Debate contributions by Stanislav STOYANOV

Madam President, cryptocurrencies offer an alternative to traditional monetary systems regulated by central banks. Over the past decade, projects like Bitcoin have demonstrated their potential to change the global financial landscape through the principles of decentralization and anonymity. Today, Bitcoin boasts a market capitalization of more than $2 trillion, evidence of its undeniable impact and resilience. Therefore, when looking at regulatory frameworks, we need to act with extreme caution. Any regulation must be drafted in consultation with the crypto community and industry experts. Above all, these regulations should preserve the basic principles that make cryptocurrencies so successful, namely decentralization and anonymity. Shaking these foundations risks not only stifling innovation, but also, in general, undermining trust in crypto technology and even rendering it meaningless. Money is created by people and should serve them. Let's keep the crypto world free!

Madam President, Commissioner, the world is changing and this is a good time for Europe to take a more dignified place on the world stage, as it historically deserves. The election of Donald Trump is a chance for the European Union to improve its partnership with the United States, not as a subordinate, but as an equal partner that defends the interests of its sovereign member states. Such a partnership can only flourish if it is based on equality in relations. Unfortunately, however, with a leadership like the present, the European Union shows that it does not respect itself. How do we get others to respect us? The United States looks at global challenges from its own perspective. They're overseas. We, in Europe, are facing a brutal war. Our security interests may be different. It is our responsibility to formulate and protect them. But tell me this: President Trump is a strong leader. If he wanted to talk to a strong leader of the European Union, who would he be? For almost three years now, the European Union has been unable to propose any diplomatic solution to end the war on its own continent. We only have to hope that someone overseas will do it for us, and in the meantime, citizens' trust in the European Union is eroding by the day. In the coming years, we must restore our dignity and strike a balance in our relations with the United States. Let us prioritize reason, achieve stable peace, and work for the well-being of both citizens and industries. A Europe of sovereign nations stands by these principles and will uphold them to the end.

Member of the Commission. - Madam President, improving animal welfare standards needs to be worked on, but in order to have a positive effect, these improvements need to be tailored to the economic realities of the agricultural sector. Manufacturers in Europe need support through clear and concrete instruments, not more regulatory challenges. We need to avoid additional burdens, especially with regard to small and family businesses. We also have a serious problem with lower animal welfare standards outside the European Union. We do not want to achieve the opposite effect by closing European production and replacing it with imports from more inhumane ones from third countries, do we? How the European Commission will ensure reciprocity, against the backdrop of trade agreements like the one with Mercosur, is a question without a clear answer. I recall that, through the Strategic Dialogue, the European Commission is committed to simplifying policies and rules and to legislative proposals based on scientific evidence and robust impact assessments. At the moment, this is not the case. Our aim must be to raise animal welfare standards, but without creating undue pressure.

Madam President, for almost two years, we have been witnessing death and destruction caused by a fratricidal war in Ukraine. The war brought suffering to the peoples of Europe, but at the same time shed light on the impotence of European diplomacy and its inability to offer a peaceful solution. The most important goal should be peace. Accusations of lies, misinformation or historical falsification by one side or the other will not help. On the contrary, they cause damage. People will continue to die and whole generations will be destroyed, regardless of the resolutions we adopt here. The European Union must act as a force for peace. Instead of stoking division and debating the role of disinformation in times of war, we must work tirelessly to find a diplomatic solution. It is the biggest conflict in Europe since the Second World War and carries enormous risks and unpredictable consequences for everyone. Let us concentrate on reconciliation, not on instigation, and give Europe a chance for peace.

Member of the Commission. - Mr President, the European Union is facing a serious challenge. Overbureaucracy hampers innovation and competitiveness. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, are mired in unnecessary regulation. At the same time, real problems such as illegal migration, ill-considered green policies, excessive regulations on our farmers, which are lacking in their competitors from third countries, lead to economic instability. The European Union seems to be more focused on centralisation than on promoting the strengths of its members. Turning the European Union into a federation in which decisions are taken by unelected bureaucrats under external influence undermines democracy, destroys citizens' trust in the Union. But we believe there is a way forward. It moves away from the over-centralized superstate and leads to an alliance of sovereign nations where citizens' voices are heard and respected. Only then can we preserve Europe and give it the future it deserves.

Mr President, Commissioner, honourable citizens of the European Union, freedom of movement is one of the fundamental achievements of the Union and an asset for us and for the economies of our countries. The Schengen area is indeed a tool in this direction. However, the European Union must be concerned not only with freedom of movement, but also with the security of its citizens. Today, the Schengen area is in a serious crisis and does not meet the needs precisely in terms of security. It does not respond to the geopolitical realities and risks we all face. The Schengen agreement needs to be reformed to ensure the security of member states and zero illegal migration. This means, first of all, strengthening the Union's external borders and financially supporting the Member States charged with their protection, because there are no secure internal borders without secure external ones. The European Union must, of course, ensure that these funds are properly spent. The approach to security and migration must be completely rethought if we really want safety and stability. The time for a comprehensive, coordinated reform is now.

Madam President, in Gaza and the West Bank, the situation is reaching the level of genocide. Civilian casualties among the Palestinian population now exceed 41,000, and more than half of them are women and children. According to the latest UN figures, an average of 130 civilians die every day in Gaza and the West Bank, 10 times more than in Ukraine. The European Union is built on the foundations of peace. The bloodshed in Gaza has reached critical proportions, but the European institutions remain disturbingly passive in the face of this enormous human tragedy. We strongly condemn all forms of violence. The European Union’s response to the war in Ukraine, while fruitless, was swift and decisive. There is almost no response to the tragedy in Gaza. How long will we continue to maintain double standards? We demand more than words, we demand a unified and consistent approach to all military conflicts around the world, and above all, we demand peace.