Kai Tegethoff
Member of the European Parliament · ALE · DE
“Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, the data is clear: the next climate refugees will be us. It will be families in Spain, Portugal or Italy forced to leave towns their grandparents built because the climate is just too hot.”
“Mr President, recently I went to the supermarket and came back with 200 g of strawberries for EUR 5. I get daily messages from people worried about fuel prices, rising electricity bills and grocery prices.”
“Madam President, dear colleagues on the conservative and far-right benches, you want to talk competitiveness. So let's do that. Look at the news. Just days after the strikes in the Middle East, gas prices were already skyrocketing. That's the real tax on European business – our crippling dependence on imported fossil fuels.”
“Mr President, a young woman in Madrid stares at her phone at midnight, wondering how rent suddenly takes 70 % of her of her salary. Thousands of kilometres away in Berlin, a young man is doing the exact same maths, feeling the exact same panic in his stomach.”
“Mr President, we are strongly committed to a good and stable relationship with the US. That won't change. But, as Volt, we cannot support this deal. It's enough. Sometimes when your partner crosses a line, you have to tell them.”
“Madam President, as long as we depend on fossil fuels, we will be vulnerable to those who control fossil fuels. Can we control who rises to power? No, but we can control how dependent we are on them. Yet, Europe keeps repeating the same mistake. After Putin invaded Ukraine, we reduced our dependency on Russia.”
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Every one of 29 lines we hold for Kai Tegethoff, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, the data is clear: the next climate refugees will be us. It will be families in Spain, Portugal or Italy forced to leave towns their grandparents built because the climate is just too hot. In Andalusia right now, experts are using crop planting methods once reserved for the Sahara, because that's what Europe's soil is turning into. Yet some still prefer just distracting citizens. Today we again listened to some of your climate lies that, in the end, only serve and protect the wealthy – those who are building climatised luxury bunkers because they know what's coming. As do you. You're just fooling your own voters. We need a European plan to work with nature to update our infrastructure before our own citizens are forced to flee it. Let's stop pretending the danger is somewhere out at the gates.”
“Mr President, recently I went to the supermarket and came back with 200 g of strawberries for EUR 5. I get daily messages from people worried about fuel prices, rising electricity bills and grocery prices. I always talk about better trains, because I want people to travel Europe by train as easily as possible, but equally because I want people to have affordable transport and groceries. Compared to road transport, trains save Europeans 132 million barrels of oil every year. That's lower transport costs, meaning lower prices on people's shelves. Trump may ease tensions with Iran today or not. In any case, that does not solve our problem. As long as we rely on fossil fuels, we don't control our living costs, and our costs for mobility are held hostage. Building on rail is a direct shield against these constant crises. 3-0366-0000”
“You're simply misunderstanding it and destroying our chance to catch up with the rest of the world and to adapt our economic growth to planetary boundaries. 3-0221-0000”
“Madam President, dear colleagues on the conservative and far-right benches, you want to talk competitiveness. So let's do that. Look at the news. Just days after the strikes in the Middle East, gas prices were already skyrocketing. That's the real tax on European business – our crippling dependence on imported fossil fuels. Yet you use competitiveness as a trump card to unpick the ETS, our most powerful market-driven tool for green innovation. The ETS is not a burden. It's the very tool that incentivises technical innovation; that lets us build energy independence and domestic clean technology; and that ultimately drives our competitiveness. True competitiveness won't come from protecting the system that let us fall behind in the first place. Come back to the future, colleagues. By holding us back, you're not protecting our economy.”
“Mr President, a young woman in Madrid stares at her phone at midnight, wondering how rent suddenly takes 70 % of her of her salary. Thousands of kilometres away in Berlin, a young man is doing the exact same maths, feeling the exact same panic in his stomach. Because despite what national leaders and far-right politicians are telling you, your struggles are European struggles. From Porto to Tallinn, from Naples to Kraków, Europeans face the same reality: energy bills rising fast, AI destroying jobs and calling it progress, climate anxiety, wars burning across the world and governments that have no answers to any of this. When national leaders think small, the winners are always the same: multinational landlords, corporate polluters, billionaires profiting from our division. The European moment is now.”
“Mr President, we are strongly committed to a good and stable relationship with the US. That won't change. But, as Volt, we cannot support this deal. It's enough. Sometimes when your partner crosses a line, you have to tell them. And the US, or rather Trump and his cabinet, have been crossing lines with Europe for a while now, on a daily basis. We have to stand up. A good trade deal should work for both sides and this one simply doesn't. It's rather a product of coercion and not of negotiation. Europe should not concede under pressure, but negotiate from strength and protect our own interests. Let's get back to the negotiation table and make a deal that works for both. 2-0037-0000”
“Madam President, as long as we depend on fossil fuels, we will be vulnerable to those who control fossil fuels. Can we control who rises to power? No, but we can control how dependent we are on them. Yet, Europe keeps repeating the same mistake. After Putin invaded Ukraine, we reduced our dependency on Russia. But instead of actually breaking the cycle, we simply shifted it, this time to the US. The cost of this vulnerability is enormous. Between 2021 and 2024, Europe paid EUR 930 billion extra for fossil fuel imports, just because of price shocks and geopolitical crises. These costs are predictable and they are avoidable. Energy independence is not only climate policy, it is security policy. Dear Commissioner Jørgensen, the Hamburg Declaration is not optional. This is our roadmap to European independence and it is on you to implement it.”
“We want enlargement to succeed, and for enlargement to succeed, we truly need it to land with people. It must be transparent, democratic and it must be trusted. This is how we actually strengthen the EU from within. 3-0538-0000”
“Mr President, the EU will recognise and enforce court judgements from Montenegro and Albania and the other way around. This is an important and welcome step to bring both countries closer to the EU, strengthen ties and eventually for Montenegro and Albania to become members of the European Union. This is great news. We fully support that part. At the same time, across Europe, many citizens are sceptical about enlargement and feel sidelined when their concerns are being ignored. So let me ask you, Commissioner: do you think it is wise to adopt this decision by relying on a non-objection procedure, which leaves the European Parliament completely out of it? Elected directly by the citizens of the Union, the European Parliament is the representation of the people.”
“2-0041-0000 Kai Tegethoff (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer. – This is exactly what I am talking about. We need to have the structure to actually have our whole budget, the whole way we do European politics, going forward to a direction that is ready to tackle those problems. But this is not the case, and many of our policies are acting against our own values and those need to adapt to climate change. And I think we really need to be aware of this and make sure that we act accordingly. 2-0042-0000”
“Europe must be ready before the next one strikes. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 2-0040-0000 Maria Grapini (S&D), întrebare adresată conform procedurii „cartonașului albastru”. – Stimate coleg, v-ați exprimat punctul de vedere vizavi de ceea ce se întâmplă, pentru că aproape în toate statele europene, inclusiv în România, în țara mea, acum doi ani a fost inundație. Dar nu credeți că din ceea ce a prezentat Comisia aici - fondul de ajutorare, cazuri de urgență - că ar trebui să avem un buget pentru prevenție? Pentru că, așa, punem banii ca apa în nisip: adică nu prevenim, în schimb, corectăm după ceea ce se întâmplă. Și iată, trec ani de zile în care cetățenilor nu li se repară casele, nu se repară infrastructura. Nu credeți că ar trebui să debalansăm și să dăm banii pentru prevenție?”
“Madam President, one and a half years ago, extreme floods in southern Europe, in Spain, killed hundreds of people. Last week, storms of similar intensity hit again, this time especially Portugal. None of this is simply bad luck. These floods were a predictable possibility of a raging climate. In Portugal, we saw how quickly floods can overwhelm infrastructure, cutting roads, power and access to basic services. This is not a series of isolated disasters. This is the new normal of a climate emergency that Europe is still not prepared for. We need a real European plan to protect us from what's still to come for our towns, for our infrastructure, for our society. And for this, we also need a dedicated European budget for climate adaptation. When a flood hits, you only have a few seconds to save your life.”
“We cannot afford to hesitate. At Volt, we believe Europe must stop doubting itself. Colleagues, we need to answer this fundamental question. Do we still believe Europe can act, or do we accept a future where we only react? 3-0347-0000”
“Madam President, the world we designed our politics for no longer exists. Power politics are back. International cooperation is framed as weakness, and many Europeans wonder if the EU is still strong enough to shape this new world order. It is. And now we have a unique opportunity to prove that the EU‑India trade agreement is not just another trade deal. Together, the EU and India represent around 25 % of global GDP and 2 billion consumers. In a world where alliances are shifting, we should take any chance at supporting the fight for democracy, for climate neutrality and for social justice. Every improvement is welcome. And we very much know that if Europe steps back, others will step in, with very different intentions. India is already deepening ties with the Emirates while keeping China and Russia close. They are moving fast.”
“Madam President, why are we even debating if people should get compensated when their plane is delayed? Of course they should. But this isn't just about delays or compensation, is it? It is about how we do politics. Passenger rights have successfully protected people, not profits. Now, some governments want to change that. But let me be clear: Parliament says no. No to less compensation. No to charging families extra just so that children can sit next to their parents. And no to EUR 50–80 fees for a small cabin bag. And also no to systems that make it nearly impossible for people to claim what they are entitled to. Colleagues, we know what is right. As Parliament, we are elected by the people and for the people. And, with votes like this, we prove that. 2-0268-0000”
“Mr President, Trump wants one thing: a divided Europe, because a divided Europe is easier to break. And the saddest part is that some people in this House are playing along. But a united Europe is a stronger Europe. Joint climate disaster funds, cross-border rescue teams, early warning systems built together – that is Europe at its best, united in crisis, stronger than any single nation could ever be alone. Trumpists sees this strength and they fear it. They are pulling the oldest puppet trick in the book: praise authoritarians and whisper to conservatives that courage is optional. And too many of you are falling for it. Worse, some of you don't even fall, you follow. If you agree with them, just say it clearly. If you don't, prove it. We need a United States of Europe now. It is not naive; it is courage, cultivate it. 3-0131-0000”
“Mr President, 1 in 25 people at the COP30 was a fossil fuel lobbyist – the same lobbyists who are getting conservatives and the far right in this House to do their dirty work for them. It is you, more than half of this Parliament, that spent months weakening Europe's climate targets, so that we would show up at COP30 with as little leverage as possible. As a result, we looked unsure and smaller than we are, at a time where the US has left a gap for climate leadership that Europe should fill. It is citizens that are victims of your sabotage. Colleagues, instead of chasing short‑sighted political wins, let's focus on what the world expects from the EU. As citizens increasingly suffer under the intensifying climate crisis, will you keep wasting their money for tactical lies or join the fight for a liveable planet? 4-0122-0000”
“Let's put all of Europe's talent and expertise into our car industries' electric future. Commit to the 2035 target, and let's prove and ensure that 'made in Europe' still means 'number one'. 3-0233-0000”
“Mr President, German car manufacturing – or, in von der Leyen words, 'the pride of Europe' – is fighting for its life. We are watching others win a race we should be leading. Why? Because we have an establishment that is terrified of losing voters to the right. Those who called this debate today are in the business of fear tactics and, as we saw in the introduction already, also of plain lies. They are far more obsessed with protecting corporate interests than the workers they claim to speak for. Meanwhile, the world is going electric – with or without us. Colleagues, every moment you delay, you are actively destroying our industrial base and handing market share to Beijing. Stop the foot dragging, not electrification – your hesitation is costing jobs.”
“Standing ovations for the difficult and dangerous work of firefighters are nice, but they don't even address the core of the problem. We need to act, step up our efforts on mitigation and finally start to actually adapt to the ongoing climate change. 4-0079-0000”
“Mr President, heatwave, Hitzewelle, ola de calor – omnipresent last summer, this summer and probably every future summer from now on. But still, we are not taking adequate action to fight the root cause of the problem: climate change. Heat wave after heat wave. Commission President von der Leyen yesterday talked here about heatwaves and I hear and support what you say, Commissioner, but at the same time, the Commission's missing action showcases in a hurtful way that there actually is no commitment to act, no strategy to address health problems of our citizens and overheated cities. No credible action on droughts, no credible attempts to save our forests, water bodies, or to restore nature. No political will to change our ways of life accordingly.”
“Mr President, what could the EU look like in 2030? 500 million citizens in the best and most resilient democracy in the world. A new union with more countries. For us, in the current 27, it means economic opportunities and a stronger defence union; 35 countries collaborating together. But how will the EU work with 35 countries? With 35 countries, it will be totally impossible. There's only one solution: reform. Treaty reform. Let's create a Europe 2.0 with a European constitution, where you can vote for the person who best represents you, no matter where you live. A Europe that speaks with one voice. Not ruled by national egos but by common interests. In other words, a new Europe that is bigger and better. 4-0057-0000”
“Mr President, rail is the backbone of public transport in Europe, or at least it should be. But as long as buying train tickets feels like navigating through a maze, rail will struggle to compete. As long as passengers do not enjoy full passenger rights protection, people will not trust rail. Not because it's slow, but because it's hard to access. The upcoming initiatives on rail ticketing must finally deliver. One journey, one ticket. No excuses. We need open data, fair and clear rules, and a level playing field for all operators and platforms, public and private. Passengers should not need five apps and a PhD to book a train. Let's get away from rail being the most frustrating mode of transport. Let's make rail the easiest way to travel. 2-0442-0000”
“And prepare the EU for ambitious enlargement. We want the United States of Europe. This is getting more urgent than ever before, day by day. 3-0197-0000”
“Mr President, 100 days: that's all it has taken President von der Leyen to give in to the dinosaurs of industry and to the pressure of her own party. By butchering important corporate sustainability laws before they were even implemented. By advancing immigration policy that gives in to the far right and paves the way for detention centres in third countries. And by weakening essential rules for reducing CO2 emissions of cars. We are at risk of heading in the wrong direction. My suggestion for the next 100 days: stop giving into the panic. Come forward with a bold plan to reform our European Union. Empower innovators instead of dinosaurs. Attract the best talent from all around the world. Increase female participation. Get the maximum value for citizens from the EU budget. Pave the ground for a European army, now.”
“Instead, the next goal will be to tear down the 2035 goal in total. Yes, the automotive plan contains some nice ideas. Give us a legislative proposal for the electrification of corporate fleets as soon as possible. But opening the targets is a huge mistake and the Commission needs to take it off the table. 3-0092-0000”
“Madam President, I hear every day that the automotive industry is struggling to meet its targets, cannot afford to pay its fines, will have to lay off its workers. Yes, the sector faces struggles, but these are of its own doing. Some fail to recognise global headwinds and stick their heads in the sand instead of adapting. Here's a fact: the CO2 targets work. We parliamentarians love to gather here in this Chamber and talk about European competitiveness, but do we genuinely think that rolling back our targets, damaging investment certainty, rewarding laggards and penalising first movers will do anything for Europe's car industry other than leave it further behind China's? There's blood in the water and the sharks have smelt it. If you think the car industry has any intention to comply with the targets in 2027, you are sadly mistaken.”
“We need to improve efficiency and reuse of water. We need to protect and restore our water supplies and the whole catchment area. And then at the same time, considering the wildfires and the flooding that we deal with here every single plenary session, we have to make sure that this water resilience strategy is accompanied and embedded into a real European climate adaptation law. 4-0022-0000”
“Mr President, the summer of 2024 is the hottest on record in the EU and globally. Thirteen Member States, meaning almost 50 % of the Member States of the EU, are affected by desertification and almost 25 % of the territory is sensitive to desertification. Still, while the EU promotes the leadership role globally, we are not prepared ourselves. The desertification COP16 failed to agree on a global drought framework, and the Commission promised to present a water resilience strategy already a year ago. I hope this will come very soon. And Commissioner Roswall, in your introduction, in your first sentence you said that we need to focus on helping farmers, and in the second sentence it was 'focus on economy'. I think what we really need in that water resilience strategy is water saving targets.”