Debate contributions by Enikő GYŐRI

Mr. President, please. Good morning, European Commission, I'm glad you're awake! The previous body, in the spirit of leftist ideologies and ill-considered greening, imposed around 850 new obligations and 5,000 pages of legislation on European businesses, with this House assisting from the People's Party to the Communists. And the pinnacle of hypocrisy is that these same factions are now in a state of ecstasy of simplification. Omnibuses 1 and 2 came too late and few. All that's happening is they're trying to make up for past misfortunes. We on the right, together with business advocacy, have said that the direction is wrong. You've hurt Europe, you're anti-European. Although the proposal seeks to simplify, the level of ambition falls short of what is necessary. We need more than just beautification. We should look at what are the main problems on the regulatory side, i.e. what are the main obstacles preventing companies from accessing funding, developing and concentrating on their core business rather than reporting. They are not bold enough to approach the taxonomy, so they continue to discriminate between investments on ideological grounds. Green ideology will remain, and it will once again defeat competitiveness. Of course, access to finance would also be improved if, for political reasons, you did not also withhold EU funds from my country. In the EU, it is not necessary to educate each other, but to work together for prosperity. Unfortunately, you are also working against this. European businesses deserve more than that. We need a real business-friendly turnaround with real burden reduction. That's what we patriots will work for.

Dear Madam President, The Hungarian presidency, which ended in December, gave the EU a chance to take a new direction. I urge you to continue on this path to make Europe great again. We have a political presidency with clear goals. We have been thinking strategically for a strong Europe. That's why the Prime Minister went on a peace mission. As long as there is no peace in Europe, we cannot be strong. We worked in an unprecedented counterwind. From the People's Party to the Left, you have issued the wrong certificate in advance. For eighteen dossiers, the EP blocked, which was 18 wasted options. Ursula von der Leyen has rejected the principle of sincere cooperation. Then, in December, our political opponents thanked us for our work. It is time to overcome Orbán's phobia, because the results are undeniable. The Budapest Declaration for the Competitiveness of the Union was born. Bulgaria and Romania became part of the Schengen Area. We relaunched the frozen enlargement negotiations in the Western Balkans, started defence industrial cooperation and laid the foundations for a farmer-friendly common agricultural policy. In the fight against illegal migration, we have put the emphasis on protecting borders and expulsions. I ask the Commission to work along these lines. The patriots will demand this of you.

Dear Mr President, Maduro and his regime want to keep power through electoral fraud. He unfairly influenced the electoral system, forbade candidates from running, brutally retaliated against protests, imprisoned opposition figures, exiled them abroad, and even persecuted them there. He stole the presidency from the real winner of the July elections, Edmundo González Urrutia, and now he can only sustain himself through abuse and violence. Despite the fact that the election files undoubtedly prove González's victory, the regime prevented him from returning home on the day of the presidential inauguration. The opposition leader, María Corina Machado, was arrested and released as a result of international outrage. In the end, Maduro took the presidency again, although only González would have had the right to do so. Quietly, I note that the Biden administration even increased its oil imports from Venezuela last year, thereby prolonging the regime's survival. As far as I know, the heating of American citizens does not depend on this. Maduro continues to defame the democratic opposition in Venes. I know this well, it was also the tactics of the Hungarian Communists in connection with the 1956 revolution. Communism sometimes changes clothes, but it doesn't change. I ask the People's Party to be a partner so that a strong decision can be made in this house. The Council to recognise President González and to stand with us in the fight for a democratic Venezuela. The commitment and courage of the Venezuelan Democrats must not be in vain. Hungary and the patriots are still with them and support them in their fight for freedom, democracy and human rights. ¡Estamos con Ustedes, patriotas venezolanos!

Mr. President, please. Europe has spent the last few years under the misconception that it can stop global warming on its own. He takes on all its costs, sets a good example, and then everyone follows. That's not how it happened. The foolish legislation of the last five years, conceived in the spirit of green ideology, has impaired the competitiveness of the Union. The Commission has often failed to assess the impact of this. It has placed an unbearable burden on the European economy and population, putting at risk the sustainability of the European welfare model. People outside the EU did not use this recipe. This was a typical example of shooting in one's own foot. It is a great step forward that, as a result of the Budapest declaration of the Heads of State and Government, no legislation can be passed without an impact assessment and a competitiveness filter, and the administrative burden must also be reduced within six months. The People's Party promised change during the campaign, then deceived its voters and teamed up with the venomous green left. In this debate, the EPP is acting as if they have not voted in favour of greening legislation. Are you suffering from amnesia, fellow Members? The Patriots are calling for change. We expect reasonable proposals from the Commission, we protect agriculture and industry, and we will only adopt rules adapted to our ability to pay.

Dear Mr President, The Letta and Draghi reports set out what Europeans, workers, farmers and companies have felt on their own skin for years. Instead of taking a step forward, it's a challenge to stay on top. It is more difficult to pay the bills, you can hardly develop, invest, produce. This is the loss of competitiveness on a daily basis. Since then, it has become clear that the situation is even more serious. The business climate in the eurozone is at its lowest point. Terrifying news is coming from France and Germany. Emblematic European companies announce redundancies. The problems of the two leading economies in the euro area spill over into the whole region. The 0.8% growth expected by the Commission this year is rather stagnant. This is the result of crises and bad economic policies in the EU over the past decade and a half. Legislation steeped in ideology has put Europe at a disadvantage compared to its competitors. Excessively pushing for the green transition, a flawed sanctions policy and an increase in the administrative burden for firms have now put at risk the sustainability of the European economic model, the welfare society itself, of which we are so proud. This is the legacy of Mrs von der Leyen's First Committee. The Hungarian Presidency has thus rightly placed improving competitiveness at the heart of its programme. The Budapest Declaration is the highest commitment of the leaders of 27 Member States to remedy the damage and to take a new direction. There is a need for immediate and substantial action, with specific deadlines, which are worthy of the potential of the strength of the Single Market. I hope and hope that the new Commission will be a partner in all this, although I have been very concerned since this morning, since the previous speeches. What the President of the Commission has said shows that he is ignoring the words of millions of European citizens calling for change. Not just his words, but his vote. He's like the Bourbons, he learns nothing. It also forgets its own electoral promises, such as the adjustment of the Green Pact. But back to the statement. An important step in the Budapest Declaration is the simplification revolution. The Commission has promised for a year, but it has not done so. But now, within six months, it must come up with a concrete plan to cut red tape by 25%. Furthermore, no legislation can be drawn up in the future without an impact assessment and a competitiveness test. I propose that this should also apply to Parliament's amendments, so that the responsibility of the honourable colleagues would also be greater. There is no turnaround in competitiveness without investment. This also requires mobilising public and private funding, as we lose EUR 300 billion a year due to obstacles in the financial market. All this money is flowing to America. The statement is clear: within six months, the Commission should come up with a concrete roadmap to remove barriers to the Single Market and take concrete steps to deepen the Capital Markets Union by '26. There is no European among the 20 largest companies in the world. Three percent of GDP will now be spent on research, development and innovation. Europe is an open economy, and connectivity is vital in order to trade as freely as possible in as many directions as possible. Agreements should not be a lesson to the partners, but a mutual benefit, because dialogue can achieve much more. We must restore the honor of the farmers. Agricultural policy should not be burdened with new, costly rules. A lot has been promised in the campaign, but what we have seen since then is the opposite. We patriots will do everything we can to strengthen European agriculture. We need a new industrial strategy, affordable energy. To this end, we expect immediate reforms from the Commission. It's time to get to work, ladies and gentlemen. Less ideological chatter, more work and collaboration. The Heads of State and Government succeeded. We have to be able to do the same. I urge the Commission to come up with an action plan with pragmatic, business-friendly solutions in the first 100 days, and the European Council not to let go of control, to hold this Parliament and the Commission to account for everything. Let's make Europe great again.

Dear Madam President, The Single Market is the most understandable value of the Union. Cheaper flights, or the advantage of being able to make free phone calls with loved ones at home, don't need to be explained. We have also had some bitter experiences. Services Directive, Posted Workers, Mobility Package. When adopting them, the Commission has always put the interests of Western Europeans first. Where the EU's eastern half is more competitive, it did not want to break down barriers. The challenge is therefore to deepen the Single Market in areas that enhance competitiveness and make life easier for citizens and companies, regardless of their geographical location. Do not centralize where the smaller or underdeveloped are badly off. Therefore, more connections, but for example the centralisation of the energy or telecommunications sector, should not be discouraged, local actors should not disappear, and the service should not become more expensive. Interoperability between financial markets is a good way to go, but be careful to unify national supervisors, not to stifle smaller national capital markets, without which there is no local ecosystem. Mr President, you mentioned the fifth freedom, the movement of knowledge. That's really cool. I am just asking why the European Commission is blocking the participation of Hungarian researchers in the Horizon programme or the movement of Hungarian students within the framework of the Erasmus programme. Without compensating for regional differences, there is no competitiveness. Brain drain must be combated. Prosperity on the ground should be encouraged. Let us keep cohesion policy as it was conceived to counterbalance the single market, where it has created difficulties. This must be maintained without conditioning, because it has become a harsh political tool in the hands of the Commission.

Dear Mr President, President Draghi has given the diagnosis, and the French President is also saying that the EU could die if it does not become more competitive. Today, the welfare model of the Union is under threat. People feel it on their skin. In the European manufacturing sector alone, 850,000 jobs have been lost in five years. We need to act now. At the same time, the EP, from the People's Party to the Communists, works exclusively to secure its own power, isolates the Patriots supported by 18 million voters by playing dirty, and tries to interfere with the Hungarian Presidency. I ask the House to finally start working. The misguided policies of the left-wing majority must be corrected. We need a business- and innovation-friendly environment, a reduction in administrative burdens, affordable energy and an ideology-free economic policy. The green transition needs to be adapted to our carrying capacity. Instead of blocking and teaching, we need to strengthen connections with our external partners. Next week, the European Council should give clear guidance to several institutions to adopt the new competitiveness pact in November. From now on, this house should not hinder, but help the Union to become more competitive.

Madam President, I'm sorry. We can safely say that God created Venezuela in good spirits. However, the communist regime, which had been in power for twenty-five years, completely destroyed the country, which had been flourishing until then. There is a lack of basic food and medicines. 8 million people have been forced to leave their country. Hungary had to evacuate more than a thousand veneers with Hungarian ancestry. I'm glad they found success with us. In order for Maduro's communist regime to retain power, he committed serious fraud in the July presidential election. It has unfairly influenced the electoral system, banned candidates from running, imprisoned opponents, and even persecuted its refugee citizens abroad. The polling district minutes have not been made public to this day, but the system operated by the opposition clearly proves that their candidate won with overwhelming power. González Urrutia, like many of his compatriots, was severely persecuted but later released by the regime rather than being at home. It is unacceptable for the Maduros to strike the protesters with iron fists. Retaliation killed at least 27 people and injured 192. There are nearly 2,000 political prisoners, including Europeans. By the way, 1673 of the 2000s were also taken into custody after the elections. At least 60 minors are still being held. The reaction of Borrel and his socialist comrades is weak and misogenic, and they are reluctant to take a clear stand. They point out to Hungary that there is no tougher resolution because of us. Let us be very clear that we are in favour of the Union acting much bolder and more decisively. By acknowledging the victory of González Urrutia, we can force the Maduros to negotiate a peaceful transition so that power can be taken over by the opposition leader who won the election on 10 January, in accordance with the Constitution. Thank you for the presence of the opposition leaders. We Hungarians and the members of the Patriots Group in this House are always on the side of freedom and democracy. We are with you, Venezuelan patriots.

Madam President, I'm sorry. I agree with President Draghi's diagnosis, we are lagging behind. Excessive greening ambitions of ideologically driven economic policy and overregulation have led to this. The Commission in run-off, as well as this House, from the People’s Party to the Communists, have a huge responsibility. As far as the recipe is concerned, the picture is more mixed. I am pleased that the problem of demographic winter is presented in this report as a factor of competitiveness. We in Hungary have been trying to deal with family policy in the headwinds for years. Mr. President would satisfy the investment hunger with further borrowing, and instead of seeking consensus, he calls for majority decision-making, even though more federalism does not make sense. The common agricultural and cohesion policies are underestimated by Draghi when they would just improve competitiveness. Centralisation of the energy, telecommunications and capital markets can be problematic for small players and the CEE region. They don't want to put Western market giants at our expense. Instead, we need a business- and innovation-friendly business environment, reduced administrative burdens and affordable energy prices. This requires an end to the war. The pace of the green transition needs to be adapted to our ability to bear the burden. This is what the Budapest Competitiveness Summit in November will be about.