Speeches

I have received six motions for resolutions to wind up this debate. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow. Written statements (Rule 171)

Mr Mandl, could you take a blue-card question from Ms Ruohonen-Lerner? Oh, I am sorry, it seems Ms Ruohonen-Lerner did not want to put a blue-card question after all.

The next sitting is tomorrow Wednesday 28 February 2024 at 12:00. 9.00. The agenda is published and available on the website of the European Parliament.

Before I give the floor to the Commissioner I would like to inform you that the Council was invited but preferred not to participate in this debate.

The next item is the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission on the recent revelations of spying on Members of the European Parliament and the lack of follow-up to the PEGA Committee recommendations (2024/2600(RSP)). I would like to inform Members that there is only one round of interventions by representatives of the political groups. Therefore, there will be no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue card issues will be accepted.

The next item is the debate on the Commission communication on the state of play and governance of implementation two years after its launch (2024/2553(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission on the continuation of the repression against democratic forces in Venezuela: attacks on the presidential candidate (2024/2549(RSP)).

Colleagues, also concerning blue cards, if you would like to ask a question, please do not do it at the last second, otherwise it’s difficult. It is not for you, it was for the previous speaker.

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner. After Insider News from journalists Many foreign journalists ask me if it was a surprise for you as a Latvian? Of course not. Why? Because Tatjana Ždanoka worked from the late 1980s until the ninetieth, ninety-first year, when we regained our independence. She has never been allowed by Latvian law to participate in national elections. Unfortunately, there were elections to the European Parliament. And now she will also no longer have the opportunity to participate in the elections to the European Parliament, because the legislator in Latvia changed the law after the start of the Russian war in Ukraine. So this question is not really about Mrs Ždanoka's fate or further investigation. This is a question of what we, as an institution of the European Parliament, can do from this to improve in this institution. Just like after Qatargate what to do with this Russiagatehow we can raise this image so that, firstly, such cases are investigated – or not yet similar cases – and, secondly, they never happen again – when European taxpayers’ money is actually used to achieve the objectives of the Russian special services. So I would call, and I have already called, for a real rethink, too. Code of conduct — I use this English word during the investigation. So see if there is a need to change procedures, as we did after Qatargate in the European Parliament. That's one. It is also of the utmost importance to improve communication with the services in the Member States, which could conclude on such similar activities in a timely manner. And perhaps we have to deal with a much faster procedure and a lot, I might say, more secret procedures for investigating and giving back to the law enforcement authorities in the Member States the right to investigate this particular politician if he has been potentially suspected of espionage. This is what we did in Latvia with a Member who was extradited to the national parliament within 24 hours and has now been convicted of espionage for Russia. So let's put our house in order!

Mr President, Madam Minister, Mr Vice-President, Yes, the good news for Ukraine is, of course, €50 billion in support, but let us be frank, military assistance from Member States is insufficient for Ukraine. We are lagging behind, especially on the side of some Member States. We are not dealing with the confiscation of Russian frozen assets. We have not perfected the system that allows sanctions to be circumvented, and also much with unauthorized goods the European Union's business earns, and Russia also earns from these export directions. Why do I say that? Because time matters. We cannot help Ukraine at any time, as much as it will be necessary, because we are threatening the Ukrainian nation, culture, language at this time. Because, let's be frank, the goals of russification are intended for the people of Ukraine, which Russia is also doing. And last week there was a prominent conference in Riga on Russia's war against Ukrainian children. These dozens, hundreds of thousands, perhaps children separated from their families, are actually an example of this russification, because if Russia also carried out a policy of russification in the past during the Soviet Union, it did not pull family children out of their families. In this case, these Ukrainian children on the Russian side may also lose their Ukrainian identity within a few months, perhaps years. And if we really want to help them, then time plays a huge role. And this can only be corrected with full military support for Ukraine. The sooner, the better, the time will be lost and the people of Ukraine will be lost.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the situation in Haiti ahead of the launch of the UN Multinational Security Support Mission (2024/2557(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the report by Peter Vitanov, on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Union-wide effect of certain driving disqualifications (COM(2023)0128 – C9-0036/2023 – 2023/0055(COD)) (A9-0410/2023).