Debate contributions by Dan BARNA

Madam President, I voted for this report because it is a citizens' initiative. More than one million citizens have agreed to this initiative and it is the duty of the European Parliament to listen to the voice of citizens. This is a first argument. A second argument for which I support this report is that a woman's right to her destiny, to the way she wants to live her life, is a fundamental human right that must be defended in every context and against every argument. It is a necessary report and today's result in Parliament shows that indeed the European Parliament is responding to the expectations of European society as it is today.

Madam President, I voted for this report on military mobility, because flexibility is the key word at a time when Europe's security and safety are being put to the test. This military Schengen, which is mentioned in the report, is actually the necessary and mandatory answer for Eastern Europe, mainly, given the flank's position vis-à-vis Russia, to be able to move in real time military units from all over Europe, to be able to defend ourselves in this defense construction which, in the new geostrategic context, is a less America. Big BrotherWe have to adapt. In this context, this facility on military mobility is a mandatory requirement and an important theme for the period ahead, which is why I supported this report.

Madam President, the gradual abandonment of Russian gas is a necessary strategic necessity for the future of the European Union. We see in the history of this century and of the last one an aggressive Russia, a Russia that continues to be a danger to Europe and which has been fueled, financed by European money. This dependency must end. The fact that this resolution that I voted on proposes a timetable for phasing out these gases is more than necessary, because energy autonomy is strategic for the future of Europe. An autonomous, energy Europe, a Europe that no longer depends on Russia, has a hard say in what the security and stability of the European continent means.

Madam President, since the beginning of 2025, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has surged to nearly 400, targeting activists and researchers alike. We are witnessing a disturbing trend where academics are sentenced to 15 or 18 years in prison on charges of high treason. Their alleged crimes consisted solely of maintaining academic contacts with scholars from neighbouring countries. These trials were held behind closed doors, largely violating international standards. We strongly condemn this misuse of national security provisions to criminalise academic freedom and peace advocacy. We call for the immediate release of these detainees. Furthermore, the EU must consider sanctions against the officials responsible and make it clear: any future partnership agreement must depend on tangible progress in the rule of law.

Madam President, since the beginning of 2025, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has surged to nearly 400, targeting activists and researchers alike. We are witnessing a disturbing trend where academics are sentenced to 15 or 18 years in prison on charges of high treason. Their alleged crimes consisted solely of maintaining academic contacts with scholars from neighbouring countries. These trials were held behind closed doors, largely violating international standards. We strongly condemn this misuse of national security provisions to criminalise academic freedom and peace advocacy. We call for the immediate release of these detainees. Furthermore, the EU must consider sanctions against the officials responsible and make it clear: any future partnership agreement must depend on tangible progress in the rule of law.

Mr President, we are currently witnessing a systematic assault on democracy in Georgia. The ruling regime is actively dismantling independent institutions, silencing the media and undermining judicial independence. We strongly condemn the brutality we have seen, including the use of chemical agents against peaceful protesters. This violence must stop. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners and opposition leaders who have been unlawfully detained. We call for the repeal of all repressive legislation and for the full restoration of civil liberties, but words are no longer sufficient. We urge Member States to impose targeted bilateral sanctions against the officials responsible for this backsliding, while simultaneously stepping up EU support for the country's independent media and civil society. Democracy will prevail, must prevail, as long as it is defended.

Mr President, we are currently witnessing a systematic assault on democracy in Georgia. The ruling regime is actively dismantling independent institutions, silencing the media and undermining judicial independence. We strongly condemn the brutality we have seen, including the use of chemical agents against peaceful protesters. This violence must stop. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners and opposition leaders who have been unlawfully detained. We call for the repeal of all repressive legislation and for the full restoration of civil liberties, but words are no longer sufficient. We urge Member States to impose targeted bilateral sanctions against the officials responsible for this backsliding, while simultaneously stepping up EU support for the country's independent media and civil society. Democracy will prevail, must prevail, as long as it is defended.

Mr President, we are all aware that geopolitical realities have changed. The new U.S. national security strategy is not just an update. It is a final warning in writing after numerous statements in which Washington tells us plainly: The age of unlimited dependency is over. Europe urgently needs to take responsibility for its own security. For this, the program ReArm Europe It must be fully funded. But we have to be very careful how we do this. I see proposals to finance our frigates through cuts to cohesion, agriculture and blocking expansion. This is a strategic error. We cannot secure our borders by weakening the communities behind them. We need new resources, not painful and discouraging reallocations. Defense is paramount. Yes, but we must defend our European social model as firmly as we defend our territory. We must build a secure Europe while keeping the promise of a prosperous Europe.

Madam President, just days ago, we saw Russian aggression directly endanger our citizens and our critical infrastructure. The drone strike on a gas tanker on the Danube forced the evacuation of Romanian villages. This act of brazen economic sabotage is not an isolated incident. It is part of a continuous, hostile pattern of airspace violations and hybrid warfare originating from Russia. Romanian air defence systems were activated multiple times near the border, scrambling jets to monitor threats. These are not mistakes; they are deliberate, reckless provocations designed to test our resolve and wear down our defence. When will we stop reacting and start deterring? We must move beyond condemnation. I call on this Parliament, the Commission and the Council to adopt a robust and unequivocal response to these continuous violations. We need a faster, more effective joint mechanism to secure our skies and our critical ports, energy, and communication infrastructure. It is time to move decisively on using the seized Russian assets – not just the income, but the principal – to fund the defence and reconstruction of Ukraine. History offers a brutal lesson: weak responses will always invite more aggression.

Mr President, if there is a fundamental mission for the European Union, it is the unification of our continent. But in order to receive new members we must first clean our own house, make renovations as necessary in any house after a few decades. We cannot build Europe's future with the tools of the past. An enlarged union with more than 30 member states simply cannot afford to be paralysed by the veto right of a single government, and the enlargement process cannot require unanimity at every technical step. The cost of inaction is too high and too risky. That is why, with this report, for which I congratulate colleague Sandro Gozi, we propose a path towards a more efficient, democratic and stronger European Union, one capable of acting faster, speaking with one voice and empowering its citizens. Enlargement requires reform on the part of candidate countries such as Moldova, Ukraine or the Western Balkan states, but also on our part. By reforming the Union's institutions and procedures, we are preparing for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Madam President, Minister, I am speaking to you today not as a Member of the European Parliament, but as a Romanian citizen concerned about the future of Europe. In recent weeks, the airspace of my country and of the states on the eastern flank, practically the space of the European Union and NATO, has been repeatedly violated by the drones of the Russian Federation. And we have to be clear: These were not and are not accidents. These are deliberate actions and challenges, calculated to test our resolve and responsiveness. Drones are no longer a fantasy. feature from the video game Counter Strike. They're very real. They are drones that violate our sovereignty and are a direct threat to the safety of our citizens and an attack on the stability of the entire Black Sea region. Russia demonstrates once again that it is a very present and very concrete threat to peace on our continent. Naively optimistic passivity is no longer an option. We welcome the rapid response of our allies with the launch of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission. It is a clear signal of unity and solidarity, but we must do more as the European Union. We need to accelerate the financing and implementation of a European drone wall, using our common defence programmes, to develop technologies capable of neutralising this very real asymmetric threat. Romania is among the frontline countries, but this border belongs to the whole of Europe. Now is the time to show that our solidarity is not only declarative, but an effective and impenetrable shield. We must act together firmly to protect every inch of our European territory.

Mr President, the resolution we are debating today addresses a real and serious threat to a European democracy. Moldovans are called on September 28 to elect their Parliament, and the outcome of these elections will determine whether Moldova continues its path towards joining the European Union or is again destabilized by Russia. Moscow is waging a fierce hybrid war to bring Moldova back into its sphere of influence. In these months, Moldova is the testing laboratory of Kremlin-developed hybrid warfare strategies, which inject hundreds of millions of euros into Moldovan society to buy votes and poison democracy. They use cyber attacks. deepfakeMassive disinformation campaigns and campaigns to manipulate the good faith and fears of citizens and use everything from energy to religion. President Maia Sandu warned us just a few hours ago from this microphone. Moldova is today the testing ground for this new offensive, but the real target is Europe. We stand in full solidarity with the Republic of Moldova, which has preserved its democracy in the face of terrible pressures, and we will continue to support its efforts to defend its democracy and anchor its future where it belongs, within the European Union.

Madam President, let us set the scene in the streets of Belgrade: what we are witnessing is a Government, a candidate for EU membership, unleashing brutal violence against its own people. The Vučić regime’s crackdown on peaceful, democratic protesters is an affront to everything this Union stands for. The images of police beating students, of citizens being tear-gassed are a stain on the conscience of Europe. Let me be clear: a government that attacks its own youth, that silences dissent with batons, is walking away from Europe, not towards it. The principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are not negotiable talking points; they are the very foundations of our community. To the brave students and citizens of Serbia: we see you. We stand with you. Your fight for a democratic future is our fight. This Parliament will not look away. Serbia’s place is in Europe, but a European Serbia cannot be built on fear and violence.

Madam President, I stand before you not just as a European, but as a Romanian as well. My country shares the longest EU border with Ukraine. We are not just neighbours; we are brothers and sisters who have sheltered millions from the storms of Russian aggression. We have seen their fear in their eyes and heard the sirens first-hand. We talk of peace, and we must. But let us be clear: a peace dictated by the aggressor is not peace, it is surrender. And a 'just peace' is not a negotiation over how much of a sovereign nation is fed to the wolves. That peace will never hold without real ironclad security guarantees. Vague promises are an invitation for future aggression. Ukraine needs more than our resolutions. It needs our resolves. So I ask you, look east from this Chamber. See the courage of a people fighting for their very values we represent. History will not forgive us if we answer their sacrifice without hesitation. Let our legacy be that when tyranny challenged our continent, we did not flinch. We acted. We secured a just peace.

Mr President, as we face challenging trade talks with our American partners, we must not forget the vital importance of our transatlantic bond. For over 70 years, the partnership between Europe and the United States has been the foundation for global prosperity and security. This is about more than just tariffs. It’s about our shared democratic values and our joint responsibility to tackle global challenges, from climate change to cybersecurity. Choosing protectionism now would be a huge error, undoing decades of shared progress. We must work towards a fair-trade relationship that strengthens both sides, guided by a spirit of cooperation. Let's be inspired by President John F. Kennedy, who said, 'We must seek a world where peace is not a mere interlude between wars, but an incentive to the creative energies of humanity.' In that spirit, let's use our energy to build a stronger, safer future for both the European Union and the United States.

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, well, listening to the previous two interventions, this has not been an easy file. It was marked by some controversy, sensitive issues, and of course, the always-in-fashion misinformation. Nevertheless, the fact that we finally have a report after three years is a major step forward. I congratulate the rapporteur and the other fellow shadows for their resilience in the face of an obvious smear campaign, and I praise the negotiation process, which is the essence of politics. The European Parliament is not in the business of qualifying or quantifying core national issues. Our report is here to assess North Macedonia's path to becoming an EU member: reforms and steps forward, but also areas where the country needs to pick up the pace. My message today is one of hope. Our past determines our present. And our present determines our future. This is the path towards progress. I hope that all actors will – at some point – act wiser and responsibly and recognise enlargement for what it is: a strategic imperative benefiting our nations and the entire continent.

Mr President, Russia's war has made EU enlargement a strategic necessity to secure a stable and democratic continent. But we face a critical challenge: our current institutions risk paralysis in a larger Union. The unanimity rule threatens to block the very action we need to be a credible global actor. Inaction is not an option; it means losing credibility, importing instability and undermining the rule of law we champion. We must act now, treating enlargement and internal reform as two sides of the same coin. So I call on us to be bold: move to qualified majority voting to break the gridlock. Let's be smart: implement phased integration to reward reform now. And let's be prepared: overhaul our budget to be fit for a stronger Union. Let us seize this moment to build a Union that is not just bigger, but more cohesive and decisive, ready to secure peace for generations to come.

Madam President, Madam High Representative, next week in The Hague, our leaders will gather for a pivotal NATO summit shaping the future of European security in an era of unprecedented challenges. The long peace we have taken for granted was not a lucky chance. It was the product of vigilance and strength. For years, we spoke of 2 % of GDP for defence as an ambition. Today, in the face of blatant aggression on our continent, it is a dangerously low baseline. We must look beyond it. Let us be clear eyed and courageous. We must chart a realistic course towards 5 % of GDP for our collective defence. This is not a matter of choice. It is the premium. We must pay for the freedom and the cost of deterring those who wish us harm. This increased investment must be smart. It must be coordinated. For too long, our national defence efforts have been fragmented, leading to duplication and inefficiency. It is time to build a true, powerful and coherent European pillar within the NATO alliance. This meant joint procurement share capabilities and seamless interoperability. A stronger Europe makes for a stronger alliance. To achieve this. We must unleash the potential of our own defence industrial base. We must slash the suffocating bureaucracy that slows down procurement and prevents innovative small and medium sized enterprises prices from contributing. We need a regulatory environment that fosters speed, scale and cross-border collaboration. Finally, as we build this renewed strength, we must deepen our engagement with our allies in the United States. A more self-reliant Europe is not a rival to the United States. It is the credible, capable and reliable partner they need. Let the message from this Parliament to the summit in The Hague be ambiguous. We are united, we are resolute, and we are ready to do what is necessary to defend our people, our values and our peace.

Mr President, I welcome the adoption of the Country Report for the Republic of Moldova and the work of the rapporteurs of all pro-European groups, as well as the effort of rapporteur Sven Mikser, whose contribution has been remarkable in this process. The final form of the text clearly shows the European Parliament's support for Moldova and its efforts to integrate into the European Union. We see how disinformation and manipulation campaigns have already started before the September parliamentary elections. Russia and its minions in Europe lost the presidential election, lost the referendum on European integration and are now fighting a furious battle for the Moldovan Parliament. We must fight Russia's hybrid war with all legal and democratic means. It is time for Moscow's defeat to take place on all fronts, for Eastern Europe to return to peace and prosperity. In this regard, I strongly ask the European Commission to include the pre-accession funds for the Republic of Moldova and the other candidate countries in the draft of the future multiannual budget. Also, the European Commission and the Member States must actively assist Chisinau in the coming period in carrying out reforms and accessing funds from the growth facility, and I congratulate Commissioner Marta Kos for the remarkable example of Europe's presence there, in Moldova, in every region, not just in Chisinau. Enlargement of the Union with Moldova is a strategic priority of Europe. Our continent can and must ensure development, prosperity and security for the members of the Union, the candidate states and its eastern neighbourhood.

Madam President, let's talk about the truth. For more than 1,000 days, Ukraine has been battling a slow-moving aggressor. Every day, Russian bombs hit hospitals, homes, kindergartens, schools. Ukrainian civilians are abducted and tortured. Prisoners of war are subjected to cruel treatment and denied the most basic rights in international law. This is the human cost we see every day, and the need for action is becoming more important than ever. Firstly, the acceleration of Ukraine's European integration is a moral imperative and a shield for the protection of the country's future. Secondly, this shield needs energy, strength. Our military support for Ukraine must be sustained and increased. The defence of Ukraine is the defence of Europe. And thirdly, we must learn from the courage of the Ukrainians. Their direct combat experience must be integrated into our collective security strategies. History concerns us today. What we need to remember is that we have risen to the height of this moment. That we fought for freedom and did everything in our power to achieve this freedom and just peace. Glory to Ukraine!

Mr President, today we are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Second World War, but its lessons are more timely than ever. In '38, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria, it was not just an act of force, it had been paved by a relentless campaign of propaganda and disinformation. The Nazi regime portrayed a false narrative of an Austrian people eager to unite, fabricating crises and suppressing any news that contradicted the official story. The Nazis controlled information and perception, making their aggression seem justified, even welcome. Nowadays, the fight for truth has moved to the screens of our lives. Disinformation, amplified by the speed and amplitude of social networks, erodes trust in institutions and democracy and can destabilise societies. Tactics are evolving - from fake radio shows and photos to algorithm-driven deepfakes and bubbles - but the goal of manipulating the truth for power remains horribly familiar. The past gives us a hard and urgent lesson: We need to be critical consumers of information. We have to ask questions, we have to check and we have to understand the agendas that can hide behind the narratives that are presented to us. History shows us that when truth is compromised, freedom and peace are seriously endangered. We must learn from the darkness of the past to protect the present and the future.

Madam President, I believe that peace in Ukraine is the only topic on which there is consensus in this House. Divergences between the groups arise when it comes to how to reach peace in Ukraine and how to show this peace. I argue that military support for Ukraine must continue, because a peace cannot be sustainable without Ukraine's ability to ensure its security. I argue that it should no longer be negotiated alongside or without Ukraine, as the Trump administration has tried unsuccessfully. There is another point that needs to be addressed, and I am glad that the President of the Commission has spoken about it. Ukraine must become a member of the European Union. The opening of negotiating clusters must be accelerated as a political signal for both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and the European perspective must become part of the peace agreement when it is negotiated and hopefully signed. Ukraine is Europe and is part of Europe's security, and Russia must recognise this.