Debate contributions by Wouter BEKE

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we have known for a long time now that Russia is not only fighting its war against Ukraine on the front line. In the last two years, there have been several incidents across Europe. Sabotage. Sabotage with the aim of disrupting our society, causing chaos. There's really only one word for it, and that's "terror." A clear example of this was the use of civilian ships. With this so-called shadow fleet, Russia is not only trying to impose or circumvent economic sanctions. It is also actively sabotaging our utilities. It is therefore only logical that we should take action against this. Preventive and reactive. Cooperation with NATO in the Baltic Sea is therefore also necessary. The 15th package of sanctions is also a good step. But more needs to be done. Don't let us shy away from outside pressure. And then I look at my Hungarian colleagues, and it is up to us to protect Ukraine and ourselves from Russian terror, on land, at sea and in the air.

(Beginning of the speech next to the microphone) ... denies that Donald Trump was legally elected. He's an elected president of the United States and we're going to have to deal with it. But the way we do it depends on us. And so we have to prepare. We must not be intimidated; We need to prepare. This means: More Europe and a stronger Europe. This is completely at odds with what your group, your group, stands for. A stronger Europe is a better Europe and a safer Europe for our prosperity and for our citizens.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in Trump's first speech as 47th President, Europe was not worth a word in his speech. That could be good news. Maybe Europe wasn't a target. It can also be bad news. Maybe it just wasn't worth it for him to talk about it. Trump's unpredictability is great. In his first term, he broke more than half of his electoral promises and ran 30,000 times with the truth. What is coming at us, we do not know. What we do know is that we may be able to hope for the best, but we need to be prepared for the worst. And so we need to speak with one voice. Trump is already trying to divide Europe. We cannot let that happen and it will depend on us here. Secondly, we must take our own responsibility for our own safety. Donald Tusk is coming here tomorrow. The motto of the Polish Presidency is "Security Europe". We have to do that. Thirdly, we must put an end to economic naivety. We must not become a toy in a trade war between China and the United States. It is up to us to radiate that unity.

Mr President, after more than 471 days, the weapons in Gaza are silent. That's not a day too early. As fragile as the truce may be for the time being, it will hopefully allow us to turn one of the darkest pages in the history of the Middle East, both for the Palestinians and for the Israelis. If we zoom out for a moment, we see that there are several positive signs in the region: the fall of Assad in Syria, the new president and prime minister in Lebanon, and the diminishing influence of Russia and Iran in this agreement. These are all bright spots for peace and security. However, all this happened without strong involvement of Europe. Where is Europe in this story? Let us therefore use this fragile peace to pave the way for a lasting peace, a lasting cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and Israel, but also in Lebanon and in Syria. It is up to us, as a community of values, to find solutions so that terror and extremism never take this region hostage again.

Mr President, Commissioner, farmers experience more stress and pressure on mental well-being than other professions. The Flemish Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) identified no less than seven stress factors, including occupational risks, a lack of appreciation and workload. But the core of the problem for many farmers lies here in European policy. An uncertain future perspective and a volatile regulatory framework today prevent farmers from planning ahead. Last week we held a Young Farmers' Congress with the European People's Party. I spoke to a lot of young farmers and they told me: We do not so much ask for a lower goal, but we do ask for certainty, perspective. One of them said to me: You politicians think in terms of five years. We have to think in terms of 20 years. If we go to a bank, we have to take out loans for 20 years. That's a totally different perspective. And it is that perspective that we must keep in mind. Let us strive together for stable, predictable rules, sufficient support for our farmers, our farmers. They deserve our full commitment. Not only today with words, but also in the coming months when drawing up specific legislation and concrete budgets. It is time to make the necessary changes and give our farmers the security they so desperately need. Let's work on that.

Mr President, Commissioner, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. That's what we all wish for each other these days. But it is not at our external borders. There is the war in Ukraine, and Putin, which destroys electricity infrastructure and thus figuratively and literally leaves the Ukrainians in the cold. We have received here this morning the Georgian President, who courageously encourages the protests against Russian influence. We have Moldova, where 100 million invested by Russia to manipulate the elections. And at Poland's borders, asylum seekers are used in hybrid warfare. It's not quiet on the Eastern front. Europe needs a Ring of FriendsRight now, we only have one. Ring of Fire. Yesterday I called here for a strong response to the TikTok investigation in Romania and yesterday the European Commission also decided to do so: very good! We also need that determination in the next few moments. The question is not whether Russia is at war or not. Russia is at war today, in a hybrid way and on social media. And that deserves only censure from this whole Parliament.

Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, our Western democracy, which depends on the trust of elections and in elections. Objective, fair, impartial elections are the absolute foundation of a Western democratic society. As Nelson Mandela once rightly said: ‘a free press, free opinion’. Free media is essential to the functioning of our democracy. For many of us, today's press is also social media. It is therefore unacceptable that social media platforms do not fulfil that crucial role. The fact that they allow themselves to be abused by figures like Vladimir Putin is simply unacceptable. Before the introduction of the Digital Service Act, the Commission could still hide behind a lack of instruments, a lack of tools to act. Today she can't do this anymore. That is why I call on the Commission to investigate this matter to the bone. The responsibility of platforms such as TikTok in influencing the Romanian elections must be clearly identified, followed by sanctions, appropriate sanctions and measures. Anyone who allows an autocrat, a war criminal, to interfere in elections in Europe might as well end democracy and free elections. Let's work together to ensure that our elections remain free and fair, and protected from foreign interference and abuse of social media platforms. Our democracy deserves nothing less.

Mr President, Madam High Commissioner, you were in office for one week and one authoritarian regime has already fallen. We can only welcome the fall of Assad. Anyone who doubts whether we should be happy with that should take a look at the images of the Sednaya prison or listen to the testimonies. A human prison, a human slaughterhouse, the slaughterhouse of Assad. This is a new opportunity. Yes, it may also be a new threat because we must ensure that it does not become like Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Or Libya after the fall of Gaddafi, or the new Afghanistan. This means that Europe and you, Madam, must take the lead in the first place. Ensuring that regimes such as Turkey, Iran and Russia do not use the vacuum to expand their influence. We need a plan for Syria, but also for Syria. There are 13 to 15 million Syrians in the diaspora. They also look with great concern at that country. Europe must ensure stability and enter into dialogue with them. Not by sending them back today, but by devising a plan for the future together. We're counting on you for that, ma'am!

Mr President, Prime Minister Letta, EUR 33 trillion (yes, EUR 33 000 billion), that is how much savings there is in the European Union. An incredibly large amount, especially when you consider that there are so many start-ups and scale-ups, so many companies and SMEs that want to invest in the digital transition, the green transition, defence, the technological sector and agriculture. We will soon be discussing Europe's budget for 2027. However, activating that savings is at least as essential as that budget. Your report states that EUR 300 billion a year flows to the United States. 300 billion is almost twice Europe's budget. It's that capital that we need to invest. This is why the Capital Markets Union is so crucial. Let's make that a priority.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, Audi Brussels is closing. Seven to eight years ago, I was involved in the future, the new discovery of Audi Brussels. Then we would build a car factory in Brussels that would be the most efficient, the most future-oriented. The first fully electric Audi model would be built there. Audi is closing today. That's the paradox, because that's where Audi's first electric cars were built. The Strict CO2-targets to be met by 2025 are fast approaching and many car manufacturers are at risk of not meeting them. That calls for support. This does not require sanctioning. And that's what we're threatening to do today: Billions of dollars in sanctions on car companies that have to make that transition. I'm not one of those who say we shouldn't make that transition. I am one of those who say that we have to make that transition, but that we also have to prepare the companies to be able to make it. And that is not the case today. What are we supposed to do? We need to focus on the affordability of electric vehicles, we need to focus on charging infrastructure, which is still substandard, and we need to focus on the diversification of supply chains. But there are also hopeful signs, such as new batteries. In Belgium, a new battery has been developed by Imec in Leuven, close to Brussels. A battery of the future. We can make that future come true together. But we do not do that by sanctioning, but by enthusing.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen of the Commission, I would like to take this opportunity to draw attention to the situation in Ukraine, including in the preparation of this European Council. Things are not going well in Ukraine. Donbas is under pressure and difficult times are also coming for the Ukrainian people. Winter is coming. Russia has succeeded in destroying two thirds of Ukraine’s energy-generating capacity. Eighty percent of the thermal capacity has been destroyed by the Russian army. Energy that the Ukrainian people need to literally survive. Seventeen gigawatts will be needed in the coming months. Europe can do something about it. At the G7, a decision was taken to grant a loan of 45 billion euros to Ukraine. This loan is vital for the coming months. That is why I would like to ask for your attention in order to reach an agreement on this and to release these funds very quickly. Because if the lamp does not continue to burn in Ukraine, then a dark situation will occur throughout Europe. And then there's only one man who'll enjoy it, and that's Putin. We can't let him do that.

Mr President, Mr High Representative for Foreign Affairs, today we commemorate 1 200 victims who fell exactly one year ago, 100 hostages who are still being held hostage, but also 40 000 victims who could have been avoided if we had made every effort to release the hostages. We must conclude that Israel's response did not lead to the release of those 100 hostages. I have listened carefully to you, Mr High Representative, and your words actually reflect a great deal of impotence. Powerlessness from Europe. Yes, we are the largest donor in terms of aid, and that is a good thing. And we have the largest diplomatic corps in the world. But we are not succeeding in resolving this terrible conflict on both sides. We, as Europe, will not succeed. That's something to be embarrassed about. We know what the solution should be: the two-state solution. And yet we don't succeed. I was at the Holocaust Museum a few years ago. Yad Vashem And there it was on the wall: A country is not only what it does; It is also what it tolerates. Europe is not only what it does; It is also what it tolerates. And at the moment, in one way or another, we, as Europe, are also tolerating this conflict.

Mr President, last week I met Andri Siromacha, a former Ukrainian soldier of 23 years old. Andri is his right arm and right leg He lost it and broke his spine. He will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. When asked what his ultimate dream was, he replied: One day we will be the president of a free Ukraine. Yesterday we heard in the news that Vladimir Putin wants to increase his army by another 180,000 troops. We must therefore continue to support Ukraine both financially and militarily. A crucial part of this support is the proposed G7 loan of US$50 billion, to be completed by the end of this year. We, as Europe, need one. line Pull and act quickly. Only in this way can we, together with the G7, show determination in the fight against Russian aggression and show our unwavering support for Ukraine. Significant steps have been taken since the start of the war, for example in the form of support packages and the recently agreed Ukraine Facility. We must continue to supplement these packages. Nevertheless, more action is needed. Military support is equally essential. However, we can only continue to provide this support if we are able to strengthen our own defence capacity and industry. By investing in our own industry, we can continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary equipment and at the same time guarantee our own safety. In short, financial and military support go hand in hand. Mr Orbán, with a united, rapid approach, we can strengthen both. Ukraine is counting on us. Let us not abandon the Ukrainian people. We must not abandon Andri Siromacha and so many others.

Mr President, yesterday was Agriculture Day in Belgium. I saw young entrepreneurs in agriculture who want to innovate and who want to move forward and work hard. However, I also saw young farmers facing many problems in Europe, including the Habitats Directive, Natura 2000 legislation and the ordainedand nature restoration, which was recently voted on. In my region, only 13% of farmers aged 50 and over have a successor. This problem arises not only there, but throughout Europe. Farmers want legal certainty and not red tape. They are willing to become more sustainable and to innovate, because they know that this is necessary. For this, however, they need Europe. Tomorrow it will be Report by Mario Draghi on innovation, the future of our industry and strategic autonomy. This strategic autonomy is needed in agriculture. The report provides good impetus for the European Union tobuilding flexibility, innovative strength and a real vision for the futureJust a minute. We need to free our farmers from the current suffocating regulations and their Give them the opportunity to do business.