Tineke Strik
Member of the European Parliament · ALE · NL
“Mr President, Commissioner, the Hungarian people have shown us that even after 16 years of authoritarian capture, democracy can, and does, prevail. The citizens stopped the autocratic nightmare, despite all the obstacles that Orbán created to stay in power.”
“The rule of law report should set the diagnosis, but also the treatment plan – sharp and operational, with an expanded scope, clear deadlines and a follow up with enforcement tools. Hungary gives us hope, but it also gives us a clear warning: report better, act faster, enforce harder. 2-0399-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, what is the EU commitment to upholding international law and the rule of law worth if it refuses to defend international judges under attack? The US has sanctioned ICC judges not for corruption, not for abuse, but for delivering justice against the most heinous international crimes.”
“Mr President, Commissioner, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was an urgent wake‑up call that the EU must become stronger and more autonomous. The most effective tool to achieve this is in our own hands: EU integration with our neighbours. The urgency has only increased with the threats coming now also from Washington.”
“Mr President, dear Commissioner, the brutal murder of Renee Good by ICE mobs on 7 January left the world in deep shock. How did the US reach the point that razzias, deportations and now even murder have become the reality? A society that is deeply divided by fear and distrust.”
“Amplified by disinformation and AI, they win elections on lies and fearmongering, and this debate is another example. Minnesota gives us a taste of where this road can lead. No rules or treaty‑based order, but inequality, arbitrariness, human rights violations, immense fears and a deeply divided society. But we can still turn the page.”
The complete record
Every one of 39 lines we hold for Tineke Strik, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“The rule of law report should set the diagnosis, but also the treatment plan – sharp and operational, with an expanded scope, clear deadlines and a follow up with enforcement tools. Hungary gives us hope, but it also gives us a clear warning: report better, act faster, enforce harder. 2-0399-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, the Hungarian people have shown us that even after 16 years of authoritarian capture, democracy can, and does, prevail. The citizens stopped the autocratic nightmare, despite all the obstacles that Orbán created to stay in power. But this also exposes a painful truth: democracy won despite the EU, and not thanks to the EU. Our Parliament sounded the alarm bell for years, but the Commission and Member States stayed too silent, acted too cautiously, fought back too late. Now it is time for the EU to get it right: to firmly support the new government in the genuine, full restoration of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, and to apply critical lessons in all our Member States. Violations must be met with real consequences.”
“Europe has the legal tools to respond, so use them! Protect the judges, protect international law and the credibility of our Union. These judges did exactly what was demanded from them. Now, Commissioner, it's your job to do the same. 3-0383-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, what is the EU commitment to upholding international law and the rule of law worth if it refuses to defend international judges under attack? The US has sanctioned ICC judges not for corruption, not for abuse, but for delivering justice against the most heinous international crimes. And the same applies to actors delivering evidence to the ICC, like UN rapporteurs and NGOs. This strikes at the very core of our international legal order, and it is a brutal assault on national judicial independence. The sanctions are not symbolic: they punish real people, disrupt real lives, and try to break those who dare to stand up for international accountability. This Parliament has repeatedly called for the activation of the blocking statute. The silence of Commission and Council is plain weakness disguised as caution.”
“Mr President, Commissioner, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was an urgent wake‑up call that the EU must become stronger and more autonomous. The most effective tool to achieve this is in our own hands: EU integration with our neighbours. The urgency has only increased with the threats coming now also from Washington. Yet, Member States seem to backtrack from their ambitions and get stuck in old habits, while we so urgently need to keep our eyes on the ball and show leadership, also towards our own electorate. That is the only way to keep the ambition for the necessary, meaningful reforms in candidate countries alive and avoid pushing them into the direction of our geopolitical rivals. That is the only way to reach the autonomy that we need so much, but also to give citizens in these countries a real, true perspective. 2-0417-0000”
“Amplified by disinformation and AI, they win elections on lies and fearmongering, and this debate is another example. Minnesota gives us a taste of where this road can lead. No rules or treaty‑based order, but inequality, arbitrariness, human rights violations, immense fears and a deeply divided society. But we can still turn the page. Let's work together to solve the real problems in our society and the world. Let us keep our societies together and protect our values for real, and make effective, evidence‑based policy on migration with which the Member States then also comply. That is how we restore trust... (The President cut off the speaker) 3-0195-0000”
“Mr President, dear Commissioner, the brutal murder of Renee Good by ICE mobs on 7 January left the world in deep shock. How did the US reach the point that razzias, deportations and now even murder have become the reality? A society that is deeply divided by fear and distrust. But the painful truth is that Europe is walking a similar dead‑end street. Many European politicians now finally recognise that Trump has become an enemy instead of an ally, and that the EU should become independent and different to protect our common values. But that lesson seems to be forgotten when it comes to refugees and migrants. The dehumanisation and scapegoating of migrants is dominant here as well. Refugees and migrants are blamed for the problems that politicians fail to solve.”
“What is this, if not undue influence? It is a gift against democracy, against Hungarian citizens. So Commission, Council, do not let this happen. 2-0555-0000”
“Madam President, dear Council, dear Commissioner, the Commission's plan to allocate EUR 16 billion of SAFE loans to Hungary is exactly what Orbán needs. He already transferred Hungary's defence industry to his oligarch friends, and they will do anything to keep Orbán in power. And Orbán will continue to serve Putin's aggressive agenda. This autocrat uses endless public funds for his own campaigning and propaganda. With this decision, we would put EUR 2 billion of pre-refinancing immediately into the pockets of Orbán because we will not immediately apply conditionality, so it will immediately land in his pockets. This is what we understand because we did not see any freezing or conditionality application so far. And this while the Commission has been holding off on rule of law measures in order not to influence the elections.”
“The EU, but also its Member States, must use their leverage and support to make that happen, to live up to what we promised and to give the Bosnian citizens the democracy and the EU path that they deserve. 4-0025-0000”
“Mr President, dear Commissioner, this year we commemorated the genocide in Srebrenica that took place 30 years ago. It was followed by the Dayton Peace Agreement, meant to bring peace and safety. That was a necessary step, but not meant to last for 30 years. The agreement that was needed to stop the long years of bloodshed now cements and deepens division and ethnic tensions. For politicians in and outside of Bosnia, this ethnic divide has become and serves as a business model to consolidate their power at the cost of harmony and civic freedoms in society. For Bosnia to become a democracy ready for EU integration, constitutional changes are necessary in line with the European Court of Human Rights' rulings.”
“So it is high time to freeze all EU funds for Hungary, and until that happens, the Commission and Council must stop using the release or reshuffling of frozen funds – let alone granting huge SAFE loans – as bargaining chips to get Hungary's support for unanimous Council decisions. The EU cannot let itself be held hostage like that. We must do better. When taking budgetary measures, we must safeguard the interests of the final recipients. They are often the last bastion protecting the rule of law and EU values, and they need our support. Think of NGOs, independent media or local governments. For example, the City of Budapest, which is being financially squeezed by Orban and pushed rapidly towards bankruptcy. Therefore, ensuring direct access to EU funding for those consumers is essential. 3-0306-0000”
“Madam President, dear Commissioner, money talks. You know that. So when we need to hold countries responsible for violating our basic values, effective budgetary measures are essential. But no matter what the rules are, rule of law conditionality can only be effective if it is genuinely and effectively applied. And here, Commissioner, the Commission fails. Measures against Hungary came too late and, despite serious deteriorations, as established by the Commission itself, it continues to receive billions from the EU. Apart from the ongoing deterioration in a corrupt autocracy such as Hungary, all EU funding is at risk.”
“Mr President, Commissioner, in Gaza, we all observe the genocide, the killing and the starvation continues and the people are suffering tremendously. Yet we observe a paralysed EU. I just visited the West Bank with my colleagues, and there we see the apartheid and the ethnic cleansing through State-organised violence and repression, sterilised roads, walls and checkpoints, demolished houses, olive groves, refugee camps and homeless, rightless and impoverished Palestinians, the UN being criminalised. And yet we observe the EU's complete silence and complicity in those gross violations of international law. There is no justice without accountability. Colleagues, our values, our credibility, our legal orders are dying before our eyes. Time is long overdue. So the Commission and Council need to act now. 2-0600-0000”
“The exact opposite of the Commission's proclaimed purpose and its treaty obligations. I am not saying no to cooperation, not at all. But it should lead to more protection for refugees and to democratic and human rights-compliant reforms for the societies concerned. 1-0194-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, despite the good and broad objectives that the pact for the Mediterranean includes, we see that many partnerships are still prioritising stemming irregular migration as an EU interest, instead of putting human rights, rule of law and democracy first. I really wonder how many more billions of euro will the Commission hand over to militias, autocrats, warlords even, before realising they are not reliable partners? The only thing it does is cement and legitimise their power and make the EU complicit. The increased repression causes citizens to flee their country and refugees to travel onwards to a real safe haven. And we let the human rights defenders down, and with them, all who promote values and democratic reforms in a hostile environment in their countries. I think of Egypt. I think of Tunisia.”
“So Commission, Parliament and Council conduct a thorough investigation and take the only right action if these revelations appear true. 3-0378-0000”
“Madam President, from Russia with love in our own Union. Who could have imagined that? For Hungary, the EU is the big enemy ten years ago, but it still is. Think, for example, about how Orbán designates EU funding as foreign interference in his draft anti-NGO law, or his friendship and collaboration with war criminals like Putin and Netanyahu, whom he happily invites into our Union's territory. And to make things worse. Hungary's espionage seems to have happened under the leadership of Commissioner Várhelyi, of now Commissioner Várhelyi. Our Parliament already called for investigations into Commissioner Várhelyi's conduct as Commissioner several times, where he prioritised Orbán's interests above those of the Union. This scandal is the last straw. With the enemy within, the EU's functionality and credibility is under serious threat.”
“But we should also actively support candidate countries during the accession process by supporting their reform agenda on government level, but also by stepping up our support to civil society, free media and other actors promoting the enlargement agenda, sometimes against the atmosphere that is in their countries. So we should reward those countries meeting demands and punish those backsliding. If we are serious about renewed commitment to enlargement, please let us show it. 2-0241-0000”
“Mr President, thank you, Commissioner, for being here. The foundation of our common project is the shared commitment to values, democracy and the rule of law. The requirements to become an EU Member State are high; we are asking candidate countries to implement significant changes, and rightfully so. But we have to do our homework ourselves as well. We cannot allow enlargement to be obstructed by individual Member States just because of bilateral conflicts or interests. So it is crucial to remove national vetoes of all the internal steps towards enlargement, as Council President Costa also proposed.”
“We need to go all out to stop the genocide, to enforce international law and include the Palestinians in any decision about their own land. 2-0215-0000”
“Madam President, Council, Commissioner, across Europe record numbers of people have taken to the streets: Rome 1 million, Madrid 400 000, Amsterdam 250 000, Berlin and Barcelona 100 000. Hundreds of vessels sailed to Gaza to break the unlawful humanitarian blockade. Evident opinion polls express people's frustration. So all over Europe, we see an unprecedented disconnect between the people and politicians because they simply reject that their leaders and the EU remain silent and even facilitate genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. This is in no way compliant with international law, in no way leading to peace, in no way what European citizens want. Our citizens do not allow you any longer to cowardly hide behind Trump or even ongoing negotiations.”
“And I think if you read the Rule of Law reports of the Commission, you can see very clearly that it's a constellation of different values and guarantees that all Member States need to ensure to protect citizens. And maybe the most important rule of law principle you can find in Article 2 of our Treaty on European Union, where our values are anchored and where every Member State needs to obey this principle. 3-0494-0000”
“The impunity of Orbán has now emboldened Fico to follow suit. So Commission, Council – do not make the same mistake again. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 3-0492-0000 Katarína Roth Neveďalová (NI), blue-card question. – Ms Strik, thank you very much for your words. I don't know how many times you have visited Slovakia or how much do you know about Slovakia, but I don't want to be disrespectful about this. But I would like to ask, you very much mentioned several times the rule of law. So can you please quote or tell me where the rule of law definition is in the European law? If you are so much sure about that, thank you very much. 3-0493-0000 Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer. – Well, if you don't know, it's good that you ask the question, of course.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Council – Putin, Orbán, Fico. Sadly, Slovakia is following in the footsteps of Hungary and Russia. Prime Minister Fico is cracking down at the moment on fundamental rights, NGOs and free media in a rapid rule of law 'race to the bottom'. A new constitution would deny gender diversity and restrict rainbow families and sex education. This is yet another blow for the Slovakian LGBTI+ community and women whose hopes for future progress are being squashed. Once again, the pretence of protecting national sovereignty is used to oppress citizens and negate the primacy of EU law. Fico's anti-NGO law uses allegations of foreign influence to silence critical voices. Council, Commissioner – in Hungary we have seen that the typical EU strategy of acting too little, too late fails to protect citizens.”
“Madam President, on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group, I would like to fully echo the point of order made by S&D and Renew. The debates in this House must be based on rights, freedoms, principles and values enshrined in our Treaties. It's not only obligations under the Rules of Procedure, but our moral duty as elected representatives of the European Union as well. We can debate migration. We can have different opinions, but we cannot allow the racist demonisation of people by far-right Members. Let us, as democratic groups, collectively and firmly reject the scapegoating and show that this has no place in the democratic heart of the European Union. 1-0035-0000”
“And with any new repressive act Orbán imposes, and he will, please show that the EU stands up for its people and act immediately. And as a major said today in this House, de EU is not from the governments, but from the nations, from the citizens. Commission and Council, protect our values, protect our citizens. 3-0204-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Pride is a protest and what a protest it was! 300 000 people came together in Budapest. They took to the streets to stand up for the LGBTIQ community and for the right to protest. The threat of sanctions did not keep them the way ‑ on the country. They said, enough! Enough with repression, enough with corruption, enough with Orbán. Many of us walked by their side. But this protest was in no way thanks to the Commission, which refused to use its tools. I remind the Commissioner that the restrictive assembly law still exists. Pride organisers and the major of Budapest can be prosecuted. Orbán can still ban any future protest and use illegal facial recognition again. So Orbán must be taken to court.”
“Madam President, dear Commissioner, 'You are on your own' – that is what the Commission is telling the Hungarian LGBTI community by not acting against the Pride ban. The Commission has the legal tools but is scared to use them: scared because the Pride organisations could risk a prison sentence; scared while the LGBTQ people in Hungary are treated, in the words of the Advocate General, as if their lives are not worth the same as heterosexual and cisgender lives. Is this really the message that the Commissioner wants to send to them, and to Orbán? He can now ban any demonstration that opposes him, and he will do it again. Will the Commission act then? Commissioner, we cannot fear Orbán. Act with courage now and request interim measures. In the meantime, 70 colleagues and I will do what the Commission won't: we will go to the Pride.”
“As a rapporteur on the rule of law in Hungary, I call on the Commission to request interim measures in the ongoing SPO case, to sue for non-compliance of the 'Lex NGO' judgment and to start a new infringement procedure with interim measures. And Council, I expect from you a very clear stance during the hearing on Hungary next Tuesday, but also serious consequences for a government that acts so blatantly against EU laws and values. Impunity is poison! We cannot allow Orbán to wipe out Hungary's civil society and independent media. We have no time to lose, as every day counts! 1-0167-0000”
“Mr President, Council, Commissioner, the end of all critical voices in Hungary: that's what Orbán's foreign agent bill could mean. How cynical! Under the guise of fighting foreign interference, he is importing Russian-style repression into the EU, eradicating all actors who promote the values and rights of the European Union, of which Hungary is a member – a membership that comes with obligations and loyalty. The bill flagrantly violates not only many EU laws – like on media and money laundering – but, first and foremost, the fundamental rights and democratic principles of our Union. It will destroy all checks and balances that are vital in a healthy democracy. And when the law enters into force, any targeted entity can be bankrupted within days. So the EU needs to stop this now!”
“Madam President, I present this request for an agenda change in my role as standing rapporteur on the rule of law for Hungary, and in the name – as you said – of the EPP, the S&D and the Greens. I request the addition of Council and Commission statements with the following title: 'The Hungarian Government's drift to Russia-style repression: legislative threats to freedom of expression and democratic participation'. I request for this debate to be added as a third item on the plenary agenda, after the debate on the EU's response to the Israeli Government's plan to seize the Gaza Strip. This requested debate becomes urgently necessary in light of the recent proposal by the Hungarian Government for a foreign agent law, which could cut off all foreign funding – including EU funding – of government-critical actors.”
“It is the inconvenient truth that the EU prioritises its own interests – on migration, on geopolitics – at the cost of defending and promoting its values: the values that we pretend to protect against Putin and against Trump. It is high time to act accordingly and make the EU credible again, also for the Turkish people. Choose their side. 2-0487-0000”
“Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear rapporteur, the arrest of Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu is extremely concerning, but unfortunately not a surprise. It reflects Erdoğan's total crackdown on the rule of law and democracy, in which every dissent is met with repression and arbitrary arrests. But I must say the EU is, to a certain extent, a partner in crime, because we turn a blind eye to the human rights violations, and by doing so, empower autocracy and leave democratic forces out in the cold. We are even funding violations by paying for deportation centres, leading to the illegal detainment, abuse and even death of migrants. There is no right to asylum in Türkiye.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Council, I have just returned from a visit to Palestine where, in Gaza, 60 000 people were killed, where, in the West Bank, people are outlawed, exposed to violence from the Israeli army and the colonists and where humiliation, deprivation of freedom and treatment as second‑class citizens is their daily experience. They fail any protection and are let down by the international community, except for by the ICJ and the ICC. The attacks on these bodies simply aim to discredit international law and to pave the way for the Wild West, where citizens are defenceless against the perpetrators. So far, the ICJ and ICC have stood strong and shown courage. But the best way for the EU to support them is to finally comply with their rulings and arrest warrants consistently, and to stop with double standards. 2-0510-0000”
“Ironically, EU funding to stop migration has become a core part of the business model of smugglers that we want to break. Indeed, it's a high time to break that cynical cycle and work on a protective approach towards refugees on the move. 3-0297-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, I'm glad to have this debate today because we really need to have a discussion on the reasons why people end up in the hands of smugglers and criminal gangs. And the reason is that they are forced to. The EU-wide anti-immigration policy hype has caused people fleeing war and persecution to resort to desperate measures to reach the EU in the absence of legal routes to do so; and because of the often state‑sponsored violence on their way, and the pushbacks they face at the external EU borders. Even worse, hundreds of millions of EU funds are flowing to Tunisian and Libyan coast guards who are involved in criminal smuggling operations. Libyan actors are being condemned by the UN, maybe that's the report we mentioned, for crimes against humanity. Yet, they are fostered and facilitated with EU money.”
“Genuine peace and independence of Palestine requires that we safeguard the borders of 1967 and end the illegal occupation. Make sure that the Palestinian people can finally enjoy their right to self-determination and live in peace, freedom and dignity. 1-0069-0000”
“Mr President, after fifteen months of bombings, massive killings and total destruction, a ceasefire in Gaza has finally been reached and we celebrate the end of this horror, but at the same time, we really must make sure that this fragile peace lasts. We need to ensure speedy, massive and unhindered humanitarian assistance, including from UNWRA, a full military withdrawal from Gaza, and a quick start of the reconstruction. Any violation of this agreement must be met with the firmest consequences, including sanctions. But the agreement can only be effectively implemented if international law is a solid basis. There is no place for impunity. To hold the perpetrators accountable we must cooperate with the ICC and its arrest warrants, and the ICJ ruling must lead the EU's policies.”