Lukas Sieper
Member of the European Parliament · Renew · DE
“Madam President, I rise under Rule 202(1) and (4), and Rule 180(1) in conjunction with Rule 202(4). On Monday, the President reminded us that there should be no chanting in this Chamber. Yesterday, it happened again. The reaction of the sitting President? Nothing. Later, a colleague requested a personal statement.”
“We need to invest in humanitarian aid, not only because it's a human thing to do, but also for our own interests. If we do not invest properly where needed, we will face the consequences of our inaction in the form of mass migration, global health pandemics or detrimental economic impacts.”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, especially after the recent USAID cuts, the European commitment to humanitarian aid has become crucial for millions of people across the world. Conflicts, climate change and economic factors drive millions of people in various countries into utterly precarious situations.”
“Herr Präsident, liebe Menschen Europas! Ich freue mich, als letzter Redner dem einen oder anderen hier noch ein paar gute Gedanken mitzugeben in die Sommerpause. Herr Bausemer, ich bewundere ja immer wieder die mentale Akrobatik, die Sie hier betreiben in diesem Plenarsaal.”
“Herr Mularczyk, ich möchte Sie darauf hinweisen, dass wir als europäische Abgeordnete Abgeordnete des gesamten europäischen Volkes sind. Wir vertreten hier nicht nur Deutschland, wir vertreten alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger Europas.”
“Θέλετε μόνο να κάνετε πως ενδιαφέρεστε. Λυπάμαι, αλλά σε αυτό το στημένο παιχνίδι δεν θα συμμετέχω. Islam out of Europe! (Η Πρόεδρος αφαιρεί τον λόγο από την ομιλήτρια) 3-0484-0000 Tomasz Froelich, Verfasser. – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissarin! Was für ein Martyrium! Maria Shahbaz, 13 Jahre jung, Christin.”
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“Kérem ezért a bankot, hogy a prudens és gazdaságos működés megtartása mellett, fokozza a beruházási tevékenységét és merjen bátrabban kockázatot vállalni. Az EIB-nek a tagállamok beruházási bankjaként arra is figyelnie kell, hogy finanszírozási tevékenysége földrajzilag is kiegyensúlyozott legyen. Magyarországon például a bank által befektetett összeg jelentősen elmarad az európai átlagtól, pedig Magyarországon külön kiemelt szerepe is lenne a banknak, a magyar kormány korrupciója miatt kiesett uniós támogatások pótlásában. A bank az EU pénzügyi érdekeinek védelme mellett tudna a magyar gazdaságba és vállalkozásokba, infrastruktúrába pénzt pumpálni. Végül kiemelném, hogy az, hogy a jelentéstevő a Patrióta csoport tagja, nem szoríthatja háttérbe azt, hogy mi mindannyian azért vagyunk itt, hogy a választópolgárok érdekeit szolgáljuk.”
“Európa következő évei az óriásberuházásokról fognak szólni: évi 800 milliárd euró az európai vállalkozásokba, további 800 milliárd euró Európa védelmi iparába. Végül, de semmiképpen sem utolsósorban, jelentős összegek a kohézió, a jólét és az egészséges környezet fenntartására, különösen a megfizethető lakhatásra és a kapcsolódó egészségügyi, oktatási és közlekedési infrastruktúra finanszírozására. Az Európai Beruházási Bank több szempontból is előnyös helyzetben van, hogy ezeket a nagymértékű befektetéseket mozgósítani tudja. Egyrészt tőkeerős helyzete, az EU által biztosított garancia és kiváló hitelminősítése lehetővé teszi számára, hogy előnyös feltételek mellett tudjon hitelt nyújtani. Másrészt jelentős tapasztalata van a privát befektetők és a tőke bevonásában, amire mindenképpen szükség lesz a célok eléréséhez.”
“I believe that by working together, focusing investment and maintaining a coherent regulatory framework, we can ensure Europe's continued growth, technological leadership and resilience in the face of an increasingly volatile and competitive global environment. I welcome the EP report, which brings important insights and recommendations. The EIB has been successful in ensuring a balance between being a bank with public commission and maintaining agility to ensure it remains an attractive partner for projects, promoters and to advance our important investment policies, often with private partners. I hope this balance will be further retained. 1-0156-0000 Kinga Kollár, a PPE képviselőcsoport nevében. – Elnök Úr!”
“Rebuilding Europe's defence capabilities requires urgent and significant investment. In March, the Commission presented the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiative to facilitate a unique surge in defence investment. It aims to unlock up to EUR 800 billion of additional defence expenditures – a game changer for European defence. The EIB has a clear role to play here, particularly in supporting the investments needed to ramp up the defence industry. This also includes targeted support for small and medium enterprises across the supply chain. In this sense, we welcome the recent amendment of the EIB group's exclusion policy to further boost its investment in security and defence, while safeguarding the group's financial capacity.”
“Outside the EU, the role of EIB Global will be crucial in delivering EU policy priorities and enhancing the EU's visibility and development impact. The EIB remains our important partner in ensuring continued support to Ukraine now and in the long-term. In April, the Commission witnessed the signature of four new EIB operations, which will address Ukraine's most pressing recovery needs, supporting municipalities in renewable energy and energy efficiency, water infrastructure and district heating. These projects, backed by the EU budget through the Ukraine Facility, reflect our commitment to Ukraine's long-term resilience and to its people. In this regard and in view of an increasingly difficult geopolitical context, strengthening EU security and defence has been brought to the forefront of our agenda.”
“These initiatives, such as the European Tech Champions Initiative 2.0, aimed to scale-up venture capital investments, facilitate easier exits of the venture funds, thus allowing circularity of investment and better use of available funds. The Commission has strongly connected competitiveness to simplification: one cannot exist without the other. Our strategy on implementation and simplification for the next five years aims at making sure that EU rules are as simple and cost-effective as possible, and that they deliver on the ground to achieve our economic, social, security and environmental goals. We are working closely with the EIB to deliver on our simplification agenda, for example via the Invest EU omnibus regulation.”
“Given the scale of the investment needed, as mentioned in the Draghi report, we will have to strive to attract institutional investors, such as the insurers and the pension funds to leverage all available resources. The Commission and the EIB group should continue working together to identify all options available. At the same time, we encourage the EIB group to further exploit the risk-taking potential, to foster higher additionally in its interventions and avoid the risk of crowding out other investors. In March, the Commission published the communication on the Savings and Investments Union. I therefore welcome the EIB's recent initiative to address the most challenging needs of strategically important, innovative companies.”
“This concerns areas such as energy, electricity distribution, networks, water, social and affordable housing, education and the mobile network, to name just a few. We welcome the eight strategic priorities of the EIB Strategic Roadmap adopted last year. They are well-aligned with EU priorities, including new ones such as defence and security. The projects and the investments carried out by the EIB also contribute to the competitiveness agenda of the current Commission. This agenda critically depends on the ability of highly innovative start-ups. This is especially relevant in areas such as AI, quantum computing and deep tech, biotech and clean tech, or in the defence sector.”
“I think this is very important at this moment in time. Mr President, once again, many thanks to the rapporteur for the report and thank you very much for this opportunity. 1-0155-0000 Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the Commission. – Mr President, Vice-President of the EIB, dear rapporteur, honourable Members, I would like to thank the European Parliament for the opportunity to present the Commission's views in this regard. This was another year of positive cooperation with our long-standing partner, the European Investment Bank group, which we value very much. It is essential that our institutions keep working together as strategic partners. Today, the EIB group has been provided indispensable financial support to ensure implementation of the EU priorities on the ground.”
“Indeed, the market demand and pace of deployment are such that we are even at risk of missing the firepower to deliver some of our projects in the last years of the budget cycle. I turn now to another area which is highly relevant in the current geopolitical context, namely defence and security. The EIB board decided in March to broaden the EIB Group's eligibility criteria for security and defence investments, ensuring that excluded activities remain as minimal as possible. This allows us to finance large‑scale strategic projects in areas such as border protection, military mobility, space, cybersecurity, anti‑jamming technologies, radar system, seabed and other critical infrastructure and critical raw materials. These changes will further facilitate investment to bolster Europe's industrial defence capabilities.”
“We will act on critical raw materials, water management, energy efficiency of SMEs, as well as sustainable and affordable housing. Housing is a top priority for the EIB Group, as it is for so many citizens all over Europe. That's why we have designed an action plan, working closely with the Commission to set up a pan‑European investment platform. Our aim is to generate about EUR 10 billion of investment over the next two years. This is a good example of how the bank is willing and able to evolve, adapt and be part of the solution to the multiple challenges Europe currently faces. InvestEU is a success story with a multiplier effect of close to 15 times, according to the Commission. It's an excellent example of how leveraging is realised.”
“We operate with clear priorities set out by our shareholders in our 2024‑2027 strategic roadmap. We have significant progress in simplification – the rapporteur alluded to it – resulting in cutting red tape for clients and shortening the time to market required to improve and deploy new investments, and, thanks to the support of your House, with the change of our statute to increase the gearing ratio, allowing us to invest more while maintaining our equity base. The EIB Group plans to increase its overall investments, as I said, to EUR 90‑95 billion in 2025, with flagship initiatives to support European tech champions through a dedicated Tech EU programme, contributing to a deeper and broader European capital markets union, which is essential to support our start‑up and scale‑up companies and to keep them in Europe.”
“Investment strengthens European competitiveness, it bolsters our strategic autonomy and makes the European economy more resilient in this increasingly complex world. Last year alone, nearly 60 % of our financing went to supporting the green transition, including circular economy and climate adaptation. The EIB Group made more investments than ever to strengthen the EU's energy security, mobilising over EUR 100 billion for projects in the new and upgraded infrastructure, such as grids and interconnectors, renewables, net zero industries, efficiency and energy storage. At the same time, higher risk operations for Europe's most innovative companies have sharply increased, with EUR 8 billion in equity and quasi‑equity investment for start‑ups, scale‑ups and European pioneers. This number will increase in 2025.”
“1-0154-0000 Robert de Groot, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank. – Mr President, honourable Members, it's my pleasure to be with you here today to address some important issues raised in the report and update you on the activities of the EIB Group. And I want to thank the rapporteur, Mr Ondřej Knotek, for his thorough work and the excellent cooperation to reach a well‑balanced report. Your report rightly acknowledges the bank's achievements in 2023, and since then, a lot has happened. 2024, the first year of President Calviño at the helm of the bank was a year of change. The bank signed EUR 89 billion in new financing for high‑impact projects supporting EU policy priorities. Our investments help close the investment gap Europe faces.”
“The bank is active also outside the EU, namely in Ukraine, Western Balkans, Moldova but also Africa. When it comes to accountability, the bank cooperates within OLAF and EPPO and has its own ethics and compliance committee. We are running slowly out of time, so to sum up, the EIB has demonstrated, I would say, unprecedented engagement with the Parliament in preparing this report. I am very thankful, in my opinion, as also an auditor outside the European Parliament, the EIB is running a successful operational model applying risk prevention and continual improvement approach and tries to address existing challenges and opportunities effectively. I would like to thank all the representatives of the CONT committee, of course, of the bank, of the Secretariat, and I am looking forward to the debate to come.”
“On energy security, the bank focuses on the security of supplies via grids reinforcement, cross-border infrastructure, but also introduces new modern elements like demand response and energy storage projects, and also value chains for critical materials. Another important topic is security – EIB supports the EU defence and security industry under the dual-use principle, and the budget has been increased here from EUR 6 billion to EUR 8 billion and newly includes also activities in space. The bank cooperates with the European Defence Agency and, in order to mobilise money for innovative projects, has opened the One-Stop-Shop. When we look at the climate, it is one of the main priorities of the bank – there has been EUR 40 billion in climate, EUR 25 billion in sustainability and also many projects newly in climate adaptation.”
“Now, on the substance, the EIB maintained in 2023 the triple A rating and liquidity ratio within the limits and had a positive result of EUR 2.3 billion. Also, the 2023 signed investments are expected to create 1.4 million new jobs in coming years, and this shall contribute growth of one percentage in GDP. The EIB manages up to 130 mandates, both from the Commission and the shared management, and produces 450 reports every year. Therefore, simplification is not only needed here, but as well has been recognised within the system and addressed in the system, and of course not at the cost of sound management. By the way, EIB manages six mandates from the RRF, namely for Greece, Italy, Romania and Spain.”
“Because the EIB already now plays a crucial role in implementing EU policies, and its role might grow in the near future. Therefore, I am extremely grateful for the openness and hospitality that the bank provided while drafting this report. I would like to also remind all of us that the EIB is not the subject of the standard discharge procedure we are used to. To sum up the activities we have done: firstly, there was a questionnaire based on the inputs from the CONT committee members that was effectively answered by the bank. Then on 11 December 2024, we held a one-day working visit in the EIB, meeting eight representatives of departments and one vice-president. And on 25 January, we held a follow-up video conference on topics like transparency and prevention of the conflict of interest.”
“– Următorul punct de pe ordinea de zi este cel al cărui raportor este domnul Knotek: controlul activităților financiare ale Băncii Europene de Investiții (2024/2052(INI))(A10-0068/2025). Îl avem alături de noi și pe domnul Robert de Groot, vicepreședinte al Băncii Europene de Investiții, pe care îl salut și îi mulțumesc pentru prezență și dau cuvântul domnului Knotek ca raportor. 1-0153-0000 Ondřej Knotek, rapporteur. – Mr President, good afternoon colleagues, Vice-President Fitto and Vice-President of the EIB de Groot. Despite the fact that the main scope of the report is dedicated to the financial activities of the bank in 2023, we considered, on top of this scope, other useful elements to better understand the EIB's operational model, internal system and also strategy in current vibrant times. Why?”
“(debata)" \f "I"TC "21 - Controlo das atividades financeiras do Banco Europeu de Investimento – relatório anual de 2023 (debate)" \f "J"TC "21 - Controlul activităților financiare ale Băncii Europene de Investiții - raportul anual pe 2023 (dezbatere)" \f "K"TC "21 - Kontrola finančnej činnosti Európskej investičnej banky – výročná správa za rok 2023 (rozprava)" \f "L"TC "21 - Nadzor finančnih dejavnosti Evropske investicijske banke – letno poročilo za leto 2023 (razprava)" \f "M"TC "21 - Euroopan investointipankin rahoitustoiminnan valvonta – vuosikertomus 2023 (keskustelu)" \f "N"TC "21 - Kontrollen av Europeiska investeringsbankens finansiella verksamhet – årsrapport 2023 (debatt)" \f "O"Controlul activităților financiare ale Băncii Europene de Investiții - raportul anual pe 2023 (dezbatere) 1-0152-0000 Preşedinte.”
“gada ziņojums par Eiropas Investīciju bankas finansiālās darbības kontroli (debates)" \f "D"TC "21 - 2023 m. metinis pranešimas dėl Europos investicijų banko finansinės veiklos kontrolės (diskusijos)" \f "E"TC "21 - Az Európai Beruházási Bank pénzügyi tevékenységeinek ellenőrzése – 2023. évi éves jelentés (vita)" \f "F"TC "21 - Kontroll tal-attivitajiet finanzjarji tal-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment – rapport annwali 2023 (dibattitu)" \f "G"TC "21 - Controle van de financiële activiteiten van de Europese Investeringsbank – jaarverslag 2023 (debat)" \f "H"TC "21 - Kontrola działalności finansowej Europejskiego Banku Inwestycyjnego – sprawozdanie roczne za 2023 r.”
“aasta aruanne (arutelu)" \f "6"TC "21 - Έλεγχος των χρηματοδοτικών δραστηριοτήτων της Ευρωπαϊκής Τράπεζας Επενδύσεων – ετήσια έκθεση 2023 (συζήτηση)" \f "7"TC "21 - Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2023 (debate)" \f "8"TC "21 - Contrôle des activités financières de la Banque européenne d’investissement – rapport annuel 2023 (débat)" \f "9"TC "21 - Rialú ghníomhaíochtaí airgeadais an Bhainc Eorpaigh Infheistíochta – tuarascáil bhliantúil 2023 (díospóireacht)" \f "A"TC "21 - Nadzor financijskih aktivnosti Europske investicijske banke – godišnje izvješće za 2023. (rasprava)" \f "B"TC "21 - Controllo delle attività finanziarie della Banca europea per gli investimenti – Relazione annuale 2023 (discussione)" \f "C"TC "21 - 2023.”
“(разискване)" \f "1"TC "21 - Control de las actividades financieras del Banco Europeo de Inversiones: informe anual 2023 (debate)" \f "2"TC "21 - Kontrola finanční činnosti Evropské investiční banky – výroční zpráva za rok 2023 (rozprava)" \f "3"TC "21 - Kontrol med Den Europæiske Investeringsbanks finansielle aktiviteter – årsberetning 2023 (forhandling)" \f "4"TC "21 - Kontrolle der Finanztätigkeit der Europäischen Investitionsbank – Jahresbericht 2023 (Aussprache)" \f "5"TC "21 - Euroopa Investeerimispanga finantstegevuse kontrolli 2023.”
“– Am un anunț de făcut: deputații neafiliați au comunicat președintelui o decizie referitoare la modificări cu privire la numirile în cadrul comisiilor. Această decizie va fi consemnată în procesul-verbal al ședinței de astăzi și produce efecte de la data prezentului anunț, respectiv, domnul Volker Schnurrbusch îl înlocuiește pe domnul Taner Kabilov în Comisia pentru petiții. TC "21 - Контрол на финансовите дейности на Европейската инвестиционна банка – годишен доклад за 2023 г.”
“TC "20 - Състав на комисиите и делегациите" \f "1"TC "20 - Composición de las comisiones y delegaciones" \f "2"TC "20 - Členství ve výborech a delegacích" \f "3"TC "20 - Udvalgenes og delegationernes sammensætning" \f "4"TC "20 - Zusammensetzung der Ausschüsse und Delegationen" \f "5"TC "20 - Parlamendi komisjonide ja delegatsioonide koosseis" \f "6"TC "20 - Σύνθεση των επιτροπών και αντιπροσωπειών" \f "7"TC "20 - Composition of committees and delegations" \f "8"TC "20 - Composition des commissions et des délégations" \f "9"TC "20 - Comhdhéanamh na gcoistí agus na dtoscaireachtaí" \f "A"TC "20 - Sastav odbora i izaslanstava" \f "B"TC "20 - Composizione delle commissioni e delle delegazioni" \f "C"TC "20 - Komiteju un delegāciju sastāvs" \f "D"TC "20 - Komitetų ir delegacijų sudėtis" \f "E"TC "20 - A bizottságok és a küldöttségek tagjai" \f "F"TC "20 - Kompożizzjoni tal-kumitati u tad-delegazzjonijiet" \f "G"TC "20 - Samenstelling commissies en delegaties" \f "H"TC "20 - Skład komisji i delegacji" \f "I"TC "20 - Composição das comissões e delegações" \f "J"TC "20 - Componența comisiilor și delegațiilor" \f "K"TC "20 - Zloženie výborov a delegácií" \f "L"TC "20 - Sestava odborov in delegacij" \f "M"TC "20 - Valiokuntien ja valtuuskuntien kokoonpano" \f "N"TC "20 - Utskottens och delegationernas sammansättning" \f "O"Componența comisiilor și delegațiilor 1-0150-0000 Preşedinte.”
“Je souhaite que, lors du vote de demain, nous gardions en tête, comme on dit en bon français, «the big picture». 1-0148-0000 Preşedinte. – Cu acest anunț am încheiat dezbaterea. Votarea va avea loc mâine.”
“Ce sujet, vous l'avez évoqué, il a été évoqué dans ce débat et il sera à nouveau évoqué dans cet hémicycle, j'en suis certain, à plusieurs reprises. J'ai proposé une formulation, dans le rapport, qui me semble équilibrée, qui rappelle le rôle important des ONG dans le débat public européen, que nous devons préserver, et qui rappelle aussi que tous ceux qui perçoivent des fonds européens doivent la transparence aux contribuables européens et aux autorités de contrôle. Je crois que c'est ce que nous pouvons dire dans le cadre de ce rapport. Je pense que c'est un bon rapport, non pas parce que c'est le mien – pas seulement parce que c'est le mien –, mais parce qu'il est issu d'un travail réfléchi avec l'ensemble des rapporteurs fictifs que je remercie pour leur collaboration.”
“– Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues, merci pour ce débat utile qui fait émerger des positions non pas unanimes, parce que l'unanimité n'est pas de ce monde, mais des positions largement consensuelles ou en tout cas une volonté partagée de faire, tous ensemble, le meilleur usage de l'argent public européen, de lutter contre une fraude protéiforme, massive, inventive et souvent plus rapide que nous, décideurs européens. À partir de ce consensus, j'aimerais que l'ensemble des groupes qui partagent cette vision, au-delà des nuances que nous pouvons avoir, ne se laissent pas polluer par un sujet important, mais finalement marginal dans notre architecture européenne, celui des ONG.”
“And that is another point that I would like to share with you, and one last on the NGOs: I think it has to be stated clearly, we'll discuss it also tomorrow, there is no fraud. There has never been fraud. And those who are referring to NGOs, they know it. I have more and more the impression that they are doing that, because they would like to eliminate NGOs from the public debate at the European level. 1-0147-0000 Gilles Boyer, rapporteur.”
“The system is not perfect, that's why we would need to review it. That's why we need to continuously work to improve it. Because as we know, one thing that the fraudsters are not missing is creativity. They will continue to look for ways in which they can misuse public money, including the EU budget money. But that system is already is already bringing results. And to be frank, I've heard about some countries, not necessarily in the European Union, in which those in power say there is no fraud, there is no corruption – I don't believe it. I think there is fraud and there is corruption everywhere because that risk is everywhere. The question is whether we have a system in place that can address it and fight it.”
“Because the truth is that the single market is an opportunity not only for our companies, not only for our citizens, but it is also an opportunity for fraudsters. And I'm absolutely certain that without a system that we have at EU level, Member States alone would not be able to detect and fight against fraud. And that is one of the important takeaways that we will also keep in mind while looking into the future of the anti-fraud architecture. The second point that I would like to make refers to the data on the detection of fraud. Many of you have referred to that data. Yes, it is an issue of concern. That is an issue that we would need to continue to address. But that is also a measure that we have put in place: an anti-fraud system that is able to detect fraud, that is able also to fight fraud and corruption.”
“The fact that we have been and we will continue to invest also European taxpayers' money into the development of the anti-fraud architecture, let me just make a reference to the announcement of President von der Leyen to increase financial resources available for Europol, that is also a positive development. But it's also true that since we have new actors, since we are also going to have a few new players in the area of anti-fraud architecture, that's why that review is really necessary. And I believe that that review is not just important from the perspective of the protection of the financial interests of the EU, not only from the perspective of the protection of the EU budget, but also from the perspective of our Member States.”
“And maybe we should also ask ourselves, which other institutions make the same mistake? I hope you can take this with you, Commissioner, even though you are not directly responsible. 1-0145-0000 (Încheierea intervențiilor la cerere) 1-0146-0000 Piotr Serafin, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, many thanks for the debate. I appreciate a number of suggestions and remarks that have been raised and that can help us to improve the way in which the anti-fraud architecture operates. And as I said already in the opening remarks, the work on the reform and the review of the anti-fraud architecture will be absolutely key during this mandate. I think a lot of positive developments took place in the last few years. The fact that we have in place EPPO is clearly a positive development.”
“Mr President, dear people of Europe, dear Commissioner, when I was researching the most important administrative body of the European Union regarding the topic of this debate, OLAF – who, by the way, also has one of the funniest names of all European institutions, at least from a German or maybe Scandinavian perspective – I found a shocking truth: this so important administrative body does not have Instagram, no TikTok, nothing but a LinkedIn account and a website. Everyone in this room, maybe because of different political ideas, agrees on the fact that fraud is hurting this Union, is hurting the trust in our Union. And so I'm wondering, why do we not publish this important work of OLAF in a system that is modern, that reaches the young generation? How can this be?”
“Wir werden uns alle daran erinnern, dass die Fischerei und die rechtlichen Fragen hinsichtlich dieses Problems einer der Gründe waren, der der Brexit-Bewegung damals erlaubt hat, Fahrt aufzunehmen. Ich möchte daher alle Vertreter der Europäischen Union aufrufen, insbesondere bei diesem Thema eine gute Lösung mit unseren britischen Freunden zu finden. 1-0115-0000”
“Frau Präsidentin, liebe Menschen Europas! Ich hatte vor drei Wochen die große Freude, mit britischen Kollegen aus dem House of Commons und dem House of Lords Syrien zu besuchen. Und dort, am Ende der zivilisierten Welt, in einem Land, gebeutelt von Bürgerkrieg und Unterdrückung, da findet man zusammen mit den Menschen, die einen begleiten. Genauso kam ich zusammen mit meinen britischen Kollegen. Und ich habe gespürt: Während nicht alle von ihnen erkennen, dass der Brexit ein Fehler war, so sehnen sich doch alle von ihnen nach Europa. Und deswegen denke ich, dass dieser anstehende Gipfel eine wichtige Gelegenheit ist, die Probleme aus dem Weg zu räumen, die wir in der Vergangenheit schon hatten. Ein großes Thema ist der Handel, und ein kleines Thema in diesem großen Thema ist die Fischerei.”
“And I ask the Conference of Presidents to advise accordingly so that this House can vote in full to update the Rules of Procedure, because free speech can only exist within the rule of law. 1-0051-0000”
“Madam President, we see a whole lot of violations of Rule 1(10), which obliges us to uphold the values of our Union. Discrediting democratic institutions for applying the law is not free speech. It may breach that rule. We have seen this after the Romanian elections, the French court's ruling on Marine Le Pen, and we will see it again this week, when the AfD will attack German constitutional authorities for classifying them as extremists. But courts and administration, they are not meant to be popular. They are meant to uphold the law. And that is why I ask the AFCO Committee to open a debate on whether Rule 1(10) should be clarified, just like Rule 10(4) prohibits hate speech, to include the systematic discrimination of democratic institutions.”
“Und trotzdem blieb sie am Ende auf 130 Euro sitzen, die die deutsche Krankenkasse als Mehrbetrag im Vergleich zu deutschen Behandlungen nicht übernehmen wollte – und genau das ist das Problem. Wir reden immer vom europäischen Binnenmarkt, von Freizügigkeit. Aber wenn jemand innerhalb Europas krank wird, dann haben wir plötzlich einen riesigen bürokratischen Ausstandsschadensfall. Gesundheitstourismus ist kein Trick, sondern Ausdruck europäischer Freiheit. Denn europäische Freiheit endet nicht am Krankenhausflur – sie beginnt dort. 4-0182-0000”
“Herr Präsident! Ich möchte eingangs Ihnen raten – in aller Freundlichkeit – bei den Reden von Herrn Kollege Droese immer von Anfang an zuzuhören. Denn es ist derselbe Mann, der sich vor Hitlers Hauptquartier Wolfsschanze mit der Hand auf dem Herzen hat fotografieren lassen damals. Dementsprechend denke ich: Wir sollten diesen Menschen ganz genau zuhören bei dem, was sie tun. Liebe Menschen Europas, vor zwei Jahren, da tobte ich mit meiner Freundin im Hotelpool in Griechenland herum. Ich war ein bisschen zu wild. Sie kam zu schnell, zu tief unter Wasser und riss sich das Trommelfell. Wir gingen schnell zu einem exzellenten griechischen Arzt, der sie behandelte.”
“In this period, I want to use this occasion to encourage Armenia and Türkiye to work together towards a normalisation of their relations. As EU, we stand ready to provide support for a common future for the entire region. 4-0106-0000”
“So, to our friends in Türkiye, I say: it's not the memory that divides us, it's silence. Have the courage to tell the truth. The Armenians and the Turks deserve it. 4-0104-0000 (Brīvā mikrofona uzstāšanos beigas.) 4-0105-0000 Olivér Várhelyi, Member of the Commission. – Dear President, honourable Members, today the debate shows the importance of remembering history, honouring those who lost their lives. The horrific events of 110 years ago had a traumatic impact on the Armenian society, and have marked the Armenian identity. We will never forget, out of respect for the victims, and we have to make sure that it can never happen again. But many of you also underlined the importance of reconciliation, of overcoming past grievances and taking steps towards a peaceful, stable and connected future.”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, sometimes when I upload my speeches to social media, I cut them into footage of a full plenary because the emptiness of the real one is a shame to this House. This is going to be one of those speeches. Dear people of Europe, 110 years ago, the Ottoman Empire began a crime that many still deny today: the genocide on the Armenian people. But it was not foreign historians that said this, it was Ottoman officers and officials themselves who spoke of extermination plans. It was official government telegrams that call for a final removal of the Armenians, and it was Ottoman Kurds in 1919 and 1920 who convicted the main perpetrators of genocide. We Germans know how hard the path to the truth is, but we also know admitting guilt restores dignity.”
“4-0073-0000 (Fin des interventions à la demande) 4-0074-0000 Olivér Várhelyi, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members, I want to thank you for this debate. As recalled in your 2012 resolution, we supported the establishment of the European Day of the Righteous. Remembrance of the good is essential to process European integration. It teaches us and younger generations that everyone can always choose to help other human beings and defend human dignity. The public institutions have a duty to highlight the example set by people who managed to protect those persecuted out of hate. 4-0075-0000 SĒDI VADA: ROBERTS ZĪLE Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks 4-0076-0000”
“Mr President, dear people of Europe, by recognising the European Day of the Righteous we honour those who did the right thing, not because it was easy, but because it was right. The righteous are those who hid families during the Holocaust, the ones who stood up to dictators, the ones who said 'no' when silence would have been safer. They remind us that conscience is not a luxury, it is a duty. This duty does not end in books or museums but calls us now to protect those who resist Russia, to defend women who fight for freedom in Iran, to support lawyers who take Trump's government to court right now – not just when it's fashionable, but when it's dangerous. Because to be righteous today is to carry the legacy of those who have been righteous before us. Let us be worthy of that legacy.”
“Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, cari cittadini d'Europa, le malattie rare colpiscono milioni di persone in Europa: spesso sono bambini, spesso mancano cure e spesso chi è malato si sente solo. L'Europa deve essere la risposta, con un piano di azione europeo per le malattie rare, un piano che unisca ricerca, accesso ai farmaci e solidarietà. Noi chiediamo più finanziamenti per la ricerca pubblica, regole comuni per un accesso uguale ai trattamenti e una rete europea per aiutare le famiglie e i medici. Perché una malattia è rara, ma la dignità di ogni persona è uguale. L'Europa non può lasciare nessuno indietro. Non su questo, mai! 4-0047-0000”
“We have missed an opportunity to take appropriate action against the Iranian regime, as a result of which the Iranian Revolutionary Guard continues to operate as a terrorist organisation and UN Human Rights Council representatives are unable to carry out the necessary investigations. I call on the European External Action Service to take all the appropriate actions to stop the brutalities carried out in Iran. 3-0488-0000”
“Silence and delays cost lives. Call this what it is: a regime that fears its own people and kills them to stay in power. 3-0487-0000 Petras Auštrevičius, on behalf of the Renew Group. – Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Iranian mullahs' regime continues to carry out executions to maintain its close grip on power and stifle dissent. In fact, the number of executions in Iran has doubled in the past year. In the climate of fear and severe repression, attempts are being made to silence the opposition, the rights of women and minorities continue to be trampled on, and hostage diplomacy is being carried out using EU citizens. Members of the No Death Penalty Tuesdays abolitionist campaign, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, have been sentenced to death without due process and on false charges.”
“To je kar polovica več kot v primerjavi s prejšnjim letom. Med žrtvami so tudi ženske, otroci, disidenti in zatirane manjšine. Skrajni čas je, da mednarodna skupnost, tudi Evropska unija, ukrepa. Vse odnose z iranskim režimom moramo pogojevati s takojšnjo ustavitvijo mučenja in usmrtitev. Dosje iranskih kršitev človekovih pravic je potrebno obravnavati tudi v Varnostnem svetu OZN in privesti krivce pred roko pravice. 3-0486-0000 Daniel Attard, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, Iran is killing its own people. Almost a thousand executions last year. Sentences handed down after torture and fake trials. This is state murder and we know it. We need real consequences. We cannot keep reacting with empty words. We need real pressure, clear red lines. We cannot be neutral in the face of injustice. We need to act.”
“Et à défaut d’un réveil, il faudra combattre cet islamisme radical, qui malheureusement a fait de la France le pays le plus touché par les terroristes islamistes et qui trouve sa source aujourd’hui dans des pays comme l’Iran, qui prône cet islamisme à la place de la démocratie telle que nous la concevons. 3-0485-0000 Milan Zver, v imenu skupine PPE. – Gospod predsednik! Iran se znova dokazujejo kot ena od najbolj okrutnih diktatur na svetu. Politična zapornika Ehsani in Hasani sta obsojena na smrt zgolj zato, ker sta si drznila zahtevati svobodo za iransko ljudstvo. Njuna edina krivda je pogum, da sta se zoperstavila režimu, ki že desetletja ustrahuje in mori. Pod vodstvom Alija Hameneja, ki je danes upravičeno poznan kot boter usmrtitev in terorizma, je Iran v zadnjem letu izvedel 1153, 1153 usmrtitev.”