Debate contributions by Dariusz JOŃSKI

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Today's vote on Mercosur here in the European Parliament makes it clear that no agreement, but no agreement, should be signed without the participation of those directly affected. And today we are discussing another agreement between the European Union and India, which is very important, very important and very much needed. But again, there are certain sectors, even strategic industries, which are already calling for help today. It is the ceramics industry, the aluminium industry or the steel industry. Last year, at the end of last year, they made a pact and called for support, for help. Why is that? I will give an example of only the ceramic industry, which is very important, because each of us, when doing renovation at home, needs to buy ceramic tiles. In India, ceramic tiles are sold for one euro. With us, the cost of production – not only in my country, Poland, but in Europe – is 3 euros, that is 1 in 3, and customs duties are between 7 and 8%. If we, Commissioner, do not help these companies today – not in 3 years, but today – and do not raise these tariffs, do not protect the market, then this ceramics industry will stop working at all. How long can you compete when it's three times more expensive? And it is more expensive, among other things, not because it is less competitive, but because there are different production standards in India, environmental, energy and social. That is why I appeal, Commissioner, until it is too late, for support and assistance for these industries, especially for the ceramics industry, because this is a very important industry from a European point of view.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. After 11 years, it is high time to conclude the debate on passenger rights and adopt it. I would like to warmly thank Andrey for his very hard work. Aircraft passengers in Europe want fair prices. They don't want marketing tricks. And I'll give you an example. Flight in May from Warsaw to Brussels. The cheap line: 72 euros. Regular Polish Airlines: 121 euros. We all see this difference, but when a passenger wants to take 7 kg hand luggage, the situation changes absolutely. In Flight, which is the regular line, the price remains the same, and in this low-cost line, it rises even by more than 100%. So the passenger pays almost the second as much as for the price of the ticket. And that's where the problem is. The price of the ticket cannot be a marketing procedure. It must be the real price that the passenger sees and understands from the first click. Hand luggage is an absolute standard of travel, not a luxury. Therefore, its cost should be included in the ticket price, not hidden in the surcharges. And our Polish carrier, Polish LOT, shows that transparency is possible. He can be punctual. And what is more, I believe that now is the time for the European standard. Finally, I would like to say that the Committee on Transport supported these provisions, one could say unanimously. There were no opposites. This also shows, which is rarely the case, that the committee supports it. I want to thank Andrey again for his hard work. And I hope that the European Parliament will support these solutions in the interest of passengers. And I want to say that we will fight for passenger rights.

Mr President, thank you very much. If the transformation is to be real and harmless, we must look at the facts where we see that the goals set are falling apart with reality. Europe wants to produce, as we hear, 20 million tonnes of green fuels by 2035 and we need, as the Commissioner said, almost EUR 100 billion, but we have planned less than EUR 3 billion for this. Of course, green fuels are much more expensive – up to 10 times more expensive – than fossil fuels, so without financial mechanisms such as subsidies or long-term contracts, industry may not invest. And that threatens the wrong wheel. On the one hand, the lack of demand, then the lack of investment and, of course, maintaining high prices. So without a guarantee of stable prices, airlines as well as shipping companies will not sign long-term contracts. What's more, we hear that there is still a lack of a simple system that would allow to increase demand faster and launch investments. So if we don't close this financial, regulatory hole, we won't even meet our own goals, and there's no way to be a global leader. It's not about new declarations. It is about some funding, clear rules and introduction book and claimto turn ambitions into real production. Europe can build this industry, but only if the targets finally match the tools we really have at our disposal.

Mr President, thank you very much. Today's debate started with the slogan "Our Europe must be an independent Europe" and we all agree on that. There are two pillars that should be implemented over the coming months. The first is, of course, the issue of security, and here Europe has focused on security: Shield East, Safe program, EDI program. Today, Europe is much safer, it invests in security and we know that this is the most important thing. But on the other hand, we have competitive economies that we are talking about all the time in this room, and we have several industries that are waiting for support, for help. It is a metal industry that is threatened by high energy prices. It is a ceramics industry that is threatened by the import of cheap ceramics from India. After all, it is the chemical industry, which was three times stronger than China 20 years ago, and today it is the European industry that must chase China. And finally, the automotive industry. Therefore, there is a need to revise climate targets, to invest in the economy and to protect the European economy. Oh, thank you.

Mr President, thank you very much. The chemical industry is the foundation of the European economy because it provides materials, components, technologies that are essential for agriculture, defence and modern industrial sectors. In my country alone, 340,000 people work in this sector and account for almost 10% of GDP. Without a strong chemical sector, there will be no European industry. Therefore, any regulatory reform, common data platform or European Chemicals Agency should strengthen, not undermine, Europe's ability to produce or innovate. Europe already has the most advanced chemical assessment system in the world. No other region collects as much data and applies such strict security standards. It is therefore important to ensure that new responsibilities do not turn into a new wave of bureaucracy. I am talking here in particular about small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of the European chemical industry. And the most important thing: effective implementation of the Chemical Industry Action Plan, i.e. a plan that is to be a signal of real support for the chemical industry. The Polish chemical industry together with its partners from Central Europe appealed to the European Commission for concrete actions to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry. This is the time when you have to implement this plan, because this industry can no longer wait.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Committee on Petitions is the bridge between citizens and the institutions of the European Union. And, of course, it plays such a special role in the work of the European Parliament, because this is the only forum where citizens of the European Union can not only present their problems and challenges they face, but also, most importantly, they can speak in committee meetings in person. And it is here that every resident of the European Union, no matter what country he or she is from, what language he or she speaks, can, of course, be heard. Petitions are an effective channel of direct contact, which we are discussing today, and open dialogue. And I would like to give two examples. One of them is a petition submitted by a Polish citizen on the introduction of a minimum allowable legroom for all airlines operating in the European Union. This case demonstrates how the committee can address issues directly affecting the comfort and safety of travellers, as well as affecting EU consumer rights regulations. And the second example, also from Poland, on addressing the selective enforcement of European Union rules in the smoked salmon industry. This petition stresses the need to ensure uniform application of the rules on the processing of fishery products throughout the European Union in order to avoid competitive inequalities and ensure fair conditions for all companies in the industry. And the task of Members in the European Parliament is not only to listen to these voices, but to act concretely. And that's what we do. I would like to thank the rapporteur, Fredis Beleris, and all my colleagues for their cooperation. Please support this report.

Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal today to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to immediately present a proposal to move away from the ban on the sale of combustion cars in 2035. We are consistent as a Polish delegation on this matter and I do so on behalf of 22 million drivers from Poland and nearly 200,000 employees who produce parts, produce cars for others, because we do not yet produce our own, but produce for others. If we do not move away from this draconian ban, the European automotive industry will fall. I don't think we have any doubts about that. Just look at Belgium. There were 7 plants, there was one - Chinese. We produce Volvo. Let's look at what's happening in France. More layoffs of several thousand people. Renault itself says 3,000 people have been made redundant, and in Germany 50,000 have been made redundant in the last year, and if we do nothing over the next 5 years, another 100,000 will be made redundant. As we will look at the results of 2024, nearly 13 million cars sold in Europe, of which more than 11.5 were combustion cars, only one and a half million were electrics, of which a large part of Chinese electricians, which are subsidized by the Chinese government only to take over European cars. Europeans want to have a choice. We can't ban it. We can promote hybrids and electrics. That's what we should be doing. But let's not ban people from what kind of car they want to drive. Today, five percent of new car sales in Europe are made up of Chinese cars. There has to be a strong response, and we have to defend this big industry and this big branch of the economy, because it provides 13 million jobs.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Thank you very much for this debate, because it is crucial for the security of the whole of Europe. Not only is Russia already threatening, but Russia is also attacking – with drones, cyberattacks and provocations at our borders. And these are not individual cases. It's a systemic test of our resilience in Europe and an attempt to see if we're going backwards or if we're going to be together. Today, Europe faces a choice: Fear or strength. We choose strength, we choose unity, and we choose defense. Because if we don't defend the eastern border, we won't defend any. Russia is provoking, and Europe must respond firmly, together and effectively. That is why, as the EPP delegation, we are proposing concrete solutions, not declarations. A real common defense system against drones, protection of ports, airports, energy infrastructure, but also the East Shield. The East Shield, which is the true line of defence of the European Union.

Mr President, thank you very much. I am very pleased with this strategic agreement with India, but at the same time I would like to call on us to safeguard the interests of Europe and the countries of the European Union. I want to talk about a very important industry. In my country alone, 100,000 people work in this industry. It's about the ceramics industry. Yes, we are, as Europe, flooded with ceramic tiles from India. Why is that? This is because we have imposed tariffs of 70% on China and only 6-8% on India, so that all production from China has moved to India and thus sells tiles to Europe for 5 euros. And in Poland, Italy or France, you have to pay at least €13-14 to produce such tiles. Therefore, it is impossible to compete. And this is the moment to level the playing field in the market. And that is why I would like to call on the Commissioner from this point on, as in the case of China, to also impose such dumping duties on India, so that we can protect several hundred thousand jobs, one of the very important industries, and so that we can say that we have succeeded in doing so within the framework of the competitiveness of the European economy. In fact, we should do it not today, but now.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sport is an investment in health, in energy, in the future of Europe. And it cannot be an absolute luxury, it must be a right of every person in the European Union. I am very pleased that this debate is taking place today, because it is of great importance for the future of Europe, because we are talking about health. We are also talking about quality of life. From this point on, I would like to thank Mr Bogdan Zdrojewski very much for taking this important initiative. And we are talking not only about competitive and professional sport, because sport is not only a competition and medals, but also the concern of public institutions for the health of society. According to data from the World Health Organization, one third of European adults do not meet the recommendations on physical activity, and one in four children in the European Union is overweight or obese. And these are not just numbers. This is a serious warning. Lack of exercise leads to heart disease, diabetes, but also to mental problems, depression, loneliness and chronic stress. That is why we need a common European strategy that, in addition to professional sport of course, can bring physical activity back to everyday life in schools, at work and in our local communities. In Poland, we have already made some attempts and introduced a new subject, health education, which is to build awareness of young people in terms of activity, healthy lifestyle and prevention of civilization diseases. And last week in Brussels I had the pleasure to host the newly established federations of the Union of Defence Arts. The union has nearly half a million members, and its goal is not only to learn martial arts, but also to build awareness of health, self-discipline and responsibility. Sport for all will be a success for Europe.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mrs Zajączkowska-Hernik just said that Putin laughs every day. Yes, he laughs, because you give him reasons for this, for this joy, every day. And I want to say that this fifth column of the European Union, which preaches Russian propaganda every day, is both here – in this room – and in every country of the European Union. And there were, and there are, in this room and in the European Union, those who said that this is not our war. Even today we heard it. And yesterday 19 drones flew into Polish space. Whose war is this? Oh, that's right. The European Union must arm itself and defend itself. And thanks to this, there is also the SAFE program. But there are and there were those who said: Why should the European Union spend any one euro on arms? Only Poland will receive 180 billion for armaments. What's the point? To defend the borders of Poland and the European Union. And these manipulations of yours don't stand a chance against unity. Today I would like to thank, on behalf of – I think – the entire Polish nation, not only for the words of solidarity, but also for the words and for the money that the European Union gives to the armament and security of Europe.

Dear President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. It was supposed to be a speech about satellite navigation, but on September 10, 2025, around midnight, 19 Russian drones flew into Poland. And not only did they reach the eastern border, but they also reached central Poland. And today I have to talk about solidarity and common defence, of which modern navigation is, but will also be, an integral part. As I said, a dozen Russian drones violated Polish airspace last night. And we all, absolutely all know that this was not a coincidence, but it was just a provocation. Poland reacted firmly and adequately. This was not the reaction of one country. We responded on behalf of a Europe of solidarity, because our borders, NATO and the European Union, are our borders. If they are tested, we are all tested. And that is why I would like to thank Europe, the European Union, the European Commission for almost 180 billion zlotys, 44 billion euros, which will be invested from the SAFE programme in Poland to defend Poland and to defend Europe. These measures will, of course, strengthen our air and digital defenses, but security is not just about missiles and radars. It's also satellite-resistance and precise navigation. I want to make it very clear today that the night that has passed has been a clear signal to Europe. Only unity can protect us in Europe. The Polish border is the border of Europe. A safe Europe is a safe Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. A few years later, today in Poland, the Supreme Audit Office filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office concerning one of the biggest scandals – GetBack. This is one of the biggest financial scandals in the history of Poland. Nearly 10,000 people have been scammed for nearly $3.5 billion. The notification includes the name of former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, today the head of the ECR. The Polish state institution states that, as the person responsible for supervision, it has committed omissions that enabled this drama of thousands of people. And I want to make it very clear that this was no ordinary scandal. It was a political and business arrangement in which the state was on the side of dirty interests, not people. And we can't pretend nothing happened. A man with such accusations cannot lead a European political party. Mr Mateusz Morawiecki should immediately step down as head of the ECR. The decency, credibility and responsibility towards millions of affected citizens demand this.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. We are talking today about a new financial perspective, which we will hear in a week, so it is impossible not to talk about ETS2 at the same time. On the one hand, we all see how the climate is changing: in some places in Europe we have temperatures well over 40 degrees, in other places we have floods. In my country, heavy rains have lasted for several days. The climate is changing and there is no discussion at all. But on the other hand, we want to work together to ensure that companies are competitive and that ordinary citizens do not feel it through higher taxes and fees. Let me be clear: our delegation of the Citizens' Coalition here in the European Parliament will not allow these burdens to affect ordinary citizens. I would like to ask you, Commissioner, how else does the European Commission want to solve this problem in order to take care of the climate on the one hand, but on the other hand, not to burden citizens with these changes and to ensure the competitiveness of the economy?

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. First of all, I would like to thank you very much for this debate. The discussion of the strategic industry, which is the chemical industry, and the presentation by the Commissioner of the chemical package also concerns my country, where the chemical industry employs 341 000 people, representing 10% of GDP. But it is worth mentioning here that even 20 years ago, Europe in the chemical industry was several times stronger than China, roughly in the ratio of 3:1. Today, those proportions have reversed. Why is that? Especially because of electricity prices. And something has to change. I was recently at the congress of Polish chemistry in Krakow, where Polish companies presented a manifesto of Polish chemistry detailing precisely the aspects that must change, i.e. energy prices, simplification, modernization of plants. I am pleased that this is included in the package presented by the Commissioner. I would also like to add, Commissioner, that the time has come to act, and there is the full support of the Polish delegation here, because for us, jobs and companies competing with China, India or Asia are what we are fighting for here in Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Thank you for this discussion. Of course, at the moment we have a huge flood of products from China, India, Asia. They come in small and large packages. Many speakers here today talked about these small packages, but I would like to draw attention to the large ones. Well, I draw attention to ceramic companies throughout the European Union - Italian, Spanish, Polish companies - which at the moment have huge problems, because we are currently flooded by Indian tiles, ceramics, which we use every day, including when building kitchens, our bathrooms. At the moment, these tariffs are too low. 7-9% is nothing, so we're just flooded. Nobody checks, nobody tests these products whether they are harmful or not, and nobody makes sure that these European companies can continue to function. And from here, I would really like to ask the European Commission to fight for the European industry, for these ceramic companies, because almost 60,000 people work in this industry only in Poland.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. People around the world use public transport for many reasons, mainly for reasons of economy and convenience. The European Union is an absolute leader in the development of accessible and integrated public transport. Perhaps we are second only to some Asian leaders, such as Japan or South Korea, in terms of technology or punctuality. But as we compare it with other parts of the world, such as the United States, individual transport dominates, and investment in collective transport is sometimes limited. The European Union is at the forefront of public transport, not least because it invests. I want to say that only in my country, in Poland, in recent months, thanks to the money from KPO, we are making huge purchases. Among other things, we signed contracts for 257 zero- and low-emission vehicles, 88 trams. In my region, the two-millionth voivodship of Łódź, we invest and buy new trains for PLN 183 million. But it's not over. After all, we are investing in high-speed rail. And here I would like to thank the Commissioner for his commitment to this subject, because, as he pointed out, among other things, in the Letta report, we need to bring together all the European capitals and Poland is ready to do so. We have started this construction. We want to invest in the next seven years and the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk says: 180 billion in turn. And this, of course, brings results, because 15 years ago there were 270 million passengers in Poland. Right now we're going to record: Nearly $410 million. But I want to say something equally important. In Poland, we have over 22 million cars and 92% of households that have at least one car. It's not a coincidence. 40% of my compatriots live in rural areas where a car is not a luxury but a necessity. There is simply no choice. When developing public transport, we cannot go the way of prohibitions. And here I draw attention to this ban on combustion cars – 2035. Instead of punishing, just encourage. Instead of banning, let's invest, because only then will people really move.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Mr. Secretary of State! Nearly a decade ago, two politicians loudly and emphatically warned against Nord Stream. One of them was the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. The second was the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. Why is that? Because it was about safety. Exactly what is the Polish Presidency about today? Safety, Europe! That's what it was all about today and then. Ten years ago, Jerzy Buzek, as President, proposed an Energy Union that helps the European Union reduce its dependence on energy imports. And eight years ago, President Donald Tusk wrote in a letter to the President of the European Commission Juncker: Nord Stream 2 will harm Europe. Years later, it turned out that Donald Tusk was right. He wasn't wrong. Putin wanted to make Europe dependent on its raw materials, and he did so successfully for many years. He made a lot of money, and he turned that money into armaments. And, of course, there are politicians in the room who thought that it was possible to do energy business with Putin. Unfortunately, there were also politicians in my country from Mr. Kaczynski's party who gave money to those who traded during their rule and imported coal from Russia. Coal imports increased almost 2.5 times during their time in 2015 and until 2019. What did Putin do with this money from gas and coal? We all know. He produced rockets and bombs, which he then dropped on Kharkiv, Kiev and Dnieper. Well, today, a clear signal must resound from this room: Europe does not need Nord Stream. Europe does not need Russian raw materials. Never again.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The US tariffs on EU exports increase from €7 billion in 2023 to €81 billion in 2025, almost €74 billion more. Approximately 70% of EU products exported to the US will be subject to an additional fee. Of course, the automotive sector will be most affected. EU exports worth roughly €66 billion will be subject to additional charges of €16.5 billion. This also applies to my country, because we produce 800,000 cars, and 200,000 people work in this sector. Simply put, the global economy could lose as much as 7% of GDP. This is the equivalent of the economies of Germany and France combined. The European Union does not want a customs war, but a partnership. That is why this proposal of zero duties on both sides is a very reasonable and expected – I think on both sides - proposal.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. The trans-European transport network is not only a convenience and not only the development of the economy, but above all it is a matter of our European security. Military mobility is absolutely crucial here. Europe must be ready to move its armed forces quickly and efficiently where they are needed. Adapting the TNT network to dual use, on the one hand civilian and on the other military, will allow for the rapid movement of forces and equipment in crisis situations. Modern railways, modern bridges, but also roads and terminals are the foundation of our resilience, but also the foundation of our security. And regardless of whether we are talking about Łódź, my city, Paris or Sofia, these are investments in the security of the whole of Europe. A modern transport network can be Europe's strength, and I would like to emphasise this very strongly. We will spend a total of 850 billion over 15 years to complete the entire network of European corridors. That's a huge amount. Investments in the TNT network in the area of military mobility amount to nearly EUR 19 billion. TNT is not only an infrastructure project, but it is a strategy that shapes the future of European mobility. The TNT network is also Europe's security.

Madam President, thank you very much. The European Coal and Steel Community initiated this great process of European integration after World War II, and today the steel industry expects our support and assistance. Not so long ago as in February, representatives of the metallurgical industry came to Brussels, talking about their dramatic situation, about the fact that they have to temporarily shut down furnaces. And this applies to Polish Krakow, Lower Saxony or Spanish Girona. I am pleased that during the Polish Presidency, the European Commission is presenting a clear plan to help steel to protect jobs, to lower energy prices, to increase demand. I would like to make a great request to the Commissioner. We also need to ensure competitiveness. It cannot be the case that these companies incur very high costs of CO2 emissions and companies outside the European Union do not and thus European companies are less competitive. We must protect and help, not punish.