Debate contributions by Elżbieta Katarzyna ŁUKACIJEWSKA

Mr President, thank you very much. It is very sad that, despite the knowledge, awareness, actions and many debates in this House, we still have a problem with equal rights, with equal pay between women and men, and we still have a problem with violence. It's sad and embarrassing. Speaking of our indications for the UN session, I would like to touch on one point: the voice of women in rural and remote areas, who additionally face challenges and constraints such as education, the labour market, health services or transport exclusion. Let us remember that these women are the foundation of local communities and, at the same time, too often remain invisible in politics and public debate. Let us also remember to increase the representation of women in STEM sectors. Data show that women continue to be a minority in science and technology professions. If we want to be an innovative and competitive economy, we need to eliminate barriers that discourage women from choosing such professions. We must not forget, of course, the fight against violence against women throughout the European Union. One in three women experience different forms of violence. It is a shame these days, a shame for all those who do not want real action and do not want to make real decisions to change this situation. Finally, the pay gap, about which so much has been said here. It is a shame that women earn 13% less in the same jobs. Equality is the foundation of European values. Let's keep that in mind.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. The most effective way to protect biodiversity internationally is through cooperation and joint efforts at global level. And we must remember that the causes of deforestation or forest degradation differ when we look at the global context and the European backyard. Because when we look at the global context, it is caused by the expansion of agriculture or urbanization in different regions of the world. And these problems should not be confused with the impact of adverse climate change on forests, such as prolonged droughts, storms or forest fires, which then lead to a massive occurrence of secondary pests and diseases. Just as there are different causes of degradation of habitats and species, there are also different methods available to counteract these phenomena. And these degradations should be very well documented and well scientifically justified. In order to reduce human activities leading to the degradation of ecosystems, increased international efforts are needed to strengthen the role of sustainable management of all categories of land use as a better alternative to existing practices. This cannot be achieved by sanctions alone. An example of such a balance is the concept of sustainable forest management, which has been developed and successfully implemented in Europe for almost 35 years. The European Union, as one of the signatories of the Forest Europe Ministerial Agreements, should better promote and encourage other countries to follow the European approach to sustainable forest management, which is based on three pillars: environmental, economic and social. European forests are a refuge of biodiversity and natural resources on a scale that no other form of land use offers, providing a whole range of ecosystem goods and services to society. Human activity has shaped Europe's forests over the centuries - and I am finishing up, Mr President - leading to semi-natural forests of very good quality and rich forms, including biodiversity, as well as productive commercial forests...

Mr President, thank you very much. Smoking is one of the leading causes of death, disease and enormous social costs. Today we are facing a new challenge: e-cigarettes. In my country, Poland, almost half of young people use them every day, and 21% reach for disposable devices that tempt with easy accessibility and attractive flavors. And let's not be fooled by the fact that e-cigarettes are a way to break the habit. It seems to me that this is a tool that, unfortunately, draws young people into new addictions. And today we do not know the consequences of this new fashion. It is our responsibility to put in place solutions that effectively limit young people's access to e-cigarettes and reduce the harmful effects on public health. However, in our actions and decisions, we must maintain a healthy distance and common sense. And that's what I'm calling for.

Mr President, thank you very much. Europe is responsible for less than 9% of global CO2 emissions, but this, of course, does not relieve us of our responsibility to fight the climate crisis. However, the ambitious targets we set for the European economy and Europeans must be acceptable and bearable. Taking care of the environment, we must not forget to support the competitiveness of the European economy. I also want to stress that European entrepreneurs understand the need for change and the fight for a clean planet. However, they stress that they need flexibility, without imposing a single rigid solution. Every goal requires common sense and responsibility in order for Europe to thrive in a sustainable and competitive way. As climate-neutral politicians, we also have a responsibility to support and protect the European economy and European jobs.

Mr President, thank you very much. Today, Mrs. Maląg denounced Poland and denounced her government, the PiS government, of which she was a member, which for 8 years led a prosperous stock exchange company to financial collapse by manual control, by bad business decisions and by tragic personnel decisions. Today's government and efficient managers are trying to restore this company to functioning and competitiveness. Returning to rail, to passenger transport, I want to say that we need rail to be fit for the 21st century. We need to complete the single market for rail – this is the key to efficient and sustainable connections. We need to standardize and standardize technical systems. We need competitiveness because it drives innovation, improves service quality and reduces costs. Without this, we will not see the flow of passengers from other means of transport. If we want rail to be the first choice rather than the last, it must be competitive, modern, faster, cheaper and accessible to all.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. One remark to Mr. Braun. If he is so disgusted by this Europe, the European Union, the European Parliament, the easiest way is to give up his mandate, give up this euro, the collective farm money. It's a simple matter. He'll solve the situation quickly. Ladies and gentlemen, once again we are debating in the European Parliament about the tragedies of Polish women, which result from the restrictive law introduced by the previous government, as confirmed by the UN report. We are debating, although unfortunately we are aware that all solutions and changes must be voted in the Polish parliament. And although we have no direct influence on these votes, on the decisions of Polish MPs, this way we want to once again send a strong signal to Polish women. We are with you and we will do everything to convince the parliamentary majority in Poland to vote for the changes we promised during the election campaign. I would also like to stress that the current government, the government of Donald Tusk, is strongly in favour of introducing the regulations that Polish women are waiting for, which give Polish women the opportunity to choose and make decisions. No one has to decide if they don't want to, but let's give the choice to those they want, those whose lives and health are at risk. Ladies and Gentlemen, although we do not have this majority at the moment, I would like to emphasize that the Polish government is doing a lot, has taken many actions that until recently were impossible. I agree with those who say that change is too slow. That is why, from this place, I appeal to our coalition partners, to the President and to everyone: Don't be Poland's conscience.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Until you want to ask the question: who has an interest in destroying the European automotive sector, a sector that is one of the pillars of the European economy? There are redundancies and the last concern of a man who does not have a job is concern for the environment. Let us acknowledge that electric cars are too expensive for many consumers and inefficient. The transformation must always go hand in hand with the opportunities of the industry, because without it thousands of jobs are at risk. We cannot impose a pace that will destroy our industry. I think that today we need to take into account the current economic and technological realities. We need to activate a healthy approach and common sense. I have no doubt that today's problems in the automotive industry are due to the unilateral approach of both the Commission and many MEPs in this House, who, by focusing exclusively on electromobility and reducing CO2 emissions, have neglected the issue of competitiveness...

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Once again we are meeting in this House and once again we are discussing how to tackle the problem of violence against women. And it is very sad that so many European women and children are affected by this problem. More than 62 million women over the age of 15 have experienced physical or sexual violence, not to mention economic violence. Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, the latest estimates show that more than two-thirds of victims do not report this crime because of fear, stigma or simply because of a lack of support. Economic inequalities, lack of adequate education and insufficient support for victims appear to be key problems. We need to speed up our actions. In particular, women in rural areas, where traditional gender roles and economic dependency create additional barriers for women seeking help, need support. The fight against violence against women is not only a legal obligation, but also our moral obligation. And I believe, and I want to believe, that in this term of office, Commissioner, we will be able to adopt legislation that helps women and stigmatises and punishes perpetrators and protects victims.