Thomas Waitz
Member of the European Parliament · ALE · AT
“Mr President, Taoiseach, Commissioner, first of all, thank you for your preparation already towards this presidency. I see you are very active already in preparing and your people are around also talking to many of us. I have three wishes to you to send in your direction.”
“In this combination, also please make sure that this renationalisation of European money is not leading to a fragmentation and a distortion of markets – that we still keep the 'common' in our policy, whether it may be the common agricultural policy or others. And thank you for standing up for enlargement and for this cooperation.”
“Mr President, Commissioner, every proposal to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel is welcome, but we cannot overlook realities. In a post‑fossil bioeconomy we need biogenic CO2 chains to produce plastic, to produce clothes, to produce chemicals. And the bad news is, the amount of biomass is limited. This is just a matter of fact.”
“There is a niche for biofuels, especially the ones that are not produced from edible goods, but they cannot replace the need for electrification of our transport systems, and they cannot reduce the investments in alternatives beyond biomass and this kind of biofuel production.”
“Mr President, Commissioner, good morning, colleagues, we are once again in a fossil crisis. We once again realise that we are dependent on crazy, theocratic mullahs. We once again realise that we are dependent on a Russian war criminal.”
“So come on people, let's get going now, and we need to replace fossil fuels by our own home-grown renewable energy. And to President von der Leyen, who is not here anymore: replacing fossil dependency by a dependency on imported uranium, which we don't have in the European Union, is a dead‑end street. So please stop this fossil lobbying.”
The complete record
Every one of 27 lines we hold for Thomas Waitz, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“In this combination, also please make sure that this renationalisation of European money is not leading to a fragmentation and a distortion of markets – that we still keep the 'common' in our policy, whether it may be the common agricultural policy or others. And thank you for standing up for enlargement and for this cooperation. 2-0122-0000”
“Mr President, Taoiseach, Commissioner, first of all, thank you for your preparation already towards this presidency. I see you are very active already in preparing and your people are around also talking to many of us. I have three wishes to you to send in your direction. Ireland is hosting family farming and Ireland is hosting relatively small and medium-sized farming. We are negotiating the common agricultural policy. I count on you that you help us, that we support real farmers, and we don't dilute a European taxpayers' money to big investment funds or super-rich investors across the European Union. And we can really safeguard so that the farmers that work hard on their land and that also work in a climate, animal welfare and environmentally friendly way have access to the funds.”
“There is a niche for biofuels, especially the ones that are not produced from edible goods, but they cannot replace the need for electrification of our transport systems, and they cannot reduce the investments in alternatives beyond biomass and this kind of biofuel production. So let's face realities, let's face the facts, let's develop proper solutions, and let's not use food to put it into the tank. 4-0183-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, every proposal to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel is welcome, but we cannot overlook realities. In a post‑fossil bioeconomy we need biogenic CO2 chains to produce plastic, to produce clothes, to produce chemicals. And the bad news is, the amount of biomass is limited. This is just a matter of fact. In the moment when we talk about edible goods, to use edible goods to produce biofuel, well, the bad news is that the energy balance is clearly negative. We need much more energy to produce crops and then to produce biofuel from crops than the amount of energy that we can actually extract. And if we import these goods, we are complicit in causing hunger and we are complicit in causing deforestation. This cannot be a general solution.”
“Sorry to say, to produce grains with artificial fertilisers, with pesticides, with tractors, with the work of our farmers, and then pouring all of this into our tanks of combustion engines with 35 % energy use – this calculation doesn't work. And sorry to say, I just find it immoral to put foods that we can eat into our tanks instead of electrifying our cars. This is not a strategy for the future. 3-0064-0000”
“Wir hätten die Technologien, die Möglichkeiten bei uns in Europa. Ihre Fraktion, Ihre Partei ist es, die diese Möglichkeiten verhindern will. Warum setzen Sie sich dafür nicht mehr ein? Wir haben die Möglichkeit Biosprit, Holz aus unserem eigenen Wald zu nutzen, und Sie verhindern es gemeinsam mit Ihrer Fraktion. 3-0063-0000 Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer. – This is an excellent example of fake news. The Greens are standing up for a sustainable forestry, for forestry that does not destroy the soil, that is sustainably providing us and is resilient in times of climate crisis. And sorry colleague, you are very much advocating for the monoculture strategies of the past.”
“So come on people, let's get going now, and we need to replace fossil fuels by our own home-grown renewable energy. And to President von der Leyen, who is not here anymore: replacing fossil dependency by a dependency on imported uranium, which we don't have in the European Union, is a dead‑end street. So please stop this fossil lobbying. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 3-0062-0000 Alexander Bernhuber (PPE), Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Ja, ganz herzlichen Dank, Herr Kollege! Sie sagen, wir sollen fossile Energien abschaffen – unterstütze ich voll. Warum ist dann Ihre Fraktion dagegen, dass wir z. B. mehr Holz nutzen, um beim Heizen von Erdgas wegzukommen? Warum ist Ihre Fraktion dagegen, wenn es darum geht, nachhaltige Treibstoffe aus Getreide herzustellen, damit wir wegkommen von fossilen Energien?”
“Mr President, Commissioner, good morning, colleagues, we are once again in a fossil crisis. We once again realise that we are dependent on crazy, theocratic mullahs. We once again realise that we are dependent on a Russian war criminal. And we also realise that we are dependent on our former US friends that are unfortunately unreliable, and that have co-caused the crisis of today. So good morning, colleagues. The imperative of today is reducing fossil energy and reducing fossil dependency, also of fertilisers. And I don't understand how still parts of EPP and the right of this House can uphold this kind of combustion engine fetish, how you can still block renewable energy, how you can still slow down the construction of a good electric grid. I don't get your point. It's bad for economy, it's bad for people, it's bad for energy prices.”
“Mr President, we have the Rule that there are no political banners allowed in front of plenary or inside of plenary. This Rule counts for everyone, no matter what political opinion you have, and the ushers have confiscated the banner. Please, Mr President, respect our Rules. It's not a question of political opinion. This Rule counts for everyone here in the House. So just don't say, 'Well, this is just your opinion.' This is the Rules, and the Rules have been executed by the ushers. 4-0069-0000”
“That is what you do as a good friend, if your friend acts like a rookie, if he starts to blackmail or even be an aggressor, you need to stand up firmly and say clearly: 'no guys, that's not the way we're dealing with each other on this globe, that's not what friendship means'. So let's not skip our friendship with USA, but let's invest in all the democratic forces, and let's stand together and overcome these disputes – this can even make a friendship stronger than ever. Let's understand that Europe needs to grow up and needs greater unity on this globe. Let's work on this together. 2-0101-0000”
“Madam President, President of the Council, Commissioners, Europe needs to grow up now. We need to stand firm for our values on the global scene. We need to stand firm for human rights. We need to stand firm for democracy. It is going to be your role as the Cypriot Presidency to organise this greater unity that we see now upcoming in the European Union. It is also your role to portray the European Union as an alternative role model on the global scene, a role model that respects the rules-based order, a role model that respects international law, and a role model that stands up against the rise of authoritarianism. This is happening in China, this is happening in Russia, and unfortunately it is also happening in our former friends, the USA, under the Trump administration.”
“Madam President, Madam Commissioner, I want to turn to the Serbian people. If you want a future for your children, and if you want to have a proper income, if you want to have functional institutions and good healthcare, if you want to have an independent justice system and serious and fair elections, please realise that you have to overcome your current authoritarian rulers. No matter if you want to join the European Union one day or not. And I turn to us – to our colleagues here, to the Commission and to the heads of states. Please stop your appeasement policy. It is harming the credibility of the European Union, it is harming our common values and it is harming the stability of the Western Balkan region. Let's come to reason. Let's support the opposition. Many people in Serbia have understood that their future lies in their hands.”
“I want to say these are two countries that have been reliable partners, that have been sharing our CFSP, so foreign policy, standpoints. They have shown their commitment to the European Union and they have a realistic chance to come as 28th and 29th members into the European Union. Yes, we need reforms of the Treaty, but we also need a signal to the region that enlargement is possible based on merits, based on the rule of law, but that we're acting in terms of enlargement and we're not kicking the can down the road when it comes to reforms. So, let's keep the door open for Montenegro and Albania. The region needs this signal. 4-0024-0000”
“Mr President, Madam Commissioner, in times of rising authoritarianism, in times where we see brutal warfare in our immediate neighbourhood on European soil, if we European states want to defend our way of life, the rule of law, democracy, human rights, we have to stand together and we have to speak with a united voice. And yes, for this, we need to rethink whether majority voting in terms of foreign policy should not be the next step for reforms. But we also have to see that most of these countries that are seeking accession are making great progress. And we have two candidate states that have a realistic chance to join this European Union until 2028: clearly Montenegro and maybe – if they keep the ambition – Albania.”
“For me, the question is not whether somebody is Serbian or Montenegrin or Bosnian. For me, the question is, are people pro-democratic and do they support the pro-European course of the country? And this is what I'm forming my assessments on, and as long as the representatives do so, it's not my role to comment on whatever their background is. 2-0359-0000”
“And what is your opinion about the political role of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has directly influenced recent local elections in Montenegro? And do you think that you should do something about it? And do you think that these issues that I mentioned represent an obstacle in the European path of Montenegro? 2-0358-0000 Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer. – Thank you colleague Sokol for this question. And yes, the Montenegrin voters have elected their representatives and it's not my role to comment on this. And what I see up to now is that the government, with its majority that also includes Serbian representatives, is delivering legislation on a daily basis. But we also see that sometimes there are some obstacles coming in the way, and they might also come from that side.”
“Montenegro is also a country of fantastic natural heritage – a lot of jewels. If you have not been there, go there and have a look. But protecting these jewels like the Komarnica River, Salina Ulcinj or the protected dunes of Velika Plaža will be key to closing chapter 27 on environment. Let us work on it and let us do whatever we can to welcome Montenegro as the 28th Member of the European Union. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 2-0357-0000 Tomislav Sokol (PPE), blue-card question. – Mr Waitz, as the head of the delegation of the European Parliament in Montenegro, you are very aware of the situation of the political landscape in this country. So my question is, what do you think about the malignant foreign influence of pro-Serbian and pro-Russian political forces, which are part of the ruling coalition?”
“Mr President, Commissioner, yes, Montenegro is still the frontrunner and has a realistic chance to join the European Union until the year 2028. Yes, the government is delivering EU acquis legislation at a very high pace. And yes, Montenegro is a state on the Balkans that has kept good neighbourly relations very much in the past, and I very much recommend to invest time and effort to also do this in our present time. But there are also concerning things happening. The investment deal with the United Arab Emirates was already mentioned, and unfortunately it looks as if it might allow circumvention of EU procurement rules. Montenegro has to be aware, even if the chapter 5 on procurement may be closed – let us see what the Council says – this is just provisionally closed and once circumventing the rules, it can immediately be reopened.”
“Yes, we need to increase our cooperation with democracies. But as it stands, this trade agreement, in my point of view, is not fit for purpose. We still need to work on that and need to improve it. As it stands, this trade deal is toxic for the planet and the people. 4-0049-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, has the Commissioner been listening to the family farmers on both sides of the Atlantic that urge us not to sign this trade agreement? Or have you been listening to the big land‑owning oligarchs that are teaming up with the agrochemical multinationals that run thousands of hectares‑big farms, spreading pesticides that are banned in Europe with aeroplanes? Have you been listening to the indigenous communities and Quilombo communities that came all the way to Brussels to report about their poisoned rivers, their poisoned wells, their burned‑down forests, the deforestation and the attacks on them. Have you been listening to the labour organisation that reports about child labour, about forced labour, but in very high numbers? Yes, we need to increase our cooperation with Mercosur.”
“And unfortunately, parts of the European People's Party are becoming complicit in doing this and becoming complicit in weakening our European Union, especially in these times. I think this is extremely dangerous. So turn around, remind yourself that you were once one of the founders of this European Union, and stop destroying it. 3-0178-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, as an Austrian, I am once again reminded of the darkest times of the last century. Once again, the Christian Democrats and conservatives are allowing the extreme right to take power. At this very moment, there are negotiations still going on about making the extreme-right leader of Austrian FPÖ the chancellor of one of our European Member States, and they are doing it even knowing what the demands of FPÖ are. You know what the demands are – did you read into it? They're saying politics should prevail over justice and Austrian justice should prevail over European justice. This means destroying the European Union through the back door. This is questioning the main values and principles our European Union is built on, and this is questioning the prosperity and economic unity of our European Union.”
“Schauen Sie mal in unser gemeinsames schönes Ungarn – mein Großvater ist Ungar –: die Einschränkung der Medienfreiheit, die Einschränkung der Meinungsfreiheit, die Einschränkung der unabhängigen Justiz. Schauen Sie sich Ihre Spitäler an, die komplett am Boden sind. Schauen Sie sich Ihr Bildungssystem an, schauen Sie sich Ihre Wirtschaft an! Das ist, wohin wir kommen, wenn solche Leute wie Herr Orbán und Ihre Freunde die Macht übernehmen. Danke, das will ich nicht! 2-0263-0000”
“– (Beginn des Redebeitrags bei ausgeschaltetem Mikrofon) … gerne fragen: Haben Sie vergessen, was Demokratie bedeutet? Donald Trump hat ja in den Vereinigten Staaten eine demokratische Wahl gewonnen. Herr Kickl hat in Österreich eine demokratische Wahl gewonnen. Hoffentlich wird er eine starke österreichische Regierung gründen und bilden können. Sie sind kein Demokrat. Sie beschimpfen die Wähler, Sie beschimpfen die Demokratie, Sie beschimpfen demokratische Wahlen. Schämen Sie sich! 2-0262-0000 Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), Antwort auf eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Ich glaube, Sie haben mir nicht zugehört. Ich habe darüber gesprochen, wie gefährlich es für unsere Demokratie ist, Ihnen die Macht zu übertragen.”
“I don't know what he meant with it, and I cannot judge this, but what I see is that terms that were used in Nazi Germany and Nazi Austria are getting normalised. Our candidate for the extreme right is calling himself 'Volkskanzler'. That's how Adolf Hitler was naming himself before he called himself a 'Führer'. So a certain normalisation of terms that we know from this time is unfortunately something I am watching. And I really, seriously think that the pro-Democratic parties should stick together, beyond different opinions, beyond different political affiliations, but to the core of European unity, of European togetherness and for our democratic principles. 2-0261-0000 Ernő Schaller-Baross (PfE), Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“.”
“Aber es ist auch unsere Europäische Volkspartei, die den Rechtsextremen zur Macht verhilft. Und das ist das Gegenteil von einer proeuropäischen Politik. Und das ist das Gegenteil von einer prodemokratischen Politik. Und ich fordere Sie auf: Überdenken Sie Ihren Weg. Schlagen Sie wieder einen proeuropäischen Kurs ein und verhelfen Sie diesen Leuten nicht zur Macht, denn es wird zum Schaden der Europäischen Union, zum Schaden unserer Bürgerinnen und Bürger und zum Schaden unserer wertebasierten Politik sein. Kehren Sie um. (Der Redner ist damit einverstanden, auf mehrere Fragen nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“ zu antworten.) 2-0259-0000 Sander Smit (PPE), blue-card question.”
“Herr Präsident, Kommissar! Ich denke, seit gestern ist klar, dass wir uns weder sicherheitspolitisch noch handelspolitisch auf die USA als Partner oder gar Freunde verlassen können. Was aber auch klar ist seit gestern, ist, dass die USA Politik für Superreiche machen werden und vor allem Musk und Trump dafür, sich selbst weiter zu bereichern. Und Trump gesellt sich zu seinen Kollegen, den Autokraten Xi Jinping und Putin, dazu, denn sie haben ein gemeinsames Interesse: Das gemeinsame Interesse ist, die Europäische Union zu schwächen, die Europäische Union zu spalten, die Meinungsfreiheit anzugreifen und die unabhängige Justiz abzuschaffen. Und alle drei unterstützen rechtspopulistische und rechtsextreme Parteien – unsere Orbáns, unsere Melonis und auch unseren österreichischen Mini-Trump Herbert Kickl.”