Virginijus Sinkevičius
Member of the European Parliament · ALE · LT
“Gerbiama Pirmininke, gerbiami kolegos. Europai netrūksta gabių žmonių, netrūksta įspūdingų įmonių ir sėkmės istorijų. Vien Lietuvoje mes turime ne vieną jų: ar tai būtų „Nord Security“, ar „Vinted“, ar „carVertical“. Kiekviena jų yra sėkmės istorija. Tačiau joms augti, jiems reikėjo šokinėti per skirtingus barjerus.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues. Europe's automotive sector means more than 13 million jobs. And of course, it's one of our industrial engines. But clearly, that engine cannot run on nostalgia. The market is changing fast, and one in five cars that has been sold in the EU this year is already battery electric.”
“Gerbiama Pirmininke, kolegos. Vieninga rinka neabejotinai yra vienas didžiausių Europos Sąjungos pasiekimų. Tačiau šiandien jūs girdėjote labai daug skaičių. Kiek vis dar to potencialo vieningos rinkos, ypatingai šiais sudėtingais laikais, mes neišnaudojame – kasmet per 300 mlrd. eurų. Apie 2 proc.”
“Mr President, in this debate I've heard a lot of accusations and very little numbers. It's like partying wild the whole night, and then in the morning feeling bad and blaming a cookie. Because if you look at the ETS, it's actually responsible for less than 10 % of the electricity price.”
“Jeigu energetika iš tiesų strateginis sektorius, kertinis mūsų įmonėms, kodėl vis dar turime neaiškią kainodarą ir skirtingus tarifus? Galiausiai, finansai ir prieiga prie kapitalo. Šiandien įmonėms, ypatingai regionuose, pasiskolinti yra praktiškai misija neįmanoma.”
“No, it goes to your national budget, and you should ask your governments where that money is spent. Absolutely, ETS2 also must be introduced very fairly and very carefully, because we should look at the real situation on the ground and especially families struggling with their bills.”
The complete record
Every one of 54 lines we hold for Virginijus Sinkevičius, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 2.
“The Commission's proposal to impose tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and fertilisers is a step in the right direction, helping to reduce dependencies, strengthen domestic production and diversify our supply chains. We must fully utilise this tool and remain united in upholding a rules-based international order. 2-0048-0000”
“Madam President, dear colleagues, the United States imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminium. This action is not only unjustified, but it's also deeply concerning for the future of the transatlantic cooperation. Let me be clear: we do not desire this outcome. Imposing tariffs between allies is counterproductive and frankly absurd. Nevertheless, the EU has to respond firmly. Even so, trade wars weaken our shared economic strength and global influence. That said, tariffs and targeted economic measures can be important tools when dealing with regimes that threaten global security and stability, such as Russia and Belarus. In such cases, targeted action is not just justified, it is crucial.”
“Thirdly, enhancing EU maritime surveillance. We need to close loopholes allowing Russian oil imports, such as in Bulgaria. And finally, establishing an EU task force to improve intelligence sharing and the enforcement of sanctions. So I call for action now, not to wait for further sabotage in the Baltic Sea. We have a unique moment with the Polish Presidency of the EU, but also with the Commission, and I call to ensure unity in this matter and to take measures as soon as possible. 2-0346-0000”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, today we confront a critical issue at the core of the EU's commitment to Ukraine, global security and economic stability. The shadow fleet is fuelling Russia's oil trade and, of course, the Russian oil chest. While the recent oversight and monitoring efforts are commendable, they are sort of like painting over rust – a temporary fix that, at the end of the day, fails to address the root cause. The reality is clear: Russian oil finds its buyers, including here in Europe. This revenue funds the war in Ukraine and funds destabilisation in Europe too. So to address this, I propose a five-step action plan. First of all, the G7 oil price cap needs to go down even further to USD 30 per barrel. Secondly, expanding sanctions to target shadow fleet vessels and their enablers.”