Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner Johannes Hahn, dear President of the European Court of Auditors, dear Member of the European Court of Auditors, ladies and gentlemen, I consider it a great honour, but also a great responsibility, that I, together with my dear colleague, Tomáš Zdechovský, have been entrusted with the task of being the rapporteurs for the discharge of the agencies of the European Union. I believe that this is a very important, serious, but also effective work. The important contribution of the Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control, the dear shadow rapporteurs, the dear colleagues was of great value and importance in making this work possible. Here again I must remind you that the Committee on Budgetary Control is fighting day and night for the same objective and for the same purpose; to protect and preserve the prestige, credibility and dignity of the European Union by safeguarding the principles of transparency, the principles of credibility, the principles of meritocracy, the principles relating to the protection of every euro of the European taxpayer. All these values are preserved and protected through the collective work done in the Committee on Budgetary Control by all colleagues, but also by working with both the Commissioner responsible and the European Court of Auditors and all audit authorities and services. We're all on the same boat together. We are all committed to the same goal. We must safeguard European taxpayers' money and the prestige and credibility of the European Union in difficult times against any price. And this will and determination, whether one agrees or disagrees, is safeguarded and protected through cooperation but also through the daily struggle - and I am passing it on to you with knowledge - that is given day and night in the Committee on Budgetary Control with the tireless efforts of my dear colleagues. The agencies of the European Union are, in essence, the executive arm of the European Union; are the organisations that implement the work, expectations and visions of European citizens; they are organisations that must be essentially at the forefront and, by example, set a good example to all European citizens. That is why we must be particularly strict with the functioning of these European Union agencies, which must be the standards and examples. That is why we, as the Committee on Budgetary Control and as rapporteurs, set a very high standard for the application of the principles governing the Treaties of the European Union and the principles of control of these bodies. This is where we really need to send a strong message: That we should have zero tolerance for those who really want public money. These organizations can evolve, they can be modernized. With digital transformation, these agencies need to prove that their efficiency now needs to rise, bureaucracy needs to be cut – the bureaucracy that plagues the European Union, but also these agencies, incurs huge costs to the agencies and budgets of the European Union. One particularly important thing, Commissioner, and I always say that it must be implemented from the inside, that is, by the institutions of the European Union itself, and then demand that it be implemented also by the Member States, is that gender equality is finally enforced at all levels of these European Union agencies; there is no violation in these matters, both by regulation and by a strong and non-negotiable framework; to raise as a matter of principle and within the next period to implement by all this important principle that is violated, and therefore the treaties are violated. At the same time, I want to say that these organisations essentially represent and express European citizens. These organisations must be located in every part of the European Union, they must be located in every country of the European Union. There are three to four countries that do not have a European Union agency established. I think it's time to give the right message. Within these countries is my small country, Cyprus, which I believe is at a geographical point where the presence of a European organization would send a strong message for the European Union. We must, at last, give any new body to those countries which have not yet had the opportunity to have such a body. I am convinced that with the right work, with the collective work of all of us and with our dear colleagues - whom, as I said, I thank once again for the support and assistance in getting these organisations off the hook - we can do a lot to improve both the agencies and the image of the European Union, but also to give people the confidence that these agencies are in good hands and that those who control them are actually doing their job impartially.

Mr President, today, on Women's Day, we are debating the excellent report by our dear colleague Chrysoula Zacharopoulou on the European Union's actions on gender issues, which I fully and unequivocally support. For me, the principle of gender equality was, is and remains a non-negotiable principle and value of the European Union itself. But today everyone's eyes and thoughts are on Ukraine and the struggling, struggling women of Ukraine. All of humanity today truly bows before the greatness of the soul and the heroism of the women of Ukraine, those women who did not bend before the Russian invasion, the women who continue to fight even as we speak to defend their homeland, the women who fight and defend the universal ideals and European principles and values. In the face of all these Ukrainian women today I see the face of Cypriot women, who in 1974 defended our country in the same and similar way and defended freedom. In the face of the Ukrainian refugee, who took the martyrdom of the refugee today with her children, I see the same martyrdom of the Cypriot refugee mother, who has been waiting for 48 years from the refugee settlement to return. The same pain, the same refugees. We here together, Mr President, have a strong message to send, that the European Union stands united against every invader, against every occupying power, against every violator of international law.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, gender equality is a matter for all of us. It is a matter for our society, it is a matter of culture, but above all it is a matter for the European Union itself. The founding declaration of the European Union, which is the "constitution" of the European Union, stipulated that without discounts, delays or shortcomings, the European Union should implement gender equality. I am a proud European because I consider the European Union to be the best, the greatest, the strongest, the most important achievement of humanity. However, the failure to achieve this objective, set out in the Treaties of the European Union, is the wide gap, not of the genders, but of the declarations of the European Union with the acts. It is not possible for European citizens to wait 65 years for gender equality to be implemented, as required by the Treaty of Rome since 25 March 1957, and at present to make only fine declarations, fine speeches and appeals, while gender equality has not yet been achieved. The numbers are overwhelming. What we in the European Parliament and the 500 million citizens expect is for the European Commission and the European Council to come to the next meeting and tell us that gender equality has been achieved or, at the very least, for the European Commission and the European Council to commit to sanctioning those Member States that do not implement gender equality. But when even the European institutions, bodies and agencies themselves do not implement gender equality, how do we expect it to be implemented in all the countries of the European Union? I am submitting my proposal and I expect you, Commissioner, to implement it.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, from this podium, from the podium of the European Parliament, from the podium of 450 million European citizens, I want to emphasise once again to the highest degree that I belong to all those who envision a strong, credible, sovereign, solidarity-based, human and social European Union that is able to defend the sovereignty of its member countries and ensure peace, health and prosperity for all European citizens and the European continent. What we want, demand and demand is a European Union that will remain uncompromising on issues of principles and values. A European Union that is truly strong and credible and that plays a dominant and leading role on the international stage and is not the weak link. A European Union that does not apply double standards. A European Union that is not blackmailed and threatened by any Turkey, by any Erdogan, by any Lukashenko, by any country. But how credible we can make the European Union in the eyes of European citizens, when it shows, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, an unprecedented tolerance, indecision and procrastination to impose long-term sanctions on a country that is displaying criminal and unacceptable behaviour, such as Turkey, which is violating European and international law, is violating the rule of law and human rights. Undoubtedly, what we are asking of the European Union today is the obvious: To defend its own principles and values. To defend its history, the founding fathers of the European Union. Defend the conditions themselves, the solidarity clause. It is for this reason that we strongly say today that the European Union must be worthy of the expectations, worthy of the expectations of European citizens and especially Cypriot citizens.

Madam President, Commissioner, Mr President of the European Court of Auditors, today, from this step of the European Parliament, I have to commend the valuable contribution and work that the European Court of Auditors does every day, and contributes to the positive and well-functioning of the European Union, but all the more to safeguarding the interests of the European Union and European taxpayers. I believe that we should rightly pay tribute to the European Court of Auditors. Dear friend, President of the European Court of Auditors, convey our congratulations on the work you are doing to your members, but also to all the staff who with high professional diligence, but also with tireless efforts are trying to become the shield of protection of European money. For us, our mission is to preserve and protect the last euro of taxpayers and this responsibility is still huge with €672.5 billion from NextGeneretionEU. But, at the same time, I want to tell the European Commission and the European Council that supervisory and audit authorities are not a cost to the European Union. Both the European Court of Auditors and OLAF, which are doing a very important and highly valued job, when they ask for assistance in terms of staff, logistics, digitalisation, which you have rightly mentioned, Mr President, and other means of combating corruption, we must spontaneously and promptly provide them with it. Because every euro we invest in control mechanisms – the European Court of Auditors, OLAF and other control mechanisms – is not a cost; it is an investment, because it brings multiple benefits to the European Union. And most importantly, and I will finish, the most important role and mission of the European Court of Auditors is that, through its effective work, it prevents the aspiring corruptors of the European Union also from wasting public European funds.

Madam President of the European Parliament, Commissioner, representative of the European Council, I am here today waiting to hear clear answers about the actions and measures that the European Commission and the European Council intend to take to stop, at last, Turkish aggression, provocation and delinquency, as well as the daily criminal acts against Cyprus and Greece, two Member States of the European Union that continue with impassioned patience to wait, at last, for European practical solidarity. What is happening with the European Union and Turkey is highly unacceptable, insulting, provocative and degrading for the European Union, because Turkey continues to write in the oldest of its shoes and to flout the decisions of the European Council and the European Commission, while the European Union itself continues to finance and reward it, rather than taking punitive measures. I would really like to know, Commissioner, representative of the European Council, if you feel that you are doing your utmost vis-à-vis two Member States of the European Union, Greece and Cyprus, if you feel that the real role of the European Union, a force that wants to play a leading role in humanity, is to remain a mere spectator and observer of Turkey's criminal actions. And don't tell me the well-known trivialities that the European Union does not have the means and weapons to deal with Turkey. The European Union has the most irresistible and powerful weapon and instrument – the economy – and can, today, take action against Turkey by freezing the customs union and freezing budget lines. Dare it and do it, and rest assured that Turkey will comply and make different decisions in terms of provocative behavior... (The Chair removed the floor from the speaker.)

Madam President, Commissioner, we have done everything in our power in the Committee on Budgets, starting with our dear fellow rapporteur, Karlo Ressler, to be able to draw up the budget and make the European Union stronger, greener, more growth-enhancing, more innovative, more social, strengthening society and citizens in particular, with a special focus on young people, small and medium-sized enterprises, rural areas, our farmers, health and any sensitive social and economic sector. But I firmly believe that a strong and sovereign European Union cannot be conceived without strong defence and security and a Euro-army. That is why we have strengthened the European Defence Fund, because we believe that the European Union, at last, must be able to protect its external borders, protect the sovereignty of the Member States and guarantee the security of citizens. Madam President, Commissioner, the principles and values of the European Union, as well as my own principles and values and my European ideals, do not allow me to approve and vote for a single euro for countries such as Turkey, which violate European and international law, which violate the rule of law, which do not respect the principles and values of the European Union. I call on colleagues in the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council to follow this rule ... (The Chair removed the floor from the speaker)

Madam President, Commissioner, from the very beginning we have supported with all our strength the creation of the Recovery Fund, because we believe that this fund is a powerful weapon in the hands of the European Union, to support and help Member States, economies, societies and European citizens. The European Union has quite rightly responded with the historic amount of EUR 675 billion on the issue of the Recovery Fund to strengthen the economies of the Member States. But I would like to take the opportunity of your presence, Commissioner, to say that, in addition to strong economies and societies in the European Union, we also want a strong culture, principles and values. I have to tell you that one TV channel, Euronews, overnight decided to discontinue the Greek programme and the Greek language, when, as you know very well, this particular channel is funded with 20 million a year by the European Union, by the European Commission, and when the basic principle to be funded is the preservation and protection of the languages of the European Union. We offer and contribute 40% of Euronews' revenues from European Union funds. If we do declare that the European Union is founded on European culture, which is Greek and Roman culture, then we are talking about cultural mutilation by this decision of Euronews. I am not just defending the Greek language at the moment; I am defending multilingualism, which is a fundamental value for the European Union, and at this time, when the European Union is offering so much to citizens with the 675 billion, we need more than ever to add languages, to convey the image and voice of the European Union to all countries, to all European citizens, and not to take away. I urge you, Commissioner, to react immediately and to have an immediate answer to this issue, because it is really unfair to cut off the Greek language from the Euronews channel at this time.

Madam President, Commissioner, unfortunately the pandemic has left an incalculable huge health and socio-economic impact on all sectors. But no one can eliminate the enormous work and significant efforts made by the European Union in both the health sector and the socio-economic sector, particularly with the creation of the Recovery Fund, which we supported and support because we consider it to be the beginning of a new era in which the European Union will be able to support Member States and peoples when they are faced with crises and challenges. There is no doubt that tourism is the engine of the European economy and unfortunately this sector has suffered a huge blow and is the first victim of the pandemic. I think the evidence is shocking and overwhelming. The EUR 161 billion investment deficit in 2020, with knock-on effects on all tourism sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises and the 27 million workers in the tourism sector, is essentially the trigger for us to take action. I believe that to date tourism is the poor relative of the European Union and it is self-evident, since to date the European Union has not drawn up any comprehensive plan to support tourism. It is time, I believe, for the European Union to create a European integrated strategy for tourism and a strong similar recovery plan for the tourism sector, because in this way, when tourism is strengthened, the economy is strengthened, society is strengthened, multiple jobs are created. I firmly believe that every euro invested by the European Union in tourism and the tourism product will return multiple times to the economy and society with a direct benefit to all European citizens, especially workers and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Madam President, Madam President of the European Commission, I fully endorse the European vision and strongly defend European principles and values over time, because I firmly believe that the European Union is the strongest future and the best perspective of European citizens. I also believe that humanity's greatest achievement in the last 70 years has been the creation and existence of the European Union. I cannot imagine how we could successfully manage the pandemic crisis, climate change and other challenges if the European Union did not exist. I am thinking also of the Development Fund, this powerful weapon which has relieved the people of the European Union and given prospects for prosperity, growth and jobs. For these reasons, today I claim and demand a strong, sovereign, assertive, dynamic, leader, European Union that will play a leading role in humanity. However, a strong and credible European Union is not conceivable when two member countries of the European Union, Greece and Cyprus, suffer daily threats, provocations and violations of their sovereign rights by Turkey and when the European Union, instead of a dynamic response, continues to fund Turkey and call it a strategic partner. I believe that it is time for the European Union to declare that the sovereign rights of its member countries are non-negotiable. It is time to say that the European Union is not being blackmailed and threatened by any Turkey or anyone. Madam President of the European Commission, I fully endorse and subscribe to your view that human rights are non-negotiable and not for sale. But I wonder, my own basic human right to return to my birthplace, to return to the home where I was born, along with another 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, how the European Union defended and shielded this right? We are right to defend human rights around the world. The time has come, however, to respond to European citizens and to show that we are also defending their human rights. It is time to create the Europe we want. A strong sovereign Europe that meets the challenges of the times and of which we will all be proud.

Mr President, climate change and the climate crisis are here and are irreparably and mercilessly affecting the whole of Europe. We are counting our wounds and unfortunately we are counting human casualties every day. This year, on the one hand, we experienced the catastrophic floods, and on the other hand, we experienced - and especially those living in the areas of the South with their own eyes - the catastrophic fires. My country Cyprus suffered irreparable damage from the catastrophic fires, was tried hard and looks forward to the only support and hope that remains, the support of the Solidarity Fund. At the same time, of course, I want to express my sympathy, support and support to all countries and to all the people in Europe who have been affected by these extreme climate events. But the European Union must put its finger on the type of nails and take action. It is time, I believe, to create a Special Fire Intervention Unit, which can intervene directly to put out fires across Europe. Cyprus as a country is offered to host on its territory the Base of this Fire Brigade of Immediate and Rapid Intervention from the European Union. At the same time, I call on the European Union to strengthen the Climate Change Solidarity Fund so that it can support all those affected and repair disasters.

Madam President, Mr President-in-Office of the European Council, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, first of all, I have to say that these days my country is suffering hard because of the deadly and devastating fires that have unfortunately led to the loss of four lives, but also to the total destruction of vast areas of forested agricultural and residential area. Mr President of the European Council, Mr Vice-President of the European Commission, with your presence in the European Parliament today, I must call on you to help and mobilise all solidarity instruments to support and help our country and the suffering Cypriot citizens. As regards the conclusions of the European Council, I must clearly point out that, even before the ink of these conclusions dried up, in which there were clear warnings to Turkey about its criminal expansionist and aggressive behaviour in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, Turkey despised all these decisions, made harsh, insulting and brutal statements against you, dear President of the European Council, and is proceeding with the implementation of its criminal actions for a new fait accompli in Cyprus, for a new fait accompli in Famagusta. Today I am here to convey the voice of thousands of Cypriot European citizens who are immediately asking for clear answers from the European Commission and the European Council, especially the Famagusta European citizens. If Turkey proceeds with its criminal actions and implements its plans for Famagusta, which is in conflict with the Security Council, the United Nations and the European Parliament and the European Union, will the European Union stand up to the history of principles and values and impose sanctions on Turkey? Or will it seem inferior to the circumstances and history will write in black letters that, through the tolerance and inaction of the European Union, Turkey and Erdogan have carried out criminal plans against Cyprus and Cypriot European citizens?