rights again, and this in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. Cynically, she, together with her colleagues, is subjected to arbitrary and unjustified detention. In the meantime, we see Visit Rwanda on many football jerseys appear and the World Cycling Championships are organized in Kigali. Isn't that in stark contrast to the repression of the political opposition, of dissenters? We cannot allow that. The immediate release of Victoire Ingabire and her colleagues is a first but also necessary step in the right direction for Rwanda.

Mr President, Commissioner, the new Chinese import tariffs of 60% on pigmeat are a severe blow to our farmers. Belgium threatens to get the highest rate, while our farmers barely had access to the Chinese market during the period under review. This is not just an unfair commercial practice. That is pure geopolitical pressure and an attempt to separate Member States. Farmers should not be penalised by European plans to introduce additional levies on electric cars from China. We can't allow ourselves to be blackmailed. Commissioner, you are Commissioner for Defence. Our farmers also need someone to defend their interests. All the more so because import duties are not the only problem. The levies come on top of European environmental rules, less agricultural budget and farmers' fear of Mercosur and so on. All this while we are all convinced that strategic autonomy is so important. Our farmers deserve security so that we can remain competitive on that global market and guarantee our food security. That is why I hope that you will take these concerns with you and that measures will be taken against these levies and also measures to support the agricultural sector.

Mr President, Mrs Kallas, ladies and gentlemen, 6,000 deaths – five weeks ago – we were discussing the war in Gaza. Then we asked: When's that gonna stop? 6 000 people were killed. When will Europe finally take action? When are we going to suspend that trade agreement, that association agreement? When will we put pressure on Israel? When will we implement this import ban from the occupied territories? When will we implement a European entry ban? This has to stop! Some Member States, including Belgium, are taking initiatives. But Europe remains deaf. Well, Europe cannot remain deaf. If Europe has any moral responsibility, it must act now. This is what we are doing with Ukraine. We must do the same with regard to the atrocities that are taking place in Gaza. Mr President, Mrs Kallas, take your responsibility, take action and make sure that we do not have to discuss again here next month and say: Another 5,000 people were killed.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, our compatriot Joseph Figueira Martin has been unjustly detained in the Central African Republic for more than a year. For 411 days, 411 nights, he, his family, his friends have been tormented by uncertainty. All this time he has been tortured, isolated, threatened with death, without any future prospects. It goes without saying that his physical and mental health is rapidly deteriorating. And why? Well, Joseph Figueira Martin came to work for a humanitarian organization to support the local population in the field of health care and education. As always in his professional career, with a passion for the region and a belief in a better future for ordinary people. But that was outside the Wagner group. Colleagues, we all know the stories of this paramilitary organization that spread a lot of horrors in the world from Russia. Joseph Figueira Martin was also kidnapped by the Wagner Group and wrongly accused of espionage and terrorism. These allegations were taken over by the Central African authorities without any evidence. For 411 days without reason, without evidence, imprisoned, tortured. We must put a stop to this. In addition, Russian influence in the Central African Republic is also worrying and afflicting not only Joseph Figueira Martin, but also many others. It is not only a matter of harsh repression through the Wagner Group, but also of extensive disinformation campaigns aimed at weakening Europe. Just as we reaffirm our support to support the security services in the country there. Colleagues, there is already a lot of work to be done in the Central African Republic and that will have to be done step by step. A first step is the release of this innocent European citizen, who only came to share his expertise in the country with the most noble intentions. I ask you all to support this resolution en masse tomorrow, so that Joseph Figueira Martin can return home after more than a year of unjust imprisonment. His family and himself will thank you.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, at the beginning of this year, the violence in eastern Congo flared up again horribly, and we saw the horrific images on television. But actually, we've been seeing these horrific images on television for thirty years. Now a peace deal has been signed. That is a good step in itself, but also a step with a number of questions. The first question, Commissioner, was: Where is Europe in this conflict? Where were we? Was this a peace deal or was this a mineral deal and will at the end of the ride only the mineral deal remain and will the peace deal disappear again? I think that's a crucial question. A question that we as Europe may be able to push in the right direction by ensuring that we will sit down at that table in the future. Because a peace has been signed there, but a number of crucial players, colleagues, do not give at home. The rebel group M23 says: We do not feel held and bound by this peace deal. That, of course, is the essence of the matter. Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I call on everyone and I also call on you. I call on the European Union. I call on the High Commissioner, the High Representative, to pay more attention to this conflict together. A conflict that has been raging for decades, a conflict that has already claimed millions of deaths, a conflict - you yourself mentioned that - that involves moving 2.5 million internally, in that region alone. There is a peace deal today. That can be positive. Make sure it doesn't become a mineral deal like in Ukraine. We can only do that by sitting at the table as Europe itself, because it is in our interest.

President, Commissioner, colleagues, tariff increases are political placebos, Professor Richard Baldwin said. Economic nonsense that serves a political purpose. Unlike President Trump, we should not believe in these placebos. Europe’s focus should be: protecting our prosperity, our jobs and the income of our people. Europe does not benefit from escalation. A deal may also limit the damage to our businesses, SMEs and countless jobs. Take this responsibility, Commissioner, but not at the expense of one sector. Distribute the burden across sectors and across Member States. But even with a deal, we as Europe must invest fully in our economy, our independence and our competitiveness. The IMF calculated that European trade barriers cost us EUR 1 700 billion annually. Removing them could bring in EUR 3 800 per European. So, commissioner, deal or no deal? Europe must protect our jobs, our prosperity and the income of our people.

Mr President, Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, in this hemisphere we often talk about strategic autonomy when it comes to our defence, when it comes to our food, when it comes to our medicines. The message is always: We need to be able to take more control in order to protect our citizens in the future. This also applies to critical raw materials. Without ever realizing it, they have become the invisible engine of our society. Because without critical raw materials, no smartphones, no electric cars, no windmills. Just for those critical raw materials, we are incredibly dependent on China: 90 %. So we are not really talking about a mere trade imbalance. No, it's about a strategic weakness that China is using. Because China determines whether and in what way critical raw materials can and should be used in Europe. Well, this is unacceptable. At the upcoming EU-China summit, it cannot business as usual be. Europe must not become Beijing's plaything and must therefore be on the table as far as critical materials are concerned, as you have just done, Madam President.

Mr President, Commissioner, 'European policymakers will be jointly responsible for my death'. That is what Mr Djalali said in April, exactly nine years after his arrest in Iran. When he was arrested, his son was four years old. Today he is 13 years old. Mr. Djalali has been imprisoned in Evin Prison for nine years. Nine years. Nine years without his family. Nine years of torture, disease, heart failure, malnutrition. Nine years without medical care. Nine years of missed chances of release. Every day can be the last. If Iran does not execute him, he will die from the consequences of hardship. What about us? We're watching. When will Europe stop looking away? When does Europe really intervene to get this innocent man free? It's not five to twelve anymore; It's not 12 hours anymore. It's half a. He needs to be released. Now. Immediately.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, our electricity grid is the most integrated in the world. And yet today we find it painful that it is not adapted to the reality of the 21st century. Once it was built on fossil raw materials and centralized production. But today we are in a new era: wind and solar energy in addition to nuclear energy. That from electric vehicles to water pumps and digitization. If we do nothing, we not only miss our climate targets, but we also expose ourselves to new energy crises. This is how we undermine our economic growth of tomorrow. The need is high. Citizens and businesses demand affordable, reliable and clean power. Local communities want to contribute to renewable energy projects. That is why we urgently need to do three things: 1. Invest in the electricity grid on a large scale with sufficient support for cross-border projects. 2. Accelerate permitting procedures and ensure that European environmental rules support rather than block the energy transition. 3. Stimulate stability and flexibility and reward citizens and businesses investing in renewable energy. Colleagues, the electricity grid is not an afterthought. It is the backbone of our future. Invest now or we run the risk of going backwards grandiosely.

Mr President, Madam High Representative, we can have a whole debate on the NATO summit here and that is particularly important. But actually, the question is: In the meantime, what can we as Europe do ourselves? We need to invest smartly and Europeanly. That is to say: not seventeen tank systems but one tank system. That is to say: more standardisation, one strategy and under a European umbrella. This European approach could bring us EUR 60 billion in efficiency gains. That is the size of the defence budget in France at the moment. European security is our responsibility. It is also about taxpayers' money. So: European security is European defence. The summit takes place in The Hague, where Winston Churchill called for a European army in 1948. The most efficient way to ensure our safety is to put Churchill's words into practice.

Mr President, High Representative, ladies and gentlemen, what Israel is doing in Gaza today is unacceptable: Tens of thousands dead, shelling of food stations, famine as a weapon of war. Of course, Israel was allowed to defend itself after October 7. But what it does now is disproportionate, is illegal, and its war crimes. We can no longer tolerate that. Anyone who says that international law must be defended must also show the courage, Madam High Representative, to uphold it. Immediately suspends the Association Agreement with Israel, Article 2 of which is crystal clear. Respect for human rights is not an option but a basic condition. That's the way it says it. Red line after red line is crossed, even though Prime Minister Netanyahu is now trying to shift attention to Iran. Mrs Kallas, Europe must choose its principles. Europe must choose international law, without exception.

Mr President, the Commission is finally launching an investigation into human rights violations in Gaza. Because what's going on there? An organized famine and bombing of hospitals. Of course, there are the October 7 attacks with more than a thousand deaths on the Israeli side. Meanwhile, more than 50,000 people have been killed and more than 100,000 wounded in Gaza, the vast majority of whom are civilians, women and children. Human rights violations at the crossroads. There is only one appropriate answer, and that is a swift suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel. Today, colleagues, there is something even more important: release the hostages, but also, immediately and unconditionally, provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. There are more than 14,000 babies at risk of dying within 48 hours. We, as Europe, must now provide support. Every hour counts, because every person counts and every baby counts. Stop the madness. Release the hostages. Give humanitarian aid in Gaza and suspend the Association Agreement with Israel.

Mr President, today we are commemorating the end of the Second World War. Eighty years ago, in the ruins of 1945, visionary leaders such as Adenauer, Schuman and De Gasperi chose reconciliation, reconciliation over revenge, cooperation over conflict, democracy over dictatorship. Their radical response laid the seeds of what we are still reaping the benefits of today. A European Union of shared sovereignty, democracy and human dignity. That choice remains burningly topical, because extremes in Europe – we have seen it again here today in the debate – want to undermine our rule of law and try to break the ties that hold us together. And the aggression against Ukraine forces us to have a stronger defence policy, precisely to prevent a new war. A more effective Europe is not the enemy of subsidiarity, but it is the condition of subsidiarity. Only through cooperation can we guarantee our security, our fundamental rights and our prosperity. I have three children and I hope they can grow up in a Europe where freedom, democracy and human dignity are no exception, but remain the rule. Let us therefore continue to invest decisively in the Union. A Union that has risen from this rubble, because it is the best guarantee for our future.

Mr President, how do we achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace? That is the issue today. And according to the extreme nationalists, it's very simple: The Ukrainian people must submit to Russia. Paradoxical. But there is another paradox. And that paradox is that Russia will only stop its aggression if it loses the war and that Russia will continue its aggression if it wins this war. The Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army are fighting not only for their territory, but also for European values, for freedom and for democracy, and against authoritarian regimes. Today, the Ukrainian army is the real European army. And yes, it has a cost. And that cost is one and a half euros per week. That's what it costs. This solidarity must be able to bring the European people to the Ukrainian people, because they are fighting for the European way of life.

Mr President, we have two choices: Putting our heads in the sand, not listening to the signals of our industries and letting the energy-intensive sectors leave Europe, or listening to the cries of distress of these sectors, sticking our necks out and ensuring that the tens of thousands of jobs that would be lost remain in Europe. The alarms are very clear. Ten years ago, the European Union exported 15 million tonnes of steel. Today, it imports 10 million tonnes of steel. BASF, ArcelorMittal and other large companies have suspended their investments. This poses a major risk to the anchoring of this industry in Europe, as well as to the green transition. The port of Antwerp is the main hub of the chemical industry in Europe. However, chemical production is at its lowest level since the 1980s. In Belgium alone, nearly ten thousand jobs were cut in these energy-intensive sectors last year. If we do not take action, we will lose not only our jobs, but also our economic clout and autonomy, and we will, very paradoxically, have to import products with a higher CO2footprint than the products we can produce ourselves in Europe. So we know what we have to do to cope with the skyrocketing energy prices, the rising CO2costs and unfair competition. Let's move forward with the plan, which provides for action, accelerated permitting procedures, lower energy costs, a carbon border adjustment mechanism as a real weapon against CO2‐leakage, access to critical materials and protecting our businesses from unfair competition. There's no time to lose.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, just seven weeks ago, a very large majority in this hemisphere adopted a strict resolution against the violence in eastern Congo by Rwanda and the rebel group M23. Unfortunately, the situation is still unchanged today. Kigali now even bans all development cooperation from Belgium to the detriment of its own population. With thousands of deaths and a multitude of internally displaced people, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the world is raging in the region. My message is clear: Stop that horror now! While we must give all opportunities to difficult regional peace processes, it is also time for action from Europe. After the scaling up of the Council after our previous resolution, we really need to take action now. Firstly, by imposing clear sanctions against the illegal smuggling of raw materials by Rwanda. Secondly, by imposing additional individual sanctions against war criminals. Finally, by forcing an immediate ceasefire, with the M23 leaving Congolese territory and Kinshasa itself taking back control, together with international actors. I'm counting on you, ma'am.

Mr President, ‘everything that is truly great and inspiring has been created by individuals who can work in complete freedom’, says Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein, and with him many others, including the thinkers of the Frankfurt School and Hannah Arendt, fled Nazism and fascism in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and went to the United States to develop their academic ideas in complete freedom and space. Today we see the opposite: The Trump administration has made major cuts in research funding. It also restricts academic freedom and weakens public debate. As a result, more and more American researchers are looking for new places of refuge. This is a unique opportunity for the European Union to present itself as a haven for international talent and to close the innovation gap. To bridge the gap in this area, we need to strengthen the basis of innovation with the European Research Area legislative act, which provides for better access to research infrastructure and a strategy to remove barriers to start-ups and scale-ups. By doubling research resources and adopting the Clean Industrial Deal, we can attract ambitious scientists to come here and develop the technologies of the future. The current austerity and the climate of intolerance in the United States are a golden opportunity for Europe. Let us invest in research, education and attractive careers so that the European Union once again becomes a beacon for the scientists of tomorrow. Let's bring the Einsteins back to Europe!

Mr President, Who will defend Europe? This is not just the title of a book. That is also the crucial question before us today. Who will defend Europe? And when the Commissioner took office, he said: We need a big bang. 800 billion is on the table, Commissioner. But yesterday you even talked on Bloomberg TV about the need for a thousand five hundred billion to protect us. Now, money is one thing. The way we use it is another matter. Let us take advantage of this crisis, take advantage of this opportunity, to use the money efficiently, to use the European. Better together European. That must be the adage, otherwise it is a missed opportunity. We should be able to do it together. The latest Eurobarometer is clear: The main concern of Europeans is their protection, their safety. So you have a strong mandate, not just money, but you have a strong mandate to work together on that European defence. Do it now. You have our support.

Mr President, Commissioner, in recent weeks we have seen the United States under Trump increasingly engage in geopolitical and economic conflicts, with sanctions and trade restrictions following each other at a rapid pace. But the export restrictions on AI microchips to China predate Trump and have been imposed by the Biden administration on 17 European member states. This makes one thing very clear to us: Whoever is at the helm on the other side of the Atlantic, we as the European Union must set our own course. This means strengthening our strategic autonomy and reducing our dependence on foreign powers in terms of technology, defence and raw materials. It means that we must thoroughly strengthen our own ecosystem of microchips, not only with words, but also with concrete investments. And finally, it also means that we must be assertive and speak with one voice, with one real geopolitical strategy. In this struggle, Europe must not become a toy of great powers pursuing their own interests. We cannot simply respond to what Washington or Beijing decide. We must be a player, not a field of play, a chess player, not a pawn. A strong European Union, economic, diplomatic and military. That is the only way forward. Let's all work on that!

Mr President, Commissioner, we can no longer remain silent about the situation in eastern Congo. The facts are clear: thousands of Rwandan troops on Congolese territory, an advancing rebel group – M23 – aiming to march towards Kinshasa, millions of smuggled raw materials and thousands of victims, including UN blue helmets. All this against a background of sexual abuse as a weapon and millions of internally displaced people. All reports are clear. This has to stop. The additional humanitarian support of 60 million for civilian casualties in eastern Congo is a good first step. For example, more efforts will also have to be made to reform the security apparatus in Congo in order to avoid such abuses. The starting point remains the strategy set out in 2023. Now the in-depth implementation must follow. I would like to call on colleagues to show, together with the United Nations, that Europe can still play an important role in the Great Lakes region. We must not let the region fall prey to Russia or China, but also not let it fall apart through mutual disputes. Tomorrow, a resolution will be voted on to stop the violence in the region. It is time for a clear signal from Europe that abuses in the region and Rwandan interference cannot be left without consequences. I hope for your support.

Mr President, Commissioner, not a week goes by without a new bizarre proposal from President Trump. His latest plan to buy up and rebuild the Gaza Strip was not only bizarre, it was crazy and dangerous for the entire region. It shows once again that Europe must sit down at the table to discuss the future of the Middle East. Not only to give the Palestinian and Israeli citizens the peace they deserve, but also in our own strategic interest. After all, a stable peace in the Middle East means fewer refugee flows – half of the Palestinian refugees are currently coming to Belgium. A stable peace ensures less radicalisation and more cooperation against the alliances of Iran, Russia and North Korea, which only want to cause damage throughout the region. It is therefore very important that we develop a plan for the Middle East ourselves. I call on you to ensure that in this way we can bring peace, stability and perspective to the whole region.

Mr President, for more than eight months now, the Belgian-Congolese Jean-Jacques Wondo has been in a Congolese cell, where he is tortured and deprived of all medical care. He was sentenced to death without much evidence because he was involved in a coup attempt. Not just him, but 36 others are facing the death penalty. The death penalty has recently been reinstated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a years-long moratorium. Mr Wondo's medical condition is deteriorating on a daily basis and he is not receiving any significant medical assistance. Let us reflect together on this suffering and send a clear signal against the death penalty, torture and unfair trials and for the release of these prisoners unless credible evidence emerges. After all, it is not just about Jean-Jacques Wondo, but about the fundamental values of universal justice and human rights, which we defend. A fair trial and medical care are not favors but rights that everyone should have. The reintroduction of the death penalty completely contradicts this.

Mr President, according to Donald Tusk, we should not ask what America can do for our security, but we should ask ourselves what we can do for our security. In this time of geopolitical tensions, we cannot blindly rely on the US security umbrella. Trump was elected president. Putin is causing chaos, both at our borders and at the heart of our democracy. Hybrid attacks and cyberattacks are rife. We need to get our backs up more than ever. We can only do this if we work together; not only in Europe, but also beyond, to create stable regions at our borders. To this end, we must not only strengthen our defence industry and military spending, which are necessary, but we must also be more assertive and decisive. In 1991, former Prime Minister Mark Eyskens stated that Europe is an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm. Let's make sure that military worm belongs to the past.