Debate contributions by Birgit SIPPEL

Madam President, Respect for our values is a prerequisite for EU membership, and they must apply in practice. Conditionality is designed to protect our budget when breaches of the rule of law put it at risk. And that this mechanism is lawful has been confirmed by the European Court of Justice, and it is also in the interest of our citizens. Funds must not go to governments where courts no longer decide independently, where prosecutors are politically instrumentalised, where civil society is criminalised and put before the choice between silence and prosecution, where non-transparency, incorrect procurement procedures, interference with journalists undermine measures against fraud, corruption and mismanagement. And the Commission needs to apply this conditionality mechanism consistently, also linked to other instruments, such as Article 7. The credibility of the EU must be: No rule of law, no EU money.

Mr President! Discrimination is prohibited. Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights is clear. But hate crime and hate speech are on the rise across the EU, both online and offline. Laws are being pushed that specifically discriminate against and criminalize minorities, such as so-called Gay-propaganda-Laws and PrideBanned in Hungary. This is how fears are stirred up and how people are to be made increasingly invisible to the public. Whether religious minorities, people with disabilities, the elderly, LGBTIQ people, third-country nationals, many others face barriers to housing, education, healthcare and access to services in everyday life. Women in particular are often disadvantaged on several occasions. That is why we finally need a uniform level of protection for everyone in all areas of life. However, the horizontal anti-discrimination directive has been blocked in the Council since 2008. This is unacceptable. And that is why I call on the Council: End the blockade, finally complete the Anti-Discrimination Directive!

Madam President, With a large majority, Parliament and Member States have adopted a new asylum system and clearly: Shared responsibility and solidarity are essential for successful implementation. It is not a positive start for the Commission to ignore legally binding timelines, but it is good that it has now come out of the coup and presented its report on the migration situation and solidarity. The fact that this rather fact-based task has become a highly political process in which many Member States have focused solely on their supposed own advantage is disappointing. And the little constructive behaviour of the German Minister of the Interior has also contributed to this. Now the time is running out. The delay that Commissioner Brunner has accepted must pay off. Member States must adopt a convincing solidarity pool in December, because without shared responsibility and solidarity, the new system that we urgently need will not work.

Madam President, Two people meet, whisper, exchange documents. What sounds like a scene from a spy movie was a bitter reality, according to research by investigative journalists. From 2013 to 2018, Hungarian intelligence services are said to have set up an espionage network in EU institutions and attempted, under diplomatic cover, to recruit EU staff to share confidential information. According to reports, this was done with the knowledge of then-Ambassador Olivér Várhelyi, now EU Commissioner. Earlier research shows that the Hungarian secret service monitored OLAF investigators who investigated the misuse of EU funds, including in the vicinity of Orbán's family. Further reports prove the use of spyware against journalists, lawyers, politicians. Parliament’s PEGA Committee and the European Court of Human Rights strongly criticised these practices. Basically: Wherever governments monitor civilian, critical actors, democracy is under attack. And those who spy on their partners violate an essential foundation of trusting cooperation. We now need transparency and consistency. I welcome the Commission's announcement of an internal investigation. But this must not remain hidden. This Parliament and the public have a right to know what has happened and how such activities have gone unnoticed for years. Should even a part of the accusations be confirmed, it must not remain with admonishing words. Clear consequences will then be needed, including at the head of the Commission. We must ensure that Europe remains a place where all of us, as citizens and institutions, can live and work freely, safely and without fear of surveillance in a free and democratic Europe.

Mr President! Freedom and security are under pressure. There are hybrid threats, cyberattacks, extremism and fears of social insecurity, exclusion, hatred and hate speech, both offline and online. More than ever, we need police and authorities who work on a case-by-case basis, who are technically, personally and in their training at the level of the times. This also includes a wide range of skills and knowledge, from cyber and intercultural competence to trusting cooperation with civilian actors. Trust is also based on respect for freedoms and fundamental rights, on confidentiality of communications, both online and offline. Therefore: More and more surveillance is not an option, but increases fears. What we need, however, is an overall monitoring bill so that we can systematically protect security, freedom and fundamental rights, and rebuild trust in people and authorities. Only together can we strengthen freedom and security.

Madam President, With ever new measures, Orbán discriminates against or oppresses people in Hungary. At the same time, discrimination, hate speech and violence based on sex, sexual orientation, colour, religion, disability, age and poverty are on the rise across the EU. The fact that Ms von der Leyen wants to withdraw the Equal Treatment Directive right now is an attack on the fundamental rights of all people. Now she says she needs a ‘clear signal’ from the Council or Parliament to reconsider this withdrawal and hoped it would not happen. However, with the majority decision of the two responsible committees, there is this signal. Same with the letter from the Conference of Committee Chairs. And also in the Council – contradiction by a majority of Member States. So when the Commission claims that it did not receive a signal, it deliberately turns a deaf ear and falls into the backs of those who urgently need this directive. In doing so, the Commission is harming our democracy and fundamental rights in Europe.

Madam President, An analysis of the rule of law situation in all Member States once a year is an important tool. But at the same time, the results of the 2024 report clearly show that: We need more than one report. The EU institutions – above all the Commission as guardian of the Treaties – must finally use all the means at their disposal to defend democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. We need more and much faster infringement procedures. The disbursement of funds must be much more closely linked to compliance with our values, through the conditionality mechanism and the MFF, and the horizontal equality directive must not be withdrawn. Example Hungary, in recent months alone: The Orbán regime has pushed laws through parliament that further restrict freedom of assembly, including by abusing facial recognition technologies targeting LGBTIQ+ people. The constitution was changed to put alleged child protection above other fundamental rights, and transgender people were de facto denied their identity. A new transparency law threatens to completely eliminate the remaining Hungarian civil society. Far too often I have had to ask this one question in plenary: What else has to happen? Therefore, once again: For me it is clear – the report is an important basis, but we need more concrete activities.

Madam President, 40 years of the Schengen Agreement – how did it come about and why is it still important today? After centuries of war, after the Second World War, another idea finally prevailed in Europe: talk to each other and yes, also argue with each other in order to find common interests and solutions; This is invaluable, especially in the face of current crises and wars. At the same time, this cooperation was the basis for the greatest achievement of our Union: the Schengen agreement, the abolition of percussion trees and controls at our internal borders. This has not only fueled the rapid exchange of goods and services and brought benefits. It simplifies people's cross-border encounters for work, exchange programs, leisure time, and concretely identifies common interests. We also want to achieve this for the Member States that are working to join the Schengen area, because these meetings and their consequences are an important prerequisite for a strong Europe that represents itself and its values with global self-confidence. But the increasing border controls in Member States are putting the axe to success so far. They are building new barriers and can ultimately destroy our common Europe. These controls do not solve any problems, on the contrary: They are a pretense of a solution based on hatred, exclusion, isolation, they are the end of good neighbourliness in Europe and cost us a lot of trust. Therefore, in view of this 40th anniversary, it is very clear: We must tackle the real challenges, reinvigorate the founding idea of Europe, oppose hatred and exclusion and finally end border controls. That would be the best contribution to the celebration of 40 years of Schengen.

Mr President! The European Court of Justice has clearly ruled: Golden passports are a mere marketing of EU citizenship status and are therefore incompatible with the basic concept of EU citizenship laid down in our Treaties. And I add: Golden passports and golden visas are simply special rights for the rich. All too often they are linked to corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, and they endanger democracy and security in Europe. That is why we have been campaigning for years for the end of the golden passports and for clearer and stricter controls on golden visas across the EU, for example in the new anti-money laundering package. The ECJ ruling now is important, also as a signal to all Member States. The Maltese government has declared that it respects the court ruling. This must be permanent and also apply to similar systems throughout the EU.

Mr President! In 2020, the Commission presented its last Internal Security Strategy. At that time, we were still at the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Russian war of aggression on the entire Ukraine seemed unthinkable, the extent of hybrid threats, targeted misinformation and manipulation was hardly conceivable, the destruction of democracy as a result of Donald Trump's second term was at best evil utopia. Much has happened and the new internal security strategy is therefore coming at an important time. Rarely has people's need for security been so strong, uncertainty so comprehensive, amplified by social exclusion and financial insecurity. And yet: We must not let ourselves be driven by fear, uncertainty and seemingly simple ideas, because they do not help, quite the contrary. We had to learn this when, around 2014, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) rightly invalidated the Data Retention Directive at the time. Now we need to create sustainable, fundamental rights-compliant solutions, and to do so, we need to track down the actual security gaps and rationally analyse challenges. These include the fight against increasingly professional organised crime as well as protection against attacks on sensitive infrastructure, protection against natural and environmental disasters, the fight against extremism and terrorism. Even if some people don't like to hear it: In Germany, most politically motivated crimes were committed on the right-wing spectrum in 2023. Also important: the protection against hate crimes and hate violence, the protection of women from femicide, the protection of democracy and the rule of law. All of this must be aimed at a strategy for internal security, because only in this way can we sustainably strengthen people's trust and sense of security.

Madam President, The return of people to their countries of origin is part of a functioning asylum system and here we need to become more effective – I agree with Commissioner Brunner. However, in view of the proposal presented today, this may seem to me to be the only point on which we agree: Restrictions on legal remedies, in part possibly contrary to our fundamental rights, the massive extension of detentions to two years, including for unaccompanied minors, and the possibility of setting up deportation centres in third countries without clearing what should happen to the people there and what minimum standards apply there, not to mention controls. And despite the far-reaching impact on fundamental rights, the Commission has once again failed to analyse the possible impact of its proposal – there is again no impact assessment. All this fits seamlessly into the Commission's narrative under Ms von der Leyen that migrants are potentially a threat. I reject this narrative. And Mr Brunner, we will have to incorporate some improvements to your proposal to make it work.

Madam President, Anyone who is persecuted in their home country has a legal right to asylum in Europe and is therefore not illegal upon arrival in Europe. And I'm tired of listening again and again, people use smugglers to come to Europe. As if this was a free decision in the morning: "Oh yes, I don't buy a ticket, I use the smuggler to come to Europe. I love being beaten up, persecuted, blackmailed and raped." It's not like that! But people are not only made false promises, but the safe way to Europe for vulnerable people is increasingly made impossible by pushbacks, rejections, border closures and much more. And therefore: Yes, safe escape routes are a way to deprive criminal smugglers, brutal traffickers of business. And we should consider the many possibilities of ResettlementTake advantage of programmes of family reunification and safe arrival in Europe and do not limit ourselves to criminal law alone.

Madam President, Digital platforms, protecting democracy – this is where we see a dangerous alliance: the return of imperialists on the one hand and tech oligarchs on the other, who together want to ruthlessly increase their profit, their power. But how free, open and diverse can a society be when people are unilaterally overwhelmed with opinions or fake news, while others are increasingly confronted with discrimination, hatred or even threats of violence? So-called echo chambers avoid the diversity of perspectives, solidify existing prejudices, which are often scattered unreflected with sometimes fatal consequences, especially for young people. The platforms accept that this constant chase for likes, after recognition by other psychological stresses amplifies. In addition, permanent tracking and profiling destroys the confidentiality of communications – for less profit. It is time to ban personalised advertising. Conclusion: The Commission must now consistently implement our digital legislation – DSA, GDPR, AI, ePrivacy – and also apply competition law in a targeted manner. We stand for democracy and fair competition, against hatred and exclusion. Those who do not respect this have no place with us.

Madam President, What are the effects of so-called social media? They help us connect with others, find information in an incredibly short time. They create spaces for debate, civic participation and engagement and play an increasingly important role in public discourse and also in elections. Unfortunately, it is not only the recent presidential elections in Romania that have shown how our constant and all too often uncritical use of social media can also be turned against us by individual actors. Unclear or one-sided filtering of information, non-transparent political advertising, coordinated disinformation campaigns, even non-recognition of election results are just a few points. So: Banning social media, excluding it from the EU? Well, first of all, our task is to secure fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of expression, while protecting democratic processes and societies as a whole. To do this, platforms must accept their responsibilities. Those providing services in the EU must comply with applicable EU law and they must be held accountable if they ignore it. The Commission and Member States are called upon to effectively enforce compliance with rules with all the means at their disposal, including beyond data protection; DSA, DMA, and we must always be ready to tackle new challenges proactively. Excluding platforms from the EU market is always an option. But in addition, we need cooperation with stakeholders, civil society, independent watchdogs, in order to maintain confidence in public debates and political and democratic processes. Finally, and ultimately, it is also our responsibility to use social media responsibly, critically questioning so-called information. We need to teach media literacy to everyone, from the youngest to the oldest.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen! No one falls in love with the supposedly wrong sex just for fun and risks discrimination and violence. No newborn is born willingly with intersex characteristics. None of these children are sick or in need of therapy. Article 21 of our Charter is very clear: Discrimination on grounds of sex or sexual orientation is prohibited – and yet: Prohibitions on the depiction of supposedly false forms of relationships or gender identities in Hungary, Lithuania, Bulgaria, hate politics in Italy; More and more violent attacks on LGBTIQ+ people across the EU, more and more hatred and hate speech online, especially on X. The new EU Commission must now take a position on the protection of LGBTIQ+ people, and the Council must finally adopt the Anti-Discrimination Directive and add hate speech and violence to the list of EU crimes.

Madam President, Europol's warning is clear: An increasing number of criminal gangs are targeting minors in order to abuse them for the purpose of carrying out crimes and even to avoid prosecution. What is new is how many countries are strategically using this procedure to recruit minors for increasingly serious crimes, including murder, and what tactics are used to do so, via social media in youth language and with crimes trivialised as a game. It is not new who are usually the victims of this tactic: young people living in poverty, with poorer access to good education and thus fewer opportunities for good work, young people in search of belonging and recognition. We need to focus on these young people. They need recognition and real opportunities to thrive in our society, regardless of their social, financial or other background, free from discrimination.

Madam President, Since February 2022, Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine. As the EU, we have responded with many sanctions, including a directive on sanctions violations. And there are calls to put Russia on the list of third countries at high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing. It's about close financial and military ties with high-risk countries like North Korea and Iran, financing private militias like the Wagner Group, a questionable use of cryptocurrencies, and more. It was not until the end of October that such an attempt failed internationally due to resistance from countries such as China, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. But we as the EU must not hesitate: Economic relations, transactions and sanctions avoidance undermine our democratic Europe and are unacceptable. By classifying Russia as a high-risk country, we are sending a clear signal.

Madam President, Just over a year ago, a very high turnout in Poland helped Donald Tusk to change power, in particular through the participation of young people and many women. These women went to the ballot box for the end of PiS rule, but also for the election promise to make abortions safe and legally accessible within 100 days. After almost 400 days, almost nothing has changed. Worse: Tusk has dropped the issue for this term of office, and thus an abortion law continues to prevail in Poland. Autonomous decisions about their own bodies are denied to women and left to doctors and prosecutors, mostly males. All this is disrespectful. It incapacitates women, and it forces women to secretly abort while risking their lives. You, Mr Tusk, are responsible for these women's lives and the many disappointed hopes for change. You could still change that.

Madam President, Viktor Orbán has the Presidency of the Council – what a joke! More than six years ago, with Article 7, we called on the Council to identify the risk of a serious breach of EU values in Hungary. Nothing has changed – on the contrary. Among you, Viktor Orbán, Hungary is moving ever further away from democracy and the rule of law. Only last year, with the ‘Sovereignty Defence Act’, you made it possible to spy on government critics. In April, you had your puppet parliament adopt the Omnibus Act and can now influence court decisions in your favour. We don't hear from the Council. Mr. Weber called Article 7 an atomic bomb at the time. But the damage to our community of values is not caused by Article 7, but by its disregard and lack of reactions. It's time: No more EU money for anti-democrats, finally clear edge! And I really hope that Hungary will find its way back to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.

Madam President, Open internal borders are one of Europe’s greatest success stories, and the reintroduction of border controls, especially when this happens indefinitely, is a danger – a danger not only for our economy, for jobs, but for European cohesion, for the daily cross-border encounters that strengthen us as the EU. Although a temporary reintroduction of internal border controls is possible in exceptional cases, where necessary, Member States should use other measures, such as border checks or joint police checks, to combat organised crime. In order to protect our freedom of movement and cohesion, the Schengen area – and, incidentally, also at the external borders – does not need border closures and national unilateralism, as has been repeatedly called for recently, but more trust and cooperation among the Member States.

Madam President, It is about Orbán again – but not today for a change, because we are discussing Hungary’s breaches of the rule of law, and not because the European Court of Justice has once again condemned Orbán’s government for its illegal migration policy. No, today we are talking about the fact that Europe's self-declared migrant enemy number one wants to enable and facilitate immigration. Sounds weird? However, Hungary, like many other Member States, appears to be in need of immigration, and even in increasing numbers, which is why legal immigration opportunities have been created for people from different countries. But is it really just about that? Apparently, it is important for Orbán to facilitate legal immigration opportunities for Russian and Belarusian nationals, and 14 such residence permits have been issued since July, according to the Hungarian government. Remarkable is the closeness of time to his unscheduled visit to Moscow right at the beginning of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council – pure coincidence, says his Minister for Europe. In view of this visit, but more so because of Orbán's attitude towards the Russian war of aggression, the question is allowed as to what benefits he hopes to gain from this extension of legal migration routes to Russian and Belarusian people. It must already be exceptional circumstances that it should be necessary, despite the geopolitical situation and without special security checks, to extend the immigration programme to precisely these two nations and thus treat them in the same way as, for example, six EU candidate countries. But in the end: Despite all the criticism of Orbán – Europe must consider how long we still want to watch this going on and what further steps are necessary.

Madam President, When people are brutally torn out of life or seriously injured, we are all shaken and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. But today I am also shocked by how the suffering of the people in Solingen is instrumentalized. Some are discussing border closures, a general rejection of people seeking protection at our borders or the blanket condemnation of people only on the basis of their nationality. All this stirs up fear, it divides our society. Some claims are illegal: They endanger our Schengen area, fuel criminal smugglers and undermine the European cohesion that we urgently need, especially on migration issues. And we need clear rules: ad hoc border controls only if absolutely necessary, the registration and reception of asylum seekers to check their entitlement to asylum in the responsible Member State and also agreements with countries of origin – agreements on the one hand for the withdrawal of their citizens who are obliged to leave our country and on the other hand for targeted simplification and expansion of legal labour migration, not least in view of the labour shortage in many Member States. In order to combat crime and radicalisation, it is also necessary to strengthen cross-border cooperation between the police and the judiciary and also to offer more preventive services and contact points for relatives of radicalising people. And all this also requires measures for integration from the outset in the interplay of all levels and especially with the strengthening of municipalities for sustainable success. It would be good if all democratic forces worked together to shape these challenges instead of using populism to lay the axe to the foundations of our European Union. (The speaker rejected a question about Jacek Ozdoba's "blue card" procedure.)