Debate contributions by Marta WCISŁO

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Russian drones violate the skies of the European Union, Poland, and also my Lublin region. It's not an incident, it's an attack. They test our systems and unity. And Europe cannot be the target of Kremlin exercises. We need to work together, right now. We need a European drone shield, warehouses, efficient logistics, investment in dual use, joint command and real defence of citizens. Finally, Article 42 must work in practice, not just on paper. We've wasted too much time. We can't wait for more drones to fall on our homes, schools or hospitals. Russian imperialism must be stopped here and now, immediately, with courage. Therefore, Russian frozen assets should be used. The European defence industry should therefore be strengthened, including by abolishing the ETS for steel and industrial chemistry production, in the name of the safety of the 500 million citizens of the European Union. Enough of waiting! We have to act! Commissioner, that's what I'm asking.

Dear colleague, I refer a little to your memory. Remember who was responsible for the Green Deal. Remember Commissioner Wojciechowski saying that this is the biggest opportunity for Polish and European agriculture – the Green Deal. Remember how you said that grain from Ukraine, which flooded Poland, which can be bought at the price of PLN 1,500 per tonne, is the highest value. That's what your Minister for Agriculture said, and that's what your Commissioner for Agriculture said. And you're asking me that today? You have been cheating Polish farmers for 8 years. You're the ones who lied in Poland. And today you dare to ask such questions? The agreement with Mercosur has been negotiated for many decades. Where were you then? Where was your government?

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Today we are talking about changes in the common agricultural policy that can bring benefits for Poland and for all Member States, including simplification of rules, less bureaucracy and more flexibility for farmers, the so-called omnibus. That is, faster, simpler and more effective. In addition, the smallest farmers can receive more support from 1200 to 2.5 thousand euros, and small farms will be able to receive additional up to 50 thousand euros for business development. This is a great opportunity for our family farms from Poland, especially in the Lublin region, which are the foundation of Polish agriculture. Agriculture is food security, stability of production. But this stability can be very shaken by the Mercosur agreement today. Commissioner, I ask you, on behalf of Polish farmers, to stop the devastating agreement with Mercosur. Because today Polish farmers, Ladies and Gentlemen, donate their crops for free. You can go to Poland today. I invite you, Commissioner, to go to the field, pick up the peppers and take them for free, because production costs, harvest costs and transport costs are higher than the buying-in prices. And the agreement with Mercosur will only kill Polish farmers.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The High House! Yesterday, Russian drones violated Polish airspace, and many of them fell on Lublin, in the region from which I come. The attack on Poland is an attack on the whole of Europe. And here, in this Chamber, I hear from Polish MEPs that this is not our war. Maybe it would be fairer to go to these people in Lublin and speak Russian to them? Putin would be happier. The fact that drones have now fallen on Poland does not mean that tomorrow they will not fall on Western or Southern Europe. That is why we must be ready to defend every piece of European territory. We need effective air defense, modern anti-drone systems, a shield that will protect our skies and our families. This is our shared responsibility. The task of the whole Union, regardless of whether someone lives in Warsaw, Berlin or Madrid. You want peace, get ready for war. And I ask all of you above political divisions, all Poles: Let's be one for once.

Dear President, Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Cohesion policy does not reflect its assumptions in reality, as can be seen in the low use of funds. EU cohesion policy funds must be more easily accessible to local governments, businesses and citizens alike. The bureaucratic machinery of European procedures paralyses and discourages economic operators – especially small, micro and medium-sized ones – from using European cohesion policy funds. It is necessary to reduce bureaucracy and to have a comprehensible system of full information about available resources, programmes, where and who can apply. The money from cohesion policy is dedicated to the development of regions, companies, infrastructure and many other tasks. Today, in the face of the war in Ukraine and threats from Russia, they should be additionally used to strengthen security through so-called investment projects. dual use, i.e. dual-use. For example, halls, stadiums, which in time of peace serve the residents as cultural and educational facilities, sports, and in time of danger as shelters, of course according to the needs of the country. This will increase the use of funds and meet the expectations of the inhabitants of Eastern Europe, especially Eastern Poland, regions such as the Lublin region.

First of all, I will refer to my colleague from Poland, who said that the European People's Party is against people and has generated poverty. No, you are the ones who take certain actions, exclude and stigmatise, and divide Poles. Mr President, I speak on behalf of ordinary people, residents of Eastern Poland, such as the Lublin region, where the average salary is often half the EU's, and the average citizen does not drive a new electric car, but an old, worn-out one that is 15 or 20 years old. Today, 40% of cars in Poland are vehicles older than two decades. We need to develop regulations that take into account the reality of millions of citizens who cannot afford a new electric car or expensive repairs. If we restrict access to cheap spare parts, if we exclude local workshops from the repair process, we are not creating a just transition, we are deepening transport and social exclusion. We can't let that happen. That is why I call for wise solutions.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. NATO is a principle: ‘One for all, all for one’. Today, Article 5 is once again the cornerstone of our security. The summit in The Hague must send a clear signal: Europe stands united against threats and ready to defend every piece of land and every citizen, including on the eastern border – in the Lublin region, in Podlasie, in Podkarpacie. We must not allow the withdrawal of US troops from Poland or Bulgaria, countries on the front line, because the US presence is not only a symbol, but good relations and a deterrent to aggression. Today we need to strengthen the European pillar in NATO, spending more than 2% of GDP on defence. Poland is already setting an example of responsibility: It has purchased 96 Apache attack helicopters and spends 5% of its GDP on defense. The key investments for NATO and the Union are the East Shield and the Baltic defence line, with the involvement of the NATO Investment Programme. After the NATO summit, Europe must be stronger and the 500 million citizens of the European Union must look to the future safely. As the saying goes: “You want peace, get ready for war.”

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Resolution on strengthening rural areas – extremely important: reduces red tape for farmers, supports small and medium-sized enterprises, focuses on shortening the supply chain and strengthens food security. In addition, the resolution supports the model of family farming and small and medium-sized farms, which are the foundation of, among others, the Polish village. These are key provisions, but not the only ones I have worked on as shadow rapporteur. The resolution calls on the Member States to make full use of all possible means – both financial, aid and administrative – to strengthen rural areas, especially the regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, which have taken on the greatest burden of the war beyond the eastern border of the European Union. I ask all MEPs, and in particular Polish MEPs, to vote in favour of this resolution, which all farmers are waiting for.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an invasion of the destruction of Ukraine, has been going on for three years now. Every day, cities, villages are destroyed, rockets fall on hospitals, kindergartens, nurseries, women and children are raped, children are kidnapped. We Poles know very well how dangerous Russia is. We know from history and remember what the kidnapping of civilians, the sending of civilians to Siberia and the Katyn massacres looked like. And we warned Europe how dangerous Russia is. We have observed and said that Russia must be stopped. Today, the whole of Europe is obliged and obliged to stop the empire of evil, to stop Russia, which threatens Europe and the world.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Russian war crimes know no borders – cruelty, violence, rape and child abduction. Russia stole 20,000 children from Ukraine and took them from their parents. During the Nuremberg Process, during World War II, the Nazis stole 200 000 Polish children from Poland, who, just as Russia is stealing from Ukraine today, so did the Nazis steal from Polish families. Some Polish children returned to their families. From here, as a mother, as a member of the European Parliament, I ask all the institutions of the European Parliament, the European Union, to do everything possible to ensure that these children return to their families, to their parents. Could there be anything more cruel than taking children away from their parents? That's what Putin does.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. We have heard here that the banking sector is resilient, and I am very happy about that. We have heard about the Banking Union here, and I am delighted. But I lacked concrete solutions and declarations in relation to clients. Does the fact that banks are safe mean that their customers are equally safe? Why is the European deposit insurance system not working so far? Why do customers have to take responsibility and risk for the bank's decisions? But another problem that exists in my country is parabanks, which draw ordinary citizens into a spiral of debt. And this is a very serious problem in all European countries. And I think it's worth pondering.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Today, Europe must meet the expectations of the citizens of the European Union. Today, Europe must become completely independent of Russian gas. European security is a priority for the European Commission. There is no economy, no energy security without low gas prices. We warned in Poland. Poland has repeatedly warned against dependence on Russia in the context of energy resources. We warned – unfortunately, our words have worked. Putin used gas and energy prices to blackmail Europe. Today, the European raison d'être and the Polish raison d'être are changing the rules so as to reduce gas prices, fill gas storage facilities so that Europeans feel energy security and care of the European Commission and the European Parliament. This is necessary, necessary today.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Faster debate and faster action. Eastern European countries, such as Poland, are today on the front line of defense against threats from the East. Therefore, initiatives such as the East Shield and the Baltic Defence Line are necessary today. Polish EPP MEPs tabled further amendments to strengthen defence on land, air, sea and other areas. In addition, we are tabling an amendment to unlock €450 million for Poland for military equipment transferred to Ukraine. This money is blocked by Hungary. We call on the European Commission and the Member States to lift the Hungarian embargo or blockade. I also call on all Polish MEPs, regardless of their political colours, to act for security. The European Union cannot make the security of the community dependent on the consent of pro-Russian politicians. Our safety, Commissioner, is in our hands.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The biggest challenge facing farmers today is low profitability, or even lack thereof. Farmers in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, face strict regulations and unfair competition from products outside the European Union. The Commission's vision for agriculture and food includes, among other things, a dialogue with farmers, which is often forgotten by the European institutions, as was the case with the Mercosur agreement. Today, however, the most important problem for farmers is bureaucracy, excessive reporting, excessive formal requirements. Farmers expect simplified rules for access to financial support and grants, especially for micro, small and family farming businesses, as well as a revision of the Green Deal and a halt to the Mercosur agreement. The Commission's proposal goes in the right direction, but it is only a small patch, Commissioner, on the great wound of European agriculture.

Are you talking about diplomacy? Are you talking about peace, about democracy? Have you heard of women from Belarus and Ukraine? Have you heard of rape? Have you heard of the rape of a 4-year-old girl? In what reality are you living? Do you want to put 500 million citizens of the European Union at risk? Will anyone take responsibility for this? Do you know how citizens feel in Eastern Europe? Because that's where I come from. If you don't know, come and talk to them.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, prepared in secret from farmers, is not an opportunity – I say this with pain – but a verdict on European agriculture. Mercosur is a black hail cloud that will destroy micro, small family farms that are already struggling to deal with unfair trade from countries outside the European Union. Under the previous government, the Polish market was already flooded with low-quality agricultural products from outside the EU, such as technical cereals. This is the eastern Mercosur, ladies and gentlemen. In addition, Polish farmers are subject to the most stringent restrictions. Therefore, introducing products such as cereals, meat, tobacco and sugar from Mercosur countries of low quality and price to our markets will kill Polish and European agriculture, threatening food and health security. Ladies and Gentlemen, I appeal and ask on behalf of Polish and European farmers for solidarity of the whole community in the protection of the agricultural market, consumer health and food security. We say strong 'No!' to low-quality products, we say strong 'No!' to a dangerous contract ...

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, Minister of the Republic of Poland! Ladies and Gentlemen, Europe will be strong when it speaks with one voice on economic and security issues. The new administration in Washington is a challenge for the entire European Union, and the United States remains our ally. But Europe must be ready for changes in U.S. foreign policy. Poland is the leader of European security. It allocates 4.7%. GDP for defence. In order to maintain America's commitment, the other countries of the European Union must also implement their commitments to NATO, which guarantees the security and stability of the entire region. Supporting Ukraine is very important, because the consequences of the war are felt every day throughout the European Union, including in Poland, which has become a buffer zone between the East and the West. And frontier, frontier regions, such as the Lublin region, Podlasie and their inhabitants take on the whole burden of the war. A stable international order requires cooperation with the United States. We can't leave any space, but it's no space, because they'll fill that space and just wait for it: Putin, Moscow and Beijing. And one more thing: no one from the ECR will tell us where our members are to sit, because that is not what democracy looks like.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr President, thank you very much. Russian disinformation is a modern weapon of mass destruction. It sows chaos, undermines trust in institutions and, above all, divides societies. In Poland, we have seen misinformation many times, from the Smolensk narrative about the attack, which they brazenly fed public opinion, dividing Polish society, dividing Polish families, to actions fueling distrust of the European Union and NATO. Poland has known for a long time what Russian manipulation, disinformation of Lenin, Stalin and now Putin mean. It is no coincidence, ladies and gentlemen, that this is an old strategy of the Kremlin aimed at weakening the unity of the West. Russian disinformation is a threat to democracy, Europe and the world.

Madam President, thank you very much. The European Commission has introduced the RESTORE Regulation, which is a response to the need to provide rapid assistance and support to European Union citizens affected by cataclysms, such as floods this year in Poland. The Regulation is above all a faster path and more flexibility. Fast track financing, because that is what true community and true solidarity is all about to help those in need. And this is what happens in Poland. The government of Donald Tusk, at the time when the country was hit by devastating floods, was with the people and gave this help. Unfortunately, this was not the case before. Despite many other tools, the previous team preferred to fight the European Commission on the basis of policy rather than support and pragmatism. RESTORE is a good step in the right direction. Unfortunately, too few of these steps, these steps need more. A faster path and more flexibility are needed. 19 months of legislation is far too long. It's an eternity.

Madam President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Poles pay the highest energy prices in Europe. In 2023, 11% of Poles suffered from energy poverty, of which 1/4 are pensioners. Problems with high prices also generate problems for companies that close because of this. This is the aftermath of 8 years of bad, improper rule by the Law and Justice party, which did not bet on the energy transition, which gave money from the ETS system – PLN 100 billion – not for the construction of new networks, but for party policy. It's a plowing of the wind policy. We were told, Poles, that the propellers from the windmills would fall on the houses, and the hens would stop wearing themselves. This was the approach to the energy transition. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would ask the European Commission to take systemic and effective measures to reduce energy prices in Poland and Europe. It can't be that in the 21st century, people have to choose whether to buy drugs or turn on electricity.